REVENGE
DVD. Scorpion.

Released to American cinemas as Terror From Under The House, this was the second collaboration between between director Sidney Hayers, Carry On producer Peter Rogers and screenwriter John Kruse following Assault (1970).

Jim (James Booth), the landlord of a quaint English pub (the type of which are rapidly becoming a thing of the past), learns that the local misfit Seely (Kenneth Griffith), who is suspected of the rape and murder of Jim's daughter Jenny, has been released from police custody without charge through lack of evidence. Encouraged by his son Lee (Tom Marshall) and friend Harry (Ray Barrett), Jim kidnaps Seely and drags him to the pub's cellar, where the threesome proceed to beat a confession out of him. Jim overdoes it somewhat and strangles the man to death, leaving the corpse locked in the cellar while they think of a way to dispose of it. He isn't actually dead, however, and his mere presence down below is enough to drive Jim, his wife Carol (Joan Collins) and the rest of the family upstairs round the bend, resulting in paranoia, distrust and sexual assault.

The final twist is too trite and unconvincing and the story too dull to maintain interest. The performances, though, are excellent, especially Collins, Booth and Griffith as the creepy yet pitiful Seely, who may or may not be the child murderer. Hayers directed two minor horror classics, Circus Of Horrors (1960) and Night Of The Eagle (1961), but this routine film is far beneath his talents. He finished his long career in American television, working on The Fall Guy, Knight Rider and The A-Team amongst others.

LLOYD HAYNES