The overlooked horror movie that blew Quentin Tarantino away
Quentin Tarantino has always expressed his thoughts on the films he loves, highlighting one horror movie in particular that slipped under the radar.
(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Film » Cutting Room Floor
Mon 27 January 2025 1:30, UK
Quentin Tarantino has garnered equal fame for his eclectic taste in film, often directing fans toward underrated and cult classics such as Battle Royale and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Following the creation of pivotal independent films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, it became evident that Tarantino’s style was heavily influenced by the films he admired. Having worked in a video store earlier in his career, the director was immersed in a constant world of storytelling, which shaped his unique cinematic vision.
Because of this, it is no surprise that he has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the medium, often highlighting films that most people have barely heard of and sharing his love for one niche horror movie that is rarely discussed.
The horror genre has been inundated with new variations and twists on the creation of fear, with directors like Jordan Peele and Julia Ducournau injecting new life into commonly used tropes and adding new layers of meaning to their stories. While it can sometimes feel like a story that we’ve seen many times, there have always been directors who have found new ways to add their own spin, whether it be through the visual style or narrative.
But for Tarantino, there is one horror film that he loves because of one performance at the heart of the film, which is played by none other than Leif Garrett.
Devil Times Five, directed by Sean MacGregor in 1974, follows a group of five extremely disturbed and sociopathic children who escape from their psychiatric transport and are taken in by a group of unsuspecting adults on their winter holiday. It is the director’s most well-known film, with few other projects besides his sadistic take on this story.
The film has not aged well and was met poorly by most audiences, with people criticising the problematic dialogue, story tropes and chaotic production that has led to many noticeable errors on screen. However, Tarantino has maintained his surprising love for the film, highlighting Garrett’s performance in particular, saying, “Leif Garrett is the leader of these killer kids, and Leif Garrett gives an amazing performance in this film? It’s terrific and it’s really ‘f’-ed up in a big way but that’s what makes it great”.
He added: “It blew me away. I was like, wow, this is amazing! I’ve heard about it forever, because it played the drive-in circuit on the lower half of double features for years. Finally, I watched it, and I was like, wow, this is terrific!”
While it may not have resonated with wider audiences and remains fairly controversial, it just goes to show that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places. This is the true beauty of film: discovering a piece of work that, for some reason, deeply resonates with you—even if your friends or fellow film enthusiasts hold harsh opinions of it. Regardless of public opinion, you have to admire Tarantino’s unwavering commitment to championing the things he loves
Related Topics
Quentin Tarantino
 Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun chat with ET's Denny Directo about their sci-fi drama film, 'Love Me,' in theaters on Jan. 31. The two open up about the post-apocalyptic romance, where a buoy and a satellite meet online and fall in love after the end of human civilization. Kristen agrees it's a 'trippy romance' and that their roles were like a 'weird acting exercise.' Then, the pair shares what piece of pop culture they would leave behind for other worldly beings to find and piece together. Meanwhile, Kristen also opens up about making her directorial debut in 'The Chronology of Water' and Steven talks about his upcoming 'fever dream' film, 'Mickey 17.'
%23stevenyeun)
![Pax Jolie-Pitt involved in another E-Bike accident after stunt attempt [PHOTOS]](https://www.hola.com/us/horizon/landscape/6fd1e4158b3c-bkgpaxident25012602.jpg?im=Resize=(1200))
&description=Pax Jolie-Pitt involved in another E-Bike accident after stunt attempt [PHOTOS] The incident occurred as Pax took his e-bike for a ride through the city %23accident)
