For lovers of movies from the silent era to modern day with an emphasis on horror, sci-fi, exploitation, WIP, westerns and anything of the fantastic and bizarre. THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO BOB WILKINS, GEORGE ROMERO, ALAN FREED, ROGER CORMAN, HELGA LINE, CAROLINE MUNRO, JOHN FREDRIKSEN, JOHN ZACHERLE, CLEO MOORE , ROSALBA NERI, ERIKA BLANC, FEMI BENUSSI, SHIRLEY CORRIGAN, ROSANNA YANNI, MIRTA MILLER, KARIN DOR, BARBARA BOUCHET, MAMIE VAN DOREN, BARBARA STEELE and, of course, CASEY KASEM.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Sue Ann Langdon is 84, Cynthia Rothrock is 63, Micky Dolenz is 75, Kathy Shower is 67, Silvia Tortosa is 73, and Carole Bayer Sager is 73.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Monifa Jansen turned 27 on March 1st. How I missed this I have no idea.
JONATHAN 1970 (SINISTER CINEMA)
Obscure German vampire film with a unique twist.
In this movie, vampires are not effected by the sunlight so they are free to do whatever they wish. I believe this film takes place in the 17th century and since the vampires are much less effected by daylight they have slowly begun taking over everything.
A large group of vampires have become the kingdom rulers led by Jonathan (Jurgen Jung) and they use what humans remain as servants or food, or sometimes both.
A small group of humans have grown tired of this and attempt to overthrow the aristocracy. They send one young man out to infiltrate them, but he is thwarted at every turn.
I am glad I finally got to see this movie as I had only heard about it and seen a few pictures in Famous Monsters Magazine back in my youth of the early 70's. There are some genuinely shocking scenes in this film and it moves along very well.
It's brutal yet very artistic and has, at times, a very arty feel and look to it, especially scenes involving the followers of the vampire Jonathan. The film is in German language but does have English subtitles.
I have to give this film a recommendation because I enjoyed it so much and I only hope more people get a chance to see this fascinating and well made take on the vampire genre.
Friday, March 6, 2020
ASSASSINATION IN ROME 1965 (SHOUT TV)
Not too bad of a crime thriller.
Beautiful Shelley North (Cyd Charisse) is an American tourist in Rome whose husband goes missing after a few days and she become frantic to find him.
She enlists the aid of an American reporter working for a Italian newspaper named Richard Sherman (Hugh O' Brian) with whom she used to have very deep feelings for.
Sherman vows to help her and he uncovers a plot involving murder, drugs and much more. Shelley's husband is finally located, but he has been beaten and tortured and has suffered brain damage. He can really be of no help in getting to the bottom of things.
The plot thickens as Shelley's life becomes endangered as the criminals try to conceal their deeds from Sherman and everyone else.
This isn't too bad of a film and it has taken me a while to actually see it. I never did pick it up when it was available on DVD from Dark Sky many years ago.
The pacing of the film is good and Charrise is always very beautiful to look at. It's a well made crime film with some good action sequences and a lot of plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end.
I will recommend this to Euro crime film fans and anyone else interested. Shout TV offers up a fine print of the film.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Dean Stockwell id 84, Samantha Eggar is 81, Fred Williamson is 82, and Glenn Saxson is 78.
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
TALES FROM THE TRENCHES 2019 EPISODE 8 MONSTER MASH (SHOUT TV)
Nine bizarre and fun films are talked about in this, the best of the series so far.
I say it's the best because, I love monster movies and the topic here is just that.
The first film talked about is "Humanoids From The Deep" and Corman relates about how Barbara Peeters was a feminist director who shot all of the men's death scenes in graphic detail, but the raping of the women was done in shadows on the wall and such. This infuriated Corman so much that he got another director to film the scenes of the monsters raping the women where all could see.
I think the film turned out better because of this and that's simply because the film was about monsters doing just that. "Humanoids From The Deep" was a huge success for New World at the time. "Attack Of The Crab Monsters" is next and I always love listening to Corman talk about this film, as it has always been a favorite of mine.
