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‘A nice place to visit… but no place to live.’
Welcome to Arrow Beach is a 1973 [released 1974] American horror film directed by and starring actor Lawrence Harvey who died of stomach cancer on 25 November 1973. Stuart Whitman, Joanna Pettet, John Ireland and Meg Foster also star.
The film has also been released as Tender Flesh; And No-One Would Believe Her; Deranged and Cold Storage.
The film opens with the following written statement: ‘There is a witch’s tale that once a man has eaten human flesh, he will do it again. And again. And again.’
A hippie girl wandering on a California beach is taken in by a Korean War veteran who lives in a nearby mansion with his sister. The girl soon begins to suspect that the mansion is home to some very strange goings-on involving murder and cannibalism…
Reviews:
“The film simply doesn’t know what it wants to be. It’s a horror movie that forgets it’s a horror movie. I haven’t seen a picture change its way as much as this without Ray Dennis Steckler’s name on the credits.” Hal Astell, Apocalypse Later
“A good film could be made about a psychopathic recluse who has a chamber of horrors in his house where he cuts up and eats people. And of course it was made. By Tobe Hooper. That same year. On the other hand, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre doesn’t have a theme song sung by Lou Rawls, so maybe it evens out.” Marxo Grouch, Plate O’Shrimp
“Starting with a long shot of a nudist beach sets the pervading theme of voyeurism. This is then added to other interesting themes … sleaze, murder, madness and mayhem! Trust me, this movie is never boring.” Jon Kelly, Slasherama
“An unpleasant but absorbing horror film that has acquired a modicum of cult status.” John Elliot, Elliot’s Guide to Films on Video
“ …inept and distasteful.” Variety, 15 May 1974
Cast and characters:
- Laurence Harvey as Jason Henry – Night Watch
- Joanna Pettet as Grace Henry – The Evil
- Stuart Whitman as Deputy Rakes – Deadly Intruder; Tales from the Darkside; The Monster Club; Guyana: Cult of the Damned; Ruby; Eaten Alive; The Cat Creature; Night Gallery; Tender Flesh; Night of the Lepus
- John Ireland as Sheriff Duke Bingham – The House of Seven Corpses; Satan’s Cheerleaders; Incubus
- Meg Foster as Robbin Stanley – They Live; The Lords of Salem; Haunted: 333
- Gloria LeRoy as Ginger
- David Macklin as Alex Heath
- Dodie Heath as Felice
- Altovise Davis as Deputy Molly
- Elizabeth St. Clair as Head Nurse
- Robert Lussier as Deputy Lippencourt
- Jesse Vint as Hot Rod Driver
- Tony Ballen as Pharmacist
- John Hart as Doctor
- Andy Romano as Bryant
- Florence Lake as Landlady
Filming locations:
5 February to early March 1973 in Santa Barbara, California, USA
Release:
The original UK cinema release featured the full uncut print. Warner Brothers later relinquished the rights and it was then picked up by Brut Pictures who heavily re-edited it by around 15 minutes, removing most of the cannibalism elements. At the time of writing, is yet to achieve a legitimate DVD release.
Buy VHS: Amazon.com
Buy VHS: Amazon.co.uk
IMDb | AFI | Horrorpedia rating **
Image credits: Classic Horror Film Board | Wrong Side of the Art!
