History Film / Tormented

[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tormenting_vi.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:330:Guess he really got a-''[[IncrediblyLamePun head!]]'']]

A 1960 "{{horror}}" film, directed by Creator/BertIGordon.

Jazz pianist Tom Stewart is engaged to rich girl Meg. Unfortunately for him, his [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive former flame Vi]] shows up intending to disrupt the nuptials. Fortunately for him, Vi meets him in a dilapidated old lighthouse; and when she falls through the rusted guardrail, he refuses to save her. Exit Vi. Problem solved.

Turns out Vi's spirit is [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle still hanging around]], "tormenting" Tom and still intent upon wrecking his wedding. Or, is it all in Tom's head?

Well, no, turns out it's ''Vi'''s head.

After about an hour of ghostly cat-and-mouse, a beatnik boater arrives and, [[HeKnowsTooMuch deducing what has happened to Vi]], begins to blackmail Tom, [[MurderIsTheBestSolution forcing him into action to protect his secret]]. This, however, is witnessed by Meg's little sister, Sandy. Tom is about to off Sandy as well, but Vi's ghost arrives and finally exacts her revenge.

For the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode see ''[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S04E14Tormented here]]''. Not to be confused with the 2009 British film of the same name.
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!!This film provides examples of:

* AntiVillain: Tom at least at first.
* ArcWords: "Tom Stewart killed me! Tom Stewart killed me!" A bit misleading, but "Tom Stewart stood there staring without lifting a finger while I pleaded for him to save my life!" doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
* AssholeVictim: Vi is a pretty much loathsome person that nobody really feels sorry for. The boater is much the same way, as he cares less about justice for Vi and more about getting blackmail money. It's hard to feel sorry for ''Tom'' as well, of course.
* BettyAndVeronica: Vi and Meg, though admittedly it doesn't last for long.
* BittersweetEnding: Tom is killed by falling from the lighthouse, which he kinda deserves... and after his and Vi's bodies are found, Vi's arm slumps over him possessively. The film closes on the newly-widowed Meg's horror and the mentally-scarred Sandy's tears.
* BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord: "The way I see it, you an' me... we should be ''partners''."
* BlindSeer: Kinda... The blind lady seems able to sense Vi on some level, but doesn't appear to realize she's a ghost until it nearly leads her to her death.
* BrokenPedestal: Sandy idolizes Tom. Then she goes into HeroicBSOD when she sees Tom commiting some evil acts.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Vi
* EvilLaugh: Vi.
* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: Tom ends up saying a near equivalent to this towards Sandy.
* HeKnowsTooMuch: Scuzzy beatnik boat guy and, eventually, Sandy.
* InformedAbility: Tom is allegedly a great jazz pianist. Allegedly.
* [[ISeeDeadPeople I See Dead People's Heads]]: And they won't shut up!
* ItWontTurnOff: The record player.
* KarmicDeath: Vi's ghost forces Tom to fall from the lighthouse to his death, in much the same manner as Tom had allowed Vi to fall to her death.
* KickTheDog: Subverted; Tom is about to kill Sandy, but instead dies his KarmicDeath.
* LighthousePoint: Most of the film's events revolve around the old lighthouse.
* LosingYourHead: Vi.
* MsFanservice: Vi is ''very'' curvy, and while her body may not be in the film for long, [[MaleGaze the director makes the most of it.]]
* MurderByInaction: In the opening of the film, Vi falls off the railing without any intent by Tom... though technically, it's not an accident as Tom chose not to save her.
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Tom keeps arriving at this conclusion when a number of simpler ones would have availed him before going this far.
* NeverMyFault: Tom spends the majority of the film trying to convince himself he was in no way responsible for Vi's death.
* OhNoNotAgain: Vi's method of haunting Tom has a parallel with a story of a previous tenant the blind lady tells Tom about. A boy and dog drowned nearby, and from then on, his parents felt seawater in his bedroom and could hear his voice along with the dog's barking.
* OneWordTitle
* OurGhostsAreDifferent: They're just heads, for one thing.
* ParentalMarriageVeto: Meg's dad does ''not'' approve of jazz pianists, and blames the ruined wedding ceremony on Tom despite the obviously supernatural goings-on.
* PrecociousCrush: Sandy to Tom.
-->'''Tom (to Sandy):''' All right; from now on, you're the other woman in my life!
* RailingKill: Vi, and almost the blind seeress.
* SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll: Tom is convinced that his relationship with Vi will ruin his career.
* StringyHairedGhostGirl: Vi doesn't have the look, but she's got the methods.
* TitleDrop: The record in the record player, which is "Tormented".
* TogetherInDeath: Vi and Tom. At the {{Denouement}}, when their bodies are discovered and laid side by side on the beach, her arm drapes itself around him and sports Meg's previously lost wedding ring. Whether or not that's what Tom wanted is something Vi didn't care about.
* TotallyRadical: The hepcat freaky beatnik and his hip lingo.
* UnfinishedBusiness: Vi is "tormenting" Tom in order to get revenge for her death.
* VerbedTitle
* TheVoiceless: Ghost Vi until she found her voice, and at that point Tom was even more tormented. "Tom Stewart killed me!"
* {{Yandere}}: Vi still pines for Tom even after he's responsible for her death and remains just as determined to have him while keeping him away from another woman.

* BittersweetEnding: Tom is killed by falling from the lighthouse, which he kinda deserves...and after his and Vi's bodies are found, Vi's arm slumps over him possessively. The film closes on the newly-widowed Meg's horror and the mentally-scarred Sandy's tears.

* BlindSeer: Kinda...The blind lady seems able to sense Vi on some level, but doesn't appear to realize she's a ghost until it nearly leads her to her death.