The Cinema of Transgression 1979-1993
Where Evil Dwells (1985)
Duration: 28:33 minutes
THIS FILM WAS INSPIRED BY AN ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT SHOCKED THE AMERICAN NATION IN 1984: RICKY KASSO, LEADER OF A GANG OF "SATAN TEENS" IN NORTHPORT, LONG ISLAND, KILLED A FRIEND BY STABBING HIS HEAD AND NECK WITH A KNIFE 17 TIMES AND FORCING HIM TO SAY "I LOVE SATAN" DURING THE KILLING. TOMMY TURNER AND DAVID WOJNAROWICZ RESPONDED TO THE MEDIA FRENZY THAT CONDEMNED SATANISM AND REAVY-METAL BANDS AS THE NEW SUBURBAN THREAT TO SOCIETY BY BEING IN A MOVIE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE MATERIAL WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE IN TOMMY TURNER'S APARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE FILM'S SUBHEADING, Where Evil Dwells IS A "TRAILER" COMPOSED OF THE 8MM TAPES THAT COULD BE SAVED. THE FILM'S CENTRAL CHARACTERS STARRING ALONGSIDE RICKY KASSO (TOMMY TURNER) ARE THE DEVIL CLAD IN A PRIEST'S VESTMENT (JOE COLEMAN), A HOWDY-DOODY VENTRILOQUIST DOLL, AND JESUS (ROCKETS REDGLARE). CONSEQUENTLY, THE LOCATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, HIGHWAY AND PARK ARE HEAVEN AND HELL. IN AN ABSTRUSE FASHION Where Evil Dwells TAKES US THROUGH THE A TO Z OF CULTURAL IMAGINARY AND CONFRONTS IT WITH THE PRESENT: MYTHOLOGICAL-CHRISTIAN AND MEDIA-BASED NARRATIVES, HIGH AND POPULAR CULTURE INTERFUSE. THE SEQUENCES ARE BACKED BY AN ECLECTIC SOUND COLLAGE: TRACKS BY ACIDC OR WISEBLOOD MELD WITH ORGAN SOUNDS, VOICE-OVER AUDIO TRACKS BLEND WITH MUSIC. Where Evil Dwells COUNTERACTS THE STRINGENT NARRATIVE OF THE NICE SUBURBAN KID, WHO WINDS UP WITH THE WRONG GROUP OF FRIENDS AND, ON BEING EXPOSED TO MUSIC THAT GLORIFIES VIOLENCE, CANNOT HELP BUT TURN INTO A KILLER, WITH REFERENTIAL, VISUAL AND ACOUSTIC OVERKILL.
RESOURCES:
David Wojnarowicz in UbuWeb Sound
THIS FILM WAS INSPIRED BY AN ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT SHOCKED THE AMERICAN NATION IN 1984: RICKY KASSO, LEADER OF A GANG OF "SATAN TEENS" IN NORTHPORT, LONG ISLAND, KILLED A FRIEND BY STABBING HIS HEAD AND NECK WITH A KNIFE 17 TIMES AND FORCING HIM TO SAY "I LOVE SATAN" DURING THE KILLING. TOMMY TURNER AND DAVID WOJNAROWICZ RESPONDED TO THE MEDIA FRENZY THAT CONDEMNED SATANISM AND REAVY-METAL BANDS AS THE NEW SUBURBAN THREAT TO SOCIETY BY BEING IN A MOVIE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE MATERIAL WAS DESTROYED IN A FIRE IN TOMMY TURNER'S APARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE FILM'S SUBHEADING, Where Evil Dwells IS A "TRAILER" COMPOSED OF THE 8MM TAPES THAT COULD BE SAVED. THE FILM'S CENTRAL CHARACTERS STARRING ALONGSIDE RICKY KASSO (TOMMY TURNER) ARE THE DEVIL CLAD IN A PRIEST'S VESTMENT (JOE COLEMAN), A HOWDY-DOODY VENTRILOQUIST DOLL, AND JESUS (ROCKETS REDGLARE). CONSEQUENTLY, THE LOCATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, HIGHWAY AND PARK ARE HEAVEN AND HELL. IN AN ABSTRUSE FASHION Where Evil Dwells TAKES US THROUGH THE A TO Z OF CULTURAL IMAGINARY AND CONFRONTS IT WITH THE PRESENT: MYTHOLOGICAL-CHRISTIAN AND MEDIA-BASED NARRATIVES, HIGH AND POPULAR CULTURE INTERFUSE. THE SEQUENCES ARE BACKED BY AN ECLECTIC SOUND COLLAGE: TRACKS BY ACIDC OR WISEBLOOD MELD WITH ORGAN SOUNDS, VOICE-OVER AUDIO TRACKS BLEND WITH MUSIC. Where Evil Dwells COUNTERACTS THE STRINGENT NARRATIVE OF THE NICE SUBURBAN KID, WHO WINDS UP WITH THE WRONG GROUP OF FRIENDS AND, ON BEING EXPOSED TO MUSIC THAT GLORIFIES VIOLENCE, CANNOT HELP BUT TURN INTO A KILLER, WITH REFERENTIAL, VISUAL AND ACOUSTIC OVERKILL.
RESOURCES:
David Wojnarowicz in UbuWeb Sound