Revenge!

Very basic thriller is a modest time-filler at best, with businessman Dillman incarcerated by unhinged Winters, avenging the death of her daughter for which she believes Dillman is vicariously responsible. Texturing the otherwise superficial plot is Rossen as Dillman's faithful wife whose premonitions brings her into contact with self-described clairvoyant Whitman, the two forming a somewhat symbiotic alliance hoping to discover Dillman's whereabouts.

Winters is suitably grieved but doesn't have enough material to showcase her talent, whilst Dillman as her unwitting victim is surprisingly insensitive toward her plight especially given his predicament. Does this behaviour implicate him? You'll have to wait to find out.

Whitman and the real star - Rossen - have possibly the best characters, but they're 'discovery' (and more importantly the plot device which gets them there) is just a little too contrived to really satisfy. Despite the plot weaknesses the cast has some depth, and it's good to see TV veterans Roger Perry and Gary Clarke in minor roles, and General Hospital alumni Lesley Charleson also featuring in the second act.

At just over an hour run-time it's compact and might've even served as a pilot for a subsequent psychic /medium type show; then again with a bigger budget and a few more plot twists it could also become a decent big screen thriller. Missed opportunities aside, it remains a watchable if not altogether logical minor thriller, featuring a contemporary A-list cast and some modest tension to keep a casual armchair sleuth mildly entertained.

In the early 70s, Shelley Winters re-made her self and her film career. Too old for parts she had in the 40s and 50s, now she discovered a new niche...playing people who were absolutely unhinged! I can't think of another actress with a similar string of such films except, perhaps, for Joan Crawford. In "Bloody Mama", she played a crazed Ma Barker type gangster. In "What's the Matter With Helen?", she played a dangerous psychotic mother. In "Who Slew Auntie Roo?" she plays a person who kids think is a murderer...so they decide to kill her! And, in "The Devil's Daughter" she's the leader of a Satanic coven!! Clearly, she was on a roll!! So, it's not at all surprising she'd also make "Revenge!".

"Revenge!" begins with a businessman, Frank (Bradford Dillman) receiving a phone call. Apparently his briefcase and another person's got switched so he leaves the meet the lady who called. The 'lady' happens to be Amanda (Shelley Winters) and Amanda has an ulterior motive....revenge. She soon attacks Frank with a fireplace poker and when he awakens, he finds he's the prisoner of this odd woman. And, she eventually informs him she's done this for revenge to what he did to her daughter...but Frank has no idea who the daughter was and insists he did nothing.

In the meantime, Frank's wife is worried...and frustrated because it doesn't seem like there's much of anything the police can do. A friend suggests they consult a psychic and they soon meet with Mark (Stuart Whitman). Can they find Frank before it's too late...especially when Mark himself admits that his act is just a gimmick?!

One thing I loved about this film is that although it involves a psychic, it also tells you how such folks do cold readings. In other words, how it's all a trick based on well educated guesses. This will no doubt alienate some viewers--folks who have confidence in psychics. Another thing I loved is Winters. She simply was wonderful playing crazed psychotic-types!! And, I admire her not only for taking the roles but really embracing them!! Overall, well worth seeing and campy fun.

REVENGE is a beautiful TV film that stays with you even after you watch it. It's a decent film written by Joseph Stefano the creative genius behind Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO and the slasher TV film HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. It's a great little rarity that I have and I am glad that I have this film.

SUMMARY: Frank Klaner (Bradford Dillman) loses his briefcase at his place of work. Amanda Hilton (Shelley Winters) phones Mr. Klaner, telling him she has his briefcase and can pick it up at her home. He goes late night to her home, where he is knocked out and locked in a cage in the woman's basement. Dianne Klaner (Carol Eve Rossner), the man's wife calls the police and has them investigate. But why is Frank locked up? What has he done? Can the police find him before it is too late?

I love the setting in the disgusting, dark basement. I really love this movie. The acting is great, especially from Winters and Dillman who have a wonderful relationship onscreen. Winters is terribly menacing and that's what makes the film memorable. RECOMMENDATION: A Taste of Evil (1971) (TV) which stars Barbara Stanwyck. **** stars, 10/10. SEE THIS MOVIE IF THE CHANCE COMES UP!!!!!!

I saw this movie a few years ago and thought it was one of the most clever psychic / thriller / psycho movies I'd ever seen. I wish it was available on DVD / VHS or was on TNT.

Shelly Winters's daughter commits suicide after a guy breaks her heart. Shelly kidnaps the guy so as to take revenge. The guy's wife finds him via ESP and working with a fake psyhcic who comes to believe that ESP is real. Many other clever twists and a generally very cool movie (the guy Shelly kidnapped isn't the one who broke her daughter's heart, and......well I don't wanna ruin it). Great flick! Should be remade today with Kathy Bates (Dolores Claiborne) in the lead role, Kevin Costner as Frank Tanner - would be a blockbuster!

In REVENGE!, a seeming mix-up leads to a man (Bradford Dillman) being imprisoned in the dungeon-like basement of a woman (Shelley Winters). The man's wife (Carol Eve Rossen) grows increasingly concerned, eventually consulting a psychic (Stuart Whitman) for assistance.

This is an effective made-for-TV horror-thriller. It's a story of abduction with a paranormal twist. The action switches back and forth between the plight of Dillman's character and his wife's search for him. The suspense builds slowly until reaching the frenzied finale.

Ms. Winters is at her unhinged best, rivaling the magnificently macabre roles she played in her films for Director Curtis Harrington. She plays this vengeful psychopath with gusto, yet allows for some moments of poignancy...