The Premonition is a 1975 American horror film produced and directed by Robert Allen Schnitzer from a screenplay co-written with Anthony Mahon. Noted American composer Henry Mollicone provided the distinctive score. The film was released in New York in May 1976.
It stars Sharon Farrell (The Eyes of Charles Sand; It’s Alive; The Fifth Floor), Richard Lynch (Good Against Evil; Alligator II: The Mutation; Scanner Cop), Jeff Corey (Something Evil; Curse of the Black Widow; Jennifer), Edward Bell, Chitra Neogy, Ellen Barber, Danielle Brisebois, Rosemary McNamara (Dark Shadows).
Plot teaser:
Andrea (Sharon Farrell), a demented young mother kidnaps Janie, her six-year-old daughter, from the middle-class couple that adopted her. She also begins insinuating herself into the mind of Sherry, the adoptive mother…
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Reviews:
“Strange, complex and haunting, in the Val Lewton tradition, the film draws its effect largely from suggestion as opposed to blatant horror. Eerie and atmospheric, The Premonition is also graced with excellent performances…” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
“Everything is explained repeatedly to us, every significant moment in the film telegraphed and exaggerated. While this blatant approach keeps the film from getting boring, it also keeps it from making the intellectual and emotional impact that it clearly desires. Schnitzer simply doesn’t trust the audience.” David Elroy Goldweber, Claws & Saucers
A great cast, offbeat direction, and good camerawork just can’t help the obvious and pretentious script. I will give The Premonition a little credit for its eccentricity and quirkiness but I barely got through this one.” Cinema Somnambulist
“I saw The Premonition when it first arrived in theaters in 1976. It frightened the bejesus out of me then, with it’s nightmarish segments in particular Jude’s (Richard Lynch) and Andrea’s (Ellen Barber) uncontrollable fits of rage. Their joint psychosis was a very powerful elixir as part of the carnival set piece. Their relationship alone could have made for an interesting story of madness, obsession and self-destruction.” The Last Drive In
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Choice dialogue:
Landlady: “I would recognise him, even if I was blindfolded.”
Dr. Jeena Kingsly: “Unless we turn it into love, anger never dies.”
Filming locations:
Mississippi
Wikipedia | IMDb | Screen grabs courtesy of The Last Drive In (visit site for many more images)
