Experiment in Terror

Directed by Blake Edwards, Experiment in Terror follows a bank teller (Lee Remick’s Kelly Sherwood) as she’s threatened by a mysterious figure and forced to rob her place of employment – with the movie detailing a dedicated FBI agent’s (Glenn Ford’s John Ripley) ongoing efforts at catching the criminal responsible. It’s compelling subject matter that’s employed to erratic yet mostly satisfying effect by Edwards, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the filmmaker does a superb job of immediately luring the viewer into the proceedings – as Experiment in Terror kicks off with a striking sequence wherein Kelly has her first confrontation with the aforementioned mysterious figure. From there, the picture segues into a deliberately-paced narrative that’s predominantly focused on John’s procedural-like investigation – with the continuing emphasis on the minutia of his exploits paving the way for a decidedly hit-and-miss midsection. (It does seem clear, ultimately, that Experiment in Terror has no business running over two hours and should have topped out at 90 minutes.) The stirring efforts of both Remick and Ford, coupled with a smattering of undeniably engrossing sequences (eg Kelly’s tormentor makes a sudden appearance within a women’s bathroom), paves the way for a narrative that’s relatively compelling from start to finish, while the rather electrifying climax, which details a pursuit through a busy baseball stadium, ensures that the whole thing concludes on an almost atypically gripping note – with the final result a decent endeavor that feels like it could (and should) be so much better.

*** out of ****