Paranoiac (1963)

Nice B&W Change-of-Pace from Hammer, 10 September 2005

Hammer may be best known for remakes of classic period horror, but I'm quickly realizing that some of their smaller black-and-white films are among the best they produced. Although my experience with these films is limited, I've enjoyed the few I've been able to see. The story in Paranoiac is not dissimilar to that of Scream of Fear (another B&W Hammer film I've reviewed) – A young girl is believed to be mad. She believes that she has seen her brother who is believed to have drowned some eight years previous. Is she really insane or is someone trying to push her over the edge? When her dead brother does make his return, it becomes increasingly obvious just who is insane.

There are a couple of things that make Paranoiac really stand out. The first is Oliver Reed. He has always been a favorite of mine and in Paranoiac he gives a first rate performance. Reed has a tendency to be an over-the-top scene-stealer whether the plot calls for it or not. Reed's understated performance throughout most of the movie is deftly handled and a joy to watch. It's only when the script calls for his character to chew the scenery that he actually does. Overall, it's a nice, restrained performance.

The second area where the movie excels is the cinematography. Replacing the garish colors Hammer was famous for are some very nice B&W compositions that are quite simply stunning. Regardless of whether you enjoy the plot or not, it would be difficult for anyone to argue how beautifully filmed Paranoiac is.

Finally, the plot twists are a lot of fun to watch as they unfold. While I may have seen part of what was coming, the final twist is expertly handled and really caught me off guard.

7/10