Evil Spirits

Evil Spirits. 1990. Cheezy Flicks DVD. Reviewed by Brian Kirst

“Trash! Nothing but a house full of trash and kooks!” – The Neighbor (played by Sci-Fi – Horror Legend Yvette Vickers)

Co-star Debra Lamb proclaims of this flick, “They threw the kitchen sink into this one.” Indeed, with its savage cannibal locked in a basement, nosy neighbor, séance happy psychic, murderous landlady, blackmailing government official and half nude ballet loving mute there is much for viewers to get diverted by.

More importantly, though, this film features a dream cast whom provides the major reason for watching this fairly entertaining mish-mash. Karen Black plays Mrs. Purdy, a landlady who only houses those on social security and government assistance. Why? Well, you know why – the old and unwanted are so much easier to bump off. (In Evil Spirits‘ sole moment of social reflection, Black indeed quietly rails against a world that ignores its disabled and downcast.) Black’s quickly disappearing boarders include Mr. Balzer, a writer-peeping tom played by the amazing Michael Berryman, the psychically inclined Vanya (Martine Beswick – Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, The Offspring, Dr. No, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell) and the superior Wilson’s played by former screen legend Virginia Mayo and beloved character actor Bert Remsen. The two too inquisitive outsiders are played by Laugh-In‘s Arte Johnson and in a very rare, latter day screen appearance Yvette Vickers. Indeed, femme fatale lovers need no other reason to watch this flick than to see Vickers (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and Attack of the Giant Leeches) in her first role in more than 25 years and in her last screen appearance to date.

Former Scream Queen Lamb is also given one of her biggest roles here. This talented, exotic beauty was cast often in the early 90’s, but mostly in smaller, decorative roles, so it is a pleasure to see her in something more substantive here. Indeed, as the delirious seductive, silent twirling Tina, the since disappeared Lamb commands much screen time and is in the prime of her strength and beauty.

Berryman (who is quickly establishing himself as one of my favorite actors) and Beswick also provide multi-leveled hi-jinks here. Black, clad often in dowdy house dresses, also provides a toned down reflective performance -an almost miracle given the over-the-top material she must perform.

Directorially, Gary Graver supplies some great B-Movie moments including Black’s emotional plight over a drunken boarder who simply refuses to die and the death of Mayo by hatchet (the said weapon flops noticeably, back and forth, upon Mayo’s wide wig).

While filmed in the early 90’s direct to video boom, this exercise has taken almost 17 years to make it to DVD. While not containing the crude comic highs of such pictures as Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, this affair – quickly filmed in 3 weeks- does present itself as a worthy example of its era. Quality purists will be dismayed by Cheezy Flicks’ obvious VHS copied version. Those who can look past the often grainy texture, though, may find a few amusing, worthwhile moments in this neglected, long unseen piece.