Sadly Over-hyped

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Famous, but deranged and hence dangerous avant-garde artist Charles Butler (a gloriously ripe and plummy portrayal by Larry Swanson) kidnaps beautiful models and disfigures them for the sake of his art. Director Joseph Adler, working from a suitably warped script by Larry Cohen, milks the inspired sadistic premise for a good deal of seedy thrills; the bits of fleeting female nudity and mild gore give this picture a reasonably racy and seamy edge. Better still, this movie astutely nails the wackier aspects of the psychedelic 60's: The whole cutting edge pop-art scene setting, the funky opening credits montage, the wild fashions, the crazy hairstyles, the then hip, now hopelessly dated slangy dialogue, a nifty acid trip sequence, and an astounding band performing a get-down gnarly song in a happening nightclub all give this flick a certain authentically far-out period charm. Ross Harris makes for a likable hero as struggling aspiring artist Jason while Jim Vance gleefully hams it up as mad medico Garrison. Moreover, several lovely ladies are on hand to keep the film watchable: Eugenie Wingate as the foxy, but shrill and bitchy Janet, Suzanne Stuart as the sweet and fetching Marika, and Naomi Fink as the attractive Laura. Chris Martell's groovy free-form jazz score hits the right-on swinging spot. The nicely ironic ending packs a pretty startling punch, too. An enjoyable item.

The script is probably the best thing here, the make-up maybe the worst. Larry Cohen would later revise this idea for THE AMBULANCE. There is some fun 70's elements to this movie like chicks dancing in unison and a, rather disappointed trippin' on acid scene, though it does have the characters imagining they are animals at the zoo. There is some good dialog and though the script provides lots of opportunities the pacing of the film though does get a bit sluggish at times. Still a typically odd and interesting Larry Cohen script, would be great to see him or a better director remake it with better actors and better make-up. More naked butts than anything else but for those who wonder is there nudity as part of a decision to see something or not, the answer here is yes some. Fun credit sequence as well.

Maybe you have to be a former hippie to fully appreciate this, because aside from some dated fashions, music and dialogue, it doesn't really have a thing going for it nowadays.Four fun-loving college art students enjoy carefree days of painting nude models and riding on motorcycles. They take acid in one scene and go to a zoo. A sign flashes on the screen that says "Do Not Feed The Animals," and suddenly they're in a cage laughing and hanging from a chain tire swing (?!) An evil artist (Larry Swanson) tells (in flashback) how his art career was almost ruined because of a crippling hand disease. He sends out zombie henchmen dressed in black to kidnap people, then injects them with a serum that distorts their faces. He's trying to create some new form of abstract act (I'm guessing here, the details given are a bit fuzzy, to put it mildly). Meanwhile, Jason (Ross Harris) sets out to save the day after his friend Scotty (Chris Martell) is killed and his girlfriend Janet (Eugenie Wingate) is kidnapped. I thought the zombie make-up in ZOMBIE LAKE was awful, but wait until you see it here! It's by Douglas Hobart, the star of DEATH CURSE OF TARTU. A small role is played by Brad Grinter, the director of the Z-classic BLOOD FREAK, which is much, much more enjoyable than this deadly dull turkey (aka NIGHTMARE HOUSE).Useless trivia note: The 1984 Regal video release features the wrong cast (for THE BRIDES WORE BLOOD) printed directly on the video label!Score: 1 out of 10

Uuuugh this is an ugly movie. The ultimate bargain basement thriller. I bought my copy for three bucks @ a video store in Hopkinsville, KY. The acting is really bad, the plot has potential, sort of, but is instantly killed by the aformentioned bad acting. The jazzy, lounge music soundtrack doesn't fit the film at all. I will be co-hosting a movie review show at my college next semester, and will be reviewing this movie to show the host that the Hammer classic Frankenstein Created Woman is NOT a bad movie compared to other stuff out there.