Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- oppressive
- hypnotic
- late night horror viewing
- cult film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a highly atmospheric and visually inventive cult horror work, though some find its pacing sleepy and its scares uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Point Dune's beach, houses, and residents form the central source of the film's oppressive supernatural atmosphere.
Arletty reads her father's diary and uses it to interpret the strange behavior surrounding the town.
Critics specifically praise the disturbing visuals, soundtrack, and unexpectedly hypnotic artistry.
The residents of Point Dune become linked to the film's curse and living-dead imagery rather than functioning as isolated monsters.
Films like Messiah of Evil, and why
Carnival of Souls
surreal small town horror, coastal isolation, and hypnotic undead menace
The Wicker Man
stylized atmosphere, uncanny community behavior, and slow-building supernatural dread
Let's Scare Jessica to Death
independent 1970s horror, graphic encounters with the living dead, and dreamlike visual design
The Dunwich Horror
cult horror with enigmatic mythology, unsettling imagery, and a female protagonist confronting an abnormal town
Movie Details
- Directors
- Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
- Release Date
- 1975-04-23
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (175)
Cast
- Marianna Hill
- Michael Greer
- Joy Bang
- Anitra Ford
- Royal Dano
- Elisha Cook Jr.
- Charles Dierkop
- Bennie Robinson
- Morgan Fisher
- Emma Truckman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Fandor, MGM Plus, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Shudder Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, IndieFlix, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, ARROW
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Messiah of Evil about?
- A grieving daughter enters a decaying California beach town where a missing artist's diary exposes a hypnotic curse turning the community into the living dead.
- What is Messiah of Evil like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Messiah of Evil as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Messiah of Evil violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Messiah of Evil as graphic.
- What did critics think of Messiah of Evil?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a highly atmospheric and visually inventive cult horror work, though some find its pacing sleepy and its scares uneven.
- Which films are like Messiah of Evil?
- Films with a similar feel include Carnival of Souls, The Wicker Man, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and The Dunwich Horror.
- How long is Messiah of Evil?
- Messiah of Evil runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Messiah of Evil?
- In United States, Messiah of Evil streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Fandor, MGM Plus, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Shudder Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, IndieFlix, Eternal Family, Shudder Apple TV channel, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Chilling, ARROW.
