I didn't realize that this had been released on DVD, but I saw it in Best Buy today and grabbed myself a copy. Hey, what am I doing sitting here writing this? I have to go watch it! Bless you, Ray Dennis Steckler!
Now, that's a title! Please let us know how the movie is.
honestly, I love the title, but I heard the movie sucks. It was even on MST3K. I vaugely remember watching it when I was a kid.
The movie is extremely boring. It's about a carnival fortune teller who hypnotizes people, throws acid in their faces, and keeps them locked in a cage. Unfortunately, most of the movie's running time consists of showgirls doing ridiculous song-and-dance routines. The best parts of the DVD are:
* Intro and commentary by Joe Bob Briggs;
* Interview and commentary by the director/star Ray Dennis Steckler;
* Interview with co-star Carolyn Brandt;
* The fact that the movie was photographed by Vilmos Zsigmond and Laszlo Kovacs, who later went on to become two of the top cinematographers in the world.
Interesting facts (PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU INTEND TO WATCH THE "EXTRA FEATURES" ON THE DVD - I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL IT FOR YOU!!!!!):
* The movie was made on a budget of $38,000;
* Most of the movie was shot inside an old Masonic Temple decorated to look like a carnival;
* They filmed all of the dance routines in one or two takes each, and finished them all in one day! (Which explains why the dancers are usually out of step with one another);
* The working title of the movie was THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES or HOW I STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME A MIXED-UP ZOMBIE. Stanley Kubrick filed a lawsuit because he was making DR. STRANGELOVE or HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB and he thought Steckler's title was too similar. Steckler had to change the words "or how I" to "who" in order to avoid the lawsuit.
Post Edited (09-26-04 15:59)
Dear GOD no! This is one of the worst movies ever, even MST3k couldn't save this turd....ORTEGA!
This is a rough one, up there with MANOS but a Joe Bob commentary makes this one worth looking into---his commentary made JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER watchable and even interesting. I like how even though he cracks jokes here and there he usually seems sincerely interested in these films, no matter how bad they are. I like some MST3K but I can also see why a lot of other bad movie fans don't like them--it seemed like for the most part they weren't really fans of the films--sometimes they got a little mean-spirited and it seemed like it was more about "let's make fun of these stupid movies" instead of enjoying them for what they were.
I would say that real bad movie fans watch the movies without MST3K, but I don't know if I can handle some of these titles without Joe Bob so never mind.....
How much is it?
Definitely gonna need to get this. I know it's a bad, bad movie, but I've got a definite soft spot for this one: I dig the grungy carnival vibe, and the loopy/greasy characters. Maybe I've just got a thing for Steckler's movies; I also have a deep, abiding love for Rat Pfink A Boo Boo. The commentaries by Steckler AND Joe-Bob, AND the interview with Carolyn Brandt, seal the deal.
raj:
I got it at Best Buy for $18.95. You can probably find it for a buck or two cheaper if you shop around.
Nice to know i'm bot alone in the "Partners in pain" dept. Some movies muse be "Bot Approved". Sure, i can handle "Gorgo" ot "Plan 9" as is, but Manos....yeesh!
But...seeing this Steckler Special with Joe Bob and the Man, Cash Flagg hisown self? I'd buy that for a dollar!
Best Buy? I'm there, baby!