Point of Terror

Though marketed as a horror movie, "Point of Terror" is better described as a prototypical erotic thriller (i.e., skin is bared; people are killed). Star Peter Carpenter is Tony Trelos, a struggling singer who meets Andrea (Dyanne Thorne) while sunbathing on the beach--her beach, as it turns out. Andrea is quick to forgive Tony his trespassing, especially if it will lead to more intimate invasions, her paraplegic husband Martin be damned. ("Martin is a wheelchair," Andrea snarls to her drinking buddy Fran.) She catches his show down at Lobster House, where, on a stage that looks like a tin foil cave, Tony pelvic thrusts his way through a craptastic pop anthem (his entire act, apparently). Lucky for Tony, not only does Andrea have an ear for pelvic thrusts, that paraplegic husband she despises owns a record company. She's more than happy to help Tony realize his dreams of becoming a third-rate Tom Jones if he'll help alleviate her sexual frustration. Tony eagerly obliges. Sure, he has a girlfriend, but she meekly steps aside when Tony explains how Andrea can advance his career ("You don't know what it's like to want to BE SOMEBODY.")Inevitably, things get complicated. Martin not-so-accidentally drowns in the same pool in which Tony and Andrea had athletic sex just hours earlier. Things are further complicated when Andrea's beautiful blonde--and bland--stepdaughter Helayne (Lory Hansen) shows up at her father's funeral. Well, you can pretty much guess where this is going, and the movie goes there, then goes a little further.When I first saw "Point of Terror" -- on a rented copy of a "Horrible Horrors" disk -- I felt too guilty to fully admit to its pleasures. It was cheesy fun, sure, but for the most part I thought it was primarily of interest to those who wanted to see Dyanne Thorne before she achieved her She Wolf infamy. But the movie stuck with me, and I began to realize it was so bad it was wonderful. I didn't just want to see it again -- I had to own a copy. By this time "Horrible Horrors" was out of print, but fortunately my desire to return to the "Point of Terror" coincided with Scorpion Releasing's returning the movie to the DVD market.So what brought me back? Thorne is still a big draw to be sure, but Carpenter brings plenty to the table, too. Daytime TV handsome and almost as talented, Carpenter--who also co-produced and shares a story credit--really throws himself into the role of Tony. Not content to just bare his soul, Carpenter also bares his body, be it wearing tiny white swim trunks or, in a couple instances, nothing at all. Thorne, on the other hand, is swaddled in turtlenecks for most of the movie, though the top-heavy vixen's rack does get a scene stealing moment when Carpenter helps her out of her bikini. Speaking of scene stealing, Leslie Simms is priceless as Andrea's alcoholic friend Fran, providing some genuine comic moments. Adding to the (intentional) comic relief, albeit less successfully, are a bartender and barmaid at the Lobster House who trade sexual innuendo while perpetually drying glasses.The disk's meager extras include a phone interview with Dyanne Thorne, who sounds so sweet it's hard to believe her name's synonymous with Naziploitation, and an on camera interview with Leslie Simms, who recalls working with the late Peter Carpenter on this movie and "Blood Mania." She also seems determined to shoot down any gay rumors regarding Carpenter (news to me), and in the process succeeds only in starting them. According to IMDb, Carpenter died in 1971; Simms puts his death in the early '80s. Personally, I think the 1971 date is correct. Carpenter was clearly too ambitious to bow out of the movie business after only a handful of films.Though pointless and terror-free, "Point of Terror" is awesome for the over-the-top performances of its stars; the sleazy storyline; Alex Nicol's direction that reaches for the stars while never quite touching the ground; and the abundance of early '70s kitsch. In short: a camp classic.

