John ParkerDaughter of Horror (1955)

Also known as Dementia.

You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.

This item is part of the collection: Feature Films

Director: John Parker
Producer: John Parker
Production Company: H.K.F. Productions
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w
Keywords:

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Athanatos - - July 29, 2007
Subject: TURN OFF THE AUDIO!

This movie is essentially a *great* silent film with very *unfortunate* added narration. (I appreciate that the score could add a lot to the experience, but the narrative then subtracts more than would be added by the score.) My suggestion is that viewers therefore first watch the film with the audio turned off.

Reviewer: Gregoreuo - - July 28, 2007
Subject: Likeable in a strange way!

I actually enjoyed this film. The acting was a bit stiff but the atmosphere of the film was pretty well done. Where the movies of today rely upon blood and gore to the extreme for entertainment, this one makes you use your imagination much more sort of like a radio drama. It draws you into the character's minds and with the lighting, the music and props used it becomes a film takes on a demented and macabre atmosphere without the gore and mayhem. Well done.

Reviewer: filmsplice - - July 28, 2007
Subject: An interesting experiment

I've no need to be harsh about this film; it is pretty unusual, and not bad at all (save, perhaps, for the narration). I like its weirdness and flawed ambition, and the visuals are quite accomplished. The title may have deceived some into expecting something else, and that was likely the reason for its title change in the '50s--to gain more attention. Basically free of onscreen dialogue, it's a POV descent into the filmmakers' version of a character's purported madness, and the reasons for that condition (though in this sense surely without the demented humor of something like Maniac). I'd recommend Daughter to fans of Carnival Of Souls and Night Tide (is this one PD? If so, it should be here...) for its moody trip.

Reviewer: beirwer - - April 8, 2007
Subject: Utter garbage.

"Do you know what horror is?". Yeah, and this ain't it. The narrator sounds like Count Floyd from SCTV - "ooooh, scary". Adrienne Barrett is unconvincing as anyone demented, deranged, delusional, or suffering from any other serious mental illness. In fact she merely lapses back and forth between acting like someone's dull Aunt Jane and some dour goth chick. The sequence in the graveyard first seems to be introducing some semblance of order, but it doesn't. A cameo by Frodo at 39:35 was hilarious, but not near enough to save this mess. From there the whole thing quickly degenerates through pretentious to ludicrous to boring, finally ending with the lame, tired, "it was just a dream.... or was it?" trick.

This is one of all too many movies that demonstrate what I call "The Emperor's New Clothes syndrome" of film. It's the kind of movie that college film students or some other types seem to like (for whatever reasons) which earns it an undeserved reputation as misunderstood art. Sorry, but no, this is not art, or avant garde, or "so bad it's good", or even so bad it's funny. It's just a big steaming pile of crap.

Reviewer: afn01288 - - April 25, 2006
Subject: Horrorible

One of the WORST films I've ever seen. It is weird--not offbeat weird, not interesting--just totally whacked! Don't waste your time; this is not a classic, not a fantastic find, just plain stupid.

The deranged woman goes through several strange interactions. She spends a good portion of the movie watching a fat man eating chicken. The pacing and and narrative are bizarre. I like odd films, but this one is not even worth the trouble of downloading.

Reviewer: nephildevil - - November 17, 2005
Subject: AWESOME!

WoW! I'm impressed with this vintage horror movie! Dementia, The Daughter of Horror, is a very dark movie with nothing but deranged nightlife and eerie music, sometimes accompanied by insane laughter as the only sound. Well ok it also has a narrator, he's the cool but funny part :D. It is about a woman's insanity and insomnia.

Reviewer: Ella Greggs - - November 3, 2005
Subject: The 'Citizen Kane' of Horror Movies

Visually striking -- what Orsen Wells would have produced if he'd made a Citizen Kane-style horror movie. The graveyard sequence is especially effective. The sexual imagery is particularly interesting -- simultaneously both repulsive and titilating. The shrieking music got on my nerves, but maybe that's the point. Yes, the narration is way, way over the top, but then again it's obvious this film wasn't going for subtlety or realism. Don't turn the sound off, or you'll miss the incidental noises (footsteps, laughter, etc.) that really add to the nightmarish atmosphere.

