BARN OF THE NAKED DEAD (aka NIGHTMARE CIRCUS) (1974)

[The Burgomaster]

It was a very natural thing for me to buy this DVD.  After all it was made in the glorious 1970s and has the words "naked" and "dead" in the title.  So, how could I go wrong?  This is how:

The plot (?):  3 young women are on their way to Las Vegas in a station wagon when they break down in the desert.  Along comes Andre (trash actor Andrew Prine whose credits include:  GRIZZLY; SIMON, KING OF THE WITCHES; and dozens of other movies and TV shows).  Andre offers to help them, but instead he drives them back to his remote barn where he chains them up with several other female captives.  Before long, they learn that Andre intends to use them in his twisted circus show.  Occasionally, he dons a ringmaster outfit and whips his victims.  He punishes one by smearing blood on her shirt and letting a cougar chase her.  Andre also keeps a decapitated head in a bird cage.

There's also a subplot involving Andre's father, who is a HILLS HAVE EYES type mutant living in the desert.  (Apparently, the barn is built on an old nuclear test site).  "Dad" shows up once in awhile to kill people.

This movie was (mostly) directed by Alan Rudolph (who went on to direct stuff like CHOOSE ME, TROUBLE IN MIND, THE MODERNS, and AFTERGLOW).  Despite the numerous possibilities for this movie to be a delightfully cheesy sex-and-gore fest, it's surprisingly dull and disappointing.

The DVD includes Johnny Legend's recent interview with Andrew Prine, as well as a GORE BEAT video magazine in which Legend interviews several key B-movie personalities, including John Landis and Ray Dennis Steckler.

[lester1/2jr]

I don't doubt it's dreck but I'll still probably see it

[WesFresh14]

I want to see for the exact same reasons you did, shame its as bad as you say it is

[redsneaker]

ewww.. Thanks for the warning.