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When I was a kid, I remember asking my dad what movies he thought were scary. He answered Night of the Living Dead and Gargoyles, so I was always nervous to watch this movie. It just looked strange and in the late 70s, it wasn't like I could on demand find it. Even today, it's hard to find on DVD (but YouTube is a whole different story).

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Originally airing on CBS on November 21st, 1972, it was directed by Bill L. Norton (Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend, More American Graffiti) and written by Steven and Elinor Karpf (Devil Dog: The Hound from Hell, The Jayne Mansfield Story), Gargoyles may be uneven, but has moments of pure joy.

It's one of the first films Stan Winston (Terminator, Aliens) worked on, providing a variety of gargoyle makeup. The look of the creatures is wonderful, as they don't all look the same. And the leader (Bernie Casey (Felix Leiter in Never Say Never Again, UN Washington in Revenge of the Nerds) has the perfect look that balances a regal bearing with an otherworldly aura. You can see why this won an Emmy. It's big budget worthy work on a shoestring budget.

Speaking of budget, the film was shot with just one camera over 18 days; a fact that chased away the original director. Temperatures at the Carlsbad, NM location baked the cast and crew, reaching 100 degrees or more the entire shoot. So it's amazing that what emerged is so interesting.

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I think I was 8 years-old when I saw Gargoyles back in 1972. It absolutely scared the pants off me. I'll never forget the sight of those clawed hands reaching over the foot of the bed. I had trouble sleeping for days and I checked and rechecked the foot of my own bed several times each night.. And while it no longer has that kind of effect on me, considering its television origins, Gargoyles still provides a few chills along the way. I admit that when I rewatched it tonight, those hands on the bed did make me jump.

To a lot of modern audiences raised on more sophisticated special effects, Gargoyles may seem silly. Sure, there are flaws with the special effects (for example, it's quite obvious that the creatures' skins are body suits), but there's something about them that makes the whole thing a lot of fun. Maybe it's the wings or maybe it's the variety of looks or maybe they just remind me of Sleestaks, but whatever it is, they work for me. The mask Bernie Casey wears is especially frightening even though it obvious he has no real movement in his face.

One thing that could have made the film better for me is if Grayson Hall had had more screen time. I always enjoy her campy, over-the-top performances. It's a shame she had so little to do and was killed off so early.

Finally, as I watched the movie earlier tonight, it dawned on me that I was not hearing Bernie Casey's voice coming from the lead gargoyle. I was probably too young to know the difference 34 years ago, but something about that voice reminded me of my childhood. And then it suddenly hit me where I had heard that voice before. After the movie was over, I checked on IMDb and, sure enough, I was right. Dr. Zin!!! That's right. The gargoyle's voice was done by the same man (Vic Perrin) who did Dr. Zin.

I have to say that I'm largely impressed with the seventies made for television horror movies that I've seen, and while Gargoyles isn't exactly a great film; it has more than enough going for it to ensure that my overall opinion of these films has gone up after seeing it. The film is not exactly original, although it goes about portraying its subject matter well. The film professes that Satan sent his minions, the Gargoyles, down to Earth and they have been subdued by humankind. We follow the fortunes of Dr. Mercer Boley and his daughter Diana as they travel across the desert, and end up finding a colony of the aforementioned Gargoyles. The film doesn't take itself very seriously, and this turns out to be a good thing as director Bill L. Norton is not held back by trying to make the film credible, and instead is given licence to fully explore the subject material. It's hard not to laugh at certain points during the film, but the ideas on show are mostly good and that is all you can really expect from a film like this. The story is entertaining too and more than adequately fills the 75 minute running time, and the director also manages to create a creepy atmosphere and a fair few scares. Well worth seeing.

The thing about made-for-tv movies is that the networks have a requirement that there is a chill and/or spill on every commercial break. If the formula is followed successfully, it definately pays.

Gargoyles is proof of this. It is a low-budget film, but is well-paced. I was thoroughly chilled by this when it first showed on TV, and saw it again a few years ago, then caught it again today on MoviePlex, sans commercials. It holds up very well over time, and the acting is quite good in most places. I especially liked Bernie Casey as the lead Gargoyle, though I don't know if I should call it especially inspired or deliberatly hammy. Doesn't matter, still enjoyable either way.

