DEVIL TIMES FIVE (1974)

[The Burgomaster]

I just bought this Code Red DVD and, sorry folks, this may be a "cult classic" but I wasn't impressed.  For a movie about psychotic killer kids to be effective, the kids need to be scary . . . and need to be good actors.  Nothing of the sort here, I'm afraid.

The story is about a group of people at a ski lodge who are terrorized and killed by five kids who were patients at an insane asylum (one of them is young Leif Garrett before he became a teen idol and eventually a co-host of True TV reality shows).  The first hour or so of the movie plods along at a dull pace . . . it has the look and feel of a 1970s television movie-of-the-week thriller.  In fact, if they had cut out about 3 or 4 minutes of nudity and violence, this could have been a TV movie.

There are a few interesting scenes (including a woman in a bathtub being attacked by piranha fish), but it takes too long to get to these scenes . . . and there aren't enough of them to make this movie worthwhile.

The Code Red DVD uses the DEVIL TIMES FIVE title on the boxcover, but the opening credits of the movie use the alternate HORRIBLE HOUSE ON THE HILL title.  (The DEVIL TIMES FIVE opening title card is available in the special features section of the DVD).

And, yes, that is Sorrell Booke in the theatrical trailer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSov_1URxH0
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[Javakoala]

Personally, I liked this movie.  Okay, it isn't top quality, but it is refreshing to see them paint the kids in such dark colors.  I don't like kids, and this is my evidence that they can be pure evil with a candy coating. In fact, I'll even plug my review here:  Devil Times Five Review

Nice trivia:  Leif Garrett and the little dark-haired girl are brother and sister and the lady who gets chewed by piranha is their mother, in real life.  The extras on the Code Red DVD are worth watching.  You also find out why the film isn't quite what it could have been due to the writers and directors.

[hellbilly]

Much love for this one. Devil Times Five made my personal top 100 Best Bad Movies ever and shall remain there forever 

I always try to watch it with Bloody Birthday (1981) and The Pit (1981), two more favorite killer kid flicks.

[lester1/2jr]

I liked it too.  my review

"4.5 stars alot of the conventions of the horror movie hadn't yet been ironed out by 1974, for better or worse, so you'd have every right to wonder what in the world is going on until about halfway through this. slowly it begins to reveal itself with some disturbing "The Baby" type weirdness : an attractive brunette attempts to seduce a mentally handicapped man, a little boy comments on how well a dress goes with his eyes and appears to be propositioning a middle aged man. All of the suddent it gets rather potent rather quickly. scary kids!"

[Skull]

It has several freaking themes within the story... :)

[Javakoala]

It has several freaking themes within the story... :)

They had to work this theme in due to Leif moving on to another role after principle shooting and had his hair cut rather short for the new role.  He was called back to reshoot some scenes (again, evidence of a monkeyed-up production) and had to wear a wig.  In case anyone noticed the changes, they worked this cross-dressing nonsense in, but Lief made such a pretty little girl.

[Skull]

It has several freaking themes within the story... :)

They had to work this theme in due to Leif moving on to another role after principle shooting and had his hair cut rather short for the new role.  He was called back to reshoot some scenes (again, evidence of a monkeyed-up production) and had to wear a wig.  In case anyone noticed the changes, they worked this cross-dressing nonsense in, but Lief made such a pretty little girl.

Hmmmmmm... from what I understood the original version was 40 minutes long and they had to add 48 more minutes to make it a feature film... Also the cross-dressing really makes Leif really creepy... :)


Here is my review:

http://forums.myspace.com/t/3768703.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewthread

[bladerunnerblues]

My favorite part is when the retarded fellow talks to his rabbits"They play silly games,take your pants down....".

My brother likes the little black kid that thinks he's a soldier("Hot damn!I got me a knife.")