At an isolated house in Canada, Otto (August Schellenberg) and Sean pull up in a car in time to discover Sean's twin Michael has brutally murdered a young woman and crucified her on a tree in the backyard. Fifteen years later, Michael (Robin Ward) is safely locked away in the local sanitarium under the care of Dr. Clifford (Antony Parr). Michael's twin Sean (also Robin Ward) is married to beautiful Dale (Wendy Crewson) but the couple is broke. Michael is completely insane, insisting to a visiting Sean that he will someday be free. Sean decides to sell the house where the murder occurred, and he and Dale go there to clean it up. Otto stops by with his mouthy wife Molly (Deborah Grover). As Sean lies in bed, he "sees" his brother kill a sanitarium nurse by stabbing her with a crucifix. Dr. Clifford comes out to the house and warns Dale and Sean that Michael has indeed escaped. Michael heads for the house, murdering a man who picks him up along the way. The police arrive for ineffective protection, and the group board themselves in the house, readying against the murderous brother's return.
I have come to appreciate a good driving snowstorm, and how it can play on film- look at films like "Fargo" and "The Thing" (1982), where the wintry weather is a character all its own. "The Mark of Cain" has creepy cold Canadian landscapes that isolate characters and bring about suspense through the constant sound of wind at the abandoned house. Director Pittman does not do well with his characters. The character of Otto is assumed to be the twins' father, until we find out otherwise. The original murdered girl is never identified. Where are the boys' parents? There is a whole religious angle here that does not work at all. The boys were devout Catholics, and we know from movies that all Christians are sexually repressed wackos who are either looking for sinful nookie or fighting the devil. This unabashed bigotry is played out here as well. Could Michael be the devil? Dr. Clifford comes off as nuttier than his patient. Cross and crucifixion imagery abound, and it all signifies nothing. Pittman also drags out all the horror and suspense cliches. There is an obvious clue about the twins' difference, and the climax involves a character thought dead magically coming back to life. Even the lone shooting in the film makes no sense. Ward is better as the good Sean than the wild-eyed Michael. Crewson is pretty good as Dale, but you wish she would find the front door and leave the house. "The Mark of Cain" is based on a stage play of all things, and does not open up to film well. The setting aside, it is another slasher film that tries to be more with religious imagery and pop psychology. My younger brothers are identical twins, and they were more interesting when I had to change their diapers. Sean and Michael deserve each other, and no viewer deserves this. Also known as "Mark of Cain."
