Lucy (Joan Collins), a former burlesque dancer, has a very difficult time giving birth to her child. As the doctors and nurses work hard to deliver Lucy’s son, the doctor remarks, “It doesn’t want to be born!” After this, things don’t get much better for Lucy, as the child grows rapidly and possesses unnatural strength and strange accidents seem to befall anyone who runs afoul of the kid. Lucy is convinced that her son is possessed by the evil dwarf Hercules (George Claydon), a fellow burlesque performer who was mooning over Lucy but roundly rejected by her. Hercules placed a curse on her, saying some mumbo-jumbo about her first child. And now, everything looks bleak, as those around her think that Lucy is simply losing her mind. But is she? And can a concerned nun, Sister Albana (Eileen Atkins) save the day with a last-minute exorcism?
This is one strange little movie. Brought to us by Hammer veteran director Peter Sasdy and the folks at AIP, it has a fine lineage, including a great cast featuring Caroline Munro and Donald Pleasance, shortly before he would essay his famous Dr. Loomis role for the first time. Despite all these things going for it, the movie is dull and a bit on the stuffy side. They were obviously going for bits of Rosemary’s Baby and the Exorcist, but the mistake was trying to do it in a more stately, British manner. When they finally let the cork out of the bottle and we get a great beheading (Omen before the Omen) and that last, desperate exorcism, it’s almost too late. If you can put up with a lot of ominous talk, tons of shots of a screaming, unhappy baby, and much musing, the ending is worth it. But I won’t lie to you, it’s a turgid trip getting there.
When it comes right down to it, this one is for curious seekers of all things British Horror in the 1970s. There’s just enough weirdness to keep you interested, but there’s plenty of padding, too. And if you’re going to put the beautiful Caroline Munro in a film, you should feature her more. She flits in and out, here and there, like she was paid to do a simple cameo. Pleasance gets a few good moments, but most of the film belongs to Collins, and she’s fine in the role, but nothing spectacular. Be patient and you’ll be somewhat rewarded, but the journey is really only worth taking once.
★★☆☆