Crawlspace

Wild Eye DVD

Web: http://www.wildeyedvd.com

Crawlspace is a rare find from 1972, it was originally a made for TV psychological thriller and while certainly showing its agfe, has some rather impressive performances and some strange plot turns.

An older couple retire to a small town after the husband develops a heart condition. They have an unusual experience with an oil repairman whom they awkwardly invite to dinner as he seems lonely and a little confused. They then discover that he is living in the crawlspace under their house.

The older woman, who has never had children of her own, begins to develop an obsession with the young man and they both treat him as a son, even inviting him to Christmas dinner. At the same time the young man becomes more and more disturbed as he feels the need to “protect” the couple from every threat, real or perceived and this makes them prisoners in their own home.

The story really turns around interaction between the lonely couple, the misunderstood young man and the local town folk who are narrow and prejudiced. The dynamic of the film is really one of a psychological thriller as it shows the various interactions between the characters and how things spiral out of control.

For a made for TV film, this actually has a rather intense script, some superb character acting and even somewhat of a heart. Regardless of the violence at the end, which is relatively tame but somewhat “Shakespearean”, the wounded outsider is actually one which evokes a sense of compassion, but of course, everyone suffers as the outcome of the conflict.

Certainly as this is an old film, it is not in the best condition, but the print is more than adequate especially considering its rarity, the soundtrack is clear (music by Jerry Goldsmith) and the dialogue can easily be heard.

I actually found this film to be a nice little gem with lots of interesting issues to consider and some great acting.