Revenge!

Husband and father Bradford Dillman has an important briefcase full of documents switched on purpose by a vengeful woman hoping to lure him into her basement trap; that lady is none other than Shelley Winters, once again showing her mettle as a forceful, off-balanced foe. Well-made TV-movie isn't the straightforward thriller it may first appear to be. The missing man's wife, who is 'sensitive' to psychic vibrations, consults with a professional mind-reader to locate her husband (after the police department proves to be indifferent, natch). It all leads to a somewhat strenuous conclusion that piles up both bodies and improbabilities. Winters, however, is a villainess to contend with right up to the end; she pulls off some creepy dramatic scenes without going too far over the top (Kathy Bates might have studied this performance before "Misery"). Interesting work from the entire cast, particularly Carol Rossen, a real wild card as Dillman's spouse (you can't quite get a reading on her, which works for the role). Joseph Stefano adapted his teleplay from a novel by Elizabeth Davis, which doesn't bear close scrutiny. Dominic Frontiere composed the eerie music; talented John Alonzo was the cinematographer.

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.

I will not add anything to the comments made by the other users. This feature is very efficient and the actors great for a TV product, especially Shelley Winters. She was, one of the most known Actor's Studio's former student. Jud Taylor is a specialized director for TVMs. I spent 75 minutes in a unforgettable way. Good film indeed. And I will only say that it reminds me a french movie, made two years later: Pierre Granier Deferre's LA CAGE - "THE CAGE" - in which a woman - I don't remember her name - gets Lino Ventura trapped in the basement of her house. I don't remember why. But that's not important.

I don't think there are so many movies with this very topic.

That's all, folks.

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...

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!