SYMPTOMS    1974

Directed by José Ramón Larraz 94 minutes In English with English subtitles  A very eerie tale of a young woman who lives alone in a decaying manor house in the English countryside. When a female friend comes to visit her for a few days, it becomes clear that something else is in the house, footsteps and breathing can be heard in the attic. In a way, this is indeed a horror film, but one that is more comparable to Polanski's Repulsion than most modern horror films these days. It is beautifully crafted in an understated way, the mood and cinematography are pitch perfect, and the acting is spellbinding. In other words, this is a "restrained " horror movie, built on suspense and mystery.One of the things that make this movie so damn haunting is the lead performance by Angela Pleasence – daughter of horror icon Donald Pleasence. She's absolutely unforgettable. Symptoms is the creation of the Catalan director José Ramón Larraz (Vampyres) and everything about the film is mesmerizing. After premiering at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival as the official UK entry, the film disappeared into complete obscurity. It was considered lost for three decades, and  was only available in a blurry third generation VHS rip bootleg from Belgium. A print was recently discovered, making it possible to see this gem once again fresh.
 

This will be a high-definition screening.