Don't Open the Window (1974 film)

Don't Open the Window: Whatever's Out There Will Wait!

One of the many ideas I had last year that I never got around to for Happy Horrorween was Don't Week.  I got the idea from the Grindhouse films' fake trailer "Don't," which was, in turn, inspired by many British films that would have a different title when released in the US, often with trailers that didn't have any of the film's dialogue (the belief being that American audiences wouldn't intentionally go to see a film from another country with British-accented English).  As I was thinking about this, I noticed a lot of films with that word, Don't, in the title and thought it would make an excellent subject for a special week.  So, one year later, we're finally starting Don't Week!

Kicking the week off, we have Let Sleeping Corpses Lie!  Now, I know what your thinking, the article title says Don't Open the Window.  This film was released under numerous titles over the years, and in different markets... at least fifteen titles in all.  Don't Open the Window, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, Brunch with the Dead... all titles for the same movie!

The film starts with George, an art dealer, leaving his office in the city (filmed in Manchester) and heading for Windermere (complete with glimpses of people wearing masks, shots of pollution in the air, and even a woman streaker running through traffic at a stop light).  Along the way, he stops at a gas station and ends up getting his motorcycle creamed by the car ahead of him.  The wheel's shot on his bike, so he leaves it with the station mechanic and rides with the woman, Edna, who's driving the car and going close to George's destination.

After a brief argument over whose destination to go to first, George agrees to go to Edna's sister's place first.  Getting lost along the way, however, George goes to a nearby field to ask directions while Edna stays at the car.  George stumbles across a farmer and a pair of scientists experimenting with a device that emits "sonar radiation" to wipe out insects and parasites.  Meanwhile, Edna sees a figure walking from the direction of a nearby stream.  The figure stops and turns its blazing red eyes towards her and starts immediately advancing on her...

This film was pretty good.  It works on a lot of suspenseful buildup.  We don't get your typical "horde" of zombies, like you'd see in films nowadays, but there are a few.  Makeup is somewhat minimal, outside of a few wounds and zombie munchings.  Locations were excellent, including a beautiful waterfall Edna's brother-in-law was setting up a photoshoot for.

I first heard about this film from my mother.  She told me about how it was one of the scariest movies she'd ever seen, and about having to walk home alone, at night, after seeing it, past an empty barracks building (she was in the army then).  When we first got Netflix, I made sure this was one of the first films we received.

I give this movie a 5 out of 5.  It's an interesting movie, a fun ride, and I can't recommend it enough to fellow zombie fans.  Tune in next time for another entry in Don't Week.  Until then, this is Red Hawk signing out!