My Duck Is Dead

A psycho artist kidnaps models and slices up their faces to create new mutant models. 

Famous, but deranged and hence dangerous avant-garde artist Charles Butler (a gloriously ripe and plummy portrayal by Larry Swanson) kidnaps beautiful models and disfigures them for the sake of his art. 

Director Joseph Adler, working from a suitably warped script by Larry Cohen, milks the inspired sadistic premise for a good deal of seedy thrills; the bits of fleeting female nudity and mild gore give this picture a reasonably racy and seamy edge. Better still, this movie astutely nails the wackier aspects of the psychedelic 60's: The whole cutting edge pop-art scene setting, the funky opening credits montage, the wild fashions, the crazy hairstyles, the then hip, now hopelessly dated slangy dialogue, a nifty acid trip sequence, and an astounding band performing a get-down gnarly song in a happening nightclub all give this flick a certain authentically far-out period charm. 

Ross Harris makes for a likable hero as struggling aspiring artist Jason while Jim Vance gleefully hams it up as mad medico Garrison. Moreover, several lovely ladies are on hand to keep the film watchable: Eugenie Wingate as the foxy, but shrill and bitchy Janet, Suzanne Stuart as the sweet and fetching Marika, and Naomi Fink as the attractive Laura. Chris Martell's groovy free-form jazz score hits the right-on swinging spot. The nicely ironic ending packs a pretty startling punch, too. An enjoyable item.