measl Reviews

Audrey Rose (1977)

Audrey Rose is a unique product of it's time.

[7/10 · 10 June 2019]

Starting in the late 60s, and ending in the mid to late 70s, the United States went through a strong religious and occult "rebirth". The occult was centered on Eastern religions, with a strong Indian component. The Beatles had their own "Swami"; the "Seth Material" (supposedly the dictated diaries of a dead "soul" channeled through it's authoress) was a best selling book series; the Krinshnahs and Moonies were at the height of their ascension; and Reincarnation beliefs were widespread in what came to be called "New Age circles".

Audrey Rose was born of that "rebirth", and it clearly shows. The death vs lifecycle hewed closely to the beliefs of at least a half dozen religions (some real, some not so real), and Audrey Rose was the best popular expression of that sudden new belief craze. A lot of people have complained that this appears to have been a cheap take on the Exorcist, but it most definitely is not an exorcist knockoff.

The first hour or some of Audrey Rose is top flight material, especially the scenes where the little girl is trying to "avoid flames", while the second half's "legal battle" kinda ruined the mood. Nevertheless, this was a genuinely possible scenario for it's time. Audrey Rose doesn't age terribly well, as the world of Audrey Rose and the first quarter of the 21st century are polar opposite environments, but it is certainly worth watching if you can find an old copy!

Rush It (1978)

Unknown but historical film

[7/10 · 12 May 2007]

This no budget film was written and directed by Henny Youngman's "other grandson", Gary Youngman. Youngman had hoped to use this short film as a vehicle into mainstream film-making, but instead it provided a platform for the launching of several new stars and starlets.

John Heard, Jill Eikenberry, Tom Berenger and Judith Kahan all turn in the kind of top-flight performances that they will become widely known for in coming years - even though they were either unknown or just becoming known during the shooting of this film.

Supposedly, this film was provided to Showtime at no charge, as a way to get it the widest possible coverage: it worked too! I am not aware of a single screen (not even an indie screen) that booked this film, but it received hundreds of hours of play on Showtime as a filler.

This effort has remained virtually unknown, despite the all-star cast - it's a jewel in the rough, and worth an opportunity to screen it.