Bad Ronald. 1974. Reviewed by Brian Kirst
While working a slightly unrealistic concept (not that any other horror film does that, right?), more than 30 years after its inception, cult classic television film Bad Ronald still truly delivers on a sharp level of humanistic horror. Much like a male version of Carrie and the more recent Bad Reputation, Bad Ronald features a hero/villain that any person whom has ever felt a step outside the crowd (horror fans – anyone?) can truly relate to.
After accidentally murdering the sarcastic younger sister of his cruel hearted, unrequited crush, Ronald (Scott Jacoby) and his over possessive mother (legendary film and screen actress Kim Hunter) form a plan to hide him from the public eye until they can make their escape. They wall off the first floor bathroom and create a temporary living area for Ronald, pretending that he has escaped into the night. All goes well until Ronald’s mother unexpectedly dies and the house is sold by her shame faced, unsympathetic sister. The new residents of the house include three energetic sisters. The youngest of whom, Babs (Cindy Fisher), provides a new obsession for the now fairly deranged Ronald.
If you can get beyond the fact that Ronald remains undetected (and rather well fed) in a rather shallow hiding spot as the home is emptied and re-inhabited, then there is much haunting starkness to be found here. Director Buzz Kulik does a lot of effective work with sound and light – in particular a fantastically filmed revelation scene involving a focused reflection in the eye of middle daughter Althea (Cynthia Eilbacher – Valerie Bates in Slumber Party Massacre 2).
Kulik also does wonders with Jacoby who creates a character with a spookily misunderstood heart. The actresses playing the daughters, including Lisa Eilbacher(of water soaked horror Leviathon fame), are also entirely realistic. They are both believably loving and affectionately frustrated with each other. Fisher’s work as Babs is especially worth noting as she provides the sensitivity and industriousness that provides the film’s heroic backbone.
While, Bad Ronald based on a book by John Vance, is thankfully currently available from a variety on venues on DVD-R, this is one long neglected mini-classic that is definitely worthy of a more industrious, multi-featured presentation. Shriek Show, anyone?
