Mannikin

I just caught a 16mm print of this at a screening of "trash classroom films" held by a local collector for Halloween.

The print came with a card detailing how it was made as an educational film; to be shown in the classroom; so as to engage students in discussion about the adaptation of literature into film.

It came complete with a list of suggested questions.

The story was written by Robert Bloch, who is best known for having written Psycho and Star Trek; and it was adapted by Canadian filmmaker Don Thompson, who mainly did work for the CBC- directing TV movies and documentaries and such.

This was probably his oppourtunity to "break out"...though, considering the results...it didn't seem to work out that way for him.

He did have a pretty damn solid cast for this short film project.

With Ronee Blakely- fresh off of Nashville, and still basking in the fame- in the main role as Simone, a talented young singer with a tormented past, that comes back to haunt her after the death of her not very good mother. And Keir Dullea, who was previously featured in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, as the shrink and love interest of Simone.

Which, considering, should have resulted in something much better than this is.

The story begins with Simone returning to her childhood home after the death of her mother.

It is clear from the get-go, that whatever went on there had clearly traumatized her.

Turns out her mother was part of some sort of demonic cult, and had subjected Simone to a number of rituals as a child.

And she's still a little bitter about it...so a friend recommends she see a shrink.

She does so, but ends up falling in love with him...that is...until she starts hearing the voice of her dead mother speaking to her from within her own mind.

The voice lures her back to her old home which still, apparently, houses the demonic cult.

Her shrink boyfriend follows her, with hopes of saving her from both the cult and herself.

However, he doesn't make it in time; things take a turn towards The Manitou...and the film abruptly ends.

The cinematography has a nice 70's cult style...and Blakely does a pretty decent job (she can really belt it out!)...but the ending is really very weak.

Things probably could have been salvaged if they had given the Mannikan a bit more screentime...but the way it came out probably explains why Thompson didn't go on to achieve bigger and better things.

The shock factor just isn't extreme enough to warrant such an abrupt ending.

And so, it has been relegated to the dustbin of history.

It was actually included in the Three Dangerous Ladies horror anthology released in the UK in 1977 (alongside segments from Robert Fuest and Alvin Rakoff)...but even this has become a rarity...probably because it is also supposed to suck.

Stuff like this might not have much value anymore, but it'll always be good for a laugh.

And for that, it's worth a watch...if you can find it!

4 out of 10.