7 Remarkable 1970s Thrillers That Still Hold Up Today

By James Kirk / July 15, 2013

4. Audrey Rose (1977)

Director: Robert Wise Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Marsha Mason

Audrey Rose is a chilling, well-executed film about a young girl €œsuffering€ from reincarnation; Hopkins is a father who tracks down his supposed reincarnated daughter. There€™s something disturbing in Hopkins€™ performance. It€™s creepy, and makes us uncomfortable. As outrageous as the scenario seems to Audrey€™s parents, Hopkins is convinced that the girl is truly is child taken from him in death. Hopkins manages a terrific performance. At times he seems threatening, and creates a sense of unease and dread on the screen, while at the same time he manages to remain sympathetic€”a grieving father who truly believes his daughter has been reincarnated. As Hopkins forces himself onto this distressed family, we realize that nothing good can come of this. Director Robert Wise is no slouch. A competent director with an impressive resume, he creates a film that engages his audience by slowly and methodically drawing them into the story and its characters. Audrey Rose is not a great film, but it€™s a good one, and it benefits from fine performances by its cast. And the film remains one of those worthy of remembering.