John Durren, an actor and writer active in the 1970s, contributed significantly to the cult cinema landscape with his work in films like The Roommates (1973) and Devil Times Five (1974). In The Roommates, he not only showcased his acting skills but also penned the screenplay, blending his talents seamlessly. Durren's portrayal in Devil Times Five further solidified his presence in exploitation cinema, where he navigated the dark themes typical of the genre. His diverse roles in these films highlight the gritty charm of 1970s grindhouse cinema.
Devil Times Five
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.