The effects were on the very lowest budget, so you get a whiff of 'cheese' to enjoy as well, but the monster suits were actually quite good. I only saw 'rubber stretches' once or twice. I can think of big budget films that didn't have costumes as good as these. Bernie Casey's voice was filled with some kind of static. A cheap effect, but an effective one.

The plotline was a bit slanted, the Gargoyles were dedicated to taking over the Earth, completely evil and therefore must be destroyed, something that wouldn't likely be passed today due to politcal correctness, but the ending still works nicely despite that.

I would highly recommend it to any horror fan.

This made for TV horror film which stars Cornel Wilde battling the children of Satan arising from the earth again will give you a few chills as we think about Gargoyles taking over the earth as they keep trying to do. Although the film was shot on spare change in the Arizona desert it did get an Emmy Nomination for the Gargoyle makeup which was pretty good.

Cornel Wilde is an archaeologist who with daughter Jennifer Salt is on a mission to an old desert rat, played by Woody Chambliss who runs a strange museum as a tourist trap. But he's got a skeleton that Wilde is sure is a fake. But a visit from some real Gargoyles convince him otherwise, especially after Chambliss is killed.

Sheriff William Stevens is convinced that a bunch of dirt bikers did the deed, he's not ready to believe in Gargoyles. But when they kidnap Salt and kill motel manager Grayson Hall, Stevens is a believer and he and Wilde and the dirt bikers go into the desert searching for the Gargoyle lair and Salt.

As I said the film is done on the cheap, but it definitely has some gruesome and horrifying moments. Bernie Casey as the head Gargoyle is eloquent in his defense of Gargoyle right to life.

This one is pretty good for a made for TV film.

This is definitely the best made for TV movie I have seen.The story makes sense and it's not boring. That's really all it takes to be good in the world of television movies. There's only a couple things that don't make sense. Two gargoyles break into a motel room without making a sound or breaking anything and then the professor chases them. Seems a bit far fetched but whatever. Then the lead gargoyle has taught himself to speak English, a little bit lamer. But the thing that really gets me is that all the gargoyles are very different. Some have horns, some have hair, it's a bit silly. I'm sure they did it because they didn't have the ability to make them all exactly the same so they tried to make it a non-issue by making them all very different. But those are just minor flaws in an otherwise good movie. And I must say that I really joined how the gargoyles gently caress their eggs to make them hatch, comedy gold. This is the best movie I've seen in weeks, watch it.

Cornel Wilde was never a top tier actor in Hollywood. However, in the 1940s and 50s, he worked steadily and starred in a decent number of films. By the 60s and 70s he was still working...but not as steadily and not on films as prestigious as he'd been in earlier in his career. By the time "Gargoyles" came along, I guess he just needed the money. Now I am NOT saying it's a terrible film...but it certainly wasn't the sort of thing to help him jump-start his career.

The film begins with Professor Boley (Wilde) and his daughter, Diana (Jennifer Salt) traveling out into the desert Southwest. It seems that someone has contacted the professor and has something exciting to show him. The lead turns out to be an odd crank living in the middle of no where. The old guy shows him a weird skeleton he's found...something that looks like a demon or gargoyle*. Suddenly, the house is attacked and the professor and Diana barely get out alive...and the old man isn't so lucky. They know it was some sort of gargoyle-like creature but cannot prove it. What's next? Watch it and see...or not.

Despite a silly premise, the film does have some very good things going for it. The lead gargoyle's costume and makeup are awfully good for the 1970s. Some of t he others don't look so great...though he was impressive. What also helped was dubbing Vic Perrin's voice for this gargoyle, as it was quite creepy--and his was the voice at the intro of the old "Outer Limits" TV show. The other thing that helped is that the story does NOT go where you expect and has more to it than just weirdies jumping out at people in the night! Now this is not to say that this is a brilliant or must-see film...it isn't. But it is mildly interesting and different enough that you might enjoy watching it. Just be sure to have an open mind and don't dismiss it too quickly.

