Locura satánica - Necromanía

If you can stomach the plot of this movie, then I think that it's fair to say that you will like it. The bloodshed is kept to a minimum (considering the subject matter), but the film should still probably be avoided if you are squeamish or easily offended. However, for people like me who can enjoy a warped sense of humour and don't mind a little gore, it's a pleasant way to spend some time.

I have to say that I wasn't really expecting much from this 1974 movie from writer Alan Ormsby when I sat down in 2022 to watch it for the first time. Sure, I hadn't ever heard about the movie, but as I had the chance to watch it, of course I did so.

Turns out that "Deranged" was actually a rather wholesome and entertaining movie. Sure, it was a bit far out there, given the contents of its storyline, so it is not a movie that will appeal to just anyone in the audience. But take into consideration that this was made in 1974, so the movie is not so visually brutal as newer movies of the same genre.

What made "Deranged" work was a combination of the well-written storyline and the stellar performance by Roberts Blossom - playing Ezra Cobb. He was really nicely cast for that role, and he put on a good performance in bringing the deranged Ezra to life on the screen.

Sure, the movie is 48 years old already and the visual effects are definitely showing signs of aging. But luckily "Deranged" is not a movie that is really depending on visual effects to carry it, because of a properly written storyline and the acting performances.

I was genuinely entertained by "Deranged" from directors Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsby.

My rating of the 1974 movie "Deranged" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Based on the diabolical doings of psycho-mama's boy Ed Gein, this film is guaranteed to leave you feeling uneasy for days after viewing. Some images are so horrific that they are fairly certain to haunt your dreams. Character actor Roberts Blossom in his best role ever is chillingly good as the overly devoted son who, not quite all there to begin with, goes completely round the bend when his beloved mother dies. He digs the old lady up, brings her back to the family farm, restores her corpse, and kills an occasional female passerby to keep her company. It's every bit as strange as it sounds. But when it's over, you can't simply shrug it off and say to yourself, "Oh well, it's only a movie", because it's based on the truth. Viewers familiar with the Ed Gein case will note that the filmmakers have, for the most part, stuck close to the facts. It leaves a strong impression, and, to put it mildly, a rather disturbing one. What's truly amazing is that the filmmakers have brought a sense of humor to these gruesome events and it ISN'T offensive. DERANGED is one of the best scary/funny movies I have ever seen. It is most definitely not for children. As for the adults, you"ll just have to take your chances.

Ok, we've seen "Texas Chainsaw Massacure", "Motel Hell" and that other newer film I forgot the name but all are not as good as this one. This movie tells the true story of cannible Ed Gein known in this movie as Ezra Cobb. Ez is a sympathetic character in this movie and I really do feel sorry for him as he takes care of his ailing mother and then she passes away. Ez kidnaps her corpse and sends her home and treats her as if she were alive again. During his state of dementia he finds himself being facinated with embolming bodies, cannibalism and things that are down right gross. This one is one that must be seen for those into real life crimes of the deranged.

FINALLY got to see 'Deranged' recently after wanting to for years, and what a surprise it is. Low budget yes, but takes its subject matter much more seriously than you would expect. There are some touches of black comedy in places, but overall this is no "funny" gorefest ala the 'Evil Dead' flicks. Roberts Blossom puts in an excellent performance as Ezra Cobb, the Ed Gein inspired protagonist. You may not totally understand why he ends up doing what he does, but Blossom successfully conveys Cobb's loneliness and isolation, which explodes into full blown delusional behaviour.

The only negative comment I have about 'Deranged' is the clumsy and unnecessary intrusions of the narrator into the plot. Without that we'd be looking at a complete classic. Even so, 'Deranged' is much more than a "video nasty" and deserves a much larger audience.