Jennifer

Watch Jennifer

"She walks in terror, stilled with fright. A trail of fear, to fill the night!"
  • PG
  • 1978
  • 1 hr 30 min
  • 5.5  (738)

Jennifer from 1978 tells the story of a young girl, Jennifer Baylor (played by Lisa Pelikan), who moves from New York City to a small town in California with her father, Luke (played by Jeff Corey). Jennifer is recovering from a nervous breakdown, and Luke hopes that the change of scenery will do her good. The family settles into their new home, a large Victorian house that has been converted into apartments. Jennifer’s neighbor, Mrs. Ganucci (played by Nina Foch), takes an interest in her and offers to help her adjust to her new town. Mrs. Ganucci is an old, crotchety woman who seems to look down on everyone around her, but she takes a particular liking to Jennifer.

Jennifer begins attending a new school, where she meets her new classmates, including a boy named Eddie (played by Bert Convy). Eddie is instantly drawn to Jennifer, and the two become close friends. Jennifer is a talented artist, and Eddie encourages her to pursue her passion. However, Jennifer’s new life is not without its challenges. She is still struggling with the fallout from her breakdown, and her mother’s absence looms large over her.

As Jennifer begins to settle into her new life, strange things start to happen. She begins to have terrifying nightmares, and she starts to see ghostly apparitions around the house. Jennifer is convinced that the house is haunted, and she becomes increasingly agitated and paranoid. Her father and Mrs. Ganucci are dismissive of her claims and insist that there is nothing wrong.

As the strange occurrences continue, Jennifer becomes more and more unstable. She starts to investigate the history of the house, and she discovers that a young girl named Margaret had died there many years ago. Jennifer becomes convinced that Margaret’s spirit is haunting the house and tormenting her.

As Jennifer falls deeper into madness, Eddie becomes increasingly concerned for her well-being. He tries to help her, but she shuts him out, convinced that he is part of the conspiracy to keep her in the dark about the true nature of the house. Jennifer’s father, too, becomes more and more worried for her mental health.

The film builds to a suspenseful crescendo as Jennifer’s grip on reality unravels completely. The truth about the house and Jennifer’s past is finally revealed in a shocking climax that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Overall, Jennifer is a suspenseful, atmospheric horror film that explores themes of mental illness, grief, and the supernatural. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build slowly over the course of the movie. The performances are strong, particularly Lisa Pelikan as the troubled Jennifer. The film’s setting, a creaky old Victorian house, adds to the creepy atmosphere, and the haunting score by Jerry Fielding heightens the sense of dread.

Jennifer is a classic horror film that deserves to be better known. Its exploration of mental illness and grief gives it a depth and complexity that is often lacking in genre films. If you’re a fan of old-school horror movies that rely on atmosphere and tension rather than gore and jump scares, then Jennifer is definitely a movie worth checking out.

Jennifer
Jennifer doesn't appear to be available from any streaming services.
Add this movie to your Watchlist to get notified when it's available.
Description
  • Release Date
    1978
  • MPAA Rating
    PG
  • Runtime
    1 hr 30 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.5  (738)