TerroratRedWolfInn

Terror at Red Wolf Inn (1972)

College student Regina wins an all expenses paid vacation to a resort and without thinking twice jumps onto an airplane to head off for her adventure. But when a man named Baby John (who is clearly not right in the head) picks her up at the airport things are clearly not right. The resort is a beautiful old house where Baby John and his grandparents live, along with two other guests. Now if you have ever watched a horror movie you will immediately know what is up. Though it takes Regina the next 45 minutes of the movie to figure it out. But by then she is trapped in the house waiting her fate. Her only hope is that she can take advantage of Baby John being madly in love with her. But will that be enough for him to betray his family?

This is an interesting movie. It starts off interesting and does a great job building an atmosphere of foreboding. There is something really wrong with the inhabitants of the Red Wolf Inn, even if Regina can’t see it. But then there is a long stretch that focuses on Baby John’s professed love for Regina. This makes for a terrible middle portion that had me fighting to stay awake (and I don’t fall asleep during movies that easily). But once the secrets are revealed and it becomes about Regina trying to escape the family the movie picks up some steam again. I also had a blast with the ending, which is pure 70’s cheese. This is one of the few movies that I recommend you actually pay attention to the credits. Not because of any deleted scenes or tacked on ending, but to actually read the credits, trust me it’s funny. The performances are all decent, especially those of Arthur Space (Henry aka. Grandpa) and Mary Jackson (Evelyn aka. Grandma). They are the heart and soul of the movie and really have to carry it.

Other than the long boring stretch the most disappointing thing about the movie is the lack of special effects. This movie is tame, even by the standards of the early 70s. All the good stuff happens off screen and we are only given a couple of severed heads and a limb here and there for gore. If this movie had a bit of the H.G. Lewis type gore in it I think it might be a cult classic. Other than that it is a well-made movie, but nothing special.

This is at best a mediocre movie. But it had so much potential. If they had focused on and continued with the creepy atmosphere the movie would have been much more entertaining. Also if they had amped up the gore a bit it would have helped. But they did neither and missed out on having a cult classic. As it is I only recommend this to those that are really interested in the oddball horror movies of the 70s, as it will most likely be boring to everyone else. For more information about this movie check out Mill Creek Entertainment at their website http://www.millcreekent.com/

2 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer