My parents were fans of both the veteran horror/suspense greats, as well as Ferlin Huskey & Sonny James--my father played lead guitar in various local country & rockabilly bands, & loved even the worst country, including HeeHaw down to the repeats! I was around 12 & my brother was around 7 when they took us to see this, & I remember it being so funny! Just watched it last night after coming across it, & checking out the mostly justified negative comments. Woah! This makes The Three Stooges shorts look top-notch. It's actually closer to the Stooges movies without Curly or Shemp, (with Joe DeRitter & Curly Joe?) worth skipping. I'm pushing it at giving 4 stars for nostalgia.
In those days Lon Chaney, Jr. Looked like he was stuck in one phase of his changing to the Wolfman!
What's most curious about this poorly made attempt at horror/suspense comedy is the director's accomplishments pre & post Hillbillies. He directed some very good movies & TV series of all genres, including very funny My Favorite Martian & Petticoat Junction. Check-out his long list that started in 1938 with short subjects.
Unlike Plan 9 From Outer Space, whcih I get in moods to watch, I can't imagine wanting to see this again. Hillbillies will only appeal to country music fans. I found that I still can appreciate Ferlin Husky, Sonny James & the early days of Merle Haggard. I went through my detesting country years during his Outlaw days, but love Willie Nelson.
It's also one of the few movies you can see the gorgeous Joi Lansing, who seems cheated out of better roles in her short life. Linda Ho is the beautiful Chinese villainess in a role that would get a movie banned in Xi's childish ultra-sensitive China--no Chinese can be portrayed as a villain.
Anyway, I checked it out, but I had to skip that lame "we're on our way..." song sung by the main trio, as well as the last 20 minutes. I guess this was the later inspiration for HeeHaw. It might've worked as a special, or one of their continuously repeated skits.
In those days Lon Chaney, Jr. Looked like he was stuck in one phase of his changing to the Wolfman!
What's most curious about this poorly made attempt at horror/suspense comedy is the director's accomplishments pre & post Hillbillies. He directed some very good movies & TV series of all genres, including very funny My Favorite Martian & Petticoat Junction. Check-out his long list that started in 1938 with short subjects.
Unlike Plan 9 From Outer Space, whcih I get in moods to watch, I can't imagine wanting to see this again. Hillbillies will only appeal to country music fans. I found that I still can appreciate Ferlin Husky, Sonny James & the early days of Merle Haggard. I went through my detesting country years during his Outlaw days, but love Willie Nelson.
It's also one of the few movies you can see the gorgeous Joi Lansing, who seems cheated out of better roles in her short life. Linda Ho is the beautiful Chinese villainess in a role that would get a movie banned in Xi's childish ultra-sensitive China--no Chinese can be portrayed as a villain.
Anyway, I checked it out, but I had to skip that lame "we're on our way..." song sung by the main trio, as well as the last 20 minutes. I guess this was the later inspiration for HeeHaw. It might've worked as a special, or one of their continuously repeated skits.