The Shout (1978)

Dir: Jerzy Skolimowski

And now for something completely different! A bizarre and underrated nerve-shredder set in the isolated depths of North Devon. A married couple (John Hurt and Susannah York) let a black-clad stranger (Alan Bates) into their home who claims to have learned aboriginal magic after spending eighteen years in the Australian outback. This includes the ability to perform a 'terror shout' that can (allegedly) kill its intended victim instantly. The storyline is bizarre, complex and told with unconventional chronology which makes the film a little difficult to fully interpret on first viewing - indeed, it's still debatable what the ambiguous conclusion really means - yet despite this, "The Shout" remains a genuinely nightmarish experience. The direction is pitch-perfect with breathtaking use of sound, the acting is faultless (especially Bates, who's hypnotising in the lead) and the atmosphere is as creepy as almost anything else I can think of. Not for everyone perhaps, but a unique example of mature, intelligent and low-key horror at its weirdest. ***1/2