This Poor Girl Has A Severe Identity Crisis "Audrey Rose" is a creepy occult thriller of reincarnation. It is based on Frank DeFelitta's best-selling novel of the same title. DeFelitta also wrote several other horror novels; one of which, The Entity, also became a box office success.
Marsha Mason and James Beck give wonderful performances as Bill and Janet Templeton; their daughter Ivy (Susan Swift) is tormented by nightmares of a girl, Audrey Rose, who died in a fiery car crash. Movie legend Anthony Hopkins ("Silence of the Lambs" and "Magic") delivers a convincing performance as the mysterious stalker, Elliot Hoover, who insists that Ivy was his daughter Audrey Rose in her previous life (or incarnation).
"Audrey Rose" does bare some similarities to "The Exorcist." Each film has a tormented girl. Regan of "The Exorcist" is possessed by a demon, whereas Ivy is obsessed by the memories of her former incarnation. Instead of being treated by an exorcist, Ivy is treated by a hypnotist.
The viewer feels much sympathy for the tormented Ivy. Susan Swift gives a great performance each time Ivy has a nightmare during which she believes she is trapped inside a burning car. She bangs her fists against windows and turns over furniture. Unfortunately, this particular scene is repeated too many times and loses its shock value.
"Audrey Rose" is a great introductory film for those who are unfamiliar with the Hindu belief of reincarnation. During the courtroom scenes, a holy man explained that reincarnation is the eternal soul traveling from one body to another as it seeks perfection.
The ending was rater tame, predictable and disappointing. Audrey Rose died in flames. The ending should've been more fiery and explosive. Nevertheless, it was sad.
"Audrey Rose" is a must see for those who believe in reincarnation and for fans of occult horror films, especially those made in the seventies. Also recommended is "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud."
Another ride on the coattails of The Exorcist I rented this because I'm interested in the subject of reincarnation, and because even in the many terrible films that he's starred in, Hopkins is usually quite impressive. Unfortunately, "Audrey Rose" squanders quite a lot of talent on a story that wastes its novel premise.
Mason and Beck portray a happily married couple whose daughter (Swift) suffers from nightmares and violent outbursts during her birthday. They soon find themselves to be the subject of unwanted attention from a stranger (Hopkins) who claims that their offspring is the reincarnation of his own daughter, who died in a fiery car accident.
Although it bears more resemblance to a soap opera than a horror film during its first half, Wise frames melodrama in the context of the supernatural quite capably, and the results are impressive. Then, Hopkins' character does something uncharacteristically irrational and inexplicably stupid, which transforms the story into a courtroom drama. I swear to god, this actually happens. At the start of the first courtroom scene, I asked, "Are you kidding me?" out loud. This first scene degenerates into a vapid advertisement for Hindu metaphysics, and while the movie has many redeeming dramatic sequences, just think about this: in court, the defense's case rests upon the belief in reincarnation. I'm sure that it would be interesting to see a case like that tried in court, but it wouldn't, and this isn't a comedy.
As in all of his films, Wise's composition here is immaculate. It's furnished by Victor J. Kemper's pristine cinematography, which affords this film the crisp, vibrant appearance that he provided to other features like "Coma" and "Eyes of Laura Mars."
Most of the cast is merely adequate. Swift is disappointingly stiff throughout most of the movie, but her performance in the penultimate hypnosis scene is extraordinary, and far beyond what most child actors are capable of. Unfortunately, Hopkins is quite hammy, despite his winning presence and impeccable diction. Despite his overacting, there's no denying that the man's oratory gifts are worthy of any stage actor - he almost makes the hokiest of the script's lines sound stately.
Despite some of the more predictable plot twists, I was impressed that this film ended fairly rather than happily. The ending is meant to be enlightening, but it's really just depressing. Wise crafted another beautiful film, but his talents - and that of his cast and crew - were wasted on a second-rate story. I don't intend to read the novel that this was based on.
It's unfortunate that MGM didn't invest more effort into the production of this DVD. In spite of its faults, such an attractive film deserves a transfer from a print that isn't so grainy, and the soundtrack is so poor that some of the dubbed dialogue is quite conspicuous.
