1966 (USA)
Harold P. Warren
Tom Neyman ... The Master
John Reynolds ... Torgo
Diane Mahree ... Margaret
Harold P. Warren ... Michael
Jackey Neyman ... Debbie
Howdy. Seen Manos? If not then I have to find a way to describe it to you. The year is 1966. Hal Warren a fertilizer salesman from New Mexico (allegedly) makes a bet with a director visiting the area that he can make a horror film to rival those made by professionals all by himself. Thus, Manos was born. Armed with a home video camera that filmed, without sound, in 30-second intervals, Hal recruited the toughest, bravest, local theatre actors and models he could rustle up. Hal was so talented that he was able to write the screenplay, act the lead role, produce, and direct this film all by himself! By now your dying to know the plot so I won't tease you any longer. Middle aged Mike takes his fresh out of high school wife and their five year old daughter out for a lovely vacation in the wilderness of New Mexico. Somehow they get lost and stop for directions at a creepy old house where they are greeted by a deformed man, Torgo. When creepy deformed Torgo informs them that he can't help them because "The master is away" Mike does what any normal average man would do -- asks to spend the night. The rest of the plot is far too shocking to divulge. It's difficult to rate this movie even by B movie standards. Why 5 stars? Because I find the movie enjoyable. The worst movies made aren't bad because of low-budgets or talent, their bad because they're boring, predictable, hack-written, etc. When you watch Manos you're watching a one of a kind time capsule. I'm not saying Manos is some work of art. It's garbage don't get me wrong. But its still entertaining and a rare chance to see what happened when an everyday Joe took a camera and tried to make a movie 40 years ago.
