Blood Shack (also known as The Chooper and Curse of the Evil Spirit)[1] is a 1971 American horror film written and directed by Ray Dennis Steckler (under the pseudonym Wolfgang Schmidt),[2][3] and starring Steckler's then-wife Carolyn Brandt[1] alongside Ron Haydock.
| Blood Shack | |
|---|---|
_VHS_cover.jpg) VHS cover | |
| Directed by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Written by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Starring | Carolyn Brandt Ron Haydock |
Release date |
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Running time |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Cast
edit- Carolyn Brandt as Carol
- Ron Haydock as Tim
- Jason Wayne as Daniel
- Laurel Spring as Connie
- John Bates as Charlie
- Steve Edwards as Constable
- Linda Steckler as Margie
- Laura Steckler as Barbra
Production
editThe film was produced on a budget of "five hundred dollars tops".[1] Filming took place in Pahrump, Nevada,[1] and according to Steckler, the furnishings of the titular shack were property that had been left behind by a previous tenant.[1] The black suit worn by the "Chooper", which was too small for Haydock,[4] was recycled from a previous Steckler production, Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters.[1] The killer was called the "Chooper" after the repetitive "choop" sounds made by the suit's wearer during the "Green Grasshopper" segment of The Lemon Grove Kids.[4]
Release
editUnder the title "The Chooper" The film received a limited theatrical release,[5] playing in one theater in Denver, Colorado and a VHS release.[4] For home video, the film was cut down from 70 minutes to 55 minutes then re-scored and retitled to "Bloodshack".[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Sykes, Brad (2018). Terror in the Desert: Dark Cinema of the American Southwest. McFarland & Company. p. 126. ISBN 978-1476672410.
- ^ Lentz III, Harris M. (1994). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits, Supplement 2: Through 1993. Vol. 4. McFarland & Company. p. 367. ISBN 0-89950-927-4.
- ^ Quarles, Mike (2010). Down and Dirty: Hollywood's Exploitation Filmmakers and Their Movies. McFarland & Company. p. 22. ISBN 978-0786411429.
- ^ a b c Rausch, Andrew J., ed. (2013). Gods of Grindhouse: Interviews with Exploitation Filmmakers. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1593937348.
- ^ a b Ziemba, Joseph A. (July 26, 2020). "Blood Shack (1971)". Bleeding Skull!. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
External links
edit- Blood Shack at IMDb