I saw this at the drive-in at about age 7 and was mesmerized by it. Back then, we never expected to be able to view a movie again unless it happened to show up as filler on TV in those days when many hours were without programming. Yet, I remembered it so vividly, especially the part where she is sketching him and he slowly begins to move. That scene came to my mind from time to time, along with the part where he attacks the driver. The story itself touched me: the young man in love with a woman he could not have, trying to save her and failing.
The notion of reincarnation was new to me though I was an avid reader. The nearest library was more than 20 miles away over two-lane roads, so my appetite for knowledge had to wait till we moved to that city when I was 10. Then, I read all that I could about about the supernatural and various beliefs.
Eventually, a station showed this film again, and it struck me just as much as the first time. It would be nearly two decades before I saw it again, airing in the wee hours of the morning. I videotaped it and, when watching it for the third time, was stunned at how closely my memories matched the movie, even to the lighting of certain scenes. The adult me was not disappointed. I still love this movie though I've rarely read a kind remark about it. It's remarkable to me that this person encased so that we do not see a face or even have body movements that communicate to us still can have such power in my imagination. Sometimes the simplest, obscure movie can reach a person. I can never explain to someone else why I feel so strongly protective of this film that others consider a boring waste of time. However, I'm sure they have their own treasures that I might not appreciate.
So, here's another Baby Boomer who is fond of this film and has been since seeing it on the drive-in screen. To me, the sketching scene is still so vivid in my mind, eerie and haunting. It would be nice knowing that this movie has a cult following.
~~MystMoonstruck~~
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