Very Cool!!!

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Late '60s British psychological thriller Twisted Nerve makes a rather insensitive connection between mongolism (Down's Syndrome) and psychopathic tendencies, which may be upsetting for some viewers (the film ran into trouble on its original release for just that reason); however, political incorrectness aside, this is a very entertaining movie—a deftly directed, well acted study of a dangerous character who is completely unable to understand, feel or function like a normal human being.A young Hywel Bennett plays 22-year-old Martin Durnley, brother to a mongol, whom he regularly visits at a care home. Stopping off at a store on the way home, Martin spies lovely librarian Susan (Hayley Mills) in the toy department, and employs a rather unorthodox strategy to make her acquaintance: he involves her in a case of shoplifting, subsequently pretending to be mentally retarded to excuse his actions. Calling himself Georgie, he proceeds to concoct an elaborate ruse to worm his way into Susan's life, eventually taking up residency in the guest house she shares with her mother Joan (Billie Whitelaw), and lodgers Shashie Kadir (Salmaan Peerzada) and Gerry Henderson (Barry Foster).As well as providing an excuse to get close to Susan, Martin's deception enables him to be rid of his domineering and disapproving stepfather Henry (Frank Finlay): one night, when 'Georgie' is supposedly tucked up in bed, Martin sneaks out of the guest house and murders Henry, returning back before anyone can notice his absence; however, there's no such thing as the perfect crime, and circumstances lead Susan to suspect that Georgie isn't quite the innocent simpleton he seems to be, putting herself (and her mother) in mortal danger.Although it is Mills who is arguably the 'star' of Twisted Nerve, it is Bennett who impresses the most, putting in a thoroughly chilling and utterly convincing performance throughout, both as Machiavellian Martin and gormless Georgie (the ease with which he switches between personas is superb). Billie Whitelaw also puts in a very strong turn, adding a further level of complexity to the story with her troubled character, who finds herself drawn to Georgie like a moth to a flame (or like a sexually-frustrated, middle-aged woman to an axe). Director Roy Boulting handles the tension brilliantly, with one scene involving a plate of biscuits almost worthy of Hitchcock himself.The Hitchcock connection continues with a haunting Bernard Herrmann score (that will be familiar to fans of Kill Bill) and a Psycho-style ending that sees Martin shooting at his reflection in a mirror, effectively killing off that part of his personality, leaving only Georgie remaining. Like Norman Bates, he is last seen in a prison cell, a psychological mess repeatedly calling out for Susan.

This movie had one of the best whistle in any movie I've seen.The story is about psychosis, Hayley Mills plays Susan Harper, a young student who tries to help a rich, emotionally ill and sinister young man, Martin Durnley (Hywel Bennett). Martin is a schizophrenic who assumes the personality of a six-year-old boy when he is in his "nice" phase. Susan talks a store manager out of pressing charges against Martin after he steals a toy duck. Martin wants to take the toy to his mongoloid brother, who is in an institution. Martin's stepfather, Henry (Frank Finlay), enraged by his shoplifting, evicts Martin despite the pleas of his mother, Enid (Phyllis Calvert). Martin, again acting like a young child, is taken in by Susan's mother, Joan Harper (Billie Whitelaw), who runs a boarding house.Do you that scene from Kill Bill where Elle Driver is walking down the corridor in the hospital and she starts whistling that awesome but menacing whistle, yeah do you know that first came from? yep this movie and that's the only reason I checked it out because of that, after seeing the movie I can say that this a pretty damn good horror movie and the most overlooked horror movie I've seen.Hayley Mills as the main psychopath of the movie dose a brilliant and a menacing little creep that got under my skin, because Martin or George (The main character psychopath) acts like a man child as he acts like he hasn't grown up yet and everyone treats him like a child, but really his a pure psycho and that pretty much explains why he acts like a little kid just to act innocent and fool everyone. Now when I think about it it's kind of nerving that this guy acts like this and that just add to unsettling nature of are main killer and Hayley Mills did a outstanding performance playing this character.The director of the movie Roy Boulting which this is my first movie that he directed that I've seen and Roy Boulting did great behind the camera filming the unsettling and the uncomfortable scene where Martin was in and the director really set the scene very well. He made this movie look like if Alfred Hitchcock directed it. The rest of the cast did fine in they roles, Martin was a interesting psychopath and the ending to the movie was even more uncomfortable and I think that's what made this movie stand out and doesn't hold anything back and just goes for it.Now for problems with the movie: Some of the writing in the movie was a bit well how can I say it, oh yeah wooden and corny. Some of the other characters in the movie I didn't really care about to be honest, I only cared about Martin the killer because well he's so messed up that makes him more interesting.Overall Twisted Nerve is a good overlooked horror movie that at times felt like a Alfred Hitchcock film at times.

Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett who scored big in The Family Way, she as the eager bride and him as the groom with nervous performance problems, made several films after that together. But Twisted Nerve is about as different from The Family Way as you can get. Hayley Mills still had some box office clout via the Disney films she made. But it's Bennett here who has a meaty role as a narcissistic sociopath.He meets Hayley Mills when both are suspected of shoplifting in a London toy store. But Mills and Bennett both get out of it after he puts on a second personality, a man with the development of a seven year old. Mills feels sorry for him and Bennett makes a note of her address and makes sure to bump into her.He may act a seven year old as a ploy calling himself Georgie. But in is real life role as Martin, Bennett is getting an understandable case of the hots for Mills. She can't take him seriously though in his little boy persona. That's when Bennett's narcissism takes over and he goes full blown psychotic.Bennett dominates this film, he enters the room your eyes are on him even if he's not speaking. Beautiful as Hayley Mills was at the prime of her life, she can't keep your attention when Hywel is in the scene.The film fills you full of anticipation. You never know when Bennett is going to finally lose it, but when he does you are fearful of this man/child.Nothing like The Family Way, but still a good film.

Martin/Georgie is a mommy obsessed psychopath with a mental age of an infant.Georgie dupes his way into beautiful Hayley Mills' residence and the sinister things begin to happen..."Twisted Nerve" is a psychological thriller strongly influenced by Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho".The camera-work is outstanding as is the acting.There are only two murders shown in the film,so fans of horror will be disappointed.The soundtrack by Bernard Herrmann of "Psycho" fame is truly memorable as is the whistling theme later used by Tarantino in "Kill Bill Vol 1".The characters are well-written and there is strong emphasis on oedipal complex.8 out of 10.