15 Best Anthology Horror Film Segments
7. An Act Of Kindness (From Beyond The Grave, 1974)
"I obey your order..."
Mr Lowe, a middle-aged office manager leading an unfulfilling professional and family life, befriends a poor, uneducated soldier turned street peddler named Jim Underwood. In an effort to appear more impressive, Lowe steals an antique service medal and claims to be a former serviceman himself. Underwood introduces his new acquaintance to his obedient and frankly creepy daughter, Emily, and Lowe promptly falls under her spell - quite literally.
Each segment in From Beyond the Grave is actually very strong, making it one of Amicus' more consistent offerings. An Act of Kindness is the story that is most fondly remembered from the film, and that is almost entirely the result of some fantastic casting. Real-life father and daughter duo Donald and Angela Pleasance portray Jim and Emily Underwood, with the latter in particular brilliantly playing up the creep factor (if you enjoy her in this, be sure to check out her performance in Symptoms of the same year).
The bickering back and forth between Ian Bannen and Diana Dors is also a highlight. And of course, being an Amicus story, there's a satisfying little twist to top the story off.