Let's Scare Jessica to Death

Screened on 4K blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome

It's almost comical at this point that when I was younger, 70s films turned me off like no other. The aesthetics of that decade, for reasons I still do not fully understand or remember the what led me to that feeling, but everything from the films to the music to the "fashion" to the interior design would literally have me borderline nauseous. Nowadays though, I've turned it around. Not purposefully, but I've come around to the decade in many many ways, although the dominant color palettes of browns, yellos and avocados, is not something I will ever come around to. Thankfully though, even though my heart is always with films of the 1980s, my mind has come around to seeing the 1970s really was the pinnacle of cinema, where the art form came into its own in multiple ways. Arguably the late 70s was the height of the decade's brilliance, but the first ½ of the decade was the birth that led the industry to its high point, and 1971's melancholy horror Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a great example of the quiet ramp-up that now deserves and needs re-evaluation, re-watches and re-discovery.

The title is rather misleading, so if you're assumption is this is something like Don't Go In the House or I Spit On Your Grave, you are safe. This is a quiet film, with slow-pacing (which works with it's quick and short 89 minute running time), a soft synth score, lovely atmospherics, subtle performances and low-key vibes from movies and shows more akin to The Twilight Zone, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Robert Altman's 3 Women. A good description would be to say it's a Sofia Coppola film if she was to delve into the horror genre. Mysterious with creepy moments, all executed quite tastefully, even when yes, blood is spilled. A strong recommendation from me.