Don't Look in the Basement (1973)

A young psychiatric nurse goes to work at a lonesome asylum following a murder. There, she experiences varying degrees of torment from the patients.

Director:

S.F. Brownrigg

Writer:

Tim Pope

Stars:

Bill McGhee, Jessie Lee Fulton, Robert Dracup

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bill McGhee	...	Sam (as William Bill McGhee)
Jessie Lee Fulton	...	Jane St. Claire
Robert Dracup	...	Ray Daniels
Harryette Warren	...	Jennifer D.
Michael Harvey	...	Dr. Stephens
Jessie Kirby	...	Danny
Hugh Feagin	...	Sgt. Jaffee
Betty Chandler	...	Allyson King
Camilla Carr	...	Harriet
Gene Ross	...	Judge Oliver W. Cameron
Annabelle Weenick	...	Dr. Geraldine S. Masters (as Anne MacAdams)
Rosie Holotik	...	Nurse Charlotte Beale
Rhea MacAdams	...	Mrs. Callingham

Storyline

Nurse Charlotte Beale arrives at the isolated Stephens Sanitarium to work, only to learn that Dr. Stephens was murdered by one of the patients and his successor, Dr. Geraldine Masters, is not very eager to take on new staff. Charlotte finds her job maddeningly hard as the patients torment and harass her at every turn, and she soon learns why Dr. Masters is so eager to keep outsiders out.

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Plot Keywords:

lust | breasts | weeping | eyeglasses | psychopathic killer | 

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Taglines:

They lived out their fantasies... Now they are dying for them!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death Ward #13

Filming Locations:

Tehuacana, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Camera 2 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed on the grounds of Westminster College in Tehuacana, Texas.

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Goofs

When the people are chopping someone up with axes, one of the heads of the axes fall off.

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Quotes

Dr. Geraldine S. Masters: [proposing a lobotomy for Charlotte] Oh, Sam! Sam, she's so sick! So sick. We've - we've got to help her, Sam. Go in and cut out the sickness and return her to innocence. Like you!
Sam: NO, DEANIE!

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Crazy Credits

The characters in the film are shown as the actor/actress' name appears at the end of the film, including the murdered characters!

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Alternate Versions

Once listed as a video nasty, the UK Stax (Boulevard) and Elstree Hill DVDs are now 15 rated and uncut, restoring the original cinema cut to a shot of an axe hitting a woman's bloody body.

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Connections

Referenced in Shivers (1995)

User Reviews

A real drive-in clasick!

If you love drive-in cheeze from the early '70s you will just love this one.How could you go wrong with a low budget film about bloodshed in a lunatic asylum? You can't! Crazy folks and sharp objects are always an entertaining combination.

The film looks like it was shot inside someone's house for about $320.65. For me that just ads to the fun of watching this type of stuff.The gore is a bit mild compared to others of this ilk,but there is enough to keep us bloodthirsty sickos (like myself)happy.Some horror films drag in parts and leave you waiting for something to happen.That's not the case here.The characters are entertaining enough to make every frame quite enjoyable.There is never a dull moment from start to finish.The mind melting climax at the end that is just unbelievable. I liked it so much that right after the end credits I watched it a second time.It's an absolute must see for any self respecting drive-in horror nut.

9.5/10 on the Drive-in-Freak-O-Meter...required viewing

Yea I love you..I DO love you...now take your Thorazine and put your clothes back on...please....8)