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The Manitou

Director: William Girdler Run Time: 104 min. Format: 35mm Rating: R Release Year: 1978

Starring: Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Michael Ansara, Burgess Meredith

“Possession marked
The Exorcist. Demonic Pregnancy erupted Rosemary’s Baby. Warnings followed The Omen. And The Manitou has it all combined!”

When Karen Tandy (Susan Strasberg) finds she has a rapidly growing tumor on the back of her neck that perplexes even the best San Francisco surgeon, she seeks guidance from her sometimes-lover Harry Erskine (a delightfully flamboyant Tony Curtis), a hack mystic with a specialty of forecasting the gastrointestinal futures of wealthy older women. Consulting a variety of experts in black magic and anthropology, Harry can’t ignore all the signs point to one thing – a Native American shaman is attempting rebirth through Karen’s body! Launching off of this insane premise, The Manitou never lets up, building to a wild psychedelic climax and peppered with unhinged performances including a confused-but-committed Burgess Meredith.

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