Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971) ***

Let’s Scare Jessica To Death (1971) is a melancholic exploration of mental illness that’s a little short on plot but has an appropriately creepy vibe. The actors aren’t amazing, and some scenes come off a bit clunky or goofy, but I appreciate the ideas behind the film—what is in the titular character’s head vs. what is real? At times I was reminded of Polanski’s Repulsion (1966), but the psychedelic tone and editing style of Jessica is most similar to George Romero’s '70s output—The Crazies (1973) [review] and, in particular, Martin (1977) [review]. The eerily atonal synth and piano, which serve more as chaotic sound design most of the time than a true score, create a foreboding atmosphere. Despite (or perhaps because of it) being a product of its time (and having a title that doesn’t really make sense), and with a little more finesse, Jessica could have been a true cult classic, but it's still worth a look.