In the realm of folklore and myth, there are countless tales of curses that have plagued individuals and communities throughout history. One such curse that has captured the imagination of many is the Curse of the Seartas. Said to originate in ancient times, this curse is said to have devastating consequences for those who dare to incur its wrath. According to legend, the Curse of the Seartas was cast by a powerful sorcerer who was wronged by the people of a small village. Enraged by their actions, the sorcerer summoned dark forces and unleashed a curse that would haunt the villagers for generations to come. The curse was said to bring forth misfortune, despair, and ultimately, death to all those who had wronged the sorcerer.
Okay. I know I’m stretching the “Vampire Week” theme with this SOV ghoul bash, but after reviewing the fellow SOV, “legit” vampire flicks Jugular Wine (1994) and Tainted (1998) . . . for me, these three films just go together, as result of them appearing alongside each other on the shelves of my local 10,001 Monster Video—the one regional mini-chain brave enough to carry Larry Buchanan’s Doors boondoggle Down on Us, the GG Allin document Hated, and the entire line of ’80s mail-order SOVs.
Scarecrow monsters, stupid teenagers, wrinkly ghouls with goofy voices, coin artifacts, ancient rituals, a sentient statue monster that feeds on shredded corpses, and a dumb teen sword fights the fat, old ghoul-boss, who looks a little like Dan Aykroyd s Judge from Nothing But Trouble. So it takes the myth of blue lights appearing at a real historical site in the city of Pueblo, where teenagers really parked their cars to make out with some claiming they were UFO s or bog lights.
The curse was said to bring forth misfortune, despair, and ultimately, death to all those who had wronged the sorcerer. Throughout the years, stories of the curse spread far and wide, instilling fear in the hearts of many. It was believed that anyone who encountered the curse would face unimaginable hardships and sufferings.
Curse of the Blue Lamps 1988
The long-forgotten Colorado-lensed regional horror flick CURSE OF THE BLUE LIGHTS is resurrected on DVD courtesy of Code Red Releasing.
The small town of Dudley’s local make-out point is nicknamed “The Blue Lights” for the sighting of the titular phenomena attributed variously to aliens and the ghosts of a century-old train wreck. One night college quartet Paul (Clayton A. McCaw), Sandy (Deborah McVencenty), Ken (Patrick Keller), and Alice (Becky Golladay) – along with would-be hot-rodders Max (Tom Massmann), Sam (James Asbury), and Bob (Kent E. Fritzell) – see the lights and decide to investigate. Wandering down to the edge of the river, they discover buried in the soil what they believe to be “The Muldoon Man”, either a statue likeness or the petrified remains of an ancient monster (named after the archaeologist who discovered it at the turn of the century before it disappeared in a tragic fire during its intended public exhibition). The septet decides to haul the ten-foot artifact out of the dirt and make some money off of it, but it disappears while they are getting a truck to haul it. The group follows the path the statue was dragged to the Sunny Hill Cemetery and the subterranean tunnels of its old crypt where they learn that the blue lights have marked the return to the area of Loath (Brent Ritter), leader of a ghoul clan whose birthright is to return The Muldoon Man back to life through the life fluids of innocent victims. When discovered, the seven barely escape with their lives; but Paul also has in his possession a small disc etched with incantations that is needed for the resurrection ceremony, so Loath sends his ghouls in pursuit. After two of their number mysteriously disappear, the survivors consult a witch (Bettina Julius) warns them of what will happen if The Muldoon Man is allowed to walk the Earth again.
One of the more ambitious regional horror flicks of the 1980s, CURSE OF THE BLUE LIGHTS has in interesting production design (particularly Loath’s dungeon), lighting, and make-up effects (courtesy of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD’s Michael Spatola and THE RESURRECTED’s Mark Sisson) what it almost thoroughly lacks in acting and storytelling. The film seems to have cast seven protagonists less for monster fodder than so as to not burden any one of the cast members with too much dialogue, with the only memorable performances coming from Ritter’s ghoul (although more than a little of his dialogue is difficult to understand with the distorted delivery) and Julius’ witch (also sometimes hard to understand). The ghoul make-up is fairly accomplished while The Muldoon Man looks a bit like the ice monster from CABIN BOY (1994), but the substance melted down from the sacrifices and funneled into the creature’s mouth looks like pork and beans (and actually is according to the commentary track). The third act throws in an enthusiastic zombie horde (the featured zombies sporting some good make-up while the rest seem consigned to the shadows and silhouettes), a police shootout (utilizing Pueblo’s actual SWAT team), and a pyrotechnic finale. The end product is no THE EVIL DEAD or PHANTASM – it’s actually more like CURSE OF THE SCREAMING DEAD with some earnest attempts at production value – but still entertaining and quite ambitious during a time when flicks like these were all but supplanted on the video store shelf with endless product from the likes of Troma and Corman’s New Concorde. Regional horror fans owe it to themselves to seek this one out and encourage the rediscovery of other examples.
