I remember seeing The Attic on TV when I was 10, and I'll have to admit, it did give me nightmares. Now at 28, I decided to drop it in my Netflix queue just for laughs to see if it would still freak me out. Now I have a different perspective about it.I really agree with the last comment I read. This film is hard to classify, and in my opinion, could have been so much better. The two actors, Carrie Snodgress and Ray Milland keep it from being completely unwatchable. Snodgress does an exceptional job portraying Louise, that she actually makes you feel bad for her. All through the movie, you almost wish someone would throw her a bone and get her out of that dreadful house. It isn't really a horror movie, but it does have a creepy feel to it in some places. Ray Milland's sadistic portrayal of Louise's father,Wendell, contributes to that.
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TBoanz30002 April 2006
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It was not a horror movie, this movie was more of a case study. Snodgress's acting is brilliant and she definitely deserved an Oscar for it. The movie is definitely creepy and depressing, probably the most depressing movie i've seen. the best part about the movie is that it stays in your head for a long long time. Makes you think about the other side of parenting and how cruel humans can be. It does get boring in between, i wont lie about that. But that can be completely ignored when you look at the movie as a whole. It is not a Horror movie but if you watch it with concentration, you will get scared. After the movie has ended too, just thinking about it.
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suspiria1014 February 2003Louise is a poor lonely middle-aged librarian prone to odd behavior, outrageous daydreams and suicide attempts. For the last 19 years she has taking care of her abusive wheelchair bound father and hopes beyond hope that her fiancée, who seemingly stood her up at the altar, returns to take her away. I thought that the story was interesting and in many ways parallels Psycho, there's even a nod in the movie. The acting is passable and the leads seem to mesh well. The direction is a bit plain and simple with little or no pizzazz. The biggest drawback is the music. Half the time the music distracts you away from the scene and the rest of the time it lulls you to sleep. Dig that crazy chimp music. The editing draws many of the scenes out for far too long. I kept thinking to myself that the story interested me but the script needed to be fleshed out some more and a bit of the fat trimmed coupled with a decent music score and a little vision, they could have pulled off something interesting.I even liked the obvious twists. Remake anyone?
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TonyDood15 June 2005This is NOT a horror film. Like its "prequel," "The Killing Kind," it's more a psychological study of how nasty parents can really mess up their children's lives, and how ironically nasty life can be.
Louise, brilliantly played by the wonderful, under-utilized and now-departed actress Carrie Snodgrass, is a spinster librarian with a hateful, controlling, wheelchair-bound dad played with unashamed evil glee by Ray Milland. Louise is depressed beyond belief--she's never gotten over the loss of her fiancée who disappeared 19 years ago, or an accident that led to her father being in a wheelchair. She does anything she can to cope: attempts suicide, masturbates, has a one-night stand, plans vacations she'll never have the courage to take, retires from her job and even takes care of a chimpanzee. But she's not a balanced person--she constantly fantasizes about rejecting her abusive and mean father and loses track of reality on occasion. She was admits to being involved in a library arson, and that she'd do it again. She drinks a little too. But things seem to be going her way at last when Louise makes a friend out of a co-worker, a sincere young woman who boosts Louise's confidence, and gives her hope, sets her on the road to recovering her self-esteem and her life.
But, as in "Carrie," happiness is not in the cards for Louise, and it all comes to an end in a series of ironic surprises, and a stormy conclusion in a creepy attic where unpleasant truths are finally revealed.
This is not a horror movie--it's not scary or gory at all. You have to be in the right mood to enjoy this movie. You have to be depressed, and feeling hateful, and old, and grief over the loss of someone or something you love to really get into this movie. You have to feel like the world is an unfair, cruel place to live, and be interested in a movie that confirms your worst fears...the world IS against you! There are some wonderful moments of black humor--the secret Ray Milland has been hiding about his health is somehow so cruel it's almost funny, and listening to Carrie Snodgrass break out of character and scream is a wonderful experience. Some of Louise's fantasies show her screaming or acting sly and seductive in that unusual voice of hers, giving just a hint of what Ms. Snodgrass might have delivered had more roles come her way. Ray Milland's hatred of the "Dicky the chimp" is hilarious, even as it degrades a once great actor in his declining years to be in such a role in, basically, an exploitation film. But I can't stop laughing when he first sees Dickey..."What in God's name is THAT!??"
