After Lori suffers a stillbirth, her husband Frank obtains a job with a northern California toy company. Frank's new boss, the mysterious Mr. Cato, explains that Frank's position will involve magic. Cato, who seemingly holds enormous influence over the town, pursues the power of necromancy and believes that Lori holds the key that will help him resurrect his own dead son.
Acting
Welles's magnificent disinterest somehow perfect for jaded necromancer.
Production
Toy company + occult cult = accidentally brilliant genre mashup.
Direction
Bert I. Gordon's creature-feature instincts applied to Satanism.
Director
Bert I. Gordon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Welles filmed his entire role in just a few days, reportedly refusing to learn lines and improvising most scenes. He was paid roughly $60,000, which he immediately spent on his own unfinished projects.
Released during peak 'Satanic panic' era, the film capitalized on Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist's success but with Bert I. Gordon's signature low-budget giant-creature sensibility awkwardly applied to occult horror.
US
