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13 out of 13 people found the following review useful: More of a character study then a thriller., 8 February 2002 Author: Rich359 (Rich359@netscape.net) from Los Angeles, California
Twisted Nerve is a rather well made film about a psychopathic young man who regresses to an infantile, rage filled personality when stressed or sexually atracted to another person. Released in the United States in 1968 by National General Pictures, the film was controversial for its suggested link between downs syndrome and psychopathology.The film was a box office disapointment probally because it was marketed as an axe-killer psycho movie, which it is not. Although there are a few shocking scenes, this film is a character study of a person damaged by his herediary and his overly protective, seductive mother.This film is nearly impossible to see if you didn't catch it in 1968. It was available from Thorn/Emi in Austraila, but I believe its OOP.
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Good psychological thriller with some outdated views... (SPOILERS!), 21 June 2002 Author: (deskman_83@hotmail.com) from Fort Lewis, Washington
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This film sparked some controversy upon release in '68 because of some psychobabble during the last third of the film where a doctor suggests that there may be a hereditary link between what was then known as mongolism (Down's Syndrome) and psychotic/criminal behavior. However, outside of this little red herring, a fairly good story and performances can be found underneath.The story revolves around a troubled rich young man named Martin Durnley (Bennett). Martin has an infantilizing mother and a mentally abusive father. For the duration of his life, Enid (his mum, played by Phyllis Calvert) has checked him for signs that he might not be "normal," like her institutionalized, mentally challenged son, whom she didn't bother giving a name to.What we soon learn about Martin is that he is autistic (which is suggested later in the film) or that he is schizophrenic. He obviously has a split personality; of that, the viewer can be sure. This personality's name is Georgie Clifford, a soft-spoken six-year-old who befriends Susan Harper (Mills), a student/librarian. He befriends her after she bails him out of having charges pressed against him. You see, "Georgie" stole a rubber duck from a toy store. At the time, he says its for himself, but later, as Martin, he tells his mother that he wants to take it to his brother.Martin's stepfather comes to the realization that this behavior has gone on far enough, and he offers to send Martin away (all expenses paid) to an around-the-world trip; he can either do that, or be thrown onto the street. Martin plays along with this for awhile, but then winds up at a boardinghouse, run by Susan and her mother, Joan (Billie Whitelaw, who won a British Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress). A couple of nights later, he returns to his old home and murders his stepfather with a pair of scissors. His presence there causes problems, and pretty soon Susan suggests that he should find another place to live. But wouldn't you know it, "Mr. Clifford" (Martin) calls the boardinghouse, saying that he wants to come and take Georgie on holiday.While Susan travels to London to find out more about this mysterious stranger, her mother tries to seduce Georgie, which causes him to go mad and bury a hatchet in her head. Luckily, her lover, Gerry (Barry Foster) finds her corpse and calls the police, but not before George and Susan have a climactic fight, which culminates in him attempting to rape her, following by his "killing" Martin (he shoots his own reflection in the mirror).After the police nab him, all that's left is Georgie. As he leaves a very traumatized Susan, we hear him in his cell (apparently at an asylum) singing her name in a singsong voice. The film ends, and Bernard Herrmann's "Psycho-esque" score plays in the background."Twisted Nerve" is a very good psychological drama, but because it is not politically correct (none of the characters ever use the term "mentally challenged" or even "Down's Syndrome." They simply opt for words like "mongol" and "mentally backward" to describe these people), it may not be liked by some audiences. Also, it doesn't help that it tries to link mental retardation with psychopathology. However, these obstacles aside, what the viewer has is a fairly good drama, with especially excellent performances by Hywel Bennett and Billie Whitelaw.The film was doomed upon its release, because, controversy aside, it was marketed as an axe-killer slasher flick. There are only two killings, and one occurs with a hatchet, not an axe. Oh, well, so much for reviving the then-sagging career of ex-Disney starlet Mills..."Twisted Nerve" is not rated, but contains violence, some sexual overtones, mature thematic elements, and some brief nudity and language.
12 out of 17 people found the following review useful: More of a character study than thriller, 10 February 2002 Author: Rich359 (Rich359@netscape.net) from Los Angeles, California
Twisted Nerve is a rather well made film that deals with the psychopathology of a 21 year old man. His illness is "triggered" when he leaves his troubled home (a rich demanding father and infantilizing mother) to live as a border in the home of a college student (Haley Mills) and her mother (Billie Whitelaw).The film works especially well when his sexuality is aroused by both Haley Mills and Billie Whitelaw, with disastrous results.The movie takes its time to unfold. Although it does have some shocking scenes, this film isn't your typical slasher/psycho movie, as the advertisements suggest, its much more than that.
