LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971)

[RCMerchant]

1970's. Vampire movies. Most think of Hammer films, Count Yorga,maybe Blacula. Most don't recall perhaps the BEST of them all...because there are no bloody fangs,bats,crosses,or flowing capes. In fact,most of the terror happens in sparkling sunlight. Which makes LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH so dam creepy.
The story-in breif-
Jessica,recovering from a mental breakdown,moves with her husband Duncan and his pal Woody from NYC to an old farmhouse in the boonies. When they get there, a hippy chick named Emily has been using the deserted place as a crash pad. The New Yorkers become enamored of the girl,and invite her to stay. Bad move.
Jessica finds an old wedding dress,a very large knife,and a spooky portrait that looks oddly similar to Emily. While trying to sell the picture in town,the antique dealer relates the tale of a girl who drowned on her wedding day that lived in their home. And that legend has-lives on as a vampire.
Things get weird. Jessica hears voices. A little girl roams the graveyard. And the town folk are very unfreindly.
Emily starts putting the moves on Duncan,tries to drown Emily,and rises from the lake in her ancient wedding dress.
And then things get REALLY weird!

A very,very creepy and understated film....it plays more like a ghost story than a vampire flick. And what ever happened to Zohra Lampert-the marvelous actress who plays Jessica? Sadly-wher carrear never really took off.
Along with Romero's MARTIN,the best vampire film of the 70's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX4eZD3GiL0

[claws]

One of my all time favorite movies.
Usually around Halloween I will watch Jessica followed by Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973) and Martin (1977). Greatest triple feature ever in my opinion :)

[RCMerchant]

I first saw this in the '70's, on late night tv during a summer thunderstorm. We lived in a very old farmhouse in the boonies at the time. I've loved this movie ever since.   

[claws]

I first saw this in the '70's, on late night tv during a summer thunderstorm. We lived in a very old farmhouse in the boonies at the time. I've loved this movie ever since.   

I first saw Let's Scare Jessica To Death in the late 70s after we moved from the states to Germany. It was playing at a U.S. Military Theater on base (they would always play old re-runs throughout the year). I was way too young to handle the horror, me and my sister had to leave the theater a half hour before the ending. We both were literally scared to death haha.
I finally saw the ending in the mid 80s when Paramount released it on VHS.

[RCMerchant]

What inspired me to write this review-I watched the old 80's Paramount vhs last night! It's got the girl on a boat with a knife-and skeleton hands creeping up. Goofy cover art for a good movie.

[Psycho Circus]

Never seen this one. I'm gonna have to check it out, looks very good and I fully trust the praise received from RC. 

[The Burgomaster]

I bought this DVD back in 2006.  here's a stroll down memory lane:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,109747.0.html

[Flick James]

It's got a redhead in it, so I'm already sold.

I've heard of this film, never seen it. I will have to put it on my list. My list has been growing and with a visit from the in-laws for a week they're going to have a wait.

[RCMerchant]

[/quote]

I bought this DVD back in 2006.  here's a stroll down memory lane:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,109747.0.html

OOOOhhh yeeaaah! Wow! That was a while ago,eh? "Memor-ieeessss...! Misty water drowning memorieeees... ofthe they way we brrrrr...!"

[The Burgomaster]

I bought this DVD back in 2006.  here's a stroll down memory lane:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,109747.0.html

I bought this DVD back in 2006.  here's a stroll down memory lane:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,109747.0.html

OOOOhhh yeeaaah! Wow! That was a while ago,eh? "Memor-ieeessss...! Misty water drowning memorieeees... ofthe they way we brrrrr...!"

I was shocked to see that this was all the way back in 2006.  I would have guessed I bought this movie about 2 or 3 years ago.  My, how time flies . . .

[claws]

I bought this DVD back in 2006.  here's a stroll down memory lane:

http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,109747.0.html

I was so happy when this was released I actually bought two DVDs of Let's Scare Jessica To Death day one 

This off beat dark humor indie flick pays homage to Jessica, and several other 70s horror movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Messiah of Evil:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atnUjHmBOzA

Enjoyed it very much. Worth a looksy.

[crackers]

Thank you for the tip. I will give this a go.

[voltron]

I burnt this one, but it didn't work for me, but it's WAAAY up there on my "must see" list, so I'll grab the legit dvd asap. Hey RC, from what I've read, wasn't this one more of a zombie movie?

[Allhallowsday]

I first saw this in the '70's, on late night tv during a summer thunderstorm. We lived in a very old farmhouse in the boonies at the time. I've loved this movie ever since.  

That's right; I think I watched that same night so long ago...   There is another hippy chick in the graveyard, but near the beginning, maybe the second time, doesn't Jessica see the redhead in the cemetary...?    
I own this movie on DVD too.  It's another one of those "motionless" movies with thick atmosphere that I love.  

[Allhallowsday]

I burnt this one, but it didn't work for me, but it's WAAAY up there on my "must see" list, so I'll grab the legit dvd asap. Hey RC, from what I've read, wasn't this one more of a zombie movie?

Not a zombie movie, though there is a moment there, albeit brief, when it gets zombie-like...