The Wizard of Gore
The Wizard of Gore | |
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Directed by | Herschell Gordon Lewis |
Written by | Allen Kahn |
Produced by | Herschell Gordon Lewis |
Starring |
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Cinematography |
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Edited by | Eskandar Ameripoor |
Music by | Larry Wellington |
Distributed by | Mayflower Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $60,000 (est) |
The Wizard of Gore is a 1970 American splatter film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis and starring Ray Sager, Judy Cler, and Wayne Ratay. The screenplay was written by Allen Kahn.[1][2]
Plot
Montag agrees to appear on Sherry's show to perform a fire trick; when the cameras roll, he hypnotizes not only everyone in the studio, but also the viewing audience at home. With a wave of his hand, Montag starts a blaze and is guiding Sherry and two plainclothes cops toward it when Jack intervenes and pushes Montag into the fire instead. Screaming, the magician dies.
Back at home, Sherry and Jack have a drink as they discuss their strange experience. Suddenly, Jack laughs and begins peeling his own skin from his face to reveal that he is actually Montag. "What makes you think you know what reality is?" he asks Sherry before disemboweling her with his bare hands. But Sherry, still alive and laughing maniacally, tells the baffled Montag that none of what has happened was real—and that even he is part of her illusion. "You are no longer even here," she informs Montag. "You'll have to start your little charade all over again."
"But I...I am Montag!" the magician stammers helplessly. Then he is back onstage, dazed, reciting the same speech that he delivered to his audience at the beginning of the film: "What is real? How do you know that at this second you aren't asleep in your beds, dreaming that you are here in this theater?" And in the audience an unimpressed Sherry turns to Jack, muttering, "You know what I think? I think he's a phony."
Cast
- Ray Sager as Montag the Magnificent
- Judy Cler as Sherry Carson
- Wayne Ratay as Jack
- Phil Laurenson as Greg
- Jim Rau as Steve
- Don Alexander as Detective Kramer
- John Elliot as Detective Harlan
Production
Principal photography took place in 1969 and lasted two weeks. According to Lewis, the initial actor cast as Montag the Magnificent walked off the set following a confrontation with Lewis collaborator Fred Sandy. Crew member Ray Sager assumed the starring role.[3]
A. Louise Downe aided Lewis in special effects design as she had on
Critical reception
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014) |
Remake
The film was remade in 2007, starring Crispin Glover as Montag the Magnificent.[1]
In popular culture
The film was notably referenced and a scene is shown in the 2007 film Juno.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b Mark Deming (2014). "The Wizard of Gore". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
- ISBN 1-903254-39-6.
- ^ a b Palmer, Randy (2015). Herschell Gordon Lewis, Godfather of Gore: The Films. McFarland.
- ^ Allmovie. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ "The Wizard Of Gore - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ Biodrowski, Steve (February 23, 2008). "Juno – Best Cameo by a Gore Film". cinefantastiqueonline.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.