Unjustly Forgotten Horror Movie of the Day: 1973's 'Reflection of Fear'
May 3, 2009
Columbia Pictures controls the rights to this 1973 horror film, featuring an early starring role for Sondra Locke, and for some reason hasn't seen fit to resurrect the film for any kind of U.S. DVD release, although it did make it to the format in Spain.
It's a creepy, creepy little movie -- and clearly inspired the inferior '80s slasher film "Sleepaway Camp." It's a must see for anyone that likes that movie -- and there are plenty of fans of it out there.
A teenager (Sondra Locke) starts acting strange when her divorced Dad (Robert Shaw) shows up to meet Mom's new fiancée and someone on the grounds starts committing murders. Locke is also nuts -- obsessed with an alter ego doll named Aaron who seemingly comes to life. The film is moody, chilling and serious -- the kind of horror movie they don't make today. Locke is ideal in the role as the disturbed girl.
This film used to play on Channel 2 KTVU in the San Francisco area in the 1970s. It was also given a VHS release. Then it drifted out of print. The film was apparently trimmed to get a PG rating and there is no word on whether or not it will be resurrected in an uncut version. But a new 35 mm print was struck and screened at the American Cinematheque in L.A. some time ago, so the elements for some kind of decent DVD release are obviously out there.
Director William Fraker didn't direct too much else, other than some TV stuff and a weird violent version of "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" in the early '80s -- another forgotten movie, albeit not a horror one.
This film at least deserves some kind of resurrection. No sign of any kind of release is on the horizon, however.
It's a creepy, creepy little movie -- and clearly inspired the inferior '80s slasher film "Sleepaway Camp." It's a must see for anyone that likes that movie -- and there are plenty of fans of it out there.
This film used to play on Channel 2 KTVU in the San Francisco area in the 1970s. It was also given a VHS release. Then it drifted out of print. The film was apparently trimmed to get a PG rating and there is no word on whether or not it will be resurrected in an uncut version. But a new 35 mm print was struck and screened at the American Cinematheque in L.A. some time ago, so the elements for some kind of decent DVD release are obviously out there.
