Horror Cult Classic

Five pint-sized maniacs crash a winter retreat and turn luxury into a killing ground.

DEVIL TIMES FIVE

1974 · 01:28:00 · R · Horror

Five extremely disturbed, sociopathic children escape from their psychiatric transport and are taken in unwittingly by a group of adult villagers on winter vacation.

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Quick Answer

What is Devil Times Five about?

Devil Times Five is a 1974 American horror film directed by Sean MacGregor about five sociopathic children who escape from a psychiatric transport and terrorize a group of adults at a winter retreat.

Key Facts

Director: Sean MacGregor
Writers: Sandra Lee Blowitz, John Durren, Dylan Jones
Release: 1974
Runtime: 1h 28m
Genres: Horror
Also Known As: Riivatut, Tantrums, The Horrible House on the Hill, Cinq fois la mort, Kleine Teufel, Devil Times Five

The SassyFlix Take

Devil Times Five serves up a twisted holiday getaway where the guests are picked off by a gang of pint-sized psychopaths. Sean MacGregor's only known directorial outing gleefully upends the adults-in-peril formula, with graphic and inventive deaths—including a delightfully nasty bath-time piranha attack. Sardonic, offbeat, and still rarely seen, it's a cult sleeper with real bite.

From the Vault

Because sometimes the most dangerous guests wear mittens.

Why Cult

Killer Kids Horror

The film centers on five disturbed children who bring terror and mayhem to unsuspecting adults, subverting the usual horror power dynamic.

Inventive Violent Setpieces

Expect graphic and creative death scenes, including the infamous piranha-in-the-bath sequence, as the carnage unfolds.

Sardonic Morality

The film delights in serving up ironic justice to a cast of decadent snobs, all with a darkly comic sense of satisfaction.

Rare Cult Sleeper

As the only known film from director Sean MacGregor, this seldom-seen gem offers a unique blend of psychological tension and exploitation flair.

About This Film

This quirky psychological thriller involves a quintet of weird kids who stumble into the luxurious winter retreat of a wealthy patriarch (Gene Evans) and his arrogant guests. Little do the effete vacationers realize that the children are escapees from an asylum for the criminally insane -- a fact they realize only after their doom has been sealed. The only known film from director Sean MacGregor (released theatrically as People Toys), this is a seldom-seen but thoroughly satisfying horror sleeper with a sardonic sense of morality, taking great delight in knocking off Evans' circle of decadent snobs in graphic and innovative ways (one guest is joined in the bath by piranhas; another is pummeled with chains in a creepy still-photo montage). Known also to some drive-in venues as The Horrible House on the Hill, no doubt as part of a double-bill with Wes Craven's Last House on the Left.

Film Details

Director Sean MacGregor

Writers Sandra Lee Blowitz, John Durren, Dylan Jones

Themes & Keywords

psychological thriller sardonic morality killer children psychopathy revenge luxurious winter retreat secluded vacation home sociopathic children wealthy patriarch decadent snobs piranhas bath

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Devil Times Five about? +

Devil Times Five follows five sociopathic children who escape from a psychiatric transport and wreak havoc on a group of adults at a secluded winter retreat.

When was Devil Times Five released? +

Devil Times Five was released in 1974.

Who directed Devil Times Five? +

Sean MacGregor directed Devil Times Five.

How long is Devil Times Five? +

Devil Times Five has a runtime of 88 minutes.

What genre is Devil Times Five? +

Devil Times Five is a horror film.

Where can I watch Devil Times Five? +

Devil Times Five is available to watch on SassyFlix.