Badmovies.org Forum

I am pretty sure that all of you have heard me talk about Andy Milligan before. I just finished watching his 1967 film THE GHASTLY ONES, and let me tell you it is a movie!

THE GHASTLY ONES is about three couples going to a mansion on an island to recieve an inheritence. The house is inhabited by two old maids and a hunchback. Soon, people are getting killed one by one and nobody knows whose doing it. Everybody is killed via pitchforkings in the neck, sawed in half, heads on patters, haingings, knifings, etc. You name the deaths, and they are there! Filmed on Milligan's trusty 16mm Acurion camera, this was the third feature Milligan made for Jerry Balsam's J.E.R. Pictures, Inc. The other two were THE DEGENERATES and DEPRAVED! (both 1967). All three were on a budget of $10,000 (not bad, Andy). Though THE DEGENERATES and DEPRAVED! are now "lost", THE GHASTLY ONES has survived obscurity. In fact, J.E.R. later re-issued THE GHASTLY ONES in 1971 on a double bill with their release of THE HEADLESS EYES! In 1978, Milligan remade THE GHASTLY ONES as LEGACY OF HORROR and though it has better camerawork and is more professionaly made, THE GHASTLY ONES is much better.

What makes Milligan's films work is that his films are more based on reality than fiction. His films have characters who victimize each other and in the end it becomes disasterous for all who are involved. The rich hate the poor and middle class, the rich become to greedy and in the end they all get it in death. In other words, Milligan reveals the truth about society and how society has changed and turned people into dispicable bastards who are rude as hell to everybody else. And the amazing thing is, that is how society is today! Believe me, I have experienced it. I have been involved with people who are rude with pride and act as if they are the ones who are "inteligent". And I am talking about regular, American people too! Basicaly, Milligan's films depict the gritty realism in reality and are not cheesy, sugarcoated, in "black and white" features that are made by Disney or Steven Speilberg.

Milligan's films are now getting the respect they deserve. In fact their is a book agbout Milligan called, of all titles, THE GHASTLY ONE. And I am told it is a real shocking book that talks about this man's films and his life! Now if I can just get a copy of it...

Questions or comments anyone?

Haven't seen Ghastly Ones in a while, but I did re-watch Bloodthirsty Butchers recently. I had a splitting migraine at the time. And you know, if you're already in physical agony -- Milligan's movies aren't half bad!

By the by, you might enjoy this:

Ghastly Article

Yes, i've heard of the Ghastly Ones in my Cult Flicks/trash picks movie guide. The film & Milligan sound very interesting. Do you know any companies that sell a decently priced version of the Ghastly?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Keith at Cinefear has one of the largest Milligan selections available. He also knows the people putting out the new book.

Cinefear's Milligan Collection