Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

★ 6.2 1h 29m IMDb

Drama Horror Mystery

Newly released from a mental ward, Jessica hopes to return to life the way it was before her nervous breakdown. But when Jessica moves to a country house with her husband and a close friend, she finds a mysterious girl living in there. Jessica's terror and paranoia resurface as evil forces surround her.

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Cast

Zohra Lampert as Jessica Age 94 · New York City, New York, USA Zohra Lampert is a retired American actress, who has had roles on stage, film and television. She performed under her then-married name of Zohra Alton early in her career. Lampert achieved critical ac...

Barton Heyman as Duncan Died 1996 · Washington, District of Columbia, USA Barton Heyman (January 24, 1937 – May 15, 1996) was an American stage and screen actor..

Kevin O'Connor as Woody Died 1991 · Honolulu - Territory of Hawaii - USA

Gretchen Corbett as The Girl Age 80 · Camp Sherman, Oregon, USA Gretchen Corbett was born on August 13, 1945 in Portland, Oregon, USA as Gretchen Hoyt Corbett. She is an actress, known for The Rockford Files (1974), Magnum, P.I. (1980) and Otherworld (1985)..

Alan Manson as Sam Dorker Died 2002 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA Alan Manson (born June 7, 1918-died March 5, 2002) appeared as Fred, a corrupt Chicago Police detective in the episode of Good Times titled "J.J.'s New Career: Part 2" in Season 4..

Director John D. Hancock

Cast Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kevin O'Connor, Gretchen Corbett, Alan Manson, Mariclare Costello

JPV852 6/10 Jan 02, 2020

Eerie little 1970s supernatural horror film has a few creepy moments and although it is on the slow side at times, still liked the performance from Zohra Lampert and it does have a charm to it. Won't make my list of great horror films or anything, but certainly work seeking out. **3.0/5**

Wuchak 7/10 Nov 02, 2020

_**Haunting mystery/horror on coastal Connecticut**_

Released in 1971, "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" chronicles events after the title character (Zohra Lampert) gets out of a mental institution and moves into an old house on coastal Connecticut with her husband (Barton Heyman) and a friend (Kevin O'Connor). There they discover a hippie-like squatter named Emily (Mariclare Costello) whom they eventually invite to stay because they all get along. Jessica starts to hear voices as they catch wind of rumors of a drowning victim from 90 years earlier who's now a ghost or maybe even a vampire. Are the increasingly crazy happenings real or all in Jessica's mind?

This is a realistic mystery/horror movie in the mold of 1967's "The Shuttered Room" and 1962's "Carnival of Souls." I mean 'realistic' in the sense that the tone is believable. It's a low-key, haunting slow-burner, so if you want over-the-top, cartoony horror, look elsewhere.

Zohra Lampert is effective as the mentally unstable protagonist. The way the movie constantly looks into her thought-life and the uncertainties thereof is reminiscent of 1968's "Rachel, Rachel." The theme is the hypnotic power of a woman. Reflect on Jessica's situation at the end. If she dares to speak out, who would believe her story?

The drowning victim from the 19th century was named Abigail. I bet this was where KD got the name for his notable 1987 horror-metal concept album.

The movie runs 98 minutes and was in Connecticut, USA (Essex, Chester, East Haddam & Old Saybrook).

GRADE: B