Euripides pared to the essentials. Not one word, not one gesture is wasted. Nor is there ever an iota more than necessary.
A stark, spare study of despair in a sun blasted landscape that seems to watch over the pathetic efforts of humans with equal measures of timeless indifference and utter contempt. The characters in the story, the actors on the screen, and we in audience know what will happen next; but we are all powerless to prevent it. It is so intense that it makes Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ seem almost frivolous.
It takes five minutes for the first two words of dialogue to be spoken. ‘Strike him!’ Everything flows from that line. Another ten minutes of near silence passes before Electra appears. Her back to the camera, she turns to look over her shoulder – electricity is discharged. 
The audience gasps. Nothing is said but the implacable will is communicated. Nothing good is going to happen next.
It is almost a silent movie. They certainly have faces, to paraphrase Gloria Graham from ‘Sunset Boulevard.’ By looks, by camera angles, by gestures, by the tensing of shoulders, the widening of eyes, make-up, fine photography, tight cutting, and very few words the tragedy unfolds.
It is always about Electra, to be sure, and Irene Pappas is a force of nature on the screen. She says little but each move, gesture, look, and word is supercharged.
Recommended for adults.
This poster and DVD cover does not convey anything of the depth of the film. A black and white imagine would be better than this bleached representation, but nonetheless here it is.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055950/