Who has seen this?
This early film with Steve Railsback and James Woods is sadly obscure, but it has a pretty high rating here. Who has seen this, and is it worth seeking out? I wish it were more readily available.
shareIt was on THISTV last night. I usually automatically record the late movies, as they are often good. I caught a little of it and the atmosphere was taught, a dog incident scene. It will more likely than not be repeated on THISTV very soon. If I see it in the listings soon enough, I will post the time. From what I saw, it is worth watching.
shareThanks very much for the reply. Please let me know if you wind up catching the whole film. It features very early roles by Steve Railsback and James Woods, so I'm very curious. What was the incident with the dog you were referring to? Anyway, please let me know if you manage to see this. Thanks again.
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Hello, Myteefine. Great to see you in these parts!
Thanks very much for the details on this film. Unfortunately, I don't have THIS channel, but maybe there will be more interest in a larger release, particularly one without cuts.
My main interest in this is Steve Railsback very early in his career. He is a superb actor who didn't seem to get the roles he deserves after "Helter Skelter" (which probably scared people away) and "The Stunt Man" (which few people saw). He's made a lot of ultra-low-budget schlock, and though the films aren't always that great, his performances make them worthwhile. James Woods is another terrific actor, but at least he's been above the radar for most of his career.
Thanks again for the details.
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Hi, Myteefine: I hope your daughter is OK.
I'll definitely seek "The Visitors" out. Railsback seems to carry the spirit of the method actors, where he seems to inhabit the character rather than just voicing the lines. He's not a standard Hollywood commodity because his characters seem somehow dangerous, and he takes roles that others would probably reject – just like Eric Roberts and Brad Dourif. Unfortunately, all of these guys have made some rather lame films because they doesn't get the roles they deserve, but they always makes them worthwhile.
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Hello, Myteefine: I'm glad to hear things are healthier in your household!
I remember when "Helter Skelter" played on TV in 1976, I believe over two nights, but for some reason, I didn't see it though I was old enough to understand it at the time. That book seemed like one of the first "true crime" best-sellers, a few years after "In Cold Blood" and about the same time as "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (that book is fictional, but inspired by a true case). I have a copy of "Helter Skelter" and hope to read it ... someday.
I've seen "Helter Skelter" several times since, and Steve Railsback is absolutely riveting in it. I think he was so believable as Manson, he may have scared casting agents off for potential future roles. It certainly wasn't for lack of talent. If I have any complaints about the movie "Helter Skelter," it's that it's more of a courtroom drama than a crime thriller, taking place with Manson in custody after the killings. I suspect Hollywood has always been reluctant to make a movie about the actual Manson Family and killings because there's so much baggage there.
Eric Roberts really is amazing actor, and I find him impossible to ignore even though many of the movies he makes seem a bit beneath his talents. I consider his work in "Star 80" to be one of the great performances of the '80s, along with Dennis Hopper in "Blue Velvet" and Geraldine Page in "The Trip to Bountiful." (How's that for variety?) Eric's great in "King of the Gypsies" and "Runaway Train" as well.
Warren Oates was a fantastic actor who made gritty, believable films that were rich with humanity. Like Eric, he also had some lethal personal habits, but at least Eric seems to have kicked them and is still with us.
And oh yes: Brad Dourif! What an amazing guy that is. Really incredible in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," as the voice of Chucky in the "Child's Play" movies, and in tons of B-grade flicks. I loved him as the driver in "Eyes of Laura Mars," and he's scary-great in "Exorcist III." A decent recent indie comedy with him is "Humboldt County."
Do you like Lance Henriksen also? He's another in that league – hard-working, prolific, always reliable. Frankly, a lot of the movies these guys make are not the best, but the fact that they still deliver top-notch performances attests to their talent. They all fall in Nicholson's shadow, and I love Nicholson (most of the time), but it just seems like his celebrity takes precedence over his performances much of the time – like he's coasting on his image. Railsback, Roberts, Dourif and Henriksen have no image to coast on. They're too busy working.
1/26/11 and 1/28/12...shown one year later on ThisTV. I wonder if they'll show it next January too?
1/28/13 and it's showing on thistv... how funny. It just finished, and it was quite remarkable. Strong performances all around, a spare but striking visual style, and a tension that just builds and builds. Just another example of how it doesn't get much better than '70s cinema.
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