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| Suzy Kendall |
IN THE DEVIL'S GARDEN (aka
Assault/1971). Director: Sidney Hayers.
A girl, Tessa (Lesley-Anne Down), is sexually assaulted in the woods and is so traumatized that she is unable to speak. Then another girl is not only raped but murdered. Dr. Lomax (James Laurenson) tries to get through to the mute girl without success. Detective Velyan (Frank Finlay of
Lifeforce) is frustrated by the lack of clues in the case when Julie West (Suzy Kendall of
Torso), the arts teacher at the nearby girls' school, gets a glimpse of the killer, but can only describe him as being "like the Devil." Nevertheless she, a reporter (Freddie Jones) and Velyan and his associates cook up a plan to use the brave Julie as a decoy. Meanwhile there are a few suspects, including the headmistress's sleazy husband, Leslie (Tony Beckley of
Beware My Brethren), and even Dr. Lomax and some of the police officers. Julie discovers that the killer is much closer than anyone realizes ...
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| Frank Finlay and James Laurenson |
In the Devi's Garden, originally released under the dull title
Assault, is an interesting and suspenseful thriller with some solid performances. The ending is dragged out a bit too much, and the identity of the killer is telegraphed a bit too soon, but there are some intriguing developments nevertheless. Lesley-Anne Down was introduced in this film -- it was actually her fourth movie -- and is unrecognizable at 17. James Cosmo, Dilys Hamlett, Patrick Jordan, and Anthony Ainley also have significant roles. Sidney Hayers also directed
Circus of Horrors.
Verdict: Reasonably worthwhile suspense-thriller. **3/4.
Love Lesley Anne Down, always beautiful and a good actress. Have only seen Suzy Kendall in The Best of Everything and maybe in a a movie with Cary Grant and Jayne Mansfield? Beautiful but can she act?
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Actually Kendall has given some rather good performances in a variety of movies, mostly thriller-type films, but she is generally effective, as she is in this. You've probably seen her in more movies than you realize. She was in Argenot's first, "Bird with the Crystal Plumage."
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