|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 4, 2017 22:53:18 GMT
The release of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane in 1962 started a whole new cinematic trend called the "Horror Hag" cycle. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford led the group, and both had a number of horror films under their belt before the cycle ended. There were several other veteran actors and actresses who revived their careers with "psycho biddy" roles. Tallulah Bankhead in "Die, Die, My Darling," Olivia de Havilland in "Lady in a Cage," her sister, Joan Fontaine in "The Devil's Own," Barbara Stanwyck in "The Night Walker," Debbie Reynolds in "What's the Matter with Helen," and several more.
The elements are usually always the same: older woman haunted by some tragic incident from her past--which either drives her insane, makes her a murderess and/or recluse, turns her into an infantile child, or she's the victim of someone else's insidious plot. There's violence, axe murders, butcher knives, blood, shovels connecting with unprotected heads, and lots of screaming. In the end, the horror hag is either liberated, arrested, killed or sent to an asylum.
Let's hear your favorites!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2017 2:59:36 GMT
The Screaming Woman (1972)
I was traumatized for the longest time. I watched it a few years ago for the first time since the early '70s and although now dated and the uneasiness feeling no longer present, I still understood how the film could easily freak folks out back during its time.
Based on a Rad Bradbury story, Olivia de Havilland is released from a mental hospital and back to reside in her estate. One day while walking about the grounds, she hears the moans (or screams) of a woman buried in the ground. Of course, nobody believes her because of her previous mental state.
I wouldn't be surprised that the scariest part of the film influenced Stephen King, and worked around that same idea in Carrie.
|
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 5, 2017 3:47:29 GMT
I remember watching The Screaming Woman. Olivia de Havilland really gave it her all, climbing over hills and crashing through the woods. Didn't this run sometime in the early 70s, maybe around 72? ABC used to run many interesting made for TV films, like this one. There was another with Barbara Stanwyck and Richard Egan, something about a haunted house (why do I think it was called "The House that Refused to Die?"). Great stuff.
My favorite horror hag film is Hammer's The Nanny, starring Bette Davis. Never get tired of watching it.
|
|
kaasa
Sophomore
@kaasa
Posts: 283
Likes: 72
 
|
Post by kaasa on Feb 20, 2017 3:51:31 GMT
Wasn't all of this already on IMDb's Horror board?
|
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 20, 2017 4:41:24 GMT
Wasn't all of this already on IMDb's Horror board? Probably. But that board doesn't exist anymore! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 5:07:51 GMT
Bette Davis is simply great in "The Nanny".
|
|
|
|
Post by alexhurricanehiggins on Feb 20, 2017 14:16:16 GMT
My favorite one is Strait-Jacket (1964) with Joan Crawford. Also op it was Shelley Winters who was nut in What's The Matter With Helen, Winters also played a nut in the TV movie Revenge (1971) which is pretty good.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2017 14:42:04 GMT
Hmmm... Thinking about it, would Friday the 13th (1980) fit this mold? I do know the style is completely different, but thinking about it, it kinda melds the Horror Hag into the shock slasher films of the late 70's / early 80's. Woman deranged from the death of her son over 20 years earlier killing off teens trying to reopen up the campground.
|
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 20, 2017 15:36:33 GMT
Yes, I would think the original Friday the 13th would. At the time, Betsy Palmer was known mostly for her game show appearances--at least, that's how I remember her. She'd acted before, I knew that, too, but I remember Ms. Palmer mostly from game shows like I've Got a Secret.
So to see this rather pleasant woman wielding a knife and getting her head lopped off...well, let's just say I never thought of Betsy Palmer the same way, after that.
So, yeah, the film fits the "horror hag" cycle.
|
|
Reynard
Sophomore
@reynard
Posts: 627
Likes: 291
|
Post by Reynard on Feb 20, 2017 15:54:30 GMT
My favorite one is Strait-Jacket (1964) with Joan Crawford. Also op it was Shelley Winters who was nut in What's The Matter With Helen, Winters also played a nut in the TV movie Revenge (1971) which is pretty good. Shelley Winters also did Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?, which is a sort of companion piece to What's The Matter With Helen? since both were made the same year and directed by Curtis Harrington. |
|
|
|
Post by alexhurricanehiggins on Feb 20, 2017 16:35:15 GMT
My favorite one is Strait-Jacket (1964) with Joan Crawford. Also op it was Shelley Winters who was nut in What's The Matter With Helen, Winters also played a nut in the TV movie Revenge (1971) which is pretty good. Shelley Winters also did Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?, which is a sort of companion piece to What's The Matter With Helen? since both were made the same year and directed by Curtis Harrington. I forgot about that one actually it's on my list. Winters two years also appeared in the TV movie The Devil's Daughter (1973) as the head of a satanic cult. I've heard she did a movie called Poor Pretty Eddie (1975) where her and her young lover kill folk. |
|
Reynard
Sophomore
@reynard
Posts: 627
Likes: 291
|
Post by Reynard on Feb 20, 2017 16:50:58 GMT
I've heard she did a movie called Poor Pretty Eddie (1975) where her and her young lover kill folk. I didn't remember Winters being in Poor Pretty Eddie. Good God. I wonder how she ended up in a shady production like that. Most people working on that film were porn movie regulars hoping to get a proper career while the producers was some sort of self-made mafia figure who later ended up on FBI's most wanted list. The movie is weird and sick in a way that only a no-budget 70s exploitation can be, but it's also surprisingly drama-oriented well directed. |
|
|
|
Post by alexhurricanehiggins on Feb 20, 2017 17:44:27 GMT
I've heard she did a movie called Poor Pretty Eddie (1975) where her and her young lover kill folk. I didn't remember Winters being in Poor Pretty Eddie. Good God. I wonder how she ended up in a shady production like that. Most people working on that film were porn movie regulars hoping to get a proper career while the producers was some sort of self-made mafia figure who later ended up on FBI's most wanted list. The movie is weird and sick in a way that only a no-budget 70s exploitation can be, but it's also surprisingly drama-oriented well directed. It also has Ted Cassidy who was in The Addams Family and Slim Pickens. From the IMDB trivia it says Winters was paid in cash and also that it was loosely based on a stage show she did. |
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 20, 2017 18:44:35 GMT
Shelley Winters was a hoot in stuff like "What's the Matter with Helen." The ending has to be seen to be believed, with Shelley pretending to pound away on the ivories.
Absolutely loved her in Night of the Hunter!
|
|
|
|
Post by alexhurricanehiggins on Feb 20, 2017 19:44:05 GMT
I've heard she did a movie called Poor Pretty Eddie (1975) where her and her young lover kill folk. I didn't remember Winters being in Poor Pretty Eddie. Good God. I wonder how she ended up in a shady production like that. Most people working on that film were porn movie regulars hoping to get a proper career while the producers was some sort of self-made mafia figure who later ended up on FBI's most wanted list. The movie is weird and sick in a way that only a no-budget 70s exploitation can be, but it's also surprisingly drama-oriented well directed. Okay so I watched Poor Pretty Eddie and I thought it was awful. |
|
|
|
Post by alexhurricanehiggins on Feb 20, 2017 19:45:03 GMT
Shelley Winters was a hoot in stuff like "What's the Matter with Helen." The ending has to be seen to be believed, with Shelley pretending to pound away on the ivories. Absolutely loved her in Night of the Hunter! Her and especially the kids spoiled my enjoyment of Night Of The Hunter. Still 7/10 but mostly due to Mitchum's performance. |
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 20, 2017 20:34:40 GMT
I confess to not liking "little Peawl," as she calls herself, but I thought Shelley and Billy Chapin were just great.
|
|
|
|
Post by fangirl1975 on Feb 20, 2017 22:06:33 GMT
Let's not forget Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. Bette Davis and Olivia DeHavilland starred in that one.
|
|
|
|
Post by lostinlimbo on Feb 21, 2017 10:26:59 GMT
'Nightwatch' (1973) with Elizabeth Taylor and Billie Whitelaw. It's typical fodder.
|
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Feb 21, 2017 13:23:37 GMT
Glad you mentioned Nightwatch. It appears to be typical fodder, up until a twist ending that really knocks the viewer for a loop!
|
|
