Actuakers
One of my all time favorites.
Freaktana
A Major Disappointment
Kien Navarro
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
Michael_Elliott
The Manitou (1978) * (out of 4) Karen (Susan Strasberg) begins to have what appears to be a tumor grow on her back but it soon becomes clear that it's some sort of fetus. Her friend and psychic Harry Erskine (Tony Curtis) manages to find out that the fetus is actually an Indian medicine man growing so he calls in another medicine man (Michael Ansara) to try and destroy it.THE MANITOU was based on a very popular novel but whatever the book had going for it certainly didn't follow to the screen. Cult director William Girdler was killed before this movie was released so sadly this was the last film he worked on. Rumor has it that his screenplay took three days to complete and that's probably true because there's some pretty silly stuff going on here. For the most part the film appears to be THE EXORCIST with a bit of STAR WARS thrown in for good measure. Does that sound crazy? Well, THE MANITOU is a pretty crazy little movie.The biggest problem I had with the movie is that it simply ran on way too long, took itself way too serious and it just wasn't scary at all. The movie contains non-stop dialogue with Curtis talking to countless people about what's going on. I'm going to guess that this here was meant to make the viewer feel more tension whenever the final battle happened but the director never really builds any suspense or tension. Even worse is that this dialogue scene just move at a snail's pace and the film gets very tiresome. The entire plot is rather stupid and especially towards the end when all sorts of strange things begin to happen. The snow storm in the hospital was just the start of things but once space gets involved you can't help but throw your hands up and roll your eyes. The final battle with the medicine man will bring up memories of THE EXORCIST but this film never comes close to that level of scares.The film, like many of Girdler's pictures, offers up a great cast of characters. Curtis was clearly just picking up a paycheck as he pretty much sleepwalks through the role. Perhaps he too just realized how dumb the plot was and didn't take it too serious. Just take a look at a scene early in the movie where an old woman become possessed in his apartment. The "comic" nature to how Curtis acts makes him look pretty bad even if it was what the director was asking for. Strasberg is good but isn't really given much to do. I also thought Ansara was good in his moments. Stella Stevens and Jon Cedar are also on hand as is Burgess Meredith who also comes across rather comical when he didn't need to be.THE MANITOU is a deadly dull movie that can't even work on a "so bad it's good" level because of how slow it is. There's a lot of campy stuff going on here but sadly it just never adds up to anything entertaining. I will say the movie looks very professional, which is a credit to Girdler's talents but sadly the end result is just a complete mess of a film.
tles7-676-109633
I saw this for the first time in 2015 on TCM of all places, but I remember when it came out. What makes this so laughable are the effects which look like an old SCTV skit. The movie loses me totally with the guy in the alligator suit. This feels more like a TV movie than a theatrical movie. It's a 1970s "B" movie but with a considerable cast of Tony Curtis, Michael Ansara and Susan Strasberg of all people. It's probably typical for its time. I also would like to make a suggestion to Amazon that they change the minimum of a review from 10 lines to 5 lines. The reviews can still be good without having to make so many points about the movie.
jd9 jd9
If you are a horror or sci-fi fan, if you love B grade cheese, then you MUST MUST MUST see this film! Saw this last night for the 1st time, couldn't sleep last night b/c I kept waking up laughing. Woke up early and created an IMDb profile just to write this review. I've probably seen 1,000+ horror films, specializing in B grade camp,and this takes the B grade cake of all cakes. About 20 minutes in I heard myself say, "Wow, this is going to be supremely entertaining on so many unintentional levels." Be warned! If you start watching, the compulsion/revulsion will get you, and you won't be able to stop. I can't stop thinking about it. The last 40 minutes are jaw dropping. Michael Ansara rocks!Plot flaws anyone? (Spoilers ahead) How about the oversized cannon Death Star laser in the operating room? Sorry , but if it can blast through solid concrete I don't think I want it cutting out my neck tumor. Or the doctors who repeatedly say "The Manitou can't be explained by any science. Bring in the shaman." Then 5 minutes later they can't buy into this "Injun magic bs", then they're back on w/ the Shaman's plan, then they're back out, for no reason. Which one is it pal? Do you or don't you believe in Manitou? How about, "I got an idea! Let's leave the terrifying Manitou, who can destroy our world w/ a thought, alone in the hospital room w/ the sleeping intern?" Uh, I'm sorry, but 1st off who could fall asleep w/ that thing in the room? And secondly, what kind of person would leave someone sleeping alone in the room with it? Or how about, "He's escaped the room!" "Who escaped?" WHO DO YOU THINK ESCAPED YOU MORON? PRINCE ALBERT? THE MANITOU!Throw in some midgets, ill timed 1 liners by Tony Curtis, and shaman exorcisms. Then, it's time to cash in on the new Star Wars craze by tossing in some lasers, asteroids, and supercomputers, and you got yourself the makings of a true classic. I wish they still made 'em like this. The best is that frenzied Angel-Dust-induced- grin on Strasbergs face when she starts firing off those power beams. I think it's the same shot looped over and over and over?I was crying w/ laughter the last 10 minutes. The film is avail in full on youtube and Netflix DVD. WATCH IT NOW! LONG LIVE THE MANITOU!!!!!
Neil Welch
In commemoration of Tony Curtis' sad passing yesterday, I thought I would use it as a reason to visit one of my guilty pleasures.The Manitou was a horror novel hacked out (not to put too fine a point on it) in the early 70s by horror pulp novelist Graham Masterton. The story concerns the girlfriend of a small-time stage magician and psychic con artist called Harry Erskine, who finds herself with a mysterious growth on her neck. The growth turns out to be the reincarnation of malevolent native American demonic shaman Misquemacus, who has bad things in mind. Harry, enlisting the aid of untried medicine man John Singing Rock, becomes reluctant hero and joins battle.This sounds fairly daft (and is), but it works fairly well on the printed page. This film adaptation, with Curtis as Erskine, translates it fairly faithfully to the screen, at which point you realise what a load of preposterous old tosh it actually is. Having said that, it has moderate production values, and is played straight albeit with a twinkle in its eye, and is entertaining if you are prepared to crank up the suspension of disbelief (and, let's face it, if you've sat down to watch it then that's probably the case).Curtis had five phases to his career. There was an introductory phase, where he got by on cheesecake good looks while learning his trade. Then the second phase saw him garnering respect in movies like Spartacus and Some Like It Hot. The third phase was a plateau which included critical successes like The Boston Strangler and crowd pleasers like The Great Race. The fourth phase was a slow and graceful decline, encompassing high profile TV series The Persuaders and low rent (but relatively high budget) potboilers like The Manitou. Finally, having retired to all intents and purposes, he popped up for the odd cameo here and there.It was a successful and well structured career, the career of a man who entered it based solely on his looks, but who had sustained success in it based largely on his talent, skill, and ability to learn.He will be missed.
