Blu-ray Review: MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE (1966)

MANOS:  THE HANDS OF FATE
Written & Directed by  Harold P. Warren
Distributed by Synapse Films / CAV Distributing

  Every now and then, a film comes along and I have no clue what to say about it in a review.  I think we might have one of those times here.  The film is MANOS:  THE HANDS OF FATE.   Here is the plot synopsis from the films press release:

  Mike (Harold P. Warren) and Maggie (Diane Mahree), on a road trip with their daughter and family dog, take a wrong turn in Texas and become trapped at a weird lodge inhabited by a polygamous pagan cult. They soon find themselves in the middle of a power struggle between caretaker Torgo (John Reynolds), cult leader The Master (Tom Neyman), and two warring factions of the Master's wives. As the family tries to escape, the worshipers of Manos decide their fate...
   MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE, the sole directorial effort of Texas fertilizer salesman Harold P. Warren, perplexed even the most jaded Drive-In audiences and was deemed by many the worst movie ever made. Nearly lost, the original 16mm Ektachrome film elements have been finally unearthed and lovingly restored by Ben Solovey to create the definitive version of this accidental masterpiece. There's no other movie like MANOS... now in HD with picture and sound unseen since 1966.

  Any time a company puts a review quote on the cover art of the DVD/BD like this one, you know you are in for a treat:

  "The worst film ever made" - Entertainment Weekly

  The fact they would celebrate this quote makes you realize they know this is a bad movie, yet there must have been something likable about it to make a company put money into an all new 2K restoration and a new DVD / Blu-ray release.   If it was truly that bad of a movie, they wouldn't go to all this trouble to release it....right?  Well....yeah, I guess, but it really is bad!!   BUT....I don't know why, but I still kind of liked it.  It's weird I know, but it's like when all your friends think a girl is really ugly, yet for some reason you are kind of attracted to her.  You know she is ugly, yet you still kind of like her for some reason and you really can't figure out why.   That is the best way I can describe this film.  It's an ugly film but has a great personality! 

 Well, that's really all I have to say about this one.  It's one you need to check out for sure, if for no other reason, gather your buddies around and drink some beer, then have your own Mystery Science Theater 3000 live in your living room!  Believe me, there will be plenty of opportunities to crack jokes about this one!

  MANOS:  THE HANDS OF FATE is available now from Synapse Films and CAV Distribution on DVD and Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

*  New 2K restoration
*  Audio Commentary
*  Hands: The Fate of MANOS Featurette
*  Restoring the Hands of Fate Featurette
*  FELT: The Puppet Hands of Fate Featurette
*  Manos: The Hands of Fate: Grindhouse Edition (Blu-ray ONLY Bonus)


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray