The Snorkel (what a terrible title!) starts out in a very Columbo- ish way. We SEE the killer committing his murder, and exactly how he does it. The rest of the film follows two threads - one is his young step-daughter, gradually piecing together the puzzle; while the other are all the adult authority figures suppressing and threatening her.
So the film is both a murder mystery, plus an "uncaring adults vs. poor child" story. It's well-done, well-acted, and has some tense moments. It is emphatically NOT a horror story, but it is interesting enough for what it is.
One reviewer opined that the snorkel system used by the killer would not work, because no one could breath through a hose 10 feet long (which is about what he has in the film). However the film specifically shows that he has TWO hoses - presumably one for intake, and one for outgo, which would, indeed work effectively. Though the film doesn't harp on it. It is just shown without comment.
Peter van Eyck does a good job as the villain, and Mandy Miller as the daughter is a surprisingly good actress for a 13 year old kid.
So the film is both a murder mystery, plus an "uncaring adults vs. poor child" story. It's well-done, well-acted, and has some tense moments. It is emphatically NOT a horror story, but it is interesting enough for what it is.
One reviewer opined that the snorkel system used by the killer would not work, because no one could breath through a hose 10 feet long (which is about what he has in the film). However the film specifically shows that he has TWO hoses - presumably one for intake, and one for outgo, which would, indeed work effectively. Though the film doesn't harp on it. It is just shown without comment.
Peter van Eyck does a good job as the villain, and Mandy Miller as the daughter is a surprisingly good actress for a 13 year old kid.