Capital Celluloid 2013 - Day 260: Tue Sep 17

Twisted Nerve (Boulting, 1968): BFI Southbank, NFT3, 8.30pm


This film, part of the Boulting Brothers season at BFI Southbank, also screens on Saturday 21st September. Details here.

Here is the BFI introduction: The Boultings’ only foray into psychological horror, Twisted Nerve stars Bennett as a stalker who adopts a childlike persona to disguise his murderous intentions towards the woman he’s obsessed with (Mills). Bennett’s boyish looks make him ideal casting for the role while Bernard Herrmann’s whistled theme adds just the right measure of subdued menace. It was criticised for associating Downs Syndrome with mental illness, but the film’s real undercurrent is the stifling effect of overbearing mother love.

The screening on Tuesday 17 September will be introduced by film historian Jonathan Rigby.


Here (and above) the opening credits, featuring Bernard Herrmann's superb theme tune.

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