The Power

I like this film. During the early 80's these type of genre films were cropping up every other week, but this one i still remember to this day, so i watched it recently. The film has dated quite badly (like most straight to video movies of this era) although it's quite well made and acted and the gore scenes and special effects are carried out competently, considering the small budget it would have had. The story is not bad as well ; ancient Aztec charm possesses all who come in contact, with inevitable results. The ending also has a nice sting in the tail. Overall as far as eighties video fodder goes this could be called an exception !!

THE POWER is about a man named Jerry (Warren Lincoln), who comes into possession of an Aztec idol. Jerry has little idea of its dark history, beyond the fact that some kids claim that it caused a death.

Many unexplained events take place, and Jerry undergoes a drastic change in personality, becoming a danger to himself and others. Mostly others.

THE POWER is enjoyable in spite of / due to its inescapable, 1980's cheeeze-vibe. Jerry's transformation scene is quite impressive, as are his massive tumbleweed hairdo and matching sideburns!

Definitely recommended for all of those who are addicted to the movies of this era...

I wasn't expecting much from this film, but was eager to try something which I initially thought would primarily be an early 80s teen horror. Although three teens are somewhat critical plot, it is by no means a teen horror film.

'The Power' is about a little Aztec idol that exchanges many hands as its possessor (who must be adult and thus, 'corrupted') becomes the vessel for unleashing all of the idol's evil, and often with deadly implications for not only the victims of the possessor, but of the possessor himself. After making several exchanges in vying over control of this thing, three teenagers wind up finding it and can't figure out what it is, except that since they found it, strange and dangerous things are afoot. They offer to explain the situation to a news reporter who doesn't buy into the spiritual bologna. Although, it is her producer who wants to investigate further, especially if it means he can get control of the idol (I presume the teens are even not yet corrupted enough to feel the dangerous desires encouraged by the idol). It is a story told a thousand times, particularly in 1950s and 60s horror and science fiction fare.

This one was at least, for me, able to sustain some interest. Though low budget, it was not done so obviously cheaply or loaded with bad acting as many of the low-budget, come-and-go horror fare of the earlier decades had (nowadays, they have the same cheesy qualities, but bigger budgets). We are spare enough of it to at least allow ourselves an opportunity to become at least a little bit absorbed with the eerie atmosphere and so forth, despite a story of clichés. And, though not terribly gory, the special effects were done nicely.

Again, it is routine horror tale, especially with the ending (which by modern standards has become a device that is annoyingly overused), but one that is not so embarrassingly bad. It might be worth checking out, even if just for laughs.

An Aztec idol, Destacatyl, ends up in the hands of three high School students on the coast near Los Angeles. After an unexpected death, the trio seeks the aid of a tabloid writer, but it's her ex-beau who's fascinated by the artifact and the evident power thereof. Havoc ensues.

"The Power" (1984) mixes the evil spirit shenanigans of "The Exorcist" (1973) with the misshapen man-beast bits of "Altered States" (1980) while the faith-in-the-idol angle is done better in the future "Wendigo" (2001). It's one of those 'almost' movies that almost works enough.

Both Lisa Erickson as blonde teenager Julie and Suzy Stokey as brunette journalist Sandy are effective on the female front. Meanwhile the three teens investigating the spooky happenings is reminiscent of Scooby-Doo, albeit without the dog.

Unfortunately, there's just not enough to push the flick beyond mediocre. It needed a rewrite to flush out the potential, but that takes time and time is money in the movie biz. Still, I enjoyed it well enough for a streamlined mystery/horror from the early '80s.

The film runs 1 hour, 24 minutes, and, was shot in Redondo Beach, California, which is just southwest of Los Angeles.

GRADE: C+

A small Aztec doll takes over those who own it, forcing them to carry out gruesome killing sprees.

When I was flicking through the details of this film, I saw horror, I also saw the words Carpenter and John, a foolish assumption.

It's one of those films that I'd have to say, it isn't bad, it truly is just that, not a bad film at all, it has a suitably macabre tone, it looks pretty good, and it's actually well paced.

It gets going fairly quickly, and that scene inside the lecture room gets things moving straight away. There are a few shocks and decent moments of horror throughout, it just lacks a little bit of polish.

The acting is a little patchy at times, but come on what are you expecting here.

6/10.