VISIONS OF EVIL (1975)
aka SO SAD ABOUT GLORIA Directed by Harry Thomason
Prism VHS
THE FILM
"I sit in trees because it's sort of philosophic."
Yeah. Sort of.
I shall be free as a horse! I shall be stern as a canoeing oar! I shall be lithe as a tree! And, I shall do it all with Visions Of Evil aka So Sad About Gloria. Visions is not just a film with one of the swellest grit-70s axe murders since Meatcleaver Massacre. No, its branches reach much higher than that. So high, in fact, that the film out-philosophizes itself within ten minutes, rendering any sort of comprehension on our part entirely moot. But, that's acceptable. I'll take a five minute falling-in-love montage over a speech on the significance of tree-climbing any old day. Or, I'll take 'em both. Forsooth! To the trees!
Poor Gloria. Young, rich, beautiful...and nuts. Upon her release from an asylum, Gloria moves in with old Uncle Rick for an unspecified reason. They spice their days with cryptic axioms ("I feel free like a horse.") and lots of smiling. It's quite entertaining. Subsequently, our girl has "visions" of what appears to be The Wizard Of Gore axe'ing a coffin at a train station. Also quite entertaining. Gloria then bumps into Chris (the tree guy) for some heavy duty love: Canoeing. Jumping on rocks. The zoo. Kite flying. Sailing. Swinging. And yes, sitting in trees. Marriage soon follows, as does that frightening axe murder and a Tor Johnson-masked slasher. I feel free. Like a horse.
Visions Of Evil makes more sense than Runaway Nightmare, but less sense than The Shaman. And that's your motivation. While the film initially screams "padded, worthless mess", closer scrutiny reveals a savviness afoot, one which whispers, "Sure, this is bizarre nonsense, but I've got the stuff." It's in the abrupt leaps from shivery tension to laughable sap. It's in the crude, offhand cinematography. And it's most certainly in the ridiculous dialogue. Visions Of Evil is no masterpiece, but this much is certain: it's fun to watch. Perhaps, even more fun than sitting in trees.
Is that sort of philosophic?
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Somebody at Prism was giddy with the contrast knob. Aside from that, the print is scratchy, filled with deep colors, and pleasantly grainy. Perfect 70s ambiance. This was especially true each time the schmaltzy nightclub soundtrack kicked in.
EXTRAS
Psycho Sisters. The movie still dogs it, but this trailer is the cat's meow. Lookout -- I'm on a roll!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Gloria, you've done well for yourself. The eccentric, proto-slashin' Visions Of Evil is not a film that demands your immediate attention. However, should you chance upon it, confused enlightenment is undoubtedly guaranteed. Tree-sitter or not.
— Joseph A. Ziemba, 01.18.08 | 
How to be free
Very philosophic
Montagnificent
Grit-axe
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