Grindhouse Double Shock Show: The Brain Machine (1976) / The Astral Fiend (1977)

A grindhouse double shock show!

The Brain Machine (1977, Color): A group of volunteers take part in a top-secret experiment involving a computer that can read minds. Designed to be therapeutic, the system performs its tasks with cold efficiency. Misinterpreting the subjects' mild illusions of immortality as dangerous delusional states of denial, the system takes drastic measures to "cure" this "condition" by initiating an extermination program. As scientists race to destroy the computer, shadowy agents from the darker corners of government insist at gunpoint that the experiment run its course to the inevitable bloody conclusion.

Starring James Best, Gerald McRaney, Barbara Burgess, Gil Peterson; Directed by Joy N. Houck, Jr.

The Astral Fiend (1976, Color): A psychopathic serial strangler is convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Despite his deranged mental state, the killer masters a unique form of astral projection and uses his occult powers to escape. A subsequent rash of "invisible stranglings" has policemen chasing shadows, as victims are murdered by unseen hands right before their eyes. Beleaguered detective Charles Barrett must set a trap to snare the astral maniac before he can kill again. Starring Stephanie Powers, Elke Sommer, Sue Lyon, Robert Foxworth, Alex Drier; Directed by John Florea.

THE BRAIN MACHINE: A powerful U.S. Senator desires the freedom of thought to be his and his alone. He will put the thoughts he wants others to think into their minds so as to maintain a pure society. To this end he is supporting government funding of mind-control experiments. Four subjects are chosen to participate; they can hide nothing. When deaths occur the scientists rush to remove the trapped human guinea pigs and become trapped themselves.

THE ASTRAL FIEND: An unseen assailant stalks and kills women in this B-movie. A felon, convicted of murdering his mother, sits in his cell, either brooding or studying. Finally, he discovers the secret of turning himself invisible, and uses his power to escape. Once he is out in the world again, he begins to kill a series of women one by one, each a witness at the trial where he was convicted. A detective is assigned to protect the remaining witnesses and find the strangler. But how can he possibly catch a man that he can't even see'