A Reflection of Fear ** (1972, Robert Shaw, Sally Kellerman, Mary Ure, Sondra Locke, Signe Hasso, Mitch Ryan) – Classic Movie Review 9542

Director William A Fraker’s 1972 horror psycho-thriller A Reflection of Fear [Labyrinth] is a bizarre suspense movie about disturbed Marguerite (Sondra Locke), who embarks on a slaughter spree when her estranged parents – father Michael (Robert Shaw), now with girlfriend Anne (Sally Kellerman), and mother Katherine (Mary Ure) – meet up again in a remote mansion.

Marguerite (Locke) hides a peculiar secret and her unbalanced state is due to her mother’s hatred of men and the ends to which she will go to protect herself from their presence.

It starts interestingly but then gets very silly, and somehow the brilliant cinematographer William A Fraker (making his second film as director, following Monte Walsh) has let it slip through his fingers. But the cast is very tempting, and all the actors keep a straight face (the young Locke is particularly good) and it is sharply photographed by the gifted Laszlo Kovacs.

Edward Hume and Lewis John Carlino’s screenplay is based on Stanton Forbes’ novel Go To Thy Deathbed.

Also in the cast are Signe Hasso as Julia, Mitchell Ryan as Inspector McKenna, Gordon DeVol, Victoria Risk, Michael St Clair, Liam Dunn and Michelle Marvin.

Admittedly there is some odd casting, with Glasgow-born Ure playing Alabama-born Locke’s mother, though she is only 11 years older. Ure was married to Shaw from 13 April 1963 till her death on 3 April 1975 of an accidental overdose, aged just 42. They had four children. A Reflection of Fear is Ure’s last film.

A Reflection of Fear [Labyrinth] is directed by William A Fraker, runs 90 minutes, is made by RCA and Columbia Pictures, is released by Columbia Pictures (1972) (US) and Columbia-Warner Distributors (1972) (UK), is written by Edward Hume and Lewis John Carlino, is based on Stanton Forbes’ novel Go To Thy Deathbed, is shot by Laszlo Kovacs (Eastmancolor), is produced by Howard B Jaffe, and is scored by Fred Myrow.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9542

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