Bad Movie Review: Trog (Last film of Joan Crawford)

Here comes Trog. You'll laugh at yourself for being so scared...but don't laugh at Trog! We review Joan Crawford and Michael Gough in Trog (1970)
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Summary: Anthropologist Dr. Brockton (Joan Crawford) unearths a troglodyte (an Ice Age 'missing link" half-caveman, half-ape) and manages to domesticate him - until he's let loose by an irate land developer (Michael Gough) to go on a rampage and kidnap a little girl. Crawford's last feature film.
A special thanks to our Dark Cultist Patreon supporters.
Shadows - Michael Bailes, Steve Scibelli, Luke Chaston, Dan D Doty, Aidan Woodard, Hidden Trail Video, Micheal Jackson, Christie Bryden, Joseph Dougherty, Chris Hewson, David Adler, Chris Weakely, Brad Webb, Zachary Nolan, Ben Simpson, The Blue Room, Brent Beebe, Connor Brennan
Acolytes - Dave Smith, Scott Gillespie, Dark_Roast, Colleen Crouch, Kathy Shaidle, Lavaughn Towell
Initiates - Maria Gd, Melissa Hayes, Felix Weibig , Alexandra Virgiel, Stephen LaPlante, Greg Hartwick, Jim Parshall, Tim Smith, Frazer Rymph, Derek Summers, Bob de Builder, Michael Schwern, Raven House Mystery, Gadget Blues, Jakub Kabenski, Double-U, Brian Ullmark, Roop 298, Karl Bunker, Russ Chandler
Written and presented by Robin Bailes @robinbailes
Directed and Edited by Graham Trelfer
DARK CORNERS OF THIS SICK WORLD S09E33
#BadMovieReview #DarkCornersReviews #CultMovieReview

[@J_D_Sisson]

Love it when Michael Gough realises the rubbish he's in, downs a bottle of red wine, and gives it his all.

[@bloodrunsclear]

He’s waiting to become a manservant and gain some dignity

[@alexalex13131]

Gough separated himself from this movie's awfulness on pure technique. Crawford didn't have that ability.

[@drdarkeny]

"Couldn't I just play a Butler in American comedy show?"

[@tmrezzek5728]

According to producer Herman Cohen, Crawford was always on time, knew her lines, displayed no diva antics or tantrums. Like Boris Karloff, she was professional to the end. Too bad both of them didn't go out with better films.

[@h.calvert3165]

@Geoff Shaw She worked with Chaney Senior. He knew Boris. It's a sort of six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing, isn't it? 🤔

[@h.calvert3165]

They were both consummate professionals who loved their craft. I think they just wanted to work, & if this was all that was on offer, so be it. The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd, the lights, action, camera, were all still there: even in such inferior productions. It must have made them both feel young again. Bravo, Mr. Karloff. Brava, Miss Crawford. 🎬 🎞️ 🎥

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Or George Sanders

[@zebunker]

You mean according to what's said on wiki-FACTS. every review just takes what's on there as facts. She was a drunk cranky controlling beeoch.

[@floydvaughn836]

Too bad neither of them went out in better films. Really, out of respect for Boris, take pains to use English properly.

[@skylx0812]

Faye Dunaway said when she and her makeup artist studied film and photos of Crawford to prepare for Mommy Dearest they discovered that Crawford seemed to have developed the ability to mantain superior control of her facial muscles to keep her face looking taught. Dunaway said it creeped them out to realize just how intensely obsessive Crawford had to have been to practice hours on end just to develop that one ability alone.

[@homelesshannah50]

That creeped them out as opposed to what her being a despicable mother that beat her kids?!!

[@gregghill2059]

@zacthecatty35 Paul Newman did it too.

[@lindaeasley4336]

She was obsessive about appearances .Both physical and surroundings ( house )

[@nassauguy48]

Well, according to the Feud miniseries, when she was in her early 20s, she underwent a barbaric dental procedure known as the "buckal". She had all of her back molars removed so that her face would appear perpetually thinner. When she was older, she suffered terrible infections as a result.

[@GrandOldMovies]

A film where the Bad Guy is just there to be bad? That's practically a Michael Gough mid-career filmography; Including Horrors of the Black Museum, Konga, Phantom of the Opera, Black Zoo, and Berserk, the last in which he also co-starred with Crawford (and perfect for a DC review). Gotta hand it to Gough--best villainous sneer in the business!

