Scalps

Last updated
Scalps
Scalps.jpg
20th Anniversary DVD cover
Directed by Fred Olen Ray
Screenplay byFred Olen Ray
Story byT.L. Lankford
Fred Olen Ray
John Ray
Produced byT.L. Lankford
(as The Eel)
StarringJo-Ann Robinson
Richard Hench
Roger Maycock
Cinematography Larry Van Loon
Cynthia Webster
Edited byJohn Barr
Music byDrew Neumann
Eric Rasmussen
Distributed by 21st Century Film Corporation
Release date
  • 1983 (1983)
Running time
82 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15,000 [1]

Scalps is a 1983 American horror film directed by Fred Olen Ray that concerns a vengeful Native American spirit.

Contents

Plot

Six college archeology students work on a dig in the California desert, despite the warnings of a professor and an elderly Native American. When the group digs around in an Indian burial ground for artifacts, they unleash the evil spirit of Black Claw. The entity possesses one of the group and begins slaughtering them one by one.

Cast

Production

Ray says the idea for the film was suggested to him by a friend, Donald G Jackson. "It was meant to be the cheapest film possible," said Ray. "I used to describe it as 6 Kids, a Station Wagon and a Tent and it pretty much was." [2]

Release

The film was re-edited by the distributor. Ray later recalled:

The cut we turned in was the one we wanted. Unfortunately being pretty green about that end of the business we also gave them, the distributor, the trims and outs and the result was their "improved" version. The Lion head was only meant to be seen for one or two seconds, but we shot a lot of it in order to have footage to choose from. It was a big mistake giving 21st Century the leftovers, but I don't think anyone would have guessed what was going to happen with it. They also cut in some shots of the killer Indian before he actually appeared in the story. It was maddening. [2]

The film was given a limited release theatrically in the United States by 21st Century Film Corporation beginning in December 1983. [3]

The film was released in the U.S. on a double feature video format by Continental Video alongside another feature - The Slayer . It was cut by five minutes or so, in order to make room for the second feature, but all the gruesome scenes and violence are intact. [4]

The film was released on DVD by Olen Ray's Retromedia Entertainment in 2004. [5] This release is currently out of print.

Ray says the film mentioned at the end, Scalps 2: The Return of D.J. was a joke, one he used on Phantom Empire and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers . "I used to promise sequels where I never intended to do them." He says, though, that a fan once sent him a fan-made sequel. [2]

The film was loosely remade in 2004 as Blood Desert by Stegath Dorr.

Related Research Articles

<i>Evil Dead II</i> 1987 American comedy horror film by Sam Raimi

Evil Dead II is a 1987 American comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi. It is a sequel to the 1981 horror film The Evil Dead. The film is written by Raimi and Scott Spiegel. Evil Dead II was produced by Robert Tapert and stars Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, who vacations with his girlfriend to a remote cabin in the woods. He discovers an audio tape of recitations from a book of ancient texts, and when the recording is played, it unleashes a number of demons which possess and torment him.

<i>Heathers</i> 1988 film by Michael Lehmann

Heathers is a 1988 American teen black comedy film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann, in both of their respective film debuts. It stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Penelope Milford. The film portrays four teenage girls—three of whom are named Heather—in a clique at an Ohio high school, one of whose lives is disrupted by the arrival of a misanthrope intent on murdering the popular students and staging their deaths as suicides.

<i>Ferris Buellers Day Off</i> 1986 film by John Hughes

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen comedy film written, co-produced, and directed by John Hughes, co-produced by Tom Jacobson, and starring Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck. It tells the story of a high school slacker who skips school, with two of his friends, for a day in Chicago and regularly breaks the fourth wall to explain his techniques and inner thoughts.

<i>House of 1000 Corpses</i> 2003 American comedy horror film by Rob Zombie

House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 American black comedy horror film written, co-scored, and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, and the first film in the Firefly film series. It stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, Karen Black, Rainn Wilson, Chris Hardwick, Tom Towles, Erin Daniels, Jennifer Jostyn, Walton Goggins, and Dennis Fimple in his final role. The plot centers on a group of teenagers who are kidnapped and tortured by a psychotic family, during Halloween, after traveling across the country to write a book.

An audio commentary is an additional audio track, usually digital, consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with a video. Commentaries can be serious or entertaining in nature, and can add information which otherwise would not be disclosed to audience members.

<i>Silent Night, Deadly Night</i> 1984 American psychological slasher film by Charles E. Sellier, Jr

Silent Night, Deadly Night is a 1984 American psychological slasher film directed by Charles E. Sellier, Jr., and starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Linnea Quigley, Britt Leach, and Leo Geter. The story concerns a young man named Billy, who suffers from post-traumatic stress over witnessing his parents' murder on Christmas Eve by a man disguised as Santa Claus and his subsequent upbringing in an abusive Catholic orphanage. In adulthood, the Christmas holiday leads him into a psychological breakdown, and he emerges as a spree killer donning a Santa suit.

<i>Halloween II</i> (1981 film) 1981 American slasher film by Rick Rosenthal

Halloween II is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Rick Rosenthal in his directorial debut, written and produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence who reprise their respective roles as Laurie Strode and Dr. Sam Loomis. It is the second installment in the Halloween film series and serves as a direct sequel to Halloween (1978). The plot picks up directly after the first film, with Michael Myers following survivor Laurie Strode to the local hospital, while his psychiatrist Dr. Loomis continues his pursuit of him.

