Unhinged (1982)

Three college girls on their way to a jazz festival crash their car in the isolated woods during a rainstorm, and are taken in by a mysterious family in an old mansion. Little do the girls know, the family has a dark, murderous secret.

Director:

Don Gronquist

Writers:

Don Gronquist, Reagan Ramsey

Stars:

Laurel Munson, Janet Penner, Sara Ansley

Cast

Cast overview:
Laurel Munson	...	Terry Morgan
Janet Penner	...	Marion Penrose (as J.E. Penner)
Sara Ansley	...	Nancy Paulson
Virginia Settle	...	Mrs. Penrose
John Morrison	...	Norman Barnes
Barbara Lusch	...	Gloria
Bill Simmonds	...	Carl Penrose
Francine Molter	...	Terry's Mother (voice)
Dave Hood	...	DJ (voice)

Storyline

College students, Terry, Nancy and Gloria are on their way to a rock concert, driving through a torrential rainstorm... only to crash their car, badly injuring one of them. Seeking shelter and aid they come across a house occupied by a man-hating mother and her daughter... our trio soon wish they hadn't.

---

Plot Keywords:

car | mansion | woods | secret | old lady | 

---

Taglines:

Get your slice from the reaper. Violence beyond reason, Victims beyond help.

---

Genres:

Horror

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Demencial

Filming Locations:

Pittock Mansion - 3229 NW Pittock Drive, Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anavisio Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film had already received notoriety in the UK after being featured on the BBC News as part of a report concerning the availability of uncertified video films. Even though the film had received a cinema certificate by the BBFC this led to it being banned and included on the DPP list of 72 video nasties. The film was eventually passed uncut in the UK in 2005.

---

Quotes

Nancy Paulson: God, can you believe that? I've seen people with aversions before, but Jesus!

---

Crazy Credits

The fast-food restaurant chain, "Taco Time" is given a special thanks in the end credits, because of the radio ad that is heard in the beginning of the movie.

---

Connections

Referenced in Discovering 'Evil Dead' (2002)

---

Soundtracks

PIANO CONCERTO NO. 20 IN D MINOR, K. 466, mvt. 2
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Unhinged - Under Rated

OK, its no blockbuster of a movie but for the whole part Unhinged is a great take on the hack n' slash genre. It summarises what these movies are about, take it too seriously and you'll miss the point.

First the production looks very much like it was all done on the el cheapo side of things. It looks like that all the aerial shots were all done within 15 minutes to save on helicopter hire. Special effects are mostly made up of splatting red paint/blood across an actor's face when someone gets hacked up. The movie also uses only about 2 or 3 locations. It's almost a how to do it yourself B-grade horror movie guide.

Unhinged carries elements across from other horror films. The synthesizer music (which John Carpenter made famous in his movies) is constantly utilized (especially when someone gets hacked up). There are a couple of nude scenes in the movie that add nothing to the plot and seem to be added just to keep the teenage male audience happy. Oh and everybody looks like they belong in an eighties B-Grade horror movie due to their acting and wardrobe.

Finally Unhinged gives to the genre by adding a twisted ending that I'm sure will surprise most. Dare I say this cheap horror flick almost has a plot! April Fools Day 1986 (four years later) is the only other horror movie I can think of with such a twisted ending.

If horror movies scare you don't watch Unhinged, you won't appreciate it. If you are the kind of person who likes cheap horror movies, then grab a friend and a couple of beers and sit back and embrace what is the Unhinged!!!