Homicidal

Homicidal (1961)

This movie opens with a beautiful young woman checking into a hotel. Almost immediately after checking in she offers a bellboy a substantial amount of money to marry her, which being that she is beautiful and wealthy he agrees to. But after the ceremony when the Justice of the Peace tries to kiss her she brutally stabs him to death and flees. Later we see that she is the nurse for a strange elderly woman and the wife of a man named Warren. This makes Emily’s, the stab happy woman, actions all the more inexplicable. But if you think that what happens in the first few minutes of Homicidal are strange, you haven’t seen anything yet!

This is another great horror movie from director William Castle and is one of the movies included in the William Castle Film Collection. It has a reputation for being a Psycho “rip-off” but I don’t really think that is fair at all. While it has many of the same themes as Psycho, it also takes them a bit further. I don’t want to give anything away and spoil the movie for those that haven’t seen it yet, but some of the subject matter here is pretty damn harsh for a movie from the early 60s. That alone isn’t why I enjoy the movie so much though. The story is fast paced and exciting, with something interesting and fun always happening on screen. But I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Castle directed film, who is on his a game here. Heck the movie even incorporates a fright break where the audience gets a chance to leave and get their money back if they can’t stand to see the frightening conclusion of the movie! Say what you want about movies like Homicidal, I think they are a blast and fun to watch.

One of the little appreciated aspects of most William Castle produced and directed movies are how well they are made. Homicidal is an excellent example of this. These movies were always made on a tight budget, but never really feel cheap. This movie boasts a couple of excellent locations, including the mansion that serves as home for Warren and Emily. With the lighting and camera work these locations (especially the house) become very creepy and shadow filled. Which of course helps set the mood. Also while tame by today’s standards I found the attack on the Justice of the Peace and the severed head we are treated to later bouncing down the stairs to be very effective and cool.

Along with the movie on the DVD is a nifty short documentary that talks a bit about the movie called Psychette: William Castle and Homicidal. It doesn’t go into the making of the movie, but talks a bit about the release of the movie. Again it is really short, coming in at around 7 minutes. Also included is the newsreel of the movie’s Ohio premiere in Youngstown Ohio and a theatrical trailer. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the extras here, but fear not. Most of the material in these extras is also used in the much longer documentary called Spine Tingler: The William Castle Story, which is on disc 5 of the set and is excellent!

Like many of Castle’s movies Homicidal doesn’t get nearly the credit that I think it deserves. Is it a “B” movie and a bit cheesy, sure. But doesn’t mean it isn’t a cool horror movie too. I recommend that everyone check out Homicidal if they get the chance. This is doubly so if you get the killer William Castle Film Collection as Homicidal is one of the gems of the set.

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer