In the year 1978, there were plenty of cheesy yet entertaining made-for-television movies that flooded the small screens of households, of them 19 were in the horror genre; depending on the major networks and time of the year as to when they were released. Looking back to this one year the types of films varied greatly with the influence from the theatrical market, for example The Initiation of Sarah inspired by Carrie [1976], Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell which takes cues from The Omen [1976] and Someone’s Watching Me references Rear Window [1954]. However, this television movie seems not to have theatrical counter-part it is adrift, only to have producer Aaron Spelling aboard to use some of elements from Death Cruise (1974) and The Love Boat (1977) (ugh) to ship this vessel is off on a doomed cruise, which somehow manage to cull a minor cult following, as well as circulate in some conspiracy circles. Overall, the film is entertaining for the small screen in a bad movie with some redeeming qualities, as it featured then prime TV actors and general b-movie actors. Bruce Kessler directed this film who incidentally made another horror television movie called Deathmoon [1978] released in May based from screenwriter Michael Braverman (Donor [1990]).
It starts with a small and in need of major repair cruising ship, Obeah is pressed into service to a handful of passengers to Mexico where there’s an overbooking error that occurs to the Mexacona ocean liner, the owner Thurman has suggestively made a deal with ‘someone’ for the passage. Captain Andrews (Hugh O’Brien) is highly against this but realizing the only option of another captain he presses ahead against his judgement to sail to Cozumel 800 miles across the Gulf of Mexico on one engine. It’s here we get our introduction of both crew and travelers, and what some of them do is, for example one crew member helps guest Nathan (Roger E. Mosley), next is Dr. Isiah Bakkun (Ray Milland (X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes [1963])) an archeologist meanwhile passing by a porthole we find a bickering married couple. It’s a real-life couple Christopher and Lyndia Day George (Grizzly [1976] and Day of the Animals [1977] respectfully), as Neal and Sandra Berry here though as he is high price stockbroker and his wife trying to rekindle their love, with a much needed vacation, as he always sees dollar signs. Back at pier 32, with have the main star Simon (Dirk Benedict (Sssssss [1973]) graciously meets two beauties Judy (Jo Ann Harris) and Debbie (Hilarie Thompson (Killer’s Delight [1978])), introduces himself as first mate, chief mechanic at their service. Nearing the end of the boarding couples is Reverend Robert Mather (John Forsythe) and his wife Lil (Lee Meriwether (Hell’s Kitty [2018])) who we come learn are also having marital problems of a different sort, demon alcohol played dangerous role. It’s suggested that while the captain’s duty is to safeguard lives, the reverend is there to save souls, a bit of foreshadowing especially as the last guest arrives Matt Lazarus (Frank Converse) a physicist, at this moment any horror fan has heard that last name and knows whatever going to happen will involve this character, from there a 3-day cruise starts officially. The first night in the salon, with Marilyn (Stella Stevens (The Manitou [1978])) prowling the room Dr. Bakkun, and physicist Matt discuss his theory that Egyptians founded the Mayan civilization 2000 years ago. The movie starts to have a series of mysterious ongoings, from passenger almost going overboard to close shark attack, and ship that breaks down, complete with radio problems all very close to where it’s discovered coincidentally that the Bakkun had mathematically err and the tomb he seeks in underwater, and submerged island. Soon afterwards the sarcophagus is located, a rather small size and quickly enough it determines to be the antichrist and the corruption, lust, greed of various all begin working to achieve wealth and revenge. One wife starts a lurid affair with another guest, a protector of He, who is locked inside, it makes for an explosion conclusion.
Oh, where to begin, the plot is ridiculous, thoroughly looney, from opening with a killing, which doesn’t make any sense to a reverend delivering his best sermon to defeat a silly breathing sarcophagus. A lot of the dialogue is clunky, often the film feels lost in suspense. There is an interesting bit concerning the music though first the opening of the film does sound very similar to composer Wendy Carlos’ opening for The Shining, and this movie proceeded that by two years; though composer Gerald Fried was good friends with Stanley Kubrick so much that Gerald’s first four films of his career were for the fame director’s movies. However, it goes further at 26.53 to 27.15 the music seems eerily the same chase composition found Harry Manfredini’s music in the Friday the 13th films. As for the limited special effects, they too are laughable, shaky camera work, and yet it works to somehow to garnish the love from so bad its groovy good department. Lastly, aside from the Lazarus name usage Lil Mather, is the woman seen sitting in front of an oval eye mirror, which obvious a subtle hint to Egyptian symbolism Horus – protection, which herein is a dual meaning first to the reverenced, protect the world from Satan and to Lil, his wife for protection of the little one and a desire for her own inner healing. Sadly, this venue is never explored in more depth.
If you have a strange obsession for the so bad its good films of the 1970s then this overrated dialogue with some mumbled parts may serve as some enjoyment. Otherwise, the film is predictable and laughable how one thing leads to another as well as the men, name the captain, and first mate interact with double innuendos with the ship’s guests, providing the proper social entertainment activities, and the guardians to protect the Son of Satan, resting in a watery grave – um ok. I should mention another interesting tidbit of this movie, also known as Voyage Into Evil, Stella Stevens and composer Gerald Fried both died on the same date of February 17, 2023, 14 days after the film celebrated its 45th-anniversary.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077382/
IMDb Rating: 5.0/10
Baron’s Rating: 4.5/10
Full Movie: