Let's Scare Jessica to Death

 

 

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"Let's Scare Jessica to Death" is a bona fide cult horror gem -- not a lot of people have seen it, it's smarter than your average death'n'gore movie, and it leaves you wondering just what the heck is going on here.

In particular, it makes you wonder if the "Jessica" of the title is raving mad, or if a vampire really is making the rounds. The movie is blessed with wonderfully eerie music and camerawork, but it's the blurred line between madness and the supernatural that makes it stand out like a dark gem.

Jessica (Zohra Lampert) has just been released from a mental hospital, and she and her husband Duncan (Barton Heyman) want to make a fresh start on a rural farm, with pal Woody (Kevin O'Connor) helping out. But when they arrive at their new home, they find a nomadic hippie girl living in the attic. At Jessica's insistence, Emily (Mariclare Costello) agrees to stay with them awhile.

But strange things are happening -- the townspeople are very hostile towards the newcomers, and Emily is being trailed by a mysterious girl in a white gown. What's worse, all the men -- including Woody and Duncan -- seem to be somehow under Emily's spell. Is Jessica going insane again -- or is there a vampire controlling this island?

One of the best things a horror movie can do is leave you wondering. "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" does just that. By the finale, it leaves us wondering if this is a terrifying reality, or the paranoid delusions of a woman who feels threatened by an attractive newcomer, and just made up this whole thing about her being an evil seductive vampire.

A clever plot alone isn't enough to guarantee success, though. The whole movie feels vaguely spooky and dreamlike, with a camera that seems to capture all the mundane things like antique-shopping and farm kitchens. That makes the all the eerie stuff -- vanishing corpses, swimming specters -- seem even creepier. The climactic creep-out comes when the vintage-dressed vampire rises out of the water.

Lampert does an amazing job as a woman terrified that her mental illness is coming back, but at the same time knowing that what she sees is real -- and that no one will believe her. Costello is creepy in a low-key, uncliched manner (when was a vampire last seen in flannel?), and Heyman and O'Connor are good in their supporting roles.

"Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is an eerie, atmospheric movie with excellent acting, that opts for the shivers instead of blood. Not to be watched after dark.

THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SCARY MOVIES.THIS MOVIE WOULD COME ON T.V LATE AT NIGHT,I WOULD STAY UP LATE TO WATCH IT.ITS AN OLD CLASSIC SCARY MOVIE.BUT ITS A GOOD ONE. I LUV THE OLD HEARSE TOO . THE PEAPLE IN THE TOWN LOOK SCARY THEM SELFES TRYING TO ACT LIKE THERE HIDING SOMETHING.AND WHEN JESSICA IS OUT IN THAT BOAT BY HERSELF AND HER HAND IS HANGING OVER IN THE WATER,WATCH OUT! ITS A THILLER!!

More haunted house fun as a group of people are haunted by the eerie presence of Ingmar Bergman. 'Hour of the Wolf' had been released something like three years before and I suspect the director was a fan. British viewers of a certain age may also be minded of those BBC 'Ghost Story For Christmas' adaptions of MR James's stories. Unfortunately, the director has neither the budget or sureness with actors to pull of his warped premise. Despite some risible moments and the unnecessary early flyposting of the plot at an antique dealers, any film that pokes fun at the vulnerability of the hippy philosophy can't be all bad.

(Undead, and can't cross running water? Grab a snorkel! Okay, so it's cheating but why should you care, oh deceased one?)

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2.0 out of 5 stars ....and while we're at it,let's bore everyone else to death
the thing about this movie is for the better part of it,next to nothing
happens.this is one sublime movie. Read more

Published on Sep 8 2007 by falcon

1.0 out of 5 stars ZZZZZZ
This movie was beyond boring! The acting, the plot, everything was so dull and lazy. theres also alot of scenes that drag the movie. trust me...DONT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY

Published on Jun 16 2004 by Daniel Rodriguez

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling!
This one will definitely send a chill up your spine, I can tell you that! I rank this right up there with Black Christmas as a creepy, mood-inspired horror experience. Read more

Published on May 24 2004 by Brandon L. Harlow

4.0 out of 5 stars Scariest movie I have ever seen.
I saw this movie when I was 19 years old. It creeped me out so bad that I had to go to another movie after it to get it out of my mind.

Published on May 12 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT
I remember wacthing this movie as a kid and would have nightmare's. This movie is what scary movies are supposed to be made of. Read more

Published on Mar 26 2004 by jsing35

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Film that Deserves a DVD Release!!!
This is a great film from the 1970's that scared the s*** out of me when I saw it as a kid. Interesting idea, great story, please we need to see this film released on DVD.

Published on Mar 20 2004 by Peter

5.0 out of 5 stars Very scarey, classic thriller that will HAUNT you-even today
Yes, I saw this movie as a child and it scared me. Pretty bad. I never looked at a lake at dusk in the same innocent way again. Read more

Published on Jan 26 2004 by Constant Reader

3.0 out of 5 stars Creepy chiller is well worth your time...
As many reviewers have stated, I saw this film as a child on late-night TV and it deeply disturbed me. Yes, I had to sleep with the light on for many nights afterwards. Read more

Published on Dec 9 2003 by Chris K. Wilson

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic from the 70s
I rememeber this movie from the 70s, me and my cousin used to watch it when it would come on TV late at nights. Read more

Published on Oct 9 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Great horror movie
This movie has always been one of my all time favs. It's very creepy. The acting in this movie is wonderful. Read more

Published on April 9 2003 by Awesomeguy

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