Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

A family gets lost on the road and stumbles upon a hidden, underground, devil-worshiping cult led by the fearsome Master and his servant Torgo.

Director:

Harold P. Warren

Writer:

Harold P. Warren (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Neyman, John Reynolds, Diane Adelson

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Neyman	...	The Master
John Reynolds	...	Torgo
Diane Adelson	...	Margaret (as Diane Mahree)
Harold P. Warren	...	Michael (as Hal Warren)
Stephanie Nielson	...	Master's Wife
Sherry Proctor	...	Master's Wife
Robin Redd	...	Master's Wife
Jackey Neyman Jones	...	Debbie (as Jackey Neyman)
Bernie Rosenblum	...	Teenager in Car
Joyce Molleur	...	Teenager in Car
William Bryan Jennings	...	Cop
Jay Hall	...	Girl in Convertible
Bettye Birns	...	Master's Wife
Lelanie Hansard	...	Girl in Convertible
Pat Coburn	...	Master's Wife

Storyline

A family's driving across the country where they stumble across a mysterious house, inhabited by the satyr-man Torgo. When the family decide to stay over at the house, the family's mother is now the object of desire for Torgo and the owner of the house, The Master: a mysterious figure whom dresses in a black robe, decorated with red hands.

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Plot Keywords:

catfight | driving | dog | gun | luggage | 

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Taglines:

It's Shocking! It's Beyond Your Imagination!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fingers of Fate

Filming Locations:

Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norm-Iris,Sun City Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.30 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The random scenes featuring two teenagers who are hassled by the cops while necking in their car were added because actress Joyce Molleur broke her leg during filming, and was unable to perform her original role.

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Goofs

When the Master breaks up the wives' fight, rolled-up jeans are visible when he lifts his cloak.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Margaret: We're almost there, honey. Just a little while longer and your vacation starts.
Debbie: I'm getting cold, mother, and hungry!

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Crazy Credits

The End?

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Alternate Versions

Among the scenes edited from the film for its appearance on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1993 were a short scene of the family taking a wrong turn en route to valley lodge, more scenes of the family fleeing the cult, and a scene of the Master repeatedly smacking his defiant wife.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Bloody Birthday, Crazy Fat Ethel II, and Psycho from Texas (2013)

User Reviews

"Mike I'm scared." "Of WHAT?"

Okay. This is officially the worst movie ever made. Not because it's poorly done, because there are movies, like "Monster A-Go-Go", that are more poorly conceived, acted, directed, filmed, and edited. But "Manos" stands out because it is so incomprehensibly bad. It is SO bad that it is hard to imagine it was done by accident. It often seems like they film is supposed to be bad, and that the director is actually brilliantly creating a horrible film, because this kind of badness doesn't usually come from apathy or a lack of talent and money. This is worse.

The film is also very icky and very dull. Almost nothing happens (certainly not anything interesting) and if you survive the first ten minutes of driving around the countryside you'll just want everyone in the film to die.

However, because this movie is so brilliantly and incredibly bad, I suggest everyone watch it just to know it. Everyone should see "Citizen Kane" because it is the watermark for all good movies. Everyone should see "Manos" for the same reason. It puts all other bad movies to shame. I do suggest though, that it be watched ONLY as the MST3K version, since the team does a good job riffing the film. Even they seem to be too caught up in the film's reeking badness at times that they are just stunned, but they still do a good job. I also doubt you would find a regular version of this movie, since I doubt anyone would be crazy enough to have one.

Interestingly, the guy who plays the mean, stupid, and totally useless husband wrote, directed, and produced the film, and the guy who plays "The Master" did the art direction. They both failed in all their work. No one in this movie has ever done anything else. Thank God.