Schizo

This 1976 offering from British director Pete Walker—who, like Roger Corman and William Castle, made exploitation movies in the 1960s and 1970s that mixed sex and shocks—boasts a title that is obviously intended to remind potential ticket-buyers of Psycho. But, like virtually all attempts to imitate Hitchcock's original, it falls considerably short. An announcement of star ice skater Samantha's (Lynne Frederick) impending wedding brings back an unwelcome stalker named William Haskin (Jack Watson)—a brooding man whom Samantha blames for the brutal murder of her mother. Soon Samantha's friends begin to be killed off in horrendous fashion (along with others, such as a psychic Samantha approaches for help)—and Haskin threatens to come after her as well (once while she's in the shower, of course). Walker tries to keep viewers in suspense before delivering what's meant to be a big final twist (which is loudly telegraphed by the title itself) in this gritty, low-budget production. Remastered for DVD and bowing on Blu-ray, extras include an interview with the director. Likely to be of interest to genre fans, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: Schizo is also included in the newly released The Pete Walker Collection, along with the director's House of Whipcord, The Comeback and Die Screaming, Marianne.] (F. Swietek)