By Geno McGahee
In the early 1980s, video stores sprouted up everywhere across the United States and it gave birth to a string of straight to video horror movies. It became part of the charm of the video stores. I remember being younger and seeing all of the neat cover art for the low budget splatterfests. One of the best covers belonged to a 1988 film by the strange name “555.”
555 was written by Roy Koz and directed by Wally Koz, and I have noticed that this movie has gotten a lot of bad press. It is extremely low budget and the acting is mediocre at best, but this film has a great deal going for it and I really enjoyed it. We have what appears to be a crazed hippy on the loose, killing couples that are busy having sex. On the case is Sgt. Connor (Greg Kerouac), and his way of handling the criminals and the case is something that I certainly approve of. Well, it’s at least very amusing how Kerouac overacts. That is one of the greatest thing about this movie. The acting and profanity is over the top. Some people get turned off by excessive profanity. Not me. I fucking love it.
Connor is seeking out the murderous hippy but has to deal with the nosy and pushy reporter, Susan Rather (Mara Lynn Bastian), and they play off each other very well. I loved their banter, and especially loved her line: “You stubborn Irish cocksucker.” That is great writing right there…great writing, Mr. Koz.
Despite the low budget, the gore was very good and the entertainment value was very high. At one point the killer severed the head of one of his victims and it was done very well. There is no restraint with the amount of blood in this film. Everything about this movie is over the top and I tip my hat to the Koz family.
The detectives remain on the case, determined to figure out just who the killer is and Connor and Rather have to put their differences behind them to work together on discovering the identity of the crazed hippy. I thought that they were hilarious together and although the hippy’s identity is rather predictable, the ride there is amusing and the dialogue is strong and crazy enough to keep the viewer entertained.
555 is an over the top, profane, ridiculous, and gory movie. I recommend it.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6/10.
