This is best seen as an interesting curio of Exploitation Horror, Tom Savini’s make-up effects at their most extreme, New York City and character actor Joe Spinell, who in every way seems to be one of the last people you should put on camera, let alone as the lead. Director William Lustig is a legend in this time and place. The film exists in multiple cuts, but I’m pretty sure what I watched was unrated because Titane was subtle by comparison. My list of recommended Grindhouse/Exploitation Horror is practically zero, but if you’re curious what one of these looks like, this one checks all the boxes.
This is going to come up again real soon because there’s a 2012 remake starring Elijah Wood which improves on nearly all of this film’s problems. It’s currently #435, mainly because it isn’t pinned to any specifics like the 1980 version, so it doesn’t have as notorious a reputation. The remake is a better film, but the original gets under your skin.
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