"Incubus" is one hell of a bizarre and trashy horror film. In fact, it's just bizarre enough and trashy enough to keep its viewers watching out of sheer curiosity. It doesn't exactly have a strong story; it's based on a novel by Ray Russell, and perhaps something was lost in the transition to film.
The story is about brutal rapes & murders being committed in a small Wisconsin town named Galen. A relative newcomer to the town, doctor Sam Cordell (a slumming John Cassavetes), tries hard to help the frustrated local police chief, Hank Walden (John Ireland), by working the clues. Meanwhile, Sams' daughter Jenny (Erin Noble) is dating a local boy, Tim Galen (Duncan McIntosh) whose nightmares serve as precursors to the crimes.
As directed by John Hough ("The Legend of Hell House"), this is interesting, to say the least. It's a very amusing and relentlessly nasty film that should have its audience feeling sympathy for the poor female victims. Making it worth sticking with is a central performance by the great, Oscar-nominated Cassavetes, who often sports a strained smile on his face. The other actors, including Ireland, Noble, McIntosh, Kerrie Keane as the trouble-making newspaper editor, Helen Hughes, Harvey Atkin, and Harry Ditson, are okay, but this is definitely Cassavetes' show. (The story that I've heard is that he used his paycheck from this picture to help fund his 1984 film "Love Streams".)
People who enjoy twisted little details in stories will be intrigued to watch as Cordell kisses his daughter on the lips and peers at her while she emerges from a shower. Overall, this is pretty creepy stuff, and it is NOT without its fun moments. One of them is seeing a pre-Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson performing with Samson, the band he was in at the time. Another is the sequence with a farming family; the gun-toting dad is struck in the neck with a pitchfork and as a result accidentally blows off his foot! The camera-work in a subsequent scene that reveals a victim through the crack at the bottom of a door is VERY impressive. People also might enjoy the twist ending when the title demons' human guise is revealed. The atmosphere is decent and the gore well-executed when it is utilized. There is also some good nudity for the voyeurs among us. Horror fans should find this an acceptable entertainment.
Six out of 10.
The story is about brutal rapes & murders being committed in a small Wisconsin town named Galen. A relative newcomer to the town, doctor Sam Cordell (a slumming John Cassavetes), tries hard to help the frustrated local police chief, Hank Walden (John Ireland), by working the clues. Meanwhile, Sams' daughter Jenny (Erin Noble) is dating a local boy, Tim Galen (Duncan McIntosh) whose nightmares serve as precursors to the crimes.
As directed by John Hough ("The Legend of Hell House"), this is interesting, to say the least. It's a very amusing and relentlessly nasty film that should have its audience feeling sympathy for the poor female victims. Making it worth sticking with is a central performance by the great, Oscar-nominated Cassavetes, who often sports a strained smile on his face. The other actors, including Ireland, Noble, McIntosh, Kerrie Keane as the trouble-making newspaper editor, Helen Hughes, Harvey Atkin, and Harry Ditson, are okay, but this is definitely Cassavetes' show. (The story that I've heard is that he used his paycheck from this picture to help fund his 1984 film "Love Streams".)
People who enjoy twisted little details in stories will be intrigued to watch as Cordell kisses his daughter on the lips and peers at her while she emerges from a shower. Overall, this is pretty creepy stuff, and it is NOT without its fun moments. One of them is seeing a pre-Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson performing with Samson, the band he was in at the time. Another is the sequence with a farming family; the gun-toting dad is struck in the neck with a pitchfork and as a result accidentally blows off his foot! The camera-work in a subsequent scene that reveals a victim through the crack at the bottom of a door is VERY impressive. People also might enjoy the twist ending when the title demons' human guise is revealed. The atmosphere is decent and the gore well-executed when it is utilized. There is also some good nudity for the voyeurs among us. Horror fans should find this an acceptable entertainment.
Six out of 10.