It's not a great film, and hard to categorize; I have no idea who would have put up money for something like this, let alone how they got the actors they did. It's more sad than scary, and you really have to be in the right mood to watch a character who's life was pretty rotten almost get better, then fall into a bottomless pit of hopelessness.
Or maybe the implication is that Louise went on after this movie, and was able to start her life over, having broken the spell of the past that kept her from moving forward. Somehow, I highly doubt it though...! -
NoDakTatum27 November 2023Carrie Snodgress portrays a mousy librarian under the domineering control of her father in this mislabelled "horror" film. Louise (Carrie Snodgress) is being forced out of the librarian job she held for nineteen years. She drinks too much, makes halfhearted attempts at killing herself, and once accidentally set the building on fire. A fire she also "accidentally" set crippled her father (Ray Milland), and Louise stays at home taking care of him. Louise's fiance, Robert (Ron Luce), disappeared almost twenty years ago, and Louise still waits to hear from him. She bothers the missing persons bureau, fantasizes about taking exotic vacations, but the loss of her job really begins to change her. She befriends her replacement, Emily (Ruth Cox), who is having control issues with her own mother. Louise begins going out at night, much to her father's chagrin, even having a one night stand with a man she meets at the movies. Emily buys Louise a pet chimpanzee, Louise's fantasies of killing her father begin to increase, and Louise's final day at work approaches.
This film was shot on location in Wichita, Kansas, which is actually refreshing but "The Attic" is anything but horror. Despite the misleading foreboding title, and inaccurate plot summary on Netflix, the film is a psychological character study, becoming somewhat horrific only in the final fifteen minutes. Snodgress made a huge splash in the 1970's and quickly fizzled, reduced to taking roles in B flicks after scoring an Oscar nomination for "Diary of a Mad Housewife." She is very good here, and once you let go of any horror film expectations, watching her Louise go mad under her father's tyranny is unsettling. Milland can be accused of playing the same mean old man roles he got stuck with in his latter years, I do not recall the last time he smiled onscreen. Ruth Cox is surprisingly good as Emily, with enough acting chops to back up the role. Once again, the main problem I had was with the script. There are some comical death fantasies here that do not work, plus the monkey gets its own jaunty accordion musical theme. Milland's character is so one note, Snodgress must take over the picture. This is unfortunate since the grand finale is telegraphed to the point where you will have it figured out soon after the film begins. This means Louise must go through her life and trials, and I quickly became bored, knowing the outcome. "The Attic" is a failed attempt at suspense, getting lost in the early 1980's cycle of slasher flicks. The good cast did deserve more. -
Coventry28 September 2023"The Attic" is one of the more difficult movies I rated and reviewed in the past couple of years. It's a movie that evokes contradictory sentiments, to say the least. I liked it but wouldn't watch it again anytime soon. It's terribly slow-paced yet atmospheric and foreboding. Half of the storylines that feature in the script are irrelevant, but they nevertheless form good and compelling material. The denouement is incredibly predictable, and yet immensely shocking when it finally comes. One thing's for sure, though, it's a fascinating movie that still spooks through my head several days later, and that alone makes me recommend it.
For starters, and let's get this straight, "The Attic" is not a horror movie. Those who are expecting to find monsters or torture devices in the attic will be sorely disappointed and, in fact, the title remains entirely irrelevant up until the Grand Guignol end-twist. Instead, however, the film is a harrowing drama and psychological character study of a poor woman trapped in her own miserable daily routines. Louise Elmore is about to lose her job as librarian, as she'll be replaced by a younger person, and the only other occupancy she has is looking after her tyrannical, insulting and wheelchair-bound father. Louise was engaged once, and the future looked bright, but her fiance disappeared on their wedding day. She never gave up hoping he'd return, though. Life slightly gets better for Louise when she befriends Emily, her successor at the library, and receives a pet chimp from her. Her father gets becomes increasingly loathsome, though, and genuine tragedies are about to happen.
