University of Virginia Library

CINEMA

Predictable But Enjoyable Terror

By Paul Chaplin
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The easiest way to describe
"Sudden Terror" is to say it
borrows some of the more
successful attempts of conveying
terror on the screen and puts 'em
all together into one ninety minute
film. The neat thing about the film
is that despite its predictability it
does come off and does raise a few
chills.

As you watch the film you'll
recognize elements from
Hitchcock's old "Panic" television
show, as well as some bits from
"Twilight Zone," "Mission:
Impossible," and "Z." That's quite
a selection, but Ronald Harwood's
script borrows nicely and moves
along at a brisk pace, so most of the
borrowing isn't too obvious.

When the story does bog down
in the second half it is saved by the
amusing acting talents of Lionel
Jeffries. His role as the grandfather,
a retired army colonel, is the best
written part in the film. Tony
Bonner and Susan George play the
romantic lends, and they work well
with Jeffries. The star, according to
the credits, is Mark Lester, who
starred in "Oliver!." I didn't care
much for him then, I think because
I couldn't stand his singing. In
"Sudden Terror," he has little
dialogue and an undemanding role
namely an extremely frightened
young boy, and he is an extremely
frightened young boy.

The real star of the film is
director John Hough. His camera
work is so obvious that it borders
on being an essay in technique. In
this type of film, however, you
won't mind the split-focus, the use
of zoom lens, the weird angles, or
the uneven hand-held camera. Like
"Z," much of the credit for the
director's success belongs to the
editor and director of photography.

It might have been more
shocking if we didn't discover the
assassin the same time Lester does,
but that's a highly trivial and
personal wish. "Sudden Terror"
may not be the most subtle terror
film you'll ever see, and I doubt the
last ten minutes of the film will
scare you as much as make you
laugh a bit. But anyway, the film is
an interesting change from the fare
that's been around lately, and it
might even scare your date.

(Now at the University)