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Messiah Of Evil
AKA Revenge Of The Screaming Dead, Dead People
Directed By Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz
Released: 1973
Starring: Marianna Hill, Michael Greer, Joy Bang, and Anitra Ford
Running Time: 90 minutes
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Arletty Lang (played by Marianna Haill) comes to Point Dune to find her
father, the painter Joseph Lang (Royal Dano), whom she has lost
communication with. Once home, she enters her father’s seemingly abandoned
home and begins to read his journal which appears to be the ramblings of a
madman. Arletty meets Thom (Michael Greer), also a stranger to the town, and
together they begin to piece together what is happening to the inhabitants
of Point Dune who are becoming increasingly deranged and zombie-like.
From Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (the writing/directing team behind
Howard The Duck (!)) comes
Messiah Of Evil,
a film that inspires the question: “What the damn hell am I watching?” but
in a good way. From its robust opening song to its vanishing point
denouement, this is a cult horror film from start to finish. A plot like an
incomplete dream, tricked out camerawork, weirdo characters (proto-David
Lynchian), frantically cryptic dialogue, staccato editing, colorful
lighting, and very creative set design, all work in the favor of this
bizarre film.
The feeling of dread is so heavy that scenes in normal places (a gas
station, a movie theater, even a grocery store) seem ominous from the start
and almost always erupt into horror. Themes of death, transformation, and
unholy prophecy permeate the air and infuse a skeletal storyline with almost
too much meaning (what meaning?) for a cheap horror flick. And even the
synthesizer-based soundtrack tosses yet another even more surreal layer onto
the fire.
What a cast! The captivating Marianna Hill (The
Baby,
High Plains Drifter) is perfect for
the lead in this ultra strange romp. Michael Greer is suitably low key and
sleazy as Mr. Enunciation himself: Thom. There is also some lovely eye candy
from both Joy Bang (Night Of The Cobra
Woman) and Anitra Ford (The
Big Bird Cage,
Invasion Of The Bee Girls)
as the bitchy Toni and Laura. Royal Dano (Spaced
Invaders,
Something Wicked This Way Comes) is
perfect as the mad painter, Joseph Lang. And Elisha Cook Jr. (Rosemary’s
Baby,
Salem’s Lot) delivers yet another
nutjob character without breaking a sweat.
Messiah Of Evil feels like
something out of a fever dream (cross-eyed albino!). The rule when it comes
to 70s horror movies: when in doubt, go strange. Although it would be a damn
shame if this film never gets restored, the el cheapo DVD editions can’t
keep this atmosphere-aplenty horrific delight down. True, there is some very
stiff acting in places and the nutty narration runs a little long but the
overall film is excellently outlandish. I highly recommend
Messiah Of Evil
for any fan of weirdo horror films. I truly regret not tracking this one
down years ago.
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Quotes:
“I remember my father saying that you’re about to awaken when you dream
that you’re dreaming.”
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