The movie owes a lot of its emotional impact to the stellar performance by Carrie Snodgress. Unless you have no heart, you will feel sincere empathy for poor Louise who's weak and insecure due to the lifelong mental abuse by her father, and you can't but cheer out loud when fantasizes about murdering him. The character depicted by Ray Milland is arguably the worst type of villain/monster imaginable. He doesn't wear a scary mask or wields a knife, but he emotionally destroys the daughter he's supposed to love. I would say that Milland gives away a phenomenal performance, but he basically has been playing the exact same role throughout the 70s and 80s, namely that of the embittered, and downright despicable old man (preferably in a wheelchair). Check out "Terror in the Wax Museum", "The Uncanny", "Mayday at 40,000ft", "Frogs", and "The House in Nightmare Park" for similar roles of his. Fact remains that Milland remains brilliant, and he has a handful of magnificent scenes, like when he's arguing with the pet chimp Dickie, or when he sits in in his bathtub throwing insults at Louise while wearing a silly and redundant shower cap.
"The Attic" is also a sort of spin-off/sequel to "The Killing Kind", in which the characters of Louise and her father Wendell appeared as well. You don't necessarily need to have seen "The Killing Kind" to enjoy this movie, though. -
Maciste_Brother11 June 2003THE ATTIC starts off well. The somewhat dreary story is helped greatly by the two main actors and there's a semblance of a character study going on here but the film goes downhill fast when Carrie Snodgress' character buys a monkey. Not one of those cute little monkeys. She buys a real big chimpanzee!!!
This sudden plot device basically kills the movie. It's just not conceivable for a woman like the one Snodgress plays, who has a hard time doing anything because of her domineering father, for her to, out of the blue, buy a chimpanzee. I mean, come on! Forget about it! -
Michael_Jones278 August 2002Plot is a little slow Storyline varies too much, too many scenes that have nothing to do with the actual story. Some of the acting is not that great, but this is a 70's movie so it's about par for the course. Not too bad of a movie overall...
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Slow, odd film that drags and plods (I mean really PLODS) along to its disappointing climax. You may expect some sort of punchline at the end, but there is none. Both Milland and Snodgress give awkward performances; in fact, the film's weirdness may actually be the only thing it has going for it. The generally atmospheric score has some absurd parts (like the music that plays during the first appearance of a monkey), and there is a truly awful fantasy scene involving....a gorilla. (**)
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HorrorFan198429 March 2020Depression surrounds poor Louise as she battles taking care of her abusive father who holds some sinister secrets in The Attic.
Louise is a very sad and lonely person who was stood up at the altar by the love of her love. almost 20 years ago, something she has not been able to get past. In the midst of her depression involving that, she is also being forced into retirement at the library she works in and is being replaced by a "younger model". On top of ALL of this, she has to take care of her tyrannical wheelchair-bound father who verbally abuses her at every turn. He attacks her appearance, the way she speaks, the job she has, etc.
Throughout the film, we see Louise fantasizing of killing her father in different ways. She also starts obsessing over the young person replacing her at the library named Emily. Emily has it all. Youth, a new position at the library, and a fiancee she is madly in love with. When a younger guy shows interest in Louise, things start to take a positive turn for her and her passive ways. But it isn't long before her father makes things worse for her and reveals some dark secrets of his own. All this leads to Louise breaking down further and a satisfying ending.
The compelling thing about this movie is the character of Louise. It is her mental health and overwhelming sadness that drew my attention throughout and kept me interested to see where it was going. I think we can all relate to a time when things weren't going well for us in our lives, and her general depressed mood definitely made me feel for her. Carrie Snodgress delivers a very emotional and powerful performance as Louise, the lonely and timid librarian who seems to have a dark cloud constantly hanging over her head.
