The Sadist (1963)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(1,103 ratings)

If you want to truly be scared out of your socks, we strongly recommend the hellishly horrific low-budgeter Profile of Terror. Arch Hall Jr., heretofore the colorless star of such cheapies as Wild Guitar and Eegah!, is disturbingly convincing as a sadistic thrill killer. When three schoolteachers… More If you want to truly be scared out of your socks, we strongly recommend the hellishly horrific low-budgeter Profile of Terror. Arch Hall Jr., heretofore the colorless star of such cheapies as Wild Guitar and Eegah!, is disturbingly convincing as a sadistic thrill killer. When three schoolteachers (Richard Alden, Marilyn Manning and Don Russell), en route to an LA Dodgers game, pull up at a deserted gas station, they are held captive by Hall and his wacko girlfriend Helen Hovey. Harboring a psychotic hatred of teachers, Hall gleefully torments his prisoners, killing Russell while the latter is on his knees, begging for his life. Every time we think that this film can't get any more agonizing, the insanely giggling Hall pulls off yet another outrage. By the time Hall faces his well-deserved demise, you'll be hard pressed not to jump out of your chair and scream "Get him! GET HIM!!!" Stunningly photographed by Vilmos Zsigmond, Profile of Terror may well be the greatest exploitation flick ever made (and we're taking into consideration Night of the Living Dead). The film is better known by its original title, The Sadist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: James Landis
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

On DVD: Jan 21, 2003

Critic Reviews

Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
This vehicle is a tense and rather creepy little thriller...
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Sadist gets a lot of bang for its dollar.
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The key to its success is the decision ... to take time out from Junior's grooming as a movie matinee idol and cast him as a sniveling creep

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

Three schoolteachers are held hostage in a junkyard by a serial killer (based on Charles Starkweather). B-movie gem that alchemizes a greasy, over-the-top performance by failed teen idol Arch Hall, Jr. with a taut and tawdry script to produce masterful suspense.
_kelly .

Second time watching this. First time was on Rob Zombie hosted TCM Underground but I was too stoned to remember the whole thing. Second time is right now on RealPlayer SuperPass (and I'm sure a few other streaming services offer it too). And for my "Went Down the Wrong… More
Second time watching this. First time was on Rob Zombie hosted TCM Underground but I was too stoned to remember the whole thing. Second time is right now on RealPlayer SuperPass (and I'm sure a few other streaming services offer it too). And for my "Went Down the Wrong Road" Backwoods horror list, I HAVE found a flick predating Lewis' Two Thousand Maniacs. The title credits creep me out but maybe because I have a thing about eyes and their ability to scare. "We don't like school teachers. Do we, Judy?" from this line on you know there will be some sadistic shit going down besides a simple carjacking. I do think the "Big Man" was being a coward, as both the Sadist and hostage girl accuse. And then he keeps being "yellow" during the gun "game". The ending sequence is a bit long and stretched out which affects its tension. Arch Hall Jr.'s performance and the shooting style are the highlights of this film. The shot setup is really thoughtful and the best is early in the movie, where the perspective makes it feel like we the audience are holding the gun and seeing from Sadist Johnny's viewpoint.
Patrick D

This is the earliest film I've seen that very much resembles the horror subgenre that Last House of the Left, and definitely possesses the rawness and brutality that the best of those films have as well.

Cast

Arch Hall Jr.
as Charlie Tibbs
Helen Hovey
as Doris Page
Richard Alden
as Ed Stiles

Marilyn Manning
as Judy Bradshaw
Don Russell
as Carl Oliver

The Sadist (1963)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

_kelly .

Patrick D

Cast