*I know this will sound weird, but a few months ago I visited Dinosaur National Monument in the Utah desert. There, they had some petroglyphs are seriously looked much like these gargoyles. I know it sounds crazy, but if you visit you can see them as well. I sure wish I could post a picture of them but IMDb doesn't allow this with reviews.

"Gargoyles" is a film that many of us over 30 are familiar with from repeat viewings on late night local creature feature monster movie matinée type screenings, a form of television that has sadly gone extinct. It's been a pleasure to re-discover the film now in the digital age and find that not only does it hold up, but is a superior example of low budget horror trends of the era with it's stark southwestern American locations & dusty, arid themes of supernatural horror, ala "Race With The Devil", "The Devil's Rain", "Brotherhood Of Satan", et al.

The film was actually a CBS television production back in the age when made for TV movies were more than just product placement vehicles. The budgeting was tight and every dime is up there on the screen from a cast of convincing professionals (Cornel Wilde, Jennifer Salt looking fresh, Scott Glenn, good old Woody Chambliss and the scene-stealing Grayson Hall as an irascible drunk), a competently written screenplay by Elinor & Steven Karpf (who would later unleash the lovable "Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell" on unsuspecting audiences), and makeup genius Stan Winston's remarkable gargoyle creations. Sure, they are just stunt actors bedecked in rubber suits, but each of the film's gargoyle characters come across as an individual, and are a far more intriguing population that the film's human indigents. The movie manages to cast its "monsters" in a surprisingly sympathetic light and indeed the human protagonists come across as a bit barbaric as they propose a quick genocide to rid the world of the gargoyle menace.

Which is itself an interesting idea: The term "gargoyle" is actually a word of French derivation ("water-throat") that refers to ornamental fixtures or grotesques on Gothic era cathedrals who's mouths served as water spouts to facilitate the flow of rain buildup from their roofs. A quick search on Google reveals little as far as supernatural mythology of gargoyles and chimera, the non-functional grotesque variety that were added as pure decorations. Some mention is made of tales regarding the gargoyle forms as guarding their cathedrals during the night in a living form and then returning to their stoned state during the day, but such tales were created after the fact to explain why they were so commonly seen. Humans have always had a ghoulish, darker side to them and the forms stuck in the popular consciousness. So enterprising 14th century devotees came up with a fanciful explanation for why they were there for young inquisitive minds, perhaps as a put-on to scare kids into finishing their vegetables. In spite of the film's commanding prologue, however, there are no tales of gargoyles having banded together with Satan to do his bidding on Earth, and in fact the opposite is actually what is implied since they were guarding churches.

Regardless the film is quite convincing in it's suggestion that man and gargoyles have always been at odds (and that they like our women, the pretty ones at least), no doubt helped by the voice of "Star Trek" legend Vic Perrin as both the opening narrator and the voice of the gargoyle leader. His sonorous delivery has been ingrained with a sense of authority in popular culture and one almost expects him to start betting Quatloos on the newcomers as it is impossible to hear him speak and not make the connection. Unless, of course, you don't know your "Star Trek".

Anyway it's a surprisingly sober and professional affair considering the subject matter, with an interesting use of slow motion film effects to give an unearthly feel to the early gargoyle attack scenes that is actually mildly disturbing. This is a film that people remember having seen even after thirty five years, no easy feat. And if I might say, Cornel Wilde comes off as far more convincing as an anthropologist demonology expert who's handy with a shotgun than he did as the natural born Terminator survivalist he played in "The Naked Prey". "Gargoyles" is a better movie too.

8/10: Deserves to be re-released on DVD as an ode to the genius of Stan Winston, who went on to much bigger and ... well, bigger things. This movie rules.

I first watched this movie when I was around 8 years old, and then it scared the hell out of me. Not so much anymore. But nonetheless, it is a classic in its own right. It was what it was in 1972 and it is still a hell of a lot better than most of the garbage Full Moon puts out.

An anthropologist and author (Cornel Wilde) who debunks supernatural myths and legends finds himself in possession of the remains of a gargoyle. Unfortunately for him, the other gargoyles don't take kindly to this. So they kidnap his daughter (Jennifer Salt) and take her back to their lair, where we learn all about the history and life of gargoyles.