The Attic is a very effective horror film. Extremely slow moving at times, but I never lost interest in following Louise's journey. It's only available on VHS at this point making it virtually impossible to find, but if you get the chance it is a recommended watch for sure!
7/10 -
mark.waltz8 February 2021A true embarrassment for Carrie Snodgrass and Ray Milland, this psychological thriller is laughably bad as it deals with a librarian being laid off from her job, dealing with the memory of on alleged lover who disappeared on her and a tyrannical father. Like "Throw Mama From the Train" a few years later this film shows Snodgrass fantasizing about killing her father, Milland, in several different ways, and those are the comical highlights, showing her poisoning him, electrocuting him, even throwing a cake in his face and to top it off, bringing a gorilla into the room to eat him alive. This builds up her hatred of him as he continues to harass him, and even killing a chimpanzee that she buys as a pet.
The performances are laughably bad, ridiculous for Oscar winner Milland and Oscar nominee Snodgrass to even have considered this after perusing the script. Milland was better with Rosie Grier's head on his shoulder or frogs hopping on him, and he makes no attempt to even give a performance. He just bellows his lines, and she continuously pauses as if trying to wonder what she's doing in this. The background music is like nails down a chalkboard and the attic references in the title isn't even utilized until late in the film.
There are a few amusing moments to set up the story with library patrons gossiping about her and a handsome gardener she psychotically mistakes for the man she loved. But there are many embarrassing moments as well, like a scene of Snodgrass pleasuring herself and her flashing back to 20 years before, looking exactly the same. A scene with her coworker and her family (with the mother played by veteran actress Rosemary Murphy) also makes no sense, as does her spending her money to send that friend a plane ticket. Attics maybe for storage, but this is one film that I don't need to store. -
Woodyanders5 October 2020Lonely, repressed, and browbeaten librarian Louise Elmore (a fine and moving performance by Carrie Snodgress) dedicates her life to taking care of her mean and domineering control freak invalid father Wendell (superbly played to the hateful and nasty hilt by Ray Milland). However, Louise begins to crack under the pressure and finds herself sinking into a deep pit of madness and despair.
Director George Edwards relates the involving story at a deliberate pace, ably crafts a brooding melancholy atmosphere that's rife with sadness and hopelessness, and pulls out the grim stops at the nightmarish conclusion. The thoughtful script by Edwards and Troy Crechales makes a strong poignant central point on how bad parents can ruin the lives of their children. Snodgress and Milland do sterling work in their roles; they receive sturdy support from Ruth Cox as Louise's eager and perky gal pal Emily Perkins, Rosemary Murphy as Emily's demurely overbearing mother Mrs. Perkins, Frances Bay as a co-worker, and Marjorie Eaton as snoopy old hen Mrs. Fowler. The downbeat ending packs a devastating punch. Further enhanced by Gary Graver's handsome cinematography and Hod David Schudson's mournful score, this gloomy, yet still absorbing and affecting movie is well worth a watch. -
dieseldemon8518 January 2024This film is a slow burn at times, but offers a very in depth character study and the effect of mental criticism, manipulation of overbearing parent. Your introduced to Louise a middle aged librarian whose life is less than ideal and was stood up at the alter 19 yrs ago. You really do sympathize with her fragile mental state and her delusion that her fiancee will return to her. Louise is played by Carrie Snoggren and we'll played too, Wendell her awful excuse of a father is played by Ray Milland. For about 40 minutes it's a slow burn, until the intro of the monkey. The ending though quite sad builds to an exciting climax as to what's really in the attic. Not a repeat watch but deserving of a viewing once or twice. 3/5.
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paulemzod12 March 2021It has been a long time since I saw this film, and I remember thinking at the time what a waste of good talent , especially in the case of Ray Milland, who had done such quality, really first rate work in earlier films. The sad reality of a good actor grown old, and forced to accept this kind of part. Carrie had great promise as well, but it never came to fruition. For me, having admired their talents in other films, it was a sad experience. This ain't bedtime for Bonzo. Honestly can't recommend this one. Try Milland in The Major and the Minor. Time better spent.
