The Couch (1962): Cast & Plot
The Couch is a 1962 horror thriller directed by Owen Crump, starring Grant Williams as Charles Campbell, Onslow Stevens and Shirley Knight. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Owen Crump
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Couch About?
The premise of The Couch without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A daring plunge into the psyche of a killer, the film follows a charismatic psychopath who, between therapy sessions with his paternal‑like analyst, repeatedly contacts the police to warn them before he murders. The unsettling interplay creates a tense, psychological cat‑and‑mouse that probes the darkness of the human mind.
The Couch Themes & Keywords
· 19 tags- psychiatrist
- hospital
- psychopath
- stabbed to death
- telephone call
- attempted murder
- los angeles california
- ice pick
- psychotronic film
- prologue
- pay phone
- scene during opening credits
+7 more Show fewer
- street life
- slasher
- slasher horror
- killer
- therapy
- serial killer
- murder
The Couch Cast & Characters
Grant Williams leads the cast as Charles Campbell, with Onslow Stevens as Dr. W.L. Janz, M.D. and Shirley Knight as Terry Ames. Directed by Owen Crump; 16 actors are credited in all.
- Director Owen Crump
- Grant Williams as Charles Campbell
- Onslow Stevens as Dr. W.L. Janz, M.D.
- Shirley Knight as Terry Ames
-
Harold Gould as Hollingsworth
Also Starring in The Couch
· 12 more- Hal Smith Man Demonstrating Novelty Toys
- Dee Carroll Recovery Room Nurse (uncredited)
- Simon Scott Lt. Kritzman
- Jackie Searl Belmont
- Harry Holcombe District Attorney
- William Leslie Dr. David Lindsay
- Hope Summers Mrs. Quimby
- Tim Rooney Bobby (uncredited)
- Anne Helm Jean Quimby
- Ronnie Dapo Boy Watching Toy Demonstration
- Julie Van Zandt Edna (uncredited)
- Michael Bachus Sgt. Bonner
More from Owen Crump
More films directed by Owen Crump: One Who Came Back and Winning Your Wings.
The Couch Plot Summary
What happens in The Couch from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charles Campbell, Grant Williams, is a young man recently released on parole after a two-year prison term for rape, bound to daily psychiatric treatment with Dr. W.L. Janz, M.D. Onslow Stevens. He phones the police to announce that a murder will be committed at seven o’clock. At 7:00 p.m., he stabs a stranger on the streets with an icepick, then reports to his daily session with the doctor. When he meets the receptionist Terry, Shirley Knight cannot confirm the exact time because her watch is missing. Charles quietly returns the icepick to the bar in the doctor’s office, concealing his crime as he prepares for the next step in his disturbing pattern.
Full summary
The whole story of The Couch, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Couch?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the parolee Charles Campbell in the film?
Seen The Couch?
Movies Like The Couch
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Killer in the House, The Killing Floor and Killer Sofa.
The Couch FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Couch, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Couch?
The Couch runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was The Couch released?
The Couch was released on February 21, 1962.
Who directed The Couch?
The Couch was directed by Owen Crump.
More films by Owen Crump Who is in the cast of The Couch?
The Couch stars Grant Williams as Charles Campbell, Onslow Stevens as Dr. W.L. Janz, M.D. and Shirley Knight as Terry Ames, among 16 credited actors.
Does The Couch have a post-credit scene?
No. The Couch has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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