"Night Of The Cobra Woman: is next and Roger doesn't like the film too much, but it was his production and it made money, but overall he was not pleased with the film. I however, love it to death. "Demon Of Paradise" is discussed in detail about the casting, the monster and how it came into being and how Corman wanted to avoid the cliche of "nuclear created monsters".
He then moves on to talking about another film he directed called "Creature From The Haunted Sea" and how it came about while he was making two other films in Puerto Rico at the time. We move from this to "The Nest" a great film about a super species of cockroaches. It was interesting to hear how some of the effects for this underrated film were done.
Next up is a favorite of mine that I have been unable to see for years called "Dinosaur Island". A fun film for me and I wish I could find a copy somewhere. Then he moves on to discuss two films of the many he has made for the Syfy Network. "Dinoshark" which I really enjoyed and then "Diniocroc Vs. Supergator" which is another film I really enjoyed. Corman talks about how things have changed and how he must keep changing with the times.
A great episode and probably the one most Corman fans will like the best...I know I did.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
THE GHASTLY ONES 1967 (SINISTER CINEMA)
Andy Milligan strikes again.
I love Milligan films, and yes I know just saying that to most people is enough to have me lynched, but there is an underlying "something" to all of his films that I cannot resist.
This is a very simple story about 3 couples who are forced to stay in an old Victorian mansion for three days in order to inherit a fortune that the late father of the three women has left them.
One by one they are killed in very gruesome ways, and yes, the gore effects are not well done, but some can be effective anyway. Also as with most Milligan films you see or hear many things you aren't supposed to. There is one scene where you see lots of power lines and poles, even though this takes place in Victorian times.
Milligan shot this is a very tight framework, and it really doesn't work well. The cast is not very attractive, but I admit that does add a seedy edge to the proceeding.
The opening meat ax gore killing was filmed after principle photography was finished and added on later. The ending of the film is very abrupt, which leads me to believe Milligan ran out of money. His films are not for everyone, but I do suggest you try a few just to see if you might like them, but don't start with this one.
This version is the 72 minute version. There is an 81 minute version from Something Weird which I might check out some day but I liked this one so I am in no hurry. This is not available on a single disc from Sinister Cinema. It's only available on a Drive-In Double Feature Disc paired with "Headless Eyes", and oh my God what a viewing experience that makes.
Well anyway, if you're so inclined you might want to watch this and see what a $13,000 epic filmed on State Island is like.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Sunday, March 1, 2020
HEADLESS EYES 1971 (SINISTER CINEMA)
With a title like this I knew exactly what to expect.......or did I?
I had heard a lot about this film, but never got the chance to see it, even back in the VHS days, but now in 2020, I watched it and all I can say is.....
A thieving artist breaks into a woman's apartment and tries to rob her. She fights back and gouges his eye out with a spoon. Well needless to say this sets up the entire movie.
After his recovery he becomes a psycho who stalks and kills women then uses a spoon to take their eyes and add them to his collection. According to the newspaper headline in the film he has killed at least 14 women, but what is he doing with those eyes??
This is excellent grindhouse fodder and yes, the film isn't well made and it does have a lot of faults, but it is an entertaining film and I have to admit it's never slow or boring. I mean this little diddy moves.
Bo Brundin does a very good job with his tole as Arthur Malcolm, the totally deranged artist who is also a killer. This movie has a real grimy feel to it and that is what makes it so cool. Watching this really made me feel like I was back in those old worn out theaters of the 70's.
This is not available as a single disc from Sinister. It's only available on a Drive-In Double Feature edition along with "The Ghastly Ones" which I will also be talking about here soon.
If you haven't seen this little "gem" maybe you should, or maybe I'm the one who's crazy and should be locked up. Good stuff for the grindhouse fans.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Catherine Bach is 64, Lana Wood is 74, Vitina Marcus is 83, Roger Daltry is 76, Marki Bey is 73, and Booker Huffman is 55.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
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