All of the marketing materials for Point of Terror sell the movie as a horror film. This couldn’t be much further from the truth, unless lounge music gives you jump scares. Instead it plays like a drama with some thriller elements, with tension ramping up toward the close. The movie is more fun than it should be, thanks to Peter Carpenter’s signature style performance. Carpenter has such an odd presence in movies and its a shame he didn’t make more than he did. Point of Terror moves at a nice pace, but this is not wall to wall lunacy or action. The film has some slow stretches, but its hard to get bored with terrible lounge music and Carpenter’s strange performance. But if you come into Point of Terror with horror in mind, you’ll be disappointed. Visit my site for a full review!

If you know what you're getting and don't expect much horror 'Point of Terror' is a REALLY fun movie! It's a classic 'bad' 70s movie that is a TREASURE TROVE OF CHEESE for cult movie fans! Lots of unintentionally hilarious dialog, bizarre dream sequences, jaw-dropping outfits, charmingly awful music and overwhelming psychedelic color schemes. This is uniquely 70s retro strangeness! The print for this edition is excellent so you can easily see all of the weird textures and details. Give this one a chance if you're a fan of 'bad' movies. It's constantly hilarious!

Bad lounge music (is there any other kind?), huge wigs, hammy acting--with some toplessness thrown in. The opening is emblematic of the movie as a whole.

Peter Carpenter delivers a fine performance in both acting and singing in this movie. Sure would like to find this film's motion picture soundtrack? For the short time that Peter was here he left a legacy of talents as vocalist and actor. This is a 5 star film in my opinion and it's filled with excellent musical sounds and sights of the early nineteen seventies nature back drop scenes and fashion.

love these nostalgic 70's movies - GREAT dance moves man !

WORST MOVIE IVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE DAMN LIFE 😹Cry laughed the whole time though.

This is more like an early-70's soap opera with nudity and some blood. The true story about tragic star Peter Carpenter (who only starred in four films) is much more interesting than the film itself.

Demons long lost in the depths of the mind come out to destroy the weak and believing!This is the strapline for this Crown International release and it doesn't make any sense at all. It certainly doesn't have anything to do with this flick.Tony Trelos ( real life singer Peter Carpenter) is a lounge singer. He has a pretty good voice although his material is pretty crummy.He is relaxing on a beach when up pops a pneumatic blonde ( Dyanne Thorne of Ilsa fame) who engages him in conversation.She just happens to be the wife of a wheelchair bound music industry executive and Tony senses a chance to further his career.This is the premise then for "Point of Terror" which really should be called "Point of Mild Concern" because there is no Terror.It plays out like an episode of Columbo without Peter Falk.However I did enjoy the psychedelic vibe of the film.Not great by any means but an amiable way to spend 90 minutes.

Point of terror is a must see for lovers of the demented blood mania with the same actor Peter Carpenter. I think it's one of the best Crown international pictures, but beware : It's NOT a horror film, more or less a crazy thriller/soap exploitation. Go on imdb for more informations about this strange, sometimes experimental flick who can only be made in the 70's. About the dvd : The copy is fine, don't expect Bluray quality but that's ok, I think scorpion releasing is another winner for give us wonderful grindhouse exploitation gems !

Point of Terror follows the exploits of struggling lounge room singer Tony Trelos, starring real life singer Peter Carpenter who goes about furthering himself in the company of older women's beds. His main conquest is Dyanne Thorne, yes Ilsa herself here playing the wife of supposed big-time music biz producer who likes to sleep with the talent, not that Tony / Peter has any, but hey this is a trash movie.I enjoy such trashy flicks so long as they are well executed and memorably trashy, which sadly this one isn't. Most of the picture features our singer at The Lobster Lounge replete with baking foil backdrop, oh yes I kid you not this is a cheap movie, and possibly the most memorable trapping.Of course Dyanne has a topless scene in a swimming pool, but she is not the object of titillation as seen in her Ilsa incarnations, but she is certainly every bit the bitch.The horror elements are scarce and not very horror, seen as dreams which assail the frustrated singer and the whole picture fails to resonate on any thematic level at all.Perhaps Peter Carpenter has a fan out there somewhere?