Unman, Wittering and Zigo

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Unman, Wittering and Zigo

PG

1971

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

40%

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5 Reviews

75%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

John Ebony (David Hemmings) is a former advertising executive who dreams of a nobler vocation: teaching. When assigned to work at a dodgy public school, he's initially eager to educate its troubled students -- until they inform him they murdered his predecessor. Fearful for his life, Ebony agrees to keep their crime secret. Once he discovers that the principal (Douglas Wilmer) plans to fire him at year's end, however, Ebony decides it is time to rewrite the terms of his extortion.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

John Mackenzie's first feature isn't badly done, but the result is a prime example of what happens when nothing is left to the imagination In a too literal translation from sound into sight.

Mar 20, 2020

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Roger Greenspun

New York Times

[Unman, Wittering and Zigo] begins full of ripe and gruesome promise that very shortly turns overripe and openly ridiculous.

Mar 20, 2020

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Variety Staff

Variety

The viewer may be both intrigued and puzzled, for while film is a compelling piece of dramatics about innocent-looking terrorists, it asks a great deal of credence.

Mar 20, 2020

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Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

Kim Newman describes Mackenzie's second feature as "an astonishing film," proclaiming it as superior to If... It's a bold claim, but Unman, Wittering and Zigo, which is more discomforting than most horror films, deserves similar renown.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 5, 2024

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Audience Member

Takes a couple of wrong turns at the halfway point - regrettably, as it spends its first hour well on the way to becoming one of the all time classic claustrophobic thrillers. Wouldn't work half as well as it does if the performances from the creepy kids weren't so damned flawless.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

I saw this about thirty years and loved it. The title just came into my head so I looked it up. Apparently not many people have seen it, but it was a good old Sinister Public School Jaunt! Good ol' David Hemmings!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

A fascinating (and forgotten) mix of If... and Straw Dogs

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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John Mackenzie

Director

David Hemmings

John Ebony

Carolyn Seymour

Silvia Ebony

Douglas Wilmer

Headmaster

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Synopsis

John Ebony (David Hemmings) is a former advertising executive who dreams of a nobler vocation: teaching. When assigned to work at a dodgy public school, he's initially eager to educate its troubled students -- until they inform him they murdered his predecessor. Fearful for his life, Ebony agrees to keep their crime secret. Once he discovers that the principal (Douglas Wilmer) plans to fire him at year's end, however, Ebony decides it is time to rewrite the terms of his extortion.

Director: John Mackenzie
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2014
Runtime: 1h 42m

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