12 out of 18 people found the following review useful: "The (exploitive) producers wish to express there is no scientific connection between Mongolism and criminal or psychotic behavior", 27 April 2002 Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca
After a hilarious built-in apologia from the producers (who took heat in Britain for implying that siblings of Mongoloids may be dangerous), this thriller about an English boarding-house beset with a psychopathic young man gets more and more ridiculous. I felt a little sorry for esteemed British actress Billie Whitelaw here (forced to come onto pasty-faced man-child Hywel Bennett as if he were a simpleton stud). Brighter aspects are a good performance by Hayley Mills as the pretty librarian who is befriended by Bennett; a weird, wonderful score by Bernard Herrmann; as well as some fancy camera tricks and editing. The picture is hard to locate, but is it worth the search? For Hayley Mills addicts, yes. All others looking for a good 1960s screamer, perhaps not. It apes Alfred Hitchcock well enough...until the convoluted script falls completely apart in the final stretch. **1/2 from ****
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: thriller in the Hitchcock style isn't bad, just has some strange ideas, 20 March 2007 Author: TheatreX from Louisville, KY
Hywell Bennet plays a young man who lives with his mother & stepfather, and while his stepfather wants him out and working, his mother babies him endlessly, perhaps because he was born "normal" and his brother suffers from Mongolism. Now, young Martin (Bennet) calls himself "Georgie" and feigns simple-mindedness to get closer to Susan (Hayley Mills) and worms his way into the family boarding house as a guest, who is quite harmless and sweet, sometimes, anyway. He does let his cover slip a couple times though, yet Susan isn't yet suspicious. Now, Martin has taken the time to slip out in the middle of the night and take out his stepfather with a pair of scissors and then slips back into his "Georgie" incarnation. And of course, Martin is supposed to be abroad in France so no one is the wiser, but at least a few people are suspicious. Eventually everything begins to come together and Susan is more than a little alarmed to find out that "Georgie" isn't what he seems at all, but by them it's a bit too late to be realizing all that, as Martin has been quite busy with sharp objects. This takes some time to get going, but it's not really bad once it does, and it's somewhat like Hitchcock's films in style. The music by Bernard Herman is probably somewhat responsible for that too, as he scored many of Hitchcock's films. The strange thing is that there's supposed to be some sort of connection between Mongolism and lunacy, as put forth by some doctor during the course of the film, and while in this case it might be true, it's not exactly very scientific. Still though, overlook that bit, because it's not vital to the enjoyment of the film. 7 out of 10.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Not worth the wait, 30 August 2007 Author: adriangr from United Kingdom
I have to agree with other critics of this film because after finally getting the chance to see it, I have realised it does not deliver on any level. The story opens with a disturbed man named Martin being caught stealing a toy from a department store. Following a later argument with his parents, he leaves home and sets up a clever deception built around an attractive girl named Susan (who he encountered while stealing the toy), conning her into thinking he's retarded and moving into her family's small guest house, while at the same time conning his parents into thinking he has taken a trip to Paris. Martin's behaviour is for the most part indecipherable, but one thing's for sure, it's all going to end in tears.The reason, I think, behind the film's failing, is it's pivotal explanation for why Martin is behaving abnormally, which is spurious in the extreme. Based around a medical condition, the film goes to great lengths to show learned doctors discussing just such a topic and how it might affect a sufferer. The trouble is that the script writers did not seem to know what "disturbed" traits to actually give the the character of Martin, so he simply acts erratically, inconsistently and ultimately homicidally just to make the plot exciting. The feeble reasoning behind his behaviour really dates the film, and I can only assume there must have been some research being done at around the time the film was made (1968) that inspired such ideas.At any rate, the film was not well received at the time because of it, and it only appears worse when viewed today. So too does some really appalling racism directed towards an Indian doctor in the film, which is highly embarrassing to watch. The acting on the whole is pretty good, although Hywel Bennett does not instill the character of Martin with any particular depth, and Hayley Mills looks very pretty as Susan and fulfils the role very well although she isn't given very much to do. Much more interesting is Billie Whitelaw as Susan's mother, who makes a real impact with her appearance.Sadly the film itself can't claim to grab the attention. Despite a small sprinkling of blood and murder, things never get really tense or gripping. The overall impression is spoiled by the sheer datedness of the thing, but more importantly, it seems as though the whole thing was written around the expectation that the spectacular psychological revelations would carry it, but as they don't work, the film as a whole doesn't work either. As it stands, it's just another film about a disturbed man causing trouble, and it doesn't really do that very well.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Slightly misguided, but still works well as a psycho thriller, 10 February 2008 Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England
