Crucible of Horror (1971)

Crucible of Horror (1971) opens on a dreary day with drops of rainwater hanging from bare tree limbs. A man snips a dead flower from a plant in front of the house. This is the kind of movie I love to watch in a movie theater on a day as dreary as the one depicted. It can be slow; that’s part of the gloomy atmosphere. This one, though, pushes the limits.

Luckily, the man, Walter Eastwood, is played by Michael Gough, whose presence alone should keep one’s attention. He’s a horrible husband to his wife, Edith (Yvonne Mitchell),and an even worse father to his daughter, Jane (Sharon Gurney.) He also has a son, Rupert, Gough’s real-life son, Simon, that seems to be following in his footsteps.

After he cruelly beats Jane, Edith tell her, “Let’s kill him,” then, “I’m not joking.” We’re not privy to their plan, but suspect it’s going to happen on a weekend hunting trip for which they decline his invitation to join. We also have clues that it doesn’t take a genius to notice. For example, a perfectionist that would notice anything out of place, Walter asks, “Who touched my gun?”

One-time theatrical film director Viktors Ritelis takes his time delivering the story. It’s at times subtle… almost too subtle if you’re not paying attention. There’s no real suspense prior to the murder. However, afterwards it gathers speed like a snowball, not flying off a cliff, but resting quietly on the edge. The entire thing is uneven and could have been more evenly paced.

Spoilers ahead!

The “action” picks up when the women haven’t heard from Walter and return to the country home to see if anyone has found him dead in his bed where they left him. Maybe? The bed is empty. Then, when opening a strange crate on the back step, they discover his body inside. How in the world can that be explained? It won’t be, but doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be.

Edith and Jane dispose of the crate and their lives are returning to normal until they begin having haunting nightmares. There’s a reveal that’s a decent jump scare, then… I don’t want to spoil the very end. However, if you watch Crucible of Horror, let me know what you think happened. There’s only one possibility that makes sense to me, but maybe I’m missing something.

I wrote how this was the “kind” of movie I enjoy. But did I enjoy this specific one? Well, I didn’t not enjoy it. I’m as middle of the road on it as I can be, though, leaning toward the “not.” I appreciate the dysfunctional Eastwood family and understand Edith and Jane’s pain, but if it had more life in it, I wouldn’t feel like I never need to watch it again.