| This little 1962 independent film was sadly over looked in its initial release.Thanks to video and another theatrical release in 1989 the film has finally gotten overdue recognition. A drag race turns deadly when car with three girls in it flips off a bridge into the Kansas(?) River.For 3 hours the river is dragged with no luck.Then Mary Henry comes out of the water onto a muddy sand bar.This is truly a classic shot as she stumbles toward her rescuers totally in shock. While Mary behaves strangely after this it seems that she was a cold aloof person to begin with.She leaves town immediately to take on a new job as a church organist in Utah.Driving through the salt flats late that night she happens to glance at the passenger side window.A ghoulish man is staring at her & she promptly runs off the road.(Yeah and I would have dropped some skippy chips in my drawers too).Gathering her wits and getting the car back on the road she notices a deserted pavillion in the flats and is drawn to it for some unknown reason. When she gets to town things start to get very weird for her.The ghoulish man seems to be dogging her every movement.While trying on a new dress Mary suddenly can't hear a thing.She leaves the dressing room and tries to communicate with shoppers/sales clerks etc and they act as if she isn't there.The ghoul is also following her. Suddenly everything snaps back to normal. At organ practice Mary is suddenly possessed by an evil force that causes her to play demonic music.She is promptly fired.When she tries to leave town all goes silent again.She tries to catch a bus but it is full of ghoulish people.(The Greyhound from Hell). Mary makes her way to the pavillion she is so drawn to.There she is confronted by a crowd of ghouls that chase her out into the flats.I won't give away the ending so you'll have to see it yourself. Being a low budget film the acting for the most part is mawkish.There is only one "sore" spot as Mary tries to connect with a pig of man.We already knew that she had difficulty relating to people but this guy is a loser.Who would want to be close to him? This film could be about how detached we are from one another (the scenes of silence and inability to communicate with others).There is a lot of religious symbolism in this movie.Mary doesn't believe very strongly in the church although it is her job to play music in one.There seems to be a constant struggle between life and death with the emphasis on death.Nothing is what it seems. The imagery is stunning from the opening title scene to the very end.While this movie isn't scary it is extremely creepy and has scenes you won't soon forget.The black & white filming just enhances the moodiness of the film.The deserted pavillion filled with madly dancing ghouls is stunning.Images of ghouls rising out of murky water with insane knowing grins is chilling.The organ music is outstanding and in some cases downright spooky. This gem is required for patient viewers. You won't be grossed out.But you'll be creeped out watching this at night.You may never look at water the same way again. - |
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