OUT OF THE FOG (1962)

David Sumner

OUT OF THE FOG (aka Fog for a Killer/1962). Director: Montgomery Tully.  

Released from prison, George Mallon (David Sumner) takes up residence in a kind of halfway house for ex-cons. He gets a job driving for a furniture company, but can't get rid of the massive chip on his shoulder. Even his own mother (Olga Lindo) wants nothing to do with him. When blond women are strangled on what is known as "the flats" each full moon, George becomes the prime suspect. Sgt. June Lock (Susan Travers) is assigned to get a job at the furniture company and ingratiate herself with George. On the next full moon George decides to forget about going to the movies with June, and instead takes her for a walk in the flats ... 

David Sumner and Susan Travers

Out of the Fog is a minor but well-acted British suspense film that could have used another twenty or thirty minutes of character development as well as a few tense murder sequences. It comes off much more like a 1940's production than something made two years after Psycho. David Sumner with his sensitive features so at odds with the bitter unpleasant character he plays makes a decided impression in the film, and a wide variety of character actors also make their contribution. A ridiculous bit has to do with Det. Supt. Chadwick (John Arnatt) ordering some more men to the flats once he learns June has gone there with George, but considering it was a full moon -- the only time murders occur -- why the hell wouldn't he have had a lot more men there already? Montgomery Tully also directed The Third Alibi. 

Verdict: Very good lead performance with a so-so script. **1/2.