[@gregghill2059]

He's sort of a good guy in "Dr Terror's House of Horrors". I won't spoil it by saying more in case you haven't seen it.

[@varanid9]

He may be my second favorite actor after Peter Cushing.

[@iwasanangryyoungman]

Lest we forget- he was The Celestial Toymaker in a memorable Doctor Who episode. "The Celestial Toymaker"- clad in Chinese royal robes - how uncannily prophetic!!!

[@julietfischer5056]

@@varanid9 - Horror of Dracula must have made your day, then. They shared scenes.

[@julietfischer5056]

@@iwasanangryyoungman - And then an unscrupulous Time Lord in the Peter Davison era (I think).

[@Enshohma]

I honestly can't stand the 'Man was the real monster trope' but when you have Michael Gough chewing the scenery as a totally un-redeemable scumbag with as much subtlety as King Ghidorah blowing up a city with lighting beams than I can make a willful exception. In other words, you're right, Michael Gough is the best thing about this otherwise lame little thriller.

[@varanid9]

No, I'd say the best thing was watching an academy award winning A-list actress giving her all in a B-movie. I am a longtime Michael Gough fan, though, ever since I was a kid and saw him in "Konga", so, yeah, he definitely rivals Joan.

[@nassauguy48]

He must have known Joan very well, as he also appeared in another one of her B movies when she played a circus director. A waste of his talent, really, as I remember his classic role as the Duke of Norfolk in Henry VIII and his Six Wives. (The movie, not the BBC miniseries).

[@HotDogRock]

@@varanid9 Konga is the tits! He makes a brilliant mad scientist.

[@varanid9]

@@HotDogRock yes, as in "Horror Hospital"! His presence makes even bad movies more entertaining. He was also good as President Borusa of the Time Lords.

[@HotDogRock]

@@varanid9 I'll have to see "Horror Hospital" and "Arc of Infinity". Thanks!

[@cary-benjaminportway7128]

One of the most interesting things for me about this film is seeing Olivia Newton-John's older sister Rona. She bears a remarkable resemblance and, being older when the family moved to Australia, retained her English accent more than her younger sibling.

[@SmartCookie2022]

I never knew that Olivia Newton-John had an older acting sister until now. Also in the movie is David Warbeck, a future screen-tested James Bond who lost out to Roger Moore. He'd go on to be a stalwart of many horror movies, including Lucio Fulci's The Beyond.

[@varanid9]

Trog is true cinematic greatness; I can't think of another movie that so perfectly hits EVERY SINGLE NOTE of the classic B-movie formula.

[@MarsHarmony]

"I loved you in Mildred Pierce".

[@gregghill2059]

Guessing Coca-Cola was forbidden at meal breaks.

[@floydvaughn836]

Joan was still boss at PepsiCo. And no, only Pepsi was allowed. One of her conditions.

[@DrRotwang]

Man. Back around '83 or '84, this ran on Mexico City's Canal 9. I saw it a couple of times, and I LOVED it. It was weird, the cave dude was kinda scary, it was emotional, it had a sad ending...I was 9 or 10...

[@giovannirastrelli9821]

I always said it was very sweet of Joan to give her daughter Christina the titular role of Trog.

[@varanid9]

LOL!

[@jessemonster7292]

Lmfao 😂😂😂

[@tense99]

But dont think she got that role without a good ol fashioned wire hanger beating and bathroom tile scrubbing at 3am!

[@mariakelly1059]

Be nice.

[@patmelton43]

Joan Crawford was a professional from back in the day when movie stars did not throw temper tantrums. Current stars could take a lesson from Crawford and Bette Davis.

[@julietfischer5056]

She started in silent movies. And she was damn good.

[@vivalaminion2936]

Well there are modern stars who beat their children, so the lesson may have been taught.

[@tonyarichards5430]

She just did it at home to her kids.

[@vivalaminion2936]

Professional monster...

[@l.a.gothro3999]

The man who played Trog had nothing but kind words for Miss Crawford during an interview w/John Waters that I watched a few months ago.

[@KarlBunker]

You've got to feel for the poor actor having to work all day with a face covered with pounds of makeup ... That's Joan Crawford I'm talking about, of course.

[@chloeharbin3449]

mstrsims2 no asshole it was her and she constantly had to wear makeup.

