Watch Just For The Hell Of It
- NR
- 1968
- 1 hr 21 min
-
4.2 (507)
Just For The Hell Of It is a 1968 horror film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis. The movie revolves around a gang of young hoodlums who seek out innocent victims to assault and rob, all for the "fun" of it. The film is notable for its graphic violence and nihilistic tone, and was once considered one of the most controversial and disturbing pictures of its time.
The film opens with a montage of the gang committing various acts of delinquency, including vandalizing a church and stealing a car. The gang's leader, named Adrien (played by Ray Sager), is a sadistic and unpredictable individual who seems to take pleasure in causing pain and destruction. He is joined by several other troublemakers, including a mute boy named Johnny (played by Rodney Bedell) and a flirtatious girl named Donna (played by Agi Gyenes).
As the movie progresses, the gang begins to target specific individuals in the community. They attack a schoolteacher on her way home from work and beat up a young couple in a lover's lane. Adrien even takes a liking to one of his victims, a shy and vulnerable girl who he toys with before ultimately betraying.
Throughout the film, Adrien's behavior becomes more erratic and violent. He repeatedly brushes off questions from his fellow gang members about why he's doing all of this, insisting that they are only "having fun." However, it becomes clear that Adrien is deeply disturbed and may be acting out of a desire to fill some void in his life.
Just For The Hell Of It features a number of brutal scenes, including several beatings, stabbings, and a gang rape. The film's raw and unsettling tone feels very different than other horror films of its time, which often relied on campy humor or classic monster figures. Instead, Just For The Hell Of It seems to be interested in exploring the darker corners of human nature, and the ways in which violence and cruelty can spiral out of control.
Despite its controversial subject matter, Just For The Hell Of It was not a commercial success upon its release. However, the film has developed a cult following over the years and is now frequently cited as one of Herschell Gordon Lewis's most impactful films. Its themes of senseless violence and youth delinquency still resonate with modern audiences, and the film's lurid style remains a potent example of exploitation cinema.
Just For The Hell Of It is a 1968 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2.