Twisted Nerve doesn't seem to have a great reputation, and while the film (like its lead character) certainly does have some problems, I enjoyed this one in spite of them. The main problem people seem to have with this film (so much so that the filmmakers actually had to tack on an apology before the film starts!) stems from the fact that it seems to be professing that siblings of mongoloid children were more likely to become psychopaths. This idea is somewhat silly and I can see why it would bother some people; but seriously, this is just a thriller and while the idea is unlikely and misguided, it didn't bother me too much. It also should be noted that 'nurture' plays a big part in the lead character's mental health problems. The film focuses on Martin Durnley. His mother treats him like a child, his stepfather dislikes him and his mongoloid brother is institutionalised. He meets a young girl named Susan Harper, who takes pity on him (or rather, his alternative personality 'Georgie') after a shoplifting incident. But this soon leads to obsession for the troubled young man...If you go into this film expecting something deep or brilliant, you will be disappointed. As mentioned, the point that the film tries to make is not well imposed and not much else about the film has any depth. Still, as a thriller it works well. The main influence for the film is clearly Hitchcock's masterpiece 'Psycho' and the two share a lot in common. The central character is interesting for the fact that he's so strange. Hywel Bennett really succeeds in creating a character that is both bizarre and completely sinister. The supporting cast isn't as great in terms of performances, but the two leading ladies are much nicer to look at. Hayley Mills delivers the typical young British female lead, while Billie Whitelaw is the real standout for me as the young girl's mother. Twisted Nerve also features a memorable tune, and possibly takes influence from Fritz Lang's M as the lead character often whistles it. The film flows well throughout and delivers the intrigue from the character actions and the situation rather than through suspense. I can see why this film is not often hailed as a classic; but if you're looking for an interesting watch and don't care about some silly ideas, Twisted Nerve comes recommended.
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Twisted ... and Brilliant!, 1 December 2008 Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls
Clearly this production stepped on some sensitive toes around the time of its release, as it opens with two separate statements – one spoken and one written – assuring us there's absolutely no scientifically proved evidence that there might be a link between Mongolism and criminal behavior. It's of course a very provocative and courageous assumption to revolve a psycho-thriller on, especially during the late 60's and even more so with the close-minded and easily offended board of censorship in Britain around that time. No wonder "Twisted Nerve" rapidly grew out to become a controversial and harshly hated gem that only just recently got put back into the spotlights, partly thanks to the fancy DVD-edition and partly because no less than Quentin Tarantino used the catchy and bone-chilling theme whistle song for his own already classic 2004 epic "Kill Bill". "Twisted Nerve" is definitely one of the most unique and original psycho-thrillers ever made; on par with that other legendary British cult-shocker "Peeping Tom" and easily several classes above all the rest in its genre. Martin is a young schizophrenic (or is he?) who obtains whatever he desires by posing (or actually being?) as Georgie; an intellectually underdeveloped but well-mannered and helpful boy. As the arrogant Martin, he's kicked out of the parental house by his dominant stepfather, but as the innocent Georgie he's taken in by the cherubic Susan and her mother who run a boarding house just outside of London. From inside this safe environment, Martin can plot a fiendish revenge against his stepfather and simultaneously become an essential part in the life of the unsuspecting Susan. The extremely intelligent script – courtesy of Leo Marks and director Roy Boulting himself – comes up with what is pretty much the perfect murder (even more waterproof than Alfred Hitchcock could ever come up with) and it's so courageously twisted and blunt that the film is guaranteed to appeal to fans of controversial cinema. Quite late in the film, there's a lecture about the connection between criminal tendencies and an "error" in the hereditary chromosomes' structure that will make you wonder how come an angry crowd of offended Brits didn't burn all existing copies on a big pile. There's more controversial stuff going on as well, like the suggestive sexual tension between a mature woman (Billie Whitelaw is a stupendous role) and the allegedly mentally handicapped boy, a demented showcasing of motherly love and even the dubious sexual preference of Martin's character itself. Martin slash Georgie is a pretty petrifying character, constantly altering his behavior between a dangerous delinquent and a handsome young lad with the intellectual capacities of a 6-year-old. Hywell Bennett's performance ranks amongst the best ones ever and the indescribably ravishing Hayley Mills is equally astonishing as Susan. There's very little graphic violence shown on screen, but in the case of this film it's definitely the uncanny ambiance and the carefully drawn characterizations that will cause the hairs in the back of your neck to rise.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A less known thriller with some interesting ideas, 16 July 2009 Author: Cherian from United States
