Paranoiac – 1962 | 80 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Paranoiac was Hammer’s second variation on Taste of Fear. Yet thanks to Freddie Francis’s tight, atmospheric direction, and the inventiveness of Jimmy Sangster’s script the results, though now formulaic, are still pretty diverting. Good performances by Reed and Scott in particular also count.

The story again concerns an heiress, Eleanor Ashby (Janette Scott), who, doubting her sanity, is rescued from a cliff-top suicide bid by a young man (Alexander Davion) who claims to her dead brother Tony. ‘Tony’ subsequently moves back into the family home, much to the exasperation of his hard-drinking brother Simon (Oliver Reed), and disbelieving Aunt Harriet (Sheila Burrell).

‘Tony’ is once again heir to the Ashby inheritance and after cross-examination from family solicitor John Kossett (Maurice Denham); passing all family questions with flying colours. Meanwhile, ‘Tony’ finds himself falling in love with Eleanor, and after she spontaneously kisses him and he responds, she realises he is an impostor.