Based on the exploits of Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein (the same real-life murderer who was the inspiration for Norman Bates in "Psycho"), this is a true cult classic, but fairly overrated if you ask this critic.
Like Bates, the character of Ezra Cobb (Blossoms) has a mother fixation. After she passes away he digs her up and brings her home, along with a few other graveyard corpses for good measures. He then starts killing women he's sexually attracted to, including a local widow and a barmaid.
Yep, this fellow is obviously "deranged," hence the title.
This film is famous for being one of the first ever to feature make-up effects by Tom Savini, and gruesome effects they are. Blossoms is terrific and quite likeable as the Ed Gein figure and the film does have some nice, creepy atmosphere to it. Still, the film is slow-moving and would only be of interest to hardcore fans of the genre.
I don't get why some people seem to like this movie. I don't see one thing this does well that a lot of other movies don't do better, without the boredom and the "Dragnet"-meets-an-industrial-safety-video narration. The best reason to see it is that you can find it on a double-disc with the hilarious "Motel Hell".
Rank this film on a '666 scale' of one to six (left to right). Based on 2117 votes.
