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Horror Cult Classic

Drug-fueled terror hits the set when a maniacal director takes realism way too far.

IS THIS TRIP REALLY NECESSARY?

1970 · 1h 24m · PG · Horror · IMDB TMDB

A crazed movie director (Marvin Miller), aided by a deranged doctor (John Carradine), gives LSD to aspiring actresses before murdering them with an iron maiden in his torture chamber.

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Vault Note

Proof that realism-obsessed directors are bad for your health—and your third act.

Programmer's Pick

When your director is more interested in authenticity than your survival, it's time to check your contract. LSD, iron maidens, and an eighteen-year-old Carole Kane thrown to the wolves—this trip is a bad one, even by grindhouse standards.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is Is This Trip Really Necessary? about?

Is This Trip Really Necessary? is a 1970 American horror film directed by Ben Benoit about a crazed movie director and a deranged doctor who dose actresses with LSD and murder them in a torture chamber.

Details & Specs
Director
Ben Benoit
Writer
Lee Kalcheim
Release
1970
Runtime
1h 24m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Horror
Also Known As
Trip to Terror, Is This Trip Really Necessary?, Blood of the Iron Maiden (original title)

Synopsis

The "trip" of the title is induced by LSD, consumed by a couple of nubile film actresses at the behest of realism-obsessed director John Carradine. Hero Peter Duryea attempts to rescue the girls, but both are doomed to horrible deaths in a lovingly detailed torture-chamber set. Eighteen-year-old Carol Kane (here billed as Carole) was evidently offered no acting advice whatsoever by her veteran co-stars Carradine, Duryea, and Marvin Miller.

Why Cult

LSD-Induced Horror

The film takes a psychedelic detour as actresses are dosed with LSD before being hunted by a deranged director and his accomplice.

Carole Kane Early Role

See eighteen-year-old Carole Kane in one of her earliest screen performances, surrounded by veteran horror talent.

Torture Chamber Set

Lovingly detailed torture devices, including an iron maiden, await the unlucky cast in this movie-within-a-movie nightmare.

Meta-Movie Madness

A film director played by Marvin Miller orchestrates real murders for the sake of realism, blurring lines between performance and horror.

Questions from the Vault

What is Is This Trip Really Necessary? about? +

It's about a movie director and a deranged doctor who give LSD to aspiring actresses before murdering them in an elaborate torture chamber.

When was Is This Trip Really Necessary? released? +

Is This Trip Really Necessary? was released in 1970.

Who directed Is This Trip Really Necessary?? +

The film was directed by Ben Benoit.

How long is Is This Trip Really Necessary?? +

The runtime is 84 minutes.

What genre is Is This Trip Really Necessary?? +

It is a horror film.