Dementia is a never-ending nightmare for both the protagonist (played by Adrienne Barrett) and the audience. The film demonstrates how thriller and jazz can be perfect ingredients for creating a confused dream-horror experience. So much so that no words are necessary, as they would have diminished the tension. Each character speaks and reflects their true intentions through perfectly executed performances, enhanced by strong visual presentations, thanks to William C. Thompson’s excellent work.
The film opens with a shot high among the stars, then swiftly transitions to a hotel window, immersing viewers in an alien space. We witness the protagonist running from a wave that threatens to drown her. She wakes up just as the wave engulfs her, finding herself in an unfamiliar hotel room. She gathers items, including a knife that becomes crucial for her nightmarish journey. She ventures out, scavenges for scraps, and stumbles upon a murder, a mysterious stabbing, as she navigates the haunted and horrific streets of the city, creating an atmosphere that is dark, gloomy and paranoid.
The story intensifies with the first assault, marking the beginning of her misfortunes when a drunk man attacks her. After being saved by a policeman, a mysterious man approaches her, increasing the sexual tension. As they wander, the man suddenly pauses, seemingly waiting for someone, until a car arrives. A wealthy, overweight man invites her into his car, embarking on a new voyage filled with a blend of lust and greed. He takes her to various places, indulging in drinking, eating, and gazing at a dancer with insatiable thirst.
During their drive, the protagonist suddenly experiences a headache and finds herself in a graveyard, guided by an entity through memories of her father, mother, and the murder mystery. We see that her mother is neglecting and also cheating her father. He loses his temper and kills her. Our character, who witnesses all of this, stabs her father. The genius demonstration of these scenes places her father’s bed or mother’s couch within the graveyard, enhancing the surrealistic nature of the film.
After the dream sequence, they move to the wealthy man’s suite, where they experience a cathartic moment. However, a man resembling her father stalks them, only watching as they ascend. Disgusted by him, she attempts to connect with him, but he neglects her, consuming food and drink without civility. When he attempts to kiss her, she reacts swiftly by stabbing him. Most actions in the movie are driven by emotions rather than reason, leading to a transformative free-jazz atmosphere.
Paranoia and guilt plague her with surreal scenes, where hands turn toward her, and she runs from her past and future. Just as everything seems to end, the mysterious man saves her, and she finds herself in a jazz concert, feeling safe. However, a conspiracy unfolds, revealing everyone’s collaboration from the start, with hands metaphorically at her throat. Nowhere to run, waves rise again, swallowing her whole. She wakes up in the same room, and as the camera rises through the stars from the hotel, the hysteria ends.
FOR COLLECTORS
Cohen Media released a Blu-ray in 2022:
Dementia (Cohen Film Collection)
It is also available to watch online: Dementia (Streaming)
(There is also a BFI Region-2 release that includes the 1957 version “Daughter of Horror”)
