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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Messiah of Evil: The Second Coming" or "Dead People" or "Revenge of the Screaming Dead"
or "The Second Coming" or "Return of the Living Dead" )
Directed by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz
USA 1973
Arletty (Marianna Hill, THE GODFATHER II) travels to dying coastal village Point Dune looking for her artist father but finds that he has disappeared. When she makes inquiries at a gallery, she learns that two women and a man have also been asking about him. She meats the beatnik trio (Michael Greer, Anitra Ford, and Joy Bang) as they are interviewing a tramp (Elisha Cook, Jr.) relating the grisly legend of Point Dune foretelling the return of "The Stranger" when the moon turns blood red. Thrown out of their motel, the trio shack up with Arletty at her father's seaside house and form a foursome of sexual tension. As they delve into Arletty's father's disappearance, the townspeoples' eyes have started bleeding and they've developed a taste for raw meat. Although it has its share of gore and zombie action, MESSIAH OF EVIL is an underrated horror film with a laid-back 70's semi-arthouse atmosphere. Huyck and Katz cite Antonioni's L'AVVENTURA as an influence which is believable as they claim not to have seen horror films similar to MESSIAH like CARNIVAL OF SOULS, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH but cite shot references to PIERROT LE FOU and the heroine being named after a character from Pagnol's CHILDREN OF PARADISE. The film's horror themes draw less from horror films than from literature, specifically Lovecraft with references to "the old gods." Although not well-received by critics at the time of its release (first as RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD for which it was served with a lawsuit and the title changed to DEAD PEOPLE and then MESSIAH OF EVIL - the title seen in the L.A. montage of Woody Allen's ANNIE HALL) - with the exception of Sight and Sound critic Robin Wood - MESSIAH OF EVIL has achieved a cult following through pan-and-scan video prints and more recent repertory screenings in scope. Fans of off-beat horror and arthouse pretense will enjoy this admirable little sleeper. *** After receiving a series of chilling letters from her reclusive father, Arletty (Mariana Hill, High Plains Drifter) drives to the remote seaside town of Pointe Dune to discover the reason for her father's developing madness. Upon her arrival, she encounters a mysterious trio of strangers investigating a local legend known as "The Blood Moon"... a curse that has transformed the inhabitants of the town into a terrifying horde of blood-thirsty maniacs! Also starring Michael Greer (Fortune and Men's Eyes), cult starlets Joy Bang and Anitra Ford, and screen legends Royal Dano and Elisha Cook, Jr., Messiah Of Evil is a unique shocker from the minds of Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (Oscar-nominated screenwriters of American Graffiti). A visual masterpiece finally brought to home video in its original scope aspect ratio, Messiah Of Evil is unlike any horror film you've ever seen. Enter Pointe Dune and prepare to be spellbound... |
Posters
Theatrical Release: May 2nd, 1973
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison
:Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC vs. Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Thanks to Eric Cotenas for the DVD Screen captures!
Box Cover |
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Bonus Captures: |
Re-issued in the UK by Radiance in March 2024: and in the US in April: Bonus Captures: |
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Distribution |
Code Red Region 0 - NTSC |
Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray | Radiance- Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:29:42 | 1:29:49.384 | 1:29:48.466 |
Video |
2.34:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
2.35 :1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 23,525,888,807 bytesFeature: 17,444,143,104 bytes Video Bitrate: 21.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 40,740,915,647 bytesFeature: 26,436,523,392 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate DVD: |
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Bitrate Code Red Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Radiance Blu-ray: |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1706 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1706 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1706 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1706 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
LPCM
Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB |
Subtitles | None | None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Code Red Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 18 |
Release Information: Studio: Code Red
2.35 :1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 23,525,888,807 bytesFeature: 17,444,143,104 bytes Video Bitrate: 21.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Commentary by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz• Remembering Messiah of Evil (21: 41) • Short Films of Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (21:31)
Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9
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Release Information: Studio: Radiance
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 40,740,915,647 bytesFeature: 26,436,523,392 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Audio commentary by critics and horror experts Kim Newman and Stephen Thrower • Archival interview with co-writer-director Willard Huyck by Mike White from the Projection Booth Podcast (37:34) • What the Blood Moon Brings: Messiah of Evil, A New American Nightmare - A documentary feature which explores Messiah of Evil in the context of American independent cinema of the 70s, as well as examining the film's allegiance to several subgenres of horror (56:55) • Visual essay on the American Gothic by critic Kat Ellinger (21:31) Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow Limited edition booklet featuring new and archival writing
Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 10 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
ADDITION: Radiance
Films
Blu-ray
(September 2023): Radiance Films have also transferred Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz's
Messiah of Evil
to Blu-ray. Their transfer is cited
as being from a "New 2023 restoration from a 4K scan of the
best-surviving elements of the film from the Academy Film Archive". It's
quite a bump over the 2014 Code Red 1080P. Even without addressing the 75%
higher bitrate (on a dual-layered disc) and that the damage marks and cue
blips are removed - the image is brighter, more detailed, more consistent
textures and has more layered contrast. Radiance Films has done a real
service to fans of
Messiah of Evil
- a gem of a 70's horror.
