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IMDbPro

Homicidal

  • 1961
  • Unrated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Homicidal (1961)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
99+ Photos
Slasher HorrorHorrorMysteryThriller

The brutal stabbing murder of a justice-of-the-peace sparks an investigation of dark family secrets in a sleepy small town in Southern California.The brutal stabbing murder of a justice-of-the-peace sparks an investigation of dark family secrets in a sleepy small town in Southern California.The brutal stabbing murder of a justice-of-the-peace sparks an investigation of dark family secrets in a sleepy small town in Southern California.

  • Director
    • William Castle
  • Writer
    • Robb White
  • Stars
    • Glenn Corbett
    • Patricia Breslin
    • Eugenie Leontovich
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Castle
    • Writer
      • Robb White
    • Stars
      • Glenn Corbett
      • Patricia Breslin
      • Eugenie Leontovich
    • 107User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Homicidal
    Trailer 2:20
    Homicidal

    Photos124

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    + 118
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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Glenn Corbett
    Glenn Corbett
    • Karl Anderson
    Patricia Breslin
    Patricia Breslin
    • Miriam Webster
    Eugenie Leontovich
    Eugenie Leontovich
    • Helga Swenson
    Alan Bunce
    Alan Bunce
    • Doctor Jonas
    Richard Rust
    Richard Rust
    • Jim Nesbitt
    James Westerfield
    James Westerfield
    • Alfred S. Adrims
    Gilbert Green
    Gilbert Green
    • Lt. Miller
    Joan Marshall
    Joan Marshall
    • Emily
    • (as Jean Arless)
    Wolfe Barzell
    Wolfe Barzell
    • Olie
    • (uncredited)
    Teri Brooks
    • Mrs. Forest
    • (uncredited)
    William Castle
    William Castle
    • William Castle
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Forte
    • Second Hotel Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Moody
    Ralph Moody
    • First Hotel Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    'Snub' Pollard
    'Snub' Pollard
    • Eddie - the Bellhop
    • (uncredited)
    Hope Summers
    Hope Summers
    • Mrs. Martha Adrims
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Castle
    • Writer
      • Robb White
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews107

    6.84.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7Stevieboy666

    Frightened the life out of me when I was a kid

    I fell in love with horror at an early age and before my parents bought a VCR I had to stay up and watch these movies on late night TV, I have very fond memories of doing so. I must have been 12 or so when I watched Homicidal for the first time and I'm not afraid to admit that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and sent shivers down my spine. I have just re-watched it, this time on Blu-Ray, sadly it did not have the same scare effect but I still found it to be a good watch. Made just one year after Hitchcock's masterpiece "Psycho" this was an early entry in the popular 1960's and 70's psycho thrillers, indeed one could say that these and Italian Giallo would later mould what we call "slasher" movies. The psycho here is a young attractive blonde woman called Emily who is nurse to a mute and crippled old lady in a large Californian house. Emily's murderous habit is revealed early in the film when she stabs to death a man, very graphic for the time. The movie is now rated 12 in the UK, this first killing is the only gory point to be fair and the rest of the film is pretty tame. Jean Arless plays Emily, a 30 year old rather unconvincingly playing a 20 year old. The film was made by William Castle, king of the gimmicks, Homicidal is perhaps best know for its 45 second "Fright Break" just before the finale. In 1974 Amicus films had a "guess the werewolf" break in their "The Beast Must Die". So Homicidal wasn't as scary as I first remembered it to be but it is still a good psycho, gender bending thriller that comes not only with a fright break but also an introduction by Castle himself and looks great in black and white.
    7ags123

    Strange, entertaining and fun!

    "Homicidal" is a very strange movie. It's among the best of William Castle's gimmicky horror films, but unlike any of them. Fans of "camp" should have a field day with this one. Jean Arless plays a fascinating part, but her obvious disguises and stilted acting are sorely out of step with everyone else's naturalistic looks and behavior. However, the story is absorbing, clever and ultimately entertaining. Films that take their cue from "Psycho" normally make me bristle, but this time it's actually quite interesting to catch the references as they continue to pile up (There are so many). Would love to know what Hitchcock thought of this movie.
    eeq

    Reviewers pan--but buffs of the genre enjoy another Castle flick.

