GARGOYLES

US, 1972, 74 minutes, Colour.
Cornel Wilde, Jennifer Salt, Grayson Hall Scott Glenn.
Directed by Bill W.Norton.

A brief horror telemovie directed by B.I.W. Norton, the author of many action screenplays, especially those for Sam Peckinpah. The film anticipates The Exorcist with its emphasis on incarnations of the Devil. Cornel Wilde and Jennifer Salt make a good team as professor and daughter. There are many good horror effects and some intriguing make-up of the gargoyles. However, the film merely gets under way when it suddenly ends. Interesting but limited.

1. How interesting a horror story? The importance of the long introduction, the collage of visual impacts of gargoyles and incarnations of the Devil? The historical and archaeological explanation? How plausible? An background for the themes and events of the film? The title and its emphasis, sound and meaning? The familiarity with the images from the middle ages and the cathedrals?

2. The presence of evil in the world, its consequent terror, the incarnation of evil? How much was made of the presence of evil and its plausibility? Humans in contact with evil?

3. How effective a telemovie? Brevity of length, elaboration of plot, horror impact?

4. The film's presentation of its setting, America, Mexico, location photography? The special effects of the desert, a wave?

5. The presentation of the professor and his skills and background, archaeological knowledge and interest? His field work? His love for Diana and concern about her?

6. Diana as heroine? The adventurous American girl, the audience identifying with her especially in her being kidnapped and her tears? The humane touch in her relationship with her father? impact of Uncle Willy's death and her fear of the gargoyles? Her being captured and need to be rescued? The encounter with the main gargoyle and their discussion about learning? A variation on the beauty and the beast theme?

7. The authenticity of the presentation of the motel and the proprieteress and her advances towards the professor, her later worries about the gargoyles? The bikies and their being accused of murder, their arrest and imprisonment, their helping? Uncle Willy and his information? His explanations and the ugly violence of his death?

8. The plausibility of the incarnation of the gargoyles? Audience interest in and response to the world of the occult? How well designed were the gargoyles? Their ominous presence, the physical appearance and their physical violence? The suggestions of evil?

9. Audience response to the make-up of the gargoyles, their presence, violence, attack on the house, on the car pursuit of the professor? The kidnapping of Diana? The chief gargoyle and his intelligence? His menace after escaping and the implication of his reappearance?

10. Themes of good and evil and their confrontation? The openness of the ending?