4K Ultra HD Review – Terror in the Night (1972)

      Fear in the Night, 1972.

      Directed by Jimmy Sangster.

      Cast: Judy Geeson, Joan Collins, Ralph Bates, Peter Cushing, Gillian Lind, James Cossins.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Upon relocating to a private boys' school where her husband works as a teacher, a young woman is attacked by a one-armed assailant, yet no one believes her.

      Hammer fans are currently enjoying a golden era, thanks to the revival of Hammer Films releasing impressive 4K UHD box sets, alongside StudioCanal upgrading their titles to UHD. Following their excellent releases of Horror of Frankenstein and Scars of Dracula last year, StudioCanal has now focused on one of Hammer’s lesser-known films, Fear in the Night from 1972.

      Newlyweds Peggy (Judy Geeson) and Robert (Ralph Bates) are about to move from London to the countryside private school where Robert teaches. However, the night before their departure, Peggy is attacked by a mysterious figure with a prosthetic arm, but Robert remains skeptical about the assault.

      They proceed to the school, where Peggy meets headmaster Michael (Peter Cushing) and his wife Molly (Joan Collins). While hearing the sounds of boys talking, Peggy decides to explore the seemingly deserted school, encountering only Michael who shows her around. Still unsettled, Peggy faces another assault from the one-armed attacker, but Robert's sympathy dwindles, as does Molly's, while Michael's overly pleasant demeanor raises suspicions. Thankfully, a shotgun is on hand…

      As Hammer's final psychological horror/thriller, Fear in the Night was both written and directed by Jimmy Sangster, who admitted he was tired of reworking the French classic Les Diaboliques for the studio, having already scripted films like Taste of Fear, Paranoiac, Maniac, and Nightmare, all centered around the theme of individuals going mad for selfish gain. Fear in the Night follows a similar path, but Sangster's exhaustion manifests in its lack of surprises for those familiar with his earlier works. Besides Peter Cushing's presence lending some credibility, the other actors also seem somewhat disengaged.

      In the audio commentary, Sangster reveals that Joan Collins was difficult to work with due to her being pregnant but not disclosing it, which complicated things for the wardrobe team. He also had to instruct her on how to shoot a rabbit for her introduction scene, something that understandably caused her discomfort. Ralph Bates, often seen trying to overshadow Peter Cushing, here appears lackluster, showing little connection to the material, largely due to a script that offers him little until the final moments, by which point Peggy's relatively mild character has become grating enough that viewers may not be entirely against him.

      This leaves Peter Cushing to inject the film with the classic Hammer essence, which he does, though his screen time is limited and his absence creates a charisma void. He does, however, contribute the film's memorable image with his broken round glasses, which may seem amusing until one realizes its context, providing one of the few genuinely dangerous moments in the film.

      Accompanied by a 64-page booklet, replica press kits, and two posters, StudioCanal has enhanced the package with enticing extras, including insights from the knowledgeable Kim Newman, two audio commentaries—one featuring Jimmy Sangster with historian Marcus Hearn, the other with historian Troy Howarth—and an archival featurette from the previous Blu-ray release with contributions from Jonathan Rigby, Kevin Lyons, and others.

      Overall, Fear in the Night serves as a modest psychological horror but unfortunately pales in comparison to Hammer’s prior works in the genre, such as Taste of Fear and Paranoiac. For those unfamiliar with those films, starting with this one might be advisable, as viewing them chronologically may lead to diminishing enjoyment. If you already possess the previous Blu-ray, the upgrade to 4K UHD might not justify the difference in picture quality, making the extras the primary incentive for collectors. Nevertheless, being a Hammer film, it adds to the collection, especially with some striking artwork for your shelf.

      Flickering Myth Rating –Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward