I do enjoy weird horror films from time to time, and Messiah of Evil was definitely that. A bit of cosmic horror from the 70s that will leave you with more questions than answers.
The story is about a woman searching for her missing father in a strange coastal city in California and discovers herself surrounded by a mysterious cult.
The cult consists of people who have transformed into flesh eating ghouls and they gather at campfires on the beach. There are scenes such as one that takes place in a movie theater that becomes filled with an audience of ghouls. One of the characters is just enjoying the movie as she eats popcorn until she notices what is happening. She tries to leave only to find out she can’t. Then becomes a victim of the ghouls.
There’s a mention this is all due to the arrival of a mysterious stranger and some type of connection to the Donner Party. So basically he is a cannibal and some how infecting others to make them become like him is what seems to be going on.
As far as the woman is concerned, she finds out her father ended up a victim of the cult, and the ending shows her confronting them and trying to survive that encounter.
This was a pretty strange one, but a pretty decent watch. Almost Lovecraftian with some elements of George Romero too. Messiah of Evil is currently streaming on Shudder if you want to see it got yourself.
Till next time, stay scared!
-Tha Thrilla-
Your source for everything horror