Who Slew Auntie Roo?

Director: Curtis Harrington Curtis Harrington

Overview

In this English film, a group of orphans visiting the home of a wealthy, retired singer (Shelley Winters) discover that the woman is hiding a disturbing secret.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/16/2016
UPC:	0738329202026
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Time:	1:31:00
Sales rank:	30,280

Special Features

Audio commentary with film historian David Del Valle and film scholar Nathaniel Bell; Trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Shelley Winters	Rosie Forrest
Mark Lester	Christopher
Ralph Richardson	Mr. Benton
Chloe Franks	Katy
Lionel Jeffries	Inspector Willoughby
Jacqueline Cowper	Angela
Charlotte Sayce	Katherine
Hugh Griffith	The Pigman
Rosalie Crutchley	Miss Henley
Pat Heywood	Dr. Mason
Judy Cornwell	Clarine
Michael Gothard	Albie
Richard Beaumont	Peter
Marianne Stone	Miss Wilcox

Technical Credits

Robert Blees

Gavin Lambert

Jimmy Sangster

Curtis Harrington	Director
Samuel Z. Arkoff	Producer
Robert Blees	Screenwriter
Colin Brewer	Asst. Director
Tristam V. Cones	Editor
Sylvia Croft	Makeup
Desmond Dickinson	Cinematographer
Louis M. Heyward	Producer
Kenneth V. Jones	Score Composer
Eddie Knight	Makeup
Gavin Lambert	Screenwriter
James H. Nicholson	Producer
David D. Osborn	Original Story
George Provis	Art Director
Ken Ritchie	Sound/Sound Designer
Nolan Roberts	Sound/Sound Designer
Jimmy Sangster	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

If one is in the right frame of mind, Who Slew Auntie Roo? can be a lot of ghoulish fun. It's not good, mind you; as a matter of fact, Roo is basically trash. But it's campy and silly and just the ticket if you're in the mood for a film that makes you groan at its inanity as often as it makes you shiver. The basic premise is a good one for a slasher film, taking the Hansel and Gretel story and resetting it in a somewhat more contemporary milieu. Unfortunately, the screenplay doesn't really take advantage of the premise to come up with more than a handful of imaginative twists. It's also poorly structured in places, with characters who are introduced and seem as if they will play an important role, but then just fade away. However, Curtis Harrington's creepy, engagingly manipulative direction helps to make up for these deficiencies, as does Shelley Winters' deliciously overripe performance. Chloe Franks is also good, but Mark Lester is unfortunately wan and rather clueless. Ralph Richardson, Hugh Griffith, and Lionel Jeffries also add to the fun, even if they're under-utilized. Some will never enjoy Who Slew Auntie Roo?, and that's understandable, but others, when in the right mood, will get a kick out of it.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler