Messiah of Evil

Before "American Graffiti," before "Howard the Duck" there was "Messiah of Evil"—a hallucinatory, half-finished cult curiosity from Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, made years before Hollywood knew their names. A woman arrives in a cursed coastal town searching for her missing father and finds a cannibalistic cult awaiting a blood moon. Pete and Andy open The Next Reel's Horror Debuts series, with Marianna Hill, Michael Greer, and Elisha Cook Jr. leading the cast.Pete and Andy dig into the film's tangled production history, its hallucinatory tone-poem style, and the tricky hunt for a restored version to watch. It's a strange, messy way to kick off a series about horror films from women directors working early in their careers. We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in—The Next Reel on TruStory FM, when the movie ends, our conversation begins!Watch the Film: Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd | Trailer🔓 The movie ends. The conversation goes further. Become a member.🎧 Members get this episode early and ad-free in their private feed—plus every show in The Next Reel family.Full episode resources and transcript here. The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements | The Film Board | Movies We Like | The Next Reel | Sitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Web | Letterboxd | Flickchart | Instagram | Bluesky | YouTube | DiscordYour Hosts: Andy | PeteMerch Store | Audible