Der Engel mit der Mörderhand

This forgotten 1968 sleeper "Pretty Poison" is an underrated classic. Directed by Noel Black (who hasn't really made a decent film since), this film is the story of a recently released Dennis Pitt (from a mental hospital), who's trying to begin a new life in the real world (while still stuck in his childhood fantasy world of his mind). Anthony Perkins plays Dennis Pitt, the nervously energized, accident prone, sapp that will be the victim to high school "femme fatale" Sue Ann Stepanek (brilliantly portrayed by Tuesday Weld). Dennis after being released, pretends to be a secret agent that's recruiting Sue Ann to assist in the sabotage of the factory he is currently working at. Sue Ann goes along with Dennis in playing out his fantasies, only to ensure that she adds more havok to his already goofy plans. What starts off as a childish prank (and most of his schemes are childish) turns into complete collapse of the factory structure and the death of one of the security gaurds, due mostly through Sue Ann's intervention. The search to find and question Dennis, leads to his hiding out with Sue Ann's help. Between dodging his old doctor (who's responsible for him since his release) Morton Azenauer (reliable actor John Randolf), and being manipulated by Sue Ann to kill her mother (a wicked Beverly Garland), Dennis has turned into a nervous twitching idiot. He really hasn't the bottle to kill anyone, and Sue Ann begins to use him as the patsy. What's interesting about this film is that the whole story of Dennis being set up as the sapp for a murder he didn't commit, can be connected with the time of the John F. Kennedy assasination and the country's suspicion to foul play. It's the losers like Dennis that the country won't believe, while honor role students like Sue Ann are looked at as nice girls. Sue Ann Stepanek is one of the few trully "bad seeds" of cinema. She has absolutely no morals or concience. She can commit murder, and resume living as if nothing has happened. But she's also terribly exciting. She's sexually active, she'll live out your childish fantasies and games, and she's very clever. But she's poison. Incidentally, the factory that Dennis works at dumps hazardous chemicals in the lake everyday. This innocent looking chemical (which has a pretty glow) is a toxic compound that is being dumped into the cities water supply. Not only is this just a metaphore symbolic to Sue Ann's character, but I can't help feeling that maybe Sue Ann's Mother was digesting some of these toxins while pregnant with Sue Ann. Because Sue Ann is trully a "bad seed" from birth. An intelligent sleeper, that never received it's fair dues. Highly recommended.