Director Richard Attenborough's story of a ventriloquist taken over by his dummy, Dead of Night-style, aims to be a classic chiller, but is sadly sunk by directorial overkill. Anthony Hopkins conjures cleverly and sweats mightily as the possessed entertainer, also sporting a splendid backstreets American accent. Alas the performance ends up as out of control as the dummy itself, and it's Ann-Margret, radiating warmth, who gives the best performance in the film. Burgess Meredith is also firmly in character as Hopkins' agent. Suspense, however, is a notably missing ingredient in the chilly proceedings, which end dismally by sinking into a maudlin and faintly risible conclusion.

©ipc tx. Film content from TVTimes