Michael_Elliott The Premonition (1976) ** (out of 4) Andrea (Ellen Barber) lost custody of her child but with the help of a circus performer (Richard Lynch) she plans to kidnap her. The adopted mother (Sharon Farrell) goes through some horrifying events as her child comes under attack from her original mother who is using ESP.THE PREMONITION has picked up a small cult following over the years thanks in large part to some positive press from critics and historians like Stephen Thrower. Before Thrower somewhat rescued the film, it suffered a pretty bad reputation as horror fans really ripped it apart but I'm going to go out and say that they were a bit too harsh. There's no question that the film is very flawed but at the same time there are enough interesting moments to make it worth watching.There are some effective things scattered throughout Robert Allen Schnitzer's film. This includes a very chilling sequence where the adopted mother walks into a room to check on the daughter only to find her in the arms of a mysterious woman. I'd also argue that the director creates a pretty good atmosphere that runs throughout the picture. Another major plus is that the performances are actually very good with Barber stealing the picture as the mother who wants her daughter back. I also liked Lynch in his role as well as Jeff Corey who plays the Detective.As far as the film's problems go, the majority of them are in the screen writing department. The film just gets bogged down with way too much plot and before long things get rather confusing. I think the screenwriter was trying to do too much in regards to the mystery and it just doesn't work in the end. Another problem is the stuff dealing with the ESP and the professor who is helping things. As it stands, THE PREMONITION is certainly worth watching but I think the horror crowd should probably stay away since it's really not a horror movie.

udar55 A suburban couple (Sharon Farrell and Edward Bell) find their lives in danger when a psycho woman (Ellen Barber) and her carny clown boyfriend (Richard Lynch) attempt to kidnap their adopted daughter. Naturally, the daughter is really hers and was taken away when she was locked up in a mental institution. But what our villains don't count on is the adoptive mother having some ESP tendencies that will foil their escape plans. This is an odd thriller. Parts of it are really well made and other parts are really muddled. Director-writer Robert Allen Schnitzer has the germ of a great idea in here, but doesn't seem entirely convinced by even his own ideas. For example, the parapsychology stuff isn't given much detail and even when a doctor specializing in it enters the picture, you're still not sure of what she is talking about. This brings us scenes like the doctor saying stuff to Farrell like, "Just let it flow" and that results in a painting crying blood. Cool visual, but does it really mean anything? Worth seeing for some creepy dream sequences and an early performance from Richard Lynch.

HumanoidOfFlesh A neurotic Andrea Fletcher(Ellen Barber)returns from a mental institution.The woman is looking for her daughter Janie.With the help of a circus employee Jude(Richard Lynch)Andrea wants to kidnap the girl from her adoptive parents.But the plan goes wrong and the supernatural visions begin...I can't believe that Robert Allen Schnitzer's "The Premonition" is rated so low.The script is imaginative as it delves into the bond of motherhood,telepathy and precognition.The acting is strong,the direction by Schnitzer is competent and there is some powerful suspense.The shock moments are very effective for example the scene where Andrea in a red evening gown slips into Janie's bedroom is very eerie and sad.A must-see for fans of "The Brood" and "Don't Look Now".8 out of 10.

gridoon Incredibly muddled, off-putting and ultimately ludicrous ("the horses, oh my God, the horses!") thriller. It's creepy at times, but it has one of the worst scripts ever written for a horror film. Watch how in the final 10 minutes everybody "magically" does exactly what the plot needs for the "resolution" to occur. Bland performances by the leads, a typically eccentric one by Richard Lynch. The video transfer is a real hack job, cutting scenes in half and making the movie even more difficult to understand. 0 out of 4 stars.