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| Posters for Francis Ford Coppola's Dementia 13 seem to inform patrons that they would have to pass some kind of a psychiatric examination before seeing the film, - now that's creative marketing! |
QUICK REVIEW:
A family in an Irish castle bicker over inheritance, as a mysterious ax murderer begins to wreck havoc.
Dementia 13 is the feature debut of master filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now (1979)), although the fact is contested, as he was heavily involved with directing a few other (dubious) films before it as well. It's a castle horror flick set and shot on location in Ireland. The film stirs up a traditional whodunit plot that is easily forgotten afterwards. Coppola wrote the script with the help of Jack Hill (Blood Bath (1966)).
But the staging of the proceedings stand out, as Coppola has directed the period plot in a modern fashion with close-ups, various quite visionary shots and actors that really act. William Campbell (Star Trek (1967), TV-series) and Luana Anders (Easy Rider (1969)), Bart Patton (THX 1138 (1971), voice) and Mary Mitchel (Panic in Year Zero! (1962)) are top-billed, and Patrick Magee (Tales from the Crypt (1972)) plays a small part.
The movie contains an ax murder that seems to have inspired The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and a deeply atmospheric opening sequence, (the SPOILER heart attack on the lake scene.)
Related review:
Francis Ford Coppola: Apocalypse Now (1979) redux version - The horror of war
Watch the hammy trailer for the film here
Cost: Between 30k-42k $
Box office: Unknown
= Uncertainty
[Coppola was one of the budding, young filmmakers attached to Roger Corman's (The Wild Angels (1966)) American International Pictures, who had provided him with 22k $ left over from The Young Racers (1963), which had wrapped under budget. Coppola himself raised another 20k from selling the European rights without Corman's knowledge. Dementia 13 was shot in 9 days and has since come to be regarded as a Gothic cult movie by some. This Indiewire article claims that it recouped its expenses at the box office.]
What do you think of Dementia 13?
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