CURSE OF THE BLUE LIGHTS was released on videocassette by Magnum Entertainment in both rated (92:30) and unrated (95:13) – or “Original Uncensored Version” – editions. Code Red’s progressive, anamorphic widescreen (1.66:1) transfer is the R-rated version (92:30). The gore differences are actually slight other than a dissolving head and another head crushed by the Muldoon Man (although it’s a ghoul head so don’t expect the red stuff), roughly three minutes and sixteen seconds of the difference is actually the first scene after the opening teaser which shows Paul and Ken waiting in their car to pick up Sandy and Alice from school. This scene takes place during the daytime, whereas the R-rated version cuts from the teaser to the four already in the car travelling down the road at night (the commentators mention that this scene is missing, but not why it was removed from the R-rated cut). The transfer itself probably looks as good as the 16mm-lensed production can with its underlit or harshly lit night scenes, heavy color gel lighting and smoke diffusion. The scenes shot with saturated lighting (and the climax which might even have been shot with a colored filter in front of the lens itself) are more detailed than the Magnum release as expected, and it is easier to appreciate some of the film’s production design.
The disc’s most substantial extra is an audio commentary with director Johnson and actor Ritter (who had already been working on the crew before being cast in the lead) in which the director reveals that the “Blue Lights” was an actual teenage parking area. Johnson had already cut his teeth as a filmmaker with two TV documentaries on explorer Zebulon Pike – from whom Pike’s Peak, Colorado is named – and writer Damon Runyon who grew up in Pueblo and worked on his father’s newspaper before moving to New York. At the time, he had a studio that had been a former post office package management center with large spaces that allowed for shooting the car interior night scenes on set as well as an entire cemetery set. The Victorian mansion was a happy discovery with a photogenic exterior and fully-furnished interior, and several of the major props – and lots of Kentucky Fried Chicken – were donated by locals interested in the filmmaking process. Ritter recalls the make-up process (six hours of make-up application before shooting), his aversion to vanilla-scented fog after working on this film, and fills in some information on the cast members and their subsequent careers. The disc also includes two still galleries with over a hundred and twenty behind the scenes shots, script pages, close-ups of props and set decorations, the ghouls and zombies in daylight, the production office (including some shots from an elementary school tour), and promotional images. The disc also includes trailers for JUST BEFORE DAWN, THE POLICE CONNECTION (aka THE MAD BOMBER), DEATH MACHINES, and THE VISITOR. (Eric Cotenas)
The curse was said to follow its victims relentlessly, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. It was even said that the curse had the power to reach beyond a person's lifetime, affecting their descendants and future generations. Many tales were told of individuals who fell victim to the Curse of the Seartas. These stories often recounted tragic events and unfortunate circumstances that befell those who were cursed. It was said that the curse brought forth illness, poverty, and despair, leaving those affected in a constant state of torment and misery. Some even claimed that the curse had the ability to manipulate fate itself, ensuring that no matter what efforts were made, the victims would always be met with failure. As with any ancient curse, there were those who sought to unravel its mysteries and find a way to break its hold. Countless scholars, magicians, and adventurers dedicated their lives to studying the curse and seeking a remedy. Many claimed to have discovered loopholes or rituals that could potentially lift the curse, but none were able to verify their claims. The Curse of the Seartas remained as elusive as ever, continuing to haunt those who dared to cross its path. However, it is important to note that the Curse of the Seartas remains purely in the realm of myth and legend. There is no concrete evidence to suggest that such a curse ever existed or had any real impact on people's lives. Nevertheless, the tale of the Curse of the Seartas serves as a cautionary reminder of the power of belief and the enduring fascination humans have with the supernatural and the unknown..
Reviews for "The Enigma of the Searitas Curse"
1. John - 2/5
I recently watched "Curse of the Seartas" and I must say I was disappointed. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me wondering what exactly was going on. The characters were also quite forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, the special effects were underwhelming and failed to create a sense of excitement or suspense. Overall, I found "Curse of the Seartas" to be a disappointing and forgettable film.
2. Samantha - 1/5
I cannot say enough negative things about "Curse of the Seartas". It was absolutely dreadful. The acting was wooden and lacking any sort of emotion, it was like watching cardboard cutouts deliver their lines. The story was convoluted and made no sense, leaving me confused and frustrated throughout the entire film. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy, filled with clichés and poorly written lines. I can confidently say that "Curse of the Seartas" is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Save yourself the agony and skip it.
3. Michael - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Curse of the Seartas", but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was slow and dragged on, making it difficult to stay engaged. The film lacked a clear direction and failed to build any tension or suspense. The climax was anticlimactic and left me feeling underwhelmed. While the cinematography was visually appealing, it was not enough to save the lackluster plot and weak character development. Overall, "Curse of the Seartas" was a disappointment and I would not recommend it.