Scalps (1983)

Silly group of college science students go an dig around in an indian burial ground for artifacts. Unfortunately, one of them becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Black Claw so he must ... See full summary »

Director:

Fred Olen Ray

Writers:

Fred Olen Ray (screenplay), T.L. Lankford (story),

Stars:

Jo-Ann Robinson, Richard Hench, Roger Maycock

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jo-Ann Robinson	...	D.J. (as Jo Ann Robinson)
Richard Hench	...	Randy / Black Claw
Roger Maycock	...	Kershaw Ellerbe
Frank McDonald	...	Ben Murphy
Carol Sue Flockhart	...	Louise Landon
Barbara Magnusson	...	Ellen Corman
Kirk Alyn	...	Professor Machen
Carroll Borland	...	Dr. Sharon Reynolds
Cynthia Hartline	...	Ann
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Professor Trentwood
George Randall	...	Billy Ironwing
Jay Walker	...	Kyle Dunne
Frank Scott	...	Prospector
Pepi	...	Little Kid
Romeo Rodriguis	...	Cashier

Storyline

Silly group of college science students go an dig around in an indian burial ground for artifacts. Unfortunately, one of them becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Black Claw so he must therefore slaughter all of his friends.

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Plot Keywords:

burial ground | student | supernatural | male rear nudity | teepee | 

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Taglines:

They came out of the grave... to get REVENGE!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Fluch des blutigen Schatzes

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Fred Olen Ray this film was severely re-edited without his consent by the distributor at the time of its release. Scenes were added out of context which threw off continuity and gave away major spoilers such the fates of most of the characters, as well as the shots of chanting Indian ghost's head, which was haphazardly overlayed over such scenes as the old man cutting his own throat. Also all but one of the scenes showing the ghost with the lion's head were shot as test footage and were never intended to be included in the released film.

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Goofs

Before one man's decapitation, his head comes off before it's supposed to.

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Crazy Credits

Next summer watch for SCALPS II: THE RETURN OF D.J.

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Connections

References This Island Earth (1955)

User Reviews

decent Fred Olen Ray, pure drive -in

When you see the name Forrest J Ackerman and Fred Olen ray then you know that you are in the Drive-in atmosphere. And let me say, that's exactly what we are looking at. It's made in the middle of the slasher heydays but it isn't really a slasher. Why Fred gives away the decapitation in the beginning is still an unsolved question because it almost the best part of this flick. What's weirder is the fact that before the begin credits you have only a score combined with the images. Once they start talking you're in for bad sound and bad editing. Some parts were filmed without extra light which gives you too dark images. Some parts of this flick is filmed on bad reel, other parts are better, it's just like they used different reels to add it on the DVD. The effects are sometimes ridiculous like the pop up of the Indian ghost with white eyes but others are done well. The scalping is done really good and the beheading is also okay. But overall you have to take a lot of talking before the movie really starts going. It reminded me a bit of the story of Evil Dead, here they use some Indian sticks to wake up old spirits and they get possessed by them killing their friends. This is a pure example of what Drive-in is all about. It's watchable still today if you're looking for old horrors but don't expect too much of it.