Chikara

...that said, if you are fond of those kind of odd, strange little gems, The Shadow of Chikara may perfectly well be made/suitable for you!

In other words: Yes, be prepared, this is NOT your typical spooky horror tale!

Indeed, the director of this intense and weird "Western that turns out to be closer to other genres like a chiller, horror and even fantasy" Earl. E. Smith (who wrote The Legend of Boogey Creek too) did a great job (even, admittedly, with its own flaws): This film stats on common, well-known ground (what we call in France La Guerre de Secession/the Secession War -The American Civil War) and explores after an action-packed overture other ways: When our three leading protagonists (a Confederate, his friend and allied Indian, a geologist) try to find some hidden stones (they may be diamonds, if refereed to their owner who died on the battlefield) in a desolate mountain, things get strange and spooky: as a matter of fact, the Indian feels a "presence" following them. Things get even more complicate when these three stressed men discover the place were a real slaughter took place; they also quickly find out that only a girl (played by Clint Eastwood's former wife Sondra Locke) survived in this tragedy. Can they reasonably left her behind? Yeah, the tension grows and grows!

This is Mister Smith first and only movie, and he manages for his once and never again directorial achievement to create a realistic, menacing and scary atmosphere as they loved it in the 70. No effects of any kind, no jump scare etc... Wow!

So yep, of course, this isn't an action packed Super Hero Movie, nor even a "13 Ghosts CGI overkill" nor a gory splatter-film. It may even be somehow predictable (not too easy to find out what's going on, isn't it?). But this is a great, tense and very well acted effort. At the end, when I sit back and thought about the whole story, it made definitely even more sense and so I must admit that I found it even more profoundly disturbing. A haunting performance, indeed.

Jo Don Baker is perfect as always and Ted Neeley and Joy N. Houck Jr. Gave fine performances too. What else can a film freak ask for?

So in my humble opinion, this is all in all a real treat and really need to be revaluated.

N.b.: If you manage to find this gem somewhere, be careful: it has been reedited from 114 min to a 90 min cut with bleeps... Whatsoever, this movie is so hard to find nowadays, don't hesitate. Even then, with a poor SD quality, you won't regret it if you are fond of this kind of movie, believe me!

On Friday 14th May 1982 this was the first film I ever recorded on a VCR - thats why I remember it so vividly - and I loved it. Yesterday I finally tracked it down on DVD under the title Curse of the Demon Mountain in the UK.

This has to be the worst official DVD release I have ever seen. I was still able to enjoy the movie, it is (in my opinion) a masterpiece of the horror/western cinema subgenre, but the film transfer was awful.

Sound was poor, colours went from over exposed to faded, the film was full frame (despite being shot in Panavision) and the sound went totally muted whenever an insult was hurled! Talk about censorship! The horse fall was there, the bloody battle at the start, the arrow in the arm, but any old insult gets censored out! Unbelievable.

Its about time Chikara got the DVD treatment it deserves. Full 2.35 to 1 widescreen, with loads of extras. I would love to see it that way.

And I would happily pay good money for the chance!

Watch Predator Watch this

Familiar isn't it, Jungle coming to life, invisible enemies, a lone girl who has experienced the terrible thing that comes from the trees. The brave Indian tracker, its all there. Predator by any other name, and worth watching. Forget the other reviews, this was blockbuster (popular soundtrack The Band, horror, fear , scares, b grade cast?)

Great cast they are familiar.

Just watch it, its good.

The director should have made more films, he had a talent and I think it was wasted, I loved it Earl, you did well

How many titles does it want to come under, and how close do they want to sound. For an immensely under-seen film, it's a long list that's for sure and this could mean there's a whole bunch of alternative versions. Possibly? Anyhow 'Curse of Demon Mountain' is very offbeat, but murky western / horror variation set during the end of the American Civil War. It's a low-cost looking production, but its minor handling and realistically down n' gritty vibe helped engrave a hauntingly grim atmosphere. Never does it fault on that aspect. The material might be slight, but because of its ambiguous air, paranoid questioning and often mentioned superstitious framework it does genuinely keep you compelled.

At the end of the Civil War Southern Captain Wishbone Cutter, Indian/Irish companion Half-Moon O'Brian and geologist Amos Richmond head out on a journey to a cave which supposedly holds some valuable stones. Along the way they come across a young lady, Drusilla Wilcox, who was the last survivor of an Indian ambush and decide she'll come too. But it doesn't seem quite right, as they are being followed by some unseen force who doesn't want them to reach their destination.

Really there's nothing there to blow you away about the concept, but the claustrophobic build-up, the uncertain spookiness and unpredictable developments make-up for its clunky and patchy moments. Earl E. Smith (who was director/writer/producer) can fall into some slipshod mechanisms, but his organically leery and edgy touch is well devised. The simmering score felt rather one-note, but the terrible audio sound on my VHS didn't do it any favours. In the soundtrack there's an odd inclusion of "The Night the Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band, which plays during the opening battle sequence. The performances are very well brought across. Joe Don Baker burly and larger than life temperament is kept under check with a dominant, but careful portrayal as Cutter. Sondra Locke brings a bewildering innocence to her role. Joy Houck, Jr sensationally holds his own with Baker and Ted Neeley is ably good too. Slim Pickens also clocks in for awhile.

I see it brought up, but the use of horses in one particular scene is quite disturbing if it was for real. I can't see it not being so.

An interestingly novel and for most part an effective production, which has got be an eventual cult item.

After the battle in American Civil War the dying Virgil Cane tells Confederate officer Wishbone Cutter about diamonds hidden in a cave along the Buffalo River.Coming back Cutter finds his wife and her new husband.After violent fight he sets out with his Irish-Cherokee companion Half-Moon O'Brian and geologist Amos Richmond to find the diamonds.Along the journey they meet a young woman Drusilla Wilcox in a nearly catatonic state and take her with them.As they head up into the mountain Half-Moon realizes that it is the Mountain of Demons,which is cursed by the spirit of Chikara who promised to kill all who ventured into its domain."The Spirit of Chikara" is an interesting mix of ugly western and eerie horror.The acting is believable and the climax is very surprising.The scene of two horses falling down from the slope is shocking and unsettling.8 out of 10.