I watched this film made in the great movie year of 1977, for two reasons: it's director, who made The Sound of Music, The West Side Story, I Want to Live!, ...; and because I remember the novel's very cool cover since childhood. What a mistake, on both ends. Wise's direction is a laughable ripoff of The Exorcist (with the India flashbacks reminiscent of an Airplane!-like Zucker Brothers spoof), and the film isn't even as scary as the book cover. Or not scary at all! Anthony Hopkins' presence doesn't help, and the ending is terrible. Just terrible. What a mess.
Mo says:
I totally agree with your review, this film was awful. It was marketed as a horror film in the UK which it is not. If it was edited down to 45 minutes it would have made a reasonable episode of The Twilight Zone.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe a reasonable Saturday Night Live skit!
Delete:-D
There were a few laughs ;-)
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