Reviewer: donaldh - - October 10, 2005
Subject: The Dark-ages of psychology

...have yet to pass.
Great reminder of how a lot of people still view the myth of 'madness' (or dementia as it was once called).
Great imagery and soundtrack, including the 'naration'. Without the voice-over it would have been hard to identify who the 'bad-guys' were and it might as well have been a revenge picture with a very bored heroine :-)

Reviewer: Debian Jones - - June 24, 2005
Subject: DON'T Watch it with the sound down!

Even if you hate the tacked-on narration, it's pretty sporadic, and you won't want to miss the incredible score.

It turns out the George Antheil, who scored the original "Dementia" that became "Daughter of Horror", was a major American composer. Here's a page devoted to him:

http://www.antheil.org/george.html

In fact, you're going to want to hook up your computer to your best stereo for this one. The score can sound pretty redundant on cheap speakers, but a good stereo system can really bring out the ever-shifting textures that go on underneath the recurring theme.

Reviewer: moxey - - June 4, 2005
Subject: very good

i've never seen this film until i downloaded it here.very ,very good.especially the scene in which "the john" is eating chicken.

trivia:
in the film "the blob" with steve mcqueen,this movie was on the billboard of the theater in the movie.the graveyard scene is watched by the actors as well.including mr mcmahons voice over.

Reviewer: Twitchin' to tha Moldies - - December 17, 2004
Subject: More Anti-Ed Sorry Ed)

I have to agree with the anti-dialogue camp, dispite the fact that the narrator is Ed McMahon.

I think that the narration robs the piece of its context, taking what is clearly a very inspired and progressive bit of filmmaking and rerendering it as background noise for teens parking at the drive-in.

Its as if a well executed painting had been hung before it was dry and then touched and smudged. Bring on the original :)

Reviewer: sonnet29 - - December 17, 2004
Subject: The NOIREST Movie I've ever seen!

Revered by a few, unknown to many, "Daughter of Horror" is the definition of a "cult classic". A homicidal anti-heroine is pursued through a ghastly dream world by a policeman with the face of her abusive father-- who, we learn in flashback, was her first victim. She killed him as "a little girl"-- after he killed her trampy mother.

In the words of the oniscient narrator, the intent is to "take you into the mind of woman who is mad." There is no dialogue, evoking German impressionist silents like "The Last Laugh", "Nosferatu", and especially "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari".

Unlike the previous reviewer (who flat-out hates it) I'm ambivalent toward the over-the top, lurid narration. This film was originally released under the title "Demented", without the narration, by Ed McMahon. Both versions have been released together on a recent DVD, and it may be significant that it was the original version gets top billing. I may indulge my curiosity further, as I recently acquired a DVD player. However, it seems to me that if the later, narrated version is in the Public Domain, the earlier version ought to also be in the public domain... and perhaps someone could see about adding it to the archive?

The narrator, by the way, is none other than a younger, hungrier Ed McMahon!

The nightmare/flashback sequence at the center of the film is a powerful set piece, a bona fide noir-de-force. The primal scene is reenacted like a pantomime. Props are set up in the middle of a spooky cemetery that looks real, but is probably a set.

Don't be deceived by the tiny budget. This is a long, long way from "Plan Nine From Outer Space". The sets, especially that cemetery, are cheap but evocative, and locations are used masterfully. The lighting and cinematography are often intricate and painstaking. The original music, if a little redundant, is first rate. If you can run the sound through good speakers, it'll make a big difference for your experience of the film. The featured vocalist, Marni Nixon, did the singing for Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady", and for Natalie Wood in "West Side Story". Here she trills and moans, reprises and rereprises the musical theme, and almost sounds like a human theramin. There's also an effective sequence in a jazz club, breaking the mood with some authentic fifties be-bop.

Reviewer: dynayellow - - October 21, 2004
Subject: Shut up, already.

A creepy, effective silent film that someone decided needed a narrator to tell us when important things were happening.

When the film is simply left alone, it's fine, telling the tale of an insane woman wandering through night in a run-down part of town. Features some strong expressionistic scenes, and a good sense of dread. But then the Crypt Keeper feels the need to come on and tell us what is going on. We <i>know</i> what's going on, you drip. Shut up and let us enjoy the film.

Anyway, I'd tell you to watch with the sound off, but the score really suits the film. Just try to ignore the guy telling you how scared you should be.

Reviewer: Timedog - - October 14, 2004
Subject: Rare surprise

I had this on while designing a newsletter and the other creatives kept looking over my shoulder and commenting on the strong imagery. It's really a very dynamic piece that plays well without sound.