Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings

Though still mentally shaky, convicted axe-murderess Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) is released from the asylum where she was sent 20 years ago for slaying her unfaithful husband. Lucy goes to stay at her brother's farm and reconnect with her grown daughter, Carol (Diane Baker), who saw her mother chop her father to pieces as a tot. Carol helps Lucy regain her old glamorous look -- but suspects that history might be repeating itself when anyone who angers her mother turns up hacked to death.

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Strait-Jacket

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Strait-Jacket is a middling Psycho meets Gaslight proto-slasher that telegraphs its plot twists more than Western Union. But it’s elevated by Joan Crawford’s remarkably possessed and highly physical turn as an ax murderess returning home from the asylum. Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 8, 2022 Full Review Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The twist ending is one of the most obvious ever put on film, but Crawford's campy histrionics and some neat stylistic flourishes make this worthy entertainment. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 7, 2021 Full Review Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Sean Mulvihill FanboyNation.com In 1964, William Castle would employ the biggest gimmick of his moviemaking career - Joan Crawford as an ax murderer in Strait-Jacket. Rated: 4/5 Oct 29, 2018 Full Review Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Chris Alexander Alexander On Film (Crawford) may have been mourning her glory days and miserable that the bloom was off her rose, but she remained until the end a major artist and a consummate professional. Aug 30, 2018 Full Review Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid This one has a very high quality of dialogue and performance. Oct 23, 2009 Full Review Strait-Jacket | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Joan Crawford in a shlocky classic B thriller and all about axe murders. Rated: 3/5 Mar 9, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julian S A campy cult classic for all involved. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/09/24 Full Review nick s Entertaining, with good performances. Crawford was particularly compelling. Well paced with some nice directing flourishes. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review David W Strait-Jacket would otherwise have been a fun but forgettable horror film if not for the outsized performance offered by Joan Crawford. The peculiarities of her career's trajectory have given audiences a much-loved cult classic. I would absolutely watch this again! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/19/24 Full Review Steve D Even Crawford's acting is mixed. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/26/24 Full Review Mike F Really enjoyed watching Joan Crawford in this role for which she is perfectly suited. While a bit predictable, the story was fun and while this has some horror attributes this feels more like a comedy. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/01/24 Full Review Philip C Crawford gives a great and meaty performance amidst farm animals, dust and small town vibes. The story holds its own and had me in suspense until the very end. There's a scene involving laundry hanging in the wind, which is very similar to a scene from Halloween. And the end credits are a brilliant touch. The axe scenes are void of any blood; however it was more graphic than I was expecting. Look out for the case of Pepsi on the counter...Joan Crawford is a true movie star and a must for any fans. Fun fact, Lee Majors played the young husband, which is uncredited. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

William Castle Director Joan Crawford Lucy Harbin Diane Baker Carol Harbin Leif Erickson Bill Cutler Howard St. John Raymond Fields John Anthony Hayes Michael Fields
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Synopsis Though still mentally shaky, convicted axe-murderess Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) is released from the asylum where she was sent 20 years ago for slaying her unfaithful husband. Lucy goes to stay at her brother's farm and reconnect with her grown daughter, Carol (Diane Baker), who saw her mother chop her father to pieces as a tot. Carol helps Lucy regain her old glamorous look -- but suspects that history might be repeating itself when anyone who angers her mother turns up hacked to death.

Director
William Castle

Producer
William Castle

Screenwriter
Robert Bloch

Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar

Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation

Genre
Horror

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 19, 1964, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012

Runtime
1h 29m

Sound Mix
Mono
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