Saturday, October 27, 2007

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats!!!!

     This is a very strange little art film that was made but never theatrically released. It floated from one dusty shelf to another for about thirty years until it was finally dusted off and released on low-budget DVD. Apparently, during those thirty years, only a handful of people got to see it, but that was enough to generate a buzz about its existence and a copy was finally located and released. 

      The story is simple yet effective. Various people happen upon an old house with a mysterious basement room containing a large four-poster bed and an odd painting hung on the wall. Anything edible that comes in contact with the bed, gets eaten, leaving chicken bones and empty wine bottles amongst the sheets. As people go to lie on this bed, they also begin to disappear. The actual digestion of whatever the bed happens to eat is shown in a hilarious way by using a glass tank where whatever is eaten is dissolved in yellow liquid, with hilarious side-splitting sound effects (it sounds like crunching on raw carrots). 

      Slowly we learn that the artist of the painting on the wall is actually still stuck behind the painting, watching helplessly as the bed chomps down on anything and everything. A guy gets his hands eaten off when he sticks them under the sheets, leaving him with skeletal hands, but for some reason is perfectly calm with no pain and has an "oh well" kind of attitude. A treasure of a movie, that successfully rides the fence between horror and comedy. A must-see for any cult fan.

     I give this film the honor of being the ultimate example of a cult film because it really was only through word of mouth that after 30 years it was able to be released. Director George Barry saw my post about Death Bed and wrote to me, saying he liked my review. I asked if I could send him a few 8x10s to autograph, and the man seriously sent me four autographed photos and a personal letter. Completely awesome guy!

7 comments:

Cultfiend said...

I, Cultfiend have been greatly honored with actual contact by George Barry, the creative genius behind the movie "Death Bed", giving thanks for the kind words I wrote about his film. I should be the one thanking him for giving us a truly wonderful and entertaining movie.

Will Bernardara, Jr. said...

George Barry is a genius. "Death Bed" is easily one of the best films of the 1970s. It's frustrating that Barry hasn't made any more films, but, "Death Bed" is superior to most directors' entire filmographies, so...

Will Bernardara, Jr. said...

George Barry is a genius. "Death Bed" is one of the best films of the 1970s.

Cultfiend said...

It's true, George is a "Cult God". He gave us a movie that completely defines what a true cult film is. He describes this movie as a message in a bottle. Cast into a sea of cinema, only to re-emerge as one of the best examples of a movie with a cult following. On top of all that, he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Since we've become acquainted, he's given me four autograph photos. How's that for a cool guy!! And no, you cannot purchase them. They're MINE!!!

Anonymous said...

We should convince George to be involved in another movie. I live near Royal Oak, MI, used to make no-budget movies on video, and having George attached to ANYTHING would be extraordinary.

Anonymous said...

Have you read Stephen Thrower's tome "Nightmare USA"? Overall, it's great, and there's some stellar coverage of "Death Bed," George Barry, etc. It's from FAB Press (pretty much anything from FAB Press is worth reading).

Cultfiend said...

Read it. Have it. Adore it.