It's Alive... Manos 2 the Wrath of Buchanan

It's Alive (1969): 1 out of 10: Nostalgia is a dangerous thing. I often look back on movies from my childhood such as Damnation Alley or The Punishment of Anne, (I had a very strange childhood. Hey it was the Seventies the rules were different back then) and wonder if I can view the films objectively. (Death Race 2000 is in reality not the best film of all time).



I have the feeling that those who look back fondly on Larry Buchanan's made for TV masterpieces are remembering their old dog, their mothers cookies and the comforts of childhood rather than the film in question. Because the film is awful.



I didn't like Manos Hand of Fate (who did?) and this film is almost a remake of that turgid masterpiece (Complete with endless opening drive in the Ozarks of all things.) With the exception that it doesn't have Manos's bizarre sex fetish undercurrent and no Tor. (Two things that threatened to wake one up during Manos)



Instead we get talentless former child actor (How is that for a redundant statement) Tommy Kirk and some unknowns.



We have a truly unconvincing monster, (apparently recycled) death march style pacing, and witless dialogue that is almost impossible to describe. It really pales in comparison to the great films of my childhood like Massacre at Central High. (Hey we had cable what can say)








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