The Devils's Rain (1975)

After taking a slight break from movies and the blog for a couple days, I decided that it was time to fins something mindless to watch. After searching Shudder, I settled on the 1975 cult flick The Devil’s Rain.

Plot/ A bunch of Satanists in the American rural landscape have terrible powers which enable them to melt their victims. However one of the children of an earlier victim vows to destroy them.

The 1970s were such a different time, especially in movies. One of the biggest movements was the fear of Devil worship that overtook every part of culture from movies, to music, and even gaming. This movie clearly falls into the heart of that movement. Complete with a tremendous cast featuring Ernest Borgnine, Tom Skerritt, Eddie Albert, Ida Lupino, William Shatner, Keenan Wynn, and, even John Travolta. The storyline is interesting although some of it is incoherent (especially the opening sequence), and while the schlock-filled effects do not hold up in any way, watching all of the bodies melt is a fun (and surprising) twist I did not expect. Of course, watching Ernest Borgnine transform to a goat was complete cheese and while interesting, the storyline was a mess, but those flaws only add to the schlock factor. In the end, this is not a technically good movie and there are many flaws, but it is fun. If you are into 1970s B-Movie cheese, give it a shot. It is entertaining and fun.

Kill Your Darlings (2013)

After viewing a couple of no-budget indie flicks from Brain Damage Films over the past week, Bren picked up an interesting drama based on the early years of some literary icons. Having read many of the classics from the Beat Generation, this would be a solid change of pace. That selection was the independent drama Kill Your Darlings from 2013.

Plot/ A murder in 1944 draws together the great poets of the beat generation: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs.

It is amazing how many people in the world truly have no idea how important the Beat Generation was to literature, and possibly society. While there are some fascinating movies out there (their books are better), no movie has truly captured the entire feel of the movement. This film is an interesting take on the origins of the movement. As with every movie, there are some good moments featuring decent acting, some solid characterization, an intriguing pallet, and a standout cast. Unfortunately, the scripting was a touch incoherent and the pacing was off, which took something away from the overall feel of the movie. In the end, this is an entertaining movie that does a decent job unveiling the foundations of what would become one of the most important movements in literature. While there are many missed opportunities inside this complex story, it is a decent movie to relax to. Not for everyone, but if you like the Beat Poets, give it a shot.