4K UHD Review – Deranged

What a time to be a horror fan in 1974, with two features using the gruesome story of Ed Gein and his special shut-in nightmare to fuel cinematic endeavors. Of course, there was "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," transforming the Gein tale into an adrenalized survival story, becoming an enduring classic that's still capable of shocking viewers to this day. And there's "Deranged," which is a more direct take on the Gein saga, welcoming viewers to the horrible tale of "The Butcher of Woodside" and his descent into madness and murder. While a polar opposite viewing experience from "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," "Deranged" has a distinctly creepy tone as directors Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsby try to visit the ruined mind of the main character, moving carefully into extra dangerous and demented behavior. There's excellent atmosphere in the offering, which successfully delivers a case of the creeps while dramatizing some of Ed Gein's more heinous activity for drive-in audiences. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com