Diagnosis: Murder

Impossible to miss this movie, played by the extraordinary Christopher Lee and directed by the very competent Sidney Hayers (I've never seen any bad movie by him, the very best being "Burn, Witch, Burn"). And Christopher Lee is a sadistic psychotic killer manipulating police. Very impressive, not gory, plenty of twists, impossible to get bored, it grips. A must see.

"Diagnosis: Murder" constantly feels like an extended episode of "Midsomer Murders", or any other random Krimi/crime investigation TV-show, but nonetheless a very good episode and – more importantly – one starring the almighty Christopher Lee in another terrifically sinister role. Although I can't find any info or articles to confirm, the film often gives the impression of actually being the pilot of a TV-series that eventually never aired. Some of the sub plots, notably the one revolving on Inspector Lomax' relationship with a married woman, indicate there was a lot of extra subject matter to embroider with the same lead characters, but alas, the TV-show never came. "Diagnosis: Murder" is an engaging little murder-mystery, opening with truly frightening of a woman under the attack of an unidentifiable man with a shotgun. The woman turns out the wife of eminent psychiatrist Dr. Hayward, and he reports her missing immediately after the assault. Hayward promptly becomes the prime suspect in the case, especially because Insp. Lomax receives anonymous letters accusing appointing the pompous doctor as the culprit. The investigation initially leads nowhere, but Insp. Lomax is somehow convinced Dr. Hayward knows more about the disappearance of his own wife. The first and most major revelation of the plot comes quite early in the film (so early even that the synopsis on IMDb spoils it … so don't read!) but luckily the screenplay provides more than enough extra twists and hidden sub plots to keep the wholesome compelling until the very end. Moreover, the movie even ends somewhat mysterious and open for new material, which once again raises the impression the film is a forerunner of a series. "Diagnosis: Murder" obviously isn't gory, but it's an involving story-driven thriller with an uncanny atmosphere throughout. The rural British filming locations are adequately chosen (especially the secluded lake) and director Sidney Hayers could rely on a terrific ensemble cast. Christopher Lee is impeccable as always, but here he receives excellent support from John Finch, Tony Beckley and Judy Geeson. "Diagnosis: Murder" is extremely obscure and almost impossible to track down for some reason, but well worth tracking down if you're into typically British thrillers.

"Diagnosis: Murder" is a most unusual film for Christopher Lee. Instead of playing a monster, a Satanist, a maniac or Sauron, he plays a seemingly 'normal' guy. Of course, he isn't! You see, Dr. Hayward's wife is missing...and the police soon realize that he might be their number one suspect, as Hawyward has been having an affair. This is also interesting, because his story, in some ways, parallels that of the investigating officer.

Overall, this is a mildly enjoyable police drama and is worth seeing...particularly if you want to see the very prolific Lee playing something different!

By the way, if you do watch the film, note the opening credits...they are pretty creative and cool.

This film follows a couple of awful male cops, a sad wheelchair bound man, and a complete psychopath all who happen to have plots about being terrible, unintelligent , chauvinist pigs. But thats not all, its also about dumb groan inducing women who love them. Watch as a cop chain smokes, acts like he has morals after sleeping with a disabled man's wife, watches a man constantly attack a woman in a speed boat, play quarters while on duty and cause the unintended death of a person hes trailing ! Watch as a man fumbles his way through murder, begs the cops to catch him , openly tells people hes a killer and romantically abuses his secretary ! Theres no mystery here, it tells you pretty much off the bat whats happening. You just have to sit there hoping it will get interesting. Sadly it does in a last few minutes of a quazi twist. But then it just ends. If all this and some bad TV movie directing sounds like fun , by all means its for you .

An obnoxious police inspector named Lomax (Jon Finch) investigates sleazy and mysterious psychiatrist Dr.Stephen Hayward (Christopher Lee) suspected of having killed his wife Julia who is nowhere to be found and may not even be dead.

But a serious of anonymous notes state straight out that he murdered his wife. Someone is determined that the police become fixated on the rude, indignant and downright creepy shrink. Hayward doesn't win a lot of sympathy and for most of his life never really cared to. But being a jerk and being a murderer are not synonymous.

Placing Hayward under surveillance 24/7 and combing every inch of his property the cops find nothing. Ordered to drop the investigation the real plot begins to peel away.

Dr.Hayward's mistress/secretary Helen (Judy Geeson) does some investigating on her own with unexpected results. Whether she will reveal what she knows goes beyond simply worrying about her own complicity. She shares something in common with Lomax and through that he has insight into what is really happening.

They are both having affairs with married people but his morality interferes with his relationship and hers does not. The juxtaposition is thus not between killer and detective but rather between detective and accomplice. In that respect it reflects the kind of police work that is often done but seldom properly dramatized.

Finch was too young to portray the cynical, edgy alcoholic police inspector but the quality of the performance takes some of the edge of the casting choice. The mystery is appealing on a lot of levels but the brisk run time suggests they had room for more and didn't use it.

The movie poster used to market this film suggests they wanted audiences to think that it was horror which it is not and which it at no time resembles. It is more mystery/thriller but audiences of the day had come to know Christopher Lee mostly as a horror film star and producers evidently wanted to exploit that. The irony is that Sir Christopher was looking to carve out a niche beyond horror around the time this was made.

Jon Finch, Judy Geeson and Tony Beckley would have done their share of horror titles before this one became available on home video which probably confused a lot of audiences who rented it thinking it was horror when it fights the niche of mystery/thriller more properly.