The Snorkel (1958)

I am aware that this is not a disliked film, I just find it hard to ascertain why. I suppose if you are a dedicated fan of 50s Brit cinema, for whatever reason, then this will fit the bill. maybe some Hammer fans are so loyal they will try and like anything the studio produced. But really this is pretty lame stuff and the 14 year old crying for her mummy all the time is a bit irritating. Perhaps the relationship between the two leads could have been beefed up a bit and we might have felt sorry for the big, little girl. Barely enough material here for a thirty minute TV episode so there is much repetition. I didn't really perk up until the sensational Poe ending only to find the film makers had chickened out.

Poor Candy Brown (Mandy Miller). She cannot get anybody to believe her. She's 100% certain that her cold blooded stepfather Paul Decker (Peter van Eyck) has murdered her mother, despite the evidence seeming to indicate that the woman committed suicide. Mandy, who also believes in her heart that Paul had similarly murdered her father once upon a time, sticks to her guns. But the adults around her keep stubbornly insisting that she *must* be making all of this up.It's easy to be on Candy's side here. With so many thick headed adult characters, you truly feel her frustration and desperation. Will she ever obtain the proof she needs that Paul is a creep? People like her chaperone Jean Edwards (Betta St. John, "The City of the Dead"), Mr. Wilson (William Franklyn), or the hearty police inspector (Gregoire Aslan) refuse to take her seriously, even though she doesn't seem to be the sort of girl who'd be prone to flights of fancy.The suspense lies not in a "did he or didn't he" scenario - we see Paul murder Candy's mother in the quiet, ingenious opening set piece. The title object plays a pivotal role. Rather, the tension arises in Candy's predicament, and whether or not she'll be vindicated before the evil Paul strikes again. And we know it's possible. The looks he keeps giving her show that he thinks that he'll have to kill her just to shut her up.Efficient direction by Oscar winning cinematographer Guy Green ("Great Expectations", 1946) and sharp black & white photography make this a fine entertainment, as well as strong performances from all concerned. Miller makes Candy a sympathetic character, and with his facial features van Eyck was obviously a natural for screen villainy.This viewer would suggest that fans of Hammer horror give features like this a try, just to show that the famed British studio wasn't just a one trick pony.Seven out of 10.

One of my worst fears in life is being trapped in a confined space with a dwindling air supply and no one to hear you scream. I won't give you any details as one of my other worst fears is giving away spoilers on IMDb(he said sarcastically), but you will find a scene like this in the 1958 classic, yet nearly forgotten nail biter, "The Snorkel", which is probably one of the main reasons why I'm giving it such a high rating. But the film has many other merits besides having one scene of unrelenting suspense;it also has a leading female character whom you can root for, who seems weak as a flower in her sanity, yet tough as nails as her tormentor pushes her to the edge. Our bad guy( I know there's a better word for bad guy out there, but I'm too tired to think of it now) is devilish, yet deserving of some sympathy by the end of the film. "The Snorkel" is a simple yet well played suspense film, one that can be enjoyed by hardcore Hammer fans and anyone looking for a good, solid suspense flick.

This terrific thriller is the equal of some of Alfred Hitchcock's work. There is non-stop frustration because an original device is used to commit a murder. No one can see how it has been done. The picture shows everyone watching how it is accomplished in the very beginning except of course, the other characters.Peter van Eyck plays the monster and a true monster he is. This guy is as suave and convincing as Joseph Cotten in Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt which is #169 in IMDb's list of top films. He is much more ruthless, savage and, well, just plain meaner than hell. He has created the most hateful character I think I've ever seen.Of course that's what makes this such an outstanding film. The only person who knows for sure how evil he is would naturally be the most innocent young girl cinema has ever seen. She just doesn't know how he's done it. I will say no more other than to say this: WATCH FOR IT! DON'T MISS IT! DON'T IGNORE IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A HAMMER PRODUCTION!