‘Three shocking murders did she dream them? …or do them?’
Nightmare is a 1963 (released April 1964) horror/suspense film from Hammer Films, co-financed by Universal International. The film was directed in glorious black and white “Hammercope” by Freddie Francis from a screenplay by producer Jimmy Sangster. It stars David Knight, Moira Redmond, Jennie Linden and Brenda Bruce.
Jennie Linden was an 11th hour casting choice replacing Julie Christie (later in the classic Don’t Look Now) who dropped out to appear in Billy Liar. This was the final film performance of American actor David Knight who subsequently focused on theatre work. It was shot in and around Bray Studios in Berkshire from 17 December 1962 to 31 January 1963 and heavy snow affected most of the location filming.
Plot teaser:
Janet is a teenage student attending boarding school named Hatcher’s School for Young Girls. After a number of nightmares concerning her mother, whom she saw kill her father when she was young, the troubled young woman is sent home to her guardian, Attorney Henry Baxter. At home, she is assigned a nurse. Janet begins having more nightmares this time concerning an unknown woman with a scar and a birthday cake. The dreams get worse and worse. Finally, her guardian brings home his wife, whom Janet has never met. Janet is introduced to the woman at her birthday celebration. The cake and woman from her dreams with the scar appearing at once is enough to make Janet snap. She kills the woman by stabbing her – the same way her mother killed her father. Janet is committed. Meanwhile, her guardian Henry and the nurse, who was disguised to look like the woman with a scar to drive Janet mad, celebrate the loss of Janet. However, the two will not go unpunished…
Reviews:
“A ridiculously manipulate plot by way of Diabolique, over-wrought performances and superb stylish black and white imagery from Freddie Francis and John Wilcox make Nightmare one of the most enjoyable 60s Psycho-influenced thrillers, along with Paranoiac and Dementia 13. Many of the filmic compositiions here are certainly worthy of the supposed Master” Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia
It’s not the best of the series but in Redmond and Bruce has two really excellent actresses while Francis and Wilcox go out of their way to provide as many visually exciting ‘boo’ sequences as possible through creative use of the widescreen image. This may be only a low-budget thriller and the twists may be a bit mechanical (if ingenious) but there is a polished sheen to the film that compensates for the basic absurdity of the premise (the plans of the conspirators are full of holes and incredibly unlikely to succeed).” Tipping My Fedora
“It doesn’t push the limits of the horror of personality subgenre (Hitchcock still remains the master) and it has been unfairly overshadowed by the studio’s color monster movies, but it does give the psychological horror film a heavy gothic makeover, throws in some “ghosts,” and petrifies anyone who hates creepy old dolls. Bonus points for the rich use of black and white film.” Steve Habrat, Anti-Film School
“Nightmare, despite all evidence to the contrary, ends up being one of Hammer’s most well-crafted and influential films. It is one of the few horror films that have actually surprised me and kept me guessing right up until the end. I highly recommend it for all fans of classic horror and people of good suspense.” Jenn Dlugos, Classic-Horror.com
“Little of it would work without effective cinematography, which fortunately is first rate. Nightmare’s gaudy use of light and shadow is reminiscent of Ealing’s Dead of Night, even from the opening scene during which an asylum corridor becomes something far more sinister and claustrophobic. It’s yet more effective later in the film, when another character begins to experience the ‘hauntings’ for herself. Though she’s a tougher nut than Janet, she starts to crack, an endless stream of cigarettes reflecting her feeble efforts to keep her mind off the nightmares that are all too real. With each ‘incident’ the camera angles become increasingly bizarre.” The Big Whatsit
Choice dialogue:
“Where does the dream finish and reality begin?”
“Mummy was very ill.”
Cast:
- David Knight as Henry Baxter
- Moira Redmond as Grace Maddox
- Jennie Linden as Janet
- Brenda Bruce as Mary Lewis
- George A. Cooper (Doomwatch; Dracula Has Risen from the Grave) as John
- Clytie Jessop as Woman in White
- Irene Richmond as Mrs. Gibbs
- John Welsh as Doctor
- Timothy Bateson as Barman
Filming locations:
Wikipedia | IMDb | Tipping My Fedora
