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’s 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) 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.