This was an interesting sit through. It was the very first film to capitalize on the Manson Family murders and was actually being made WHILE the trial was still going on. Though it is surely an exploitation film, it's a lot tamer than you would expect. It isn't gory, and any sexual exploits were the depictions of hippies doing hippie things back in the late 60's.
Any exploitation director could've made the whole film about the murders with a lot of blood, women getting their clothes torn off a midst torture, and the killers acting maniacally for shock value but this film... took its time.
I'd say it's like if Terrence Malick tried to make Funny Games. The director took time to show the life of the Manson family, but didn't give them an identity or something to care about for them. The killers are given a perfect empty shell of character--they aren't even given names. Obviously the victims aren't named out of respect but the actual members of the Manson family, I believe, aren't given names because they're cold blooded murderers stripped of their humanity.
The black and white cinematography really did well to capture the mood, especially during the home invasion sequence. Frank Howard really knew how to use shadows to his advantage to make a dark and depressing event, and made the Manson Family members look menacing. It's really surprising that he never went on to do anything else because for someone obviously having no prior experience, he certainly did show a lot of competence and ambition.
I really have to hand it to Brian Klinknett as the lead killer for delivering a crazy and terrifying performance and it's also a shame that he didn't really go on to do anything else. When his character says "I am the Devil, coming to do the Devil's work", I genuinely believe what he is saying. Barely at all did I see an actor seeming like they're just reciting a line.
Speaking of great performers with lackluster careers, the music is amazing. Sean Bonniwell supplied songs from his band The Music Machine and wow, their psychedelic blues infused proto-punk is a hidden gem from the 60's and their song "Dark White" should have been a hit but in my research, their marketing was terrible and they broke up in 1969. So I'd definitely seek out some of their music and give it a listen.
All in all, it's a very rough film and you should know a bit of details about the Manson Family before watching it, but for a small, forgotten exploitation film, I think it's worth watching.
Any exploitation director could've made the whole film about the murders with a lot of blood, women getting their clothes torn off a midst torture, and the killers acting maniacally for shock value but this film... took its time.
I'd say it's like if Terrence Malick tried to make Funny Games. The director took time to show the life of the Manson family, but didn't give them an identity or something to care about for them. The killers are given a perfect empty shell of character--they aren't even given names. Obviously the victims aren't named out of respect but the actual members of the Manson family, I believe, aren't given names because they're cold blooded murderers stripped of their humanity.
The black and white cinematography really did well to capture the mood, especially during the home invasion sequence. Frank Howard really knew how to use shadows to his advantage to make a dark and depressing event, and made the Manson Family members look menacing. It's really surprising that he never went on to do anything else because for someone obviously having no prior experience, he certainly did show a lot of competence and ambition.
I really have to hand it to Brian Klinknett as the lead killer for delivering a crazy and terrifying performance and it's also a shame that he didn't really go on to do anything else. When his character says "I am the Devil, coming to do the Devil's work", I genuinely believe what he is saying. Barely at all did I see an actor seeming like they're just reciting a line.
Speaking of great performers with lackluster careers, the music is amazing. Sean Bonniwell supplied songs from his band The Music Machine and wow, their psychedelic blues infused proto-punk is a hidden gem from the 60's and their song "Dark White" should have been a hit but in my research, their marketing was terrible and they broke up in 1969. So I'd definitely seek out some of their music and give it a listen.
All in all, it's a very rough film and you should know a bit of details about the Manson Family before watching it, but for a small, forgotten exploitation film, I think it's worth watching.