Dementia 13 is Francis Ford Coppola’s last poverty row production before he entered the mainstream market., and the big leagues. It was shot in Ireland, with the same crew responsible for Roger Corman’s The Young Racers. The film begins rather well but the story loses focus quickly and meanders off into the la-la land until it settles for a conventional slasher formula. Also, even at 75 minutes, it feels a bit long. But the murder sequences are surprisingly brutal and well staged. I also liked the simple yet eerie music score. The acting is mostly average. Star Trek fans will recognize actor William Campbell, who started in two popular episodes of the original TV series: The Trouble with Tribbles and The Squire of Gothos.
