The curse of the headless horseman is a popular folk legend that originated in Sleepy Hollow, a small town in New York. According to the legend, the headless horseman was a Hessian soldier who lost his head during the American Revolutionary War. The Hessian soldier was said to have been decapitated by a cannonball, and his body was buried in an unmarked grave in Sleepy Hollow. It is said that the headless horseman rises from the grave every night, searching for his lost head. He is said to be a terrifying and menacing figure, often depicted riding a black horse and carrying a glowing pumpkin in place of his head. The legend of the headless horseman has been told and retold in various forms over the years, including in Washington Irving's famous short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
Film / Curse of the Headless Horseman
Curse of the Headless Horseman is a 1972 horror film written by Ken Riche and by John Kirkman.
Mark Callahan (played by Marland Proctor), a young physician, was just informed by his family’s attorney that his uncle died, leaving him a ranch. The stipulation of the will is that Mark has to get the ranch to turn a profit in six months or he loses the rights to the property. So Mark, his hippie friends, and his fiancée Brenda (Claudia Reame) head out to the old place to check it out. It turns out that the old ranch is a more of a Wild West theme park, complete with gun-toting re-enactors. The ranch also comes with a creepy old caretaker and semi-professional doomsayer named Solomon (B.G. Fisher) who tells a creepy (yet totally vague) tale about a headless horseman.
One of the hippies gets an idea about how Mark can turn the old ranch into a tourist hotspot by having themselves perform for the entertainment of tourists. No sooner is this plan put into action then a headless horseman shows up terrorizing and bringing about the deaths of some hippies. Who is this mysterious headless messenger of death? Is he a supernatural being from Hades or does this joker just want to scare the Mark and his friends off the property for some other reason?
The legend of the headless horseman has been told and retold in various forms over the years, including in Washington Irving's famous short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". In the story, Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher, becomes the target of the headless horseman's curse as he tries to win the affections of Katrina Van Tassel. As Crane is chased by the headless horseman through the dark woods, he eventually disappears, leaving only his horse and hat behind.
Tropes:
- Accidental Murder: The Horseman is attempting to scare Mark's friends off the ranch. This results in two deaths: one girl runs in front of a van while trying to flee from him, and another—who is high on LSD—seems to just drop dead after being splashed with blood (it's possible that she suffered a drug induced heart attack but, like almost everything else in this movie, it is never made explicit).
- Advertised Extra: Ultra Violet receives top billing. She appears in one scene as a foreign noblewoman looking to buy the ranch: a scene that has no bearing on the plot.
- Altar the Speed: Mark and Brenda are putting off getting married until he finishes his medical degree. Towards the end of the film, Mark suddenly decides that they should get married immediately and they are married by the local Justice of the Peace in the church at the western theme park.
- Antagonist Title: The Horseman is a ghost who haunts the ranch that Mark inherited, and seems to be intent on driving Mark and his friends off the land.
- Blood Is the New Black: The Horseman splashes blood from his severed head on people to frighten them. The girl who is tripping on acid responds by rubbing the blood over her body while writhing orgasmically.
- Crusty Caretaker: Solomon is the disfigured caretaker who stands to inherit the ranch if Mark cannot make it turn a profit in six months. He skulks around the ranch, spying on people and making cryptic utterances about the Headless Horseman.
- Fauxlosophic Narration: The film is accompanied by a narration that tries to sound profound, but usually just ends up weird, confused and pretentious: not helped by the fact the narration often seems to have little to do with what is happening on the screen. One sample gem:
Curse of the Headless Horseman
A hippie medical student named Mark inherits his uncle's Wild West theme park. Mark and his stoner pals move in, only to find out that a violent ghost already lives there.
Cast
Director Director
Producer Producer
Writer Writer
Editor Editor
Cinematography Cinematography
Special Effects Special Effects
Makeup Makeup
Studio
Country
Language
Alternative Titles
Valley of the Headless Horseman, 无头骑士的诅咒
Genre
Releases by Date
Sort byTheatrical
01 Jan 1972
Releases by Country
Sort byUSA
01 Jan 1972
- Theatrical PG
The townspeople believe that Crane was taken by the headless horseman and has never been seen again. The curse of the headless horseman has become a popular Halloween legend, and Sleepy Hollow has embraced its spooky reputation. The town holds an annual Halloween parade, complete with a reenactment of the headless horseman's ride through the streets. The legend has also inspired numerous films, television shows, and books, further cementing its place in popular culture. While the curse of the headless horseman is purely a work of fiction, it has captivated imaginations for centuries. The idea of a vengeful ghost in search of its lost head strikes a chord with our fascination with the supernatural and the unknown. Whether or not the headless horseman truly haunts Sleepy Hollow, the legend lives on and continues to enchant and frighten us..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Headless Horseman: A Historical Perspective"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to watch "Curse of the headless horseman" as I love horror movies, but unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The storyline was poorly executed and lacked creativity. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and it was difficult to connect with any of them. The scares were predictable and felt forced, without any genuine moments of tension or fear. Overall, the film fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for a good horror film.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Curse of the headless horseman" is by far one of the worst movies I've ever watched. The acting was incredibly subpar, and it was evident that the actors were not fully committed to their roles. The dialogue was cheesy and cringe-worthy, making it difficult to take the film seriously. Additionally, the special effects were terrible and looked like they were done on a low budget. I found myself constantly checking my watch, hoping for the movie to end. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.
3. Mike - 2/5 - As a fan of horror movies, I was excited to see "Curse of the headless horseman" but it turned out to be a letdown. The plot was unoriginal and lacked depth, and the pacing was off, with boring stretches and unnecessary scenes that added nothing to the overall story. The jump scares were predictable, and there was a lack of suspense throughout the film. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving me feeling disappointed. Overall, "Curse of the headless horseman" failed to deliver a compelling horror experience.