Blu-ray Review – Deranged

In America during the 1950s, serial killer Ed Gein became nightmare fuel for the nation when his horrific crimes were discovered. A seemingly mild man who murdered and skinned his victims, often wearing the peeled flesh, Gein's abominable acts of brutality launched a fascination with such severe mental disorder, inspiring numerous books and articles on the man, while his legacy was reshaped to fit the needs of the film industry, with productions such as "Psycho" and "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" taking beats from the criminal's life to inspire cinematic extremes. 1974's "Deranged" is one of the first features to really examine Gein's disease and simple-minded butchery. While it's hardly a thoughtful psychological examination looking to uncover the fiend's motivations, it does manage to convey the intensity of his existence, with star Roberts Blossom contributing fine work as the Gein stand-in, grounding the horror with unexpected dramatic sincerity. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com