Trauma (1962)

Directed and written by Robert M. Young, Trauma is a moody, low-budget psychological thriller that blends Gothic atmosphere with amnesia-driven mystery. Though largely forgotten today, it’s a compelling entry in the early 1960s wave of domestic suspense films, echoing tones from Diabolique and Carnival of Souls.

Plot Summary
Emmaline Garrison (Lorrie Richards) is a young woman haunted by a traumatic event from her teenage years: the drowning of her aunt Helen (Lynn Bari) in the family estate’s swimming pool. The shock causes Emmaline to lose all memory of her life up to that moment.

Six years later, now married to Helen’s former lover Warren Clyner (John Conte), Emmaline returns to the estate to start anew. But as she reconnects with the past, disturbing memories resurface—including the murder of her friend Lily and the presence of a mentally unstable relative. A mysterious painting, a hidden blueprint, and a caretaker’s nephew all play roles in unraveling the truth behind the murders.

Cast Highlights

• Lorrie Richards as Emmaline Garrison
• John Conte as Warren Clyner
• David Garner as Craig Schoonover (the architect who spots a key clue)
• Lynn Bari as Helen Garrison
• Bond Blackman, Warren Kemmerling, and William Justine in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• This was Robert M. Young’s only directorial credit before moving on to writing and producing, including work on Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
• The film’s opening credits appear 15 minutes in, after the first murder—a rare structural choice for its time
• The story spans six years, with flashbacks and memory loss used to build suspense
• The film features a mentally challenged and hidden brother subplot, adding layers of Gothic melodrama