The Killing Kind (1974)

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Psychotronic films from the 1970s. I really love OBSCURE weirdos such as this one so I bought this off eBay last week after only READING about it on here. The cast /acting is about on par with a modestly budgeted Hollywood film from the time period as well as the production values. The story is also modest, however the real stumbling block is the sluggish direction and lack of thrills. This is not a scary movie and the tension here is nil. Ann Sothern plays her piggish self as the "Mother" yet the relationship with John Savage (who is very very good here) just doesn't jell. The scene where he kills Ruth Roman (SHE should have played the MOM as she did in my favorite weirdo of all time "THE BABY" -- also from 1973) is pretty tame. Luanna Anders is also very good as the bookish nosy neighbor but does not have much to do either. There is also LITTLE tension when he kills sexy Sue Bernard in her car. The climax is also "no thrills" . This is one of those movies that needed a SHOCK ENDING for certain. Your best bet is Net Flixxing this for a few bucks as opposed to buying this (like I did) for $12.99 plus $3.00 shipping.

Troubled 20 year-old Terry Lambert(John Savage)returns from prison after serving two years for rape.His doting mother Thelma(Ann Sothern)runs a boarding house for old people but takes in a young girl Lori Cindy Williams).Terry can't control his violent impulses around women;in addition to his bitterness over the rape charge he thinks his mother is a tramp and is ashamed of his own illegitimacy.Repressed neighbor Louise(Luana Anders of "Dementia 13" fame)is attracted to Terry because of the danger he represents.Terry begins stalking the women who sent him to jail-the rape victim and his lawyer."The Killing Kind" is a disturbing 70's character study with three powerful murder scenes and overwhelming atmosphere of sexual tension.The acting is great and there are some short scenes of animal cruelty.8 out of 10.

Love it, love it, love it. This genuinely compelling tale is an unsung classic of horror & exploitation cinema, and one of Harrington's finest films. It has recently (Fall 2007) been released on DVD for the first time, barring one poor quality cheapie version referenced in another review here. Very exciting to see a decent quality print of it for the first time. The tone of The Killing Kind seems really unusual to a modern viewer because it is slow, quiet, and meditative - not what we have come to expect from a horror film. The story centers on a desperately lonely single mother (Thelma) with inappropriate feelings for her son (Terry), who for his part is tormented by his own thwarted desires and the aggression of the women around him. Southern and Savage give powerful performances and the dynamic between them is intense. Harrington said that Southern tried to upstage the other actors, but was herself intimidated by Savage. Their tension adds to the believability of their twisted relationship. Luana Anders is fantastic as the clinically depressed, sexually frustrated spinster next door. Ruth Roman, with her caftan and 3-packs day voice, is also perfect casting. Special props to Marjorie Eaton as Mrs. Orland.

Sensitive guy, Terry (John Savage), can't give into peer pressure to participate in a gang rape, so his pals "force" him. It's kind of ambiguous, since he had to have been aroused to penetrate. In any case, he gets put in a mental hospital for awhile. Our story really begins when he returns home to his lonely mother (Ann Sothern), whose wig is somewhat flipped as well- perhaps, from having her son taken away under such horrid circumstances. It doesn't take long before Terry is peeping in a nude girl's window while strangling his mommy's cat to death. I guess the rehabilitation didn't work. The chemistry between Savage and Sothern is priceless! For the trashy movie this is, it is amazingly well acted. A modern day equivalent to Savage's screen persona could be compared to a combination of Tom Cruise and Crispin Glover. While Sothern could be compared to a combination of Kathy Bates and Bette Davis. The supporting cast is excellent as well. And the dialog is cleverly written.One can't help smiling when Terry causes a woman to crash her car, and as it goes up in flames, he is cheerfully clapping his hands. Also, the rat killing scene is just beautifully twisted! Kudos to John Savage!I'll admit it, the ending choked me up, which is a testament to the great Ann Sothern's performance.Unfortunately, this hasn't been given the proper DVD release it deserves. The current DVD out there is absolutely awful in picture quality. The VHS tape is far superior, although it's not perfect either.