John Hancock, "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" (1971)
Most likely you've never heard of director John Hancock, nor have you seen his Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971). Likewise you probably haven't watched many films starring Zohra Lampert and/or Barton Heyman. Maybe you caught Lampert in Stanley and Iris, or Heyman in one of his bit parts in movies like The Basketball Diaries, Roadside Prophets, or Awakenings. You probably couldn't call up a mental image of either of these actors, even if you find the name vaguely familiar. I think the anonymity of the players makes Let's Scare Jessica to Death an effective study of psychological breakdown and small-town creepiness.
The film concerns the exploits of a common law couple and their friend, as they flee NYC for life in the countryside. The husband (Heyman) is a successful symphonic musician who has realized his dream of buying an apple orchard and farm. His wife (Lampert- the titular "Jessica") has recently completed a six-month stint at a mental hospital for an ailment that is left unspecified. Woody (played by Kevin O'Connor) is along for the ride, and willing to help his friends realize their bucolic dream.
Right from the start we know that the placid future these folks pursue is clearly not to be. Considering the title of the film, we could hardly think otherwise. But we work our way through the carefree hope of the beginning. It doesn't take long before the viewer realizes that this hapless trio has moved to an unwelcome place. For some reason, the town that their farm is near is populated solely by old men who hate hippies. Our heroes aren't especially crunchy, but they are clearly not rural folk either. No big deal... they aren't going to be spending much time in town anyway. They quickly learn that they are going to have company to fill out their little party at the homestead. A strange young woman has been squatting on their newly-purchased property.
Things proceed apace, and we see some sexual tensions develop among the principals. This drama is a bit of a sideshow and (perhaps) a red herring. Meanwhile Jessica is starting to drift back into insanity. She's seeing some weird stuff, and hearing voices too. Of course she's a bit too curious for her own good, and starts learning some of the history of the property. This doesn't lessen the frequency or intensity of her bouts with emotional fragility. The true nature of both the "strange young woman" and the townspeople is slowly revealed, and the relationship between husband and wife is thus strained.
The title of the movie is never far from the awareness of the viewer. Yet as the plot progresses, one wonders just how appropriate the choice was. What is the nature of the hauntings that Jessica alone experiences? Is she simply batty, or is everyone else missing something real? This mystery is the fun part of Let's Scare Jessica to Death. Otherwise, there is a lot about this movie that is unsettling. The score is disturbing in that retro early-70's way, and it is so frequently relied upon that it is almost overused. We are cued constantly about what to expect. The setting is shot in muted tones and adds an atmosphere of subtle dread. While much of the cast is spotty, I believed in the psychological instability of Lampert's portrayal of Jessica. She ultimately makes the film with her very convincing madness.
The film concerns the exploits of a common law couple and their friend, as they flee NYC for life in the countryside. The husband (Heyman) is a successful symphonic musician who has realized his dream of buying an apple orchard and farm. His wife (Lampert- the titular "Jessica") has recently completed a six-month stint at a mental hospital for an ailment that is left unspecified. Woody (played by Kevin O'Connor) is along for the ride, and willing to help his friends realize their bucolic dream.
Right from the start we know that the placid future these folks pursue is clearly not to be. Considering the title of the film, we could hardly think otherwise. But we work our way through the carefree hope of the beginning. It doesn't take long before the viewer realizes that this hapless trio has moved to an unwelcome place. For some reason, the town that their farm is near is populated solely by old men who hate hippies. Our heroes aren't especially crunchy, but they are clearly not rural folk either. No big deal... they aren't going to be spending much time in town anyway. They quickly learn that they are going to have company to fill out their little party at the homestead. A strange young woman has been squatting on their newly-purchased property.
Things proceed apace, and we see some sexual tensions develop among the principals. This drama is a bit of a sideshow and (perhaps) a red herring. Meanwhile Jessica is starting to drift back into insanity. She's seeing some weird stuff, and hearing voices too. Of course she's a bit too curious for her own good, and starts learning some of the history of the property. This doesn't lessen the frequency or intensity of her bouts with emotional fragility. The true nature of both the "strange young woman" and the townspeople is slowly revealed, and the relationship between husband and wife is thus strained.
The title of the movie is never far from the awareness of the viewer. Yet as the plot progresses, one wonders just how appropriate the choice was. What is the nature of the hauntings that Jessica alone experiences? Is she simply batty, or is everyone else missing something real? This mystery is the fun part of Let's Scare Jessica to Death. Otherwise, there is a lot about this movie that is unsettling. The score is disturbing in that retro early-70's way, and it is so frequently relied upon that it is almost overused. We are cued constantly about what to expect. The setting is shot in muted tones and adds an atmosphere of subtle dread. While much of the cast is spotty, I believed in the psychological instability of Lampert's portrayal of Jessica. She ultimately makes the film with her very convincing madness.
posted by Merge Divide at 5:15 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home