It had been a long time since I watched this film, but revisiting it showed that it still delivers a wild experience. Jack Jones portrays pop singer Nick Cooper, who has taken a six-year break from recording at the urging of his wife Gail (Holly Palance). The couple is now divorced, and Nick decides to return to music under the guidance of record executive Webster (David Doyle). Unfortunately, Gail is brutally murdered in the former couple's London penthouse by an assailant wielding a small scythe and wearing an old woman’s mask; no one witnesses the crime. Nick is placed in an English country house where the estate’s caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. B (Bill Owen and Pete Walker regular Sheila Keith), are looking after the property while its owners are on a year-long cruise. The Bs form an unusual pair, but Nick appreciates the house's seclusion and begins recording music. He also develops a relationship with Linda (Pamela Stephenson), Webster’s secretary. Meanwhile, Gail’s body decays in the penthouse, narrowly avoiding discovery on several occasions. As more people become potential suspects in Gail’s murder are introduced, including Harry (Peter Turner), Nick’s unsettling assistant, Nick starts to have nightmares that eventually manifest as reality, suggesting someone is trying to either drive him mad or kill him. Even though it had been years since I last saw this movie, certain scenes lingered with me: the murders are graphic, a surprising cast member's character is in drag, and there’s an instance of vandalism involving a tree. What I didn’t recall was how well Jones performs despite some obvious shortcuts in filmmaking. Whenever Nick encounters a gruesome sight, he flees or hides, allowing the body or body part to vanish. Jones does a solid job, delivering a convincing performance whether singing or reacting to the bizarre events unfolding around him. Stephenson, Doyle, and Turner provide good support. Sheila Keith is consistently excellent in her roles; I challenge anyone to avoid thinking of Robin Williams' Mrs. Doubtfire while she’s onscreen. Once you notice it, that comparison will dominate your perception whenever she appears. Walker is known for his extreme exploitation films (I have seen "House of Whipcord"), and he’s given plenty of opportunity to showcase that here. The description I read about the film, stating Nick's ex-wife haunts him, isn't entirely accurate; although there is a supernatural element woven into this polished slasher movie, it evokes memories of films like “Curtains” and other slashers from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The story does feel slow in the final section, and I likely would have understood and remembered the ending better if I had given it more thought. Horror enthusiasts should definitely seek this one out; some of the scenes are truly unbelievable. (R)- Strong physical violence, gore, occasional profanity, brief nudity, some sexual content, sexual references, a few mature situations, alcohol and tobacco use

Source on TMDB