A film we've discussed here in the past (but outside the window of what we still have rotating in the remnants of our archives), THE FOOL KILLER (1965) is one of those obscure, exceptionally intriguing titles that was barely released at the time--part of the trailing edge of noir in as it diffused in the 1960s. Copies of it have been scarce ever since it was briefly available (there was a VHS release, but still no DVD).

A Gothic backwoods tale of a young boy's dark adventures in a sinister rural landscape, THE FOOL KILLER owes a certain something to THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, but it has its own unique essence in large part to director Servando Gonzalez and cinematographer Alex Phillips Jr., imported from Mexico by the esteemed arthouse producer Ely Landau (who also masterminded the production of THE PAWNBROKER during the same timeframe).

The print available at YouTube (link below) is a somewhat murky transfer of the VHS, but the wonderful news is that there is now a restored print that made its way to TCM last night as part of the TWO FOR ONE series. Legendary director Joe Dante, who saw the film during its blink-it-and-it's-gone release, has been its champion ever since and he was on hand with Ben Mankiewicz to (rightfully) sing its praises.

The conversation between Joe and Ben is also up on YouTube (which covers both films in the TWO FOR ONE--the first being, appropriately enough, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER). To focus on Joe's remarks on THE FOOL KILLER, start that video at around 9:18.