MartinHafer This is Ray Dennis Steckler's foray into films about maniacal serial killers. Like many other writers/directors/producers of crap films in the 1960s, this is his attempt to make a film about a group of people who are being terrorized by some maniac or maniacs. Surprisingly, Steckler's THE THRILL KILLERS as well as Arch Hall, Sr.'s THE SADIST and Al Adamson's HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS are all similar plot-wise and all of these films are significantly better than the usual crappy monster films the guys were known for making. Believe me, EEGAH!, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED UP ZOMBIES and Dracula VS. FRANKENSTEIN are terrible films--the sort of thing these three men were infamous for creating. Here, though, without the silly monsters they seemed more in their element and all three should have probably done more maniacal killer films.Like many of Sreckler's films, he is one of the stars in the film, though he appears in his alter-ego, 'Cash Flagg'. Additionally, Arch Hall, Sr. also appears in this film in a bit part, as both Arch Junior and Senior were friends of Steckler and occasionally appeared in each other's films. You'll also see Steckler in Hall's WILD GUITAR--another surprisingly watchable minuscule budget film.The film begins with some absolutely horrible narration that not only is laughably bad but makes the film look and sound like crap. Fortunately, after the first 5-10 minutes of the film, it does get a lot better--it couldn't get a lot worse! It's very preachy and nonsensical and does a lot to derail the momentum of the film. Additionally, many of the early scenes with Cash Flagg really seem irrelevant--like they were slapped onto the film to pad it. Well, when I watched an interview with Steckler shortly before his death, he indicated this is EXACTLY why some of these scenes were added--the film was too short and he was padding it to feature-length (you can see this interview in the special features on the DVD).Later, however, the film heats up when three maniacs escape from a hospital for the criminally insane. They do some killings that are high on tension and realism--but are also marred by tossing in the silliest looking plastic head that was supposedly chopped off a victim! But, if you can ignore this, the violent scenes are very emotionally charged and are bound to hit you like a brick--they were generally well done--even if much of the film was terrible. And, in an odd twist, the lone serial killer (Flagg) meets up with the three escaped maniacs--making it the first time totally separate killers meet up late in the film. In other words, once the three killers are dispatched, in comes Flagg to terrorize the people who are in the midst of congratulating themselves about a narrow escape!! While the film is very, very uneven and amateurish at times, the film also manages to be entertaining and do a lot for a film that probably cost less than $50,000 to complete. Not bad, but the best of these type films, THE SADIST, is a better film and should be seen first.

Scott_Mercer Welcome to the world of Ray Dennis Steckler. Low budget shlock about three psychopaths and one of them's serial killer brother on the rampage in black-and-white 1960's Los Angeles.This is most definitely Steckler's least incompetent film. Black and white cinematography is fantastic. Steckler applies creative film-making principles to a crazy low budget to make great entertainment, but also competent movie making. I really enjoyed the production music that he chose to use.Steckler was also hanging around with Arch Hall Jr./Sr. (he appeared in and directed Wild Guitar) during these years. Hall Sr. even appears here in an unbilled cameo as himself: a drunken lout.So I can't help but compare this film to the similar Arch Hall film "The Sadist." Similar plot device of maniacs keeping normal people at bay in a deserted shack out in the sticks, though that scenario takes up only a few scenes in this film, and takes up 95% of "The Sadist." This film is not quite as good as "The Sadist" but fans of that work should enjoy this trip as well.Anyway, fans of Steckler's peculiar universe of film making should dig on this, though as others have stated this is most certainly his darkest film. Several genuinely scary scenes (in the DVD commentary track, Steckler brags about shooting these scenes in the daytime and still being able to scare the audience) and several exciting chase scenes for about the last 20 minutes of the movie, much better done than is usual for films of this budget level.An enjoyable psychopathic killer film with a bit of late-period film noir atmosphere that comes off well. Just a bit of "Blast of Silence" maybe. Filmed in 1964, released in 1965. Available on DVD.

PaulyC Ray Steckler's attempt at something different then his usual kind of movie is pretty decent. I must admit though that I do like movies that involve psychotic characters. The story is very simple. Three psychopaths escape a mental hospital and cause havoc to a small community. The lead of the film however is a small time actor hoping to make it big. The crazies meet up with him and his wife in a small diner and hell breaks loose. There's actually a pretty good chase scene which isn't that common in these films. Although a lot of the acting is pretty cheesy, the mental patients are pretty convincing which makes this film worth a look.

Gafke I may as well admit something right up front: I will never give a totally negative review to a Ray Dennis Steckler film. I LOVE Steckler's films! They're so corny and cheesy, full of good intentions and a lot of fun. Thrill Killers is no exception. Though it is, by far, Steckler's darkest and most serious film, it's still a wild and weird good time.Steckler himself plays Mad Dog, a psychopath who roams the streets of L.A., killing at random and often for no reason whatsoever. Mad Dog's brother, in the meantime, has escaped from an insane asylum with a couple of buddies. Also in the meantime, sexy Liz Renay has an argument with her struggling actor husband and flees into the hills to see her sister, who runs a roadside diner. Still with me? The psychos and the sexpot all meet up at the diner, and of course, all hell breaks loose. There's some really great stuff here: Carolyn Brandt is chased through an empty house by an ax-wielding maniac whilst the radio plays the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The world's phoniest looking decapitation is also here, as well as posters of Stecklers previous films plastered all over the walls of the diner. There's also a great chase scene, with Steckler making a run for it on horseback! But not before Liz punches him right in the face and knocks him on his bony butt in a scene that made me laugh out loud. It even has a happy ending. This film is pure Steckler, which will attract as many people as it will repel. You either like his films or you don't...and I love them. This is one of his very best.