In the 1971 British film "Psychomania," we are asked to believe that it is possible for a person who commits suicide to return from the dead, if only he/she really wants to enough, AND if he/she has made a pact with a certain frog-worshipping devil cult beforehand. Anyway, Tom, leader of the biker gang The Living Dead, decides to give it a go, and after crashing his hog off a bridge, does indeed come back to life, full throttle, as it were. He convinces the rest of his co-ed gang to follow suit, and pretty soon, The Living Dead is living up to its name, immortally causing mischief and homicide around the countryside... A one-of-a-kind film that must surely have an adoring cult somewhere, "Psychomania" is one fun experience indeed. The film is well shot, and features lots of nifty motorcycle stunt riding; while perhaps not in the same league as the amazing stunts in "The Road Warrior" (1982), they are still pretty exhilarating. Some sections of the movie are downright trippy, and almost make me wish I'd viewed this film "doobied out" in a theatre back in my college days. A freaky fuzz guitar score adds to the mood greatly. And fans of the urbane and impeccably enunciating George Sanders will be interested to see this great actor in his last role, before his suicide a short time later. (As "The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film" drolly reports, he "did not return on a motorcycle.") Though never especially scary, "Psychomania" never fails to amuse and amaze, and certainly deserves all the positive word of mouth that it has accrued over the years. As for the DVD that I just watched itself, it looks just fine, but is absolutely without frills; not even chapter stops. If ever a horror film warranted a "special edition," this is the one!
Review of The Death Wheelers
The Death Wheelers
(1973)
Somebody Bring Out A "Special Edition" For This One, Please!
12 November 2007