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Trailer

The Manitou

1978Movie1 h 44 minPG

Horror
43
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb5.4Letterboxd3.0/5Metacritic47–Rotten Tomatoes45%36%
43
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb5.4Letterboxd3.0/5Metacritic47–Rotten Tomatoes45%36%

Summary

A psychic's girlfriend finds out that a lump on her back is a growing reincarnation of a 400 year-old demonic Native American spirit.

Good for

  • Friends night
  • Party vibe
  • Pure escapism

Skip it if

  • Graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Cast

12 of 12

Crew

Directed by
William Girdler
Written by
William Girdler, Jon Cedar, Thomas Pope
Produced by
William Girdler
Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 28, 1978 · 1 h 44 min · PG

Released
April 28, 1978
Runtime
1 h 44 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Horror, Science Fiction
Original language
English
Made in
Canada, United States
Available in
11 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?, Character Tic, Magical Native American +9

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Manitou?"

Questions about The Manitou

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Manitou?

Shout! Factory TV

In the United States, The Manitou is free with ads on Shout! Factory TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 4 other countries.

Is The Manitou worth watching?

43
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 43 (IMDb 5.4, Letterboxd 3.0 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 45%, and Metacritic 47).

Is The Manitou okay for kids?

PGViolenceDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will The Manitou scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 9 of 10).

Is The Manitou plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (7 of 10) and spectacle (7 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

What tropes does The Manitou use?

Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?Character TicMagical Native AmericanThe Savage IndianBody SurfGod of EvilNature SpiritFantasy AmericanaMagic Must Defeat MagicThat Thing Is Not My Child!Trauma ButtonVillain Overrideand 28 more

TV Tropes lists 40 tropes for it, including Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?, Character Tic, and Magical Native American.