Let's Scare Jessica to Death |  | Director: John D. Hancock
Actors: Zohra Lampert, Barton Heyman, Kevin O'Connor, Gretchen Corbett, Alan Manson
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
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Seller: The Waldkirch Corp
Rating:  103 reviews
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 89 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D080934D
UPC: 097360809343
EAN: 0097360809343
Theatrical Release Date: August 6, 1971
Release Date: August 29, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A woman recently released from a mental hospital moves to a New England farm where strange occurences threaten her recovery.
Genre: Horror
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 29-AUG-2006
Media Type: DVD
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 103
 A masterpiece of psychological horror December 27, 2009
Brad Paulson
I remember when this movie first came out, way back in 1972. I was a highschool freshman and it friggin' scared me like nothing else.
Jessica (Zora Lampert) is recovering from a mental breakdown, during which she had seen visions. Along with her husband and their friend, they go to live in an old house in a small town. They discover a hippie girl has been squatting there, but decide to let her stay. Jessica finds an old photo of a girl who lived in the house years earlier, but died on her wedding day. The girl just happens to be a dead ringer for the hippie. Soon strange things start to happen and Jessica becomes convinced that the hippie girl is actually an angry vampire spirit, or is Jessica starting to go crazy again?
This movie is not only extremely tense, but is perhaps the best combination of psychological drama and supernatural horror I've ever seen. All the acting is top notch and Lampert's performance is truly haunting as she struggles with her possible insanity. This is easily the best film director John Hancock ever made and it's a visual masterpiece featuring some wonderfully atmospheric cinematography.
This film is a must see for anyone who likes good horror films that actually make you think.
Don't watch this movie alone!!!!! November 16, 2009
Jemaha (California)
Great 70's movie scary, and I liked it I was scared I watched it alone at night and it is a good movie The ending reminded me of Friday the 13th the lake and Jessica on the boat.I recommend this movie for anyone that is a fan of horror classic films
Get this in time for Halloween to "scare (yourself) to death"! October 23, 2009
William Dorfer
Being over 35 years old and having almost no recognition among horror fans around my age group, "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is the definition of a classic sleeper movie. However, don't let the fact that this movie is buried under generations of more popular and well-known movies stop you from checking it out. "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is criminally underrated, and will grab your interest with its amazing location, haunting atmosphere, enticing characters and ever-thickening plot.
Taking place in the beautiful Connecticut countryside, Jessica and friends take some free time after Jessica has been released from a mental hospital. Coming across a mysterious, albeit quite attractive lady, they all share the house on the lakeside before the ever chilling and eerie series of events sets in. Being a psychological horror film that pre-dates "The Shining", "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is original in every sense of the word, and a film far beyond its time, having been made in 1971. The dark and mysterious atmosphere is captivating and at times, almost quite surreal, which makes for a fantastic tone to the movie. The setting of the house and the lake, and all the surrounding scenery adds to the optical beauty, making for some great landscapes for such chilling, psychological events to take place.
Overall, this is a great and extremely underrated psychological horror movie that's almost perfect. The only thing I wish would have been changed is the ending; it feels as though the ending was almost rushed and never given a proper conclusion. The other thing that bugs me is not about the movie itself, but about the DVD. The only thing the disc contains is the movie, the scene selection, and the language selection. It's really a loss that there's no special features included on this disc, because I love looking at the special features after a movie. Also, it's a loss because "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is a movie where the bonus material may have been really interesting, especially regarding the nature of the film, how unknown the actors are and how the movie seemed to disappear under years of other horror films.
Be that as it may, "Let's Scare Jessica To Death" is an awesome horror movie that should be viewed by anybody interested in surreal, atmospheric horror or psychological horror films. Enjoy this classic in time for Halloween, too! Thanks for the time, and peace.
A spooky movie treasure! August 23, 2009
R. Pepper (Los Angeles)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Let's Scare Jessica to Death is one of those old horror films that has gained a cult classic status over the years with the help of DVD, various websites and word of mouth. It has the look and feel of a 1970s film and there is a very realistic quality to it. The performances are great especially by the two female leads Zohra Lampert as Jessica and Mariclare Costello as Emily, both of them beautiful in their own right. I love the scene in the kitchen when Mariclare plays the guitar and sings "Stay Forever." The creepy atmosphere and haunting score in this film are extremely well done. Rather than give too much away it's best going into this film not knowing much about it, but it's very hypnotic and will grab your attention from beginning to end rest assured! I have watched it several times already and could easily get it out and watch it again so definitely buy it! Sadly, movies in this style will never be made again so savor it for all it's worth. I really enjoy movies like this that are mysterious and allow you to draw your own conclusion or stimulate your imagination. A real delight and treasure! I also recommend the 1976 Jodie Foster thriller The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.
Obscure gem gets under your skin. August 17, 2009
The Abominable Doctor Phibes (Western Pennsylvania)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
There's something effective about lower-budget 70s films with their down-to-earth production values. They're modern enough to be edgy, yet we know there won't be any CGI or fancy effects to spoil their "groundedness," so (hopefully) we're drawn in to character and story. The overall effect is an intangibly "real" feel that modern films (e.g. Blair Witch, Cloverfield) contrive, but fail, to achieve. This film is a good example of what I mean - it offers us scant but intriguing characterization (we know just enough to deduce that Jessica, the central character, is recovering from some form of mental breakdown) and relies heavily upon mood, atmosphere, music, and story-questions to hook us in for the duration. There are no special effects to speak of, either (excepting some simple make up and stage blood). What we do get is a slowly unraveling ghost/suspense yarn that tantalizes, unnerves and spooks its viewers without resorting to gimmickry.
Other reviewers have described the plot in great detail. It boils down to this: a man and a wife (with a friend in tow) have chucked city life for a place in the country. As soon as they arrive (after a ferryman takes them across a river to the town where their enchanting (enchantED?) abode is found), they discover a woman, a drifter type, has been living there, assuming it was abandoned. They invite her to stay, soon take a shining to her, then extend the invitation indefinitely. We sense this is a mistake and, before long, the presence of this woman sets up a "love quadrangle." All the while, many sinister happenings are observed by Jessica, and she is tormented with the possibility that she's getting sick again, imagining them all.
Herein lies the real power of the story. This is a paranoia tale, much like Polanski's Rosemary's Baby or The Tenant is a paranoia tale. And what pulls us viewers along is the need to discover whether her paranoia is justified or not. The filmmakers skillfully present the plot points in a way that leaves doubt as to whether the central character's POV is reliable or not. But she's sympathetic to us and we worry for her just the same.
If you can handle a slower pace, this one rewards you as it builds the tension steadily to its finale.
DVD notes: The picture is crisp and colorful, drawn from a very good print, and the monaural soundtrack is good, too. Commentary or production notes would have been helpful, but alas, this is one of those bare bones offerings that we're grateful to have at all, and with such a quality transfer.
Recommended for connoisseurs who can overlook a few technical shortcomings in favor of story, mood, and atmosphere.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 103
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