Dominique (also released as Dominique Is Dead) is a 1979 British psychological horror film directed by Michael Anderson, and starring Cliff Robertson, Jean Simmons, Simon Ward, Jenny Agutter and Ron Moody. The film is based on the 1948 short story "What Beckoning Ghost", written by American author Harold Lawlor. It centers on a wealthy businessman (Robertson) who is seemingly haunted by the ghost of his wife (Simmons), whom he drove to suicide.
This is the final film of actors Jack Warner and Leslie Dwyer.
Plot
David Ballard, a struggling businessman in desperate need of money, devises a plan to use psychological manipulation to drive his rich wife, Dominique, to suicide so he can inherit her fortune. His plan seemingly works when Dominique's body is found hanging in her greenhouse, but David soon finds himself being haunted by what he believes is Dominque's vengeful ghost. His sanity gradually crumbles as he finds himself unable to rid himself of his wife's spirit, until he finally falls to his death while trying to escape from her.
In a twist ending, the "ghost" turns out to be his half-sister, Ann; with the help of her lover, Tony Calvert, who had come to work as the Ballards' chauffeur and ingratiated himself with Dominique before her passing. Ann had used prosthetic makeup to impersonate Dominique, get rid of David, and claim David's share of the family fortune for herself, while Tony, being the only person Dominique trusted, became her beneficiary and got her fortune after David's death. However, Tony then rejects Ann and plays her an audio recording that reveals that the real Dominque had actually been alive, and part of the plan, until they had killed her to avoid detection, the recording making it seem that Ann had concocted the entire plan without Tony's knowledge. Tony admits that he intends to use the recording to enforce Ann's silence, and that he had always intended to take his share and leave her. Ann murders him with a revolver the couple had previously used as part of their deception, with the movie ending on an ambiguous note as Ann stands over Tony's corpse.
Cast
Cliff Robertson as David Ballard
Jean Simmons as Dominique Ballard
Simon Ward as Tony Calvert
Jenny Agutter as Ann Ballard
Ron Moody as Dr. Rogers
Judy Geeson as Marjorie Craven
Michael Jayston as Arnold Craven
Flora Robson as Mrs. Davis
David Tomlinson as Lawyer
Jack Warner as George
Leslie Dwyer as Cemetery Supervisor
Jan Holden as Ballard's Secretary
Jack McKenzie as John, 1st Chauffeur
Michael Nightingale as Vicar at Funeral
Production
Filming dates
Filming started in England during September 1977 and lasted six weeks.
Filming locations
The film was initially meant to be filmed in Canada, but this was changed after an offer was made to shoot the film in England with a higher budget.
Release
Dominique was initially released in March 1979. After a very brief theatrical run, it found larger visibility in cable airings.
Home video
Vinegar Syndrome later released the film on home video in 2019.
Reception
Martyn Auty criticized the film in the Monthly Film Bulletin as "heavy handed". Pop Matters reviewed the film in 2019, writing that it "won’t raise the hackles of anyone looking for deep scares, but it is an absorbing suspense-drama that will at least keep you in your seat, if not the edge of it."