Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Devil Times Five 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 5, 2024

Evil comes in many forms, and Hollywood loves to periodically explore the wrath of kids, testing the lure of innocence with horror pictures centered on children committing acts of violence. It’s always a dicey prospect, and 1974’s “Devil Times Five” (a.k.a. “Peopletoys” and “The Horrible House on the Hill,” which is the title on this release) goes a little harder when it comes to grisly moments of viciousness. In a rare change of pace, it’s the adults who aren’t alright, with “Devil Times Five” exploring the many ways young people seek to destroy old people. While this level of aggression has its B- movie appeal, there’s also a different side to the story, examining various acts of emasculation and addiction to dramatically strengthen the feature, which could use all the help it can get.

Rick (Taylor Lacher) and Julie (Joan McCall) are traveling to Lake Arrowhead for a vacation, meeting up with her father, Papa Doc (Gene Evans), his wife, Lovely (Carolyn Stellar), along with Doc’s employee, Harvey (Sorrell Brooks) and his spouse, Ruth (Shelley Morrison). While settling in for a weekend of fun in the snow and romping around their chalet, the gang experiences some interpersonal issues, causing tremendous tension among the guests. Arriving at the house is Sister Hannah (Gail Smale), who’s in charge of young David (Leif Garrett), Moe (Dawn Lyn), Susan (Tia Thompson), and Brian (Tierre Turner). Surviving a van accident in the woods, Sister Hannah hopes Papa Doc will provide shelter for the children as they sort things out. However, the kids are strange, trying to hide their state mental hospital patient status as they get to know the guests of the chalet while figuring out ways to kill them all.

For additional information and analysis, please read the 2021 Blu-ray review.

Devil Times Five 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Devil Times Five" was originally issued on Blu-ray by Code Red in 2016. Vinegar Syndrome tries their luck with the title with a new UHD release, listed as "newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative." The 4K viewing experience for the endeavor offers striking color throughout, with a rich sense of interiors, including the blazing reds of chalet areas. Snowbound activity provides distinct whites and greenery. Costuming is alert with period hues, with fresh oranges and yellows, and hair color is sharp. Skin tones are natural, and Sister Hannah's appearance remains bone white. Detail is excellent, delivering textured skin surfaces and fibrous costuming. Exteriors retain depth, examining remote locations. Interiors secure decorative additions and design choices. Blacks are deep, preserving frame information with shadow play and evening activity. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is film-like. Source is in good condition.

Devil Times Five 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers clear dialogue exchanges, working with a wide variety of acting abilities. Age and technical demands are noted, as violent outbursts reach the limitations of the equipment, registering with some fuzziness. Scoring supports with a crisp sound, and jazzier moods also retain defined instrumentation. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Devil Times Five 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features producer Michael Blowitz, reshoot director David Sheldon, and actors Joan McCall and Dawn Lyn.

• Commentary #2 features The Hysteria Continues.

• "Puppeteering" (20:11, HD) is an interview with second assistant director Walter Dominguez, with "Devil Times Five" one of his first gigs as a DGA trainee, also contributing to "The Andromeda Strain." Joining the horror film, Dominiguez understood the production's conception as a tax deduction, with possible profit welcomed as well. He recalls tensions between director Sean MacGregor and producer Mickey Blowitz, who didn't like each other, and he found his future wife, Shelley Morrison, during the shoot, remaining committed to the chaotic job due to love. The interviewee praises the cast for their professionalism, but has less respect for some of the crew, with fights common between Blowitz and MacGregor, who chose to work their differences out with fists. The experience working with children is detailed, with the kids doing well for the most part, learning to lean on Morrison for help when frustrations set in. Memories from the directorial change are shared, finding MacGregor suddenly "demoted," while the general tone of the feature was altered to something saucier, though Morrison refused to participate. More weirdness is also highlighted, including stunt mishaps and a mental illness emergency involving a makeup man.

• "Daddy's Home" (8:49, HD) is an interview with Bruce Wank, son of executive producer Jordan M. Wank, who was an attorney in Hollywood looking to expand into film production. Connecting with director Sean MacGregor, working with him on a biker movie, plans were made for "Devil Times Five." Wank has vague recollections of the shoot, but he was there for this "exciting time," interacting with the child actors, making friends. He shares a few anecdotes from production, including a wild tale of live piranha used for a bathtub kill, with such an idea getting out of hand in a hurry. Being so young at the time, the interviewee doesn't recall any tensions on the set, only learning about the reshoot situation years later, and he notes the oddity of snow continuity as the team was faced with a lack of weather. Wank closes with praise from Quentin Tarantino, who once listed "Devil Times Five" as a "must see Halloween watch."

• "Holiday from Hell" (26:16, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Stephen Thrower.

• Featurette (22:04, SD) offers interviews with producer Michael Blowitz, reshoot director David Sheldon, and actors Joan McCall, Dawn Lyn, and Tierre Turner. While topics are scattered, the interviewees focus on behind-the-scenes difficulties, including an assessment of original director Sean MacGregor, who had a physical altercation with Blowitz during the shoot, contributing to his early exit. Distribution issues are recalled, and a kid perspective is offered by Lyn and Turner, who share their happy memories with the cast and crew. Thoughts on writer/actor John Durren and actors Sorrell Brooks, Gene Evans (another guy Blowitz tangled with), and Leif Garrett are presented, along with technical tidbits and ideas on aborted plans for a sequel.

• Additional Interviews (7:03, SD) reunite with McCall, who details a special effects mishap. Lyn offers her advice to young actors, reminding them to have other interests and maintain control of money. Turner recounts his early acting years, palling around with Fred Williamson, Carl Weathers, and Pam Grier. He also remembers days with "Devil Times Five" co-star Gene Evans, and reveals a run-in with Linda Lovelace while shooting "Bucktown." And Sheldon finally sets the record straight on his "Angel of Death" nickname.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:17, SD) is included.

Devil Times Five 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Devil Times Five" moves between scheming from the kids and concerns from the adults, who are dealing with workplace issues and games of seduction. The picture doesn't share much urgency, but production was rocky, creating a game for viewers to spot numerous reshot scenes and continuity errors. The film is a bit of a mess at times, with odd editorial choices throughout. However, it's certainly watchable, offering horror fans a slow creep of ugly business, working to transform children into killing machines, while the adults have other issues on their minds, including the eternal struggle to achieve some form of respect.