1. It features a snake-obsessed mad scientist antagonist named Dr. Stoner.
2. There is a carnival/fair/sideshow element integrated into the mad scientist plot.
3. A man is turned into a snake, not only once, but twice (it's two different dudes, sorry if I didn't really word that correctly), and we get to see the results at varying times.
4. Heather Menzie's hair. Seriously, what is up with her hair? It's horrible, but also awesome.
5. It's from the seventies.
6. It's name is an onomatopoeia and how often do I get to say that, both the word 'onomatopoeia' and that a title of a film is one?
7. The man snake looks fucking creepy and rad, even though he's sad because he's in the freak show.
8. All the snake milking scenes (of which there was a certain sideshow quality to as well) were apparently real. That, and I got to use the words 'snake milking' in a sentence and attest to their reality.
9. There's a mongoose, who eventually saves the day, if you count taking down the man-snake and subsequent object of Heather Menzie's character's affection as saving the day, which I do.
10. There's a love plot involving a half-reptile/half-man and Heather Menzies.
The only way this could have been better is if Ray Milland had showed up.
Expound on your Sssssss love in the comments.
Don't forget the high-octane, one-two punch of performances from Strother Martin AND Reb Brown!! :D
ReplyDeleteThere is some great scenery chewing and also much complete idiocy. Sure, Doc, who I hardly know, inject me with some mysterious substance that may change me into a slithering beasty. That's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteAnd there'ssssssssss alsssssssssssso the pressssssscence of good ol' Templeton Peck and the Reb Brown cameo!
ReplyDeleteLove this! SSSSSSS is indeed awesome!
ReplyDeleteMy number 11: Heather Menzies' glasses. So 70s!
Sure this was the name of Jennifer Lynch's next film, after the really great (yet almost painfully slow) Surveilance.
ReplyDeleteStill another film to add to the rental list, as once again you've unearth another film I never knew exsisted. Were do you find such delights?
@chris. I like what you did there :
ReplyDelete@meep. The whole thing is super seventies. Also, I don't remember Menzies being so skinny in PIRANHA.
@elwood. I kinda liked SURVEILLANCE. Do you have Netflix in the UK, or some version thereof?
We have Lovefilm, but it never seems to bring up obscure titles like this. We also have that annoying situation were films are put on region 1 but not region 2, which isn't a problem if if I'm buying them but removes any chance of an impulse rental, as so many of the more random titles are usually only worth a single watch, before being filled away never to be watched again.
ReplyDeleteOh, I never even thought about the Region 1 and 2 thing affecting rentals across the pond. Netflix is good, imo, but they are splitting into two companies, one for streaming and one for rentals, instead of keep it all one site like it is now. We'll see how it affects availability, you know, since I'm not watching blockbuster releases or television shows :)
ReplyDeleteEvery once in a while, the internet makes me feel sane. I've seen this movie exactly once about twenty years ago in the dead of night. The thing lodged in my brain pan and never left it. Yes, there's a lot of 70s schlock value; underneath that, though, this is a disturbing little movie. People turning into snakes? That's terrifying. So glad to see others out there have seen this and liked it.
ReplyDeleteHi Dusty! It's absolutely terrifying, despite it's schlocky-ness; I agree. Could you imagine slowing turning into a snake? That would be the worst. I would be sad to be stuck in the sideshow in such a state and I LOVE the sideshow!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, this is my kind of movie, all the fucking way.
Um wow. I musssssssssssst ssssssssssseeee thisssssssssssss. Sorry, couldn't help myself.
ReplyDeleteWait! How could you leave out the awesomness that is Dirk Benedict?
ReplyDeleteSigh.
(see you in the challenge).
Elwood, just watched the Jennifer Lynch film you speak of here - HISSS. What to say, really? Stay tuned for short review during next week's Challenge post.
ReplyDeleteI saw this movie at the drive-in. It was so awesome we stayed to watch the psychedelic transformation a second time. I love this movie.
ReplyDelete