Tod im Teufelsgrund

Little-seen (these days) British attempt at a giallo horror-thriller, starring Suzy Kendall (star of several Italian gialli), Frank Finlay, Freddie Jones, and introducing Lesley-Anne Down and James Laurenson. A schoolgirl is attacked and raped whilst taking a shortcut through woods after school. Soon after, a second girl is raped, and this time murdered. A police Chief Supt. (Finlay) teams-up with a psychiatric doctor (Laurenson), a local journalist (Jones), and the school's art teacher (Kendall) to find the killer before he can strike again.

The film's achieved a certain notoriety over the years, mainly due to its juxtaposition of sexual assault/murder, and nubile, innocent schoolgirl victims - although by today's standards it's pretty tame in its execution. The performances are good. Aside from those already mentioned, viewers of a certain age will recognise a host of reliable UK TV faces. Tony Beckley is especially noteworthy as the sleazeball husband of the school's headmistress, who isn't adverse to 'feeling up' the girls when opportunities arise. It's produced by Peter Rogers, better known as producer of the Carry On films. Director Sidney Hayers does a sound job - especially with two thrilling foot chases through the woods. The score is terrific, courtesy of Eric Rogers (no relation to Peter, but likewise better known for the Carry On series). The whole thing is well put-together. And whilst the reveal of the killer isn't exactly unexpected, it's an enjoyable ride getting there. 7.5/10.

I haven't seen this film in years, but from what I remember of it, it was a pretty good movie. The only thing that I think might be a little politically incorrect is the fact that the a few of the girls are pretty much seen as teases, especially in the scene in which the headmistress' husband fondles one of the girls as she stands on top of a stool. This scene is a little disturbing, especially when you consider the film was made in 1971. No wonder this film was mainly shown very late at night when the kiddies were asleep.

What seems like a good size school of "Red Herrings" swim past the screen of this very British "who done it?" Although obviously marketed as a lurid school girls in trouble film, under such names as "The Creepers", "Satan's Playthings", "Tower of Terror", "Assault", and "In the Devil's Garden", the movie is not a horror, or sex film, but a fairly decent mystery thriller. By the rather stringent British decency standards, I suppose this pushes the envelope, but overall is very tame. This does not detract from the story, which maintains interest throughout. The acting seems good, however American audiences will struggle with the thick accents. One annoyance is the repetitive and blaring suspense music, but overall the film is totally watchable. - MERK

Suzy Kendall, another love of my youth and always! Admired in "To Sir, with Love" (1967), "The Penthouse" (1967), "Up the Junction" (1968), and especially in the fascinating role in "Fraulein Doktor" (1969) and in "Fear Is the Key"(1972). One of the most beautiful women ever and extraordinary actress in "The Penthouse", her best and most complex role in a movie. This "Devil's Garden"(1971)Assault (original title) is not bad but not great either. Frank Finlay is good as a cop, and Freddie Jones is even better as a journalist. Lesley-Anne Down, the later beauty from movies like "Brannigan" (1975), "Sphinx" (1981) and especially "Hanover Street" (1979), here very very young, just a teenager, is full of sexuality already.

Assault is apparently a British attempt at emulating the popular Italian Giallo sub-genre. If that is indeed what the filmmakers were aiming for, it has to be said that they've done a rather good job, as Assault incorporates many of the common Giallo trademarks. We've got a killer on the loose, a number of victims, a police investigation, an eyewitness, lots of red herrings and an unknown assailant, among other things. I'd even go as far as to say that if I didn't know better, I might have thought this was an Italian production, set in the UK. It's unfortunate, then, that director Sidney Hayers wasn't able to take the script and craft an exciting mystery out of it, as the film features far too much talking and not enough action, leaving it caught up in boredom for most of the running time. The plot follows the murder of a young girl in the woods outside of her school. When another is found dead in the same way shortly after, the police are brought in. Their only witness is a young teacher, who says the killer looks like the devil and puts herself on the line to catch the psychopath.

One common element of the Italian Giallo is a silly plot, and that has been copied for this film also. The idea regarding the capture of the killer is preposterous, and the murderer would have to be a complete and utter fool to fall for it. The film doesn't seem too keen on keeping itself away from complete farce either, as the climax is very silly and it's often hard to keep a straight face while watching the film unfold, and that's not what you want from a thriller that handles themes of murder and rape. The cast is distinctly British, and Derbyshire-born Giallo star Suzy Kendall, who has also worked with the likes of Dario Argento, Sergio Martino and Umberto Lenzi on Giallo thrillers, takes the lead role and is joined by a host of tea-drinking co-stars. Sidney Hayers' direction is a little turgid at times, although scenes such as the one in which we get an early glimpse of the murderer are well shot. The conclusion to the mystery is disappointing, as the identity of the killer just sort of comes out of nowhere. Overall, this film isn't all that good; but it may appeal to Giallo fans for the fact that it's a Giallo, but it's not Italian.