The Evictors (1979)
Director: Charles B. Pierce
Writer: Charles B. Pierce, Garry Rusoff, Paul Fisk
Stars: Jessica Harper, Michael Parks, Vic Morrow
Never as popular as Pierce’s other 70s horror classic, The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976), The Evictors (1979) feels like it could almost be a spinoff of its much more beloved predecessor. Both films have very atmospheric qualities and share a very similar look, like they were shot in the same town over the same weekend. It’s no wonder it is featured as a B-Side to the DVD/Blu-ray release of The Town That Dreaded Sundown. But I think this particular release, from the always awesome Scream Factory, should be advertised as a Charles B. Pierce Double Feature, instead of treating Evictors like a mere bonus feature.
Pierce is a master of mood and atmosphere, and that of The Evictors is of the utmost unnerving. Things kick off in the summer of 1928, as a shootout ensues at the country home of a band of violent hillbillies. According to some exposition: the lead hillbilly killed three people the last time he was served foreclosure papers. Seems like they should be more concerned about putting this guy in jail than showing up with court documents, but that’s beside the point. Fast forward some years later, as a happy young couple, Ben and Ruth, acquire the same idyllic estate for themselves. In pristine condition and not a murderous hillbilly in sight, the young couple are more than excited to start their new life, promptly christening the bedroom. What could go wrong?
For one thing, their shady realtor, played by the amazing Vic Morrow, fails to mention that since 1934, each tenant has been met with a violent demise. The locals are anything but welcoming and a fedora wearing prowler keeps showing up, acting like he owns the place. Once Ruth begins piecing everything together, things only escalate, culminating in a brutal encounter, which takes away what Ruth cares about most. With nowhere else to go and nothing left to lose, Ruth turns to the shady relator for help. But can he be trusted?
- Peter DiGiovanni
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