Oh odd, I've always really liked this film. Of his 70s efforts, I've always this was the strongest. The acting is not great, that's certainly true--although I think Martin Speer gave a great, very natural performance.
(Some minor spoilers ahead)
But I gotta disagree on the look and feel of the film. Agreed the film is verry low budget, and you can feel these constraints at times. But overall I find there's a great pace to the film, especially once the initial attack happens. I think the characters are generally pretty believeable, as well as likeable. Especially Doug, for me--I don't know why, but that scene where he holds the hand of his dying mother-in-law after just finding his dead wife, always punctuates what I like about his character in the film. Not sure what it is about that scene, but it really sells for me.
Part of Craven's thing in this period was putting oridinary, good people through hell, and showing the audience their fall into desperation and murder.
I think this is the best and most believeable execution of that theme, and I reaaally love the punctuation of that in the end when we get that freeze frame on Doug's face. I love that climax for all the still surviving characters.
Also quite like the score, although (for me) it's the the thing that most dates the film. And I think a lot of the sound scape in general is great for setting the mood, and really selling the creepiness of the film, and it's baddies.
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