------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall Rating : 6/10
Directed By : William Girdler
Tont Curtis (The Boston Strangler)
Susan Strasberg (Bloody Birthday)
Burgess Meredith (Batman -1966 (TV) )
Stella Stevens (The Granny)
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Feb. 27, 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PLOT What surgeons thought to be a tumor growing on the neck of patient Karen Tandy is actually a fetus growing at an abnormally accelerated rate. But when Karen reaches out to former lover and phony psychic Harry Erskine, he discovers that she is possessed by the reincarnation of a 400-year old Native American demon. Now with the help of a modern-day medicine man, Erskine must survive this ancient evil’s rampage of shocking violence, and forever destroy the enraged beast known as THE MANITOU. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| THE REVIEW In 1978's THE MANITOU, a phony psychic named Harry Erskine, whom actually should be labeled a conman, goes up against an evil force in which he has never seen. His former Girlfriend Karen has developed a growth on her neck that seems to be growing bigger as each hour passes, concerned she visits the hospital. The head doctor at the hospital, despite being the best at his craft, has never seen anything like the growth protruding from the neck of Karen - as it appears to be a fetus of some sort. An operation is later held to remove the strange growth, but as the Doctor attempts to cut at it, an un seen force, makes the Doctor turn the instrument on himself - and now it seems as if an evil spirit has taken over Karen unexplainably. With the Doctor's not being much help to his fallen friend Harry rounds up a few psychic friends, to performa a seance at Karen's home and the results are startling to them. They conjure up the voice of a spirit to be that of 400 year old Native American spirit, it seems as if this spirit is being reborn in Karen. As more information comes across, the group reads of a Native American myth, the old myth starts that Native American Medicine men, their spirits are immortal, and when they die physically, their spirit will harbor and grow inside any random, man, woman, child, or animal until it is reborn - but unfortunately it's host would die after the "birth". Fearing that Karen will die, at the suggestion of the author of the book that told of the myth, Dr. Snow - Harry enlists the help of another medicine man, to "fight fire with fire" as he called it. And with that, he finds John Singing Rock, a local Medicine man, who is wise of the old legend, but at first he is hesitant to help any outsider. Eventually he agrees to fight the spirit we come to know as Misquamacas, the most powerful medicine man in Native American history. Based on the novel by Graham Masterton, and also real life occurrences the plot for THE MANITOU, is at first glance seems utterly unbelievable and ridiculous, but as it progresses, so somehow find yourself drawn to it. The idea of a human fetus growing in one's neck is understandably hard to believe in the first place, and even more ridiculous are the reasons given for the growth later in the film, which ends with a finale laced with early sci-Fi effects that really set you back and make you realize just how filmmaking and effects have improved since this film was made. Director William Girdler, tries to shock the audience via many instances in the film, including the head of Misquamacas emerging through the top of the table during the seance, and also more than one scene in which the actors seem to be blown back by the incredible force of the spirit, but perhaps the one moment that tries to be the films most innovative sequence is when Misquamacas, is actually breaking out, of the womb..... that I must admit is quit memorable. But as with most films of this era, I can't help but to see these shocks as innocent, sure they may have been some flashy spectacle back in '78 but, when put against today's standards, the film itself is quite tame. The acting here is average at best, but I could not help but to have a liking to Mr. Tony Curtis. Known for a variety of roles, he has portrayed over the years, but not really for his Horror ones, some may not agree with me, but I believe Curtis does well here as Harry Erskine, for the material given The character is really likeable and genuine even funny in the beginning portions of the film - but as the film comes closer to the end Erskine becomes a determined man, one that we in the end want to see succeed in his mission, Susan Strasberg, as Karen Tandy, although Karen is the host of the fetus/spirit, her acting talents, isn't fully displayed as she for the most part is speaking in a demonic voice ala THE EXORCIST, another 70's era film. I did enjoy the cameo by Burgess Meredith(The Penguin from the 60's TV version of BATMAN), as Dr. Snow, as he nails the role with wit and charm, the role didn't call for much so he did not over do it, he was straight to the point. As for John Singing Rock, I can't say that the character is 100% believable but Michael Ansara, does a decent job showing how, a man once of confidence can suddenly be weakened once faced with a greater power they believe to be bigger than themselves. To tell the truth, THE MANITOU is not the greatest of films but it's story is likely one you will remember once you have seen it, for some reason or another. I really liked the film as it's not really a shocking one, but rather one of those feel good classic Horror stories (think of POLTERGEIST if you will.). |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| GORE
METER 3/10 Not really all that gory, it isn't actually displayed on screen but we do see the aftermath(i.e blood splatter etc). There is a subtle decapitation, but as mentioned the most memorable possibly squeamish part(to some), would be the emerging from the womb. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 The score is very beneficial to the film, as it enriches scenes that would be rather dry without any backing tunes This one was helmed by great composer Lalo Schifrin, although this score is great, it's certainly not his best. |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM THE MANITOU really is an off the wall story about something that supposedly really has happened to people(although I have never seen it personally). Is THE MANITOU a film that in the end makes you fully believe of it's content? No, but the story, although tongue in cheek at times and quite adventurous, in that it keeps you interested and watching just to see how it unfolds. This DVD will released on March 6, 2007 |
||||
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||
| STILLS | ||||
|
