Strait-Jacket

Main Plot

"Strait-Jacket," directed by William Castle, follows Lucy Harbin, a woman who is released from a mental institution after spending 20 years there for the brutal axe murders of her husband and his lover. Upon her release, she moves in with her brother and his family, including her now-adult daughter, Carol. As Lucy attempts to reintegrate into society and rebuild her relationship with Carol, a series of gruesome murders begin to occur, echoing the violent crime she was once convicted of. The film delves into themes of sanity, trust, and the haunting nature of past traumas, building suspense as it explores whether Lucy is truly reformed or if the past is repeating itself.

Characters

• Joan Crawford plays Lucy Harbin, a woman recently released from a mental institution, who becomes entangled in a series of gruesome murders, raising suspicions about her sanity.
• Diane Baker plays Carol Harbin, the daughter of Lucy Harbin. Carol's actions and secrets drive the suspense and shocking twists in the psychological thriller.
• Leif Erickson plays Bill Cutler, the skeptical husband who doubts his wife's sanity, adding tension and suspicion to the psychological thriller's unfolding drama.

Ending Explained

In the 1964 psychological thriller 'Strait-Jacket,' directed by William Castle, the film concludes with a dramatic and revealing twist. The story centers around Lucy Harbin, played by Joan Crawford, who is released from a mental institution after serving 20 years for the axe murders of her husband and his lover. Upon her release, she moves in with her brother and his family, including her daughter Carol, who was a child at the time of the murders. As the film progresses, a series of gruesome axe murders occur, leading to suspicions that Lucy has relapsed into her violent tendencies. However, the climax reveals that it is actually Carol who has been committing the murders, driven by a deep-seated psychological trauma and a desire to protect her mother. Carol dons a wig and makeup to resemble Lucy, creating the illusion that Lucy is the murderer. The film ends with Carol being apprehended, and Lucy, now exonerated, is left to grapple with the tragic realization of her daughter's disturbed state. This conclusion underscores themes of inherited trauma and the devastating impact of past violence on future generations.