This movie came out in 1967, but apparently it didn't do very well back then. It was relatively obscure until Fangoria magazine did an article about it in the early 2000s. Their thought was that the movie flouted people's expectations of what a horror movie can and even should do, and that's why audiences didn't take to it back when it was released. They didn't understand it. I don't know if that's true or not, but I tend to like a lot of movies other people don't like, so I'm willing to give this movie a chance. The Fangoria article made me really excited about seeing it someday, and I guess today is finally that day.
The movie is about a caretaker who looks after three siblings at their family estate. The three siblings suffer from a rare genetic condition that regresses their mental state until they become both crazed and childlike. This condition also means that they can't tell the difference between right and wrong. As a result, they often act crazy and even violent. Their caretaker loves the family, so he covers up their acts, but soon the truth is going to come out when unexpected visitors stop by.
It's weird seeing Sid Haig so young in this movie. It's also weird how long it takes the visitors to notice that there's something wrong with the family. I get trying to be polite, but these kids clearly act like murderous little psychopaths, and no one seems more than mildly concerned about that. Not that I'd blame anyone for killing most of the visitors, since they're sneaky and underhanded jerks, not to mention stupid and unobservant. Not very likable people, is what I'm saying. Not very smart either, because not only do they fail to realize they're in danger, they also keep pissing the family off even when it's become clear that it's a bad idea. to do that.
There's one scene that actually made me cower in fear a little bit, even though this movie is more campy and silly than funny. Plus as nutso as the movie is, I almost got choked up there near the end. It's clear that the caretaker actually loves this family and these kids, even if they're apeshit insane. He made a promise to their father that he'd take care of them, and that's what he's trying to do. Ultimately I really liked this movie, even though it's out of it's fucking mind. There's a reason the original title was "Spider Baby or the Maddest Story Ever Told." It's certainly the Maddest story I've ever seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment