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OPEN SEASON 1974 aka THE RECON GAME
Peter Fonda (Ken), John Phillip Law (Greg), Richard Lynch (Art), William Holden (Wolkowski), Alberto De Mendoza (Martin), Cornelia Sharpe (Nancy Stillman), Helga Line (Sue), Frank Brana (sheriff)
Directed by Peter Collinson
"Ya' see, after you've hunted men, well...animals just don't rate."
The Short Version: Shamefully obscure and overlooked 'Hunting Humans' movie with an absolutely stellar cast. This international co-production comes from the equally underrated Peter Collinson. With no gore and very little blood, this psycho-horror-thriller depends on the build up of its characters for its galvanizing brutality and lingering death scenes.
A not so innocent couple are kidnapped by three ex-military men, hellraising weekend warriors who plan to take them up to a mountain cabin for games of degradation and humiliation. The couple are soon let go and viciously hunted down like animals by the bloodthirsty, former Vietnam vets.
This is yet another movie that features ex soldiers who bring mental illness back with them from their time in Vietnam. What makes this particular entry of special interest is that it's a British-Spanish-Italian co-production. Unlike other movies in this occasionally subtext heavy sub-genre, OPEN SEASON only uses the Vietnam device fleetingly focusing more on the three men and their propensity for unapologetic sadism. With its simply amazing cast of capable thespians, this film from British director, Peter Collinson is one of the most peculiar entries of 70s exploitation cinema.
"Your license to kill ran out after the war...but they forgot to tell you."
What makes OPEN SEASON disturbing is the 'happy go lucky' attitude and constant smiling, laughing, joking and kidding of Ken, Greg and Art. They are cold and emotionally detached to the flagrance of their actions. It passes as normal for them. The film spends a decent amount of time getting to know them. Not long after they've begun their trip, it becomes quickly apparent that something just isn't right about our three 'Great White Hunters'. They all lead successful lives at home with wives, but once they take off on their yearly woodland excursion, they become veritable savages of the worst kind.
The actual human hunt doesn't begin till a little over an hour into the movie. What's coming is foreshadowed when the three psychos head out one morning and blow away every creature of the forest in the vicinity. That night, they enjoy an ensemble performance of 'Run, Rabbit, Run' with Art (Richard Lynch) on accordion. Martin watches as both Ken and Greg begin groping an inviting and inebriated Nancy. Breaking the momentum momentarily, Greg looks up at Martin and says, "Did you finish the dishes?"
William Holden's role amounts to basically a cameo appearance appearing at the beginning and the ending. It isn't too hard to figure out what his purpose is in the film. At the beginning, we learn his daughter had been raped by three men whose faces, or names aren't disclosed. Some time passes and we see Holden's character again--this time escorting a little boy to Ken's home at a party the day before the three prepare to head out on their vacation. His appearance at the end predictably ties up a loose end. There's two shocks during the conclusion--one you'll guess and the other, concerning one of the protagonists, you likely won't.
The violence, while not overly graphic, is unsettling in its depiction of death. The camera often lingers in close up on characters during the lengthy last moments leading to their final expiration. The editing and photography are also exceptional. Fernando Arribas's camera captures some sprawling shots of the wilderness that adds to the isolation of the victims and their hunters as well as giving off an aura that someone is watching nearby, a notion that becomes a reality towards the end. Ruggero Cini's music has a frequent and unusual American sounding style about it that emulates and perpetuates a feeling that we're in DELIVERANCE (1972) country. Well known British singer, John Howard, contributes a song, 'Casting Shadows' to this production.
A phenomenally grand cast was assembled for this criminally underrated movie from Peter Collinson, a director whose resume likewise gets little attention. It's difficult classifying this film as an exploitation movie. It's in a different category that belies the sadistic nature of the antagonists. It's the prolonged degeneracy and moral debasement that this film flirts with exploitation potentiality. Hopefully, Columbia (or whomever currently owns the rights) will see fit to remaster this movie announcing OPEN SEASON on its rediscovery.
7 comments:
I can't believe I've never heard of this one....
I'll check it out. It sounds interesting.
For the cast alone it's worth a look. Peter Collinson's a fine director, too.
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Although I haven't seen OPEN SEASON, I have seen Collinson's other films, and was quietly impressed with both FRIGHT and the unusual STRAIGHT ON TIL MORNING, which boasts a wonderfully unhinged display from the underrated Shane Briant. On the basis of those two alone this would be a title worth seeking out.
I agree, Shaun. It's a startlingly well made movie that I appreciated more on the second viewing. There's some choice and quite suspenseful moments that are aided by the editing. John Philip Law made the movie for me, mostly as I am used to seeing him as a hero and not a sadistic bad guy as he is here.
Great review and great blog. Can't believe I've missed it! I was thinking of watching this one tonight and now I'm even more eager to watch it. I have it on uncut norweigan version that was shown on tv a long time ago.
Check out my blog if you are interested! I review alot of alternative movies aswell (it's in swedish though)
http://deadmoonnight.blogspot.com/
Hi, Jesper. I've followed you as well. How is the quality on your version? Apparently, this won't be coming out any time soon here reportedly over rights issues. It's definitely a movie that needs a better version and release considering the level of talent on display.
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