The Legacy (1978)

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Day 47 of Sobriety.

Before watching The Legacy, I thought it was strange that I had never come across it before. A British horror film (albeit a US co-production) that was frequently shown on British TV, which was scripted by Hammer mainstay Jimmy Sangster, and which features Roger Daltry (whose lavish mansion residence served as the location for the bulk of the film). It was directed by Richard Marquand, whose name didn’t really ring any bells, but it turns out he also directed Return of the Jedi (1983) and the 1985 thriller Jagged Edge.

Watching the first few minutes of the film, it looked like it might be exactly what I was hoping it would be: a low-key, moody, late-70s horror movie focusing on the plight of everyday people in a contemporary setting. It opens in Los Angeles where a couple—Maggie and her boyfriend Pete, who are both interior decorators have just received a mysterious but lucrative job offer that entails a sojourn in England. Although they have misgivings due to the lack of information that they have received, the money for the work and the travel has already been provided, so they decide to take the offer, and duly set off for England. Cue opening wistful soft-rock theme song, “Another Side of Me” courtesy of Kiki Dee: 

I'm going backAcross the sky
To places I have never been
But something seems to be
Slowly drawing me away…

Sadly, however, The Legacy didn’t live up to my high expectations. Despite its supernatural premise, it plays out more like a fairly unspectacular Agatha Christie-type thriller featuring a number of “spooky” cliches: creepy cat, dog attack, portrait that mysteriously resembles one of the lead characters, guests at the mansion being picked off one-by-one…

On top of that, the plot is presented in a rather muddled way, with some developments never really being adequately clarified or explained. This greatly reduces the impact of the story’s development, and it's also kind of frustrating. And perhaps worst of all, the soundtrack, which made such a good impression on me in the opening scenes, turns out to be more attuned to an action/thriller movie that a horror movie—dashing any chances the film may have had of creating any kind of atmosphere. At times I almost felt like I was watching a Halloween episode of Knots Landing or Hart to Hart.
 
 
I didn't hate The Legacy, but it was a disappointment. Maybe one day I will revisit it with greatly tempered expectations and enjoy it more. Probably not too soon, though.

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