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Have you ever wanted to know what it really means to be deranged? Well, after a quick stop to Hillsdale College’s famed Mossey Library, you too can find the answer to this age-old question. Some enlightened soul ordered the “long-awaited, most requested, totally digitally restored and mastered, letter-boxed presentation” of this 1974 cult classic for the institution’s fine shelves, and now it can be found tucked in along with the lost papers of Ludwig von Mises and Russell Kirk’s collection.
We’re sure old Russ is looking down from heaven with a big smile on his face, knowing that this movie shares a space with his favorite texts. Obviously, the school’s administration intends such a film to augment the liberal arts education of students, so we decided to watch and see just what a movie subtitled “Confessions of a Necrophile” has to do with Hillsdale’s cherished values.
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Deranged was directed by Jeff Gillen and stars Roberts Blossom (Home Alone) as Ezra Cobb, a maladjusted man who cannot quite function normally following the death of his mother, played by Cosette Lee (Doin’ It). Rather than give away the rest of the plot, we’ll just let the promotional blurb on the cover speak for itself: “Pretty Sally Mae died a very unnatural death! …But the worst hasn’t happened yet!”
Most horror flicks aren’t very good, and Deranged is no exception. The movie does, however, have a number of redeeming qualities. For one, it is important to place the film in its historical context. What we now regard as standard fare in the genre was revolutionary at the time of this movie’s release. That envelope-pushing effort alone is generally sufficient for us to applaud any release.
In addition, though, this film has the benefit of being based on a true story. In fact, the special edition of the movie carried by Mossey contains a special bonus – a fine documentary on the life of Ed Gein, the man who serves as the inspiration behind Ezra’s character. So, unlike the Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th movies, Deranged has a more horrifying edge because it is inspired by actual events.
The movie also raises a few issues pertinent in today’s world. For instance, like many Hillsdale students, Ezra is a Midwestern child whose mother instructs him in the Christian faith and shelters him from the harsh realities of the world. After that, however, the similarities to Hillsdale students end, of course.
The lasting historical significance of this film cannot be underestimated. By watching Deranged, one can easily see how its content is both similar to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and inspired later films such as The Silence of the Lambs. Its marketing can also be seen as influential, given the current glut of spurious “based on actual events” horror flicks such as Hostel and Wolf Creek.
All in all, Deranged is worth a screening just for the sake of viewing a classic horror film and to better understand the full breadth of America’s cultural legacy. As any history professor will tell you, “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”
