The Thrill Killers

I dug this film so much when I first saw it because it epitomizes what makes low budget exploitation good camp entertainment. It seems to be made made solely to exploit itself and does it's damndest to deliver. I like the b & w cinematography and the various cinematic devices used albeit some quite cliche. The camp and subversive elements are given to us hand in hand when serial killer Mort Click tells one of his female victims "People are no good" "I hate People!" "I'm going to kill you". Super cheesy chase at the end is the capper and, because it's slightly anti-climactic, only makes the exploitation motives more obvious therefore giving "The Thrill Killers" very high camp value. I still think it's an admirable and entertaining effort by a spirited and eccentric auteur.

I may as well admit something right up front: I will never give a totally negative review to a Ray Dennis Steckler film. I LOVE Steckler's films! They're so corny and cheesy, full of good intentions and a lot of fun. Thrill Killers is no exception. Though it is, by far, Steckler's darkest and most serious film, it's still a wild and weird good time.

Steckler himself plays Mad Dog, a psychopath who roams the streets of L.A., killing at random and often for no reason whatsoever. Mad Dog's brother, in the meantime, has escaped from an insane asylum with a couple of buddies. Also in the meantime, sexy Liz Renay has an argument with her struggling actor husband and flees into the hills to see her sister, who runs a roadside diner. Still with me? The psychos and the sexpot all meet up at the diner, and of course, all hell breaks loose.

There's some really great stuff here: Carolyn Brandt is chased through an empty house by an ax-wielding maniac whilst the radio plays the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The world's phoniest looking decapitation is also here, as well as posters of Stecklers previous films plastered all over the walls of the diner. There's also a great chase scene, with Steckler making a run for it on horseback! But not before Liz punches him right in the face and knocks him on his bony butt in a scene that made me laugh out loud. It even has a happy ending.

This film is pure Steckler, which will attract as many people as it will repel. You either like his films or you don't...and I love them. This is one of his very best.

Ray Dennis Steckler was one of the more spirited low-budget schlock auters working during the 1960s, and "The Thrill Killers" bears his trademark style: dissonant camera work during the action scenes, authentic locations, and generally ridiculous plot developments (wouldn't you be a bit alarmed if some twitchy guy brought a bloody ax into your restaurant?). By today's standards, the decapitations and stabbings are in the campy vein of Herschell Gordon Lewis (and the 'hynosis' gimmick is pure William Castle), and the hipster slang is dated and laughable. Steckler, who plays the lead psycho, has some genuinely creepy moments, and Carolyn Brandt (Steckler's girlfriend) is fun to watch as an early victim. Even though "The Thrill Killers" is slow-moving and erratically paced, it's worth a look for those who enjoy low-budget cinema.

5/10

Welcome to the world of Ray Dennis Steckler. Low budget shlock about three psychopaths and one of them's serial killer brother on the rampage in black-and-white 1960's Los Angeles.

This is most definitely Steckler's least incompetent film. Black and white cinematography is fantastic. Steckler applies creative film-making principles to a crazy low budget to make great entertainment, but also competent movie making. I really enjoyed the production music that he chose to use.

Steckler was also hanging around with Arch Hall Jr./Sr. (he appeared in and directed Wild Guitar) during these years. Hall Sr. even appears here in an unbilled cameo as himself: a drunken lout.

So I can't help but compare this film to the similar Arch Hall film "The Sadist." Similar plot device of maniacs keeping normal people at bay in a deserted shack out in the sticks, though that scenario takes up only a few scenes in this film, and takes up 95% of "The Sadist." This film is not quite as good as "The Sadist" but fans of that work should enjoy this trip as well.

Anyway, fans of Steckler's peculiar universe of film making should dig on this, though as others have stated this is most certainly his darkest film. Several genuinely scary scenes (in the DVD commentary track, Steckler brags about shooting these scenes in the daytime and still being able to scare the audience) and several exciting chase scenes for about the last 20 minutes of the movie, much better done than is usual for films of this budget level.

An enjoyable psychopathic killer film with a bit of late-period film noir atmosphere that comes off well. Just a bit of "Blast of Silence" maybe. Filmed in 1964, released in 1965. Available on DVD.

The set-up for this one is simple enough: three violently insane goons escape from a mental institution, and go on a rampage, terrorizing people like unsuccessful actor Joe Saxon (Joseph Bardo) and his wife Liz (moll turned stripper turned actress Liz Renay). While this is going on, a sole psychopath (played by director / writer / producer Ray Dennis Steckler, using his "Cash Flagg" pseudonym) is busy racking up his own body count.

"The Thrill Killers" is an above average sleazy-B; if you measure it against other flicks in the Steckler filmography, you too may think that it's better than expected. It benefits from some decent performances. Gary Kent, Herb Robins (later, the writer / director of "The Worm Eaters"), and Keith O'Brien are a hoot as the creeps; O'Brien is so looney he thinks nothing of bringing a murder weapon that he's recently used into a public place. Steckler himself is likewise amusing. His other cast members include his then-wife Carolyn Brandt, Laura Benedict as sassy diner owner Linda, Ron Burr as the ill-fated Ron, Atlas King as early victim Dennis Kesdekian, and Titus Moede in dual roles (including a hilarious Hollywood sycophant at the party). Producers Arch Hall Sr. and George J. Morgan play themselves, and B-movie perennial Renay's own daughter Brenda has a bit at the party. Coleman Francis is the narrator.

"The Thrill Killers" does show that Steckler was capable of some competence now and again. It wastes little time getting going, wraps up in a tidy 70 minutes, and gives us an action-packed, exciting finale wherein "Cash Flagg" runs the cops a merry chase. It moves along to a jaunty jazz score by Andre Brummer, and features excellent cinematography by Joseph V. Mascelli. That scene where Flagg is in a hotel room with his next victim is a perfect example of this.

Well worth a viewing for fans of vintage exploitation.

Seven out of 10.