Scream for Help
Scream for Help (also known as The Killer in the House, Trail to Death, Condemned with No Way Out, Cry for Help, Help!, The House on Hell Street, Screams of Terror and The Last Victim) is a 1984 British-American-Italian independent mystery psychological thriller-horror film[1] directed by Michael Winner and written by Tom Holland. It stars Rachael Kelly, David Allen Brooks and Marie Masters. The film is about a 17 year old teenage girl who discovers that her abusive stepfather is trying to murder her and her mother for money, but when she tells people, no one will believe her. Former Led Zeppelin member John Paul Jones composed the musical score. The film was theatrically released in the United States in July 1984.
| Scream for Help | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Winner |
| Produced by | Michael Winner |
| Written by | Tom Holland |
| Starring | Rachael Kelly David Allen Brooks Marie Masters |
| Music by | John Paul Jones |
| Cinematography | Robert Paynter |
| Edited by | Arnold Ross Michael Winner |
Production company | Miracle Torremodo Ltd. Videoform |
| Distributed by | Lorimar |
Release date | July 1984 |
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States Italy |
| Language | English |
Plot
Set in New Rochelle, New York in 1984, Christie Cromwell, a 17 year old teenage girl discovers that her stepfather Paul Fox is trying to murder her and her mother Karen for her money, but when she tries to tell other people about it, no one will believe her. After a maintenance worker dies in the basement, Christie believes Paul set the trap for her mother after she saw him leave the basement the previous night. Christie begins following Paul everywhere and discovers he is having an affair with a young attractive woman named Brenda. She is caught by Brenda's brother Lacey but manages to run away. Paul convinces Karen that Brenda is a client of his and she believes him over her daughter.
Christie convinces Josh, her best friend Janey's boyfriend, to accompany her to catch Paul, but the brakes to her mother's car have been tampered with, almost killing them. Christie and Janey discover Paul and Brenda at a motel and run when Paul sees them. Janey tells Christie she is pregnant by Josh, but moments later is killed in a hit and run by an unseen driver. Christie tells the police that Paul killed Janey, intending to kill her, but she is not believed. Josh sticks up for Christie after she is bullied and blamed for Janey's death. Later, she loses her virginity to Josh but they are interrupted by Paul, who orders Josh to leave; when Christie goes to the bathroom, she notices gas, now suspecting that Paul is trying to kill her too (as she would be entitled to her mother's inheritance before he would be). Karen also falls down the stairs after a trap Paul set for her, putting her in a wheelchair. Christie takes a picture of Paul and Brenda having sex but drops the picture and is seen; while retrieving the picture she overhears that Brenda and Lacey are in fact a married couple who plan to blackmail Paul after he kills Karen and Christie. She shows her mother the picture and Paul is ordered to leave.
At midnight, Paul, Brenda and Lacey invade the house and force Christie and Karen to the basement, revealng their plans to kill them both at 2 a.m. and blame it on a burglar. Christie tells Paul about the real relationship between Brenda and Lacey, which angers him. Christie tricks Brenda into letting her out to go to the bathroom while Karen cuts the electricity to the house from the basement, giving Christie a chance to run and stab both Lacey and Paul. After Brenda attacks Karen and turns the lights back, on Christie surrenders herself to Lacey and both victims are forced back to the basement, where they devise another plan to escape by wetting the fuse box.
At 2 a.m., they are ordered upstairs but are interrupted by Josh knocking at the door. Lacey orders Christie to open the door and get rid of him. Josh is suspicious and informs the police. When the electricity goes off, both mother and daughter flee their attackers. Lacey orders Brenda to go to the basement and turn the lights back on, but the wet fuse box electrocutes Brenda. After almost catching Karen, Lacey runs to the basement after hearing Brenda's scream and finds her dead. Christie tricks Paul into believing she is in her bathroom when Paul enters the gas filled bathroom with a lighter; it explodes and he is killed. Josh saves Christie from the burning house.
With their ordeal over, Christie and Karen reside at another house temporarily when Josh comes over to kiss Christie; Lacey appears and hits Josh and plans to kill Christie for what she did to Brenda. Christie pulls out a knife and stabs Lacey through the stomach, killing him.
Cast
- Rachael Kelly as Christie Cromwell
- Marie Masters as Karen Cromwell
- David Allen Brooks as Paul Fox
- Lolita Lorre as Brenda Bohle
- Rocco Sisto as Lacey Bohle
- Corey Parker as Josh Dealey
- Sandra Clark as Janey Ralston
- Tony Sibbald as Bob Dealey
- Stacey Hughes as Seudi
- David Baxt as Mechanic
- Leslie Lowe as Girl at Motel
- Michael Corby as Man at Motel
- Morgan Deare as School Principal
- Sarah Brackett as School Secretary
- Marlene Marchus as Librarian
- Matthew Peters as Charlie
- Clare Burt as Patty Sea
- Diana Ricardo as Mrs. Ralston
- Burnell Tucker as Mr. Ralston
- Bruce Boa as Surgeon
- Chuck Julian as Doctor
- Erick Ray Evans as Power Company Man
- William Roberts as Power Company Man
- Michael Fitzpatrick as Power Company Man
- Ronald Fernee as Policeman
- Richard Oldfield as Policeman
- Tony Cyrus as Policeman
- Joel Cutrara as Policeman
- Jeff Harding as Policeman
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin criticized Scream for Help for what it described as the film's "moronic characterization, daft dialogue, inept performances and opportunistic camerawork".[2]
Screenwriter Tom Holland was extremely displeased with Michael Winner's handling of his script.
Filming locations
- New Rochelle, New York – (Christie's home city)
- England – (Christie's house)
Soundtrack
Home media release
Scream for Help was released on VHS in 1986 by Karl-Lorimar Home Video and had trailers for American Anthem, Max Headroom and Maximum Overdrive. The film has not been issued on DVD but a Blu-ray from Shout Factory was released on September 18, 2018[3].
References
- http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6c0782f9
- Quoted in Christopher Tookey, "Michael Winner's latest film is his most offensive yet". The Daily Mail, May 11, 1999, (p.11).
- https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/scream-for-help?product_id=6830