The Thrill Killers (1964)

Who payed the critics

Dreadfully Boring

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This is Ray Dennis Steckler's foray into films about maniacal serial killers. Like many other writers/directors/producers of crap films in the 1960s, this is his attempt to make a film about a group of people who are being terrorized by some maniac or maniacs. Surprisingly, Steckler's THE THRILL KILLERS as well as Arch Hall, Sr.'s THE SADIST and Al Adamson's HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS are all similar plot-wise and all of these films are significantly better than the usual crappy monster films the guys were known for making. Believe me, EEGAH!, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED UP ZOMBIES and Dracula VS. FRANKENSTEIN are terrible films--the sort of thing these three men were infamous for creating. Here, though, without the silly monsters they seemed more in their element and all three should have probably done more maniacal killer films.Like many of Sreckler's films, he is one of the stars in the film, though he appears in his alter-ego, 'Cash Flagg'. Additionally, Arch Hall, Sr. also appears in this film in a bit part, as both Arch Junior and Senior were friends of Steckler and occasionally appeared in each other's films. You'll also see Steckler in Hall's WILD GUITAR--another surprisingly watchable minuscule budget film.The film begins with some absolutely horrible narration that not only is laughably bad but makes the film look and sound like crap. Fortunately, after the first 5-10 minutes of the film, it does get a lot better--it couldn't get a lot worse! It's very preachy and nonsensical and does a lot to derail the momentum of the film. Additionally, many of the early scenes with Cash Flagg really seem irrelevant--like they were slapped onto the film to pad it. Well, when I watched an interview with Steckler shortly before his death, he indicated this is EXACTLY why some of these scenes were added--the film was too short and he was padding it to feature-length (you can see this interview in the special features on the DVD).Later, however, the film heats up when three maniacs escape from a hospital for the criminally insane. They do some killings that are high on tension and realism--but are also marred by tossing in the silliest looking plastic head that was supposedly chopped off a victim! But, if you can ignore this, the violent scenes are very emotionally charged and are bound to hit you like a brick--they were generally well done--even if much of the film was terrible. And, in an odd twist, the lone serial killer (Flagg) meets up with the three escaped maniacs--making it the first time totally separate killers meet up late in the film. In other words, once the three killers are dispatched, in comes Flagg to terrorize the people who are in the midst of congratulating themselves about a narrow escape!! While the film is very, very uneven and amateurish at times, the film also manages to be entertaining and do a lot for a film that probably cost less than $50,000 to complete. Not bad, but the best of these type films, THE SADIST, is a better film and should be seen first.

I may as well admit something right up front: I will never give a totally negative review to a Ray Dennis Steckler film. I LOVE Steckler's films! They're so corny and cheesy, full of good intentions and a lot of fun. Thrill Killers is no exception. Though it is, by far, Steckler's darkest and most serious film, it's still a wild and weird good time.Steckler himself plays Mad Dog, a psychopath who roams the streets of L.A., killing at random and often for no reason whatsoever. Mad Dog's brother, in the meantime, has escaped from an insane asylum with a couple of buddies. Also in the meantime, sexy Liz Renay has an argument with her struggling actor husband and flees into the hills to see her sister, who runs a roadside diner. Still with me? The psychos and the sexpot all meet up at the diner, and of course, all hell breaks loose. There's some really great stuff here: Carolyn Brandt is chased through an empty house by an ax-wielding maniac whilst the radio plays the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The world's phoniest looking decapitation is also here, as well as posters of Stecklers previous films plastered all over the walls of the diner. There's also a great chase scene, with Steckler making a run for it on horseback! But not before Liz punches him right in the face and knocks him on his bony butt in a scene that made me laugh out loud. It even has a happy ending. This film is pure Steckler, which will attract as many people as it will repel. You either like his films or you don't...and I love them. This is one of his very best.

Fun cheapie in black and white, fairly well photographed. You're lucky if (like me and others out here in Oakland CA) you got to see it in a theater with Steckler himself and his cronies (including the weary Will Viharo) running through the crowd with axes on cue with the "hypnovision" process on the screen. Weird murder movie plot similar to the later "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (which owes this movie a lot) has a family of maniacs and their friends on a killing spree in a desert ranch area (looks like somewhere up Coldwater Canyon). The finale has director Steckler on horse evading a cop on a motorbike who can't seem to catch up! Priceless.

As a fan of Ray Steckler,I suppose I am being a little biased,as so many others seem to hate this movie,but I don't care.I think it's Ray's best movie,and stands well above other indie pictures I've seen.There are many scenes in here that are quite good(just the Hollywood party scene with a sleepy-looking Arch Hall Sr. is worth the price of a rental)and Steckler handles his action scenes well,also.The scene where Steckler(as Mad Dog)slaps around Erina Enyo looked downright brutal to me.BY all means,watch this movie if you get the chance!!