The Last of Sheila (1973)

A year after the death of his wife Sheila in a hit-and-run, wealthy film producer Clinton invites a group of Hollywood insiders – a screenwriter, a director, a gossip columnist, an agent, and his own mistress – to spend a week aboard his yacht for a scavenger hunt. What seems like a lavish, leisurely game of revealing secrets and hidden resentments quickly escalates into a terrifying hunt for a killer, with Clinton manipulating his guests and the clues leading to deadly consequences. Each player harbors a dark secret connected to Sheila's death, making them all potential victims and suspects in a cleverly crafted mystery. Herbert Ross's direction in "The Last of Sheila" is masterful, utilizing the confined space of the yacht to heighten the tension and claustrophobia. The film expertly builds suspense, playing with the audience's expectations as the carefully constructed plot twists and turns, keeping viewers guessing until the final, shocking reveal. Ross's ability to elicit excellent performances from a stellar cast, including James Coburn, Dyan Cannon, and Raquel Welch, and his knack for creating an atmosphere of opulent dread makes "The Last of Sheila" a prime example of his skill, solidifying its place among his best work.