We're at the end, both of our Hammer lookback and one of the last films Hammer released before the doors closed (at least for the first time).
Peggy (Judy Geeson) is a bit of a nervous nelly. She has reason to be though, as she's recently married, has a history of nervous breakdowns, and she's being relocated to isolated boarding school to help her husband Robert (Ralph Bates).
The last night before she moves, she's assaulted by a dark clad figure. The only detail she sees before passing out is the stranger has a prosthetic left arm. When she comes to, there's no sign of a break-in and her husband seems to think she made the whole thing up.
Relocating goes smoother and the newlyweds have the run of a decent sized house across from the school. The school is in-between semesters at the moment but that hardly matter at what Peggy finds when she decides to explore the area. Despite the school being devoid of students, Peggy hears voices of children. The beds, dinning hall, and classrooms are set up for students, even though it would be weeks before they arrive.
She then meets the headmaster, Michael Carmichael (Peter Cushing). He's charming enough, even if he has the tendency to give lectures to empty classrooms. He also has a false left arm.
Peggy leaves, but the stranger attacks her again. She faints and explains things to Robert, who seems oddly uncaring about the matter.
To patch things up, Robert takes Peggy for a drive where they run into Michael's wife, Molly (Joan Collins) while the former is out rabbit hunting. Molly ignores how squeamish Peggy grows at the sight of the rabbit dying. In fact she seems to take a great deal of delight, both at Peggy's growing unease and at the animal's death.
That night, someone is tries to break into the newlyweds house. Peggy, being alone, freaks out and grabs a shotgun for defense. Seeing Michael entering the front door and his false arm, Peggy empties both barrels into him...but he keeps moving....
Any more would spoil, but with the small cast the mystery is telegraphed pretty early. Overall disappointing, as it was clearly an attempt to do something different much like what they did back in the 50's with their takes on Dracula and Frankenstein.
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