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SOON THE DARKNESS (1970)Director: Robert Fuest
Anchor Bay Entertainment
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SOON THE DARKNESS (1970)Known for "art deco" masterworks like THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES and THE FINAL PROGRAMME, Robert Fuest directed this comparatively sober thriller from accomplished writer Brian Clemens (who co-produced with partner Albert Fennell) and Terry Nation (creator of Dr. Who's "Daleks"). Their association had originated with the Clemens/Fennell-produced "The Avengers" TV series (employing Fuest as an art director and later as a director), which ended its original run in 1969, right before this was made.
Jane (Pamela Franklin) and Cathy (Michele Dotrice from THE WITCHES and BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW), are two young British nurses on holiday, bicycling through a rural part of France. After unknowingly traveling down the wrong road, the two girls get into a spat and go their separate ways. When Jane goes back looking for Cathy, she discovers her missing and enlists the help of a suspicious-looking character named Paul (Sandor Eles from Hammer's EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN and COUNTESS DRACULA) who claims to be a detective. Having a difficult time breaking the language barrier and trying to decipher who her friends are, Jane learns from the locals that the site where her friend disappeared from is the same place where a girl was found murdered a few years earlier.
AND SOON THE DARKNESS is a satisfying murder mystery with rural France provides a very gloomy and isolated atmosphere (much like the Manchester of LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE). The script and direction aim for traditional Hitchcockian suspense rather than the prevailing titillation of the time, and Laurie Johnson's music redeems its "Partridge Family"-esque theme by progressing into a tense score worthy of Bernard Herrmann. In the first major role of her adult years, Pamela Franklin is particularly good as a "nice girl" desperately searching for her more uninhibited friend. Franklin's expressive eyes and fine acting capabilities made her a 70s terror queen in such films as LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, and she even got to work with Bert I. Gordon in NECROMANCY and later FOOD OF THE GODS before retiring from the business.
Anchor Bay's transfer of AND SOON THE DARKNESS is culled from the original British vault materials, and looks terrific. Letterboxed at a 1.77.1 ratio (but looking like the more common 1.85:1 on the screen) with Anamorphic enhancement, the colors are very vivid and since the entire film was shot in daylight, the overall image is bright, clear and sharp. The mono audio is extremely clear and free of any noticeable flaws.
Jonathan Sothcott moderates an audio commentary with Brian Clemens and Robert Fuest, two legends of the British film/TV industry who need no introduction (Sothcott affectionately calls Clemens "The Godfather of British TV" ). Giving great insight to the production, locations, cast and crew of AND SOON THE DARKNESS, the conversation also runs the gambit of other significant topics (AIP, Hammer, "The Avengers," etc.). Sothcott prompts both gentleman with his usual highly relevant questions, but Clemens and Fuest are obligingly talkative and obviously have a lot of respect for their industry and their own bodies of work. The last few minutes have them proudly re-examining the climax, displaying a genuine sense of enthusiasm for the film--today and 30 years ago when they made it.
Also included are bios for Clemens and Fuest (written by Sothcott), the original British theatrical trailer, two U.S. radio spots (not shy about making comparisons to Hitchcock) and a 5x7 replica of the theatrical poster. (George R. Reis)