Runtime: 92 minutes
Directed by: Danny Steinmann
Starring: Barbara Bach, Sydney Lassick, Lelia Goldini, Douglas Barr, Stephen Furst
From: Triune Films
Yep, this was from the director of Friday the 13th: A New Beginning.
A few nights ago on the Shudder app I saw the first few minutes of this movie via one of the the three streaming channels on the app. It made me laugh so hard that I knew I needed to see this in full soon; besides, it's a picture I first heard about it on some site anyhow. You're in an apartment and from photos on a table it is clear that it's owned by a man. Heavy labored breathing is heard and perhaps it was me knowing that director Danny Steinmann made really sleazy films and apparently was sleazy in real life also... it sounded like this dude was doing something illicit by himself! Actually, he was on exercise equipment. The opening scene actually wasn't bad: without saying a word it was clear that this guy was a football player and the relationship w/ his girlfriend Barbara Bach had turned sour.
From there, a whole lot of trash was presented. Besides Sydney Lassick (the true highlight of the movie w/ his over the top performance) playing Peeping Tom early on, there are many gross elements present, only a few of which I'll mention. A remark is totally tossed off that Bach's boyfriend at least once physically assaulted her... then we move on without that being addressed. An abortion is mentioned (what a time in 2022 to hear that be brought up; no further comment from me on that topic, no way!), there's full frontal nudity, patricide—oh, and what the titular unseen is hidden in the basement until the final act: definitely memorable although whether or not it is appropriate at all in '22 or is totally tasteless is up to you. Of course, it'd be better if the poster Letterboxd currently uses for the film doesn't REVEAL what exactly is in the basement, but it does!
Whether or not you know what the titular thing is, The Unseen is incredibly trashy. The plot: Bach is a TV reporter who travels to do a piece in the real life Danish-themed town of Solvang, California. A hotel snafu leaves them without a room, until they meet Lassick and he seemed nice at first (although quirky) so they agreed to stay at his spacious rural house for the night. Big mistake.
As for director Danny Steinmann, I can't say for certain why he only made one adult movie in the 70's then this, then Savage Streets-somehow I haven't watched that before-then his career concluded with the Jason sequel w/ no Jason. However, I've heard that he wasn't easy to get along with and his “direction” on set was rather minimal as he just didn't know how to communicate w/ cast and crew. A random blog stated that he had a vehicular accident after A New Beginning but otherwise I am unsure if it was his behavior and demeanor that in essence caused him to be blacklisted. In any case, he was so unhappy with producer interference that even though the movie was presented in part by his dad-that's awkward-Steinmann's name isn't anywhere in the credits--a pseudonym is used instead.
Even though this certainly has flaws, overall I'll say this was fine. It definitely is weird, has fine performances from the likes of Bach & Lelia Goldoni, and like I said Lassick devouring the scenery tickled me pink.
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