THE MANITOU 1978 on Blu

    After directing the nature-on-a-rampage classics GRIZZLY 1976 and DAY OF THE ANIMALS along the blacksploitation EXORCIST homage ABBEY (which was sued into oblivion by Warner Bros.) William Gridler got his change at the big time with this 1978 Native American occult/mysticism bizarre oddity. 

   Based upon a book by Graham Masterton, it was distributed by Avco Embassy and tragically Gridler would die in a helicopter accident just prior to the film's release. Often derided and mocked the film while no doubt having its share of WTF moments features a great cast with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg (SCREAM OF FEAR), Burgess Meredith (THE SENTINEL), Ann Southern (THE KILLING KIND), Lurene Tuttle (WALKING TALL) and Stella Stevens (SLAUGHTER) with Curtis in giving one of his better later period performances as a sleazy medium. Despite of some fleeting nudity from Strasberg and some prosthetic gore the film carried a PG rating and is a wonderful example of how much you could get away with in the 70's and still fall short of an R. It's crazy plot will either grab you from the get-go or leave you scratching your head in puzzlement, but for fans of 70's horror it's a must.

   Shot in Panavision and 2 track stereo with a budget of $3,000,000 it was quite a step up for Gridler and while not a great film, it's certainly an interesting curio from a great decade for screen horror. Strasberg plays a woman who notice's a strange growth on her back which turns out to be an Indian spirit in the form of a growing fetus which hopes to possess her body. Filled with mentions of ESP, spiritualism, mysticism and Native American folklore it certainly takes a different track then a straight up horror film and can be looked as a sort of a mash-up between ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE EXORCIST and THE FURY and CARRIE.

    Scream Factory's Blu-ray of MANITOU despite of the packaging does contain the Dolby 2.0 stereo tracks in addition to the 2.0 mono and with a 4K restoration looks fine with bright colors as the studio bound interior stuff looking especially eye-popping. Extras include a commentary by Troy Howarth, an interview with producer Davis Sheldon and a nice long interview with Masterton along with the usual trailer TV spots and image gallery. 

THE EVIL 1978 On Blu

    On Sept. 18 Scream Factory will release this 1978 late night cable staple on Blu-ray. Directed by Gus Trikonis who had an interesting career in early 70's exploitation including THE SWING BARMAIDS (1975). NASHVILLE GIRL (1976), THE STUDENT BODY (1976) and MOONSHINE COUNTY EXPRESS (1977) it was probably seen by him a move forward into more mainstream projects (he was also a co-writer on the screenplay). Barely released theatrically by New World it showed up constantly on late night TV during the 80's and its video box would haunt the shelves of mom & pop video store everywhere.
   Starring Richard Crenna (FIRST BLOOD), Joanna Pettet (A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS) and 70's horror mainstay Andrew Prine (ANDREW KING OF WITCHES & BARN OF THE NAKED DEAD) it features the standard plot of group of people trapped in a house with unsavory past, but the film does add some different elements to proceedings and the characters back stories. Going into some real bizarre territory in its finale (complete with an unforgettable cameo by Victor Buono) the film has always been somewhat unfairly maligned.
   Previously available from Shout on a dbl. feature DVD with TWICE DEAD the new Blu will feature a new 2K scan from the only surviving elements along with an audio commentary with Trikonis, write Donald G. Thompson and director of photography Mario Di Leo moderated by Walter Olsen (ported over from the DVD) plus a trailer and TV spot.