Wayne K
With echoes of Bergman’s Persona and Polanski’s Repulsion, Symptoms is a slow paced and sombre look at the disintegration of a person’s psyche. Or maybe its an examination of a cold and calculating serial killer who puts up a façade of innocence in order to lure in their victims. It does a great job creating a haunting atmosphere, much like Larraz’s other film from 1974: Vampyres. That film is notably more graphic than this one, which mostly revolves around an ambiguous friendship between 2 women, and while we don’t get much insight into their background, that actually makes analysing their situation more interesting. It has some of the classic horror films tropes, like disembodied voices and characters who act either overly suspicious or overly threatening just to chuck a red herring into the mix. It’s very deliberately paced in places, and I can see many people losing patience with it, but there’s some real standout moments that make it worthwhile. The attic scene is a masterclass in claustrophobic suspense, and Angela Pleasance is able to play both charmingly naïve and uncaringly cruel just as well. For all its faults, Symptoms is a film that succeeds for the same reasons the aforementioned 60s psychodramas did, and it’s the kind of film you can watch numerous times and form a different opinion on it with each viewing.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/13/25
Full Review
Il B
This film is so calm, the pacing is so soothing, the acting is relaxing, everything is so quiet yet the eeriness is there in the background, slowly building, growing.
There is something disturbing, something lurking in the shadows, you begin to question what it is and when it will reveal itself. This is a wonderfully constructed film, so simple yet so impactful.
The editing isn't the film's strong suit, nothing overly bad, simply could use some improvement as could the camerawork.
The film also portrays mental illness very, very accurately and adds a horror aspect to it, however still remaining respectful and truthful to the disorder. Massive bonus points for that.
The horror elements are brilliantly done.
The music and sound effects fit the horror-themed sequences perfectly, the scares are real and stay with you, from a horror perspective this film is one of the best in the genre.
The film is also very unpredictable. In one scene I was left quite shocked, not only because of the brilliant construction of the sequence but also because of the unexpected end to it.
It keeps you guessing throughout and it never fails to surprise you, be it with a shock element or by how well constructed a sequence is.
Since the majority of this film centres itself around Helen, you can never quite tell if what is happening is reality or if it's all in Helen's unstable mind.
The direction of the film is sublime, it feels so realistic yet also like a dream simultaneously.
Some of the kills aren't that well made however the effects make up for it.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
07/10/23
Full Review
Audience Member
There is something absolutely magnetic about Angela Pleasance. Two young women in a huge house. Something is off. Dead flowers discarded; Nothing overt, but the atmosphere discomfits - tone of voice, shots held slightly too long. Close-ups on that captivating moon face. Peter Vaughan's awful odd-job man. Secrets and half-hidden voices. The atmosphere builds - that glimpse in the mirror! So watchable!
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Angela Pleasence, the daughter of the more well-known Donald Pleasence, is fantastic to watch. Her visage is so different. To see her face is to acknowledge that you have never seen another like it. She looks like one of Edward Gorey's waifs come to life. I also loved the heavy, dreary, gothic setting of the country manor in rainy England. It's gorgeous. If you like gothic tales, you will enjoy this film.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Angela Pleasence is a blood virgin in this eccentric and mysterious horror tale set in the british countryside--A strange and wonderful film!!
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/22/23
Full Review
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