Sadist
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Movie Reviews of Sadist
Movie Review: One of the greatest B-Movies ever made
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw The Sadist at the Dublin Drive-In Theater in Dublin, Georgia in either the late 1960's or early 1970's as a young child. It left a very distinct impression on me. I discovered this great and underrated low-budget classic, along with Night of the Living Dead on the drive-in screen at around the same time. The Sadist stuck with me until I managed to see it again many years later on first VHS and then on DVD. I just managed to acquire the DVD that features director Joe Dante's own 35mm digitally remastered print transfer. The thing that struck me and stuck with me about The Sadist has always been the tense and suspenseful atmosphere which never lets up throughout most of the film's approximately 92-minute running time. It also greatly conveys a tremendous sense of the genuine frustration, desperation and hopelessness with which the film's sympathetic characters find themselves trapped in, a situation that begins almost from the very start until the very end. The film's screenwriter and director, James Landis does a first-rate job and his direction is both spare and tight. He uses a minimal set and production values to great and maximum effect. The acting is above average, with Arch Hall, Jr. stealing the film as Charlie Tibbs. His real-life cousin, the very beautiful blonde Helen Hovey, plays schoolteacher Doris Page. Quite sadly, Miss Hovey passed away on July 18, 2009. Richard Alden and Don Russell are also good as the other two teachers on their way to an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium. This is a true 1960's classic and remains one of the all-time greatest B-Movies ever made. It just goes to prove what can be done on a low or limited budget, with little known or unknown actors. And also that low-budget does not have to mean low quality. It still seems that The Sadist remains a little known gem outside the realm of film buffs. Someone suggested that maybe Quentin Tarantino should attempt to do a remake. I for one hope not. This film proves that you do not need graphic violence, profanity, sex and nudity to make an effective movie. It is a nailbiter and it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat. It ropes you in and engrosses you from the very start until the very end. What more could you possibly ask for in a film?Movie Review: Eegah! Arch Hall Jr. is The Sadist.
Summary: 5 Stars
You may have seen Arch Hall Jr. in the cult classic EEGAH! (1962). This is another cult classic film, The Sadist (1963) also stars Arch Hall Jr. and Marilyn Manning plays the part of "Judy". Richard Alden, Don Russel and Helen Hovey (her first film) have traveled from Lancaster, California and are now stuck in a desert town off the highway (This was before they built the Antelope Valley Freeway in 1977). They need to be at Dodger's Stadium for the baseball game, but the car needs a new fuel pump. They have 40 more miles to go. No one seems to be around at this garage. So they abide their time with a Coca-Cola. They decide to fix the car themselves and the older gentleman discovers in the house the food on the table is still warm. Nobody else is around, until suddenly The Sadist (Arch Hall Jr) makes his appearance known, and with a gun. He continues to terrorize them.
Really excellent black & white mood film. Disturbing to watch. If this film isn't your cup of tea, Arch Hall Jr and Marilyn Manning are a gentleman and a lady in Eegah(1962) (Arch even sings beach music in EEGAH!) Once you have seen Arch Hall Jr and Marilyn Manning in EEGAH! and then you see The Sadist (1963), you will really see how versitile these actors are.Wild Guitar (1962), The Nasty Rabbit (1964) and Deadwood '76 (1965) are also available on DVD.
Movie Review: Un-natural Born Killers...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Sadist" is a relentlessly disturbing film. Released in 1963, it had to be absolutely shocking then. Arch Hall jr. plays serial killer Charlie Tibbs. He and his mostly silent, equally psychotic girlfriend Judy have been traveling the countryside, murdering whoever is unlucky enough to cross their path. Three teachers (on their way to a baseball game) are stranded in a salvage yard when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Everything's fine until Tibbs and company enter the scene. From that point on the story spirals out of control! There are many violent parts, many unexpected twists. Very realistic, considering the year it came out and who made it. The director (James Landis) specialized in dorky, teenybopper movies. He definitely left that genre behind with this flick! Arch Hall jr. is a sadistic super-creep. I found myself wanting to knock him in the head! He is unpredictable, crazy, and therefore terrifying. You never know who's going to be executed next. There is a growing sense of dread, desperation, and terror. This is a horror movie. Charlie Tibbs is like so many gruesome headlines today. "The Sadist" holds up well. I was amazed by it's frankness and unflinching portrayal of evil on the loose. Yes, there is a hero, but you're not sure who it will be. I highly recommend this movie...Movie Review: It's almost a mistake...
Summary: 5 Stars
...to call this a cult film. That label suggests we ought to lower the bar a little bit when we're reviewing it, or that only certain eccentric personality types might find it impressive. Far from it. Although Hall's first appearance might prompt some smirks, once you get into the rhythm of his performance it's extremely effective. This may be the most feral screen villain since Nosferatu. But despite that initial impression, he's not a complete idiot. One of the coolest things about this intelligent script is how Hall's psychopath is able to see through some of the schemes that these school teachers think they can pull on him. This is an adventurous, innovative film. The basic formula of modern slasher films can be seen here, years before movies like TCM and Halloween. It is as effective as modern horror films like Funny Games in holding out a little bit of hope...tantalizing the viewer with it...and then snatching it away. In terms of execution -- the cinematography is outstanding, the pacing very good, and the performances uniformly convincing. Low budget films ought to betray their roots somewhere, but I have a hard time seeing the seams and glue in this one. Good movie!Movie Review: impressive writing and direction for a crime drama made way back in 1963
Summary: 5 Stars
I avoided this film for years and years because I suspected it would turn out to be just another B-grade flick about some two-bit sociopath... Man, was I wrong. The screenplay rocks, the direction is solid and, of course, what can you say about the late, great Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography?
Director James Landis does an outstanding job here, avoids cliches and keeps the viewer in absolute
suspense throughout... I never had a clue where this thing was going, how it would end...and that's the beauty of it.
I only wish that they, someone, would put out a special version and tell us a bit about the writer/director, the production, where the film was shot, how it was cast, how long it took to film and how the distribution end of it went.
The Sadist puts most horror/serial killer films to shame, it is that good.