Exoticalot
People are voting emotionally.
SnoReptilePlenty
Memorable, crazy movie
Konterr
Brilliant and touching
Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
Zebb67
Von Beeber obviously worked very hard in making this film, spending years coming up with completion funds. A tenacious filmmaker he definitely is. And he uses some interesting techniques, particularly the documentary within the film and he sticks close to accuracy, though he seems to borrow some elements from legends about The Family that likely aren't true, apparently taken from Ed Sanders sensationalistic book that preceded the more accurate Helter Skelter (the animal sacrifices for one -- these people and their leader loved animals more than people and according to Helter Skelter Manson berated a family member for even killing a bug). The main problem is there is a definite fetishistic quality to the film in the way it wallows in orgies and more so the extremely bloody murders. It seems to be made (at least in part)for voyeurs with an unhealthy interest in the Manson Family and its murders. For such a low budget, underground film, the acting overall is pretty good though. Basically, proceed with caution.
stamatikokotas
Drugs, Too Many Drugs, Going Absolutely Insane, Disturbing. Not recomemded for any setting after you have watched this movie you feel like the guy in "A clock work orange" like your sick from watching a movie. It's not A stupid movie it's just disturbing. I actually wish someone would have told me not to watch this movie. But I watched the whole thing. Do not watch this movie if you do not like disturbing images.I guess it's educational it influence's an anti drug use message.The Acting is Good convincing i sometimes think if the actors actually experimented with the drugs referenced in the movie. because there high seem's genuine. The acting is entertaining. the story is educational. But I can't recommend it If you want to watch it it's on you.
krugstilo-1
THE MANSON FAMILY really is a work of art, and I rarely use that term. It's a savage, carefully made, justifiably violent mix of docu-crime film and '70s drive-in aesthetics. The strange thing is, I've seen low-budget films made for five or six million that look like garbage compared to THE MANSON FAMILY, and, if I'm not mistaken, all told, THE MANSON FAMILY cost less than two million. The editing is nothing short of mad genius. The effects are always convincing - and again, I've seen movies with much bigger budgets whose effects aren't half as real-looking. The acting is fine and, if T&A's your thing, the flick has gobs and gobs of nudity. Contrary to most reviews, I found it more beautiful than disturbing, although I completely agree with director VanBebber - the Manson family slaughtered virtually defenseless people like cattle and should never be viewed as some "hip" counterculture icon. I've always been a huge fan and proponent of VanBebber's work, ever since the early '90s when I purchased a VHS copy of DEADBEAT AT DAWN. It saddens me that VanBebber's script for a TOOLBOX MURDERS remake wasn't used (the ultimate Tobe Hooper remake was laughable and forgettable). I'm glad Phil Anselmo helped VanBebber get THE MANSON FAMILY finished. And, personally, I feel directors such as Tarantino should throw VanBebber a few million and just let him do whatever he wants. If I were in, for example, Tarantino's position, I'd write VanBebber a check and tell him, "Do whatever you want. Don't worry about paying it back, either." Jim VanBebber's a visionary and THE MANSON FAMILY is wholly unique and shouldn't have been so difficult to fund and finish. I'm eagerly awaiting VanBebber's next movie.
sith-lover
I compare the style of this movie to Rob Zombie's "House of 1000 Corpses" or "The Devil's Reject's". There's plenty of blood and gore to go around. It's also gets two thumbs up for the nudity and strong sexual content. The movie was very coherent and clearly expressed the mood of The Manson Family at the time from their perspective. A group of young adults got caught up in acid-induced orgies and created their own religion and reality during the hippie movement. Over time, Charlie brain-washed them into thinking he was a deity and they (the family) his disciples. The documentary style of the movie may be a deterrent for main-stream movie goers.
