Gargoyles (1972) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Bill L. Norton

Writers:

Elinor Karpf (writer)
Steven Karpf (writer)

Release Date:

21 November 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

They're coming for you!

Plot:

An anthropologist/paleontologist and his daughter, while travelling through the southwestern US, stumble upon a colony of living, breathing gargoyles who in the end only want to be left alone.

Plot Keywords:

Gargoyle | Desert | Father Daughter Relationship | Anthropologist | Anthropology

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Cornel Wilde	...	Dr. Mercer Boley
Jennifer Salt	...	Diana Boley
Grayson Hall	...	Mrs. Parks
Bernie Casey	...	The Gargoyle
Scott Glenn	...	James Reeger
William Stevens	...	Police Chief
John Gruber	...	Jesse
Woody Chambliss	...	Uncle Willie
Jim Connell	...	Buddy
Timothy Burns	...	Morris Ray (as Tim Burns)
Mickey Alzola	...	Gargoyle
Greg Walker	...	Gargoyle
Rock A. Walker	...	Gargoyle (as Rock Walker)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park - 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Tomorrow Entertainment

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The cable/wire can be seen holding the gargoyle up when he flies at the end.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stan Winston: Monster Mogul (2003) (V)

Made-for-tv can work!

The thing about made-for-tv movies is that the networks have a requirement that there is a chill and/or spill on every commercial break. If the formula is followed successfully, it definately pays.

Gargoyles is proof of this. It is a low-budget film, but is well-paced. I was thoroughly chilled by this when it first showed on TV, and saw it again a few years ago, then caught it again today on MoviePlex, sans commercials. It holds up very well over time, and the acting is quite good in most places. I especially liked Bernie Casey as the lead Gargoyle, though I don't know if I should call it especially inspired or deliberatly hammy. Doesn't matter, still enjoyable either way.

The effects were on the very lowest budget, so you get a whiff of 'cheese' to enjoy as well, but the monster suits were actually quite good. I only saw 'rubber stretches' once or twice. I can think of big budget films that didn't have costumes as good as these. Bernie Casey's voice was filled with some kind of static. A cheap effect, but an effective one.

The plotline was a bit slanted, the Gargoyles were dedicated to taking over the Earth, completely evil and therefore must be destroyed, something that wouldn't likely be passed today due to politcal correctness, but the ending still works nicely despite that.

I would highly recommend it to any horror fan.