Angustia (1987)

Director:

Bigas Luna

Writers:

Eva Lesmes (script)
Bigas Luna (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 January 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The eyes of the city are mine.

Plot:

John, a loutish optometrist orderly, louses up on the job and is dismissed. His odd, little mother, using a form of hypnosis...

Plot Keywords:

Disturbing | Surreal | Bizarre | Film In Film | Slasher

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Zelda Rubinstein	...	Alice Pressman, the Mother (old movie)
Michael Lerner	...	John Pressman (old movie)
Talia Paul	...	Patty (new movie)
Àngel Jové	...	The Killer (new movie)
Clara Pastor	...	Linda (new movie)
Isabel García Lorca	...	Caroline (old movie)
Nat Baker	...	Teaching Doctor (old movie)
Edward Ledden	...	Doctor (old movie)
Gustavo Gili	...	Student #1 (old movie)
Antonio Regueiro	...	Student #2 (old movie)
Joaquín Ribas	...	Student #3 (old movie)
Janet Porter	...	Laboratory Nurse (old movie)
Patrice Manget	...	Nurse at Clinic #1 (old movie)
Merche Gascón	...	Nurse at Clinic #2 (old movie)
Jose M. Chucarro	...	Caroline's Boyfriend (old movie)

Also Known As:

Anguish (USA)
Angústia (Portugal) (original subtitled version) [pt]
Angoisse (France) [fr]
Angoscia, L' (Italy) [it]
Im Augenblick der Angst (West Germany) [de]
Olhos da Cidade São Meus, Os (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

86 min | Argentina:95 min | Portugal:83 min (cut) | USA:89 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Luna Films

Quotes:

Alice Pressman, the Mother: [about a patient miss-treating her son] She doesn't know how hard you struggle
John Pressman: [Simpering] John is you're best boy isn't he mother?
Alice Pressman, the Mother: [as John consumes a concotion of liquids mixed with sliced bananas] Yes John... you're my best boy and the best surgeon in town

Movie Connections:

Features Hoosiers (1986)

Mama Mia!

Before the film even begins, a message is displayed on screen warning you about the possibility of hypnosis and dizziness etc. In my opinion, that's a great way to hype someone up. And with hype, disappointment usually follows. But not with Anguish, this was a really cool little flick.

The flick actually is pretty much two movies in one. I'll only describe the first story, since if I tell you about the second, it's kinda ruining it for you. The initial story follows a son who is being hypnotized and forced into murder by his mother, played by Zelda Rubinstein, the tiny lil paranormal investigator in Poltergeist. It's a pretty simple premise at first, but once the other story kicks in, the movie's tension and entertainment value is severely upped.

The direction and atmosphere is all fantastic, the only minor problems is the acting, it's pretty amateur to a degree. But there are also strong performances as well, the son/murderer did a really good job. And it's killing me trying to recall what I remember him from! And at under 90 minutes, the movie doesn't last too long. Poifect!

It's a rare lil horror flick that should definitely have more of a following. With a cool idea leading the way Anguish is one flick any fan of horror or of our beloved lil Zelda should without a doubt check out.