By Melissa Garza
The film opens as a group of six young travelers, one of which (Sarah Torgov) was only recently released from an institution become stranded on a nearly deserted island. They come across an empty house filled with old record players, and furniture right out of the 1950s. As they have fun dancing to old fashioned music and exploring the rooms, they are interrupted and welcomed by the polite, religious elderly owners, who are only known as Ma (Yvonne De Carlo) and Pa (Rod Steiger).
The teenagers are offered shelter for the night, and assured that in the morning a friend of Pa’s may be able to help them get off the island. Television, telephones, radios, and even electricity are viewed as works of the devil, and not permitted in Ma and Pa’s home.
If the old couple weren’t odd enough to provide a creepy atmosphere, the children were even stranger. Their daughter Fanny (Janet Wright) wore Shirley Temple style dresses, played with “dolls,” was supposedly nearing her 12th birthday, but was obviously at least 40. Then there was Teddy (William Hootkins). He was big, burly, at least in his thirties, sported overalls, violent and purposely stupid. Lastly, there was my personal favorite Woody (Michael J Pollard). He more so than the other siblings and possibly even more than the parents understood the pain and torture they were causing. He enjoyed it. Fanny seemed to think of it all as a childlike game. Teddy was a buffoon who was motivated his instincts only; but Woody understood. He would lie and show a level of cunningness that was lost in the rest of the family.
The crazy family begins murdering the travelers in different and interesting way. During this there is a side story with the recently released Cynthia (Torgov). Throughout the movie there are hints shown about why she was initially locked up but the truth isn’t completely revealed until the near end, at which times it couldn’t play out better. The ending is a surprising and fun one with enough twists, turns and curves that every horror fan will find themselves very entertained.
The acting is superb. Yvonne De Carlo, famous for the eccentric Lily Munster, fit this much darker and more sinister character marvelously. Her apparent kindness and genuine love for her family made the role a complex and fun one to watch. Rod Steiger perfected the over protective, God fearing and following, madman in every scene. His demeanor and self-righteous condemnation for the travelers’ sinful ways brought light into Pa’s motivations.
The strangest aspect of the film, is as bizarre and twisted as the family is, there is a certain charm for the affection they feel towards one another. It’s sick and twisted but they are a loving and compassionate family in their own demented way.
Underrated and hardly recognized, American Gothic is an unnerving, original gem that stands the test of time.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10