Overlooked Horror Films - Day 20 - Messiah of Evil

Every day in October we will be highlighting one of our favorite overlooked horror films as a way to countdown to glorious Halloween. We are hoping to bring some attention to films that rarely get on horror lists during this time of year. We hope you enjoy!

Messiah of Evil (1973)

What’s it about: The story takes place in the California coastal town of Point Dune, where a reclusive artist lives and works in a large house on the beach. His daughter, having received a series of increasingly strange letters from the old man, has come to Point Dune to check on his condition. The letters and his diary all lead us to believe that he has either gone insane or has been taken over by evil forces. She, of course, discovers that he has mysteriously disappeared, but is even more alarmed at the strange people who populate the town, all of whom seem to be suspicious of her.

Why is it overlooked: The film is weird and doesn't exactly make a whole lot of sense. At the time, critics and audiences didn't know what to make of the film. Now it looks like a precursor to the work of David Lynch. Atmosphere over gore also keeps the film from finding an audience even in horror circles.

Why is it worth a look: The film scores a 10/10 on the creep out scale. I think its how off the entire film feels, like a Twilight Zone episode. Reality is sort of there but everything is off in this town. The film builds from dreamlike to a nightmare. While so much of the film is never explained, that is the power of the horror storytelling here. Several sequences are standouts but one in a theater is particularly memorable and spooky.