A slow-moving psychodrama from the Hammer stable, this was the last of the Hammer psycho-thrillers (probably due to the law of diminishing returns). Although the film is flawed, there is still a considerable amount of fun to be had with the twisting plot as alliances change throughout the film. It's also good fun to watch actors and actresses from a typically period setting act in a contemporary setting like this. The acting in this film keeps the interest throughout. Judy Geeson has a good stab at a less than sympathetic lead role, but Ralph Bates is too morose and feels tedious whenever he's around. Better still are Joan Collins, having a ball as one of her bitchy characters, and Peter Cushing is also on hand as the crippled, one-armed headmaster of the school, and he's great as always, stealing every scene in an enjoyably sinister role. His presence is felt even when he's not on screen.
While the film is hardly original - the premise had already been done by Hammer many times before - and offers up nothing new in the way of suspense, there are some chills to be had, mainly in the scenes in the deserted school, while recordings of the children play in the background. There is little gore on offer, apart from a shot rabbit; this film works on suspense instead. For many fans this is going to be a turn-off, mainly because of the slow pace. For the first hour not much really happens and things are over-simplistic, it's not until the final half an hour that things hot up and become quite exciting. Is the climax worth waiting for? I'd say so, but then again I'm biased in this film's favour, in that I like the cast so much.
While the film is hardly original - the premise had already been done by Hammer many times before - and offers up nothing new in the way of suspense, there are some chills to be had, mainly in the scenes in the deserted school, while recordings of the children play in the background. There is little gore on offer, apart from a shot rabbit; this film works on suspense instead. For many fans this is going to be a turn-off, mainly because of the slow pace. For the first hour not much really happens and things are over-simplistic, it's not until the final half an hour that things hot up and become quite exciting. Is the climax worth waiting for? I'd say so, but then again I'm biased in this film's favour, in that I like the cast so much.