Post by dirtypillows on Oct 25, 2018 1:33:46 GMT
Betsy's death was very upsetting for me and for the exact same reasons as you cited. She was so sweet and kind and upbeat that her death had genuine emotional impact. Plus, Belinda Balaski is just so likeable, anyway.
Lorna's death was truly horrifying and vile and, to be honest with you, I wish I had never seen it. The way she says "Mommy" makes it even more upsetting and awful. I did not enjoy seeing Dawn Weiner suffer anymore than she'd suffered in "Welcome to the Dollhouse". If it had been one of the other two girls who'd died in this way, I'm pretty sure I would not have been quite so upset.
Farmer Vincent - I would just as soon not see good-natured Vincent bite it, but I guess all good things must come to an end.
Mrs. Spool - I didn't have much of a reaction to her death either way, though I will say Norman really does know how to bring a shovel down on someone's head. If anything, I was upset that Norman had reverted back to an unsane state. Because I had been so happy for him to have found some peace of mind. Can't help but like Norman.
With Lila, it was more the impact of the presentation of her death scene. Bear in mind, I was only a mid teen when this came out and it was the start of my slasher phase interest and was getting into to see films with restricted ratings on them, which I was too young previously to see.
I had seen a still of her screaming face and when it happened in the film and was put into context of the narrative, I was thinking, are they really going to show her getting stabbed in the gob and if they do, will it look realistic. I did not expect the film to even go there. It was brutal and graphic and sensationally presented. Lila's personality and her character to me were irrelevant at the time. I cannot think of other on-screen deaths that have this same wow factor. This is only from my own personal perspective and from my own catalogue of what I had seen previously. I still find nothing much to top it and it was also a very original death as well, because it was also very random.
Mrs. Spool had a similar impact on me, because the film was almost over but not quite. It was the presentation again. I have seen other films with people getting whacked on the head with shovels, but again, none that match this.
You know there is something every so slightly unlikeable about Vera Miles. It is very subtle, but I think it's there. And it worked to wonderful advantage in what I think is her best performance, as murderous beauty mogul, Viveca Scott, in "Columbo" 3rd season opener, the delightful "Lovely, but Lethal". Miles is an absolute hoot! Her hairdo alone makes the show worth watching!