Dark Echoes (1977)

A true obscurity, Dark Echoes (1977) is a Yugoslav horror movie, shot in Austria, in English, with an American director and international cast.  The result, perhaps not surprisingly, is an uneven mess that never settles on a tone, let alone a theme, with the script mixing in elements of ghost story, zombie film and witchcraft.  As far as its quality and production values are concerned, these were difficult to judge fairly as the version I saw was taken from a VHS with Japanese sub-titles, (for many years, this Japanese VHS was the only available version of the film).  Consequently, the picture looks fuzzy and the sound quality is variable - I'm willing to accept that these were artifacts of the video transfer rather than a reflection of the film as shot.  At times it feels like a travelogue sponsored by the Austrian tourist board as we get nice views of lakes, waterfalls, castles and other scenic landmarks.  All of which are there to pad out the film to feature length in the face of a very thin plot.  This concerns a pleasure boat captain, drowned when his vessel sank, who has returned from his watery grave to take revenge on those he holds responsible for his death.  The question which is never properly addressed is whether he is a ghost or a zombie, as he takes the very solid form of his rotting, waterlogged, corpse.  Unlike most zombies though, he isn't shambling and brainless, his spirit apparently still being very much in control of his dead body.  

An American investigator turns up to help out his old friend, the local police chief, find out whether the murders plaguing the area really are the work of a ghost/zombie.  Also involved is the local witch - a weird old biddy who presides over some fairly dull rites performed by her coven which seem yo be in the film solely to provide some gratuitous nudity.  When the witch isn't doing this, she's making all sorts of doom-laden pronouncements and predictions.  There's some underwater ghost/zombie action before a lame climax which involves a poorly staged decapitation, (the film's only real gore sequence), a mob of young villagers running to help the middle-aged heroes defeat the ghost/zombie, (a turn of events reminiscent of late fifties/early sixties AIP teen drive in horror movie) and the creature being defeated by mirrors, (he can't stand his own reflection).  The comparison to an AIP drive-in movie is apt, as the whole things seems modelled on such productions, with its combination of middlle-aged authority figures and plucky young people who turn out to be OK in the end, pulling together to defeat a hokey monster.  And the monster is hokey - it wouldn't be too bad if he had been played by a better actor, who could at least move like he was a soaking wet mouldering corpse, instead of wandering around casually, looking like a regular dude in corpse make-up.  The tone varies wildly, from ill-advised humour (usually involving the police chief's beer-drinking being interrupted by the latest ghostly goings on), to horror with various murders and people being chased by the ghost/zombie, (again, the resemblance to an AIP drive-in picture is clear).

The film is notable as being the sole directorial credit of noted stunt performer George Robotham.  Unfortunately, his direction here is flat and uninvolving, feeling more like a TV production than a feature film.  He isn't helped by a script which is far too talky, although the dialogue is clunky and poorly written, which doesn't give the actors much of a chance either.  Indeed, leading man Joel Fabiani gives the impression that he can barely keep a straight face.  Euro-exploitation favourite Karin Dor is surprisingly bland as the leading lady, seemingly unable to make anything of her character, while Alex Davion continues his descent down the cast list, (not so long before Dark Echoes, he'd had featured roles in things like Valley of the Dolls).  Not released, even in Yugoslavia, until the early eighties, Dark Echoes is, perhaps, deservedly obscure.  That said, there is something perversely enjoyable about it.  Sure, it's bad, but not offensively bad.  Despite all of its defects, it somehow holds the attention.  I certainly don't regret watching it, (although I'm not in a hurry to watch it again).