Directed by:
William CastleScreenplay:
Robert BlochCinematography:
Arthur E. ArlingComposer:
Van AlexanderCast:
Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson, Howard St. John, John Anthony Hayes, Rochelle Hudson, George Kennedy, Lee Majors, Edith Atwater, Mitchell Cox (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) spent twenty years in a psychiatric hospital after decapitating her husband and his lover with an axe - an act witnessed by her young daughter, Carol (Diane Baker). On her release, Lucy moves in with Carol and her husband Bill (Leif Erickson), but a series of horrific axe murders suggest she may not be entirely cured. Scripted by Robert Bloch, and infused with macabre humour, Strait-Jacket is one of William Castle’s best-loved films. (Powerhouse Films)
(more)Reviews (4)
In terms of form and acting, Strait-Jacket is a likeable old-school thriller, psychologically well told and acted, with deep trauma, axe murders, a pretty daughter and a young George Kennedy. It’s just a shame that it crosses the line into B-movie foolishness at the end with a would-be shocking twist that, in the way it negates all of the characters' previous behaviour, is basically an acknowledgement of the film’s sole and regrettably modest aim of only momentarily tricking the viewer.
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William Castle made very entertaining movies and it didn't even matter that they were such derivatives of Hitchcock, including the powerfully shocking twists, which aren't lacking here either. But I have to say that it was probably the only weak moment. Not that it wasn't surprising, but I was expecting a different plot direction at the end. If you're expecting some shocking moments, better ignore it. A few heads do get chopped off, but it all happens off-camera, or in one case in a millisecond, so don't really expect anything like the stabbing in Psycho. Joan Crawford gives a fantastic performance, stealing every scene for herself, though her film daughter is not far behind. My fourth William Castle film and probably the weakest, but still great fun.
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This is a typically enjoyable William Castle romp, unfortunately also one of the most transparent and least satisfying in its denouement. Certainly, this movie surprises more with a few scenes that are quite daring for the mid-sixties than with what I am reluctant to call a plot twist. However, with a likable cast and a generally old-school feel, it is still a very enjoyable watch.
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The combination of William Castle, Robert Bloch and Joan Crawford worked great and I watched Strait-Jacket with the satisfaction of watching something that was good, that actually tried to keep the viewer at least a little tense. Indeed, it's clear that William Castle took a lot of inspiration from the imagery of Psycho - the comparison is also there thanks to Bloch - but still, Strait-Jacket works very well as a horror film.
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