Dementia 13
Dementia 13

Movie spotlight

Dementia 13

1963
Movie
75 min
English

A scheming widow hatches a bold plan to acquire her late husband's inheritance, unaware that she is being targeted by an ax murderer who lurks in the family's estate.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Director: Francis Ford CoppolaGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A scheming young woman, desperately in need of money, tries to trick her late husband's wealthy mother into giving her inheritance. However, her plans are complicated by a mysterious killer who begins stalking and murdering the family members. As the body count rises, she becomes the prime suspect, and must uncover the truth before becoming the next victim.

Critical Reception

Dementia 13 is often considered a cult classic, notable for being Francis Ford Coppola's directorial debut. While its low-budget origins and B-movie sensibilities are apparent, it's praised for its atmospheric tension and Hitchcockian influences. Critical reception at the time was mixed, with some appreciating its psychological horror elements and others criticizing its crude production values and plot.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its effective suspense and atmosphere despite a low budget.

  • Noted as an early, albeit rough, directorial effort from a future master filmmaker.

  • Some critics found the plot predictable and the execution amateurish.

Google audience: Audience reviews are varied, with some appreciating the film's vintage horror appeal and B-movie charm, while others find it dated and less compelling compared to more polished thrillers.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

Francis Ford Coppola directed Dementia 13 for Roger Corman on a tight schedule and budget, reportedly completing the principal photography in just ten days.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Coppola’s version of “Psycho,” sort of*** After the sudden death of her husband, an American woman (Luana Anders) keeps it secret and tries to ingratiate herself to the matriarch at the family’s manor in Ireland in order to extort par...

talisencrw

talisencrw

This was a tad eccentric but proved to me a very delightfully surreal horror film. In watching this, you immediately get the feeling the director has both interesting, out-of-the-ordinary ideas plus the balls to do things his own way. It's ...