Scalps (1983)

Director:

Fred Olen Ray

Writers:

T.L. Lankford (story)
Fred Olen Ray (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

December 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

They came out of the grave to get revenge.

Plot:

Silly group of college science students go an dig around in an indian burial ground for artifacts. Unfortunately...

Plot Keywords:

Student | Burial Ground | Male Rear Nudity | Nudity | Scalp

Cast

Jo-Ann Robinson	...	D.J.
Richard Hench	...	Randy / Black Claw
Roger Maycock	...	Kershaw Ellerbe
Frank McDonald	...	Ben Murphy
Carol Sue Flockhart	...	Louise Landon
Barbara Magnusson	...	Ellen Corman
Kirk Alyn	...	Prof. Machen
Carroll Borland	...	Dr. Sharon Reynolds
Cynthia Hartline	...	Ann
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Prof. Trentwood
George Randall	...	Billy Ironwing
Jay Walker	...	Kyle Dunne
Frank Scott	...	Prospector
Pepi	...	Little Kid
Romeo Rodriguis	...	Cashier
Jesus De Luigi	...	His Buddy

Directed by
Fred Olen Ray

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
T.L. Lankford		story
Fred Olen Ray		screenplay
Fred Olen Ray		story
John Ray		story

Produced by
T.L. Lankford	....	producer
Tim McCanlies	....	associate producer
Ralph Stevens	....	associate producer
Alec Wisner	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Drew Neumann
Eric Rasmussen

Cinematography by
Larry Van Loon		(as Larry P. Van Loon)
Brett Webster

Film Editing by
John Barr		(as John R. Barr)

Makeup Department
R. Christopher Biggs	....	special makeup effects artist (as Chris Biggs)
Jon McCallum	....	special makeup effects artist
Bart Mixon	....	special makeup effects artist (as Bart J. Mixon)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
T.L. Lankford	....	second unit director
Jeff Vernon	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John Mitchell	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Bryan England	....	additional cinematographer

Production Companies

• American Partnership

Distributors

• 21st Century Film Corporation (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Continental Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Imperial Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Marquis Video (198?) (Canada) (VHS)
• Planet Video (USA) (VHS)
• Retromedia Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

American Partnership

Trivia:

The film was shot on a ranch which is now owned by Alice Cooper

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Before one man's decapitation, his head comes off before it's supposed to.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Terror on Tape (1983)

Perhaps Fred Olen Ray's best film?

"Scalps" is a bloody Native American slasher with a nice supernatural angle.Six archeology students head to the desert to search for Native American artifacts.Despite the warnings of DJ,the students disturb the ancient Indian burial ground and unleash the vengeful spirit of Black Claw.After possessing Randy,Black Claw hunts down the others with an arsenal of stone-age weapons.Despite its crude cinematography and editing "Scalps" is an overlooked slasher with some nasty bits of gore.The throat slashing and scalping sequence truly made me squirm in my seat.A combination of desert landscapes and sinister soundtrack gives "Scalps" a raw and nihilistic atmosphere of fear and despair.Unofficial sequel "Demon Warrior" was made in 1988.