Don't Look Behind You

A psychology professor (Jeffrey Hunter) has his fiancee (Vera Miles) to act as bait for a campus killer. Jeffrey Hunter is excellent as the professor obsessed with the psychological mind of killers and believes the bloodlust can be catching. Vera Miles is suitably frightened, though that doesn't stop her from walking through the woods alone, but this wouldn't be a thriller if she didn't. Dick Sargent is excellent as is the creepy guy who plays the piano. It's a moody and creepy chiller that gets its suspense from dialogue.

Title: The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - Don't Look Behind You - Season 1 Episode 2

Director: John Brahm

Details: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Release date (September 27, 1962 ); B&W

Starring: Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Dick Sargent

Synopsis: An unknown assailant has been attacking women in the college town of Woodside and it looks like medical student Daphne (Vera Miles) might be next on the list. Despite all of the nefarious goings-on, Daphne doesn't seem too concerned about walking through the woods alone at night or keeping doors and windows shut and locked. Her psychologist boyfriend (Jeffery Hunter)suggests she become a decoy to draw the attacker out into the open. Should be the makings of of a top rate thriller but.....

Quick Review: This episode is pretty much DOA from the git-go due to the cartoonish portrayals by the principle characters as an unbalanced bunch given to silly psycho babble and involving themselves in just generally inconceivable situations. Probably the weakest season one offering.

Rating: D

Eeeeeerie tale (for all us late, late show addicts), only one debit. Should have been the premier episode.

British playwright Barre Lyndon wrote this fade to black mystery, known for some offbeat stories, including WAR OF THE WORLDS. There's a maniac on the loose, the campus killer, who attacks women in the woods in a small college town. Extremely atmospheric, directed by John Brahm, who effectively used the Universal backlot late at night.

It all centers around professor Jeffrey Hunter and his fiancee, played by Vera Miles, who Hitch also used in his films. She MAY be next-- and WHO could it be? Hunter is quite good as the gentleman of science looking into the minds of homicidal maniacs, and what makes them tick. As they gather with friends, suspicions are cast on just about everybody.

Spicing up the scenery is veteran actor Abraham Sofaer, playing the wise professor, and good guy slash bad guy Alf Kjellin. Lyndon wrote two episodes for Hitch, and without too much surprise, wrote for Boris Karloff's tv show, THRILLER. Has the feel of something Karloff would have done, possible outlined for his show originally.

FYI; A Season Three episode would have a very similar slant, only with the mad killer of nurses. Watch for it. Hitch used the LEAVE IT TO BEAVER set at Universal. Often wonder if that wasn't a dark comedy reach, because the set turned up more than once in the series. Brooding music score by Lynn Murray, who worked on IT TAKES A THIEF for Hitch.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 2 remastered dvd box set. Some of the dvd boxes were produced in Europe and will not play on American made players. Check with the seller regarding Region 2 playback.

Why is it so many lovely young women walk through creepy woods at night, when I turn on my TV. You think they'd know better. But then I'm glad they do since it's really a great hook. Here it's the fetching Vera Miles traipsing through one of the creepiest woods on record. And guess what—she gets menaced by something sinister. What a surprise! The next fifty minutes is figuring out who's in the woods with her and why.

Sounds like a great episode, but I'm sorry to say it's not. The script is a real awkward stretch, while Jeffrey Hunter telegraphs by overacting egregiously. And since he's really central, the entry collapses with him. Too bad that marvelous actress Miles has to stand around and look interested; plus, why would she trust Hunter who's obviously a lunatic if not the killer. Too bad a really evil studio forest is largely wasted, including the dark imaginings of Gothic director John Brahm. Meanwhile, I'm telling the girls to stick to city streets. Uh oh, maybe that's not a good idea, after all.

The plot is a bit contrived and confusing but those 2 make up for it. Rest in peace Jeffrey Hunter and may Vera Miles continue to be blessed and alive.