Frightmare (film)

Infobox Film
name = Frightmare


image_size =
caption =
director = Pete Walker
producer = Pete Walker
Tony Tenser
writer = Pete Walker
David McGillivray
narrator =
starring = Rupert Davies
Sheila Keith
Deborah Fairfax
Paul Greenwood
Kim Butcher
music = Stanley Myers
cinematography = Peter Jessop
editing = Robert C. Dearberg
distributor = Miracle
Ellman Film Enterprises
released = flagicon|UK November 6 1974
flagicon|USA July 1975
runtime = 88 min.
country = UK
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:18698
imdb_id = 0071523

"Frightmare" (also known as "Cover Up" and "Once Upon a Frightmare") is a 1974 horror film directed by Pete Walker and written by Pete Walker and David McGillivray. It starred Rupert Davies and Sheila Keith. The story focuses around Dorothy and Edmund Yates, who have recently been released from a mental asylum, and is one of Pete Walker's most notable films.

Plot

Frightmare is a 1974 horror film that is somewhat similar to "Driller Killer".In an isolated farmhouse, a woman named Dorothy Yates lives with her husband. Dorothy has just been released from a mental institution after it was found she was a cannibal who killed and partially ate at least six people in 1957. Her husband, Edmund Yates was convicted as well but we come to find out that he only faked his dementia in order to remain with his wife. He was a truly devoted husband who loved his wife dearly but really had nothing to do with the actual murders in 1957 and in the present.

Now it is 1974 it seems as if Dorothy has had a severe relapse. She secretly lures lonely young people to her Haslemere, Surry home, promising tea and a tarot card reading, only with the session ending with a violent murder and "feast". Jackie, (Edmunds daughter by previous marriage) began to suspect her step mum, Dorothy, rather early in the film and juggles here family ties while at the same time, trying to control her step sister, Debbie (Dorothy's actual daughter that she and Edmund had shortly before being committed to the asylum). Debbie rides with a violent bike gang and has apparently inherited her mum's appetite for human flesh herself. Debbie became involved in a fight with her boyfriend and a barman after closing time near one of London's hip nightclubs. The bike gang leave when spotted by customers but Debbie hid the body in a car shelter before the police arrived.

Debbie has severe arguments with Jackie about where Jackie goes at night. She learns (offscreen) that Jackie has been visiting her parents in Haslemere. Debbie finds out where they live and she and boyfriend (Alex) flee to the countryside home to be reunited with mum and dad. They are a family again and plan to plot against Jackie, who kept Debbie from them.

All does not end well and this film is sure to frighten the strongest of hearts.

Peter Walker was well known in Britain in the late 60s to the early 80s for directing hard-core horror films. It can be argued that Frightmare was his finest film. Stanley Myers had a cracking good score and really set the tone and mood for the film.

Walker chose the perfect setting for the film as the the Haslemere country home is quite menacing.

Taglines

* "Worse than your most shocking nightmare!"
* "Dare you see the film that shocked the critics?"
* "Far beyond a nightmare"
* "What terrifying craving made her kill... and kill... and kill..."