The Blind Dead
10-16-2005, 03:24 AM
Several days ago I had Dark Sky Films send me a copy of the unrated 2-disc SE of The Manson Family because I was truly intrigued. After hearing so many good things I had to see it...
...so...where were the "good things"?
This wasn't a horrible movie by any stretch of the imagination. At times it was competent while other times it felt downright silly. The film is basically a retelling of the affairs of the Manson Fam and the days that eventually led up to the Tate Murder. The story is all wrapped up between a sub-plot revolving around a TV news reporter doing a special on the murders committed by the Family. Seems there's some new breed skanky, drugged out Manson disciples who don't appreciate the report and decide to seek out the reporter.
The film LOOKED gorgeous. The film stock gave it a wonderfully gritty 70's feel. I believe I read somewhere that the film stock was actually the type used during the 70's. Van Bebber even used the same camera to film the flick.
One thing I noticed was that the raw exploitative power of this film was completely robbed by the sub-plot. Another problem for me was Manson himself who resembled a down-syndrome Jesus. It was obvious Van Bebber chose to focus more on the Family than Charlie and boy did he give us the Family. Naked men...naked women...tons of tits and 70's style beaver shots. We get grass smoking and acid dropping and we get to hear "mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaannnn" alot but by the end of the film I felt empty...no digust...no hatred...I was completely indifferent to what Van Bebber was trying to say here. His pacing was slow and the scenes featuring the modern day Manson discples totally sucked the life from the film.
This could have been great stuff. Still a decent film but I'm not really sure it deserves anything more than 2.5..perhaps 3 stars max. Worth a rental, consider purchasing carefully.
...so...where were the "good things"?
This wasn't a horrible movie by any stretch of the imagination. At times it was competent while other times it felt downright silly. The film is basically a retelling of the affairs of the Manson Fam and the days that eventually led up to the Tate Murder. The story is all wrapped up between a sub-plot revolving around a TV news reporter doing a special on the murders committed by the Family. Seems there's some new breed skanky, drugged out Manson disciples who don't appreciate the report and decide to seek out the reporter.
The film LOOKED gorgeous. The film stock gave it a wonderfully gritty 70's feel. I believe I read somewhere that the film stock was actually the type used during the 70's. Van Bebber even used the same camera to film the flick.
One thing I noticed was that the raw exploitative power of this film was completely robbed by the sub-plot. Another problem for me was Manson himself who resembled a down-syndrome Jesus. It was obvious Van Bebber chose to focus more on the Family than Charlie and boy did he give us the Family. Naked men...naked women...tons of tits and 70's style beaver shots. We get grass smoking and acid dropping and we get to hear "mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaannnn" alot but by the end of the film I felt empty...no digust...no hatred...I was completely indifferent to what Van Bebber was trying to say here. His pacing was slow and the scenes featuring the modern day Manson discples totally sucked the life from the film.
This could have been great stuff. Still a decent film but I'm not really sure it deserves anything more than 2.5..perhaps 3 stars max. Worth a rental, consider purchasing carefully.