Messiah of Evil

Messiah of Evil is a 1974 American supernatural horror film written, produced, and directed by Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck. It stars Michael Greer, Marianna Hill, Joy Bang, Anitra Ford, Royal Dano, and Elisha Cook Jr. Its plot follows Arletty Lang, a woman who travels to a remote coastal town in California to find her missing artist father Joseph; upon arrival, she finds herself in the midst of a series of bizarre incidents.

Shot in 1971 but not premiered until December 1974, the film was released throughout 1975 under several titles, such as Return of the Living Dead, Revenge of the Screaming Dead, Night of the Damned and Dead People. Largely overlooked upon initial release, the film later developed a cult following and underwent a critical reappraisal, with praise directed towards its surrealist, dreamlike tone and elliptical plot.

Husband-and-wife team Huyck and Katz went on to direct and write Howard the Duck. The duo had previously co-written American Graffiti and later wrote Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.