review for How Awful About Allan on AllMovie

One of a number of television movies of the late 1960s and 1970s that blurred the distinctions between horror and psychological thriller, How Awful About Allan is an above average, generally engrossing little chiller. Exactly how much one enjoys will depend largely on one's fondness for "suspense by implication" rather than blood and gore and on whether one figures out the "twist" ending in advance. These caveats aside, the screenplay is a fairly intelligent piece of manipulation, emphasizing the ability of little touches to provide a sense of discomfort. Much of the film's success is due to Curtis Harrington's fine, balanced direction. Harrington is not afraid to alternate nuance with "shock" moments and believes in letting the pace draw out leisurely on occasion, the better to contrast with the "big" segments. He also uses a very effective "blurry lens" look to capture the point-of-view of the semi-blind protagonist, which has the added benefit of keeping secret the villain's identity for longer than would otherwise be possible. Some of the film has that flat "television" look to it, but overall it's fairly stylish. Allan's biggest asset, however, is its cast. Anthony Perkins, in a role that could have been nothing more than a re-hash of Norman Bates, finds numerous ways to distinguish the character and is a wonderful, solid anchor. Julie Harris is quite effective as his sister, and Joan Hackett brings a special quality to the role of the neighbor.