[@marienbad2]

Wow, you're funny. I bet you are just full of zingers like this. /s

[@KarlBunker]

@@marienbad2 You may be being "/s," but yes, I am and I am. Sorry if I insulted your crush, though.

[@marienbad2]

@@KarlBunker wow, you are so stunningly unfunny it is amazing. Do you have to work to be this bad at humour or does it come naturally? I doubt anyone who has achieved, in comparison to Joan Crawford, so little in life, yet feels compelled to insult her, is funny at all, ever. You just carry on trying to make yourself feel big and relevant though.

[@KarlBunker]

@@marienbad2 Wow, such passion! I'm sure Mommy Dearest is sending you ethereal kisses from beyond to thank you for defending her honor.

[@catdude5567]

I think Trog wrote a tell all book on Joan Crawford, after making the movie. Pretty sure I've seen him in Geico Ins commercials.

[@geo-george2639]

Did she beat him with wire hangers too?

[@williamcrowe2576]

"NO WIRE BONE CLUBS!!"

[@BlackAdam1231]

If you can’t “crowbar” Hitler into a movie....

[@strikeleather6503]

Trog!!!! Whats a wire hanger doing in this closet?!! Trog STOP IT!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@glenmcculla6843]

Start of career: The Unknown, alongside Lon Chaney Sr End of career: Trog, alongside Michael Gough. Nice one, Ms Crawford. No wire hangers, ever.

[@randyacuna3248]

Joan can do whatever she wants. Total respect for an all-time actress.

[@vivalaminion2936]

@@randyacuna3248 Now she's burning in hell. Good on her!

[@nelsonx5326]

All us kids went to see it in the theater. It was fine for us, we weren't so picky, give us a monster and popcorn and we were happy.

[@brianpatrick7411]

5:55 where did Trog learn how to suplex into a power slam?

[@gregghill2059]

That might have been the idea of the actor playing him, UK wrestler Joe Cornelius.

[@ryandtibbetts2962]

When it comes to actors playing guys who are just there to be bad, few can hold a candle to Cameron Mitchell.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Agreed but he can play good guys too (Love me or Leave me)

[@davidfrost2819]

What do you mean Trog re enacting a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre it was more like the other way round as Trog came out around two to four years before

[@kaocean]

Joan gives an A performance in what is barely a d level film!

[@andrewparsons2391]

Hm, 'Trog' is 'Gort' spelled backwards... maybe to control him, they just needed to say 'Utaalk Adarab Otkin'?

[@babs6244]

I sorry but I'm really lazy what does that say

[@improperbostonian6722]

Saw this one in it's premiere 1970 at the drive-in it was at it's scary best then.

[@MaximumRD]

! Suggestion: ! I don't recall if I suggested in past but you should definitely review Colossus: The Forbin Project ! 1970 SciFi / Thriller - Super Computer AI attempts world domination! Starring Eric Bradon (Among many roles Dr., Otto form Escape from the Planet of the Apes) it perfect for you guys!

[@craigpayne5500]

No, I loved Trog. I saw it when I was a kid and it scared me

[@karlfonner7589]

How can you call this a bad movie? I saw this when I was a kid and I loved it!

[@TrixiLovesYou]

Did they reuse part of one of the ape costumes from 2001: A Space Odysee?

[@geo-george2639]

Not a suspenseful premise. How could Trog ever have stood up to the formidable Joan Crawford?

[@TomMSTie1138]

Having too much fun adding, "...Mr. Wayne," to the end of all of Michael Gough's lines.😁

[@nassauguy48]

What was even sadder than the movie was the Pepsi publicity photo op featuring Joan, Trog and the little girl all sitting together holding Pepsi bottles!

[@magicskyway]

"Kill it first, then study its hide." I like that guy.

[@buzzawuzza3743]

really bad film, really funny review, keep up the good work

[@ObiWanGinobiliTopFan]

If this was the only movie ever made, it still wouldn't be the greatest movie ever.

[@Jacks_here]

The last ‘Trog!’ shout from Joan Crawford is so funny, that would definitely put a misbehaving Trog in its place.

[@l.a.gothro3999]

Trog is Gort spelled backward.

