Friday, February 08, 2008

Movie review – “The Sorcerers” (1967) ***

Michael Reeves’ second feature film as director has a terrific central idea: an old couple discover they have the ability to take over the mind of a young man (Ian Ogilvy) and feel the sensations he feels. What happens next proceeds logically from things like going to parties, to theft to murder. The end of the second act is when the film turns mean, with Ogilvy (manipulated by the old lady) killing a very pretty, very young Susan George for no reason other than Just 'Cause.

More perhaps could have been made at the anger of the older generation towards the young, especially in the 60s – this film is perhaps ripe for remake. The low budget hurts (we continually cut back to the same disco) as does some of the acting (esp from the female lead, though she is very fetching in some Felicity Shagwell-esque tops). But it's done with energy and flair, even if the tone is very pessimistic.

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