Classic Horrors Club

We’ve discussed Maneaters Are Loose! (1978) in this feature, and while Maneater (1973) is similar, it at least has a scene where a tiger or two are actually in the same shot as the people. It also has a bit more plot. I wouldn’t call it a most dangerous game, but it’s a kinda-sorta dangerous game.

When their motor home breaks down on the road, two couples seek assistance from the proprietor of a nearby tourist attraction, Carl Brenner (Richard Basehart.) Brenner is a little odd, but friendly, and he and his wife, Paula (Claire Brennen) serve them a nice dinner of… no, not chicken… rattlesnake.

Nick and Gloria Baron (Ben Gazzara and Sheree North), Shep Saunders (Kip Niven), and Polly (Laurette Spang) become a little uncomfortable when the conversation shifts to being prepared for the unexpected and the first rule of survival, and even more so when Brenner states, “Men kill for pleasure. Animals kill to survive.”

When the couples leave, Brenner whispers to his two prize tigers about “the greatest hunt of all.” Then, as they’re sleeping in their motor home on land that Brenner recommended, one of the tigers peers through the window at them. The next morning, their fuel line is cut and Gloria finds paw prints nearby.

Brenner wants to awaken their desire to survive and see how resourceful they are. At dusk, he releases the tigers to hunt them and the only help they’re going to get is what they get from each other. No matter how eloquently he speaks, Brenner is a madman. There’s mention of him being fired from the circus when his cats killed somebody.

As mentioned, Maneater does a pretty good job of generating suspense. I got the feeling, though, that our heroes could have outwitted the tigers. It’s Brenner following them every step of the way that could be more problematic. Even when they think they’ve got him cornered, he’s got a henchman that surprises them.

The characters in Maneater do a little of what Nightmare did last week. They experience brief moments of real human emotion other than fear that add a layer of depth to the story. It’s more problematic here, though, because of the script’s attitude toward women. They’re just there to serve their men and have sex whenever they want it.

Gazzara’s always been a “cold” actor for me. He lacks social graces that humanize him. However, he’s the kind of man you want when you’re being hunted by tigers. He’s smart, resourceful, and can keep his companions calm when they’re staring death in the face. He’s more grounded than not only the women, but Shep as well.

The scene I mentioned early with human and animals seen at the same time is fleeting, switching to slow motion shots of Nick and Gloria running in slow motion and the tigers running at regular (fast) speed. You don’t see a way out for them, but… of course there will be one. And it’s one that will let the crazed villain have the last word.