Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?

Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?
Directed by	Curtis Harrington
Produced by	James H. Nicholson Samuel Z. Arkoff
Written by	David D. Osborn Robert Blees James Sangster Gavin Lambert (additional dialogue)
Starring	Shelley Winters Mark Lester Chloe Franks Ralph Richardson Lionel Jeffries
Music by	Kenneth V. Jones
Cinematography	Desmond Dickinson
Edited by	Tristram Cones
Production company	Hemdale
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date	1971
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? is a 1971 British horror-thriller film directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Ralph Richardson, Shelley Winters and Mark Lester. Like What's the Matter with Helen? (both films were included in MGM Midnite Movies Double Feature, and Winters requested that Harrington direct the picture) and better-known films such as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte, it is one of the many films in the Grande Dame Guignol genre.

Mrs. Forrest, in the eyes of the staff and children at an orphanage, is a sweet, kind-mannered and children-loving widow, who throws a lavish annual Christmas party at her mansion, Forrest Grange (known to the orphans as the "Gingerbread House") for ten of the best-mannered children at the orphanage. But secretly, she is a demented, sad and miserable woman who keeps the mummified remains of her daughter Katharine in a nursery room in the attic, singing lullabies to her and trying to contact her spirit with the assistance of (phony) psychic Mr. Benton. He fools Forrest into believing that the voice of Clarine, one of the servants, during the fake séances is that of Katharine.

Christopher and Katy Coombs are orphaned brother and sister. Christopher has a wild imagination, telling stories about dragons and witches that frighten the other orphans. When he and his sister are not included in the list of ten orphans for the Christmas party at Auntie Roo's mansion, he and Katy sneak into the car of Inspector Willoughby, who transfers the orphans to Forrest Grange, and are warmly welcomed by Auntie Roo. Auntie Roo is surprised to see the resemblance of her daughter Katharine to Katy, and becomes more and more focused on her. Katy is missing as the party ends and the other orphans leave. Auntie Roo promises to find her and send her back. Christopher realizes that Katy is not just missing, but was kidnapped by Auntie Roo. Meanwhile, Albie, the young, sadistic butler, discovers that Auntie Roo has Katy locked in the nursery room. He blackmails her into giving him £2,000 by threatening to reveal her secret to the police unless she pays to keep him quiet. After this, he and Clarine depart from the mansion and leave her alone with Katy.