Symptoms (1974)

 ☆ ☆ ☆

Symptoms (1974) – J. R. Larraz

With only the rain and a big old country house in rural England, director José Ramón Larraz establishes that very spooky mood that is so well-known from haunted house films in this period (early ‘70s). There are enough shots outdoors, in the nearby pond or the lush overgrown yard, that this might even qualify as folk horror. Helen (Angela Pleasance, daughter of Donald) lives alone in this house but the film begins as a friend, Ann (Lorna Heilbrun), arrives to stay for a few days – it isn’t quite clear how well the two women know each other. Pictures of another female friend who visited earlier are placed prominently around the house. The only other person on the grounds is the handyman, Brady (Peter Vaughan), who seems to be snickering or leering at Helen who steadfastly ignores him. But we can see that something is not quite right with Helen (beyond the headaches she complains about) and after she spies Ann talking with Brady from a window, she sinks into a nearly catatonic depression. Ann wants to help but she is also getting creeped out, thinking there is some other presence in the house. The film proceeds to play out as it probably should (although not perhaps how viewers may have hoped), leaving us with feelings of sympathy amidst the horror.