Don't Look in the Basement

Original Promo art.

Original movie poster.

Today's entry is about a 1973 US made flick known as Don't Look in the Basement, The Forgotten and/or Death Ward. The storyline is pretty simple but does its job quite well, in fact there's not a single moment during the film where you feel like doing something else like going to the fridge for a cold beer.

Nurse Charlotte Beale(played by Plamate Rosie Holotik) has arrived to Dr. Stephens' Sanitarium prepared for a new job. What she doesn't expect is to find another doctor in his position after Stephens is attacked by axe-wielding maniacal "judge" Oliver W Cameron(..in a running gag, anytime he confronts a situation out of his control, he retreats to repeating his name). That doctor is Geraldine Masters (decently played by Annabelle Weenick) who isn't sure about whether Beale is a proper fit for their establishment since her arrival wasn't informed by the late Doctor Stephens, so no one wasn't expecting a new astonishing blonde nurse knocking at your door. After a long discussion about the position Masters agrees to let her work in the nursing position, but the good Doctor may not be who she seems.

Opening Titles.

Uma Thurman?

or is it Angel Tompkins?

The assortment of lunatics includes Sam a simple-minded child-man who was Stephens' last victim of lobotomy, Jennifer a woman who needs an adult to comfort her as she wallows at Masters' heel like a puppy, Danny a trouble-making annoyance often trying to steal the fake baby of disturbed, Harriet, Allyson a sexy nympho who just wants to be loved and hops at any man she sees, & "Sergeant" Jaffee your typical case of soldier who hasn't escaped the madness of war.

Lunatics talk, congress talk.

Not so innocent after being covered in blood.

I wouldn't stab such a nurse!

The film shows Masters' unorthodox methods of running the clinic with allowing the patients to roam free with the doors to all rooms without locks calling into question..and, not to mention, the fact that Oliver is still allowed to walk around despite just chopping Dr. Stephens with an axe. And, what exactly happened to Dr. Stephens?

Oh yeah, the basement.

Did I mention exploitation?

C'mon man! give her what she wants!

A mother to die for.

The end of a fake doctor.

Those were the days! 70's drive-in trash is a lot of fun if you are into a warped brand of cinema, and if you dig bizarre flicks about mental rejects because of their unpredictable nature you just never know what the hell might happen, especially in this case where they are allowed to roam often unattended. Some consider the low budget a liability, but in the case of this film, I think it enhances the experience. With the cheap photography and weak production values it seems creepier and it really  feels like peeping tom into insanity through a camera lens on the outside looking in.

Since it's such a good film I will give you both the trailer and the entire film to watch it right here.

And now the whole movie for your pleasure.

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