Man, TV movies in the '70s were so cool. These days it seems like it's just clichéd romantic dramedies or murder mysteries, plus that garbage they make for SyFy. Back in the day, though, TV movies were actually quality with fresh ideas. The whole concept is very interesting and, with a real budget, this could have been released theatrically. Former movie star Cornel Wilde is in his twilight years here but does a good job. The very attractive Jennifer Salt provides nice eye candy and gets the majority of the screen time with the gargoyles. Early role for Scott Glenn as a dirt bike punk. Speaking of which, watch carefully for the scene where the cop backs his car up quickly to go chase after the dirt bike punks. The car comes within inches of hitting an obviously startled Jennifer Salt.

Notable for being the first movie for make-up and special effects great, Stan Winston. The costumes and makeup used for the gargoyles here is pretty cool and fun. Yeah, you can tell they are costumes but given the obvious budgetary restrictions of a made-for-TV movie in 1972, I think they're damn impressive. I have a lot more respect for the craftsmanship that went into this than most of what you will see today in low budget movies with shitty cartoonish CGI.

OK... In this day and age of CG graphics and $100M budgets, some would say this movie wouldn't stack up. Of course most of us who have seen it love it for its nostaglic value and some very genuine scares. It always seemed to come on really late at night (was that on purpose?) and I remember at least once watching it when I was about 10 years old at our neighbors lake house when I was the only one awake and there was a nice storm going on outside. All I can say is that I jumped a number of times that night and although I've seen plenty of horror films since, I'd probably still jump during this one today. Hopefully I'll get to see it again, if not just to hear the lead gargoyle say "Diana" in that metallic, evil-sounding voice.

Gargoyles is not a down right horrible film - it does have some entertainment value for fans of B-films, sci-fi and horror. I didn't find the movie scary at all but it did entertain me - and that is what counts.

It's not a top quality film but the Gargoyles look really cool... pre-CGI and for a low budget made for TV movie I'm pleased with their look. Pretty menacing looking and elaborate considering.

The story is basic - really not all that cheesy but it's certainly not a "deep" type of story. The movie is what I expected it to be - so I wasn't completely disappointed with it.

This is pretty good movie to kick back with on an otherwise boring afternoon if you like these type of films.

5/10

Lots of recent big-screen horror films got their inspirations from films made in the '70s. This one helped launch special-effects wizard, Stan Winston's career, with his excellent work for the Terminator movies and all three Jurassic Parks. The flying reptile monsters in Gargoyles may remind you of the big-screen "Jeepers Creepers" (after the villain in it removes its trenchcoat and cowboy hat disguise) Jeepers' is just another version of the lizard king seen in the 1972 telefilm. The makeup and monster costumes are excellent, provided the actors don't move around too much while wearing them (they look like good effects pasted on scuba gear). This one is out on DVD.

Yes, it was Vic Perrin, the "Control Voice" from The Outer Limits, who narrated the opening of Gargoyles. With all due respect to Lee Shapiro's summary, the bat-winged leader of the scaly monsters (played by Bernie Casey) makes it quite clear to "Dr. Boley" (Cornel Wilde) that the extinction of humanity is the evil creature's ultimate goal. Although IMDb does not list it, Bernie Casey appeared, in suitably scary prosthetic makeup, as the alien interrogator in the The Outer Limits episode titled: "Nightmare." As far as I'm concerned, Gargoyles noses out The Other as the best low-budget, made-for-TV, Sci-Fi/Horror flick of all time!

I don't even remember how i stumbled across this long ago but i did. Bernie Casey is a good gargoyle. Mom hated this movie but she has odd tastes. I thought it was good till people started killing the gargoyles. Gargoyles aren't evil; they protect you from evil. Unless you are the evil itself.

I hate going against the grain here, especially since I'm one of those 70s kids scarred by Gargoyles and all the other made-for-TV horror cheapies back in the ancient days of 4 TV channels. Back then these movies would premiere on Friday or Saturday nights, and then re-run in the afternoon for years, so our parents had no idea we were watching them. I vividly remember the claws on the bedframe and the gargoyles bursting through the door -- this movie kept me from sleeping for a long time. But watching this now is nothing short of painful. The costumes are basically "Land of the Lost" Sleestak rubber suits plus wings and hair, except not as effective. Worse still, the "eagle" breeder gargoyles look like those vultures from H.R. Pufnstuf. I mean seriously -- did the director actually watch his own rushes, a hilarious hodgepodge of rubber suits in slow motion, and say "EUREKA! THAT'S THE SHOT!" Godzilla vs Ghidrah had more battle drama, and better rubber suits. And the acting here ain't much better either. For me the only bright spots are Bernie Casey as the lead gargoyle, and especially Scott Glenn, knowing he had such a wonderful career ahead of him.

I guess my biggest problem is comparing this joke of a film to something that still works, like the original "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." Now there's a fine example of low-budget 70s TV horror.

Gargoyles was a big surprise when I first saw it. I had no idea what the film was about when I saw the TV commercial. I was around 12 years old and it was broadcast on CBS.

I noticed quality about the film from the start. Good direction, acting, locations, and that was before Bernie Casey showed up in that gargoyle suit! That was scary as heck and not only that, Casey put more in that character than in any monster I've seen since Karloff and to this day. I wish they'd made a Gargoyles II that expanded on the story.

How the director got as much out of that film as he did given the budget is beyond me. The makeup and costumes were revolutionary and although we're not talking Cecil B. Demille epic here, the direction left enough up to our imagination to truly terrify us.

Cornel Wilde as the professor, you can't beat that kind of talent. Jennifer Salt, the foxy Jennifer Salt, portrayed complexity and wasn't a run, fall, scream monster movie hottie, she had intellect going on there. Seeing Scott Glenn as a biker proved out as his talent has become legendary as well. Historically speaking Gargoyles is a must see, must have film. It changed many ways that Hollywood makes movies. Even with the boo boos like cars changing make and model in mid shot, the concept of the menace of the Gargoyles was enough to fire up the imagination which great works do.

The animated TV series I suppose was based loosely on the movie. However the menace and majesty of the movie remains untouched. Only the Alien has turned out to be as cool a monster as Bernie Casey's Gargoyle. The scene where Casey as the Gargoyle swats his female gargoyle on the butt to get her to go tend to the eggs was a kick.

Gargoyles, the original, get it.

I stay baffled when I watch this movie in 1985 on midnight session, I've been waited for a second chance to see it again, however never got a chance, how it never came out officially on DVD, I found a DVD-R copy from a internet dealer, with the classic dubbed version, it was in 2012 when finally got in my hands this unusual horror flick, yesterday I re-visited this classy trash, bringing me a nostalgic feelings, forget the uncanny premise and all mismatches, the movie is really fresh and unusual, a writer anthropologist Dr. Mercer Boyle (Cornell Wilde) expert in occultism and his beauty daughter Diana (Jennifer Salt) has a meeting at Mexico where they have an awaited appointment with an elderly Indian's museum keeper uncle Willie who is willing to expose to Dr. Mercer an incredible fine story for a book, which he wants fifty-fifty of royalty, Willie shows a skeleton of an Gargoyles found at desert, also told a legend tale by the local Indians about those creatures that appears each six century, suddenly the old shed starts shaking and ends up collapse and burning, killing Willie, soon all wooden shed was consumed by the fire, what's coming is fabulous creepy story, shot on location at real cave is astonished well-done as far as possible, also the Gargoyles suits are reasonable at least, the movie explore a little bit of sexuality from Jennifer Salt clothing, the special effects are suitable to the seventies, one of my guilt pleasure!!

Resume: First watch: 1985 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

This movie is 50 years old - it was made for TV back then. Do these things matter to you or rather do you acknowledge them while watching and/or after - when it is time to review/rate what you just witnessed (no pun intended)? Depending on how much slack you are able to cut this, you will be able to enjoy this old school ... romp or whatever you want to call it.

Intriguing but quite flawed (special effects, make up and costumes) ... this is an oddity for sure.