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27 out of 28 people found the following comment useful :- An obscure oddity well worth seeking out, 25 February 2004 Author: capkronos (capkronos00@hotmail.com) from Ohio, USA
Made by some of the same folks who worked on the great Outer Limits television series, this little-known gem (shot entirely in Esperanto, a failed language conceived to become a universal dialect many years ago) is definitely one-of-a-kind and worth checking out. William Shatner stars as war vet and all-around good and decent guy who lives with his sister (some Freudian implications are present) in a nameless and nearly-vacant coastal village. He is briefly led astray by a seductive, blonde devil-worshipper (Allyson Ames) under false pretenses...he thinks it's for the mutual attraction and she is basically plotting to kill him and deliver another soul over to Satan. The remastering job is a crystal clear b/w print, gorgeously shot by Conrad L. Hall (AMERICAN BEAUTY) around picturesque Big Sur locations. Director Leslie Stevens achieves some amazing shots, throws in some great camera-work and the films has faint echoes of CARNIVAL OF SOULS and many Mario Bava films. The plotting (Shatner falling in love in the course of an afternoon and some heavy-handed religious themes) is often at odds with the is lyrical and poetic tone of the film, but it has many standout sequences (including a winged demon seen only in shadow, a solar eclipse, the human "incubus" rising from the grave, an opening murder of the succubus drowning a drunken man in the ocean...) to recommend it.
22 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- Ingmar Bergman Meets `The Outer Limits', 20 June 2003 Author: Eugene Kim (gene_kim@earthlink.net) from Arlington, Virginia, USA
It's tempting to jokingly call this the best William Shatner movie in Esperanto I've ever seen, but it deserves better than that - it's a delightfully weird low-budget horror film that might best be described as "Ingmar Bergman Meets `The Outer Limits.'" The reference to the 60s TV series is apt, since several of the creative forces from that show were behind this film: writer-director Leslie Stevens; future Oscar-winning cinematographer Conrad L. Hall, and composer Dominic Frontiere (although I suspect they simply borrowed his "Outer Limits" themes to score this film). In fact, "Incubus" looks, sounds and feels so much like an episode of the "The Outer Limits," there were times I half-expected it to fade to commercial; a flash of nudity reminds us this isn't a TV show.In "Incubus," a seductive female demon - a succubus - named Kia becomes bored with luring morally corrupt men to their eternal doom and sets her sights on a virtuous soldier named Marc, played by a pre-"Star Trek" Shatner (who guest-starred in an "Outer Limits" episode titled "Cold Hands, Warm Heart"). The bucolic out-of-time setting reminds me of the medieval Sweden of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal," and Hall's black & white cinematography is starkly beautiful. The Esperanto dialogue lends an exotic flavor with its vaguely recognizable European word roots. It also dresses up dialogue that might have been too over-the-top in English (in his DVD commentary, Shatner can't help chuckling when Kia declares, "There are no heroes burning in the fires of Hell!"). I'm reminded of the old joke that a movie seems more "artistic" if it's in a foreign language with subtitles - I guess Esperanto, originally intended to be a universal language, effectively makes "Incubus" a "foreign film" to just about everyone.Shatner, as the young, handsome, dashing hero, is unmistakably Shatner, even in Esperanto. Allyson Ames is frostily beautiful as the evil Kia, while Ann Atmar is sweetly vulnerable as Marc's sister, Arndis.I don't mean to over-praise "Incubus." It's a very well done little film, comparable to the original "Carnival of Souls" - if you don't expect too much, you may be pleasantly surprised at how much there is. It's definitely worth a look.
