It's fair to say that a LOT of cheesy horror films were made in America in the 1970s, and this is one of them. It's a so-bad-it's-good piece of entertainment for sure, and not even a horror film really despite the title and plotting; a guy has weird dreams, but the on-screen horror element is kept to a bare minimum.

Instead this feels more like a softcore thriller, with a bizarre lead role for Peter Carpenter, who seems to be channelling the spirit of Tom Jones (or he wishes to, at least) for the most part. Carpenter plays a nightclub singer (the musical scenes are excruciating) who hooks up with a femme fatale, played by the frequently topless Dyanne Thorne. Thorne, of course, is notorious for her role as ILSA, SHE-WOLF OF THE SS, and she proves to be a statuesque and arresting presence in every scene here.

POINT OF TERROR has much in common with the psycho-thriller genre that flourished in the wake of Hitchcock's PSYCHO. I was particularly reminded of the excellent Hammer film, A TASTE OF TEAR. However, the execution is so cheap and cheesy that it's impossible not to laugh at the thing, despite the best intentions; that twist ending in particular is a real hoot. B-movie lovers will delight in it.

The point of terror is now in the middle of my brain, a senseless migraine as a result of 50 minutes of occasional yelling and screaming between two different couples; one man a pop singer in tight pants and a red fringe cape, and an older, apparently rich man in a wheel chair with a harpy wife who somehow ends up with the singer, leaving his own wife. At least that's how I saw it in this mess of a sexual thriller that attempts to throw in some supernatural nonsense involving demons either in dreams or in the film's supposed reality. I don't know. I was too frustrated to care.

This just never grabs the opportunities for a believable, conceivable story, and just gave me a reason to toss out this DVD that was a part of the Millcreek "Pure Terror" collection. Perhaps the acid trip survivors of the early '70's got it, but the only thing I got was ripped off. Peter carpenter survives with his dignity, if not his pants, on, but the acting by the blonde bimbo harpies is something that makes Patty Duke's braying in "Valley of the Dolls" seem calm in comparison. Their acting is even more bellowing than some of the early John Waters films which are at least fun watching. This was just hideous from the opening scene.

I am not sure what the point was, and I am not too sure about the terror except for maybe that one scene.

Tony Trelos (Peter Carpenter) is a "Tom Jones" style singer at The Lobster House. He is eyed by Andrea Hillard (Dyanne Thorne) of National Records. She is married to Martin (Joel Marston- an Eric Roberts style actor) who is in a wheel chair. She is constantly cheating on him and is upset he is always spying on her because he suspects her of cheating-go figure. Oh yea, love triangle with the daughter (Lory Hansen) who is finally introduced when the film is two thirds over.

Available on multi-packs. Not worth the time to watch.

Guide: sex and nudity (Dyanne Thorne aka Ilsa)