Schizo

Lynne Frederick plays a beautiful ice skater about to be married when she sees a person from her past. This person haunts her in her home, in the grocery store, at her wedding reception, and other sundry places. Frederick begins to relive moments from her past. She tells people about her past and how her mother was slain when she was six by her step-father. The man that she is seeing is that step-father. People begin dying that were in her confidence in incredibly sick, gruesome ways. One man is knifed in the throat while driving a car. A woman is brutally beaten and then thrown in front of a bus. Another woman has a knitting needle stuck through her head and coming out her eye. Director Peter Walker does a very god job creating tension and suspense in this film. Although nothing more than a typical slasher fare, Schizo is ably directed and well-acted. I knew, for the most part, who the guilty party was yet was never 100% sure. Walker is able to cast enough shadows over reality to keep you guessing a bit. The story was very interesting. Jack Watson plays the evil-looking step-father rather too well I think. The rest of the cast is all adequate with pretty Stephanie Beacham doing a good job as a close friend. Frederick shows she has some talent as an actress, but Walker must not have been too convinced as he shows her naked at least twice. Good, gory fun in that English way.

Ho-hum.............what to make of Pete Walker's "Schizo"? Considering the 70's period, and its tightish budget, it's got to be said that it's not a bad effort overall. In fact, it could easily be looked upon as a fore-runner of similar less effective efforts in the years that followed. The scenes are good generally, and the pervading sense of menace is quite effective for most of the time. Best scene of all is the creepy seance, when the medium's reactions suddenly catch the viewer by surprise. Performances, however, are somewhat mixed. Lynne Frederick provides a nondescript lead who seems to drift through the whole thing, whilst trying to remember where she's left her shopping list! Better are Stephanie Beacham, John Fraser and John Leyton. Top performance, however, comes from Jack Watson, and he alone makes the film seem better than it probably is. All in all, a worthwhile viewing for fans of the slasher-type movie, but don't expect any subtle nuances or frills!

Pete Walker's "Schizo" is a commendable take on the at the time yet to be defined stalker/slasher genre and it even has some Giallo undertones. But sadly, the film itself isn't anything too exciting. Samantha is a successful ice skater and she's getting married. After the marriage, the trouble begins as she's being followed & stalked by a strange person from her own past. Soon enough dead bodies - all friends and acquaintances of Samantha - start popping up everywhere. Walker brings his own style to the picture, presenting us a handful of gruesome killings and some female nudity along the side. But his directing efforts can't help a screenplay that's too talkative for its own good and a plot that's simply too predictable. The ending is satisfactory, so "Schizo" surely isn't a waste of time for true fans of the genre.

The film's premise is intriguing, and the initial setup effectively builds suspense and tension. Lynne Frederick delivers a convincing performance as Samantha, portraying her character's paranoia and vulnerability with depth and nuance. The cinematography and score also contribute to the film's overall atmosphere, creating a sense of unease and dread that keeps viewers engaged.

However, the film suffers from several shortcomings that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The pacing can be uneven at times, with some scenes feeling drawn out or unnecessary. Additionally, the plot becomes increasingly convoluted as the movie progresses, making it difficult to follow or invest in the characters' motivations.

Overall, Schizo (1976) offers an interesting premise and a solid performance from its lead actress but falls short due to its inconsistent pacing, convoluted plot, and problematic portrayal of mental health. While it may appeal to fans of psychological thrillers or those interested in Pete Walker's body of work, it is unlikely to leave a lasting impression on most viewers.

By the time Pete Walker made this little slasher-shocker he seemed to have run out of good ideas. The attacks on the courts, family and church had now been made and what could he do now? How about some sort of case-study about schizofrenia? It might have worked, but mr Walker plays his cards too soon in this movie and makes the ending show a mile ahead. With the element of a "who-is-it" suspense gone, what is there left? Some surprisingly gory murders that could shock even todays jaded audience and probably scared the wits out of them in the 70's, decent performances for a horror movie (director Walker almost always managed to get the best out of his average-talented actresses) and an overall smooth running picture. Enjoyable as a timekiller (there are many, many worse slashers than this) but easily forgotten.