Review #562: 'Criminally Insane' (1975)

Nick Millard, director of obscure cult favourite Criminally Insane, must have been ashamed of himself. As well as this schlocky (yet quite enjoyable) effort, he has notched up as many Z-grade soft-core flicks as he has had aliases, such as the classics Fraulein Leather (1970), Pleasure Spots (1975), and, most hilariously, Sex Weirdo (1973). He has named himself Helmud Schuyler, Otto Wilmer and Alan Lindus, and here goes by the name of Nick Philips. Although he displays a unique talent for ineptness, Criminally Insane proves to be almost charming in its embracing of trash, and although features technical standards akin to Herschall Gordon Lewis, it channels the Midnight Movie sleaze of John Waters.

The obese and mentally ill Ethel (Priscilla Alden) is released from a mental hospital, where she moves back in with her mother Mrs. Janowski (Jane Lambert). Having been warned of Ethel's physical health and dangerous over-eating, Mrs. Janowski places her on a diet, locking all the cupboards and emptying the fridge. After being refused the key to the cupboard, Ethel stabs and killer her mother, and orders a big delivery (with extra ice-cream). Unable to pay the bill, Ethel kills the delivery boy as well, dragging him and her mother into the back room where they begin to rot. Things become complicated when Ethel's sister Rosalie (Lisa Farros) moves in, bringing her prostitute lifestyle as well as her sleazy pimp boyfriend John (Michael Flood), in with her.

From the synopsis alone, one could predict what they were letting themselves in for. This is shameless exploitation, made on an obviously tiny budget, and filmed in mainly one location (probably the director's grandma's house). Millard's takes people's natural disgust for obesity (now a much more sensitive issue in these PC days) and turns it into a movie monster. Alden, clearly possessing no acting ability, is nevertheless memorable, and more disturbingly, believable. I could imagine watching her on the Jerry Springer show being crane-lifted out the side of her house. At only 61 minutes, it doesn't demand much, but if a film this short can feel dragged out towards the end then you know you're in trouble. But ultimately, there are plenty of logic-defying moments that provide much-needed hilarity, and the thickest fake blood you've ever seen, and deserves it's place on the cult circuit.


Directed by: Nick Millard
Starring: Priscilla Alden, Michael Flood, Lisa Farros
Country: USA

Rating: **

Tom Gillespie