I thought it was an interesting thriller. I agree with other critics of this film that some parts are dated. And I thought psychological explanations about the character was absurd. So I think this is a film where the audience can write their own ideas and opinions about the behavior of Georgie/Martin. I thought there were interesting ideas in the film that writers didn't explore into.Let me start with what I think about psychological behavior of Georgie/Martin. In the beginning, we see Martin talking to the doctor. Martin talks to doctor like an ordinary young man. He talks to the doctor about his brother and his mother. But when the doctor asks "Tell me. how are things at home, Martin?" The moment martin says "Fine", the cup falls and breaks into pieces. So we know there is some thing wrong at home. And we later learn that Georgie/Martin hates his stepfather. He hates people who criticizes him especially his stepfather. His psychological problems may have originated from hatred and loneliness he experienced. In the beginning of the film, Georgie says "Georgie has no friends" to Susan and the manager of toy shop. I think Georgie/Martin is a character who really wants to be loved. And Susan was the only person who gave love and kindness Georgie/Martin wanted. That's one of the reasons why he was attracted to Susan. Georgie/Martin tries to express his love for Susan (Hayley Mills). But when he does, his love also reflects his psychological problems. This leads him and Susan into trouble.I think there are some psychological connections between Georgie/Martin and the villain Bruno Anthony in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951). Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) hates his father, because his father criticizes him a lot. Bruno dislikes criticisms or any negative attitude from other people or even children. In the film Strangers on a Train, there is a scene where Bruno sticks his cigarette in the kid's balloon so it pops. This happens after the kid points his toy gun to Bruno and makes the gunshot sound.I liked the scene where Georgie shoots the mirror in the end. Through this scene (the death of Martin), Georgie also reveals his true feelings of love for Susan. Unlike others, Susan represents the illusion of love to Georgie/Martin. And Georgie/Martin felt much more comfortable with Susan than any other characters. And his love for Susan pushed Georgie to destroy Martin and save Susan from getting killed. But I did find the ending disappointing. To me, the ending (the last scene in the cell) stays closer to psychological explanations written by writers. So I don't think the ending (the last scene in the cell) really works. I prefer to imagine the film ends with Georgie hugging Susan's legs.When I ignored some of dated elements and psychological explanation for Georgie/Martin's behavior, I found the film much more interesting. I thought performances were great especially from Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett. I read in a book that Hitchcock casted Billie Whitelaw and Barry Foster in Frenzy (1972) after seeing their performances in this film. And I thought Bernard Herrmann's score was brilliant. The film was rated M for Mature Audiences. So I think the film is Rated R for today's audience.
6 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Dull psycho thriller alot less interesting than it maybe sounds, 28 July 2004 Author: DrLenera
This film is hard to find, and sadly that's not too bad a thing. It's a rather feeble thriller which has an amazingly strong perfomance from Hywel Bennett as a psychopathic killer but little else to recommend it. The plot is reasonably interesting but there is very little suspense and even the two brief killing scenes are poorly staged. The climax is fairly well managed, but it can't really save the film.Twisted Nerve was controversial in it's day because it supposedly linked criminal behaviour with mongolism, but it's more annoying that most of the aspects of Bennett's character are briefly presented and than unexplored and discarded, for instance his sexuality. At least most of the cast ,who are generally little to do except sit and talk, are good, but you know things are bad when Bernard Herrmann's score is mediocre, except for the main theme which was also used in Kill Bill.This would actually have worked better if it had lost half an hour- the almost two hour running time is certainly not justified! As it is,this remains one of those films which always sounds a great deal better than it actually is.
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