Stanley

“Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?”

A Seminole Vietnam vet lives in the remote Everglades (Chris Robinson) where his only friends are snakes. When people cross him, he lets them loose for what he considers justice.

“Stanley” (1972) was inspired by the surprise success of “Willard” 16 months prior, not to mention a little “Billy Jack” (including the low budget of the latter). The contemporaneous “Frogs” and “Blood Freak” had similarities and these would influence future flicks like “Blood Stalkers,” “Squirm” and “Empire of the Ants.”

Dark-haired Pamela Talus stands out on the female front as Vicky, but her part isn’t much more than a cameo. Blondish-auburn Susan Carroll has a bigger role as Susie while Marcia Knight is notable as “over the hill” belly dancer Gloria. The latter was 47 during shooting and easily had the figure of a woman half her age.

The flick is moody and takes its time (being 12 minutes longer than “Willard”). Despite its indie budget (costing $125,000, which would be equal to $1 million today), it’s spiced with insightful bits throughout; and the early 70’s milieu is entertaining, including the music (if you can stomach it). I like how the ending cleverly psychoanalyzes the protagonist (or is it antagonist?).

It runs 1 hour, 47 minutes, and was shot in the Everglades in southern Florida with town scenes done in Miami. A few animal sequences were shot in Homosassa, which is 75 miles north of Tampa.

GRADE: B-