The (extremely lame) theatrical trailer is the disc's only special feature, but its language options are impressive, providing dubbed dialogue and subtitles in both French and Spanish.
Hopkins at his best! A New York couple experience bizarre, stalker-like behavior from an English stranger. While they attempt to bar him from their lives, he slides his way in anyway and tries to convince them that their 11-year-old girl is the reincarnation of his 11-years-departed daughter, Audrey Rose. Written by Brian J. Wright [...]
Janice and Bill Templeton, a happily married couples the parents of well-adjusted preteen Ivy. But there worried about her nightmare every time it get near her birthday, But the family lives turns upside down when a mysterious man keeps follow them around, at first mistaken for a potential child molester, the man introduce himself as Elliot Hoover. He told about the loss of his wife and his five-year-old daughter, Audrey Rose who died from car accident, while his loss of his family he meet two psyches who told him that his daughter is alive again. There don't believe his story and they think he's crazy, but Ivy nightmare grows worse, but this time scream and runs around the room bang her hands at the window, Could Hoover story of reincarnation is true...? Written by Tiff Banks
Well done, but picture and sound quality left a lot to be desired The Templeton family has a shadow. Seems like every time Bill (John Beck) or Janice (Marsha Mason) turn around, they see a bearded man following them. Finally Elliott Hoover (Hopkins) arranges a meeting with them.
It seems he believes their daughter, Ivy (Susan Swift) is the reincarnation of his own child, Audrey Rose. Soon enough, Ivy's psychic symptoms bear this out. She's having dreams of events that never happened--and burns are appearing on her hands.
You see, Audrey Rose Hoover was trapped in a wrecked car that caught fire and couldn't free herself.
The good points of this film is the acting by Hopkins and Swift. Anthony Hopkins is a somber, sad man who is desperately trying to help his own child's soul. Swift does an amazing portrayal of a young girl haunted by a past she cannot remember. I would not call the sound and video of this DVD a 'loving rendition'. Both are mediocre to say the least.
If you enjoy 60's and 70's horror like, "The Exorcist," "Rosemary's Baby," "The Bad Seed", "The Omen," "Reincarnation of Peter Proud," you are going to enjoy this film. I hope at some point, the producers at United Artists will do a better job of digitizing the video and audio for DVD.
Well acted but propagandist movie Audrey Rose owes its very existence to The Exorcist.This is not to imply we are talking ripoff here because it is in no way a copy or crib of that movie.There are very clear similarities however -an 11 year old girl with major behavioural changes ,a deeply worried mother and a stranger who seemingly has all the answers .However ,in the words of a character in the movie ,Elliott hoover (Anthony Hopkins)"We are not talking about possession .We are talking about reincarnation"It also follows the Friedkin in being as much about parental fear -"what has gotten into my child"as it is about supernatural elements The Templetons are a prosperous New York family consisting of dad Bill (John Beck),mom Janice (Martha Mason)and 11 year old Ivy (Susan Swift).They notice they are being observed by a stranger ,Hoover and Janice reports him to the police, fearing he may be a predatory peadophile.They have to let him go as he has done nothing wrong .Later he contacts the family and tells them of the death in a car accident of his wife and small daughter Audrey Rose .He has been told by a psychic that his daughter has been reincarnated as Ivy .His request of the family is that he be allowed to see Ivy from time to time . Events seem to lend creedence to his story-Ivy has vivid nightmares and fits .She evn burns her hand on cold glass in a re-enactment of Audrey Rose's terror as she strives to escape the burning death car.Then things turn darker when he reveals that she and Audrey Rose share a common soul and Audrey Rose wishes her to die so she can prepare for a new birth. Matters culminate in a trial for kidnapping as Hoover's defence attorney basis his case on the truth of reincarnation and a parade of witnesses for and against reincarnation take their place on the stand .The end will be uplifting or depressing ,depending on what stance you take on the issue of reincarnation The movie is very well acted by all concerned and is a highly charged and emotional movie that will get debate started on the issues it raises .My big problem is with the script by Frank de Felitta -author of the source novel -which is overt propaganda for reinacrnation beliefs .This unbalanaces the movie and lessens its impact Robert Wise directs superbly and the movie is never less than engrossing .I just wish it were more even handed in its debate
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