Curse of Demon Mountain

Curse of Demon Mountain (originally known as The Shadow of Chikara) is a 1977 horror film staring Joe Don Baker, Sondra Locke, Ted Neeley, and Joy N. Houck Jr. The film was written and directed by Earl E. Smith.

The story involves Confederate veterans (of which Joe Don Baker is one) finding out about a secret stash of treasure on a mountain, and seeking out to claim it. The mountain, however, is protected by forces beyond this world, and will seek out to stop anyone from trespassing and disturbing the land.

I will preface this review because I saw a really crummy (probably public domain) version of the film, so most of the atmosphere this film could have potentially created is thrown out the window.

I think that, based on what I saw on screen and what little I've read about it, real horses were probably killed in a stunt off the side of a mountain or the entire story was fabricated at some point. Either way, quite interesting.

Confederate captain Joe Don Baker and his friend, "Half Moon" get to the end of the civil war alive, and mostly unharmed. With nothing to go home to, Baker's character seeks out a purpose. Well, they set out to find a hidden cache of valuable stones (diamonds and the like). Along they way they pick up a prospector and rescue, "Drusilla", a survivor of an almost gang rape. Along the way they are are impeded by natives who are trying to protect the sacred mountain, and as they near the site, mysterious circumstances begin to befall the group. Something doesn't want them to approach the mountain.

Now the film, it's far too long, meandering, and boring. However, as I already said, if the movie had been a pristine cut, I would have probably found myself enjoying it far more.

** 1/2 out of *****