CLAWS OF IRON 1951 (SINISTER CINEMA)

Ultra rare Japanese horror from the early 50's.

A soldier from World War 2 is bitten by a strange ape-like monster in the jungle.

A few years after the war he is found living in a church and teaching second grade children. He yearns for his old love and wants to see her again, but she thinks he is dead and he leaves it that way.

It is discovered that when he drinks alcohol he transforms into a hideous monster with sharp claws that kills anything that gets in his way. The man is then exploited by another on what appears to be a carnival show.

This is a very odd film and one that has been almost forgotten in time. The performances are very good and the creature make-up isn't too shabby either. It's also a detective story as well as a love story about a man who lost everything in the war and knows he will never get it back.

I recommend you check this one out for something very different. I couldn't find much on this movie online, but take my word for it...it's worth seeing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Joan Severance is 66, and Stefan Arngrim is 69.

VENUS IN FURS 1969 (SINISTER CINEMA)

A very trippy movie that fits in with the time just fine.

Jess Franco directed this oddity about a jazz musician named Jim Logan (James Darren) discovers a dead body washing ashore in Istanbul and he seems to remember her from the previous night.

Wanda Reed (Maria Rohm) is her name and after a bit she seems to return to life and seek revenge on those who murdered her. Jim falls madly in love with her much to the dismay of his girlfriend Rita (Barbara McNair).

It gets really surreal from here and you never know if you are watching Jim's fever dream or reality.

The ending explains it all I guess and you'll have to watch it to find out. I don't want to spoil it. There is some excellent jazz music in here and director Franco can be seen a few times playing with the jazz band along side Manfred Mann

The rest of the cast for this lushly photographed film includes Dennis Price, Klaus Kinski, and the gorgeous Margaret Lee.

When I first saw this movie I hated it with a passion...that was back in the 80's. Flash forward to 2024 and I seem to like it a heck of a lot. Check it out.

BEAST OF BORNEO 1934 (SINISTER CINEMA)

This was an odd movie.

The story is very simple and I guess it has to be since the running time is only an hour.

A crazed scientist needs a primate to experiment on so he can prove some of his bizarre theories. He organizes an expedition to the jungle to capture one, but things don't quite go as planned.

He finds his girlfriend falling for the expedition leader and so he arranges for him to be killed by a monsterous orangutan. That my friends, is the plot.

As usual for this kind of movie, there is a LOT of stock footage of animals. There isn't much more to add to this except to say, as I always do, it's something you might want to check out, but don't expect anything great.

VENGEANCE OF DOCTOR MABUSE 1972 (SINISTER CINEMA)

Very strange movie from Jess Franco.

Jack Taylor stars as Dr. Mabuse who is using a name of Farkas. This time Mabuse and his female assistant Leslie (Beni Cardoso) along with a Frankenstein-like monster Andros (Moises Augusto Rocha) are kidnapping women and using them in experiments to perfect a mind control ray.

This movie is really all over the place and makes little sense. However, there are gorgeous women and a great jazz score to keep you interested.

The ending seems very rushed and really doesn't bring the movie to a close. Taylor does a good job with his role, but it just seemed to be missing a lot of background. The Sheriff is really odd and played like a western, which isn't explained at all.

If you're looking for a time waster, this is it. You never know, you might like it. The rest of the cast includes Fred Williams, Ewa Stromberg, Gustavo Re, Monica Swinn, and Eva Garden.

The print is in widescreen and looks very, very good. It's in German, but has English subtitles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Jenny Agutter is 72, Pamela Austin is 83, Angel Tompkins is 82, and Lucy Pinder is 41.

CAMP BLOOD 666 2016 (ALPHA)

Oh my God why did I watch this?

To be honest I watched it because of Tina Krause.

This Godawful "movie" is about a masked killer wearing a clown mask that has some magic powers. He kills a number of people while the police look for him.

A young woman named Betsy (Shoshanna Green) and her friend go looking for her missing brother who joined a Satanic Clown Cult. Good heavens what a goofy plot.

Oh well, this movie will steal 76 minutes of your life away. It's not well made and I understand there were 5 other movies in this series. I can tell you this will be the only one I ever watch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Kristie Swanson is 55, and Elaine Joyce is 79.

