Fear in the Night 1972 Horror Movie Review

“Fear in the Night” (1974) is a quaint psychological thriller/mystery from Hammer Productions.  It is much in the vein of their earlier “Scream of Fear” (1961), which was also directed by Jimmy Sangster.  Both films involve the psychological torment of a pretty young woman who is already on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

In “Fear of the Night,” Peggy (Judy Geeson of “Doomwatch”) is attacked by someone who wears black and has an artificial arm.  The next day, she moves with her teacher husband Robert (Ralph Bates of Hammer’s “Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde” and “The Horror of Frankenstein”) to a boys’ private school in the secluded country.  The mentally disturbed Peggy soon learns that the headmaster (Hammer horror icon Peter Cushing who starred in the Frankenstein and Dracula series) has an artificial arm.

A gloomy, atmospheric horror masterpiece, “Fear of the Night” boasted an excellent cast that also included international superstar Joan Collins (Alexis of “Dynasty”).  She is quite superb as the headmaster’s evil, cruel, conniving wife Molly; she makes Alexis look like a Catholic num.  Geeson, I must add, does a wonderful job portraying the emotionally confused Peggy who keeps insisting the attacks are not in her imagination.  She is frustrated and angered by Robert’s refusal to believe her.

“Fear in the Night” is highly recommended for fans of Hammer films, especially the psychological thrillers that mimicked “Psycho” such as:  “Paranoiac,” “Scream of Fear,” and “Nightmare.”  You’ll want to watch “Fear in the Night” if you are a big fan of Joan Collins and/or Peter Cushing.  They also starred in “Tales of the Crypt” from Amicus Productions.