<i>The Terror</i> (1963 film) 1963 film independent horror film

The Terror is a 1963 American independent horror film produced and directed by Roger Corman. The film stars Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson, the latter of whom portrays a French officer who is seduced by a woman who is also a shapeshifting devil.

<i>Highlander: Endgame</i> 2000 American film

Highlander: Endgame is a 2000 American fantasy action film directed by Doug Aarniokoski and starring Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert, Bruce Payne, and Lisa Barbuscia. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series and it serves as a continuation of both the Highlander film from 1986 and the Highlander television series. The film reunites Duncan MacLeod, the lead character of the series, and Connor MacLeod, the lead character of the films. In the film, the Macleods need to deal against a new enemy named Jacob Kell, a powerful immortal who is willing to break any rule to win the Prize. This marks Lambert's fifth and final appearance as Connor. Highlander: Endgame was released on September 1, 2000. A stand-alone sequel, Highlander: The Source was released seven years later, with Paul reprising his role.

Fred Olen Ray American filmmaker

Fred Olen Ray is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter of more than 200 low-to-medium-budget feature films in many genres, including horror, science fiction, action/adventure, erotic thrillers, crime dramas, and holiday films.

<i>Highlander</i> (film) 1986 film by Russell Mulcahy

Highlander is a 1986 British fantasy action-adventure film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. It stars Christopher Lambert, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery. The film chronicles the climax of an age-old war between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and present-day storylines.

<i>The Alien Factor</i> 1978 film

The Alien Factor is a 1978 science fiction horror film written, edited, produced, and directed by Don Dohler. The film centers on a small town that is besieged by three aliens that have crash-landed in the nearby forest.

<i>Step Brothers</i> (film) 2008 American comedy film by Adam McKay

Step Brothers is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Adam McKay, produced by Jimmy Miller and Judd Apatow, and written by Will Ferrell and McKay from a story by Ferrell, McKay, and John C. Reilly. It follows Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly), two grown men who are forced to live together as brothers after their single parents, with whom they still live, marry each other. Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, and Kathryn Hahn also star.

<i>The Slayer</i> (film) 1982 American horror film by J. S. Cardone

The Slayer is a 1982 American independent horror film directed by J. S. Cardone. Set on a small island near the Atlantic coast, the plot concerns two couples who upon visiting the island get trapped there due to an oncoming hurricane. As one of the women knows from her plaguing nightmares that the island is dangerous, over the next three days they begin to be killed by something unseen. The film is notable for gaining notoriety and being classified in the United Kingdom as a "video nasty" in the 1980s.

<i>Pontypool</i> (film) 2008 Canadian film

Pontypool is a 2008 Canadian horror film directed by Bruce McDonald and written by Tony Burgess, based on his novel Pontypool Changes Everything. A spin-off, Dreamland, was released in 2019, while a direct sequel, Pontypool Changes, is currently in active development.

<i>The Wild World of Batwoman</i> 1966 American film

The Wild World of Batwoman is a 1966 American science fiction comedy superhero film produced, written, directed and edited by Jerry Warren. The film stars Katherine Victor as Batwoman, George Andre as Professor G. Octavius Neon, and Steve Brodie as Jim Flanagan.

<i>Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters</i> 2013 film by Tommy Wirkola

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a 2013 action horror film written and directed by Tommy Wirkola. It is a continuation to the German folklore fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel", in which the titular siblings are now grown up and working as a duo of witch exterminators for hire. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton in the title roles with Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Thomas Mann, Pihla Viitala and Derek Mears as the supporting cast.

<i>The Wolverine</i> (film) 2013 superhero film directed by James Mangold

The Wolverine is a 2013 superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Wolverine. It is the sixth installment in the X-Men film series, the second installment in the trilogy of Wolverine films after X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and a spin-off/sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Directed by James Mangold from a screenplay written by Scott Frank and Mark Bomback, based on the 1982 limited series Wolverine by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, it stars Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, alongside Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto, Hiroyuki Sanada, Famke Janssen, and Will Yun Lee. Following the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan travels to Japan, where he engages an old acquaintance in a struggle that has lasting consequences. Stripped of his healing powers, Wolverine must battle deadly samurai while struggling with guilt over Jean Grey's death.

<i>Rango</i> (2011 film) 2011 film

Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski from a screenplay by John Logan. Co-produced by Verbinski with Graham King and John B. Carls, the film stars the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone, and Timothy Olyphant. The film's plot centers on Rango, a chameleon who accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff. Rango was produced by Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Verbinski's Blind Wink Productions, King's GK Films, and Industrial Light & Magic.

<i>Prison Ship</i> 1986 film directed by Fred Olen Ray

Prison Ship, also known as Star Slammer, Adventures of Taura, Part 1 , Starslammer: The Escape and Prison Ship Star Slammer, is a 1986 American science fiction film directed by Fred Olen Ray.

References

  1. "Scalps Blu Ray Review". Cinapse.
  2. 1 2 3 Ferguson, Dustin (12 April 2013). "Scalps: The 30th Anniversary Interview". Retro Slashers.
  3. "Company Credits for Scalps". imdb.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  4. Ziemba, Joseph A (September 1, 2005) "The Slayer (1982) VHS review". bleedingskull.com. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  5. "Scalps (DVD)". dvdempire.com. Retrieved 2011-04-12.