WITCHCRAFT 16: HOLLYWOOD COVEN 2017 (TUBI)

This is the 16th sequel to the series that started back in the late 80's!!

I believe and hope that this is the final one as they never seem to climb out of mediocrity. This one does manage to change a few things up however.

The plot to this one involves all the people who have been making this series of films as we discover that the movies have been made in order to let Satan and his minions take over the world.

I will admit that it's an interesting twist, but it doesn't help that the acting is terrible and the movie plods along. I watched this just to say I did, and it was a waste of 72 minutes.

The ending leaves things open for another film, but so far none has been made. That is a good thing. If you're a fan of these, then you might want to see this, if you haven't already.

All other steer clear.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Beverly Washburn is 82, and Terry Kilburn is 99.

RIP UDO KIER 1944-2025

One of the most prolific actors in films has passed away.

Kier's career lasted almost 60 years and he appeared in over 280 movies and TV shows around the world.

He appeared in every genre imaginable, but really stood out in the horror and action genres. Some of his most notable movies include "Mark Of The Devil", "The Salzberg Connection", "Flesh For Frankenstein", ""Blood For Dracula", "The Story Of O", "Susperia", "Barb Wire" and "Critical Mass", just to name a few.

His roles in later films were always wild an eccentric, but the always stood out. They don't make actors like Udo anymore.

Udo Kier passed away on November 23, 2025 at the age of 81.

BLACK WIDOW 1955 (MYSTICAL POPCORN)

Pretty good murder mystery filmed in gorgeous color.

Van Heflin stars as Pete Denver, a writer who is married to an actress named Iris (Gene Tierney). One night, after Iris has left for a business trip, Pete goes to a party given by and friend of theirs.

At this party hosted by Carlotta Marin (Ginger Rogers), Pete meets a very quiet young woman named Nancy Ordway (Peggy Ann Garner) and she becomes infatuated with Pete.

Pete is either too stupid or too nice to tell her to knock it off. One night she is discovered dead in Pete and Iris' apartment. First called a suicide, her death is later called a murder based on new evidence from Detective Bruce (George Raft).

Pete is considered a prime suspect in her death and he must fight to prove his innocence and to save his very life. There are some very good plot twists here and Heflin is very good as the man who is on the run.

The movie works very well and I found myself very absorbed in the plot. The cast is excellent and also includes Reginald Gardiner, Virginia Leith, Otto Kruger, Skip Homeier, Bea Benaderet and Hilda Simms.

The ending has a twist you might see coming, but who cares...it's a good movie and I recommend it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Debra Lamb is 62, and Beth Phoenix is 45.

THE BURNING COURT 1962 (SINISTER CINEMA)

This interesting French production is based on a story by American John Dickson Carr.

This may seem like a horror film from the opening scenes involving witchcraft and such, but that isn't the case.

The film is actually a murder mystery with some very, very light horror overtones. Several people gather at an old castle for the reading of a will. There are a lot of twists and turns in this complex mystery from director Julien Duvivier.

The story certainly isn't original, but it is presented well and the cast handles everything fine. It was filmed in Germany and financed in France and Italy.

The mystery gets tighter and tighter as the plot progresses and it comes to a satisfactory ending. If you're looking for something different, this isn't the film to see. It IS the film to see if you're looking for a well made mystery.

The cast includes Nadja Tiller, Jean-Claude Brialy, Perrette Pradier, Edith Scob, Dany Jacquet and Walter Giller.

The print I have is completly uncut as several times it switches out from the dubbed version to French language which means the missing scenes that were not dubbed have been put back in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Franco Nero is 84, and Jeannie Bell is 82.

SOME LAPSE OF TIME 1965 (SINISTER CINEMA)

Very well done episode of the series "Out Of The Unknown".

Ronald Lewis stars as Dr. Max Harrow. He is awakened from a nightmare by a phone call about a mysterious man who has been found near his home.