ALMOST HUMAN 1974 (SHAMELESS)

High powered and sometimes shocking Italian crime film.

Umberto Lenzi directed this Italian gem that stars Tomas Milian as a totally crazy small time hood named Giulio who is despised by almost everyone on both sides of the law.

After a botched bank robbery and a wild car chase Giulio is beaten up by the men who hired him to pull off the job. He returns to his girlfriends' apartment. Her name is Iona and the character is well played by the lovely Anita Strindberg.

Giulio treats her badly, but she still loves him. He gets the idea to ht the big jackpot when he and two others plan the kidnapping of a young woman named Marilu (Laura Belli). She happens to be the daughter of a very wealthy man, and Giulio wants a big payoff.

During the kidnap attempt Giulio tortures and kills 5 people and this outrages Police Inspector Walter Grandi (Henry Silva) wo never seems to be able to prove it was Giulio.

There are a lot of shocking scenes in this film, but the most shocking was the killing pf the people at a private party and one of their small children.

Milian really goes over the top in his performance and this was only one of 7 films he and Lenzi made together. The ending is a flashback to the US made "Dirty Harry" films with Grandi taking things into his own hands.

This is a highly RECOMMENDED thriller that no Italian crime film fan will want to miss.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Victoria Pratt is 54, Trish Stratus is 49, Steve Austin is 60, Rob Van Dam is 54, and Leonard Maltin is 74.

THE WAR GAME 1966 (SINISTER CINEMA)

A hard hitting docudrama that EVERYONE should see.

Peter Watkins made this chilling anti-nuke film for the BBC, ut it was so well done and shocking that the BBC refused to air it and it went to theaters instead.

The horrors of nuclear war are very well presented in this black and white movie that once seen is never forgotten. I know everyone who reads this has probably seen this movie so no deep detail is needed.

In 1966 this was shocking stuff, and it still is, even though we have had "The Day After" and "Threads". Watch this and take it all in. This is not entertainment, but education.

One of, if not the best film of it's kind ever made. Director Watkins also made the effective "Punishment Park" which is also worth seeking out. I reviewed it here a few years ago.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Milla Jovovich is 49.

RIP JILL JACOBSON 1954-2024

Nurse Sherri Martin has passed away.

The talented actress appeared in many movies and TV shows in her 30 plus year career.

Some of her movies include "House Of Usher" the 2008 version, "Instinct To Kill", "Perfect Victims", "Policewoman Centerfold" and the movie in which she debuted and made horror history, at least with me "Nurse Sherri".

She starred as a nurse possessed by an evil spirit that kills patients at a hospital. Al Adamson directed. I love that movie.

Jill Jacobson passed away on Dec. 8, 2024 at the age of 70.

RIP GABRIELLA LICUDI 1941-2022

I have just now received news of her passing.

She may not be a household name to most American movie fans, but she did have some great roles in many fims.

She appeared in such TV shows as "One Step Beyond", "Ghost Squad" and "Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater".

Her movie appearances include "Candidate For Murder" and "Casino Royale". However her most famous role was as the alien in the 1964 gem entitled "Unearthly Stranger".

The beautiful Gabriella Licudi passed away on September 18,2022...just 4 days after she turned 81.

TOYS ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN 1972 (ARROW) BLU-RAY

With a title like this, you know you're in for something bizarre.

Marcia Forbes stars as a woman/child named Jamie Godard. She has an unhealthy fixation on her long absent father and she loves the toys he bought her even more.

She gets a job in a toy store and decides to marry a young clerk named Charlie Belmond (Harlan Carey Poe). Needless to say they cannot consummate their marriage because Jamie has her issues.

Things spiral out of control to where Charlie seeks attentiion elsewhere and so does Jamie. She hooks up with Pearl Valdi (Evelyn Kingsley) who is a hooker.

Jamie decides to become what Pearl is after Pearl tells her that she knows her father. Jamie is anxious to meet her father, whom she hasn't seen for years after her mother threw him out of the house.

This sometimes complex movie ends on a shocker that is expected, but not expected...if that makes any sense. I recommend you see this little movie and decide for yourself.

Believe me, this movie is not what you'd expect. Check it out.