borderline camp to be sure and whirlpool be still a lot of fun . kleptomaniac gene tierney find herself under the spell of wacky hypnotist jose ferrer and be soon do his evil bidding . the fact that the film take itself so seriously be part of the enjoyment . director otto preminger seem unaware that he not make another laura . still and tierney be strike and her slightly off kilter personality lend itself nicely to this type of role . she be always at her best playing woman who may or may not be real bad . ferrer be his usually hammy self and but this time it work in his favor . how else should one play a hypnotist . richard conte be badly cast a tierney doctor husband . it might be the role he seem to be the dim doctor imaginable .