Homicidal

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Tuesday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m.: Introduction by programmers Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd

The kind-hearted Miriam Webster (Patricia Breslin) is framed for the cold-blooded murder of a justice of the peace just as her absent brother Warren (Jean Arless) returns home from a long trip to Denmark after the death of their father. As tensions begin to flare over who will inherit the sizable fortune, Warren’s mysterious wife, Emily (Jean Arless, again), will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t go to Miriam.

Made in the immediate wake of the smash success of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, William Castle’s HOMICIDAL ratchets up the twisted sexuality to such insane levels that it at times feels like something of a drag parody. It’s also the one-and-only film to feature a “Fright Break” — one of Castle’s signature gimmicks, wherein patrons too scared to sit through the climax of the film could get a full refund by retreating to the “Coward’s Corner” in the lobby.

Preceded by Mark Oates and Tom Rubnitz’s actual drag parody PSYKHO III: THE MUSICAL (24 min), starring Pyramid Club legends Miss Loretta Nicks, Dagmar Onassis, Hapi Phace, and Tabboo!

Screening as part of our new queer series programmed and hosted by Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd, Cruising the Movies.

• Country USA
• Year 1961
• Running Time 88 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor Sony
• Director William Castle
• Cast Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich, Alan Bunce, Richard Rust
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.