Curse of the Headless Horseman

This film is somewhat intestering example of grade Z filmmaker, from a guy who was responsible for something called "Carnival of Blood" before moving on to hard core porno. Some footloose hippie types move out to a western ranch to help a friend, but the headless horsemen starts knocking them off, then there is a surprise ending. There seems to be no script, but the actors do a surprisingly good job just sort of cobbing the scenes together. It's kind of fun if you are in the right mood, the place kind of looks like the Spann ranch, and they sure don't make them like this anymore. The "Something Weird" video comes with trailers and other stuff

"A young man inherits his uncle's western ranch and invites his friends to come along and help out with the operation. After arriving, the caretaker explains to the group the legend of the headless horseman who roams the area to seek revenge. Laughing off the legend as the ramblings of an old man, the group are then shocked when the phantom rider appears, causing the deaths of some of the group," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis… This is one of those films for which even the lowest ranking seems too elevated - but, perhaps it's earned by walk-on Ultra Violet's "Superman" lunchbox.

* Curse of the Headless Horseman (1974) Leon Gucci ~ Marland Proctor, Don Carrara, Ultra Violet

Nonetheless, I find this to be absolutely hilarious. It's got all kinds of great things. The narrator is one of the most incomprehensible that I have ever seen. Half of what he says is more or less incomprehensible, and the other half is usually irrelevant to what's going on. I'm really not sure how we're supposed to be menaced by the bad guy. All he does is go up to people and shake his head at them spattering a little blood on them. Why would anyone bother doing that? To be honest, I think that even Scooby and Shaggy might have the courage to look at this guy for a while. Most of the dialogue is idiotic too, and clearly not written by any of the "right on hepcats" who really "know where it is at". There are definitely a lot of sequences that you will be wishing for an end to. The strange improv comedy routine (I think) from Unfunny and Unfunnier would definitely be an example. The acid trip is a little bizarre too. Also, it's hard to know where to go with a scene that has a rape scene going on with cool folk music in the background. I think we're supposed to be okay with it, but I'm really not. Anyway, this is a pretty hilarious movie. I recommend, if you can deal with the seventy six minutes of pain that it will cause you. Washington Irving need have no fear, though.

I don't know how to fix it, but the director is Leonard Kirtman, who also made Carnival of Blood and then dozens of adult films in the 1970s for his own company. Kirtland has his own IMBD page and this film should be listed there instead of under Kirkland.

I suppose the lighting director named Kirkland is somebody else and whoever entered the name missed a letter ore selected the wrong one from a menu.

The film itself is incredibly low budget but worth a look by fans of underground cinema. Especially noteworthy is the presence of Warhol factory superstar Ultra Violet in an non-Warhol project. The cinematography and sound are definitely on the amateur level and the story seems to have been written under the influence of something.

Mark Callahan inherits a cowboy ghost town from his uncle.He takes his fiancée Brenda and a group of hippie friends there,but it seems that a legendary Headless Horseman is prowling the area and scaring people to death..."Curse of the Headless Horseman" by Leonard Kirtman is even worse than his earlier horror schlock "Carnival of Blood".The story is boring,the acting is amateurish and there is almost no blood.Still "Curse of the Headless Horseman" offers some jaw-droppingly psychedelic moments for the lovers of low-budget trash.The faking of headless horseman is priceless.4 decapitated heads out of 10.A chore to sit through.