DEVIL TIMES FIVE (1974)

3 stars

88 Films. Blu Ray. 26th January

Aka Peopletoys/The Horrible House on Hill/Tantrums

Another in 88 Films Slasher Classics series — this one being number 61.

Rick (Taylor Lacher) and Julie (Joan McCall) are heading to the snowy mountains to meet up with family. They head off to make it through the treacherous conditions to get to Lake Arrowhead.

Meanwhile a van carrying children from a psych hospital, skids off the road near to the chalet where the group of adults are staying. The driver is killed in the crash. Survivors are Sister Hannah (Gail Smale), who may or may not be a nun, and four children: Susan (Tia Thompson), Moe (Dawn Lyn), David (Leif Garrett, the best known of the younger actors) and Brian (Tierre Turner).

Rick and Julie arrive at the remote house — apart from the irascible Papa Doc, who is in real estate and very pushy, there is his new, younger wife Lovely (Carolyn Stellar) and his business partner Harvey Beckman (Sorrell Booke) and his wife Ruth (Shelley Morrison). Also at the house is mentally challenged housekeeper Ralph (John Durren).

Unbeknownst to then, Sister Hannah and the children have trekked through the snow and managed to get into the cellar — their physician Dr Brown (Henry Beckman), who has also survived the accident, has followed them. They brutally murder him — in sepia tone and slow motion no less — potentially to drag out the runtime rather than for artistic reasons.

Later they frighten Ruth, who wakes up the rest of the household with her panic. They take pity on the youngsters, despite them being a bit odd and let them stay the night. Things aren’t going to end well…

The film was started by Sean MacGregor — who is credited on the film — who was fired after a few weeks and direction was taken over by David Sheldon, with much of the previously shot footage discarded. Carolyn Stellar who plays Lovely was the real life mum of cast members Leif Garrett and Dawn Lyn.

The cast is okay and the younger members aren’t annoying, but apart from the slightly unusual angle of the killer children this is rather drawn out and no classic. They are nasty pieces of work, it has to be said, and come up with some good ways to kill including piranha in the bath! The creepy final scene justifies the alternate title Peopletoys.

This release is newly restored in 4K from the original 35mm negative.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Two Audio Commentaries one by The Hysteria Continues! and an archival one with actresses Joan McCall and Dawn Lyn, producer Michael Blowitz and uncredited co-director David Sheldon, moderated by Darren Gross

Interviews with second assistant director Walter Dominguez/with Bruce Wank, son of executive producer Jordan M. Wank/with Nightmare USA author Stephen Thrower

Archival featurette comprising interviews with actors Tierre Turner, Joan McCall, Dawn Lyn, producer Michael Blowitz and co-director David Sheldon plus Bonus archival interviews

Alternate DEVIL TIMES FIVE title card; Theatrical trailer

Reversible Sleeve plus O Ring with original artwork plus booklet with notes by Calum Waddell.