'Assault' is a fairly effective 70's British Giallo inspired flick with a grim and dire atmosphere, plenty of voyeuristic sleaze and a few genuinely tense moments. Despite a promising and quite disturbing opening scene, the middle part falls flat as it becomes more of a police drama with an easy to figure whodunit aspect that fails to surprise, but the movie is fairly well made with decent acting performances and a memorable finale that helps this rise above mediocrity.
The plot begins with a schoolgirl Tessa Hurst (Lesley Ann Down) getting attacked and raped in the woods after she leaves school by an unseen assailant and a couple of days later another girl is murdered from the same school. Detective Velyan (Frank Finlay) is on the case and attempts to solve the case before the killer strikes again.
The movie is fairly entertaining but could have done with a tighter pace and perhaps could have done with a bit more visual style like the other giallo's flicks from this period. The police procedural elements are a little flat and the cinematography isn't very engaging, but like I said the frantic finale does rank up the tension when its needed, but the movie could have done with more of that sprinkled throughout as everything else just feels very basic.
The acting performances are strong here with Suzy Kendall making for a fine leading lady and is always a joy to watch in these types of flicks. James Laurenson provides an interesting and strong performance as the psychiatrist and Frank Finlay gives a strong and much needed presence to the flick.
Overall 'Assault' is a moderately entertaining British thriller even if the Giallo elements are weak, but the strong cast and a few memorable sequences makes it at least watchable.
The plot begins with a schoolgirl Tessa Hurst (Lesley Ann Down) getting attacked and raped in the woods after she leaves school by an unseen assailant and a couple of days later another girl is murdered from the same school. Detective Velyan (Frank Finlay) is on the case and attempts to solve the case before the killer strikes again.
The movie is fairly entertaining but could have done with a tighter pace and perhaps could have done with a bit more visual style like the other giallo's flicks from this period. The police procedural elements are a little flat and the cinematography isn't very engaging, but like I said the frantic finale does rank up the tension when its needed, but the movie could have done with more of that sprinkled throughout as everything else just feels very basic.
The acting performances are strong here with Suzy Kendall making for a fine leading lady and is always a joy to watch in these types of flicks. James Laurenson provides an interesting and strong performance as the psychiatrist and Frank Finlay gives a strong and much needed presence to the flick.
Overall 'Assault' is a moderately entertaining British thriller even if the Giallo elements are weak, but the strong cast and a few memorable sequences makes it at least watchable.