punishmentpark Directed by Jimmy Sangster, who wrote loads for the Hammer Studios (e.g. The Curse of Frankenstein en Dracula), and made his third and last feature film with this one.For starters, Judy Geeson is very easy on the eyes. Next there is the fine atmosphere throughout the film ('70s outdoor shots of pre-autumn woods, English houses and the bit along the highway). The premise is one that keeps the mystery aspect going for quite a long time - for some it might be a bit dull, for others (like myself) it just works. The first twist to me was quite surprising and strong (total credibility not included), but the next twist concerning the professor striking back was a little too much out there; I'd have preferred a more sober and harsh thriller-like approach / confrontation.But quite pleasing, all in all.

Jonathon Dabell Fear In The Night is a late entry in Hammer's sub-genre of contemporary psychological thrillers. While most commonly remembered for its Gothic horrors, the studio frequently tried its hand at other stuff (historical swashbucklers, prehistoric adventures, TV comedy spin-offs, sci-fi, etc.) Their modern-based thrillers include such movies as Taste Of Fear, The Maniac, Nightmare, Crescendo and Straight On Till Morning. Fear In The Night marks the final time Hammer regular Jimmy Sangster directed a film for the studio, and he brings a reasonably intriguing sense of mystery to the proceedings. It's a very low-key, low-budget affair – almost along the lines of a filmed stage play – and when you've seen it once it's not a film that encourages repeat viewings (without the fun of anticipating the twist in the tail, there's not much else to it).Recovering from a nervous breakdown, pretty but vulnerable Peggy (Judy Geeson) marries a charming school teacher, Robert Heller (Ralph Bates). She plans to move into a house with Robert inside the grounds of the well-to-do public school where he works. However, shortly before the move, Peggy is assaulted by a mysterious assailant. She blacks out during the attack, but before she faints she manages to pull off the attacker's false arm. Later, a still-jittery Peggy arrives at her new home at the school. Here she meets the Headmaster's wife, Molly Carmichael (Joan Collins), an abrupt and bitchy type who instantly makes Peggy feel less than welcome. She also meets the Headmaster, Michael Carmichael (Peter Cushing). Michael demonstrates some downright eccentric behaviour, such as teaching in empty classrooms and playing tape recordings of pupils' voices… but none of that is as disturbing to Peggy as the realisation that Michael has a false arm….The four main characters are quite nicely played overall. Geeson is surrounded by some pretty heavyweight talent but she rises to the role very well; Bates creates an interesting characterisation in a rare contemporary role; Collins (an actress I usually really dislike) is particularly memorable as the film's super-bitch; and ever-reliable Cushing only gets around ten minutes of screen time but makes every second of it count in his pivotal guest cameo. The story unfolds slowly – sometimes too slowly? – but generates intrigue on the whole. There's a nicely controlled atmosphere thanks to the secluded deserted-school locale, and Sangster clearly relishes punctuating the story with various red herrings and open-ended exchanges of dialogue. The twist, when it comes, is rather clever. As noted earlier, though, the twist also provides the film with its main appeal… so once the audience is "in" on the film's secret there aren't many reasons to watch it again. Overall, Fear In The Night is a competently made but undistinguished suspenser in the 'Diabolique' mould.

