It’s always nice to run across old films that you might never have heard of from the golden age of cinema. In the 70's, exploitation and horror films were being turned out at a beastly pace and I actually find some of the lesser quality films from that era far more watchable than anything churned out within the last 10-15 years.
I just don't feel like movies these days have the heart or imagination they did way back when. I don't think that I have to go into that whole remake thing and even a film that is not some retread just doesn't have the integrity that movies once had.
Making movies has always been a matter of business over art, but at least in the 60's and 70's, and even the 80's, film makers just seemed to put more heart and creative soul into these financed works of art. I mean, Ed Wood is well known as making some of the worst films of all time and just look at how passionate that guy was about his crap.
So, when it comes to finding movies to rent and watch from Netflix I dig deep and look backwards rather than forward. In my digging I have run across some forgotten treasures. As I have mentioned before, my standards for being entertained from the joys of early cinema are far easier to comply with than recent poop.
Released in 1974, Psychic Killer is a fun time for fans of 70's exploitation and horror. It's cheesy as hell and has all the right ingredients to guarantee a joyous viewing experience for all those who like to get down in the movie mud and roll around in this sort of thing.
It tells the tale of Arnold Masters, a man who was wrongly accused of committing murder and has been thrown into an asylum for the criminally insane. He becomes even more unhinged when he finds out about the death of his ailing mother.
In the asylum he befriends a voodoo nut named Emilio, who is locked away for killing his own daughter because she was a whore. His words not mine. Emilio vows that he will have revenge on the man who corrupted his daughter before jumping to his own death. When Arnold finds out that the whore-maker in question was killed he becomes curious.
Emilio has left all of his belongings to Arnold, which includes a medallion that harbors some strange powers. All of a sudden things begin to turn around for Arnold and he is released from the asylum.
Once released, Arnold decides it’s time for some payback for all of the people involved in his arrest and that he feels directly lead to the death of his mother. The story sounds fairly basic here I am sure, but believe me, there is nothing basic about this film in any way.
Sometimes movies are so bad that they might be rendered enjoyable. In the case of the Psychic Killer it's close but no cigar to that philosophy. The film is not really that bad. The pace is swift and there is not a dull moment to be found here. The acting is so over the top that it adds an entirely new level of fun.
The murderous rampage wastes no time in getting started and the film rolls along like a cinematic dung buggy. One by one, characters that are so annoying that you actually find yourself wishing death upon them, meet their ends via a series of bizarre accidents.
Any movie can show you victims being stabbed or shot, but how often do you see a man singing and dancing to his death by having a large block of stone dropped on his head?
A nurse is scalded to death by her hot shower water.
But the best scene ever involves a butcher who argues with a customer played by a young Della Reese before meeting his demise by way of a most ironic method courtesy of an occupational hazard.
The police are watching Arnold from across the street and things come together rather quickly considering how far out the explanation is. But it all adds up to the enjoyment of one underrated and most enjoyable cheesefest of a film.
Along with being entertaining and funny as hell, sometimes unintentionally, the film has a great cast that includes screen veterans Aldo Ray and Neville Brand.
Arnold Masters is played by Jim Hutton, who is none other than the father of academy award winning actor Timothy.
Arnold’s doctor, Doctor Scott, is played by Julie Adams.
Horror fans will know Adams from her role as the babe in peril from the classic film the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
But the true star of the film is Paul Burke.
His portrayal of Lieutenant Morgan is a monster of a role and he over reacts with nutty exuberance over everything. His performance alone made the film a joy to watch for me.
If you're a fan of exploitation and 70's era horror cinema, Psychic Killer is a must see. It’s pretty intense at times but so much damn fun that it's 89 minute running time will race right by you. This movie will have you smiling from ear to ear and laughing your ass off in places. Truly a lost gem of cheesy brilliance.
***Original blog post date 7/22/2010***
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