Savage Intruder
1970·Thriller·1h 31m
7.1
★
An enigmatic young man manipulates his way into working at the decaying mansion of a once prolific, but now reclusive and alcoholic, movie star named Katharine Packard. While the rest of the house staff become suspicious of Vic's intentions, the aging movie queen is smitten. But as Vic begins behaving in more and more erratic ways, it becomes clear that he's far more sinister than his demeanor implies.
Directed by Donald Wolfe
Trailer
IMDB
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Where to Watch
Cast
Miriam Hopkins
Katherine Parker
David Garfield
Vic
Gale Sondergaard
Leslie
Florence Lake
Mildred
Lester Matthews
Ira Jaffee
Riza Royce
Mrs. Jaffee
Joe Besser
Bus Driver
Minta Durfee
Guest
Charles G. Martin
Doctor
Popular Reviews
3 reviews
viv
5.0★ · 04/27/26
Miriam Hopkins.. girl you deserved better
Miriam Hopkins.. girl you deserved better
Somto Umelo
9.0★ · 04/16/26
Proto-maniac with a really infectious energy that manages to be nonsensical while also being strangely profound and breathing new life into the psycho-biddy genre and commenting on the death of old Hollywood. It’s basically Sunset Boulevard if Joe Gillis was a serial killer.
Hollywood Horror House isn’t really as revelatory as it should have been in the end, but it at least deserves praise for its blend of hagsploitation with slasher elements, telling the story of two demented people (in totally different ways) who find solace in each other. For a while at least.
Really love the opening credits with the decaying Hollywood sign as a metaphor for lost stardom. It’s so atmospheric and sets a foreboding tone.
The rest of the film kinda ditches that foreboding tone for excess, but it’s still an entertaining ride. The costumes are chic🍷✨ and I love how hammy the acting is from everyone. The gore gets crazy at times for a film released in 1970.
Wish Vic’s psychology was explored more. He was very much giving Frank Zito vibes, he’s just a hotter version. So Lana del rey coded. My personal reading of him (which may be a huuuge stretch) is that he targets the middle aged women of Hollywood because he saw his mom in them when they were young and now he wants them to be young forever, which may be why he put a mannequin in place of Katherine when he killed her - cos they’e young and flawless. Maybe I’m just saying shit idk. I kinda just wanna hug him.
Wasn’t shocked to learn that the director, Donald Wolfe was a film historian, cos this film is packed with references and reverence for Hollywood and its glamour.
Anyways, high camp that’s actually more sophisticated than it gets credit for. I already wanna rewatch.
Hollywood Horror House isn’t really as revelatory as it should have been in the end, but it at least deserves praise for its blend of hagsploitation with slasher elements, telling the story of two demented people (in totally different ways) who find solace in each other. For a while at least.
Really love the opening credits with the decaying Hollywood sign as a metaphor for lost stardom. It’s so atmospheric and sets a foreboding tone.
The rest of the film kinda ditches that foreboding tone for excess, but it’s still an entertaining ride. The costumes are chic🍷✨ and I love how hammy the acting is from everyone. The gore gets crazy at times for a film released in 1970.
Wish Vic’s psychology was explored more. He was very much giving Frank Zito vibes, he’s just a hotter version. So Lana del rey coded. My personal reading of him (which may be a huuuge stretch) is that he targets the middle aged women of Hollywood because he saw his mom in them when they were young and now he wants them to be young forever, which may be why he put a mannequin in place of Katherine when he killed her - cos they’e young and flawless. Maybe I’m just saying shit idk. I kinda just wanna hug him.
Wasn’t shocked to learn that the director, Donald Wolfe was a film historian, cos this film is packed with references and reverence for Hollywood and its glamour.
Anyways, high camp that’s actually more sophisticated than it gets credit for. I already wanna rewatch.
Proto-maniac with a really infectious energy that manages to be nonsensical while also being strangely profound and breathing new life into the psycho-biddy genre and commenting on the death of old Hollywood. It’s basically Sunset Boulevard if Joe Gillis was a serial killer.
Hollywood Horror House isn’t really as revelatory as it should have been in the end, but it at least deserves praise for its blend of hagsploitation with slasher elements, telling the story of two demented people (in totally different ways) who find solace in each other. For a while at least.
Really love the opening credits with the decaying Hollywood sign as a metaphor for lost stardom. It’s so atmospheric and sets a foreboding tone.
The rest of the film kinda ditches that foreboding tone for excess, but it’s still an entertaining ride. The costumes are chic🍷✨ and I love how hammy the acting is from everyone. The gore gets crazy at times for a film released in 1970.
Wish Vic’s psychology was explored more. He was very much giving Frank Zito vibes, he’s just a hotter version. So Lana del rey coded. My personal reading of him (which may be a huuuge stretch) is that he targets the middle aged women of Hollywood because he saw his mom in them when they were young and now he wants them to be young forever, which may be why he put a mannequin in place of Katherine when he killed her - cos they’e young and flawless. Maybe I’m just saying shit idk. I kinda just wanna hug him.
Wasn’t shocked to learn that the director, Donald Wolfe was a film historian, cos this film is packed with references and reverence for Hollywood and its glamour.
Anyways, high camp that’s actually more sophisticated than it gets credit for. I already wanna rewatch.
Hollywood Horror House isn’t really as revelatory as it should have been in the end, but it at least deserves praise for its blend of hagsploitation with slasher elements, telling the story of two demented people (in totally different ways) who find solace in each other. For a while at least.
Really love the opening credits with the decaying Hollywood sign as a metaphor for lost stardom. It’s so atmospheric and sets a foreboding tone.
The rest of the film kinda ditches that foreboding tone for excess, but it’s still an entertaining ride. The costumes are chic🍷✨ and I love how hammy the acting is from everyone. The gore gets crazy at times for a film released in 1970.
Wish Vic’s psychology was explored more. He was very much giving Frank Zito vibes, he’s just a hotter version. So Lana del rey coded. My personal reading of him (which may be a huuuge stretch) is that he targets the middle aged women of Hollywood because he saw his mom in them when they were young and now he wants them to be young forever, which may be why he put a mannequin in place of Katherine when he killed her - cos they’e young and flawless. Maybe I’m just saying shit idk. I kinda just wanna hug him.
Wasn’t shocked to learn that the director, Donald Wolfe was a film historian, cos this film is packed with references and reverence for Hollywood and its glamour.
Anyways, high camp that’s actually more sophisticated than it gets credit for. I already wanna rewatch.
Thomas
7.0★ · 02/26/26
He’s hot idgaf
He’s hot idgaf