The Master Would Like You to See Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge

Steve Barton   |  

Dec 30, 2011

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A truly terrible motion picture from 1966 that would have been completely unknown today had it not been the subject of a very memorable episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” in the Nineties is getting a sequel from a filmmaker who readily admits he began working on it as a dare. Only the hands of fate could insist the world be graced by Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge.

It was about a year-and-a-half ago when word first broke that a sequel to the all-time bad movie not-so-classic Manos: The Hands of Fate was in the works. It had been so long since there was any news about the project, I, like many of you I suspect, assumed that someone had come to their senses. Fangoria provides information that proves otherwise.

Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge writer/director Rupert Talbot Munch, Sr. (who will also play “Torgo” in his film) provided Fango with exclusive word on this most unlikely of sequels that will feature the return of many surviving original cast members, such as Tom Neyman as the demonic acolyte known only as “The Master”, as well as some unexpected newcomers, such as former World Wrestling Entertainment brute Gene Snitsky, former WWE diva and Playboy centerfold Maria Kannelis, UFC fighter Ryan “Big Deal” Gammo, and musician Rippin’ Richie.

But don’t expect this sequel to what is considered one of the worst movies ever to be overtly campy or ironic. Munch claims his intentions are to make the best sequel possible to one of the worst movies ever made. Plot-wise, he tells Fango…

The Master is a powerful sorcerer who gathers his wives — a polygamy cult — to propagate an army to serve the elder god Manos. The wives are ultimately stripped of individuality and converted into demonic types with supernatural strength/powers. In the first film we were given hints of The Master and his powers, but it was never actually said what he and his followers were. Vampires? No. Undead? Maybe. I figured Torgo as a named demon/satyr type and just took it from there.”

Manos mania must also be taking hold somehow. Shout Factory already released a two-disc special edition of Manos: The Hands of Fate a few months back, and Munch has spent the past 14 months working on a high definition restoration of the film for another jam-packed future (Blu-ray?) release.

There’s even a documentary tentatively titled Making Manos 2: The Sequel of Fate chronicling the shooting of Munch’s follow-up.

You can read more about Munch’s Manos madness and keep up-to-date on all of these Manos related projects at the official website of all things Manos: TorgoLives.com.

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