By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 0.5 cats
Director: Jim Van Bebber
Starring: Amy Yates | Leslie Orr | Marc Pitman | Marcelo Games | Maureen Allisse
Country: united_states
Year: 2004
Running time: 95
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118840/combined
Michael says: “You all know why I went to see this movie. It was made by and starred many of Scot’s college friends about 12 years ago. It took them years to finish the film and get distribution, then after finally being released, it inconceivably won the Best Film Award at the New York Underground Film Festival. After viewing it, Scot told me that it was an exploitation film, which is what filmmaker Jim Van Bebber is known for. I have very limited experience with exploitation films, but given this film, I would bet I wouldn’t like them. Therefore, take all my comments in that context.
“This was one of the stupidest films I’ve ever seen. Styled as a documentary about ‘Charlie’s Family,’ the film documents the formation, drug-taking, sexual antics, and eventual murderous spree of Charles Manson and his followers. There is also a subplot about the newscaster putting the film together in the present, and a gang of satanic punks who murder him. The acting is uneven, some performances strong, most amateurish and unable to deliver the poor script convincingly. The gory murder scenes are over-the-top, bloodier than any reality could possibly be, and quite laughable. Any tension I felt at the prospect of seeing these brutal murders evaporated after the first, extended stabbing took place. The sound effects were particularly silly, with lots of squishy sounds enhancing the sped up film as the killings took place.
“I might have said there was a certain camp appeal, but Van Bebber seems to be trying to make a social commentary and it just doesn’t work. There is an over-arching seriousness that is at odds with the silliness of the sex and violence. Roger Ebert gave this film 3 stars, to which I must ponder what he was smoking. I’m sure Scot would have another point of view, but for me, I must give THE MANSON FAMILY 1/2 a bloody cat.”