
Julie is an advice columnist for the city newspaper who begins to receive anonymous notes threatening murder and worse. At about the same time, female members of the group therapy session she attends are being stabbed, one by one, by an unknown assailant. Is there a connection? If so, why do the notes talk about murder with a gun, while the murder victims are being stabbed? At first, the police, her ex-husband, her therapist and her friends all assure her that the notes are p... (Full plot summary below)
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Julie is an advice columnist for the city newspaper who begins to receive anonymous notes threatening murder and worse. At about the same time, female members of the group therapy session she attends are being stabbed, one by one, by an unknown assailant. Is there a connection? If so, why do the notes talk about murder with a gun, while the murder victims are being stabbed? At first, the police, her ex-husband, her therapist and her friends all assure her that the notes are probably unrelated, and hoax; but with time, it becomes apparent that someone close to her is responsible. Is it her therapist, Pieter, who has sex with his patients just before they are murdered? Or Alison, Pieter's daughter, who resents Julie for Julie's romantic involvement with her father? Is it Julie's ex-husband, who never really wanted their divorce? Or maybe Gilbert, the eccentric building maintenance man whom many people believe is a little crazy anyway? Just about everyone around her seems mentally disturbed enough to be the culprit.
Leave your thoughts about Schizoid.
| User ReviewWes SA bit sleazy, a bit lazy in the writing, but still entertaining. Schizoid doesn't pretend to be something it's not, and that works in its favor. Simply put, turn your brain off for 90 minutes and bask in the glow of a decently budgeted, could be worse b movie. |
| User ReviewAlex rIn the early 80's, many Slasher films have been released to cash in on the success of Carpenter's Halloween and Friday the 13th. Horror was changed forever, and gave rise to a further boom in the medium, exposing fans to a new genre of horror. This is a worthwhile genre film that should be seen by fans that love obscured gems such as this. The film boasts the impressive talent of Klaus Kinski. The film boasts some impressive kill sequences. This film is a necessary viewing for fans and if you enjoy Slasher films, then check this one out. The film is not ground breaking by any means, as it is standard Slasher fair, but it is an entertaining feature for what it is. The kills are the standout aspect of the film, and there is enough blood to satisfy genre fans. If you're looking for a well crafted Slasher yarn, give Schizoid a shot, it is a surprising treat that deserves to be discovered by horror enthusiasts. Although this isn't a classic by any means, it is nonetheless a good addition to the Slasher genre. The picture doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, like I stated earlier, but there is enough going on here to make this one a necessity for viewers that enjoy a film with effective kill sequences. I enjoyed the film, and I recommend that you check this out if you're a fan. This is a standout feature that overcomes its flaws and manages to make do with a good plot and effective acting from its cast. There have been better genre films of course, but Schizoid remains an obscured gem that delivers the shocks and blood that fans crave from a good horror film. |
| User ReviewMichael TThis was an entry into the early 1980s post-HALLOWEEN/FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH wave of psycho/slasher horror films. Its actually an American version of an Italian Giallo-type horror thriller with an unseen killer rather than the American boogeyman in a mask. Poor Marianna Hill, she has gone through a bitter divorce, is receiving threatening letters, and someone is killing the female members of her group therapy session (yes, the film is set in LA). Lots of suspects surround the gorgeous Ms. Hill, including her therapist (Klaus Kinski) who likes to sleep with his patients, his somewhat deranged daughter who may have an Electra complex, is it Christopher Lloyd (playing an angry janitor and not Reverend Jim), or is it her ex-husband. As usual, the overworked LAPD detectives are of little help and three steps behind the killer). Like in a Giallo, there are lots of red-herrings. Its not great, but it has a good cast and was directed with a reasonable dgree of flair. |
| User ReviewTim SI saw Schizoid for the first time recently, and I can't understand what all the fuss is about. It's one of those movies that giallo and slasher fans love, but I can't get past how boring it is. The shame of it all is that it has a nice cast attached to it: Klaus Kinski, Craig Wasson, Christoper Lloyd, etc, but it never manages to be all that entertaining. The killer's identity can be easily guessed, as well. Not that something like that really matters, it's the ride there that does, but without it, it's pretty predictable and boring. I can see slasher fans eating it up, and giving it more credit than it's really due now that it's out on blu-ray. To be fair, slasher fans have tunnel vision when it comes to the quality of a film anyway. As long as they get a decent-looking killer and some carnage, they're happy. I'm not however. I expect more entertainment value for my dollar. This film doesn't have that, unfortunately. As a side note, I'm surprised John Carpenter didn't sue over the score, which parts of are identical to the Halloween score at times. |
| User ReviewMichael WKlaus Kinski's therapy group is dying one-by-one at the hands of a scissor killer. Doctor Kinski feels like the last person you would seek therapy from. Any collaboration with The Cannon Group and star Kinski should deliver gold but overall results are disappointing. For possibly the only time, Richard Herd mysteriously earns special billing in the credits. |