In the wake of her brilliant "Whatever happened to Baby Jane" (1962) ,with a pleasing grasp of continuity ,Joan Crawford continued in the thriller vein.Unfortunately there is no Robert Aldrich here (and no Bette Davis either).
Actually we are closer to "Straight Jacket" (1964) which was a hilarious camp fest."Berserk" is more "conventional" which does not mean "plausible".When you know the killer's identity which I won't reveal of course,you'll say to yourself "how come?"."Berserk!" is primarily a whodunit à la Agatha Christie (doesn't it take place in England?The- murderer- is -among -us- and- pretty- soon -someone- else is-gonna- die stuff),but without anything of the writer's algebra .
Nevertheless,the circus is the place where you dangerously live.Anything can happen during the show so there is a good suspense which would not be sustained if the action took place,say,in a forest near a lake.The high-wire walker,the knives-thrower's partner,the girls under the elephant's feet,the lion tamer ,and Diana Dors in her box waiting for the saw which will cut her in two halves ,all are in danger even if the murderer does not strike.That's the strength of the movie.
Actually we are closer to "Straight Jacket" (1964) which was a hilarious camp fest."Berserk" is more "conventional" which does not mean "plausible".When you know the killer's identity which I won't reveal of course,you'll say to yourself "how come?"."Berserk!" is primarily a whodunit à la Agatha Christie (doesn't it take place in England?The- murderer- is -among -us- and- pretty- soon -someone- else is-gonna- die stuff),but without anything of the writer's algebra .
Nevertheless,the circus is the place where you dangerously live.Anything can happen during the show so there is a good suspense which would not be sustained if the action took place,say,in a forest near a lake.The high-wire walker,the knives-thrower's partner,the girls under the elephant's feet,the lion tamer ,and Diana Dors in her box waiting for the saw which will cut her in two halves ,all are in danger even if the murderer does not strike.That's the strength of the movie.