Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1971)

Wasted Potential, 13 August 2005

Auntie Roo is crazy. The opening scenes leave little to the imagination as to her mental state. The movie begins with Auntie Roo singing a lullaby to a little girl. As she finishes her song, the camera goes to a close-up of the child sleeping in bed. But there is no child. Only the mummified remains of what was once Auntie Roo's daughter.

Before I saw the movie, I had thought and hoped that with Shelly Winters playing the crazy Auntie Roo the movie would be a fun watch. But it doesn't live up to its potential. My biggest problem with Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? is that it never goes far enough in showing how mad Auntie Roo is. It's as if Auntie Roo's madness is allowed to reach a certain point and the director pulls it back in. That's not to say there aren't some moments of fun to be had watching the crazy Auntie Roo racing around the house in her mourning clothes, complete with black veil. But there aren't enough of these moments. The only thing that might have saved Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? would have been to allow things to go over the top and into the realm of camp and absurdity. As it is, it's all too tame and rather dull.

Another thing that might have helped the movie would have been to reveal just how insane Auntie Roo is later in the movie. Unfortunately, we see Auntie Roo at her most batty right from the beginning. Once you've seen Auntie Roo put the mummified body of her child to bed, you aren't really shocked at some of the other things she's capable of. Saving the revelation to end would have created the opportunity for more surprises and tension throughout the movie.

4/10