THE ELECTRIC CHAIR (1972)

[The Burgomaster]

This is on the same DVD with the movie AXE (from "Something Weird Video").  

This is one of those VERY low budget, regional movies (filmed in the rural south) that probably played at drive-in theaters during the 1970s.  And, boy, is it bad.

Here is the story:  A minister and his mistress are murdered.  You get to see a little blood (very fake), and then about 90% of the rest of the movie takes place in a courtroom where some terrible actors try to convince us that they are the judge, jury, attorneys, etc.

The courtroom scenes go on and on and are very boring.  The dialogue, direction, and film editing are terrible.  There are a few reaction shots that don't even match what is happening.

The only redeeming parts of the movie are 2 scenes of people going to the electric chair.  They show these scenes in a lot of detail and it seems like the director actually did a some research about executions in order to add some realism to these scenes.  The only thing that messes it up is when the executioner pulls the switch, sparks that look like they are coming from someone's 4th of July sparklers shoot out of the top of the skull cap on the prisoner's head.

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen (probably the 2nd worst, right behind CURSE OF THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN . . . which I also have on a "Something Weird" DVD!)

I hope AXE is better . . .

[Scott]

I know even SOMETHING STRANGE VIDEO has a couple turkeys. I think you will have better luck with AXE. Those double DVD's  usually have at least one that isn't bad (bad as in boring i mean).

[Menard]

Isn't AXE also callled THE CALIFORNIA AXE MASSACRE or something like that?

[The Burgomaster]

Menard:

According to IMDB, the movie AXE actually has 4 alternate titles:

* LISA, LISA
* THE AXE MURDERS
* THE CALIFORNIA AXE MURDERS
* THE CALIFORNIA AXE MASSACRE

When a movie has that many alternate titles, you know it MUST be bad!  I can't wait to watch it this weekend.  My understanding is that it is only about 68 minutes long . . . forget plot and character development . . . go straight to the killing!

[Menard]

I've seen it before. If you look at it from the standpoint of being something just to watch and don't have high expectations, it may come off as being just decent. If it is approached from the aspect of the way they advertised it, being along the lines of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, disappointment is at hand.