NOTE: We have added 84 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Radiance use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the
original English language. I can't tell much difference from the strong
Code Red audio transfer that features the electronic music of Phillan Bishop (The
Severed Arm,
Kiss of the Tarantula)
and a fair amount of screaming gals.
Unlike the Code Red, Radiance Films offers optional English
subtitles on their Region FREE
Blu-ray.
Radiance include many supplements starting with a new audio commentary by,
two of our favorites, critics and horror experts Kim Newman (Classic
Monsters Unleashed) and Stephen Thrower (author of
NIGHTMARE USA: The Untold
Story of the Exploitation Independents.) There is a lot to talk
about Messiah of Evil including connections to George Lucas,
exploitation films of the 70's and beyond, Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz,
the film's "neglected" and "surreal" horror film status, its labeling in the
"the American Nightmare" genre, memorable culty cast plus so much
more. There is a 37-minute archival (October 2019) audio-only interview with
co-writer-director Willard Huyck by Mike White from the
Projection
Booth Podcast. Willard discusses his start in filmmaking and other
projects. It was conduced over the phone so the sound quality is at the
weaker end but highly interesting. What the Blood Moon Brings: Messiah of
Evil, A New American Nightmare is an almost-hour long documentary
feature which explores Messiah of Evil in the context of American
independent cinema of the 70s, as well as examining the film's allegiance to
several subgenres of horror. It was directed by Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin,
written and produced by Kat and has video content from Guy Adams, Dr.
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (1000
Women In Horror, 1895-2018), Dr. David Huckvale, Mikel J Koven, and
Maitland McDonagh - parts were narrated by Jean-Paul Ouellette. It explores
Messiah of Evil in the context of American Independent cinema of the
70s, as well as examining the film's allegiance to several subgenres of
horror films through its underlying themes. Lastly is another excellent
visual essay by critic Kat Ellinger. It runs 22-minutes and looks at
American Gothic and female hysteria. The package has a reversible sleeve
featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by 'Time Tomorrow' and a
limited edition booklet featuring new and archival writing.
I love
***
NOTE: We have added 80 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Code Red use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the
original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio
and score featuring the electronic music of Phillan Bishop (The
Severed Arm,
Kiss of the Tarantula).
Like their DVD, Code Red offer no
subtitles on their Region FREE
Blu-ray.
The Code Red
Blu-ray
Gary Tooze
ON THE DVD (2009): After years of bad pan-scan
videos and a compromised 1.85:1 Greek-sourced version, MESSIAH
OF EVIL is finally available in its correct Techniscope (2.35:1)
aspect ratio and is hellishly beautiful. Anamorphic,
progressive, and dual-layer, the transfer retains natural grain
and sometimes-intense colors. Seen in widescreen, the
compositions are consistently interesting (particularly when
live characters are posed against the mural backgrounds of the
studio). Sadly, Code Red did not include
as a bonus the theatrical opening and closing sequences where
are the same as here but scored with the Raun McKinnon song
"Hold On To Love" (added by the producer). Audio has a little
hiss but the dialogue and music is always clear. Director
Willard Huyck and co-writer Gloria Katz (who collaborated on
AMERICAN GRIFFITI) provide an entertaining commentary -
moderated by Code Red regular Lee Christian - which conveys both
their enthusiasm for the low budget project as well as their
disappointment about its obscurity. The documentary features
input from director Huyck, co-writer Gloria Katz, editors Morgan
Fischer and Billy Weber, mural painter Joan Mocine, and
cinematographer Stephan Katz. Actress Joy Bang provides a
telephone interview (the audio has been cleaned up but is still
poor given the source). Two short films by Huyck and Katz and
the usual bunch of Code Red trailers round out the extras. A
very satisfying release. |
Menus / Extras
Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC
Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample - Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray
1) Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC TOP 2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
Future director Walter Hill!
1) Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC TOP 2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC TOP 2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC TOP 2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Code Red - Region FREE - NTSC TOP 2) Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Radiance - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Radiance Films Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Code Red Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
Box Cover |
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Bonus Captures: |
Re-issued in the UK by Radiance in March 2024: and in the US in April: Bonus Captures: |
|
Distribution |
Code Red Region 0 - NTSC |
Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray | Radiance- Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |