The Fiend (1971)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1971
Running Times: 87 mins (UK - cut version)     98 mins
Format: colour
Ratio:
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: World Arts Media (UK) Ltd
Supervising Producer: John Lightfoot
Producer: Robert Hartford-Davis
Associate Producer: Robert Shearer

SCRIPT
Script: Brian Comport

DIRECTION
Director: Robert Hartford-Davis
Assistant Director: Brian Lawrence

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Desmond Dickinson
Camera Operator: Norman Jones

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Alan Pattillo
Assistant Editor: Tariq Anwar

MUSIC
Music: Tony Osborne, Richard Kerr
Arranger / Conductor: Tony Osborne
Songs: Richard Kerr, Joan Maitland (We Are One; Set Me Free; Wash Me In His Blood)
Songs Performed By: Richard Kerr, Maxine Barrie (We Are One; Set Me Free; Wash Me In His Blood)

SOUND
Sound Recordist: Barry Copeland
Dubbing Mixer: Doug Turner
Sound Editor: Bill Taylor
Re-Recorded At: De Lane Lea, London

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Stuart Freeborn
Hair: Henry Montsash
Wardrobe Supervisor: Eileen Welch

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: George Provis
Set Dresser: Scott Slimon
Property Buyer: Jimmy James
Construction Manager: Reg Smith

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Accountant: Bernard Traub
Production Secretary: Sally Hyman

LOCATIONS
Studio: Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Bill Cummings

CASTING
Casting Director: Ronnie Curtis

CAST
Ann Todd (Birdy Wemys)
Patrick Magee (minister)
Tony Beckley (Kenny Wemys)
Madeleine Hinde (Brigitte Lynch)
Suzanna Leigh (Paddy Lynch)
Percy Herbert (commissionaire)
David Lodge (CID inspector)
Ronald Allen (Paul)
Maxine Barrie (singer)
Jeannette Wild (prostitute)
Diana Chappell (poolside girl)
Susanna East (teenage girl)
Hani Borelle (riverside girl)
Ian Kiddy (baptised boy)
Dee Shenderey, Brenda Kempner, Irving Lycett, James Watts (congregation members)
Katherine McDonald (child)

PLOT SUMMARY

While a bunch of religious fanatics, led by "the minister" sing a turgid modern hymn, a terrified girl is murdered by psychotic security guard Kenny Wemys, son of diabetic member of the minister's congregation, Birdy Wemys. Kenny is utterly fixated on his beloved mother and, under the warped influence of the minister, is 'saving' young women from sin by brutally killing them and recording their death throes for his own gratification. Urged on by tape recordings of the cult's American leader, Kenny continues his one man crusade against sexually active women and Birdie's new nurse, Brigitte begins to suspect whet he's up to.

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Miracle Films
Video Distributor: Video Unlimited

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Cinerama
Video Distributor: Monterey Video

UK
Rating: X

USA
Rating: R

TIMELINE

2001
September
22: UK - television broadcast (on BBC2)

POSTER TAGS

It's a Sickness of the Soul!

An Angel in Black... a Ritual of Death!

Beauty Beware... you have a date with Death!

They prey on women!

Beware My Brethren - US title
Beware of the Brethren - US title
Mummy Wouldn't Like It

MAGAZINES

Video the Magazine October 1982 (UK)
review

BOOKS

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.133
credits, review

Horror and Science Fiction Films Volume II p.30
credits

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

crucifixions, cults, diabetes, drowning, religion, serial killers, strangulation

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008