Strangler of the Swamp (1946)

Director: Frank Wisbar

Starring: Rosemary La Planche, Robert Barrat, Blake Edwards, Charles Middleton, Effie Laird, Nolan Leary, Frank Conlan, Therese Lyon, Virginia Farmer, Chris Drake

More info: IMDb

Tagline: He was hanged for a crime he didn't commit, and now he's the... Strangler of the Swamp

Plot: A number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the innocent ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again? Nah.

After sitting here for five minutes starring at the screen I can't think of anything to say except Blake Edwards made a much better director than he was an actor. Woof. He's pretty bad. I liked the atmosphere of the swamp (even though it's obviously a set). I'm such a huge fan of Charles Middleton (Ming from the Flash Gordon serials) that it was a gas seeing him as the ghost. His character got fucked over big time and I would've done the same thing, coming back and killing folks.


Had then ending been different I would have given this at least a 7 but, as a movie of its time, it was too easy and happy.

SPOILERS (highlight the following text:) As the ghost of Ferryman Douglas is about to kill Christian, Maria offers herself to him in exchange for Christian's (her lover's) life. Ferryman Douglas has a change of heart and disappears, never to return or kill again. Really? She should have died. They'd only been talking about how that was the only way to end the curse throughout the entire picture. I felt cheated.

END OF SPOILERS...YARRRRR!

Watch the entire film here.