Synopsis:
After being falsely accused of murder, a man (Zalman King) on the lam seeks help from his girlfriend (Deborah Winters) and a doctor-friend (Robert Walden) in trying to discover why certain people around him — all associated with aspiring-politician Edward Flemming (Mark Goddard) — are suddenly becoming bald and psychotic.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Amateur Sleuths
• Falsely Accused
• Horror Films

Review:
Writer-director Jeff Lieberman’s follow-up to Squirm (1976) was this equally low-budget horror flick capitalizing on post-counterculture paranoia. At the crux of the story’s mystery is whether a strand of LSD known as “Blue Sunshine” — dealt years earlier by Goddard — might be having a long-delayed impact. While it’s easy to understand how such a scenario might resonate with now-straight young Baby Boomers, and King comes across as appropriately earnest:

… the actual chaos we see unfolding is, frankly, laughably low-budget.

Sure, there’s a bit of tension in terms of wondering who might be afflicted (or not), but — do we care? Well, apparently many do, since this film became a cult favorite (and is listed as such in the back of Peary’s book); however, it’s not worth seeking out unless you happen to be a fan of the director. Watch for Alice Ghostley in a bit role as a helpful neighbor.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• A quirky sense of horror-humor
  

Must See?
No; you can skip this one unless you’re curious and/or it sounds like your cup of tea. Listed as a Cult Movie in the back of Peary’s book.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TCM Article
• TV Guide Review
• Spinning Image Review