Scalps (1983)
What good things can i say about Scalps?
Well, the film has a creative soundtrack that is both memorable and ever so eerie, setting up this tale of possession by Indian spirits of those who desecrate their burial grounds, rather well.
But for a 75 minute film (plus end credits) it's almost criminal that nothing of note happens until almost the hour mark. We have endless scenes of chatter, camping, archeology, more camping, a lot of driving and trekking the desert, but that's pretty much it.
We do have one scalping scene. It's gory but unrealistic with the end result looking more like The Mekon from Dan Dare strips than anything else. Thankfully the finale is a nightmarish world of shamanic sacrifice and murder.
I realize this film was low budget (although it was shot entirely on location so it wasn't that low ) but that really doesn't excuse that first hour.
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