"Hag Horrors"

[Snarky's Ghost]

STRAIT-JACKET is one of those films that is far more fun to think about, or read about, than actually watch. It's remarkable just how poor it is -- not even something strong and definite, like "bad". I know some profess to enjoy it has a campy romp, but I don't see it. It has its moments, but they're fleeting; mostly, it's drab and inept. Other than the brazen chutzpah of a 60 year old Joan, sashaying around like the hottest young thing in f*** me pumps.

Castle supposedly wanted it to be his masterpiece -- the star of BABY JANE and the wrier of PSYCHO (the book, unfortunately, not the movie) and yet he turns in the tackiest, laziest film he'd ever done -- and that's no small feat, given how meager the talents of William Castle were.

So many scenes just trail off with pointless lines like, "You understand, don't you?," in classic B-movie stupidity.

And no subjective camera leading into the prologue murder of Heath Barkley?? Talk about a director not being engaged!

 

[TJames03]

“WHTBJ?” and “HHSC” were the best!!!!!

 

[Snarky's Ghost]

“WHTBJ?” and “HHSC” were the best!!!!!

Totally. Although THE NANNY and, years later, NIGHT WATCH were awfully good, small entries in the genre. And DEAD RINGER was lots of fun, too, what with the stuffed great dane which mauled and killed Peter Lawford.

 

[Snarky's Ghost]

 

[TJames03]

So, I should not watch “SJ”? Just keep it in my mind?

 

[Snarky's Ghost]

So, I should not watch “SJ”? Just keep it in my mind?

You should see it once.

 

[Snarky's Ghost]

Even Aretha tackles the theme to HHSC at about 03:30 ...

 

[Caproni]

I think I'd call it "Hornet's Nest" like the evil twin's beehive hair.

It would've been a better hasploitation vehicle for Crawford than STRAIT-JACKET or BERSERK that she was doing around the same time. ​

 

[Caproni]

Maybe if this sub-genre were to strongly reemerge, the likes of Cher and Madonna could tackle it? Maybe for once Madonna would finally be okay for being bad. ​

 

[Willie Oleson]