Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Is a twisted variation on the Hansel and Gretel story. It's creepy for sure, but the only really good thing going for it is the performance of Shelley Winters. Everyone else seems hammy or dull by comparison. She's zany, ludicrous, empathetic and pathetic all at once. What I liked most about Shelley Winters is that she wasn't afraid to put herself out there. She abandons all vanity and glamour and just immerses herself in these crazy and unflattering roles. She dives into them with vigor and the result is that she was fantastically entertaining. She was a bit of a Glamour Puss in her early career, but as age and weight gain took their toll, she became more of a character actress. She slodged through some B-Horror films in the 70's, but she could certainly act. The boy in this movie is Mark Lester, The kid from the movie "Oliver". They were using his victimized innocent persona as a child actor, but he's about as dull and likable as a common brat. Ralph Richardson, the accomplished Shakespearean actor, plays a hack Psychic Medium, who fools and fleeces the poor and desperate widow. His performance is okay, albeit a bit too hammy for my taste. Michael Gothard, as the butler, is just awful. I've seen him in a couple other films and his overacting here is barely tolerable. I only liked him when Roger Moore kicked him down a cliff in "For Your Eyes Only" (1981).
A couple of key problems: (First) watching child actors and how they are directed can be irritating. We really have to adjust our expectations with the lack of maturity, skill and emotional depth they have.
(Second) is the sheer injustice of the outcome. The poor lady is murdered by these little snippets. We are led to believe that these kids are being abused as entitled victims, when in reality, his paranoia and imagination jump to conclusions about Mrs. Forrest's intentions. The result is tragic and not scary, because the children's response to her demise is remorseless and joyful, which is quite disturbing.
If this movie were to be remade, they would obviously beef up the jump scares and gratuitous gore. But I think this film is better remembered as a bizarre attempt to derange the old Children's tale.
A couple of key problems: (First) watching child actors and how they are directed can be irritating. We really have to adjust our expectations with the lack of maturity, skill and emotional depth they have.
(Second) is the sheer injustice of the outcome. The poor lady is murdered by these little snippets. We are led to believe that these kids are being abused as entitled victims, when in reality, his paranoia and imagination jump to conclusions about Mrs. Forrest's intentions. The result is tragic and not scary, because the children's response to her demise is remorseless and joyful, which is quite disturbing.
If this movie were to be remade, they would obviously beef up the jump scares and gratuitous gore. But I think this film is better remembered as a bizarre attempt to derange the old Children's tale.