Off the Marquee Podcast: Episode #12
Messiah of Evil (1974)
Willard Huyck
U.S.A. 90 min.
Messiah of Evil (1974)
Fans of Dario Argento’s unique brand of supernatural horror should take note of this 1974 horror production. Messiah of Evil is a visually striking horror film with a penchant for the melodramatic and a stifling atmosphere created by excellent cinematography and a terrific moog soundtrack by Phillan Bishop. The basic story follows a woman named Arletty, portrayed by (Marianna Hill). Arletty is looking for her estranged artist father who has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. In her search, she runs across a group of blase hip people who take her down a dark avenue, only to become fodder for a force taking over a small seaside town. In his diary, he implores her not to search for him. But if she didn’t look for him, it wouldn’t be a horror movie. And her problems escalate the longer she hangs around the seaside town where he was last seen. The film adheres to tropes set by George Romero’s zombie movies while maintaining the clandestine atmosphere of an H.P. Lovecraft story. This low-budget American horror film is a great choice for fans of Italian horror, fans of George Romero films, or just a great way to spend Halloween.
Marianna Hill’s other visible role in the movies was the out-of-control Deanna Corleone in The Godfather II (1974).
Messiah of Evil (1974) on the Off the Marquee podcast on WYXR.
Billups Allen’s book 101 Films You Could See Before You Die is available through Goner Records. Off the Marquee on the web.
Off the Marquee 