23 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :- A flawed masterwork and a glorious experiment., 4 June 2004 Author: Son of Cathode from New England
INCUBUS is a most unusual, and unique "odd duck"; a gothic fairy tale screenplay filmed as an abstract horror movie, in the style of the European symbolists.Filming the script in an unknown language ("Esperanto") assures that the film must communicate completely on an allegorical level; INCUBUS is peopled by primal archetypes seemingly drawn from both a Grimms' fairy tale and a Bergman psycho-pastoral meditation. Characters are either full of wisdom and self-insight, or terror and loathing. They bleat to the heavens as if voicing Shakespeare.Heavy-handed and pretentious to a fault, INCUBUS is also gorgeous, enchanting and wholly engaging, with sequences of pure brilliance. Haunting and overwrought, INCUBUS appeals to us as grand theatre, and gripping melodrama.Unfortunately, the story is extremely simplistic, even sophomoric in spots. Although the grand design of the piece is eye-catching and engaging, INCUBUS appears not so much as a movie from another planet as it is a movie from a curiously familiar, yet distant, parallel universe, one with energy and talent and good intentions, but perhaps slightly naive cerebral abilities. There is something missing from the scenario, something subtle but profound.Yet, where else can one find literal depiction of demons from Hell having theological arguments and fighting over the souls of the living? Supernatural figures come to literal life, something Hollywood doesn't tackle too often, except with great fanfare (THE EXORCIST, THE OMEN).The voluptuous, manipulative music of Dominic Frontiere, and the crisp charicascuro b/w fotog of Conrad Hall, create an art film of unusual depth and beauty. Although distinctly an "ancient" period piece, bizarre little anachronisms abound, like cylcone fences in the foreground of certain shots.INCUBUS is, like the best of '60's film art, pure cinema; a swirling, kinetic carousel of theatre brought to life. It's seductive face and overwhelming mythos make it an experience one is not likely to forget, or confuse with another.How one interprets INCUBUS is another story. It tackles too much and struggles valiantly under its own weight, creating a most unusual piece of film art along the way. The film becomes a bit long-winded and belabored by the end, and one wonders who might have had the mental focus necessary to follow this difficult but rewarding film to its conclusion during its assuredly brief theatrical run.Imagine an American doing an homage/hybrid of a Bergman film, not the smarmy cheap punches of THE DOVE, but for real, a sincere attempt to appropriate Bergman's specific filmic language for use by a newer, less bright culture. While not successful, the results are extraordinary. INCUBUS will be thoroughly disappointing for anyone looking for a cheap fix of '60s horror. Awash in elementary metaphysical pontification, INCUBUS works least as an illustrated theological discussion, yet that is where it derives a great deal of its energy. Visually, one might call it CARNIVAL OF SOULS done as a Shakespeare play.William Shatner is surprisingly effective as a simple man who trips headlong into a devastating battle for his life and very essence. A great scene late in the film shows William enacting the suffering implicit at the precise moment he envisions his own eternal damnation; he is a man literally fleeing the devil to save his soul. Not since the Greek tragedies of yore have primal life issues taken such unabashed center stage, and to such powerful effect.From a dramatic and intellectual point of view, INCUBUS is an unqualified failure. Yet it is one of the most extraordinary and significant failures in all cinema history, a bold and unique document of film on the very cutting edge of its time.PS: Mel Gibson (and/or his D.P.) stole A LOT of INCUBUS' structure and sensibility for THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.
19 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :- Fascinating, unique, underappreciated, 29 January 2001 Author: Robert from San Francisco
Writer/Director Leslie Stevens was previously best-known as the man behind the TV series "The Outer Limits", and it shows. Everything about this film is moody, atmospheric and vaguely threatening, while still tinged with beauty. The real surprise is that "Incubus" is much better than just an extended Outer Limits. Shot in Big Sur on the central California coast in just two weeks and under a very small budget, the film more than makes up for those limitations with an imaginative script, fantastic visuals and well-nuanced acting. William Shatner gives what I consider to be the most subtle, unmannered performance of his career as the protagonist -- a weary, wounded soldier. The succubus who aims to cause his downfall is more than ably portrayed by Allyson Ames, who would've been quite at home in any Bergman film. Bergman is, in fact, a reference point, with a few scenes obviously inspired by "Persona", "The Seventh Seal" and perhaps "Wild Strawberries". Other influences seem to be some of Kurosawa's early work and even Greek tragedies. Many people consider the fact that every bit of dialogue (and even the credits) were in the Esperanto language, to be merely a gimmick. In fact, it was an inspired decision, and makes the film independent of time and place; perfectly complimenting the otherworldly mood. Most of the actors do quite well with it, and after a few minutes it sounds natural, and a bit like a cross between Swedish and Latin. There are a few niggling problems: the actress who portrays the older succubus has a terrible declaimatory style, there are occasionally irrational plot turns, and worse -- the obtrusive subtitles that block out a large swath of the screen. This was necessitated by the fact that only one print of the film survived, and it had had French subtitles printed on it. When the print was rediscovered, director Stevens had to restore it for English-speaking audiences by blocking English subtitles over the top of the French! I must mention the score, by Outer Limits composer Dominic Frontiere, which perfectly compliments the film. Conrad Hall's cinematography is at times breathtaking -- especially in one scene where Shatner wanders through a field by moonlight, the grasses swirling around him. The film's denouement stays just on the better side of moralizing and manages to avoid heavy-handed Christian references. Indeed, the statues of Jesus, Mary and various saints in the village chapel seem just as threatening as the demons outside. Although not quite as morally ambiguous as "The Wicker Man" (and probably shot for 1/10 the budget and in 1/10th the time), Incubus nevertheless is one of my favorite "horror" films of the 1960s, and well worth viewing. By the way, I disagree with the other poster suggested that Incubus is best viewed in a large group. I suggest that the intimate scale of this film works best when watched alone on a rainy night. Prepare to be frightened, disturbed and surprised. A macabre footnote: within a year, both the actress who portrayed Shatner's sister and the actor who played the incubus would commit suicide.
