Eerie Elegance in Horror

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MOVIE REVIEW
Messiah of Evil
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 1974, 2023 Radiance Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 30m
Director(s): Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Writer(s): Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Cast: Marianna Hill, Royal Dano, Elisha Cook Jr, Anitra Ford, Joy Bang, Michael Greer
Where To Watch: available November 28, 2023; pre-order here now www.radiancefilms.co.uk, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.co.uk

RAVING REVIEW: Welcome to a world where the calm masks lurking chaos, and quaint townscapes hide unspeakable horrors. MESSIAH OF EVIL, available in both Limited Edition and Special Edition releases from Radiance, offers a unique concoction of horror and art before the “artsy horror” genre thrust itself into the mainstream. The film pulls audiences into a mesmerizing nightmare that blurs the line between the serene and the sinister. This isn't your standard scream-fest; it's a cerebral journey through a landscape painted with broad strokes of dread and detailed lines of intrigue, proving itself a peculiar gem in the horror genre.

This film, emerging from the creative minds of Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, doesn't play by typical horror rules. Released in 1973, MESSIAH OF EVIL takes a road less traveled by its contemporaries. It eschews gratuitous violence for a more psychological terror, much like the haunting tales from across Europe as they examine the Giallo genre. Here, fear isn't just something you feel; it's something you experience right down to your core.

Unfortunately, some moments in the film feel dramatically separated from the rest, from the uneven narrative to some of the acting. However, these very "flaws" feed into the film's surreal nature, making it an enduring spectacle for those who appreciate cinema that dares to color outside the lines.

The narrative spins around Arletty (Marianna Hill,) a daughter enveloped in the mystery of her father's disappearance, only to find herself in Pandum, a town teeming with secrets veiled by the night. Every corner of her father’s home, every unsettling painting, seems to whisper of a looming terror, an impression further solidified by the ominous entries in a found diary. It's not just a place; Pandum becomes a character in its own right, a bearer of a dreadful legacy that chills to the bone. The town’s inhabitants, entrapped in a horrifying cycle and dressed in almost cult-like attire, contrast sharply with Arletty’s stark modernism, creating a visual difference that’s nothing short of compelling.

This film's expert manipulation of the atmosphere makes it stand out. Sure, MESSIAH OF EVIL isn’t without its rough edges. The storyline can feel patchy, and the pacing uneven. But it compensates with an immersive world underscored by an eerie soundtrack and chilling voice-overs. Rather than straightforward answers, the film offers riddles wrapped in enigmas, urging audiences to question, analyze, and, most importantly, feel.

Its horror is more suggested than shown, a strategic restraint that makes the unseen even more terrifying. I have always thought it essential to work within your means; this is especially true in modern-day horror, but films like this prove my point. While there were some clear budget restraints, the film worked around that, which paid off in stride.

MESSIAH OF EVIL invites the audience into the narrative of the film. It asks you to ponder the unexplained and find a strange comfort in the unknown. It's a movie that lingers, like a half-remembered dream or a melody you can't quite place. And as the credits roll, you realize it’s not just about the fear of what lurks in the dark but also about the allure of not knowing. Welcome to the enigmatic embrace of MESSIAH OF EVIL — enjoy the haunting ride.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
– New 2023 restoration from a 4K scan of the best-surviving elements of the film from the Academy Film Archive
– Uncompressed mono PCM audio
– Audio commentary by critics and horror experts Kim Newman and Stephen Thrower
– Archival interview with co-writer-director Willard Huyck by Mike White from the Projection Booth Podcast
– What the Blood Moon Brings: Messiah of Evil, A New American Nightmare – A documentary feature which explores Messiah of Evil in the context of American independent cinema of the 70s, as well as examining the film's allegiance to several subgenres of horror film through its underlying themes. Co-directed by Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger; featuring film scholars Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Maitland McDonagh, Guy Adams, Mikel Koven, and David Huckvale (2023)
– Visual essay on American Gothic and Female Hysteria by critic Kat Ellinger (2023)
– English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
– Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
– Limited edition 80-page book featuring writing by Bill Ackerman, Joseph Dwyer, Amanda Reyes, Andy Marshall-Roberts and Larissa Glasser
– Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in rigid box and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

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[photo courtesy of RADIANCE]

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