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ncphoenixrising20 September 2004In my opinion, this movie was to show how destructive a manipulator aka. Louise's father can be. All of louise's problems, drinking, fantasizing, etc. was brought on by her father's vicious criticisms, lies and control!
It has been a while since I have seen the movie, but if you all remember, Louise's father was not actually paralyzed. Also, as you find out at the end of the movie, the fiancé and the chimp were both killed BY HER FATHER! Louise is the victim in this movie. Everything she loved and loved her was viciously ripped away from her by her sick-minded lying,controlling father. When she found out her father was not paralyzed and the past 19 years of her life was under his complete control, she lost it and pushed him down a hill......wouldn't you?? I really feel like this movie was trying to show society that mental abuse is REAL and should be taken SERIOUSLY! -
As someone else said, it's a very depressing movie (so far what I watched).
The character is a lonely, sad, depressing, socially inadequate embarrassment.
It's clear her so called friend who works alongside her in the library, doesn't really like her and their conversations are - here's that word again - embarrassing.
I got to the part in the movie when a sailer in the theater picks her up. Got to the bedroom scene and wow, this was just a tragic woman. Carrie Snodgress was perfect for the role in that sense.
Not for me. How Ray Milland got involved in this awful movie is a mystery. Must have been the money he was given. -
kevinolzak27 September 20221980's "The Attic" was the sole directorial credit for Curtis Harrington's longtime producer George Edwards, written in collaboration with Tony Crechales, using the characters they had introduced in Harrington's little seen 1973 psychodrama "The Killing Kind." As the withdrawn, spinster librarian Louise Elmore, Luana Anders shared her sexual fantasies with serial killer John Savage, Peter Brocco in for just two scenes as her infirm, elderly father Wendell; here, Ray Milland and Carrie Snodgress are perfectly matched as father and daughter, given a full backstory never hinted at in Harrington's film. Instead of Los Angeles, the setting is now Wichita, Kansas (shooting on location), Louise still employed as a librarian but forced to retire after an arson attempt, befriending her much younger replacement, Emily Perkins (Ruth Cox). We learn early on that Wendell Elmore has been confined to a wheelchair since leaping from the second story of his burning department store, Louise rumored to be responsible for that as well, chained to his side out of guilt ever since. Adding to her woes, she continues to carry a torch for the man she was set to wed 19 years ago, who mysteriously vanished without a trace and has long since been given up by local authorities. For all her problems, Louise remains a caring individual who sees Emily suffering under an equally tyrannical parent, an overly strict mother (Rosemary Murphy) constantly berating her 11 year old son. There's no shred of decency in Wendell Elmore, listening in on his daughter's phone calls, delighting in her body massages, and never once paying the girl a single compliment. A miserable home life and soon to end work environment have Louise engaging in fantasies about killing her father, whether poison at the dinner table or electrocution in his bath, all to no avail as she wonders where he keeps his fortune hidden. Emily's gift of a pet chimpanzee touches Louise deeply, outraging Wendell even more because the little tyke discovers his secret loot. Carrie Snodgress is both eerie and heartbreaking in equal doses, prone to sexual trysts away from under her father's thumb, proudly gloating in his face afterwards. Long typecast in curmudgeon roles, Ray Milland is truly in his element, and in wondering just how far he will go to torment his only offspring reveals yet greater monstrous misdeeds that allow for a memorably horrific climax. Not for all tastes, it may not be better than "The Killing Kind" but adds more tragedy as it careens toward its predestined conclusion.
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Nightman8525 September 2005Well-done psychological thriller is slow in going, but ultimately a rewarding and emotional character study.
Lonely spinster has been living under the eye of her over-bearing father ever since her beloved fiancé disappeared years earlier. But now that she is gathering her will power, will she be able to take control of her life and uncover the secrets from her past?