15 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :- unique art film, 2 August 2003 Author: sennomo from Pennsylvania, USA
I give this film high marks specifically because of its originality. Incubus is a truly unique art film. Do not watch it as you would watch most films. Most of the people who dis this film are illogically comparing it with mainstream films.If you like Shatner's early work (e.g., Twighlight Zone), you'll like him in Incubus. The rest of the actors do a generally good job, too.If you know Esperanto, I warn you, the Esperanto in this film is horrible. It is my understanding that the director did not want the dialogue to be understood. Each member of the cast trips over a few lines here and there, sometimes so badly that it should be obvious even to those who don't know Esperanto. The funniest thing is that Shatner pronounces Esperanto with a somewhat French accent and he pauses just like he does in English.(La ideo, ke Esperanto aperas en la filmo varbas; tamen, la esperantoparolado mem en la filmo ja acxas.)If you don't know Esperanto, do not watch this film for the Esperanto dialogue. It's not a good sample.Everbody, watch Incubus if you like creepy, experimental art films.
14 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :- Review as an average viewer then as an Esperanto-enthusiast, 10 December 2002 Author: jamesjlr2 from Houston
First, I will critique the film as an average viewer and then as an Esperanto-enthusiast. For Shatner fans this film is a must. For art film aficionados it is also a must. Those who dislike Shatner or art films will dislike this film; those who dislike Shatner -and- art films will -despise- this film. Those who liked the old Twilight Zone and Outer Limits will probably enjoy this film. It is a well-made film. And as far as concept films go, Incubus is very coherent. It has a strong, if thin plot line and does not stray often from it. Many art films are not... tight. What I mean by this is that often in art films there will be many tangents and/or moments where one feels that the camera was left running and the actors weren't given any directions. Or the film just has absolutely no plot (not necessarily a bad thing) and is merely a serious of events, which are bizarre, quaint, or whatever. Not so in Incubus. This film actually borders on the mainstream. Especially if one compares it with something like Un Chien Andalou or Tetsuo: The Iron Man. The film looks beautiful. Cinematographer Conrad Hall went on to win 2 Oscars and was nominated for 7 others in films to come. He'll probably be nominated again for this year's Road to Perdition. I wonder if Wim Wenders was inspired by this film. The demons in Incubus stand around like Wender's angels did in Wings of Desire (US remake: City of Angels). On a less formal level, Incubus is just a neat movie. It's a neat idea with neat actors, neat shots, and neat music. It is set in an allegorical world, which is why writer/director Leslie Stevens chose Esperanto for its language. He didn't feel that a national or ethnic language would seem right for this tale. (Do demons speak Spanish, English, Swahili, or Russian? Do humans in this realm speak Chinese, Yiddish, or French?) So, choosing Esperanto was a bold artistic choice and something to be praised whether one is an Esperanto-enthusiast or not. Some would consider the film a psychotronic classic, putting it the realm of Attack of the 50ft Woman or Plan 9 from Outer Space, but Incubus is far above that. It is probably one of those sad souls which is not camp enough to be a cult classic and not artsy enough to be an art house classic, and too artsy for mainstream, so Incubus will probably wander in classification limbo indefinitely. Many have criticized the pronunciation of Esperanto in Incubus. I am not an expert. I have only been studying the language for a couple of years now. But my TV is going out so I didn't have the luxury of subtitles and I was forced to listen to it. I was able to understand it pretty well. From what I've heard and read about the film, I was expecting it to be unintelligible. Esperanto scholars have been way too harsh on these actors. It seems to me what we're dealing with here in Incubus are accents. This is something the vast majority of Esperanto speakers will probably never overcome. Think of those who have learned English that you know. They probably don't pronounce English perfectly. Think of actors like Arnold Schwarzeneger, Jackie Chan, Desi Arnaz, Gerard Depardieu, and Marlene Dietrich. Hell, half the actors in Hollywood do not speak English correctly. Esperanto is a second language to everyone and everyone will not speak it perfectly. But it seemed to me that the majority of Incubus' dialogue was spoken correctly. The thing to note in it should be how naturally the actors speak Esperanto. This film is an absolute treat for E-o enthusiasts. Aside from Gattaca, this is the only film one will hear it spoken at any length. It is definitely the only film entirely in this language. For those who want to practice E-o comprehension this is a gem. Some will disagree, but it's been my experience that even the most seasoned E-o speaker will make mistakes yet the need for comprehension will remain. Dealing with accents is just a fact of life with any language.
