← Back to Reviews
in
The 1970s and 1980s seemed to be the source of many of the horror subgenres we continue to see nowadays. From slashers to deadly rural killers, from zombies to Satanist cults. But another horror subgenre that was very prominent in that decade, and from which we're still seeing output from is the "killer kid" subgenre, which is what this little known film delivers, times five.
Devil Times Five (also known as People Toys, The Horrible House on the Hill, or Tantrums) follows a group of "killer kids" that escape from a psychiatric hospital and find their way into the luxurious cabin of a real estate tycoon that's having a group of people over for both business and pleasure. As you might expect, there isn't much of a chance for neither business nor pleasure.
This is a film I don't think I had seen mentioned ever... at all, but when I was looking for something to fit this criteria, I was intrigued by the premise. The film doesn't feature any notable cast and crew member as far as I'm concerned, it seems to be very low budget, direction is somewhat amateurish, and the film is overall fairly exploitative, featuring a lot of nudity and violence (even if it's not that graphic).
But what it might lack in so-called "finesse", it kinda makes up for with a certain edge and boldness to its topic. Even though its presentation of people with mental issues is problematic, to say the least, I was captivated by how daring the film was in its story and eventually in how things end.
So even if this is not technically excellent, if you're in the mood for some cheap-ish slasher with loud, obnoxious characters, women in underwear fighting, and a somewhat surprising ending, then go with the one with "the g0ddamn kids".
Grade:
DEVIL TIMES FIVE
(1974, MacGregor)
A film with the number 5 (Five, Fifth, etc.) in its title
(1974, MacGregor)
A film with the number 5 (Five, Fifth, etc.) in its title
"It's the kids. Jesus Christ, it's the g0ddamn kids!!"
The 1970s and 1980s seemed to be the source of many of the horror subgenres we continue to see nowadays. From slashers to deadly rural killers, from zombies to Satanist cults. But another horror subgenre that was very prominent in that decade, and from which we're still seeing output from is the "killer kid" subgenre, which is what this little known film delivers, times five.
Devil Times Five (also known as People Toys, The Horrible House on the Hill, or Tantrums) follows a group of "killer kids" that escape from a psychiatric hospital and find their way into the luxurious cabin of a real estate tycoon that's having a group of people over for both business and pleasure. As you might expect, there isn't much of a chance for neither business nor pleasure.
This is a film I don't think I had seen mentioned ever... at all, but when I was looking for something to fit this criteria, I was intrigued by the premise. The film doesn't feature any notable cast and crew member as far as I'm concerned, it seems to be very low budget, direction is somewhat amateurish, and the film is overall fairly exploitative, featuring a lot of nudity and violence (even if it's not that graphic).
But what it might lack in so-called "finesse", it kinda makes up for with a certain edge and boldness to its topic. Even though its presentation of people with mental issues is problematic, to say the least, I was captivated by how daring the film was in its story and eventually in how things end.
So even if this is not technically excellent, if you're in the mood for some cheap-ish slasher with loud, obnoxious characters, women in underwear fighting, and a somewhat surprising ending, then go with the one with "the g0ddamn kids".
Grade: