The strength of this film lies in Bernard Herrmann's whistling theme music, a unique, haunting and, typical of Herrmann, innovative melody that gets under your skin. The rest of the movie may indeed get under your skin, but for all the wrong reasons. It's just not very logical or suspenseful. I find Hywel Bennett's portrayal of the troubled protagonist wildly inconsistent and never quite believable. Nor does it help that he's quick to reveal a not very attractive physique. Hayley Mills, on the other hand, looks great but there's nothing challenging about her portrayal of a sweet young naif. She's rather dull. Billie Whitelaw and Barry Foster have this film to thank for getting them cast in Hitchcock's "Frenzy," though it's difficult to ascertain what Hitchcock saw in them based on their uneven performances here. Not worth tracking down this odd film as it will ultimately disappoint expectations.
Review of Twisted Nerve
