Der Todesschrei (1978)
43KDer Todesschrei: Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. With Alan Bates, Susannah York, John Hurt, Robert Stephens. A traveller by the name of Crossley forces himself upon a musician and his wife in a lonely part of Devon, and uses the aboriginal magic he has learned to displace his host.
“During a cricket game in the grounds of an asylum, patient Charles Crossley is telling a story to his opposite scorekeeper Robert. He tells of how he came across musician Anthony Fielding outside church one day, and he invited back home for dinner. Over dinner he tells Anthony and his wife Rachael that of his last two decades of living in the Australian outback, where he learned many spells from the aboriginal witch doctors and one being the shout. It can cause instant death when heard. Soon Charles settles into the homestead, where he has Anthony and Rachael under his thumb, as he fears him and sheu0026#39;s infatuated by him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWeird, baffling and truly novel passes through my mind whenever I watch this sedately complex, courageous and alienating late 70u0026#39;s British experimental thriller. The way it has layer upon layer, goes on to ambitiously build a minor and gripping structure, which its inspired psychological strangle hold and mystical air takes shape as to how genuine the pieces are and if they do come together. Does it make sense? Well, itu0026#39;s hard to say what the bigger picture means, but it is indeed curiously haunting, daunting and truly unpredictable. The non-linear story and compact script chips away with plenty of cryptic messages inter-cutting the soft, dream-like touch brought on by director Jerzy Skolimowski. He gives the film such an hypnotic appeal amongst its arty brushes, where its swirling electronic score peaks in the right places and Mick Molloyu0026#39;s sublime framing emits elegant photography work. Those scenes involving the u0026#39;shoutu0026#39; are lethal, and only increase to the lurking eeriness created by top-notch sound FX. Visually the film has a powerful, isolated and lush setting that works with the storyu0026#39;s spiritual and supernatural journey. The three lead performances are sensational, but itu0026#39;s Alan Bates who dominates the show with his startling and obscure turn as the tramp/patient. John Hurt as the downtrodden turned bewitched composer gives in a stellar performance and Susanna York, as his wife is also great. The talented Tim Curry shows up in a small, but effective role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eQuite an unusual puzzle, which is strangely compelling, unique and very well made.”
