Good concept, poorly executed.

Fantastic!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I had bought the Mill Creek Chilling Classics 50 movie pack a few years ago and I had noticed that Messiah of Evil (1973) was included in it but for one reason or another I never wanted to watch it. Fast forward to last years October Challenge and I was running out options to watch - so I half-heartedly decided to watch it. Well, needless to say, I didn't regret it, and even tho the copy wasn't the best in the world - it didn't damper my enjoyment of it, far from it. It was a great find and if I were to compile a Top 10 of my favorite horror films of the top of my head, then this would undoubtedly make the cut.Messiah of Evil is about a young woman who searches for her missing father after he abruptly and unexpectedly stops communication with her. When she arrives at a picturesque seaside home, where her father lived, she finds that the residents of the town are bizarre. She arrived with a hippie couple who are curiously attracted to the strange town. Together, the soon find out that the town is crawling with a flesh-eating cult.There are a few unforgettable scenes that are genuinely scary that leave an expression: like the supermarket scene and, of course, who can forget the movie theatre scene, both outstanding. The director, Willard Huyck, I have to say does a really splendid job in creating this almost dream-like vibe for the film and it doesn't let up. It is psychedelic. The story kinda reminded me of an old H.P. Lovecraft tale. The atmosphere is unrelentingly grim and I can only describe it as intense and an nightmarish dread. It is creepy as hell and it is full of very strange and memorable characters.What I like most about it - is it's ambiguity. We're never terribly sure if the "creatures" are zombies, ghouls, vampires or just cannibals or something else and no loose ends are tied by the end of the film either. It is shamefully still obscure among the numerous bad low-budget drive-in horror flicks of the 70's, it doesn't deserve it. I seen it late at night and I was pretty tired but I will never forget it. Messiah of Evil is one of a few horror movies that I truly found scary and I seen a lot.

Released in 1973, "Messiah of Evil" is an American film. The title is misleading; the movie was originally called "Dead People," which is more fitting.THE PLOT: A woman (Marianna Hill) goes to the California coastal town of Point Dune to visit her artist father. She can't find him, but runs into a guy (Michael Greer) and his two female companions (Anitra Ford & Joy Bang). They all soon discover that there are mysterious and peculiar things going on in town: The people are somnambulistic and mysteriously stand at the shore every twilight looking out to sea. Things eventually take a deadly turn.The film has a haunting ambiance, effectively combining elements of "Carnival of Souls" (1962) and "Night of the Living Dead" (1968). It's on par with "Carnival" but not great like "Night," a classic horror masterpiece.As noted above, Marianna Hill is the doe-eyed protagonist. You may not remember her, but she's one of the most beautiful women to ever appear on the Original Series of Star Trek, specifically the episode "Dagger of the the Mind" as Dr. Helen Noel. The film is a must for fans of Ms. Hill (like me) since she is prominently featured.The title "Messiah of Evil" is too generic and gives the impression that the story prominently features a weirdo dark Christ-figure, but this is hardly the case. The dark messiah is ambiguous and barely featured. A more fitting title would be "Village of the Dead" or something to this effect.BOTTOM LINE: Many hail this as a moody horror masterpiece from the early 70s. It has a few highlights and is mandatory viewing for 60s-70s mystery/horror aficionados and admirers of the lovely Marianna Hill. Unfortunately, it's actually kind of boring and the whole "dark messiah" side of the story is seriously insubstantial.The film runs 90 minutes and was shot in Malibu, Burbank, Anaheim, Melrose, Venice and Echo Park, California.GRADE: C+ or B-

A young woman goes searching for her missing artist father. Her journey takes her to a strange Californian seaside town governed by a mysterious undead cult.This is a very very strange trippy surreal movie that is American made but directed like an Argento Italian horror movie. Complete with tinny wind sounds indoors!The plot is hard to follow and little of it makes sense, which might be why I like it. It takes no prisoners. And the more odd it gets the more you are drawn to watching it.Is it a great film? I don't think so. But I'm not sure. It's that odd. You are left with the feeling that there is a subtext that only the husband and wife team who wrote and directed it know about. Like the entire trip has a different meaning than what you just watched.I'm giving it an 8. Part of me want to give it a six and part of me a ten.Also, we're never sure if the creatures are zombies or vampires or something else. But I'll tell you this: this movie has two of the most down right creepiest scenes ever filmed on the planet.Both involve woman who become victims of being eaten by the creatures. And when they get eaten, it's not in a way that's enjoyable to either.Had I seen this movie was I was a kid, I think those two scenes would have given me nightmares for years.

An attractive brunette by the name of "Arletty" (Marianna Hill) gets a strange letter from her father and decides to drive to a mysterious town on the California coast called Point Dune to see him. Stopping at a gas station on the way she meets a frightened service station attendant along with a strange man who also pulls up for gas. The next day she goes into town and meets a man named "Thom" (Michael Greer) and two of his "traveling companions" named "Toni" (Joy Bang) and "Laura" (Anitra Ford) who end up staying with her at her father's home for a few days. Now, rather than spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it I will just add that this is a type of film more on the lines of "Carnival of Souls" than a usual zombie film. One thing that puzzles me is the fact that this film was supposedly released in 1973. However, if a person actually does any research, they will find that the scene in which Toni goes to the movie is out of place for that year. While the movie marquis lists the film being shown as "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" the actual movie being played is "Gone with the West" which was made in 1975. This leads me to believe that "Messiah of Evil" was reissued with additional footage and possibly relisted under the same title or perhaps as "Dead People" in 1975. Whatever the case may be, this film is still worth a watch for those who enjoy bizarre movies of this type.