Devil Times Five

Devil Times Five is a chilling horror-thriller film released in 1974 that deftly blends intrigue, suspense, and unrelenting terror to conjure up an unforgettable cinema experience. The film boasts a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Sorrell Booke, best known for his portrayal of Boss Hogg in the beloved series 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' and Gene Evans, famously recognized for his roles in classic Western and war films such as 'The Steel Helmet.' Taylor Lacher also brings a compelling performance to the table, confirming his versatile acting skills in a genre quite different from his usual work.

As the story begins, we're introduced to a group of five children who are involved in a disastrous bus accident while being transported to a mental institution. Unfazed and eerily calm, the children survive the wreckage, finding themselves stranded in a snow-capped wilderness. From there, their paths intertwine with a group of adults staying at a nearby secluded mountain retreat. Unaware of the imminent danger lurking in their midst, the adults innocently welcome the kids, unknowingly placing their lives on the precipice of a gory horror.

The film escalates quickly as the true nature of these youngsters comes to the forefront. Far from being ordinary children, they project a certain darkness, a deviance that resides deep within. They aren't the innocent victims of the bus wreck as they initially seem; instead, they demonstrate a sophisticated cunning and brutality uncharacteristic of their tender age. The film's name, Devil Times Five, perfectly sums up the sheer terror that the quintet embodies – a terror that is lurking somewhere, ready to pounce among the unsuspecting adults.

Sorrell Booke, Gene Evans, and Taylor Lacher prove their acting prowess in this film, transitioning effortlessly from a relaxed demeanor to unleashing the raw terror that ensues. They bring an unrivaled energy and color to their roles, helping sustain the chilling atmosphere that remains the cornerstone of the film's overbearing darkness.

Director Sean MacGregor heightens suspense through a masterful command of visual imagery and deft camera work, offsetting the serene tranquility of an idyllic mountain retreat against the quintet's unfolding horror. MacGregor toys with cinema conventions, juggling taut anticipation and bone-chilling fear throughout the run-time. He eschews cheap jump scares and cliche horror tropes, opting instead for a slow-burning thrill that remains with you long after the credits roll.

'John Durren,' 'Leif Garrett,' 'Dawn Lyn,' 'Tia Thompson,' and 'Sherry Miles' round out the main cast, each contributing a significant performance equal in disturbing darkness to their fellow co-stars. Their characters are as complex as they are terrifying – a group of seemingly innocent children whose devious actions project pure, diabolical terror.

There's a claustrophobic feeling lent to the movie with its setting alone. The chilling aesthetics of the mountains and the suffocating snow fuse a grim atmosphere into the film's very fabric. Yet, the most palpable fear comes not from the isolated setting, nor does it come from the harsh cold; it instead springs from the unpredictable and violent temperament of the children. These elements seamlessly merge to mold Devil Times Five into a truly haunting cinematic experience.

Devil Times Five is rife with suspense and filled to the brim with genuinely scary moments. It subtly distills a unique brand of psychological horror, transforming seemingly callow children into sinister agents of terror, thus successfully flipping the idea of innocence on its head. This movie willingly digs deep into unsettling territory, exploring the depths of the youthful mind corrupted by darkness, and finding a horrifying reality buried beneath.

This is a movie that deserves attention from every horror aficiondo, a distinctive deviation from the conventional horror genre, marked by an insidious undercurrent of psychological horror that teems beneath the surface of its narrative. Devil Times Five is a film that will not only satisfy your lust for vintage 70s horror but will also perturb your psyche with its sinister subversion of innocent adolescence. Every moment is a thrilling heartbeat, every scene a disturbing vista, and every character a portrayal of normalcy wrapped around a dark, perilous core. This movie stays with you, lurking in your mind's darkest recesses, long after the screen fades to black.