Nightmare (1964 film)

Plot

Janet, a girl at finishing school who 6 years ago saw her mother stab her father to death, is plagued by nightmares. (Her mother, following the tragedy, was committed to an asylum.) Miss Lewis, a teacher, takes Janet home; and in the absence of Henry Baxter, Janet's guardian, they are met by John (the chauffeur), Mrs. Gibbs (the housekeeper), and Grace Maddox (an attractive nurse-companion hired by Henry). Miss Lewis leaves Janet in Grace's care. The nightmares continue: a white-shrouded woman roams the corridors, inviting Janet to burst into her parents' room where she finds the same woman on the bed with a knife in her chest. When Henry returns he finds Janet under sedation; her doctors recommend psychiatric care; but he refuses, and Janet tries to commit suicide. Henry's wife comes to tea, and because she seems to be the woman in Janet's nightmares, Janet stabs the woman to death and is promptly committed to an institution. The woman in white is revealed to be Grace, disguised with a wig and mask and in cahoots with Henry. They marry, but Grace begins believing that Henry is trying to drive her mad. Under the impression that Janet has escaped from the asylum, Grace stabs Henry to death, expecting Janet to be blamed. Janet, however, never left the asylum, and Grace is brought to justice.

Cast

Production and release

Jennie Linden was an 11th hour casting choice replacing Julie Christie who dropped out to do the film Billy Liar. The film was shot with the working title Here's the Knife Dear: Now Use It. This was the final film performance of American actor David Knight who subsequently focused on theatre work.

Nightmare was released in the United Kingdom on 19 April 1964, and received a release in the United States on 19 June 1964.

Reception

AllMovie called the film an "effective little chiller that packs a surprising punch for a film of its age."

Home media

In the United States, the film received a DVD release through Universal Pictures in an eight-film set titled The Hammer Horror Series on 6 September 2005. This set was re-released on Blu-ray on 13 September 2016.

The film was released on 28 November 2016 in the United Kingdom on a Region B Blu-ray disc.