"What is real? Are you certain you know what reality is? How do you know that at this second you aren't asleep in your beds dreaming that you are here in this theater? Ah, yes… it all seems too real." Are you sure this guy is a wizard? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they brave the world of Herschell Gordon Lewis with The Wizard of Gore (1970).

Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 253 – The Wizard of Gore (1970)

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ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: A TV talk-show hostess and her boyfriend investigate a shady magician who has the ability to hypnotize and control the thoughts of people in order to stage gory on-stage illusions using his powers of mind-bending.

• Director: Herschell Gordon Lewis
• Writer: Allen Kahn (screenplay)
• Selected Cast:
  • Ray Sager as Montag the Magnificent
  • Judy Cler as Sherry Carson
  • Wayne Ratay as Jack
  • Phil Laurenson as Greg
  • Jim Rau as Steve
  • Don Alexander as Det. Kramer
  • John Elliot as Det. Harlan (as John Elliot)
  • Jack Gilbreth as Maitre d'Hotel
  • Karin Alexana as Stage Girl #1 – Chainsaw Victim
  • Corinne Kirkin as Stage Girl #2 – Headpike Victim
  • Monica Blackwell as Stage Girl #3 – Punchpress Victim (as Monika Blackwell)
  • Sally Brody as Stage Girl #4 – Sword Victim
  • Karen Burke as Stage Girl #5 – Sword Victim
  • Eric Kelner Raynard as Coroner
  • Sheldon Reis as Audience Member
  • Julie Yager as Secretary

Herschell Gordon Lewis, heralded as the Godfather of Gore, is the producer/director of this episode's selection, The Wizard of Gore (1970). This is the second time a Decades of Horror Grue-Crew has ventured into HGL territory. The first is Two Thousand Maniacs (1964), Classic Era #112, when guest host Sammie Cassell chose it for the Grue-Crew's consumption. The Wizard of Gore does not disappoint with the levels of gore incorporated into a story whose only goal is to provide opportunities for more gore. (Did that make sense?) So, lots of bargain basement gore and acting put into an exploitative plot. What else would you expect from the Godfather of Gore? But, hey, the Grue-Crew still has fun!

At the time of this writing, The Wizard of Gore (1970) is available to stream from the Classic Horror Movie Channel, Flix Fling, and Cultpix.

Gruesome Magazine's Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next '70s episode, chosen by Bill, will be Disney's The Black Hole (1979), featuring an all-star cast and some amazeballs visual effects. You'll want to be there!

We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at [email protected].