Dirtylogy
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
Scotty Burke
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
soulexpress
Rick Turner is an ordinary man who starts to have recurring dreams about a mysterious blonde. He finds himself drawn to a doll shop, where Rick sees one that looks just like the woman in his dreams. When he walks in, the proprietor calls him by name and insists that Turner had ordered the doll custom-made. He then produces the blonde woman's photograph, which Rick supposedly dropped off when he placed the order. Turner insists that he has never been in that shop before.The blonde, Bianca, not only is real, she is the high priestess of a voodoo-styled religious cult that worships Gamba, "the Great Devil God." (The doll-shop owner is the cult's leader.) Bianca seduces Rick into taking an oath to Gamba. He is happy for a time, but then the cult decides to offer his ex-girlfriend, Donna (Ariadna Welter), as a sacrifice. That's when it occurs to Rick that this whole cult thing ain't what it's cracked up to be.I had a feeling I was in for something different as an instrumental surf rock song played over the opening credits. And I was right. This ended up being a lot better than a cheaply-made early '60s chiller deserved to be. The competent cast includes Roberta Alda in a low- key portrayal of Turner, the drop-dead gorgeous Linda Christian as the heinously seductive Bianca, and Neil Hamilton's highbrow take on the business-suit-wearing cult leader. Other highlights include the racially diverse cultists (who dress like they're going to the opera), the bongo-fueled dance routine that accompanies the ritual, the knife-adorned "wheel of death" that serves as a loyalty test, and the dream sequence in which Bianca first appears to Rick.The entire thing has a low-budget look to it, including what obviously is a toy car during a scene in which a traitorous cult member dies in a voodoo-induced wreck. Also, the building on fire at the end is clearly not the doll shop.Two more things: Donna's reaction to Rick's dream-and-doll story is oddly matter-of-fact, even when she finds out that there really is a Bianca. Also, in a scene set at a hospital (which the viewer can tell is not one), an E/R doctor wears a suit and tie. I've never seen a doctor report for hospital duty dressed that way! And the wall clock visibly sports the Bulova logo.OK, so "The Devil's Hand" is imperfect, but who cares? At a mere 71 minutes, it went by quickly and painlessly.
fjaye
"The Devil's Hand" is a slick little B-film that moves at an amazingly fast clip. Don't look for deep characterizations, or explorations of motives, or anything else that would make the story stumble.This flick takes itself seriously. It's established at the outset that the Gamba cult is real, and several scenes indicate that it has actual power. And there's never a nudge or wink from any of the characters to indicate otherwise.The acting may not be top-notch, but it's credible enough. The opening theme is quite cool, too, and would be a good addition to a surf rock collection; unfortunately, it's never identified.And the overall theme is still relevant today—how easy it can be to get sucked into a cult (religious, political, philosophical—take your pick) because of one's hopes of improving his lot. Look at the worshipers; by and large they look just like you'n'me. No wild-eyed zealots, no borderline personalities, just…ordinary people.My only real quibble is the casting of Neil Hamilton as the villain. He seems to have been rather a one-note talent; his demeanor throughout the movie, whether fronting the doll shop or presiding over potential human sacrifice, is rather bland. Or maybe I just can't accept Commissioner Gordon being on the wrong side of the law!
joekohlertrenton
From the movie industry's beginnings and up through 1977, it was okay--even SOP--to make and watch "little movies." Occasionally a big budget, all-star affair would be produced, such as the biblical spectacles of the '50s or disaster films of the '70s, but "little movies" were the norm.Then "Star Wars" came along. Overnight, it wasn't okay for a picture to be anything less than a 50-million dollar, effects-filled extravaganza. I was in high school at the time and remember this phenomenon well. The mega-blockbuster-only culture in film making persists to the present day.For audiences too young to remember the pre-1977 world, movies like "The Devil's Hand" are little more than a source of ridicule. No laser blasts? No propane explosions? No skyscrapers with thousands of windows blowing out simultaneously? Well, then it's garbage.Happily, I do recall the pre-1977 film world and loved the intimacy and offbeat nature of its modest movies. "The Devil's Hand" is one of them.The story is set among a modern-day, urban cult of devil worshipers and their interesting powers (making quick money, obtaining the lover of their choice, etc.). Unwitting Rick (Robert Alda) is drawn into their shady circle by an elite member of the cult (Linda Christian). Although his life with them becomes supremely comfortable, their merciless practices and lethal vindictiveness makes him realize no one in their realm is safe.The film's strength is in its late-night atmosphere. It was produced in 1961, an attractive moment in US history. Everything looks great: the characters, their apartments, their cars and even the ceremonial back room. The music is befittingly mysterious and dreamy with the notable exception of the wonderful main-title theme by Baker Knight and the Knightmares. This rock 'n' roll number was recorded specifically for the film at the dawn of the twist craze and it charted at #37 on San Fransisco's hot 100 in August of 1961.I remember how "The Devil's Hand" turned up regularly on Detroit's "Scream Theater" Friday nights at 11:30pm during the late '70s and early '80s. I loved it then and I love it now--it's a gem.
Chris Haskell
I've seen 10-12 Crown International Pictures now and this is by far their most polished work. It plays like an episode of the Twilight Zone, and I would not be surprised if the writers pulled this story from a similar source as Mr Serling himself. It's very short, at just an hour and 10 minutes, and is definitely worth a watch for anyone looking into campy horror stories from the 50s (even though this was made in the 60s it doesn't have the free-love feel and was shot in black and white). Appropriate music, good acting, and surprisingly good cinematography all work in concert to make an enjoyable film.As a side note, the DVD that Mill Creek put out has a cool feature where you can watch this in 'Drive Thru' mode and has everything from an animated short to a few commercials. Nice little bit of nostalgia!Rating: 24/40