17 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :- Uncanny, 11 May 2001 Author: (michael.e.barrett@worldnet.att.net) from Universal City, TX
It is correct to compare this independent, low-budget, black-and-white atmospheric horror film with others of its decade, such as "Carnival of Souls" and "Night Tide," and it's also correct to compare it with Bergman, since there is clearly a touch of "Seventh Seal" here and possibly a bit of "Virgin Spring" and "The Devil's Eye." But I'd like to point this out: the most obvious comparison people make is with "Persona" because of the strikingly composed "sister" shots, which evoke the famous profile compositions of Bergman's movie, yet "Persona" was made a year later, in 1966! ("Hour of the Wolf" was made three years later, in 1968.) Therefore, while we can say Leslie Stevens and Conrad Hall were influenced by Bergman, it's also reasonable to suppose that since this film played at the Venice Film Festival, Bergman might have been influenced by "Incubus"!The awkward moments--I'm thinking especially of the last scene--create a rare accident that only occurs in low-budget films. The effects are so obvious and ludicrous that you're half-inclined to ridicule the scene with an "Oh, come on!" Yet at the same time, what it's trying to get across is so inherently disturbing that you also feel the frisson of real horror. It's a kind of accidental alienation effect. This state of conflict in the viewer's mind--half pitched out of the spell and rejecting what we see for what we know, and half shocked into ghastly conviction--this frame of mind is where is the uncanny takes effect.
13 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :- Esperanto?, 25 February 2005 Author: TheatreX from Louisville, KY
OK, let's first scare away all the non-adventurous types by saying this film is in Esperanto with Subtitles, and it's from 1965 and in black & white. It does have Captain Kirk in it but he's too busy trying to master Esperanto to emote very much, I guess. OK, having said that, this was quite a nice surprise, because after all I've heard & read about this I wasn't expecting it to live up to the 'hype' but I guess it does. The atmosphere of this is always eerie and creepy, the basic story line is a struggle between good and evil, as two evil sisters, one of which gets her kicks from luring men into the sea and drowning them, set their sites on Marc (Shatner). He's squeaky clean with a heart of gold and "defiles" one sister with his goodness, therefore the evil Incubus is summoned forth. Sounds weird, eh? Well, it is. But it's also pretty much a pleasant surprise to fans of horror, even though it's pretty tame. In watching it I didn't realize that Leslie Stevens had a big part in the making of this, and I heard recycled music from the old Outer Limits TV series that had me wondering until I saw the credits. And this does have the feeling of some of the Outer Limits episodes, just kicked up a few notches on the Strange-O-Meter. And Esperanto? It's an "artificial" language, at one time it was thought to be destined to be a "universal" language, thankfully THAT didn't happen, but it lends an extra dash of weirdness to an already weird movie. See it, it's great, you'll be glad you did, if you have a sense of adventure.
12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :- lost surrealist classic..in Esperanto, no less!, 26 June 2006 Author: Raegan Butcher from Rain City, Pacific Northwest
I was quite amazed at how good this film was. It reminded me very much of the surrealist films of Jean Cocteau.Who would have guessed that Leslie Stevens was the equal to Cocteau, or Bergman, for that matter! The whole weird aspect of it being in Esperanto ( the language of the future--oops!)only added to the atmosphere. The black and white cinematography by Conrad Hall is gorgeous. The imagery is consistently impressive and strange. This movie casts a spell upon you while viewing. Quite haunting. William Shatner and the rest of the cast acquit themselves well with the ropy Esperanto dialog. Well worth watching. A must for cinema buffs. Remember: this is the ONLY film shot completely in Esperanto....the language of the future (oops!)...but as I mentioned earlier, that aspect is the least interesting thing about the film. The dialog might as well have been in Russian or Italian or Japanese, as far as I was concerned; the subtitles seemed to make sense, So i assume they were an accurate translation. But what impresses is the rest of the film; the dreamy atmosphere of other-worldliness...the composition and framing of every scene is expressionistic in the extreme. I loved it.
9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :- Didn't know this was in Esperanto when I rented it!, 2 April 2004 Author: scarletminded from San Diego, CA
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
May contain spoilers.This should be a must view, since it is the only film I know of that is in Esperanto. Other than the language, which gives the movie a dreamy quality, the acting is good and it reminds me of older horror films and Bergman, movies where the plot was conveyed through dialog and emotions with less action scenes. The plot is about a female demon who is cursed by the love of a good man. It is a very interesting idea that evil could be hurt by kindness and it still rings true today and doesn't look dated. It is more watchable than a Bergman film too.The DVD has a lot of extras like commentary and interviews, which make the film more fun. I love knowing how films were made and this one had to have a second script written so they could show it to the people they were renting the church from! Also, there are creepy stories about murder and suicide post shooting, which make it all the more horrific when you watch it again.Incubus is one of those rare gems that you have to see for many reasons. I am glad SciFi helped restore it.
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