Paul Andrews Fear in the Night starts as Peggy Heller (Judy Geeson) is set to leave London & join her new husband Robert (Ralph Bates) in the country at a boarding school where he works, however the night before she is due to leave Peggy is attacked in her bathroom by someone with a false arm. No-one believes her though & she decides to just forget about it, once at the boarding school which is empty due to the end of term Peggy meets the strange headmaster Michael Carmichael (Peter Cushing) who has a false arm & his overbearing wife Molly (Joan Collins). Soon after arriving Peggy is attacked again by the mysterious person with a false arm, Peggy puts two & two together & suspects Michael. Is she right? If so what does Michael intend to do? Why attack her & what does he want...This English production was co-written, produced & directed by Hammer studios regular Jimmy Sangster after he made the disastrous The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) & Lust for a Vampire (1971), realising that their popular classic monsters like Dracula & Frankenstein weren't doing the business at the box office anymore Hammer studios made film just like Fear in the Night to try & branch out & expand with mixed results. I mean if you hear the name Hammer studios you instantly think Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Frankenstein & Dracula not Judy Geeson & Fear in the Night. The script by Sangster & Michael Syson is a psycho thriller with plenty of twists rather than a straight horror, I would say it's worth a watch & the story is good but it's not perfect & has zero replay value as once you know the twists (if you buy the DVD don't watch the trailer before you watch the feature proper as it gives the whole plot away) it loses any surprise or impact that it had. The character's are alright although I have to say some of them are rather gullible & do things which are hard to believe, I mean how could two people marry & one of them not ever see where the other lived? For the plan to work Peggy needed to be fooled but what if those not involved with the plan told her the truth, be it by accident or not? The last thirty minutes has plenty of twists & turns that come thick & fast some of which are highly improbable & a little difficult to swallow, I think maybe that there's one contrived twist too many. Still a good mystery thriller to watch as a one off though & I did like it overall.Director Sangster does alright but instead of the trademark Hammer horror Victorian period setting Fear in the Night takes place during contemporary Britain, there's a nice early 70's dated but fun look to it & the big school is a period building so in that regard maybe it's not quite as far from the Victorian set classics as I first thought. There's absolutely no gore or violence (although a rabbit is shot by Joan Collins) or nudity so don't expect any, any & all shock value in Fear in the Night comes from the twists & turns in the story. The opening sequence is very good, probably the best in the whole film actually where angelic children are singing on the soundtrack as the camera pans across a picturesque English field & stops on a pair of swinging feet belonging to someone who is hanging from a tree!Technically the film is good with nice locations, good cinematography & decent production values. The acting is pretty good as well, despite near top billing Peter Cushing only gets about five minutes of screen time with Joan Collins faring little better & she doesn't even appear in the film until past the forty minute mark. Collins made this when her career was at an all time low & after she found success again in Dynasty (1981 - 1989) Fear in the Night was re-released on video to capitalize under the title Dynasty of Fear! Strange but apparently true. Geeson is sort of cute while Bates has a horrible 70's haircut.Fear in the Night is an entertaining thriller with a fair amount of twists which aren't overly new or original (even back in 1972) but work well enough. A little silly & not really scary or anything it's just about clever enough & the last third has plenty of twists to keep you interested.

ferbs54 "Fear in the Night" is a somewhat contrived and lesser Hammer picture from 1972 that somehow still manages to work up a fair amount of suspense and one or two chilling moments. The film concerns young Peggy Heller (excellently portrayed by Judy Geeson), who, after suffering a nervous breakdown, moves with her new teacher husband to a large, private boys' school on 1,200 acres of English countryside. Poor Peggy is soon made the victim of a string of attacks by a stalker with a prosthetic hand, and her lot is hardly made more comfortable by the presence of the very strange headmaster (Peter Cushing) or his haughty young wife (Joan Collins). The film builds to a surprise ending of sorts that probably won't surprise many, especially those viewers who have already seen a certain classic Vincent Price horror movie from 1958. Still, the film does offer some compensations, including very fine performances by the actors just mentioned, as well as by Ralph Bates, playing Peggy's husband. Viewers will appreciate just how fine the acting is, perhaps, after a second viewing, with a greater knowledge of all the characters' secret motivations. The film also offers some beautiful scenery, both in terms of the autumnal Hertfordshire countryside AND Ms. Collins herself. Thirty-nine years old here, and nine years prior to incarnating TV's ultimate bitch on wheels, Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter, etc. on "Dynasty," she really is quite gorgeous to look at. (Sadly, she and Cushing, though playing man and wife, share no screen time whatsoever in this picture.) But the film belongs to Geeson, who appears in every single scene (with one major exception). Just five years after her "To Sir, With Love" debut, she turns in a very credible and ingratiating performance. Indeed, it is the sterling acting by all four principals that elevates this rather pedestrian thriller into something quite admirable indeed.