All films are first watches unless marked with *.
*BLOODY PIT OF HORROR (1967)
Bodybuilding champion Mickey Hargitay stars as a deranged recluse who imagines himself to be the reincarnation of an ancient criminal known as The Crimson Executioner. This delusion causes him to commit a series of rather complicated, bizarre murders of members of a film crew working in his opulent Italian castle. Strange little film has a kind of hypnotic quality to it, but is lacking in passion or any real suspense. Hargitay is a trip.
GOTHIKA (2003) Another movie I picked up at Big Lots a few years ago. I finally decided to give it a watch so I could get into the Halloween spirit. What a surprise! Very involving horror thriller with Halle Berry playing a prison psychiatrist who quite suddenly finds herself a patient in her own hospital after being accused of a brutal murder. Co-starring Robert Downey, Jr.
*INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978)
One of the rare instances when the remake is every bit as good as the original. And maybe even better. The special effects are terrific, but they don't overwhelm the story or the characters. First rate science fiction. Starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright and Leonard Nimoy. Classic cameo by Kevin McCarthy.
CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER (1974) From Hammer Films, this is a very unique and exciting take on the vampire legend. Horst Janson is the handsome, Nordic, swashbuckling hero who makes short work of some bloodsuckers who are terrorizing a village. With Caroline Munroe.
*STAGE DOOR (1937) A perennial favorite, one that I can enjoy no matter how many times I've seen it. Ginger Rogers and Katherine Hepburn are among several wannabe actresses living in a theatrical boarding house in New York City. Adolphe Menjou is the slick playboy producer who has the power to make one of them a star. Great dialogue that comes fast and furious from a once in a lifetime cast. With Gail Patrick, Andrea Leeds, Lucille Ball, Ann Miller and Constance Collier.
DOCTOR DRACULA (1978)
Schlockmeister Al Adamson took a softcore porn flick called LUCIFER'S WOMEN, did a major makeover, added John Carradine, and came up with this. Not much to recommend, but Carradine is always worth watching.
*FACE OF TERROR (1962)
Mexican horror flick starring beautiful Lisa Gaye as a sociopathic escapee from a mental hospital. She gets her disfigured face redone by a doctor who is experimenting with a new method of plastic surgery. When things start to go wrong, she flips out and goes on a murderous rampage. Good film, done with the utmost seriousness.
THE MAD MAGICIAN (1954)
I can't believe I never saw this terrific film before. Great performance by Vincent Price as the title character. Originally released in 3D. Directed by Crane Wilbur, who also directed Mr. Price in THE BAT (1959).
HOUSE OF THE BLACK DEATH (1965) This falls into the category of "missed opportunity". With genre icons Lon Chaney and John Carradine as the stars, and capable character actors Tom Drake and Andrea King in support, not to mention some striking sets and camera work, this could have been a much better film. Katharine Victor also appears.
LUTHER (2003) Another find from Dollar Tree. Joseph Fiennes gives an effective performance of Martin Luther during his rebellion against the Catholic Church and the resultant Protestant revolt. Definitely made from the Lutheran point of view. Not surprising, since the film was partially produced by a Lutheran organization.
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007) Surprisingly engaging film with a plot that could have been used as an off color comedy. Ryan Gosling is a mentally ill, repressed man who buys a sex doll and introduces her as his girlfriend. His family and friends go along with it because they love him and don't want to hurt him. Well played by all concerned.
WALERIAN BOROWCZYK: SHORT FILM COLLECTION
Another amazing find from Dollar Tree! Fourteen short films made by this French artist between 1959 and 1984. In black & white and color. Some fascinating imagery.
*ONE BODY TOO MANY (1944)
Jack Haley and Jean Parker star in this somewhat tired comedy/mystery concerning a group of people gathering in an old dark house for the reading of a will. Bela is once again the butler and has very little to do, despite his star billing.
*THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA (2001)
This lovingly made homage to the sci-fi movies of the 1950's is played very, VERY broadly. It's great fun, but might have been more effective it it had been played with a slightly more serious tone. In glorious black & white, naturally.
*IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955) Starring Kenneth Tobey and Faith Domergue. Ray Harryhausen did the excellent special effects for this monster movie. The problem is, we see too little of the sea monster and spend too much time listening to the actors talk. Not nearly as exciting as I remember when I saw it at age 12!
HOUR OF THE WOLF (1968)
Terrifying, baffling film from Ingmar Bergman. I will have to watch this a few more times to come even close to understanding it. Starring Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman.
*AUTUMN SONATA (1978)
Absolutely fascinating, devastating portrait of the troubled relationship between a mother and daughter. Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullman work together perfectly. It's a real pleasure hearing Miss Bergman speaking her native language in a film.
THE EMBALMER aka THE MONSTER OF VENICE (1965)
Another horror film that had the potential to be much better than it turned out. One of the last of the Italian Gothics, it has excellent B & W photography and some impressive sets. But the execution is dull and the story makes little sense.
*I VAMPIRI (1957) The modern Italian horror cycle begins with this stylish B & W feature from director Riccardo Freda, with much help from his able cinematographer Mario Bava, who ended up finishing the film when Freda walked off the project. Very impressive.
*THX 1138 (1971) A second watch of George Lucas' futuristic nightmare left me cold and detached. Maybe that's the point of the film! Starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasance and Maggie McOmie. Without a doubt, the whitest movie ever made.
With a line up like this your 2021 Halloween must have been very happy! You can't go wrong some of
ReplyDeletethose Universal and Hammer classics. Euro-horror is always unpredictable and fascinating. I VAMPIRI was an important early credit for the great Mario Bava. I really need to see THE BLOODY PIT OF HORROR. THE EMBALMER had everything a great Italian giallo/horror movie could ask for, yet it just kinda lays there. The Mexican FACE OF TERROR I had not heard of before, but it sure sounds like one I need to track down.
FACE OF TERROR is really good. Lisa Gaye is as gorgeous as her sister, Debra Paget, and she plays a very dark disturbed character. I must say I liked I VAMPIRI more after a second and third viewing, which happens frequently. Fantastic Bava-esque atmosphere. THE EMBALMER was indeed a disappointment, but I want to give it a second watch and see if I appreciate it more. I read my comments about IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, and I realize that I said exactly the opposite of my comments on Q-THE WINGED SERPENT, concerning old sci-fi flicks being more talk than action. I'm not sure what this says about me! Maybe my feelings fluctuate. Or maybe I just like to argue!! BLOODY PIT OF HORROR is worth seeing at least once. It's extremely weird, but more on an exploitation level rather than a real horror level.
ReplyDeleteDespite the critical drubbing I may dish out to some flicks like THE EMBALMER, I also will watch them again. They may still have settings and situations I can enjoy and I like to see if I am in a more receptive frame of mind watching them the next time. Then again, maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment.
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