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4.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Get That Girl remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for grainy, old-school kidnappings and people shouting at each other in shadows. If you want high-concept thrills, skip it. If you enjoy digging through the bargain bin of history to find something that feels like a fever dream, you are in the right place.
The plot is exactly what you think it is. A girl gets nabbed, there is a spooky sanitarium, and the doctor is clearly working with a few loose screws. It moves fast, sometimes too fast, like the editor was trying to beat a train schedule.
The whole place feels like it was put together with plywood and bad intentions. It is haunted in a way that feels totally accidental. I kept staring at the background extras, who mostly just stand around looking confused. Did they even know they were in a movie?
There is a moment where the doctor is doing some sort of experiment, and the lighting is just... weird. It creates this harsh shadow over his face that makes him look like a cartoon villain. It is not subtle, but it is kind of great.
It is funny how this reminds me of the chaos in A Shocking Night. Both films have that same frantic energy where you can tell everyone on set was just trying to keep the lights on. The stunt work is surprisingly physical, though. Richard Talmadge definitely knows how to jump over a railing without breaking his neck.
One scene lingers on a hallway for way too long. It is just empty space for about ten seconds, and you start wondering if the actor forgot their line or if the camera guy just fell asleep. It’s weirdly hypnotic.
The movie is definitely not perfect. The audio dips in and out like it’s struggling to stay awake. You have to lean in close to catch half the dialogue. But does it matter? Maybe not. It has that raw, messy quality that makes you realize movies weren't always these sanitized, perfect things.
It doesn't have the polish of, say, The Arizona Express, but it has a weird personality. Sometimes, that is enough for me. 🎥