Devil Times Five (1974)

Touches You

Sadly Over-hyped

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I've always enjoyed killer kids movies through the years such as (Children Of The Corn, The Bad Seed, Blood Birthday and even The Children), and when I came across this I was even more intrigued, especially given it's back story of how the original director was fired and that only 40 minutes of his footage was deemed useable, and a new director was hired to finish the film a few weeks later and gathering (almost) all of the cast members back for re-shoots.But despite all that this was movie was actually pretty decent, the only really noticeable difference was the bus driver being played by 3 different actors, which did get rather confusing at first, but honestly this didn't affect my enjoyment of this what so ever.The movie starts off rather interestingly where a bus crashes and five kids makes it out alive, then we learn that they were on their way to a mental hospital. Then we meet the six adult characters who are all staying at a secluded ski lodge for the weekend, when eventually the children turn up to wreck havoc on their lives. The pacing may be a little slow at first, but that didn't make things boring as we are introduced to each of the main cast, but sadly I would have liked a back story on the kids themselves, on what they did to end up in an asylum and maybe why they did what they did, nothing is explained, just instead they plan their attack on the adults with various traps, which is quite refreshing than the usual stalk and slash method.Some things worked in this and some things didn't, while the cast did quite well with their parts, other aspects just didn't quite work, for starters to infamous 4 minute death scene where the children murder the bus driver in slow motion, was just tedious and lacked any sort of tension, for starters you couldn't see what was going on and plus there was absolutely no blood. Another thing that doesn't work is the realism of the situation, like when the kids arrive when didn't adults just drive them into town straight away instead of waiting till the next day when by that time they tampered with the cars, and also when the first couple of murders happen, when one of the kids was asked about it, the kid mentions somebody called George, I mean who is that and why wasn't it fetched up again.But what I did like about this movie is that it was very fun and sleazy, the camp catfight between the two girls was fun and most of the death scenes were quite creative like the piranhas in the bath tub, the giant swing from the ceiling, spear thrown through window and hitting someone in the neck, also the final kill was quite tense. I also liked the fact that these kids didn't do what psycho kids do normally like when they act like adults in other films, here they act like kids which does add a nice touch to this movie.The cast like I said were very good, special nod goes to the kids who clearly stole the show Leif Garrett was good as the cross dressing youngster, while Tierre Turner who played the army black kid was fun and the nun played by Gail Smale was very creepy. The adults were also a load of fun Gene Evans as Papa Doc played the grumpy old man who hated everything was realistically played. Taylor Lacher was okay as the hero type, but did make some stupid decisions and that moustache just should have been shaved off. Shelly Morrison was a load of fun as the drunk and was just all over the place. Sorrell Booke was also likable as the put upon Harvey and I just cheered when he finally stood up for himself. Carolyn Stellar as Lovely was funny as hell and Joan McCall was okay as the nice girl Julie.All in all "Devil Times Five" is a pretty good movie, and may not be perfect and does flaws, but it's still a load of fun and definitely worth watching.

This takes place in the dead of winter. Five kids from a mental institution are being transported somewhere else. The van transporting them crashes but they all survive. They make their way to a resort hotel nearby that is closed for the season. Staying there however is a gangster and his assorted employees and family. They take in the kids not realizing that these children are capable of murder.Bizarre little horror story. This was independently made on a very low budget. Unfortunately it shows. The script is OK but more interested in drama than horror. The murders themselves are pretty bloodless and (worst of all) not even remotely scary. The first one is shot in black and white AND in slow motion! Comes off looking stupid and boring at the same time (quite a feat). The acting varies. All the kids are terrible especially a VERY young Leif Garrett (who--for some reason--is a cross-dresser). The adults are OK. All in all this has an interesting premise but doesn't have the funding to carry it out.

This is as bad as any 70's horror film could get. Sadly it could have worked if there was a little effort. What mars this exploitation film is not the bad acting (where some lines are mangled) but the continuity errors. Leif Garrets hair goes from his natural locks to a wig to a short haircut! I understand this had to be mostly re-shot but at least try a little. Were these kids from the van that crashes in the start of the film? It is that kind of editing that ruins the entire film. Even Sorrell Booke couldn't save this mess.The only thing I found creepy in this film was Leif Garret's sexual fascination for Booke! When Leif is dressed as a woman you get the feeling he was a jilted lover of some kind. The only depth to any character and they don't explore it further. Watch this for laughs only.

DEVIL TIMES FIVE has so much that is wrong with it. It is very, deeply disturbing. It hits you viscerally.I think that DEVIL TIMES FIVE is worse than Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. And, I thought that movie left me feeling hollow and empty. WOW! DEVIL TIMES FIVE has so much that is right. First, it has a good premise. Yes, it's been done in other forms; but, this is a unique twist on the malevolent kids theme. Second, and, most surprising, the acting was quite competent. Not great; but, good enough to hold onto. Also, the plot moved forward very well... well, it did after the first hour.Yet so much could be so much better. The editing is horrendous. The sets are abysmal. The sound and soundtrack were annoying.Still...