SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED (1974)
Director: Michael Findlay
Retromedia

As the 70s fascination with the Yeti (aka "Bigfoot") trucked on, this attempt at the legend was the second effort by the producing/writing team of Ed Adlum and Ed Kelleher (the first being 1972's INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS). This time in the director's chair was Michael Findlay, part of a New York-based husband and wife team of legendary sexploitation filmmakers (THE TOUCH OF HER FLESH, THE CURSE OF HER FLESH, SNUFF), and known for being decapitated in a freak helicopter accident in 1977. Michael's wife Roberta went on to do direct many trash efforts after her husband's death, and here served as cinematographer--exercising some really bad day-for-night shooting.

The plot of SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED has kooky, aging anthropology professor Dr. Ernst Prell (Alan Brock) convincing a quartet of exceptional (that is, gullible) students (Michael Harris, Jennifer Stock, Darcy Brown, Jack Neubeck) that the Yeti exists on a small island somewhere in New York. Dr. Prell organizes a weekend trip with the students to track down the creature. Before the getaway, some of the students attend a party and get a raving lecture from a drunken guest (Tom Grail) with a heavy NY accent. He claims to have been a survivor of one Dr. Prell's exhibitions and witnessed the Yeti massacre his pals. Later when the drunk gets home, he cuts his wife's throat with an electric carving knife after she tries to take his bottle. As he's blood-filled and soaking in a tub, the bleeding wife squirms across the floor, plugs in the toaster and flings it in the water, electrocuting the poor bastard in the film's most memorable scene.

Later, the students arrive on the "island" with Dr. Prell in a van (complete with flower decals), the vehicle of choice in the 70s. They are greeted by Prell's eccentric friend, the lanky middle-aged hippie Dr. Karl Werner (Tawm Ellis, who resembles the John Carpenter of today). It's not long before an abominable snowman is spotted and several of the students end up, well, mutilated. This causes Dr. Prell to use their extremities as bait and utter dialog like, "I want you to listen to me closely... this can never be of any use to Tom anymore." When we get a glimpse of the thing, it turns out to be a guy garbed in what looks like a dyed-white gorilla suit, Santa beard, plastic dime store vampire teeth, and white tennis shoes. And I am not spoiling anything by saying that it's all a big hoax so that a cult of cannibals can get their fill of fresh meat.

With a memorable title that absolutely stood out during drive-in showings and late-night TV airings, SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED doesn't have the impact of competent cannibal films from the same year (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, DERANGED), but stands in a category of must-see pieces of 70s junk. Inept in ever way, from the "dinner theater" acting to the lousy monster, dated 70s fashions (Darcy Brown's oversized spectacles make her look like Velma from "Scooby Doo") and an Indian house servant who looks likes Ted Danson. In other words, SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED holds a fascination that fans of the me-decade's schlock have a high appreciation for.

Although known as a "gore" film, the film doesn't have that many graphic moments. Lots of previous video versions, namely the Lightning VHS release, where cut TV prints and omitted the brief opening where the director himself lops off somebody's head into a swimming pool, and other assorted violence. This DVD version is the longest, most complete version I've seen, and despite disclaimers about the lack of proper film elements, looks pretty good. There is the inevitable grain, a bit of softness and some print scratches, but colors are very strong and the full frame image always looks fairly clean. The audio is surprisingly good for such a cheap movie, with dialog being especially sharp and the outrageous library music coming off equally well. The only major disappointment is that the 1972 techno-pop hit, "Popcorn" by Hot Butter has been removed and replaced with a new synthesized track (this is apparently due to some rights issue).

The only extras are a cool TV trailer and liner notes by Thorn Sherman. (George R. Reis)

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