Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile (1974) Deranged (original title)

Directors:

Jeff Gillen
Alan Ormsby

Writer:

Alan Ormsby

Release Date:

February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Pretty Sally Mae died a very unnatural death! ... But the worst hasn't happened to her yet! DERANGED ... confessions of a necrophile

Plot:

Based on the Ed Gein case, a deranged rural farmer becomes a grave robber and murderer after the death of his possessive mother whom he keeps her corpse, among others, as his companions in his decaying farmhouse

Plot Keywords:

Grave | Wisconsin | Farmer | Grave Robber | Taxidermy

Cast

Roberts Blossom	...	Ezra Cobb
Cosette Lee	...	Ma Cobb
Leslie Carlson	...	Tom Sims
Robert Warner	...	Harlon Kootz
Marcia Diamond	...	Jenny Kootz
Brian Smeagle	...	Brad Kootz
Arlene Gillen	...	Miss Johnson
Robert McHeady	...	Sheriff
Marian Waldman	...	Maureen Selby (as Marion Waldman)
Jack Mather	...	Drunk
Micki Moore	...	Mary
Pat Orr	...	Sally

Directed by
Jeff Gillen
Alan Ormsby

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alan Ormsby

Produced by
Peter James	....	executive producer
Tom Karr	....	producer
Bob Clark	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Carl Zittrer

Cinematography by
Jack McGowan

Art Direction by
Albert Fisher

Costume Design by
Elizabeth Leroy

Makeup Department
Jerome Bergson	....	makeup artist
Alan Ormsby	....	makeup artist
Tom Savini	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dennie Judson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martin L. Gillen	....	second assistant director (as Martin Gillen)
Ken Goch	....	first assistant director

Art Department
James B. Clark	....	property master

Sound Department
Gary Goch	....	sound
Austin Grimaldi	....	sound mixer
Joe Grimaldi	....	sound mixer (as Joseph Grimaldi)
Abe Menka	....	boom operator
Brigitte Sarthou	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
John McGowan	....	assistant camera
Michael McGowan	....	camera operator (as Mike McGowan)
Don Piel	....	camera operator (as Donald Piel)
Waldron Van Houten	....	gaffer

Other crew
Robert G. Gilder	....	production attorney
David Keshen	....	production assistant
Neil Macdonald	....	production assistant
Sandra Marley	....	script supervisor (as Sandra L. Ulosevich)
Eli Mina	....	production assistant
Donna Preece	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Karr International Pictures

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astral Films (1974) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Exploited Film (1998) (UK) (VHS)
• Fright Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Moore Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Deranged" - Canada (original title)

Runtime:

82 min | UK:84 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:PG (cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Karr International Pictures

Trivia:

Tom Savini said in an interview that the corpses in the film were made using plastic skull kits which were glued to bodies built of chicken wire and painted cotton. The faces were created by taking plaster castings of various relatives of the crew, including producer Tom Karr's wife.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Although supposedly set in the United States (US cash is shown), the cars have Ontario (Canada) license plates.

Quotes:

[after exhuming his dead mother]
Ezra Cobb:I apologize for calling you a hog, mama.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987) (V)

When the movie ends, the terror just begins!

Based on the diabolical doings of psycho-mama's boy Ed Gein, this film is guaranteed to leave you feeling uneasy for days after viewing. Some images are so horrific that they are fairly certain to haunt your dreams. Character actor Roberts Blossom in his best role ever is chillingly good as the overly devoted son who, not quite all there to begin with, goes completely round the bend when his beloved mother dies. He digs the old lady up, brings her back to the family farm, restores her corpse, and kills an occasional female passerby to keep her company. It's every bit as strange as it sounds. But when it's over, you can't simply shrug it off and say to yourself, "Oh well, it's only a movie", because it's based on the truth. Viewers familiar with the Ed Gein case will note that the filmmakers have, for the most part, stuck close to the facts. It leaves a strong impression, and, to put it mildly, a rather disturbing one. What's truly amazing is that the filmmakers have brought a sense of humor to these gruesome events and it ISN'T offensive. DERANGED is one of the best scary/funny movies I have ever seen. It is most definitely not for children. As for the adults, you"ll just have to take your chances.