Overrated

Absolutely Fantastic

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

If you ever want to drive somebody temporarily crazy, try speaking to them in the loudest or deepest voice whisper, that you can muster. It's especially effective if they have a slight hangover and is more effective than nails down a chalkboard. That's the effect of Lon Chaney Jr. in the series of psychological thrillers that Universal made six of in the mid 1940's. Back then, they were considered creative in the technical achievements they helped advance, practically film noir like, but the plots are over the top, melodramatic and often silly. This entry starts off with promise but then quickly becomes a twisted example of hatred and bigotry. One note Chaney is a college professor who marries the exotic Anne Gwynne much to the chagrin of the bitchy Evelyn Bankers. This could have been called "Voodoo Woman" (to play on a double bill with Monogram's "Voodoo Man", released the same year), for that is the subject of this entry. It's a fairly decent programmer featuring a great supporting cast (aming them Ralph Morgan, Elisabeth Risdon and Elizabeth Russell) as the uppity college faculty and their spouses who are polite on the surface towards Gwynne but consider her "weird". I find it funny that co-eds have crushes on Chaney, and some of the college kids look as if they should have graduated years before.As the intrigue grows over Gwynne's presence on campus (including a sudden death where another character starts repeating to Chaney and Gwynne over and over, "Murderer!"), the script just melts down into silly serial like antics. Chaney discovers Gwynne with her voodoo gadgets and this leads to an apparent subterfuge against the new bride. As Chaney continues to whisper (while hitting a punching bag and visualizes jungle drums), the plot takes wilder twists, with Elizabeth Russell (the nasty aged wife in "The Corpse Vanishes") ranting and raving at Gwynne and acting quite ridiculous. This just becomes laughable by the last two reels, and from there descends quickly down. The civilized women prove themselves to be far weirder than Gwynne, completely missing the point of the title.

I have to say, I'm a big fan of these Inner Sanctum mysteries. For the most part, they are better than average--I would even say they are excellent little chillers & "Weird Woman" is one of the best.Lon Chaney--taking a respite from his monster roles--gets a rare opportunity at being a leading man. Some will debate whether Chaney had the looks or the ability to play such parts, but I think he did an excellent job with nearly all the Inner Sanctum roles he was given. Of course, I'm a big fan of Lon since my early childhood--so maybe my opinion is a little biased.Chaney seemed to want more of these leading man type roles during this point in his career, but seemed to get mostly typecast as a "horror man" which may have attributed to some of his personal demons--not to mention the shadow of his late father. Of course, those horror roles for which he was typed led to Lon becoming immortal for generations of fans--moreso than probably a lot of the guys who were playing romantic leads during Chaney's career.Getting back to "Weird Woman", Anne Gwynne was always one of my favorite 1940s beauties, Evelyn Ankers is as pretty as ever--not to mention diabolical--and the supporting cast for this picture may be the best assembled for any of the Inner Sanctum films (Strange Confession boasts a first rate cast as well).Overall--if you're a Lon Chaney fan or just a fan of the old Universal classics in general--then I would say all 6 of the Inner Sanctum mysteries are required viewing.8.5 out of 10....

These Inner Sanctum stories that Lon Chaney, Jr. starred in over at Universal Pictures are the only ones out there where he actually gets the girl. He usually didn't star in parts that called for him getting the girl. But not only does he get the girl in this case Anne Gwynne, but he's got women falling all over the place for him including Evelyn Ankers, Elizabeth Russell, and even the Dean of Women in the college where Chaney plays an archeology professor Elizabeth Risdon gives him the old fish eye.Chaney tells this one in flashback as he describes bringing home a bride from the South Seas. It's Gwynne who is the daughter of a colleague, but was raised by the witch practitioner on the island and taught all the voodoo tricks of the trade. Not exactly material to be in the faculty wives club.Anyway Chaney gives the air to Evelyn Ankers and Evelyn ain't about to take being dumped lying down.No use in going through the rest of the film as bad things start happening to folks around the campus. It's pretty obvious who's responsible. In a camp sort of way Weird Woman is a whole lot of fun.

This second entry in the "Inner Sanctum" mystery series isn't quite as hauntingly gloomy and at the same time cruelly realistic as the first one, "Calling Dr. Death" - but it's certainly filled to the brim with jealousy, Shakespeare's 'green-eyed monster', that can bring MUCH more evil to people than any other feeling...It all starts when good-natured, popular and successful college professor Reed returns from a South Sea Island trip - with a brand new wife, a white girl that was brought up with the Polynesian superstitions; and although Reed is a strong believer in reason and has written whole books against superstition, he can't get Paula to give up her belief in those voodoo-like traditions... And his friends (most of all Ilona, his former girlfriend) see her as a dangerous intruder into the 'peaceful' world of Monroe College - and as a witch! And soon, tragic events start happening that seem to confirm everyone's suspicions about Paula - or perhaps there's ANOTHER kind of 'witch' at work here? Although it's a little bit over the top at some points, "Weird Woman" certainly gives us a VERY clear and merciless picture about what disasters negative emotions can create - and it also gives Evelyn Ankers, Lon Chaney Jr.'s co-star once more, a chance to show a QUITE different shade of her acting range; probably one of her best performances ever, along with an overall brilliant cast. A 'weird' picture maybe - but surely a MOST suspenseful and fascinating one!