Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 16, 2015

Reflecting a country in the midst of a seismic cultural change, cinema of the 1960s attempted to address the ills of a nation. Following a trail set by psychedelic drug use and political upheaval, filmmakers set out to create eye-popping, feral pictures that would appeal to a younger audience, often transforming parental figures and the rest of the establishment into villains, demonizing their authority and commitment to greed. A lesser known entry in the “groovy, man” uprising is 1969’s “Cult of the Damned” (a.k.a. “Angel, Angel, Down We Go”), a movie that doesn’t have much in the way of dramatic firepower, but it’s drenched with period-specific malaise and rock and roll influence, emerging as a musical crossed with a teen angst drama, with elements of horror, abstraction, and daredevil sports poured into the brew. It’s exhaustively repetitive and brutally snail-paced, but for those who automatically embrace counterculture cinema generated during this particularly volatile era, “Cult of the Damned” is a lost entry in the freak-out subgenre.

As a distressed child raised by her closeted homosexual father, Willy (Charles Aidman), a rich airplane manufacturer, and her ex-stag-film-starring mother, Astrid (Jennifer Jones), young Tara (Holly Near) retreated to a fantasy world that worked to erase her domestic pain. As a teenager, Tara returns home from a Swiss boarding school, overweight and virginal, which continues to distress the household. Throwing a party to socialize their girl, Willy and Astrid essentially push Tara into the arms of Bogart (Jordan Christopher), a rock singer interested is using the naïve girl to infiltrate her household, getting off on the opportunity to destroy the family from within. Backed by musical pals Santoro (Roddy McDowall), Anna (Davey Davidson), and Joe (Lou Rawls), Bogart commences an elaborate plan of domination that’s tied into a philosophy of thrill-seeking, with the foursome urging Tara into skydiving and acts of independence, trying to turn the girl against her parents. Not satisfied with such a simple seduction of a willing teenager, Bogart turns his attention to Astrid, using a key piece of expensive jewelry as a method of manipulation.

Writer Robert Thom would go on to fashion screenplays for B-movies such as “Bloody Mama,” “Death Race 2000,” and “Crazy Mama,” but he makes his directorial debut with “Cult of the Damned.” It’s ambitious work, aiming to create a tale of seduction that feels contemporary, playing with the generational divide of the day, with the old guard perplexed with the kids of America, trying to make sense of their music, defiant attitudes, and permissive sexuality. Of course, everyone has secrets, and the opening of the film employs Tara’s POV to establish her skills of self-delusion, with the child aware of possible indiscretions involving her parents, burying their sins deep down as she imagines them as fairy tale characters, building a wall around herself to keep reality at comfortable distance. Visually, the concept of denial is explored through pop art, finding Thom returning to a canvas covered in celebrity and family photographs and splatters and smears of paint, generating a portal into Tara’s shattered psyche while sampling art-world appetites of the day.

The experimental asides to “Cult of the Damned” are interesting, with Thom cooking up cinematic ways to express Tara’s fried headspace as she’s caught between her family dysfunction and Bogart’s influence. There are few zoom-happy, lava lamp-style period touches, but the helmer does explore the space of the 1960s, establishing Bogart as a Morrison-type writhing around in leather pants, spouting lame poetry and sharing surprisingly effective sexual magnetism. Additional ornamentation is provided by Anna, Joe, and Santoro, who also explore personal philosophy and romp around naked, creating a chorus that backs up Bogart’s kingly rule. Adding to Tara’s pressure is skydiving, which plays a pivotal role in “Cult of the Damned,” finding Bogart using it as a trust fall-style test for newcomers, punishing their squareness with intimidating freefalling. In a movie filled with bizarre events, this emerges as the weirdest. Well, Bogart’s musical tastes come a close second, watching the rock singer burst into song randomly, using lyrical power to roast his enemies and bark at the world, commenting on the mess it’s become. A few songs are sourced organically on stages and inside a recording studio, while the rest pop up indiscriminately.

The most trying element of “Cult of the Damned” is Bogart, who’s supposed to an irresistible rapscallion, unleashing his snake charming skills to tame Tara, who’s used to gorging on food to feed her feelings. The idea of the malicious seduction is clear, but Thom goes overboard with Bogart, transforming the man into a motor-mouthed manipulator who’s always obvious in his malevolent intentions. While the picture has only a tenuous grasp on realism, it’s impossible to believe Tara and Astrid could be utterly consumed with the nutcase, following his every order even after he physically abuses them. Bogart’s antics, posturing, and monologuing grow insufferable, with Thom spending too much time on his mischief and not enough on emotional wounds that clearly drive the characters.

Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation gives "Cult of the Damned" a fresh look for BD, delivering a bright viewing experience that helps to define cinematographic intent. Aside from a few inherent focus issues, filmic sharpness is quite good, bringing out the fine detail on passionate performances and set design, while artwork retains meaningful textures, exploring craftsmanship. Colors are true, with bold primaries from paint sources and costuming, while skintones are direct, exploring heavily made-up actors. Blacks are secure, with satisfactory delineation for darker sequences, while thick hairstyles and deep fabrics are also preserved. Speckling is present, along with a brief instance of horizontal lines during a scene around the 43:00 mark.

Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains a tad unsteady, with the opening 15 minutes exposing a few mild volume fluctuations. Dialogue extremes also carry some crispiness, making dramatics harsh at times. However, performances are easy to follow. Music is a major component to "Cult of the Damned," offering tunes from Bogart that retain passable instrumentation, emphasizing his vocals. Soundtrack cuts are equally healthy, carrying the volatile mood of the picture without overwhelming its dramatic intent.

Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Nathanial Thompson and Tim Greer.

• Still Gallery features 14 images from the "Cult of the Damned" production and publicity push.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:37, HD) is included.

Cult of the Damned Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Cult of the Damned" isn't a goof, with only a few comedic moments breaking the severity of the feature. It contains political commentary, references to the Vietnam War, and bursts with symbolism. There's also a dab of self-referential intent with the casting of Jones, who endured real-life depression and suicidal intentions, once married to David O. Selznick, here playing a character who adores "Gone with the Wind" and self-medicates with pills, booze, and jewels. Alas, such provocative touches are few and far between, with most of "Cult of the Damned" focused on Bogart's rein of sensual terror, while Thom tends to the collision of generations. It certainly isn't a lazy picture, ready and willing to create uncomfortable scenes to keep the material alert. However, lethargy quickly settles in, losing any trace of humanity as the effort keeps pressing on stylistics to connect the dots.