[@connorbrennan4233]

Thanks a million for finally reviewing Trog, guys. This is one I've been wanting to see for a long time now. Two things about the film bother me more than anything else. One is its pretentiousness. It acts so sentimental about the titular creature and tells me I should give him a chance when events in the film either scream otherwise or don't make sense. The second is how out-of-date it feels even for 1970. Australopithicines, now thought to be the missing link between man and ape, were already discovered years before this film was released. Also, as the review points out, nothing new is done here. I've seen some of these tropes in better movies.

[@DarkCornersReviews]

Trog murders a dog. You dont win an audience back after that. Not even Mrs Degale would go so low.

[@connorbrennan4233]

@@DarkCornersReviews Oh? I completely forgot about that. How awful.

[@michaelproctor8100]

This movie loses scientific credibility when it suggests that cave-men like Trog co-existed with dinosaurs.

[@jons.6216]

Even as a six year old kid I questioned how Joan got that hairdo across the underground pond in the cave!! ;-)

[@TomRipley7350]

I hate that Joan died with every element of her life at its lowest ebb.

[@tonyarichards5430]

Shitty woman so no sympathy for her.

[@coyoteartist]

We need an reactionary bad guy. Quick someone get me Alfred Pennyworth.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I have often wondered how Joan Crawford got involved in this mess. But for something really cringy, watch her appearance on the game show Password. It's not that she's a horrid player, but she's so damn nervous.

[@floydvaughn836]

A close second for How did I get here is Night of The Lepus.

[@UnajoyAtherfold]

Well I have just watched about Joan crawfords twins and surprised they not alive as I loved mommy's dearest with Faye dunnaway and surprised the late great joan Crawford movie a b grade one as just finished AFL film achievement bette Davis and like last commenter how come Spencer Tracy Katherine Hepburn joan Crawford Marlene deitrich never were picked even John Wayne James carney did but only 90 mins even Cary grant who picked these recipients had directors Alfred hitch David lean which incidently is British I think and John Ford Marlene and joan became recluse so watch AFL ❤

[@shadowartist8892]

The bad guy reminds me of Nigel Farage. Lol! I like him.

[@gobnaitaine2791]

I LOVE this movie, its so bad its good. Its hilarious, I know its not supposed to be but the scene with the dog.. Brilliant.

[@TheJohnnyCalifornia]

Frog was a great film for kids in the 70’s. The old black and white posters really caught your attention.

[@lindinle]

1:13 i witnessed a real world version of exactly this. My old boss said to a customer. "All my employees work here." ... verbatim. Me: "well i would hope so."

[@davidlether4917]

Enjoy your show but again your sound levels leave much to be desired movieclips very loud your review at a whisper dig it?

[@zetetick395]

The 1980 'biographical' movie of Joan Crawford "Mommie dearest" is truly nightmarish 😨

[@heidifedor]

Sounds like how Crawford raised her own kids.

[@quadropheniaguy9811]

Freddie Francis probably needed the cash🤞. He then made the vampire happening... which was even worse than this. Im being pedantic but surely Trog was made 4 years before Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Best bad guy ever is either Barry Foster in Frenzy or Malcolm McDowell in ... pretty much every movie that he made.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

I saw this on a double bill with Dracula AD1972 which I know some people will scoff at, but I love these two movies. Even though I know I shouldn’t 😂

[@marstal4913]

5:29 technically sticking a man on a meat hook had not yet been done at the time (1970), thus T.C.M. (1974) reenacted the scene from TROG, not the other way around.

[@midwestmonster9886]

Michael Gogh's movies always seemed to have men in ape costumes. Trog. Konga. Even Batman & Robin had men in pink ape costumes during the charity fundraiser scene. Michael Gogh should have had "no apes" in his contract.

[@TUPRBABE]

"If you can't crowbar Hitler into your movie, then a property developer is the next best thing." #Fair 🤣

[@rogermorris9696]

Love the sequel where a bunch of them forma a group and record wild thing and love is all around.

[@rjddurhamnc]

TROG is the best film ever made

[@lindinle]

4:09 this is like if they made a movie about that ape attack lady and made a character to be a "bad guy". The bad guy is the ape. And the naievate of the owner.

[@sgtprestonoftheyukon2423]

This movie may be bad but it's still head and shoulders above THE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS .

[@aimeeinkling]

Property developers are one step away from Hitler. I find myself not disagreeing with that for some reason. I feel like I should, but I'm just sitting here and nodding in agreement.

