Movie spotlight
The Night Turkey
Spoof of the TV Movie 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker", shot in 1972 by Director William Malone ("House on Haunted Hill", "Creature") and his friends, on a budget of around $100, in their spare time. It's loaded with people who would later go on to have major careers in Hollywood (some eventual Academy Award Winners!). It stars Robert Short later to become an award winning SFX artist ("Beetlejuice", "Splash", "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind") as Karl Kornchek and features a stalking Were-Turkey created by master SFX makeup artist and Academy Award winner Rick Baker (who also appears as the dorky date of Turkey victim 'Kathy')...
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of young people on a hunting trip in the wilderness become the targets of a mysterious and brutal killer. As they are picked off one by one, they realize they are trapped and must fight for their survival against an unseen enemy. The isolated setting and dwindling numbers heighten the terror.
Critical Reception
The Night Turkey is a lesser-known slasher film from the early 1970s, often overshadowed by later entries in the genre. While it has gained a cult following among horror enthusiasts for its gritty atmosphere and early use of slasher tropes, it was not widely reviewed upon release and is generally considered a B-movie.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its suspenseful build-up and isolated setting.
Noted for its early depiction of slasher film elements.
Criticized for low production values and underdeveloped characters.
Google audience: Audience reception is difficult to gauge due to its limited release and niche appeal. Online discussions among horror fans often highlight its atmospheric tension and pioneering role in the slasher subgenre.
Fun Fact
Although released in 1973, 'The Night Turkey' was filmed in 1971 and had a very limited theatrical release, contributing to its obscurity.
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