Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off

About This Movie

Running Around Like a Chicken With Its Head Cut Off is an intriguing early work from Les Blank that carries a raw, student film aesthetic. Shot during his time at USC, it features a palpable homage to Bergman's The Seventh Seal, which clearly left a mark on Blank's cinematic aspirations. The pacing is loose, giving it an almost experimental feel that lets the viewer breathe in the atmosphere. Performances by Gail Blank and Pieter Van Deusen have a certain unrefined charm, adding to the film's distinctive character. The practical effects are minimal but effective, allowing the thematic undertones of life and death to emerge organically.

This short film is relatively scarce, with only a few circulating prints available among collectors. Its preservation by the Academy Film Archive in 2013 has increased interest, particularly for those who appreciate early works and Blank's development as a filmmaker. As an early student piece, it offers unique insights into Blank's influences and those formative ideas that shaped his later more polished works.