Homicidal

film by Castle [1961]

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July 20, 2026

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The film Homicidal, released in 1961, was directed and produced by William Castle, a filmmaker known for his innovative marketing strategies for B-horror movies. This film is described as a knockoff of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960).12

Castle's gimmick for Homicidal was the "Fright Break," which offered audiences a refund if they left the theater during the final minutes of the film. This tactic was characteristic of Castle's approach, earning him the nickname "King of the Gimmick".12

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William Castle
King of the Gimmick
Homicidal (1961) was a knockoff of Psycho (1960), with the added fillip of a “Fright Break,” which offered audiences a refund if they left during the film’s final minutes. In 1961 Castle returned to period movies with Mr. Sardonicus (1961), in which a disfigured, evil…
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Homicidal (1961) was a knockoff of Psycho (1960), with the added fillip of a “Fright Break,” which offered audiences a refund if they left during the film’s final minutes. In 1961 Castle returned to period movies with Mr. Sardonicus (1961), in which a disfigured, evil…
Read More