Teenage Strangler

TEENAGE STRANGLER-1964-This once obscure made in West Virginia slasher movie gained a new audience when TV viewers saw it on an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000.

A small town is terrorized by a killer who strangles women and leaves a red cross on their foreheads. Jimmy Walton (Bill Bloom), a member of the local hot rod gang "The Fastbacks" comes under suspicion because he keeps sneaking out to meet his girlfriend Betty (Jo Canterbury) who was eyewitness to one of the murders. It seemed the killer was wearing a Fastbacks leather jacket. At their local dive Mickey's, a girl sings a weird song called "Yikes Stripes" after mentioning Peter, Paul and Mary, The Beatles and the Chad Mitchell Trio! Another Fastback member Curly starts trouble bullying a nerd. The hard nosed police Lieutenant Anderson (John Ensign) investigates lectures the teens, argues with the adults and does seem to care despite his gruff exterior (and lack of acting skills). The school janitor Mr. Wilson hangs around too but nobody suspects him. Most of the acting is bad but top acting honors go to John Humphries as Jimmy's little brother Mikey who whines and cringes constantly every time he's on camera. Much of Jimmy's trouble seems to involve a bike Mikey stole but Jmmy got blamed for. According to his father the family had to move to a new town because of it! Jimmy and Curly have a hot rod race where Mikey gets slightly injured and Curly is suspected of the murders. Of course Mr. Wilson is the culprit, a former teacher ruined by a student's accusations.

TEENAGE STRANGLER is hilariously inept. I've never seen so much bad acting in one movie! Director Ben Parker may have made a few other movies and shorts but it seems none of the cast ever acted again. The music is by Danny Dean and The Daredevils. Originally called TERROR IN THE NIGHT.