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(1966, Upgraded 3/25/22) Tom Neyman, John Reynolds, Diane Adelson, Hal Warren, Stephanie Neilson. This is a movie that will be talked about and studied long after we're all dead. "Manos," the Hands of Fate is considered one of the worst movies ever made…ever. Yet its low budget charm gives it a unique cult appeal that keeps your attention all the way to the end. It is WORSHIPPED by the bad film lovers' community—probably even more so than Plan 9 from Outer Space (and that's really saying something). The plot is simple, a family on vacation stops at an old dark house (old dark house might be too generous of a description) to ask for directions. There they meet Torgo, the caretaker, played by Reynolds, who give one of the most spasmodically weird performances of all time. Yet somehow it works! And then...uh oh…devil-worshiping cultists put them through the meat grinder. As bad as the movie is, Neyman actually did an okay job as "the Master." His "window closeup" might actually make you jump. The scenes of his cult brides "fighting" are hilarious. "We cannot kill a child!" Hal Warren's character, Michael, is perhaps the stupidest husband ever portrayed on film (and we're not kidding). "Common sense" are two words his character seem oblivious to. It's hysterical! You may find yourself rooting for the devil cultists. The film was shot silent and dubbed later (just like the Italian movies of the time) and an uncredited voice actress did the voices for all the women in the film! Reynolds, sadly, died before the film's release and wasn't in the best of shape during its filming, which may have added to his surreal performance. Torgo! A real bizarre horror oddity that gets our absolute highest bad movie recommendation. Nice color, from 35mm.
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