Who Slew Auntie Roo?

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Joel H @786Joel Oct 14, 2026 Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? is kind of a terrible title. It indicates that Auntie Roo is going to die, so it’s not a surprise when certain events transpire in the end. I thought this film was going to be a murder mystery, where the characters and the viewer try to deduce who did the slaying. It’s not. It’s a thinly veiled adaptation of Hansel & Gretel. So thinly veiled, in fact, that they reference the fairy tale in clumsy voiceover throughout the second half of the picture. And the first half is the stronger part anyway. Therefore, I must say that Who Slew Auntie Roo is not for me and not for you. See more Mary-Ann K @MKuch59 Oct 1, 2026 This is a gem from my childhood that scared the begeezuz out of me! It's campy, a bit off-kilter and delightfully twisted. Perfect for the Halloween season! See more B P @Bradster69 Sep 20, 2026 Not Bad, but Not My Favorite See more Michael B @RT70168164 Jul 24, 2025 A Nursery Rhyme Drenched in Dread Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? is a ghostly slow-burn that wraps its horror in holiday tinsel, luring you in with sugarplums and lullabies before plunging you into a tale of madness, obsession, and childlike terror. Often overlooked in the annals of vintage horror, this 1972 psychological chiller is a twisted fairy tale with teeth. Shelley Winters delivers a disturbing, grandiose performance as Auntie Roo, a grieving widow who hosts annual Christmas parties for orphans in her decaying mansion—a place that feels more like a haunted dollhouse than a home. Her fixation on a young girl who resembles her deceased daughter tips from melancholy into full-blown mania, and it’s that slow descent into the grotesque that gives the film its quiet horror. The house itself becomes a character—creaking floorboards, candlelit shadows, and locked rooms containing ghastly secrets. The cinematography lingers on antique toys and unsettling decor, blurring the line between childlike wonder and adult dread. It’s a film soaked in atmosphere, where even a spinning music box can send a chill down your spine. Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, the story flips the script: here, the children are not lost in the woods, but trapped in a seemingly kind woman's decaying fantasy world. Their growing realization that something is horribly wrong—combined with Roo’s unpredictable mood swings—escalates the tension in a subtle, nightmarish way. Though not overtly violent, Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? thrives on psychological unease. It’s the horror of grief unhinged, of children navigating a world where the adults are the real monsters, and of holiday cheer warped into a glittering prison. Underrated, eerie, and weirdly poetic, this is a chilling gem for horror lovers who appreciate their scares served with vintage charm and psychological decay. Verdict: 3.5/5 – A gothic, candy-coated nightmare that lingers long after the snow melts. Grab Your favorite beverage, Sit in your favorite chair, Pop some popcorn and Press Play.....Ho, Ho, Ho. See more Jeff M @jeffmarshallmovieblogger Feb 11, 2024 I'm dying to do some research on this movie to find out if the filmmakers were trying to make a legitimately good movie or a satire. I have a feeling the former is correct, which brings me great satisfaction to be able to add this to my sacred pantheon of "so bad they're good" movies. There are scenes here that feel like they could have inspired future films like THE NAKED GUN - including a scene in which a teddy bear is thrown at a character who reacts like she just had acid poured on her face. This is ripe for a RiffTrax version if it hasn't been done already. Much has been said about popular actresses of this era who were unable to get reputable work as they got older and were reduced to endeavors such as these. Two-time Oscar winner Winters is a prime example, and she chews the scenery like she hasn't eaten in months. She also sings a couple songs that are among the deliciously worst things I've heard in my life. It's all a bit surreal and a welcome addition to your next Hansel and Gretel marathon. This would be a fun watch next Halloween, especially if you have younger kids interested in horror movies but not mature enough for the normal fare. There's not a drop of blood, and the horror parts are laughable enough that they're unlikely to scar anyone over 18 months. See more dave s @RT68722908 Oct 26, 2022 Who Slew Auntie Roo?, a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, features Shelley Winters as a mother grieving for a daughter who was killed years earlier in an accident, which is perfectly normal other than the fact that she still keeps the rotting corpse of the child in her home. When she decides to replace the dearly departed with an orphan (Chloe Franks) from a nearby institute, the young girl's brother (Mark Lester) comes to the rescue. Despite decent production values (other than some irritating editing), Who Slew Auntie Roo? is ultimately done in by an outrageously campy performance from Winters, who seemed to specialize in these wacked out type of roles in the latter years of her otherwise impressive career. Anyone with a taste for 70s camp will probably enjoy this bit of weirdness. See more Read all reviews

Who Slew Auntie Roo?

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