The Manitou (1978) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - May 11, 1978

The film version of The Manitou first dinged my burgeoning horror geek radar when I perused the paperback movie tie-in edition at our local Gemco. I remember being unnerved by the color photos on the back cover and, I believe, that were in the center of the book. It looked far too scary for me.

Years later I would finally catch up with the film on home video, or television, and be both amused and somewhat unnerved by it. While the movie is awash with over the top cheesy zaniness, it also has one or two really effective moments. The best of which, I argue, is the birthing sequence. It really works and also shows that the late William Girdler had legit talent as a director. Who knows what he might have done, if he had he lived.

The Manitou (1978) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune - May 12, 1978]

The only memory I have regarding the 1978 release of William Girdler's final film (he had died in a helicopter crash in January of that same year) is of picking up the paperback tie-in edition of the film's source material and being unnerved by the color stills contained therein. At least that is how I remember it.

I would not see The Manitou until 1983 or 84, I think. Maybe. I am pretty sure it was while we were living in Hong Kong, I think. 1984 would also be the year that I tore through a bunch of Graham Masterton novels. Devouring The Pariah, The Manitou, The Djinn, and The Wells of Hell in quick and delighted fashion.