What makes it different from others?

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

A strange growth, which has appeared on the neck of a woman named Karen, confuses tumor experts- as it appears to be a developing fetus.Then, her boyfriend- a skeptical tarot card reading conman, with a scarily accurate record- witnesses her speaking in tongues, while in bed one night, and believes that some sort of black magic is afoot. Especially after one of his clients utters the same words- Pana Wichi Salitou- before throwing herself down a flight of stairs.After a little research, they discover an old native legend which talks about how Shamans can travel through time and be reborn, by releasing their Manitou (Immortal Spirit) and impregnating themselves within a man, woman, or animal, at any point in the future or past.They now believe that a 400-plus year old spirit of a Native American Medicine Man has impregnated himself into their friend...and it is about to reborn...out of her back...So the boyfriend travels to South Dakota in order to solicit the help of a modern day Shaman named John Singing Rock, with hopes he'll be able to send the ancient spirit back from whence it came, and save Karen's Life.He explains to them that he may not have what it takes, because every time a Manitou is reborn, it gains more strength. And if it's powerful enough to impregnate itself into someone, it's likely been reborn 4 or 5 times over...and, thus, quite powerful.However, it's only once he gets there that Singing Rock realize how powerful the Manitou inside Karen really is. And what ensues up until the end is downright bizarre, confusing, hilarious, and pretty implausible...but totally f*cking awesome, at the same time.Midgets coming out of women's backs (like mushrooms popping through their volvas); reptilian demons; frozen nurses; exploding typewriters; and a naked laser battle in space, are all, seemingly, elements of the pre-apocalypse...and lead up to a cameo by Satan himself (also known as the Old One).What an amazing film. Weird. Yet, Amazing. The ending is so wild, it's simply not possible to predict the direction it ends up taking. I love Shaman vs Shaman battles, and was about to get p*ssed off when I suspected everything was about to go the white male saviour route...but couldn't stop laughing at what was to actually follow.Weirdness aside, it's most redeeming quality is that it makes somewhat of an attempt to portray Indigenous Culture in a positive light (i'll let you be the judge, as to whether the ending f*cks all that up, or not haha)...so that's pretty cool too.Whether you like Shaman vs Shaman battles; enjoy a good body-horror; or just like to get your weird on...this is the film for you.Watch it on Columbus Day for added effect.7 out of 10.

In my other reviews (and there are a handful) I have observed that of all the Stephen King novels, barely two are close analogues to the novels. I have pointed out what a mess Hollywood made of Dean Koontz. And I have underscored, with all the power of persuasion that I could muster, how, when Hollywood does not know how to adapt a work properly, they will simply destroy it, and call the filmic record of that destruction "enterainment." The other reviewers (dare I paraphrase?) have suggested that this is a terrible movie but may be so bad it is ... good? The real crime that entire generations never got to know the work of Graham Masterton because of this abomination. Therefore, I would like to suggest to those not interested in seeing the film that they may instead want to read the book, and connect with one of the most un-discovered authors of our time. Best works include MIRROR, THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, WALKERS and PREY, that last title BTW includes one of the most horrific characters ever conceived (a half-rat, half-man, that speaks with a heavy German accent and swears a lot). Any of these would have made a great film. Because this mess, no one will ever know...?

This movie is based on Graham Masterton's classic horror novel of the same name. While the movie is not as good as GM's original novel it is well worth watching if you are into novel ways of looking at the horror genre. Intrigued? Read on.The Manitou is the tale of a two hundred year old medicine man (the protagonist), Karen Tandy (the victim of the tale) and Harry Erskine (the hero)(who is played by Tony Curtis (he says he does not remember making this movie) ). Karen gets a lump on her shoulder and goes to hospital, they tell her it is like a foetus. She goes to Harry for help and that is when it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary tumour. The medicine man from the past is seeking a way to get to the future and Karen is his portal. Will Harry be able to stop the native American magic from coming into the 20th century? Watch the movie and find out.It is a well made horror movie from the seventies from cult director William Girdler who also made Grizzly and day of the animals. Incidentally GM did not leave the tale there. He went on to right a number of very good sequels none of which have been made into movies.

My Psychotronic Film Guru, Rob, didn't have to do more than give me a one-sentence summary of its storyline in order to convince me to see 1978's "The Manitou." After all, what horror fan wouldn't be sold by a plot in which pretty Susan Strasberg develops a large tumor on her neck, only to learn that this growth is actually the developing fetus of Misquamacus, a 400-year-old Indian medicine man trying to be reborn? This sui generis plot is ably abetted by a cast of old pros who play it fairly straight and manage to knock this whacky conceit way out of the park. There's a surprisingly buff Tony Curtis, playing Susan's ex and a very amusing charlatan psychic; Michael Ansara as a modern-day, South Dakota medicine man; Stella Stevens as a gypsy-garbed seance leader; Golden Age fave Ann Sothern, wasted in a teensy role as Susan's aunt; and Burgess Meredith, who almost steals the show as an absentminded anthropologist...not to mention Felix "Cousin Itt/Horta" Silla as the diminutive Misquamacus aborning. The film gets loopier and wilder as it proceeds, culminating with a special FX extravaganza that, non sequitur though it may be, seems fit to rival the "star gate" segment in "2001." And though "The Manitou"'s debt to "The Exorcist" seems fairly well pronounced, the film yet boasts some chilling moments, such as that levitating old woman, and the eerie seance, and Misquamacus' (mildly yucky) birth sequence. The picture makes good use of its San Francisco locations, has been well directed by William Girdler, and features some funny, campy moments, such as when Tony yells at the Indian demon, with his wonderful Bronx accent, "Alright, Misquamacus, I've had enough of this; who do you think you are?" The stick-in-the-muds at Maltinville have chosen to give this film its lowest "Bomb" rating, but I think the editors of "DVD Delirium 3" are more accurate in terming it "jaw-dropping." Fun stuff, indeed!