The only good actor in this movie, John Reynolds, committed suicide approximately six months after its release. Mr. Reynolds played Torgo, a pathetic character with really bad knees. Think Igor with a football injury.
This film is so bad, it defies description. It's as if the makers wanted it to be a lampoon of B-movies, but that cannot be true. If that had been the case, it wouldn't be quite this horrid. The only reasonable explanation is that everyone involved was either completely inept or thoroughly talentless. Or maybe both.
The plot revolves around a family who gets lost and must stay the night at a house in the middle of nowhere. Torgo is the caretaker of this place. One look at Torgo, and any rational person would keep driving. But not this family.
The only thing good about my experience viewing this film was that I watched the MST 3000 version. The commentary of Joel, Crow, and Tom Servo had me belly-laughing more than once.
This movie should be shown to all Freshmen entering film school as an example of what not to do. To give ya'll a point of reference, Leonard, Part 6 was an absolute masterwork in comparison. 'Nuff said.
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
The Mystery Science Theater take on Manos remains one of the best episodes of that great series. But I've long wondered what parts of the movie that they had to cut to fit the show's parameters. Perhaps part of the big girl fight scene?
2 - Tom Johnson
That seemingly endless driving sequence, devoid of any advancement in the plot or character development (or anything really - it's just the car and road,) is firmly cemented in my head due to Crow's repetitive murmuring of the phrase "Again - Manos, the hands of fate."
Another classic MST3K is for "Girl In The Gold Boots." It's another abortion of a movie, with random edits - like when one character suddenly pops into a scene without as much as a cut-away (one of the MST3K crew had me doubled over when this happened, simply by exclaiming "I'm back!" as the character magically snaps on screen.) The movie is so miserably bad, however, that it's almost hard to watch even with the MST3K team on board.
3 - Laurie K.
I simply cannot imagine what it must have been like for the 2 or 3 people who actually paid to see this at the time it was released. I'm not sure it can be viewed outside of the MST context without severe harm being done to the psyche.
Laurie K.
4 - RJ
Laurie:
From what I hear, this release had a sizable viewing on opening night. However, few non-hecklers were left in the theatre by the end...
5 - gonzo marx
oh my stars and garters..
damn you RJ for reminding me of this awful piece of dreck!!
i also saw it on MST3K...and i must say, for all the reasons stated above, and many more..
this is the absofuckinglutely WORST piece of film your humble Narrator has EVER had the misfortune to experience
someone alert the MSM...RJ and i have agreed on something...
and that, kiddies...is (insert Joe Flaherty vampire voice) really scary!
>i would say nuff said here, but RJ is stealing my thunder in the original Post<
Excelsior!
6 - RJ
I must admit to being a bit infatuated with horrible films. I loved UHF. I found Leonard, Part 6 to be mildly amusing. I thought Howard The Duck was kinda funny.
Never saw ISHTAR, but I'd probably enjoy that as well..
7 - gonzo marx
hey now..Howard the Duck was excellent!!
"release the small waterfowl" is a classic line from a Galactic Overlord
"They Live" and "Big Trouble in Little China" rank as my favorite "B" flicks..
your mileage may vary
Excelsior!
8 - RJ
"They Live" was no B-film! I was a cinematic masterpiece! :-)
9 - Bob
Even with Joel and the 'bots on the case it took five viewings for me to take in the whole movie, otherwise you'd have to bind and gag me to watch it.