    Universally bombed by the critics--but they miss the point. This was classic Saturday matinee fare--and it was quite effective back in 1961. William Castle put his special touch on it and produced a quite entertaining, if campy take-off on a more famous varietal. OK, the acting was rather bland, perhaps to be expected from Glenn Corbett and Pat Breslin and a lesser known cast, but Jean Arless stole the show, with kudos also to Eugenie Leontovitch. This wasn't the best of the Castle fare, that award belonging to "Mr. Sardonicus" easily, but there were enough scares and suspenseful moments in "Homicidal" to titillate the adolescent (as I was then) in all of us TRUE horror film buffs.
    aquarian_boy_102

    Another under rated horror classic

    I watched this late one night on my own in the 1970s and was scared and shocked. For years I wondered who Jean Arliss was until I was able to do some research on the internet. William Castle was a master of horror and gimmicks. This was one of a few horror movies that really left an impression on me.

    Other movies which scared me on TV as a child or teenager in the 1960s and 1970s were:- The Tingler, 13 Ghosts, Psycho, Carnival of Souls, The Mad Magician and House of Wax.
    10alanmora

    "If you stay in this house one more minute, I'm going to kill you!"

    This is yet another classic from William Castle, the king of the gimmicks. The gimmick used for this film, often compared with "Psycho", was the idea of a "Fright Break" during which the viewer has 30 seconds to determine if they want to see the 'terrifying' conclusion to the film. When released in theaters initially, there was a separate section that patrons could go to during the "Fright Break". Gimmicks aside this is a very well crafted, often goofy, and quite effective little thriller. The murders, acting, and storyline are all over the top and everyone in the movie puts on quite an effective performance. Standing out in her role as Emily is Jean Arliss. It seems that Emily is quite disturbed as the movie opens with an alarming murder sequence. The story goes downhill from there and, just when you think you have all of the answers, the film changes the questions! The ending is very shocking for first time viewers and yet this is the kind of film that also gets more and more entertaining with each additional viewing. Highly recommended for horror fans, even though it's often compared with "Psycho" I feel that the film stands out on it's own and it's ending is actually more effective than Hitchcock's. Watch this movie, you won't regret it!

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    Related interests

    Roger Jackson in Scream (1996)
    Slasher Horror
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Castle: [gimmick] In the final reel, when Miriam is about to go into the house for the big climax, there was a one-minute "Fright Break" in which producer/director William Castle advised the audience that anyone too scared to see the climax could go into the lobby and get their money back. For this gimmick, Columbia shipped a cardboard "Coward's Corner" to theaters playing the film. Supposedly, audience members too frightened to see the climax could go to the "Coward's Corner" and wait there until the film ended and the rest of the audience filed past. Apparently no one took the offer.
    • Goofs
      Toward the end of the film when the police detective and Karl drive to the Hotel Ventura to show the bellboy the photo of Emily, the clock just above the corner drugstore says 8:24 p.m., but when they walk from the car into the hotel, the clock above the registration desk says 7:50 p.m.
    • Quotes

      Karl Anderson: Is there any way to tell?

      Doctor Jonas: [Distracted after a long pause] Hah? Tell what, Karl?

      Karl Anderson: Well. If a person's homicidal?

      Doctor Jonas: [giving him a prescription] There you are. No... That's what makes them so dangerous. They can change from being your friend into your murderer in a second's time!

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the film Joan Marshall's characters Emily/Warren come out to face the audience, via split screen, and take a bow!
    • Connections
      Featured in Zotz! (1962)
    • Soundtracks
      Homicidal
      Performed by Rawniggaz

      Written by D. Michaeltine & B. Handsum

      Lyrics by Scary D Satanik Buztz & Doorclosing

      Courtesy of God Bap Ltd., AEP Inc.

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    FAQ13

    • How long is Homicidal?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 28, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Homicida
    • Filming locations
      • Solvang, California, USA
    • Production company
      • William Castle Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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