“18 Feet of Gut-Crunching, Man-Eating Terror!” – the tagline for Grizzly, along with that killer Neal Adams poster, promises the ultimate Jaws ripoff of all time. The film is helmed by a favorite 70s director William Girdler and features Christopher George, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaekel and an 18 foot grizzly bear (well, close…). The Black Saint and Doc Rotten tackle another groovy horror film from the 1970s.
Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 31 — Grizzly (1976)
For episode 31 of Decades of Horror, Doc Rotten and the Black Saint dive into the campy, gruesome fun of Grizzly and all its gory, silly goodness. The film holds the record of being the most successful independent motion picture of 1976, a distinction it held until Halloween surfaced two years later. Along with other goofy factoids and fond memories, we learn the film holds a special place in the Black Saint’s heart as he shares watching the film with mother when the film debuted on TV a year or so later. Doc, of course, fixates on the many similarities between Grizzly and Jaws from the three main characters, the creature on the prowl story-line and the inclusion of actress Susan Backlinie. But, in the end, it really is all about that poster art. C’mon, seriously.
We want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1970s podcast hosts at theblacksaint@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
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Doc a lifelong fan of horror films, sci-fi flicks and monster movies first discovering Universal Monsters and Planet of the Apes as a young child in the 1970's searching out every issue of Famous Monster of Filmland (and, later, Fangoria). Favorite films include Jaws, The Car, The Birds, The Tingler, Vampire Circus and The Exorcist. Still a huge fan of horror films from the 70s, Doc continues consuming horror films to this day for the site, for the podcasts and for the fun of it all.
