Review of Blood Shack (1971) by John M — 12 Jul 2016

Ray Dennis Steckler is a truly interesting director. Many of his films (including this one) display a real talent for capturing stark landscapes and disquieting moods. Tobe Hooper's similar gift made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre so eerily effective three years later.

However Steckler's inability to create suspense and his predisposition for goony violence and jokey dialogue usually spoil any pretensions to legitimacy he may actually harbor. Blood Shack in particular tells the story of Carol (Carolyn Brandt) who comes to live on her family farm that contains a decrepit house protected by an evil spirit named The Chooper.

One of the most hysterical looking and acting killers in cinematic history- The Chooper is clad in matching black balaclava, long sleeve shirt, and pants and wielding a toy sword he attacks his victims with the viciousness of a 10 year old boy playing in the backyard getting stung by bees.

Carolyn Brandt's narration sounds like she took two Ambien and stuck her head in a steel drum, and there is a fight scene that appeared to be staged by The Three Stooges. Clocking in at about an hour, Blood Shack feels about 30 minutes too long.

However to call it a waste of time would be unfair, because anything Steckler puts on screen is interesting, if only because of the oddly disparate elements he has a knack for throwing together.