THE MANSON FAMILY
DVD region 2. Anchor Bay.

Begun in 1992, with Jim Van Bebber pretty hot in no-budget terms after gang warfare pic Deadbeat at Dawn's success, Charlie's Family - now retitled The Manson Family because moviegoers are, after all, morons who need things spelling out to them - remained in an unfinished limbo due to its headcase director's incarceration in prison; substance abuse and psychotic tendencies contributing to the interminable delay. Naturally, speculation began to grow that this was the Manson film that really did exceed the boundaries in recreating the real life Tate/La Bianca killings. And now, finally, thanks to the boys at Blue Underground stumping up the completion money and babysitting the director as he put the finishing touches to a film even he had probably given up on seeing completed, we can see for ourselves.

Inevitably, when finally confronted with a film surrounded by so many rumours and wild claims there is the risk of disappointment. Perhaps what is so surprising about The Manson Family is how relatively formal it is in narrative structure. A loose framing story about a reporter interviewing ex-Family members holds together wild recreations of the original crimes and the current-day shenanigans of a copycat cult. Impressive space is given to motivation of the Family and to charting the development of their murderous hate campaign. Of course, Charlie himself (Marcelo Games) takes centre stage and here Games looks and acts the part well. Indeed, what most impresses is the obvious care taken to create a fact driven take on the Manson era and its legacy. All this is backed up by an experimental, industrial and metal soundtrack - much of it delivered by assorted Phil Anselmo projects - that will doubtless appeal to many LURID GIRLS visitors.

Stylistically, The Manson Family is highly adventurous - like a forerunner to Natural Born Killers - with jump cuts and differing film stock making the potent mix seem more like a documentary than a grisly re-enactment of carnage. Particularly disturbing are segments portraying the modern Manson influenced cult. Footage is shown in reverse as cult members self-mutilate and jack-up, creating a disorientating feel. Trippy, sex-laced segments from the Sixties, along with verite style interviews increases the tension. The violence itself is rough with multiple gory stabbings, shootings and beatings creating a charnel house atmosphere. The infamous Tate murders sequence is virtually unwatchable, with throats sliced wide, skulls caved in and.. yes, worse!

The Manson Family is a vicious little whirlwind of a film and Van Bebber has an energetic style reminiscent of a younger Sam Raimi, without the black humour, yet with a distinctly nasty streak. In short, exactly what the world of exploitation film needs! For once, believe the hype, qnd as usual, ignore the British critics who are so gorged on mainstream, CGI-laden Hollywood shite that they simply can't deal with anything else...

WILL HOLLAND

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