Anoraks Assemble

Devil Dog: Hound of Hell is a 1978 made-for-TV horror directed by Curtis Harrington.

The film sees Richard Crenna and Yvette Mimieux as married couple Mike and Betty Barry, who, along with their two annoying brats teenage children, when the family dog dies, end up inadvertently adopting the hound from hell. (Think Lucifer rather than Lassie)

The family’s housekeeper Marie knows something is wrong, endlessly clutching her crucifix and looking worried. However, this action isn’t enough to protect Marie, who quickly dies in a mysterious house fire.

For some reason, the dog – named Lucky – hates Richard Crenna’s Mike, and uses its Psycho Dog powers to try and compel Dad into sticking his hand into the blade of a lawnmower. But Crenna is made of strong stuff and Psycho Dog’s dastardly deeds fail miserably.

The rest of the Barry family aren’t so strong, and pretty soon Bonnie and Charlie, along with their mother Betty, fall under Lucky’s spell. The kids become even more irritating whilst Betty turns into a sex-crazed maniac, frolicking naked in their neighbour’s pool after Mike comes home late from work. The poor fella only wanted his dinner.

Dad eventually realises all is not well when he hears weird chanting from the attic and discovers his wife and kids have built a shrine to Lucky. I mean seriously, Dad, get a divorce and put the kids up for adoption.

Eventually Mike decides enough is enough and visits an old woman who knows a lot about weird shit. She tells him some mumbo-jumbo about demons and Dad realises he has to visit Ecuador. (I’m not exactly sure why Ecuador, I might have drifted off at that moment).

Eventually Crenna and Psycho Dog face off in a bonkers finale, with lots of snarling and baring of teeth (the dog, not Dad), thunder and lightning, then suddenly Psycho Dog is gone in a puff of smoke.

This film is ridiculous but Richard Crenna is always a class act and I really did believe he was facing off against Psycho Dog from Hell.

Very silly, quite good fun, but nothing to get too excited about.