I’m Trevor with the Sasquatch Movie Minute with a RETRO look at SORCERER, a 1977 film, directed by William Friedkin, starring Roy Scheider. Four dangerous men transport unstable dynamite across the Latin American jungle.

4.5 out of 5

What a weird, thrilling, insane film, a classic 70s grimy thriller. Its experimental; with very little meaningful dialogue, the power of the story told through its grainy imagery. We start with disconnected stories in NY, Paris, and Jersualem and the main plot doesn’t really start until halfway through the film. Then the film really starts cooking; mixing 70s auteur vision with trucks, sweat, dynamite, and criminals. It is SO dirty and genuine, the realism of the jungle is tactile, this must have been absolute hell to make. The behind-the-scenes stories of this film are legendary.

Best Scene. The famous bridge scene is a high tension masterpiece. The precarious nature of a heavy truck, tiny slats of wood, and the heaviest rainfall I have ever seen. I also love the ending; a small ray of happiness found in accepting the present before a note-perfect grim 70s finish.

Best Performance. An actor named Amidou plays a slightly insane, heavily emotional character, I absolutely loved him. He was especially good when confronting another driver over a casual murder. But also, Roy Scheider does some spectacular subtle face work in a long close-up right at the end.

This film blew me away. It combines experimental techniques with pulse-pounding tension. The worst thing about it is the title, which has no bearing on anything in the story!