The Killing Kind (1973)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writers:

Tony Crechales (writer)
George Edwards (writer)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Terry loved soft, furry, little animals. He loved his mother. He loved pretty girls...ALL DEAD!

Plot:

Young Terry Lambert (John Savage) returns home from serving a prison term for a gang-rape he was forced to participate in...

Plot Keywords:

Masturbation | Dead Woman | Drowning | Grindhouse | Stockings

Cast

Ann Sothern	...	Thelma Lambert
John Savage	...	Terry Lambert
Ruth Roman	...	Rhea Benson
Luana Anders	...	Louise
Cindy Williams	...	Lori
Sue Bernard	...	Tina
Marjorie Eaton	...	Mrs. Orland
Peter Brocco	...	Louise's Father
Helene Winston	...	Flo

Runtime:

95 min (DVD) | UK:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:18 (original rating) | USA:R

Trivia:

Louise (the alcoholic librarian) and her wheelchair-bound father later appear in _Attic, The (1979)_, which was also written by Tony Crechales and George Edwards.

Quotes:

Thelma Lambert: Yes, well that's what they say when they don't mean "pretty."

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

A real showcase for the inimitable Ann Sothern.

It took me about a year to hunt down this obscure little flick, but after finally getting my hands on it, I can honestly say it was well worth the efforts. THE KILLING KIND is more than a horror film. It's a stylish, thought-provoking psycho-thriller that explores the mind of a very disturbed individual. John Savage(very impressive in an early starring role) plays Terry Lambert, a young man who is forced to participate in the brutal gang rape of a pretty young girl(Sue Bernard), then is sent to prison. Two years later, Savage is released and returns to the boardinghouse run by his loving, but overprotective mother, Thelma(the wonderful Ann Sothern). At first, Terry seems completelely adjusted and ready to put his life back in order, but he slowly becomes a madman, desperate for revenge and becomes involved in the terrifying deaths of three people. It's then up to his mother to turn her son in or protect him from the consequences that he will suffer for his actions.

This is a spellbinding film that concentrates more on suspense and character development than supplying cheap thrills. THE KILLING KIND is definitely cult director Curtis Harrington's masterpiece, and the great cast does some of their finest work. The best performance is given by Ann Sothern who paints a touching portrait of a doting mother who is forced to confront the harsh realities of her son's true nature. At this stage in her career, Sothern was playing mostly character parts, but this is much more than a flashy character role. This particular role gives Sothern the opportunity to display a variety of emotions and she never misses a beat. Sothern is always excellent and certainly handles every role she plays with great style and skill, but this is truly the very best of her latter-day performances.