The tramp that has been found is discovered by Harrow and the other doctors to be suffering from effects of radiation poisoning and he speaks in a bizarre language no one can understand.

Harrow also notices that the tramp looks just like the man in his nightmares that keeps pursuing him. While the tramp is treated at the hospital, Harrow becomes so involved in trying to find out more about him that he starts to lose his grip on sanity.

This is one of the best episodes of the series that I've seen and it works very, very well. The ending is somewhat odd, and it might disappoint some, but it's fine in my opinion.

Sinister has been turning out a few of these episodes and all of them have been enjoyable. This was the best so far. I won't try and explain the ending, I just think you need to see it to appreciate it.

The rest of the cast includes Jane Downs, Richard Gale, John Gabriel, and Delena Kidd. RECOMMENDED!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Scarlett Johansson is 41, and Margaret Markov is 77.

MARK OF SATAN 1957 (SINISTER CINEMA)

More Mexican horror from director Chano Urueta.

This is a weird mixture of Mexican horror and several musical numbers thrown in for good measure.

The main plot revolves around a quiet little town that is suddenly thrown into terror when a strange killer starts doing in victims with a very large axe.

The brother of one of the victims arrives in town to find the killer and is met with supernatural horror he never expected. There are several great scenes of the giant axe coming out of its case and looking for victims!!

I don't want to give too much away here, but this is a good film that also includes walking corpses and a slight bit of comedy in a couple of scenes. As I mentioned, it's a weird mixture.

This movie is rather obscure and hard to find and I was very glad to see Sinister Cinema put out a beautiful subtitlled edition for the masses to see.

The cast includes Luis Aguilar, Floe Silvestre, and Pasqual Garcia Pena.

This is recommended to horror fans looking for something a little different.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Nicollette Sheridan is 62, Juliet Mills is 84, Nikki Bella ia 42, Deborah Shelton is 77, and Brie Bella is 42.

THE CRYING WOMAN 1933 (SINISTER CINEMA)

A very well done early Mexican horror film.

This is, of course based on the famous Mexican legend that films such as "Curse Of The Crying Woman" were based on as well.

The plot concerns a family that is under a curse. The curse is that any child who reaches four years old will be killed by the vengeful spirit of the "wailing woman".

The spirit is of a woman who killed her child and then herself. The family must fight and free itself from what seems to be an eternal curse.

I love Mexican cinema and this movie did not disappoint. It's well done for what it is, and everything keeps the viewers attention right up until the final scene in the climax, which you may or may not be expecting.

The print is subtitled into English and overall the print quality is very good. I was glad to finally see this film after hearing about it for years, and it makes excellent viewing this time of the year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Bo Derek is 69, and Mie Hama is 82.

DEVIL'S ANGELS 1967 (MGM)

This is a quickly made follow-up to the very successful "The Wild Angels".

Roger Corman produced this AIP film written by Charles Griffith and directed by Daniel Haller.

The plot is very simple. A motorcycle gang called "The Skulls" is a very violent one and is kicked out of a small town in the west. Their leader is named Cody (John Cassavetes) and they all follow him to another small town that is having a carnival.

The Sheriff, played by Leo Gordon warns them to leave town in the morning and not to cause any problems. Very soon they are accused of raping a young woman named Marianne (Mimsy Farmer). The twist is, she doesn't accuse them, but the mayor and other townfolk do.

The sheriff releases Cody from jail because he has no evidence. Cody and his bikers are escorted out of town, but come back with 200 other bikers and teach the town a lesson it will never forget.

Cody hates all of the violence and leavs the gang and heads down the roda by himself in a very downbeat ending.

This is a pretty good film which I did enjoy, but it isn't for everyone. The rest of the cast includes Beverly Adams, Wally Campo, Russ Bender, Russ Cavell, Marianne Kantor, Salli Sache and Nia Bonet in her film debut.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Meg Ryan is 64, Ted Turner is 87, and Lorna Maitland is 82.