Bond of Fear

Only recently unearthed in Australia. This exemplary, very low-budget transposition of 'The Desperate Hours' to a family caravan vividly shot almost entirely on location in Kent by cameraman/co.producer Monty Berman had obviously not been seen by either Quinlan or Chibnall & McFarlane when they wrote it up in their books, since they both describe it wrongly and grossly underrate it.

A lean, mean, moustached young John Colicos plays the fearsome zoot-suited killer on the run with a gun; and like most British films of the period it's enlivened by yet another familiar face every few minutes.

It wasn't until the end of "Bond of Fear" that I remembered John Colicos was listed in the cast and realized who he was. Wow.

Dermot Walsh plays a dad taking his family on a trip in a caravan (trailer) when a wanted criminal, Dewar (Colicos) takes over the trip, keeping the son in the caravan with him, gun in tow, and ordering Walsh not to turn him in.

This I think was one of those "quota" films done in Britain, and I found it absorbing and well acted. The little boy was a riot. He tells Dewar, "I said a prayer for you." Dewar asks, what did you pray for? The boy says, "I won't tell you. It's horrible."

BOND OF FEAR is one of those low key, low budget British thrillers that I love so much. It feels very much like a British reworking of the US thriller THE HITCH-HIKER albeit made on a much smaller scale and with a typically British down-to-earth twist. The main characters are an ordinary family (husband, wife, two kids, one of each gender) who embark on a caravan holiday to France by way of Dover, little realising that a murderer is hiding out in their caravan.

It's a simple tale, well told by director Henry Cass (a steadfast B-picture director whose highlight other than this is probably the full-blooded Hammer horror copy BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE). The script is by the ubiquitous John Gilling with support from comedy writer Norman Hudis. The tale brings to life the English countryside and the journey structure of the narrative means that the viewer never gets bored during the brief running time.

Dermot Walsh is excellently cast as the resourceful father caught up in a nightmare world, but the real stand out is John Colicos, displaying some of the edgy talent that would later make him a popular figure in American TV. Even the child actors give good performances here. Okay, so the tale is occasionally predictable, particularly at the climax, but it's also tense and oddly gripping, which is why I give it the thumbs up.

I remember seeing this film on TV when I was a kid and was totally absorbed. I still like this type of old British movie. I think it's the good old-fashioned storyline with lots of suspense that does it for me.

So here we have good old Dermot Walsh minding his own business, taking his family on a trip with the caravan in tow and ending up with a wanted criminal holding them hostage whilst on the move with their trailer. For me, the acting is more than decent and for anyone like me who has a penchant for rather cheaply made, but nonetheless good, black and white British second features of this era, it would be a very decent purchase if only it were available on DVD or VHS (hint, hint).

Yes, it's a pity that - ahem - Amazon don't have a great many of this type of good old British black and white on either DVD or VHS.

There is no bon voyage for this family as they set off for a well earned caravan holiday, they've set off with an unwelcome guest, the killer Dewar.

It's a very good movie, it's well paced, and despite dating back to the 1950's it manages to keep you gripped, with lots of tension. James Colicos is the show stealer as Dewar, there is something very sinister about his performance, it's menacing but understated. The family are all a little straight laced, very much a product of the time, starched collars and stuff upper lips, Dermot Walsh in particular.

Don't expect big budget, but do expect to be entertained, the injured hitcher provides a giggle, but otherwise it's a serious, straight affair.

It's enjoyable. 8/10