‘A new high in terror and shock!’
Savage Intruder – original title Hollywood Horror House – is a 1969 American horror film written, produced and directed by Donald Wolfe. The film’s shooting title was The Comeback (not to be confused with the 1978 Pete Walker film).
Main cast:
Miriam Hopkins (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [1931]), John David Garfield, Gale Sondergaard (The Black Cat; The Cat Creature; Echoes), Florence Lake, Lester Matthews, Riza Royce, Joe Besser, Minta Durfee, Virginia Wing, Charles Martin.
Plot:
An ageing actress whose career ended in the ’30s lives in her decaying mansion with a retinue of bizarre people, including a personal assistant who keeps an arsenal of weapons…
Reviews:
“Pretty fascinating stuff and a ton of fun for camp addicts, this should really be better known than it is.” The Bloody Pit of Horror
“Unfortunately, the whole production cries out for some serious editing and faster pacing to make the suspense more compelling. In fact, a pair of sharp scissors were needed during the long, annoying music-cacophony sequences.” Alt Film Guide
“For about the first hour, this contrast between the psychedelic generation and the older lonely booze hound works pretty well. Like The Night God Screamed, the older set’s fears about the hippie creeps are totally justified here! The gore effects are surprisingly good, considering it was filmed in 1969. Eventually, though, it starts to run out of steam, right about the point Vic starts holding Katherine hostage.” Rufus’s House of Horrors
Choice dialogue:
Vic Valance: “Here’s to lonely, rich, old bags!”
Vic Valance: “Tarnished silver wear is so depressing.”
Head chopping and hallucination clip:
Whole film:
IMDb | Image credit: VHS Collector
