Deranged (1974)

65% of users liked it
(1,067 ratings)

Unlike its contemporary The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and predecessor Psycho -- both of which were very loosely based on the gruesome antics of notorious Wisconsin killer/graverobber Ed Gein, who killed, skinned, devoured or made furniture out of his many victims in the late '50s -- this gritty,… More Unlike its contemporary The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and predecessor Psycho -- both of which were very loosely based on the gruesome antics of notorious Wisconsin killer/graverobber Ed Gein, who killed, skinned, devoured or made furniture out of his many victims in the late '50s -- this gritty, disturbing and underrated production purports to be a semi-accurate account of Gein's crimes. Roberts Blossom turns in a frighteningly effective performance as Ezra Cobb, the crusty old farmer with unique decorating ideas, an intense interest in the occult, and a decidedly unhealthy attachment to his domineering mother, whose body he preserves after her death. When evenings with his stuffed mom prove less than comforting, Cobb goes into town to seek young female victims whose corpses he uses for a variety of grisly household projects. Exiled in distribution limbo for 20 years, Deranged was available only in severely-cut prints, missing much of the film's goriest footage (which featured the early work of makeup maestro Tom Savini), although a pristine uncut print briefly surfaced in the mid-'90s. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Jeff Gillen, Alan Ormsby
Written By: Alan Ormsby
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 1, 1974 Wide

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Offers a top-drawer performance by Roberts Blossom.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
Wanders and meanders and often threatens to roll to a complete stop - yet Roberts Blossom's inherent creepiness keeps things at least minimally compelling.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Unique but ultimately unsatisfying, Deranged is one of those films that could have been truly good. Unfortunately the film takes too much time to get to the point. The idea for this film came from the Ed Gein case, unfortunately there's little substance or substance to the story… More
Unique but ultimately unsatisfying, Deranged is one of those films that could have been truly good. Unfortunately the film takes too much time to get to the point. The idea for this film came from the Ed Gein case, unfortunately there's little substance or substance to the story and potentially good horror film ends up being mediocre. There's a good story at work here, unfortunately the director doesn't how to properly deliver it, and the film falls flat, and becomes uninteresting after the first thirty minutes. Robert Blossom is good here; unfortunately his skills can't save this film from being a dud. Deranged is fairly overrated as a forgotten gem, but I beg to differ. This film just didn't cut it, and was pretty boring to be honest. I had high hopes for this film, and I expected something really good, unfortunately this film was a disappointing effort, and actually should be forgotten in my opinion. The film could have been good, unfortunately there are too many aspects of the film that just doesn't feel right, and the actual terrifying bits are more silly than suspenseful and scary. The film is disturbing because of the nature of its story, but it lacks substance. Deranged is a big disappointment and though there's a good performance delivered by Robert Blossom, it's not enough to make this film watchable. Deranged is mostly a tired out film with nothing truly terrifying. Disturbing, but never quite chilling or memorable.
jd c

Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile is the best movie based on real life serial killer Ed Gein. It's even better than "In the Light of the Moon (2000)" which is also based on Ed Gein and is in fact more accurate (I do not consider "The Texas Chainsaw… More
Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile is the best movie based on real life serial killer Ed Gein. It's even better than "In the Light of the Moon (2000)" which is also based on Ed Gein and is in fact more accurate (I do not consider "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" to be an accurate account on Gein...not even close). Deranged comes second closest to being true to it's source (with only a few facts changed around). Even so it still remains the best, essentially for it's performances (mostly by Roberts Blossom - who convincingly plays Ed Gein so damn well it's creepy) and for it's subtle, but eerily mournful score. Watching Roberts Blossom (who goes by the name Ezra Cobb, not Ed Gein) is like watching the real thing and makes you wonder if this is how Gein really was. Truthfully, I wouldn't doubt it for a second. Entering the darkness and loneliness of Ezra's world is as cold as a winter's day and just as scary as the monster who inspired his name. We're exposed to the horrific actualities of the Gein case and slowly watch the reconstruction of the infamous "House of Horrors". It's a movie for those interested in "true crime" films, as well as fans of the horror genre. Deranged is a true gem from the 70's not well known to an audience...but definitely deserves one. It's a fantastic little docudrama, as well as a great horror film. Like I said before - it's the best movie based on Ed Gein. Highly recommended to fans of this sort. <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view¤t=Deranged.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/Deranged.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Cassandra M

Oh yeah! This is what us genre fans like to call a REAL horror film! "Deranged" is shocking, insensitive, cold-hearted and features a 'you-don't-like-it-go-to-hell'-honesty you can't possibly walk away from! This is the pretty damn factual, and therefore… More
Oh yeah! This is what us genre fans like to call a REAL horror film! "Deranged" is shocking, insensitive, cold-hearted and features a 'you-don't-like-it-go-to-hell'-honesty you can't possibly walk away from! This is the pretty damn factual, and therefore hugely disturbing, reconstruction of the case of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein. This guy was crazier and far more dangerous than any fictional horror character could ever be and therefore he was a nearly endless source of inspiration for independent filmmakers who wanted to bring a horrific tale. "Deranged" appears to be very cheap and amateurish, but it's one of the rare films in which the low budget production values actually contribute in making the story more grim and realistic! Ed Gein really was a poor and simple-minded farmer who went absolutely berserk after the death of his beloved mother and he refused to accept her passing away by replacing her with cadavers that he kept in his house. The characters' names have been altered, as well as the timing of the story, but Ezra Cobb's actual crimes are frighteningly truthful and portrayed with a chilling eye for detail. The film's biggest trump is unquestionably the casting of the rather unknown actor Roberts Blossom whose impressive and straight-faced performance will make you more than once wonder whether he isn't a real madman! Other aspects that definitely increase the creepiness are the constant funeral music that guides the film and the colorless, depressing set pieces. "Deranged" is not a total gorefest (mainly due to the lack in budget) but the murders are nonetheless explicitly illustrated and quite bloody. Strangely enough, the film's devastating tone is regularly undercut with brilliant flashes of morbid black humor, like Ezra's encounter with an overweight widow who talks to her deceased husband. In short, "Deranged" is a typically 70's cult treasure that should be watched by every horror fan on this planet.
Lafe F

A superb tale of a deranged man, who does unspeakable things with girls and dead bodies after his overbearing mother passes away. The movie is bizarre and effective, with great acting by Robert Blossoms (the old man down the street from the "Home Alone" movie.) In ways,… More
A superb tale of a deranged man, who does unspeakable things with girls and dead bodies after his overbearing mother passes away. The movie is bizarre and effective, with great acting by Robert Blossoms (the old man down the street from the "Home Alone" movie.) In ways, it's better than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The plot is a bit soap-operish and the acting is a bit silly, but there are enough icky and freaky scenes to effectively show us how deranged this man really is.
Patrick D

A different sort of film based on the Ed Gain case. First of all you have a narrator, who identifies himself as a reporter, and appears in the film as the narrative that gives this film a strange aesthetic. Also Roberts Blossom plays an amazing disturbed man, and it's hard to not… More
A different sort of film based on the Ed Gain case. First of all you have a narrator, who identifies himself as a reporter, and appears in the film as the narrative that gives this film a strange aesthetic. Also Roberts Blossom plays an amazing disturbed man, and it's hard to not like him as he does it so well. As for the story, it unfolds episodically split up by the narration and has a certain '70s strangeness to the entire mood and presentation. It's hard to put a finger on it, but it's worth seeing. I mean, this is co-directed and written by the writer of Dead of Night, who was also the star and co-writer of Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. Plus Tom Savini had his hand in the make-up effects. Done, you're sold.