PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Yeti movies typically don’t do anything for me, and I was skeptical about Shriek Of The Mutilated. Similar to my review of Voyage Of The Rock Aliens, I watched the trailer and wasn’t completely sold. I enjoy low-budget drive-in B-movies, but I’m not sure if a Yeti low-budget drive-in B-movie is really my thing. So, again, I watched the trailer a few more times and decided to give it a shot. Worst case scenario, I get a few good laughs and I get to say some mean things. Best case scenario? Shriek Of The Mutilated becomes a favorite and enters into my low budget movie rotation. Ultimately, it was somewhere in between. As a quick sidenote, Shriek Of The Mutilated gives Twitch Of The Death Nerve a real solid run for its money in the title department.
So what is Shriek Of The Mutilated? Directed by Michael Findlay (Snuff, The Touch of Her Flesh), the story follows anthropology professor Dr. Prell (Alan Brock), who has invited his class to a remote cabin in the mountains to research the mythical Abominable Snowman. Not long after their arrival, strange events begin to occur, including sightings of a giant, white, furry creature. Several members of the group go missing, only to be discovered dead. Amongst rising fears that the monster is real, the survivors realize that everything may not be as simple as it seems.
I don’t want to touch on the story too much as I think it’s one of the redeeming factors of the film and deserves to be experienced blind. Vinegar Syndrome has taken the 1974 film and restored it in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative, along with a load of additional features including commentary, interviews, and an audio essay by cryptozoology author David Coleman.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Shriek Of The Mutilated isn’t going to be winning any awards for its acting. There’s a whole scene devoted to scaring someone to death and it is some of the most painful acting I’ve ever seen. It’s not The Room bad, but it’s pretty rough. I think the major issue is that there is next to no chemistry between any of the actors, especially the two who’s characters are in relationship. Seriously, Keith (Michael Harris) and Karen (Jennifer Stock) are painful to watch. Honestly, Keith probably had the most chemistry with Dr. Prell.
Storywise, this checks out. Dr. Prell wants Keith to be his protégé and really takes a liking to him. Beyond that, it’s like the actors had never spoken to another human being in their lives. Whether that’s an indictment of the acting, the script, or both, I’m not sure. What I am sure about, however, is that it made the movie a chore to watch and took what I think is a promising story and made it entirely forgettable. In a horror film, even if it’s ’70s drive-in schlock, I should care when people die. I should be invested. In this instance, however, I walked away asking, “What was their name again?”
I don’t want to touch on the story much, but I do want to praise the twists. While the acting really let the film down, I found the overall premise to be really interesting! Going into this fairly blind and expecting a traditional Yeti film made this reveal exciting and unexpected. I wasn’t totally sold on much of the story, but the final act really had me perk up. I suggest you go into this film blind and just let the story play out in front of you. It unfolded at a nice pace and never felt like it was rushing or dragging on. A lot of times when I’m watching a film, I’ll catch myself wondering if we’re getting close to the end. I didn’t do that with Shriek Of The Mutilated and I think that’s a testament to its pacing and the overall story.
Finally, let’s look at those sweet sweet Vinegar Syndrome special features. Again, Vin Syn has hit a home run with the special features. The 4K restoration is gorgeous and really made the film look way better than it has any right to. The commentary and interview with cinematographer Roberta Findlay really provided some interesting insight into the making of the film, and I highly recommend checking them out. “The Wilds of Westchester” section is interesting as that’s all about the locations where they shot the film. I honestly think I may have had more fun with the special features than I did the feature film. I really can’t recommend enough that you take the time and checking the special features out.
So, Shriek Of The Mutilated. I think if I could sum this up in one word, it would be disappointing. It’s an interesting story held down by frustrating acting, which is more than likely held down even more by a poor script. You can only take what you’ve been given. The special features in this 4K remastered Blu-ray release are worth the purchase price alone, however. If you enjoy ’70s drive-in B-movies, and you have an interest in how they’re made, this is a great purchase. If you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten path when it comes to Yeti movies, this is worth the pickup as the story itself is really fascinating. Take a look at the trailer below and let us know… will you be picking up Shriek Of The Mutilated?
