Zohra Lampert

Barton Heyman

Kevin O'Connor

Gretchen Corbett

Alan Manson

Mariclare Costello

Randa Haines

John D. Hancock

Lee Kalcheim

Bill Badalato

Charles B. Moss Jr.

Joe Ryan

Irvin Carlton

Mariette Pinchart

Robert M. Baldwin

Murray Solomon

Orville Stoeber

Norman Kenneson

Horror

Mystery

Drama

Let's Scare Jessica to Death

The Jessica Company

Paramount Pictures

United States of America

English

drowning

paranoia

insane asylum

Eerie little 1970s supernatural horror film has a few creepy moments and although it is on the slow side at times, still liked the performance from Zohra Lampert and it does have a charm to it. Won't make my list of great horror films or anything, but certainly work seeking out. **3.0/5**

_**Haunting mystery/horror on coastal Connecticut**_

Released in 1971, "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" chronicles events after the title character (Zohra Lampert) gets out of a mental institution and moves into an old house on coastal Connecticut with her husband (Barton Heyman) and a friend (Kevin O'Connor). There they discover a hippie-like squatter named Emily (Mariclare Costello) whom they eventually invite to stay because they all get along. Jessica starts to hear voices as they catch wind of rumors of a drowning victim from 90 years earlier who's now a ghost or maybe even a vampire. Are the increasingly crazy happenings real or all in Jessica's mind?

This is a realistic mystery/horror movie in the mold of 1967's "The Shuttered Room" and 1962's "Carnival of Souls." I mean 'realistic' in the sense that the tone is believable. It's a low-key, haunting slow-burner, so if you want over-the-top, cartoony horror, look elsewhere.

Zohra Lampert is effective as the mentally unstable protagonist. The way the movie constantly looks into her thought-life and the uncertainties thereof is reminiscent of 1968's "Rachel, Rachel." The theme is the hypnotic power of a woman. Reflect on Jessica's situation at the end. If she dares to speak out, who would believe her story?

The drowning victim from the 19th century was named Abigail. I bet this was where KD got the name for his notable 1987 horror-metal concept album.

The movie runs 98 minutes and was in Connecticut, USA (Essex, Chester, East Haddam & Old Saybrook).

GRADE: B

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death | 1971 | TV Spot

LETS SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971) Clip - Zohra Lampert

TCM Comments on Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

TCM Slumberground | Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971) FILMING LOCATIONS!

LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971) HD Trailer

Scary Swim

"Let's Scare Jessic to Death" 1971 (full soundtrack as composed by Orville Stoeber)

Stay Forever, My Love-- Song from "Let's Scare Jessica To Death "

Steve Senski on LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH

Let's Scare Jessica To Death

Let's Scare Jessica to Death( 1971)

Something is after Jessica. Something very cold, very wet...and very dead.

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A review by JPV852

Written by JPV852 on Thu Jan 02 2020

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