Evil Spirits (1990)

A strange woman runs a boardinghouse whose tenants--mostly misfits and others who won't be missed--begin dying off or simply disappearing. She still cashes their government benefit checks ... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Graver

Writer:

Mikel Angel

Stars:

Karen Black, Arte Johnson, Virginia Mayo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karen Black	...	Ella Purdy
Arte Johnson	...	Lester Potts
Virginia Mayo	...	Janet Wilson
Michael Berryman	...	Mr. Balzac
Martine Beswick	...	Vanya
Bert Remsen	...	John Wilson
Yvette Vickers	...	Neighbor
Mikel Angel	...	Willie
Debra Lamb	...	Tina
Robert Quarry	...	Doctor
Anthony Eisley	...	Detective
Hoke Howell	...	Mailman
Sam Menning	...	Hans
Dori Courtney	...	Bank Teller
Larry Biedes	...	Mr. Stevens

Storyline

A strange woman runs a boardinghouse whose tenants--mostly misfits and others who won't be missed--begin dying off or simply disappearing. She still cashes their government benefit checks even after they're gone, and it turns out that disappearing tenants aren't the only weird things that are going on in that house.

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Plot Keywords:

low budget film | tenant | boardinghouse | murder | based on real events | 

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Taglines:

Madness. Murder. Mayhem.

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for areas of graphic violence, and for a scene of sensuality.

Did You Know?

Trivia

Released less than a year after, and loosely based on, the arrest of Dorthea Puente who ran a boarding house in Sacramento, CA. Puente was convicted of murdering three of her residents. Seven bodies were found buried on the property and she was charged with nine counts of murder. She died in prison on March 27, 2011 in the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla.

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Connections

Referenced in Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992)

User Reviews

a masterwork of mediocrity.

"So-so" sums it up...simply marginal on every level, with ensemble "anything for a paycheck" cast the only redeeming quality. Karen Black is her usual hammy self as the psychotic landlady of a rooming house for various misfit characters. They mysteriously disappear at random, while smiling Ms. Black continues collecting on their monthly government checks. She converses with an unearthly male voice from time-to-time...a spirit from beyond the grave, or just a madwoman's rambling dementia?

Not many great thrills to be had in this, but not bad enough to be harshly criticized, either...EVIL SPIRITS is a take-it-or-leave-it crap shoot- some may find this one entertaining(and gore mongers should find it acceptably gross), but I personally was left underwhelmed and rather put off by it's occasionally over-the-top comical silliness.

Hmmm.... 4.5/10, coulda been worse.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Evil Spirits

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color