Die, sister, die!

 

1972

Characters in this film.

Edward-Brother to Amanda and Nell.

Amanda-Oldest of the three kids.

Nell-Youngest of the three, daddy’s favorite.

Esther-Nurse hired by Edward to watch Amanda and eventually kill her.

Mrs Rodriquez-Long time servant for the family.

Dr. Thorne-Family doctor.

Father-Father of the three kids listed above.

 

So Amanda has tried to kill herself again but failed. Her father died some time ago. Her brother James is a real snake (after all he did try to catch the A-team before), but acts concerned. He hires a nurse Esther  (don’t trust her she tried to take over Kirk in Catspaw) to watch Amanda but ultimately to let her succeed at suicide. The reason being so that Edward can get the house and all of the money. The father died some time ago and younger daughter Nell ran off and has not been heard from. So Amanda got almost everything and Edward is stuck being second in line and he’s okay with speeding up the process. Amanda is a shrewd woman and right away realizes Esther is likely working for Edward and comes and asks and lets Esther know she will be watching her. Then we get a lot of talking, Edward and Esther make out (yucky), but Esther says she worries that Edward will try to wipe her out once Amanda is gone to wrap up loose ends. Amanda questions Esther but eventually has a little respect for her. Edward goes to the hardware store to buy powerful poison to kill moles or maybe his sister, yeah I think it’s for his sister. He puts the poison in these pills she will be taking. Meanwhile Amanda has a nightmare- a spoiler nightmare. Amanda was stuck watching her father and helped him a lot. He was mean to her and distrusted Edward. Daddy-o got mad at Amanda and said he was going to take her and Edward out of the will and leave everything to Nell who hadn’t helped at all. Edward and Nell were nearby and heard this too. Nell laughs at Amanda over this and rubs it in her face. Amanda tries to attack Nell, she flees and Amanda calls for Edward to grab her. Edward with dollar signs in his eyes stops Nell. Amanda holds Nell’s arms while Edward strangles her with her scarf. Boom Nell is dead and the dad comes and sees it and ker-plunk he’s dead too. It’s hinted that Edward was going to hide Nell’s corpse in the house. Amanda is awakened from the nightmare by Esther. Now you may be wondering why I even mentioned the Doctor and Mrs. Rodriquez so okay here you go. Mrs. Rodriquez is having a check-up with the Dr. and reveals to him odd happenings about the fact that the day the father died Nell also left quickly. The doctor begins placing calls to see if Nell really got on a plane that day and learns there is nothing to say she did so he is suspicious. Edward gives the tainted pills to Esther and says have Amanda take these. Esther begins to but has a change of heart and tries to stop Amanda, but wrapped in guilt Amanda wants to die. She gets to the roof and despite Esther trying to stop her Amanda jumps to her death. The doctor and the police arrived in time to see the last part. Esther calls Edward to the house because her sister has died. Edward has his act ready, but says too much as he goes on about the pills causing his sister’s death but neither Esther or the doctor mentioned that as a cause of death because it wasn’t. Amanda had changed her will to leave everything to Esther not Edward and she left a full confession that she and Edward had killed Nell and said that Nell’s body is in a locked room in the basement. We get to see the shriveled corpse and Edward gets arrested. Esther decides not to stay at the house and leaves it to Mrs Rodriquez.

This film is slow and more a psychological thriller than a horror film. However it’s quite decent. It plays out more like a made for tv movie than a theatrical release, but that’s not the case. It’s well acted and everything falls into place by the end of the film. Parts of the plot and the dream sequence remind me some of Roger Corman’s Poe films only not so heavy handed. This was one of those bargain basement collections and I expected a clunker but was surprised by a very watchable film with some decent ideas.