MovieChat Forums > Werewolves on Wheels (1971) Discussion > Wonderful!

Wonderful!

posted 18 years ago by Dengar
7 replies | jump to latest

This film is definitely not for everyone, but I loved every minute of it! Michel Levesque gets big applause from me for such a memorable "lost classic" of 1970's southern gothics. As a filmmaker/film scholar, I found a wealth of things about this that really got to me, and I've been haunted by this film ever since I first saw it a few weeks ago.

What can I say? From the incredible music, to the subtle handling of the title concept, to the early 1970's flavour, to the right mixture of eroticism/violence/drama/comic relief, this film deserves to receive greater recognition. I'd be proud to work with anyone that had a hand in the making of this memorable film. And a huge thanks to Dark Sky Films for releasing it!

[–] Brainiac138 18 years ago

What are these other 1970's southern gothics you speak of? I would be really interested in learning more.

[–] Dengar 18 years ago

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) is a landmark southern gothic. Purposely ambiguous in keeping with the genre, it does what it should: excel in creating a creepy, indefinable mood. It finally makes its DVD debut on the 29th of this month!

Lemora - A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1975) is a great example of the subgenre, as is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Then there's Don't Deliver Us From Evil (1970), which though technically is set in the French countryside, definitely fits in with the southern gothic genre because of the same sort of setting and atmosphere.

There are many more southern gothic films out there, and I've only breached the surface of the 1970's titles with the few I've mentioned. Do a Google search for "southern gothic" film, and you'll get all sorts of titles from Night of the Hunter (1955) to Baby Doll (1956) to Spider Baby (1968), to something more recently as Sam Raimi's The Gift (2000).

But my favourites are the ones from the 1970's, notably Let's Scare and Lemora mentioned above.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] moviebuff1-3 16 years ago

I agree. Got to see WEREWOLVES ON WHEELS at the drive-in on a glorious double bill with SIMON KING OF THE WITCHES. Late summer of 1972. From 1963 until the mid-1980's,weekly weekend trips to the bijou under the stars were a much loved family tradition. Those were the days!

[–] vindicator19 16 years ago

Also, "black Angels" (1970) its about a black motorcycle gang that road through the south.

[–] Axeyard 15 years ago

After that, why not get right to the edge with the sequel, "White Devils," about a caucasian mafia gang who rowed through the north, having done the south in black-face.

[–] Loaded_Barrel01 10 years ago

I defintely liked it especially for it's dark atmosphere.