The Manitou (1978)

Truly Dreadful Film

Powerful

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

San Francisco psychic Tony Curtis (as Harry Erskine) receives startling news from his girlfriend Susan Strasberg (as Karen Tandy). She has a strange, fast-growing lump on her back. Comparing the bump to a fetus, doctor, writer and associate producer Jon Cedar (as Jack Hughes) is unable to operate. We suspect, from the opening credits, it's "The Manitou" (something to do with ancient Native Americans). Ms. Strasberg says strange things in her sleep and Mr. Curtis' wealthy tarot card clients start to freak out. Curtis goes to beautifully tanned Stella Stevens (as Amelia "Amy" Crusoe) for help. She taught him how to use his psychic powers and read the tarot cards (although he seems to be a phony, for the most part). The cast gets good help from hospitable anthropologist Burgess Meredith (as Ernest Snow). He leads them to modern-day "Indian" medicine man Michael Ansara (as John Singing Rock)...This is presented like a Native American Indian version of "The Exorcist" (1973), with some interesting differences. In a few ways, it's better. Producer-director William Girdler and his crew do a fine job coordinating the effects and characters, and the threat seems like it's going to be more realistic. However, the story is weak in that the "villain" results from some confusing hocus-pocus that really doesn't add up. It certainly must have made more sense in the original novel, by Graham Masterson. Here, the evil forces are impressive, but not frightening. And, the ending just looks like everyone decided to do "Star Wars" instead of "The Exorcist". With eyelash enhancement and extra-tight clothing, Curtis often appears befuddled. That's understandable. "The Manitou" was the last film from Mr. Girdler, who died in a helicopter crash at age 30, sadly. He undoubtedly had not reached his peak in filmmaking.***** The Manitou (4/15/78) William Girdler ~ Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Michael Ansara, Burgess Meredith

It's an Overused Description..."So Bad It's Good"...But in this Case it's True. A Unique Combination of the Occult, Sci-Fi, Horror, Black Comedy, and the Kitchen Sink. The Movie Changes Tone and Direction So Many Times the Head Spins, Whiplash Ensues, and Cultural Shock is Inevitable.It is Kitsch. Over the Top and Absolutely Absurd. Ancient American Indian Names that Sound Laughable when Pronounced Out Loud and they are Pronounced Outloud A Lot. There are Some Interesting Sets and Some Effective SFX and Makeup and then there are the Awful Sets and the Awful SFX and Makeup. You See where this is Going.But in the Film You Never See where it is Going. It Veers Here and There with Some Dread and then Horrible One Liners and it is Creepy and then Detours into Setups and Scenes Designed to Frighten that are So Poorly Handled the Laughter Erupts.The Ending is the Worst of the Worst and Cannot do Anything but Bring the Whole Mess to a Screeching and Screaming Seizure of Outrageous Awfulness with its Ridiculous Looking Battle in Outer Space or Inner Space or Another Dimension or Hallucination, or Wherever. It Contains Nudity, a Floating Bed, Holes is Space-Time with Whirling Lights and Phaser Beams and the Bean Boggles. It has to be Seen to Be Believed or Appreciated.Overall, Recommend for Schlock Lovers, Bad Movie Fans and Anyone that Loves to Make Fun of a Serious Try Becoming a Hilarious Hoot.

Definitely not the type of movie I expected from Tony Curtis. It is a good one though. This film is based in the occult world of the American Indian medicine man. A white woman is infected, possessed, what have you, by a powerful 400 year old Indian medicine man who just happens to not like the white man very much (can't really blame him huh?). The bad medicine man is reborn from the back of the woman Michael Ansara is hired to stop the reincarnation of this malevolent person. He draws a circle around the bed to contain the spirit reborn and with some chanting the moment. This old guy then summons an ancient Indian god, spirit, I couldn't figure it out. This entity bites the hand of the doctor who tried to perform the original operation on the woman. Taking him for treatment Tony tries to return by the elevator and ends up in a frozen tabloid caused by the bad guy since he has broken the magic circle. So the old medicine man ends up trying to call in the great evil, Satan, Beelzebub, take your pick. Tony comes up with the idea to turn on all the electronics in the hospital and focus the energy on the bad guys. Michael tries to use the manitous from the machines to combat the evil spirit but is unsuccessful because he is Indian and not white. tony steps in and succeeds in destroying the evil medicine man and manages to save the girl as well. Not a bad film all in all.

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!!!!!