Something to Hide

This film always played around Christmastime. I watched it late one night, and it has haunted me ever since. It is a must see. Watch it 3 or 4 times to really absorb what the characters are experiencing. Powerful performances make this thriller haunting. One must pay special and careful attention throughout the entire film. It contains surprises, very interesting characters, and a truly haunting story line. It is a perfect film to watch on a cold afternoon with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. The stormy British weather adds so well to the stormy plot. Even the supporting characters in this film are intriguing. The contrast is excellent. The juxtaposition of Winters and Finch is unnerving. You will not forget this one. Everyone seems together when they mention their being haunted for years.

SOMETHING TO HIDE is a rather strange and dreamy low budget thriller shot on the Isle of Wight. It's a little like THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA but has nowhere near the same level of power. Peter Finch plays a regular guy harrassed by his nagging wife (a powerful Shelley Winters cameo) who picks up pregnant hitchhiker Linda Hayden. It all goes wrong from there, but I didn't feel much until the admittedly powerful climax.

and worth seeing more than twice. This film has a haunting quality that stays with you.

Shelley Winters as a nagging wife- Peter Finch as the beleaguered husband. He is tired and bored. Much of the film is located on Isle of Wight, and the scenes are rainy and moody. His marriage is falling apart, his job bores him.

Finch (Harry ) meets a young woman hitch hiking and decides to help her out. There are many commentaries on the transiency of his life, his job; life in general. Overall this film conveys a sense of alienation and disturbance. It almost seems like psychological horror, in retrospect. Do not miss it. 9/10.

This low-watt British thriller has never got a decent release either on DVD or VHS, despite strong performances from three great character actors.

Peter Finch is, of course, best known for playing a crazed news anchor-man "Howard Beal" in "Network", a role for which he won a post-humous Academy Award. But his other famous role was as a beleaguered husband in "The Pumpkin Eater", a role very similar to the one he plays here. Shelley Winters plays his nagging, shrewish wife. She is good as always, but doesn't have nearly enough screen time. The real surprise though is Linda Hayden, famous for playing sexy, evil (and oft-naked) vixens in movies like "Blood on Satan's Claw". Unfortunately, her best movie, "House on Straw Hill" was actually banned in Britain back in the day and, as a result, has been barely released outside it. And her earlier collaboration with director Alistair Reid, "Baby Love", is also problematic since she debuted in this rather sexy role at the tender age of 15.

Finch plays a decent, well-meaning husband whose life is entirely destroyed by his own horribly bad decisions and two different female harpies--his wife Shelly winters and Linda Hayden, a very pregnant hitchhiker he picks up. Instead of playing her usual sexy and evil, Hayden is just plain evil here, and never has a pregnant woman seemed so menacing. I won't give away the plot, but Finch's character soon has at least one body on his hands as his life spins into blackly comic, vortex nightmare.

I saw the crappy, cut VHS version of this (the only one currently available), but even so it is a quite entertaining movie. It certainly deserves better.

In the broad strokes of the story there's much about 'Something to hide' that's rather familiar. Nosy and gossiping locals, an office worker facing professional difficulties, a marriage in tatters - and a pretty girl that enters the picture in the midst of it all. Even with these common elements as roots, however, filmmaker Alastair Reid demonstrates fine skills as both writer and director that makes the movie roundly engaging. In adapting Nicholas Monsarrat's novel, characters are as complex and troubled as the dialogue is biting. The scene writing is quietly charged and electrifying to an extent I didn't quite expect as the plot unfolds - and for all that, the narrative is gratifyingly absorbing, especially as it somewhat takes on the air of a psychological drama in focusing on increasingly desperate Harry. Even with a solid cast on hand I had mixed expectations, so I'm very pleased to reflect that this is wonderfully vivid low-key thriller well worth checking out.

With the somber chords of Buddy Greco's "How can we run away" opening the film and defining much of Roy Budd's score, the opening scene serves up a vibrant, jolting image of marital discord. Thusly is the tone set for the equally impactful if less immediately invigorating mess that follows as well-meaning Harry Field tumbles down a rabbit hole of escalating problems. Every small turn in the saga delivers a new little punch owing to sharp writing that keeps the tension boiling - and not least of all thanks to outstanding performances. Well and truly, everyone in the cast is swell, down to the small supporting parts ably filled with fine range, nuance, and poise by the likes of Harold Goldblatt, Rosemarie Dunham, Jack Shepherd. Naturally, however, a few key performances stand out - including Shelley Winters, who steals the spotlight even in her limited time on-screen with a riveting display of aggravation. Linda Hayden, only 19 years old in 1972, carries a spark of dangerous energy in portraying conniving young Lorelei. Above all, Peter Finch is marvelous in the starring role of Harry, perfectly expressing the man's crumbling mentality as unfavorable circumstances mount around him. As much as everyone else involved contributes to the film's success, if I had to name only one highlight of 'Something to hide' then Finch's turn as Mr. Field would unmistakably be it.

As much as I would love to verbosely sing the praises of the feature, I'm not sure how much longer I could go on without betraying plot points. I can say to a certainty, though, that the title makes a couple moves I wasn't anticipating, and I'm delighted at the stylistic flavor given to the narrative. It's not the most original or essential film one could watch, and rich as the last several minutes are as a viewing experience, there's also an argument to be made that they are perhaps a bit overdone, and gauche. Yet much more so than not I think this is a fantastic, hushed drama - punctuated with distinctly grabbing moments - that's anchored with strong writing and acting. 'Something to hide' is a softly entrancing picture that digs in its claws to keep our attention, and very entertaining - and it gets my hearty recommendation.