While many have billed this film as a horror movie, it's really not. The Attic is a highly tense drama that builds to some good thriller qualities, especially toward its climax. Director George Edwards creates a feeling of intrigue and mystery with this film, while adding some occasional Gothic touches. The musical score and theme song also add to the film's over all shut-in mood.
The true highlight of this movie though is its great cast. Veteran actor Ray Milland is appropriate and menacing as the heroine's invalid old father. His performance is quite good and this stands out as one of his better B film roles. However the true star of this film is the late Carrie Snodgrass. Snodgrass gives a stirring, heart-felt performance that makes her character truly sympathetic. In fact, she is so good in her role that she gives the entire film a bit of a solemn, moving note. This is perhaps one of Snodgrass's best roles ever.
The Attic has became a some what lost film over the years and it shouldn't be. It's a rare thriller that actually reaches an emotional level with its audience.
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Okay, the storyline here is pretty interesting. Louise is a lonley librarian who is developing a drinking habit which is about to get her fired. But if anyone has GOOD reason to be sneakin hooch its Louise. 19 years ago she was left at the altar by her true love who she's never heard from since (she calls Missing Persons on a regular basis and they are at a point where they dont think this man EVER existed anywhere but in Louise's mind!). She lives with her evil nasty belittling father who is in a wheelchair due to an accident he had trying to escape a building Louise set on fire during one of her "Crazys" episodes. Since then Louise has had to bathe him, feed him and wait on him hand and foot.As you can imagine its a real downer and Louise has even known to slit a wrist or two over it (which her father points out is just to get attention!) Louise makes freinds with a new younger girl at the library and they start a friendship that at least brings Louise a little bit of joy. Her father cant stand it. "Where were you?" he likes to yell when she comes home at night. (He listens to phone calls too.) From the point were Louise is gifted a monkey....yes, a monkey!.....the twists start hitting. Are they fast and furious? No, the movie moves slowly ...which is unfortunate because all-in-all it IS an interesting story with some cool plot twists. I really think this movie needs a re-make with quicker pacing and maybe a few more surprises thrown in. The first time I saw this movie I was a little kid who caught the last 20 minutes on TV and thought "Wow! What a mind-f***!". Renting it and watching it in full I now see that most of the action takes place in those last 20 minutes.
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skimari21 July 2013I found this movie interesting. Cheap thrillers or horror movies are not for me, and this movie is neither. It is a very realistic character study and therefore rather depressing, as reality unfortunately often is. It also shows how luck can play an important role in how happy or unhappy we can become. Louise was a normal, happy girl that bad luck transformed into a miserable woman, unable to control her life. She lost the man she loved at their wedding day and then was obliged to serve her crippled father, out of remorse, because she was made to believe that she was responsible. She can only imagine ways of escape or revenge, but never takes any real action to free herself, remorse is there to prevent her. Yet when it concerns others, as her colleague, she is capable to provide sound advice and show a revolutionary spirit. But her father, Wendell? He is healthy and has money, so he could live an easy and happy life. And what does he do? He kills his daughter's husband to be, and spends most of his hours in a wheelchair, spying on her, abusing her verbally, forbidding her any joy, and is tied with her in a life of misery and contempt. He is crazy alright, an extreme case of control freak who should be straight jacketed long ago. His punishment comes too late and when Louise discovers the hidden truth in the attic, it is also too late for her to make a new start, she practically cannot move from this terrible environment, to which her bad luck has condemned her to live all her life. It is very sad, but cases such as this, in various percentages of intensity, happen quite often around us. So this movie, in its extremity, is a reminder not to allow anyone to control us and always fight for or individual rights. So I call it a "constructionally" depressing movie. Both Carrie Snodgress and Ray Milland are superb in their respective roles. I wish that we could see Carrie in happier roles, because she was really something. As for Ray Milland, he had so much vitality that even from his wheelchair he could liven up every scene he was in. Although his role is hateful, he manages to provide a much needed comic relief at times, through the absurdity of his behavior to his victim. And I do not agree that he is degrading himself by playing such roles. From the beginning of his long career, and unlike many other "stars", he was never afraid to play villains, not giving any consideration to the possible damage to his "image". He was always a true professional and a fine actor, who chose to share with his public all the phases of his life, daring to reveal the changes that time has brought to him. I find this touching and I admire him all the more for this.
