Almost rivals Psycho!

Director William Castle (House on Haunted Hill) made this horror/thriller very much in the Psycho mould - and it's very nearly as good.The film follows a murderous woman in a small California town, and unearths secrets concerning a prominent local family. Joan Marshall gives an outstanding performance as the murderer, and the rest of the cast are solid. Castle largely dials back his trademark gimmicks here, and really goes for chilling atmosphere (and a surprising amount of gore).

Time magazine actually said: "Made in imitation of Hitchcock's Psycho, it surpasses its model in structure, suspense and sheer nervous drive" and placed it on its list of top ten films of the year for 1962. I won't say any more as there's a twist that I think some - even after all these years - won't see coming. 8/10