Another review compared this to _Carnival of Souls_ or the movies of Jean Rollin, and I think that is an apt assessment.
The movie is definitely running on dream logic. It's not until the third act that we get an explanation of what is happening, and even then, it feels like the writers pulled it out of their ass: "Uh, a Satanic cult of cannibals. Yeah, that's it."
I had never heard of this movie and I'm actually surprised. This is just so bizarre and artsy that it must have a loyal fanbase.
Anyway. Not much of a story going on here. I think most people would chalk this up as the weirdest zombie movie ever made, but _Messiah of Evil_ doesn't care about your feeble attend to decrypt what is going on here. Tying up loose plot threads? "Don't have time for it!" Having a story that makes sense and isn't just weird for its own sake? "Think again, Jack!"
Ultimately I did not like this. It operates in the arthouse-garbage realm of David Lynch where bad writing can pass as depth because "you just didn't get it." That being said, I get why some people would like it. If there was just a little more focus on telling a story that makes sense, I'd be among them.

**_I see "Dead People"_**

A woman (Marianna Hill) goes to the California coastal town of Point Dune to visit her artist father, but can't find him and runs into a guy (Michael Greer) and his two female companions (Anitra Ford & Joy Bang). They discover that there are mysterious and peculiar things going on in town, which eventually take a deadly turn.

"Messiah of Evil" (1973) is an American film with a misleading title; it was originally called "Dead People," which is more fitting. The flick has a haunting ambiance, effectively combining elements of "Carnival of Souls" (1962) and "Night of the Living Dead" (1968). It's on par with "Carnival" but not great like "Night," a classic horror masterpiece.

If you don't remember Marianna Hill, the doe-eyed protagonist, she was one of the most beautiful women to ever appear on the Original Series of Star Trek, specifically the episode "Dagger of the the Mind" as Dr. Helen Noel. The movie is a must for fans of Ms. Hill since she is prominently featured.

The title "Messiah of Evil" is too generic and gives the impression that the story prominently features a weirdo dark Christ-figure, but this is hardly the case. The dark messiah is ambiguous and barely featured. A more fitting title would be "Village of the Dead" or something to this effect.

In any case, many hail it as a moody horror masterpiece from the early 70s. It has a few highlights and is mandatory viewing for 60s-70s mystery/horror aficionados and admirers of the lovely Marianna Hill. Unfortunately, it's actually kind of boring and the whole "dark messiah" side of the story is insubstantial.

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Malibu, Burbank, Anaheim, Melrose, Venice and Echo Park, California.

GRADE: C+/B-