Too much of everything

Admirable film.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

1975's "Deadly Strangers" is a chilling must-see for Hayley Mills fans wherein she delivers a superlative performance as a hitch-hiker being pursued by a mysterious stranger played most effectively by Simon Ward. This film, directed by Sidney Hayers outdoes for Hayley's career what the Boulting Brothers did for her in "The Family Way" and "Twisted Nerve" in the late sixties. This film, despite its low-budget, makes the most of the economical script by Philip Levene and the expert use of Graham Edgar's cinematography and film editing by Barry Peters with music by Ron Goodwin. I think it completely shed her Disney image successfully, but finding a decent copy to share it with friends is perhaps the biggest outrage that the film subjects viewers to. Sterling Hayden is also in the cast in an unusual role. It does not seem to have been officially released in the U.S. except on VHS. Well worth the effort; it is entirely stylish and packs a wallop. I believe the director is also known for "Burn, Witch, Burn," but I'm not sure. Proof you can make cinema magic out of next to nothing.

Deadly Strangers takes a rather familiar horror film situation as it's base; that being the idea of someone hitching a lift with a stranger. This is a classic horror film situation because of all the danger it presents and has lead to many classic films. With this film, director Sidney Hayers clearly did not have very much to work with; but he gets past this admirably by ensuring that the central situation and the characters are always interesting, and also puts a different spin on the situation - and in doing so proves that with talent, that is all that is needed to make a successful thriller. The plot begins in an asylum where a mental patient has escaped. We then fast forward to a young woman alone on the road after getting out of a car in which the driver requested too high a 'fare'. She ends up hitching a lift with a drunk, yet friendly, driver who agrees to give her a lift to the train station. However, it soon becomes obvious that the driver and the escaped mental patient may well be the same man! Deadly Strangers is a British production; and it's refreshing to see a film like this take place in the unfamiliar setting of the British countryside, which makes a more than worthy place for the action to take place in; despite not being a particularly picturesque location. Simon Ward is the male half of the leading duo and does really well with the role; he plays it so as to make it obvious that his character has a defect, but for the most part it could be passed off as him being merely a bit strange. Hayley Mills is the other half and delivers the real standout performance; she gets to go through a range of emotions in the film and delivers a really effective portrayal of her character. The film runs at a steady pace throughout and draws the audience into the characters very well indeed. The film always gives the impression that it's building into something; and it doesn't disappoint. The final twist is hinted at throughout but still manages to be a surprise once it is finally unveiled and provides a strong ending for the film and ensures that most things make sense. Overall, this is rather difficult to find but its well worth tracking down. Recommended.

There is something in this picture I really don't understand. I missed it or I'm dumb....Where the couple - Mills and Ward - are at the gas station, after the tank of their car is filled up and the girl employee has returned in her cottage, the couple gets back into the car, and then Ward says to Mills "I'll be back" - something like that. Mills stays in the car and Ward gets out.OK ?In the scene after, the girl of the gas station is molested. We of course don't see who did that. We suppose it's Ward. The same returns to the car several seconds later while Mills seems to be asleep...Beware SPOILERS Beware SPOILERS Beware SPOILERS Beware SPOILERS !!So, when we discover, at the end, that Mills is the murderer on the loose from the lunatic asylum, we wonder how the hell could have she killed - or even rape!!! - the girl at the gas station while Ward was also in the corner. And what did he himself do in the same time?Or was he the real assassin of the employee ?I suppose so...In conclusion, Mills and Ward were a couple of killers without knowing about each other !!!

Young British man offers stranded, pretty girl a lift--but is he the psychopathic killer all the police are searching for? Damp, chilly film from the UK does boast a stylish direction (the rolling compact, the chase in the parking structure) and fine performances from the principals, particularly Hayley Mills in what must have been just a quick movie-stop on her busy theatrical schedule of the 1970s. Mills isn't flatteringly photographed here, but she's a natural, never winking at the camera for affect and never adding more to a scene than is needed. Nerve-jangling yarn will probably surprise you with its twists. It has a compact screenplay and is well paced. **1/2 from ****