Shanks
Malcolm Shanks is a sad and lonely man, deaf, mute and living with his cruel sister and her husband, who delight in making him miserable. His only pleasure, it seems, is in making and controlling puppets. Thanks to his skill, he is offered a job as a lab assistant to Dr. Walker, who is working on ways to re-animate dead bodies by inserting electrodes at key nerve points and manipulating the bodies as if they were on strings. When the professor suddenly dies one night, Shanks gets the idea to apply their experimental results to a human body, and then to start exacting some revenge.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this bizarre horror film, a reclusive puppeteer named Shanks creates lifelike puppets that he brings to life. He is obsessed with his work, and his isolated existence only deepens his strange connection to his creations. However, when his puppets begin to gain sentience and exhibit their own wills, the line between creator and creation blurs with terrifying consequences.
Critical Reception
Shanks is a peculiar and often unsettling film that garnered a cult following over the years despite its niche appeal and unconventional narrative. While not a mainstream success, it is remembered for its unique premise and unsettling atmosphere.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its unique and disturbing concept.
- Noted for its unsettling atmosphere and the unsettling performance of its lead.
- Considered an oddity in the horror genre, appreciated by those who enjoy unconventional films.
Google audience: Audience reception is limited due to the film's cult status, with some viewers appreciating its dark fantasy elements and unsettling nature, while others found it too strange or slow-paced.
Fun Fact
Director William Castle, known for his gimmick-filled horror films like 'House on Haunted Hill' and 'Thirteen Ghosts', took a more artistic and less overtly commercial approach with 'Shanks'.
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