The Manitou (1978)

Brilliant and touching

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

San Francisco psychic Tony Curtis (as Harry Erskine) receives startling news from his girlfriend Susan Strasberg (as Karen Tandy). She has a strange, fast-growing lump on her back. Comparing the bump to a fetus, doctor, writer and associate producer Jon Cedar (as Jack Hughes) is unable to operate. We suspect, from the opening credits, it's "The Manitou" (something to do with ancient Native Americans). Ms. Strasberg says strange things in her sleep and Mr. Curtis' wealthy tarot card clients start to freak out. Curtis goes to beautifully tanned Stella Stevens (as Amelia "Amy" Crusoe) for help. She taught him how to use his psychic powers and read the tarot cards (although he seems to be a phony, for the most part). The cast gets good help from hospitable anthropologist Burgess Meredith (as Ernest Snow). He leads them to modern-day "Indian" medicine man Michael Ansara (as John Singing Rock)...This is presented like a Native American Indian version of "The Exorcist" (1973), with some interesting differences. In a few ways, it's better. Producer-director William Girdler and his crew do a fine job coordinating the effects and characters, and the threat seems like it's going to be more realistic. However, the story is weak in that the "villain" results from some confusing hocus-pocus that really doesn't add up. It certainly must have made more sense in the original novel, by Graham Masterson. Here, the evil forces are impressive, but not frightening. And, the ending just looks like everyone decided to do "Star Wars" instead of "The Exorcist". With eyelash enhancement and extra-tight clothing, Curtis often appears befuddled. That's understandable. "The Manitou" was the last film from Mr. Girdler, who died in a helicopter crash at age 30, sadly. He undoubtedly had not reached his peak in filmmaking.***** The Manitou (4/15/78) William Girdler ~ Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Michael Ansara, Burgess Meredith

In my other reviews (and there are a handful) I have observed that of all the Stephen King novels, barely two are close analogues to the novels. I have pointed out what a mess Hollywood made of Dean Koontz. And I have underscored, with all the power of persuasion that I could muster, how, when Hollywood does not know how to adapt a work properly, they will simply destroy it, and call the filmic record of that destruction "enterainment." The other reviewers (dare I paraphrase?) have suggested that this is a terrible movie but may be so bad it is ... good? The real crime that entire generations never got to know the work of Graham Masterton because of this abomination. Therefore, I would like to suggest to those not interested in seeing the film that they may instead want to read the book, and connect with one of the most un-discovered authors of our time. Best works include MIRROR, THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, WALKERS and PREY, that last title BTW includes one of the most horrific characters ever conceived (a half-rat, half-man, that speaks with a heavy German accent and swears a lot). Any of these would have made a great film. Because this mess, no one will ever know...?

The Manitou was Tony Curtis's last starring role, henceforth after this Curtis would be a character actor for the rest of his career. He's quite a character in The Manitou.What can I say but that the Manitou is an American Indian version of The Exorcist. Just as Linda Blair was possessed by a demon spirit in that film, in The Manitou here Susan Strasberg is naturally disturbed by the sudden appearance of a growth on her back. It's getting quite exponentially large and doctor determine it's a fetus of some kind. And operating on it causes some horrific casualties.Here's when Tony Curtis calls in a consult. Curtis is a spiritualist of sorts and has quite the act, but for the real deal when he hears one of his clients Lurene Tuttle start babbling in Indian tongues he calls on Michael Ansara who is a medicine man. It is Ansara who determines that this is a great spirit from the past looking to be reborn.So Ansara with Curtis's help essentially performs an exorcism Indian style. And if you've seen The Exorcist you know what happens.When I started to watch The Manitou I saw that Tony was playing it a bit tongue in cheek. When we first meet him he's giving Jeanette Nolan a fleecing. He was very good and I thought the whole film might be tongue in cheek, but it got good and serious after that.Maybe if it had stayed in a satiric vein, it might have rated higher for me. And ironically I think it could have been played that way.

They don't come anymore peculiar than William Girdler's infamous (and final) large-scale supernatural horror "The Manitou", but I did come away expecting a little more from it then what eventuated. Its big name cast seems to come across as a distraction, as there are plenty of bit parts for actors like Jon Cedar, Stella Stevens, Ann Sothern, Paul Mantee and Burgess Meredith. Then you have Tony Curtis and Michael Ansara making their presences known. Two different styles, but they work together quite well. Curtis is a charismatic live-wire, while Ansara keeps it down-to-earth. Also caught in the middle of it all is the lovable Susan Strasberg.Karen Tandy has a lump on the back of her shoulder, which the doctors believe to be a tumour that has a striking resemblance to a fetus. It's growing at an abnormally fast rate and the doctors can't give her former lover and fraud tarot reader Harry Erskine an answer to what's happening. There he learns that she has been possessed by a 400-year old Native American medicine man, so he goes looking for help and finds it in modern-day medicine man John Singing Rock.The premise (adapted from Graham Masterton's novel) does kind of have "The Exorcist" feel to it, but definitely a lot more out-there and over-the-top. As science (modern technology) goes up against spirituality (Indian folklore), to see which medicine comes up on top. There's nothing particularly skin-crawling about it, as it seamlessly turns silly. Really silly. That it might have you laughing with its ridiculous developments and hokey effects (mainly in the latter end with the light-show). Despite the eccentric nature which unfolds and the surreal visual jolts (the birth scene!) that formulate, everyone manages to keep a straight-face. Hard, but it's true. Girdler does seem to struggle to balance out the tone, where it goes between seriously dark and colourfully camp (which also could be seen in Curtis' performance), but his handling is sure-footed and San Francisco made for a picturesque backdrop."The Manitou" is far from perfect, but quite a simple horror shocker curiosity."We have created a monster!"