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euro45696 November 2005This film I found to be very dark and disturbing and yes at times, rather nasty, although the nastiness is implied, not really on screen (no gore but the thought of a middle aged woman masturbating really plays with you). This movie was dark for all the right reasons and really is a good story if you don't mind being left chilled. This movie really isn't a horror film but it really shouldn't be watched right before going to sleep or if YOU yourself is rather depressed. It will play with you. But, it was a good thought provoking and disturbing movie. I am wondering if this film was a made for television film or perhaps just made to look dark and grainy for the right reasons. Excellent film making.
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Was sad to hear that Carrie Snodgress passed away. While waiting for a liver transplant. Wonder if she had a drinking problem like Louise. Anyways, that sucks. I loved her in "The Attic." I was kinda hoping for a remake of The Attic. Alot of people did not like this movie, but I thought it was great. Ray Milland and Carrie were great. Gotta love Dickey!
But it is what it is...
rest in peace Carrie! -
bettybenzone17 June 2019Carrie Snodgress stars as a repressed spinster librarian (are there any other kind?) who lives with her emotionally abusive father (a vicious Ray Milland). She longs to get away from her father, her small town, and fall in love again after her boyfriend disappeared decades ago.
The Attic loves its characters. That much seems obvious. It has so much compassion for these societal outcasts that it hurts. We long for Snodgress to get her life together and find happiness.
Though advertised as a straight horror film, The Attic is much more of a dark drama with a few tinges of Williams, Albee, and O'Neill. It's really a shame that it's never found a strong audience due to its mismarketing, but hopefully, one day this film will get the appreciation it so richly deserves. -
tom-63514 September 2003I enjoyed this drama. It is a little slow moving but is intriguing nonetheless. The music is a little awkward, but the acting is very good and the movie kept my interest throughout. The settings and background were also interesting. It's not the best movie I have ever seen but it is better than most.
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"The Attic" follows Louise, a depressed, suicidal spinster librarian in Wichita who has lived under the thumb of her infirm, abusive father ever since her fiancé disappeared before her wedding day nineteen years prior. After a mental breakdown in which she nearly caught the library on fire, Louise resigns from her position and begins training Emily, her younger replacement. The two find companionship in one another, but the relationship between Louise and her father begins to reach violent peaks.
Though released in 1980, "The Attic" has the feel of a number of downbeat, somber psychological "horror" films from the 1970s. Though there are moments of horror, the film plays like a psychological chamber drama. In some ways, it very much recalls the little-seen 1976 effort "Haunts," in which May Britt portrays a similarly stifled character. What is curious about "The Attic" is that, though a low-budget regional production, it features two major actors (Carrie Snodgress and Ray Milland): Snodgress is the heart of the film, masterfully portraying Louise's desperation, sadness, and fury. There is a pathos to the character that comes close to camp, but never quite reaches the tipping point; in the end, it is difficult not to feel bad for Louise and her misspent youth.
Milland and Snodgress play off one another nicely here, and there is even a pet chimpanzee who comes to figure in the film in a significant manner as another of Louise's metaphorical wounds. Louise's yearning to "save" Emily from a stifled life is a bit overwrought, but more than anything, it's just sad. The film ramps up in the last twenty minutes, ending with a shocking (albeit not entirely unexpected) conclusion in the attic.
While "The Attic" does not deliver in grand guignol shocks per se, it is a solid example of the late-'70s/early-'80s psychological chamber dramas that were disguised (or at least marketed) as straightforward horror films. I either case, horror or not, "The Attic" harbors an undeniable darkness. 8/10.