An
aggressive New York catholic police
detective named Peter J. Nicholas (Tony
Lo Bianco) discovers that a bunch of
people are being shot and killed by a
disturbed man named Harold Gorman (Sammy
Williams) who is shooting people with a
shotgun on top of a water tower and tries
to stop him and asked him why he is doing
this. He tells him that God told him to
and then jumps off the watertower
building.
Later on he discovers other killings by
people before they die or take their
lives telling him the same thing at a St
Patricks Day Parade which was started by
a police officer and a father murdering
his entire family which adds up to a
Christ-like figure named Bernard Phillips
(Richard Lynch) who appeared to each of
the killers and can't seem to shake the
feeling that his own fate is somewhat
linked to this mysterious being. As he
comes closer to the truth, his worst
fears are confirmed as the people around
him behave strangely as well as himself.
We have great
shots on the local townies being shot brutally
in the city and them running away.
There's a real tense discussion sequence
between Det. Lt. Peter J.
Nicholas and
Harold Gorman at a water tower with suspenseful shots
on both of them way high up on the
building which looks a little creepy for
anyone who's afraid of heights.
A nice shot on Harold pointing
his shotgun as well as him doing his
speech to why he did this stuff and a
good look at him jumping off.
We have a good shot on Peter falling down some stairs while being
attacked which looked good as well as him
screaming in rage to demand why he was
attacked.
We have a great black & white
flashback sequence that involves Miss Mullin running
into a car naked and Bramwell driving the vehicle being sarcastic at
times by what she's telling him which
looked nicely done and very old
fashioned like.
There's a good setting with Casey Forster in a room with Deputy Police
Commissioner trying to talk to her along
with some other people which
looked quite decent.
There are many effective moments that people start to suffocate when
something deadly happens to them as well.
A great setting on Peter in a room with some bizarre lighting
effects as well as being caught in a
fire.
We spot perfect shots with Peter and a pimp when he tries to
threaten him with a knife in a Harlem
pool hall and a great close up shot on Peter by with having cold expressionless looks at
him looking very demonic like. This pimp is suffering and
cutting his own throat which looked very
possessive.
We spot a strange setting between Bernard Phillips as a demonic type and Peter looked good by
attacking him and burning down the
building he was inside of.
Bottom line: A very strange tale in the
same likes as the Exorcist and
the Omen but yet the
story really doesn't make sense as to why
this was all happening towards the end as
well as a flashback sequence of a UFO and
a naked woman which makes it even more
confusing and not the least bit scary
during most of this storyline. It is an interesting story showing people
being evil and killing thinking that God
is controlling them to do all of this
macabre even if this film wasn't exactly
a mainstream film.
The acting is is
nicely performed I must say as lead actor
Tony Lo Bianco (Det. Lt. Peter J.
Nicholas) was perfect for
his role as an aggressive tough as nails
detective bringing everything he's got to
his part. Well done Tony.
Deborah Raffin (Casey Forster) came across well with
her part and looked great too. She does well
getting ticked by what an onscreen detective asking her.
Sandy Dennis (Martha Nicholas) brings part to her role
as someone a little disturbed as a
housewife in which she portrayed nicely.
Mike Kellin (Deputy Police Commissioner) seems to breeze through
nicely as a serious cop and pulls it off
well but like many of his performances he
seems to be the same but he was never
terrible in any of them.
Supporting actress Sylvia Sydney (Elizabeth Mullin) brought alot to her part even if it was
only about 5 minutes long knowing how to
act like a disturbed elderly woman as she really knew how to act upset about
discussing her past with him to what
happened with her and then she really was
great by being paranoid.
We even have a first time bit part by Andy
Kauffman (Police Officer) whom was well
remembered for his line saying GOD TOLD
ME TO before he dies in a parade bringing
it across very well.
Vida Taylor is
full nude in a flashback scene running
towards a car to get in and there's
another scene with her entering some sort
of a space ship.
Some bloody gunshots and
slit throats but thats about it folks
Lots of great
classical composing and good violin
playing with some good fast pacing all
composed by Frank Cordell as he
makes the music fitting for the story. |
