Deadly Strangers

Good movie plots remain with me. This is a movie I'd seen as a child and am lucky to find it here. It's a plot I've never forgotten and has quite a twist at the end. The only actor I remembered was Simon Ward. The acting was fine and, like so many of the British movies I've seen, nothing is overdone. No unnecessary violence and things blowing up for the sake of a boom. They don't write enough movies like this one. Other moves like this one is Vanishing Act with Elliot Gould, Silent Partner with Elliot Gould, and Sudden Fury (a very little known Canadian movie which should not be confused with the idiotic action film of the same name).

If you're the kind of movie fan who hates predictable movies then this movie is for you.

An effective suspense story with terrific performances by Hayley Mills and Simon Ward. Mills was twenty-seven at the time and was obviously working to completely shed what was left of her POLLYANNA/DISNEY image. Given that the actress appears throughout the film in various stages of undress, and is seen in several other compromising positions, I would say her plight was successful. Though the story may at first seem like a transparent/psycho-on-the-loose chiller, the film has some strikingly effective new twists, and there are enough red herrings for two films! The film has been unavailable on video for some time and rarely appears on TV, but it's most certainly worth the extra effort to find it!!!!!

"Deadly Strangers" opens with opens with a mysterious killer escaping from an asylum-type scene after murdering nurse.Haley Mills misses her train.She accepts a ride from a truck driver,who tries to rape her.She escapes and is then picked up by a mysterious who was watching her in the bar.He behaves suspiciously and may be an escaped lunatic...Very suspenseful and fast-paced thriller with a surprising twist ending often spoiled in various reviews.The film is currently only available on a rare VHS tape.It features Hayley Mills in several nude scenes and is told in flashbacks.The finale is gripping and suspenseful.I haven't seen Sidney Hayers "Assault" and "Revenge",but after enjoying "Deadly Strangers" I'd really like to.8 out of 10.

DEADLY STRANGERS opens with the escape of a dangerous -unseen- maniac from a mental hospital. Said psycho now roams the countryside, leaving a trail of victims along the way.

Meanwhile, young Belle Adams (Hayley Mills) is hitching her way to the train station. After escaping a lecherous trucker, she hitches a ride with a normal-looking young man named Stephen (Simon Ward). As they drive on, we learn about his history, as well as Belle's tragic past.

Sort of a road trip / mystery / thriller film, it's complete with murder, voyeurism, bikers, road rage, and the lovely Ms. Mills in just about every scene! She's really quite good in this. And yes, she does don her birthday suit. Also, watch for Sterling Haydon in an important cameo appearance...

Being a big fan of road movies, this rarity instantly appealed to me. It's a British production, a thriller which has enough twists, turns, tricks and red herrings to rival any recent blockbuster. By keeping the plot simple (it's a bit like a low-key, subtle version of THE HITCHER), the director allows us to focus on the characters in the film and get to know them as events unfold through plenty of down-to-earth dialogue. It's a simple way of grabbing the audience's attention, but you'd be surprised how many films can't even grasp this simple concept.

Every trick in the book is pulled out here to keep the pace flying along. There's plenty of action, car chases, some weird psychological flashbacks which only reveal their importance at the film's climax, drama, suspense, plus the expected violence and nudity required to make this a sleazy epic. And it's all British, too, which gives it a novelty value unlike any other film I've seen - as I've said before, a little bit of originality goes a long way.

Another plus is the high standard of acting on display here from the two leads. Both Simon Ward and Hayley Mills utterly convince us that they are the characters that they play, each with distinctive personalities and their own ways of dealing with situations. Ward is thoroughly charismatic and appealingly innocent as the young man who may or may not be a killer, while Mills bypasses the "screaming girl" factor so apparent in many horror films to become a fully-fleshed, believable person who proves to be resourceful and independent time and time again. American legend Sterling Hayden also pops up for a cameo as a quirky old chap who thinks that his luck's in with Mills - it isn't.

This is a film which had me gripped right until the very end. Only in the closing minutes is the killer's identity confirmed, so it has you guessing right up until then. All this and plenty of fun moments too, such as a pair of Hells Angels who get more than they bargained for when one of their bikes is run off the road and explodes! What makes this film work for me is that the film is firmly rooted in reality, making what happens all the more interesting and involving. All the characters come across as real, everyday folk and even the British weather is spot on. DEADLY STRANGERS is a good example of clever, intelligent film-making and of what can be achieved on a low budget. Outstanding.