12 Extreme Horror Movies You Need To See Before You Die
9. Deranged (1974)
Deranged is another movie based on real-life killer Ed Gein, The Wisconsin Ghoul, whose dietary habits (and mummified mother) also inspired Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsbys film differs by adhering more closely to the facts and presenting the narrative in a matter-of-fact style, even having a TV reporter address the viewer directly in certain scenes. In the lead role (which Christopher Walken reportedly auditioned for), Roberts Blossom (the crazy old man in Christine) does a fine job as Ezra Cobb, who digs up the corpse of his mother (Ma Cobb macabre, get it?), learns about taxidermy and starts robbing graves when he requires new materials. Hes also a dab hand at making furniture out of human bones, and in one sequence displays his wares to a kidnapped girl. Just tryin to show ya I got talent! he tells her.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
