This might be Corman's best movie out of all his works (it is definitely my favorite) and it is loved and praised many cult horror fans (still not enough in my opinion). Horror comedy and satire are both very hard genres to make them work (horror comedies are usually not horrifying nor funny, at least not in the right way) and satire is hard to capture and carries on without sounding or looking bitter, but Corman manages both aspects magnificently and mostly thanks to smartly written screenplay by Charles B. Griffith. The film truly stands the test of time as its satire works today as well, maybe even better when the world is infested with pretentious hipster wannabes who crave to be praised as deep and meaningful artist while just being hacks. In this case, satire works on many levels - it only doesn't successfully mock beatnik culture of that era, but also Corman's previous films as well.
Dick Miller gives nuanced and wonderful performance as Walter Paisley, a dimwitted and impressionable busboy who more than anything wants to be an artist. Miller keeps the awkward clumsiness at right level without overacting once so Walter doesn't turn into cheap slapstick hero. The depth given into Walter makes the viewer feel compassion towards him before he starts his killing spree. Even after that it is hard not to feel sorry for him.
The film suffers from many low production values typical for Corman's film. There are enough plot holes and inconsistencies that reduce the film into 'just another B-movie' category (the screenplay is so well written that one can't go over nitpicking) but never takes away the entertainment value. It rather adds certain charm to the movie. Miller himself also has expressed dissatisfaction considering the low production values, as this could have been classic little film.
Although the poem read by Maxwell (Julian Burton) at the beginning of the film was meant to mock pretentious beatniks (and set the proper mood for community of artists) I kind off liked that really.
Just a wonderful movie. In Walter Paisley we trust.
Dick Miller gives nuanced and wonderful performance as Walter Paisley, a dimwitted and impressionable busboy who more than anything wants to be an artist. Miller keeps the awkward clumsiness at right level without overacting once so Walter doesn't turn into cheap slapstick hero. The depth given into Walter makes the viewer feel compassion towards him before he starts his killing spree. Even after that it is hard not to feel sorry for him.
The film suffers from many low production values typical for Corman's film. There are enough plot holes and inconsistencies that reduce the film into 'just another B-movie' category (the screenplay is so well written that one can't go over nitpicking) but never takes away the entertainment value. It rather adds certain charm to the movie. Miller himself also has expressed dissatisfaction considering the low production values, as this could have been classic little film.
Although the poem read by Maxwell (Julian Burton) at the beginning of the film was meant to mock pretentious beatniks (and set the proper mood for community of artists) I kind off liked that really.
Just a wonderful movie. In Walter Paisley we trust.