★ 6 / 10
**_A rapist/murderer lurks in the woods outside a
Wuchak
**_A rapist/murderer lurks in the woods outside a girls’ school near London_** “Assault” (1971) was renamed “In the Devil’s Garden” for its American release.…
**_A rapist/murderer lurks in the woods outside a girls’ school near London_**
“Assault” (1971) was renamed “In the Devil’s Garden” for its American release. It fits because the only eyewitness in the movie says that the killer looks like the devil. Yet producers also wanted to take advantage of satan’s popularity in cinema in 1973-1974 when it finally made it to America.
Lesley-Anne Down appears as the main student and was only 16 years-old during shooting. She hadn’t yet blossomed into the jaw-dropping beauty of “The Great Train Robbery” eight years later, but it’s interesting seeing her when she was so young. Elsewhere, Suzy Kendall plays the art teacher, the story’s heroine, and is quite attractive with the quintessential early 70’s look.
As for the masculine cast, there’s a pesky reporter reminiscent of the soon-to-come Kolchak. Meanwhile three main suspects rise to the fore, but I had a hard time distinguishing between them.
At the end of the day, this is a British murder mystery comparable to a giallo and I found the commentary on male lust psychologically interesting. For instance, the headmistress’ husband regularly leers at the girls at the school and even “cops a feel” when he can, which naturally doesn’t help his marriage. It’s frustrating for the wife, needless to say. Then there’s the contrast between fantasizing about alluring lasses versus actually raping & killing them. As the detective points out, he can’t book men for their dubious thoughts, only their criminal actions.
You have to roll with the questionable elements in order to appreciate the flick. For instance, why would the killer be skulking in the titular “garden” waiting for prey when he knew the area was taboo by that point, although a clueless girl indeed walks through. Not to mention, the teacher & several of her students drive through at the very moment a crime is committed (or, more accurately, just committed). Why Sure!
It runs 1 hours, 31 minutes, and was shot in Buckinghamshire, which is just northwest of London, and more specifically: Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios; Windsor’s End; Black Park Country Park; and London Road, Beaconsfield.
GRADE: B-
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★ 7 / 10
Good period chiller reminds me of the forgotten "I start counting".
biggee
The film is typical of its time, with the lighting, camera work and fashion giving a clear indication of 1969 to 1971 British cinema.It is not scary, but there…
The film is typical of its time, with the lighting, camera work and fashion giving a clear indication of 1969 to 1971 British cinema.It is not scary, but there is reasonable suspense and enjoyment.My main reason for commenting is has anyone else noticed the very strong similarities with the brilliant (but sadly never shown) "I start counting"?There is the same fashion, the similar colour technique which is surprising given this is Eastman and "I start" is De Luxe, an emphasis on short skirts, an unknown serial assailant who is revealed at the end but throughout most of the film the viewers attention is diverted to other suspects. There is also the woods where the events take place; the atmosphere in the woodland scenes is very similar. Finally, there is a young and good looking central character in both, Lesley-Anne Down and Jenny AgutterWatch the film if you enjoy late 60's, early 70's Britain and a bit of suspense.
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★ 7 / 10
Very alert, very dynamic!
RodrigAndrisan
Suzy Kendall, another love of my youth and always! Admired in "To Sir, with Love" (1967), "The Penthouse" (1967), "Up the Junction" (1968), and especially in…
Suzy Kendall, another love of my youth and always! Admired in "To Sir, with Love" (1967), "The Penthouse" (1967), "Up the Junction" (1968), and especially in the fascinating role in "Fraulein Doktor" (1969) and in "Fear Is the Key"(1972). One of the most beautiful women ever and extraordinary actress in "The Penthouse", her best and most complex role in a movie. This "Devil's Garden"(1971)Assault (original title) is not bad but not great either. Frank Finlay is good as a cop, and Freddie Jones is even better as a journalist. Lesley-Anne Down, the later beauty from movies like "Brannigan" (1975), "Sphinx" (1981) and especially "Hanover Street" (1979), here very very young, just a
teenager, is full of sexuality already.
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5.6/10
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@1488Gang, pretty sure it's British