Hysteria

4/1/19651h 25m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ TERRIFYING SUSPENSE ...it will shock you out of your seat! ~

Overview:

An American wakes up in an English hospital unable to remember anything of his life before a recent car accident. With only a photograph torn from a newspaper to guide him, and an unknown benefactor, he attempts to unravel what looks increasingly like a bizarre murder.

Director:

Freddie Francis

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

amnesia
hysteria
femme fatale
psychological thriller
car accident
photograph
american abroad
tape recording
psychotherapy
set up
false memory
secret benefactor
psychotronic film
gaslighting
fashion model

Cast

Robert Webber

~ as ~

Chris Smith

Anthony Newlands

~ as ~

Dr. Keller

Jennifer Jayne

~ as ~

Gina McConnell

Maurice Denham

~ as ~

Hemmings

Lelia Goldoni

~ as ~

Denise James

Peter Woodthorpe

~ as ~

Marcus Allan

Sandra Boize

~ as ~

English Girl

Sue Lloyd

~ as ~

French Girl

Marianne Stone

~ as ~

Miss Grogan

Irene Richmond

~ as ~

Mrs. Keller

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 12 year(s) ago
7
No hysterical histrionics here, just solid hysteria.

Hysteria is directed by Freddie Francis and written by Jimmy Sangster. It stars Robert Webber, Anthony Newlands, Jennifer Jayne, Maurice Denham and Lelia Gordon. Music is by Don Banks and cinematography by John Wilcox.

From the long line of Hammer Thrillers with one word titles that followed in the wake of Psycho, Hysteria is a decent addition to the roster. Plot in simple terms finds Webber as Chris Smith, a survivor of a car crash who is suffering with amnesia. Upon finding out some mysterious benefactor has been footing the hospital bills for him, he is naturally intrigued as to who it is. Following the bare minimum of clues, while struggling with angry voices he hears in his head, Smith finds himself in a vortex of mystery and shifty shenanigans.

What follows is a monochrome murder mystery laced with psychopathic tendencies, paranoia, dangerous attractions, twists and extended flashbacks. It’s all a bit flimsy if you wanted to dissect it as a viable story, but Sangster comes up with some good ideas in the name of entertainment, and Francis is able to eek out suspense at regular intervals. Cast are fine, including the sometimes maligned Webber who sits the role well, while Denham offers up a good one as the detective who is not to be taken lightly.

Good solid twisty thriller from Hammer. 7/10