Curator Analysis & Comprehensive Film Review
"How Awful About Allan," a chilling psychological horror from 1970, presents a masterclass in atmospheric tension, expertly crafted by director Curtis Harrington. The film's evocative title sets the stage for a narrative that explores the unsettling dynamics of obsession and paranoia, all within a runtime of a taut 74 minutes. Harrington employs a visual pacing that is both deliberate and disorienting, mirroring the descent into madness of its unnamed protagonist, played with unsettling intensity by Anthony Perkins. The film's horror lies not in jump scares, but in the slow, insidious unraveling of reality, as the protagonist's fixation on a mysterious neighbor, Allan, spirals into a nightmarish obsession. This psychological horror is a must-watch for fans of the genre, offering a compelling exploration of the darker recesses of the human psyche, all wrapped in a vintage cinematic package that harkens back to a golden age of horror.