[@eddieboyky]

I can't decide whether Joan Crawford is phoning it in or having a blast.

[@amongusfan1998]

OH MY GOD my dad stumbled upon this movie a bit ago and I've been looking for a reveiw of this movie forever

[@Stroheim333]

Freddie Francis was a master cinematographer (The Elephant Man for example), but you can see nothing of that in this movie.

[@herbertkeithmiller]

So Trog remembers prehuman times. Just how old is he? Or is it we're all capable of remembering the distant past which renders him useless

[@seanobrien2760]

Villains just there to be villians? I'd say Luther from The Wariors.

[@NoirFan01]

Drat, no mention of the Pepsi-Cola vendor placed in the background of some scenes in the movie

[@SolarShine]

This movie was made before Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[@TeatroGrotesco]

To be fair, that was one of the most reasonable, in movie, reasons for using the old Dino footage.

[@drdarkeny]

Who ya gonna call? MICHAEL GOUGH-BUSTERS!

[@gobnaitaine2791]

I love this movie, its so bad, it's good. It's also hilarious when it's not supposed to be. Pure cheeseballs.

[@DarylWilliams-rk3zk]

The final film of Joan Crawford was Mommy dearest, not Trog.

[@AJewBag89]

Oh good lord I remember staying up late and watching this on mister vision when I was a kid...and it’s still awful lol. Great review guys.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

Not as awful as Veronica Lake in Flesh Feast which she foolishly financed with money she had earned from the sales of her autobiography.

[@Nikes62]

Can save alot of time: STINKS to high heaven. No need for a long review.

[@Kaboomboo]

Don't worry, eventually bad guy is reduced to being a butler.

[@tonyarichards5430]

Limp Bizkit recreated this at the end of one of their music videos.

[@CassandrashadowcassMorrison]

Bad movie? Troggy, Dearest? Are you MAD???

[@BusStopProductions.]

0:43 ppl, that explore caves are called spelunker not cavers

[@hudsony777]

Caver and spelunker are both correct.

[@dyejohn1905]

Still a beautiful women after 45 years in the movie business

[@HotDogRock]

Coulda used a scientific advisor on this one...

[@lindinle]

5:00 this is not what "50 worst" made it look like at all.

[@vaughangarrick]

A good sativa will make the medicine go down

[@Lodibaseball]

TROG ! NO...WIRE .. HANGERS....EEEEEVVVVVVEEEEERRRRRR !

[@thetyperpiper]

Didn't they do a parody of this called Schlock?

[@judsongaiden9878]

5:28 This came out four years before that, so maybe it was the other way around.

[@anitarichmond8930]

This was too funny

[@francescagonzalezramos9442]

Trog is The Lion King in 2019.

[@dornravlin]

Joan Crawford deserved a better movie for her last one

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Its remarkable how older actresses are always cast in horror movies... OMG! Trog is Girl!!!!

[@jasonsantos3037]

A movie about a free stork ape man going on a rampage

[@Myplop]

Yer just didn’t love her enuff

[@mcharrison23]

So...its one of those sleepytime movies

[@homelesshannah50]

You should so do Berserk another film with Crawford

[@kickinwings420]

it's like a prequel to raw head rex

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

I liked it as a kid watching on late night telly

[@sampoernaquatrain1710]

Me and my mates saw this in college on TV, and from then on certain types of bad films were referred to as "Trogs." (And not the British band, ha!)

[@tonyarichards5430]

I call them STDs. Straight To Delete.

[@ferociousgumby]

"TRAHHHHHHGGGG!!!"

[@nicks1451]

1:30 omg it's Alfred!

[@daviddevries8242]

So many good bad guys... How about Clarence Boddicker or Captain Henry Rhodes? They must have been some of the finest, no?

[@homelesshannah50]

My pick would be Bennett from Commando, I saw the actor who played him online and he still looks pretty damn buff

[@daviddevries8242]

@@homelesshannah50 Good choice. The actor who played him also played that mohawk wearing biker in Mad Max 2. Also a great villain. As was Humongous. The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!

[@silverfishimperitrix]

@@homelesshannah50 The only thing that holds him back is that ridiculous "chainmail" knit vest. Says "In gay and I'm tough," all at the same time.

[@homelesshannah50]

@@silverfishimperitrix LMAO!!!