A schemer by the name of Louise Haloran argues with her husband over his mothers Will which, to her dismay, designates her fortune to charity in the name of a mysterious deceased daughter named Kathleen. Her husband, John, informs her that if he dies before she does, she won't be entitled to a red cent anyhow. He then promptly proceeds to have a heart attack and kick the bucket.
Lousie quickly invites herself for a visit at the families castle in Ireland while her husband is "away on business". Her intent is to ingratiate herself with her deceased husbands mother so as to weasel her way into the Will before it becomes known that John is no more.
Shortly after her arrival, Lousie starts to notice that things are a bit odd around the castle. In particular, the family carries out a morbid ceremony to mark the anniversary of the mysterious Kathleen's death in a freak drowning accident. Realizing that old John's mother is intensely superstitious and gullible, Louise decides to create the appearance that Kathleen is trying to communicate from beyond the grave so that she can pose as a bridge between the distraught mother and her deceased daughter and thereby secure her share of the fortune.
This plan doesn't work out as well as Lousie had hoped, and soon some of the inhabitants of the castle are being killed while strange finding seem to link the deaths in some way to Kathleen. The family doctor, Justin Caleb, starts to investigate the strange happenings in the hopes of uncovering the truth behind Kathleen's death and behind the new spat of murders, before another victim is claimed.
Dementia 13 was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, best known for the Godfather trilogy. It came out three years after the seminal film Psycho, and brought horror movies perhaps one step closer to the new sub-genre of slasher flicks, which wouldn't truly break out until the 1970's.
While reviews were mixed of Dementia 13 upon its release, it is, in retrospect, a great film and an important piece of horror movie history. The movie was particularly criticized for its confusing story line, which is a fair criticism although this does add to the general feeling of confusion which in its own way makes the movie more effective when paired with spooky atmosphere and imagery, and a side of gore. Dementia 13 is a great horror/mystery, and a classic amongst proto-slasher films of the 60's and early 70's. Well worth a watch.
4.5 ill fated evening swims out of 5
Unrated. Contains violence, frightening scenes.
Watch the Dementia 13 trailer.
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