Audrey Rose (1977)
A real snooze,
Director
Robert Wise

Writers
Frank De Felitta (screenplay)
Frank De Felitta (novel)

Cast
Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason, John Beck

Review by Wayne Malin

A husband and wife (John Beck, Marsha Mason) have a loving 12 year old girl (Susan Swift). However she keeps having strange nightmares that won’t stop. They are visited by a strange man (Anthony Hopkins) who tells them the spirit of of his dead daughter Audrey lives in their little girl.

The book of this came out in the mid 1970s. It was a huge hit and sparked off an interest in reincarnation. It was a long (over 400 or 500 pages) but engrossing read. For some reason Hollywood took its sweet time making this. By the time this was released there was no interest and this film failed almost immediately. Many people said it was made and released too late. To be honest though, this film isn’t very good at all.

The film is well-directed by Robert Wise and it looks fantastic (the Templeton’s apartment alone is jaw-dropping) but there are numerous things wrong here. The script is simply dull. It’s all talk talk talk–just saying the same things over and over again. This movie moves very slowly. The acting doesn’t help. Beck is dull and lifeless. Swift isn’t good either but her role WAS difficult and she was only 13. Even Hopkins (a GREAT actor) is terrible. His reaction to seeing Ivy running around screaming as Audrey was just so bad! Only Mason (a very underrated actress) gives a very good credible performance. Basically the film is too long, unfocused and dull. Mason’s good performance can’t save this. This still remains an unknown film for good reason! Read the book instead.