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.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Jeff Bridges is 72, Tony Todd is 67, Max Baer, Jr. is 84,and Brooke Adams is 37.
Friday, December 3, 2021
Thursday, December 2, 2021
MANIA KILLER 1987 (FULL MOON) BLU-RAY
Man oh man, I hadn't seen this since the late 80's with a bootleg VHS.
This is also known as Maniac Killer which it what I saw it under many years ago. It's a very bizarre film directed by the infamous Andrea Bianchi.
The story centers around a cult that kidnapes women and subjects them to medieval tortures in order to purify their souls. The leader of this group is Gondrand (Robert Ginty). He has his sights set on the beautiful wife of Count Silvano (Bo Svenson) and he will stop at nothing to get her.
There are various scenes of sadistic torture of women and everyone but the victim seems to be having a good time. These scenes are over the top, but should come as no suprise considering the director.
Chuck Conners also stars as a doctor who is experimenting on making people immune to death, but what this has to do with the rest of the film is a loss to me except he is a prime suspect in the various kidnappings of women.
The film itself is very disjointed and sometimes confusing as if the film is trying to meld two different stories together. I do admit I like this film a lot. Bianchi also brought us "Strip Nude For Your Killer" and the never to be forgotten "Burial Ground". As in all Bianchi films, there is one character who stands out the most and in this case it's Matthieu (Francois Greze).
Once seen, this character is not forgotten. He is the village simpleton who collects animals for the doctor to experiment on. The Blu-ray presentation is very good, and I am pleased that Full Moon decided to release this obscure gem from Eurocine.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
RAMBLINGS....
My goodness, another year is coming to an end.
That means that I'll be doing a coundown of what I considered to be the best of 2021. It was a somewhat lackluster year, much like 2020, but there were indeed some standouts.
Some of the companies with top releases include Sinister Cinema, Severin, Warner Archive and many others.
The countdown stars Saturday Dec. 18th.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
RIP ARLENE DAHL 1925-2021
A screen legend is gone.
Arlene Dahl started her screen career in 1947 with an uncredited role in the film "Life With Father". She got bigger roles the next year in "My Wild Irish Rose" and "The Bride Goes Wild".
In 1949 she played the beautiful Madelon in "Reign Of Terror". She is tortured in the film by actor Charles McGraw and the scene was an eye opener in 1949. Another great film was "Slightly Scarlet" which was a classic film noir made in color.Her most famus role for genre fans was in the 1959 classic "Journey To The Center Of The Earth". The gorgeous red head also appeared in TV shows like "Burke's Law", "Love American Style", "Riverboat" and "Laugh-In" to name just a few.
She retired from acting and started her own business called Arlene Dahl Enterprises which marketed lingerie and cosmetics.
Arlene Dahl passed away on Nov. 29th, 2021 at the age of 96.
STATE OF EMERGENCY 2011 (TUBI)
I discovered this on Tubi and it ain't too bad.
This Kentucky filmed thriller focuses on 4 people in a small town fighting for their lives after an explosion at a chemical factory turns some people into crazed, flesh eating zombies.
The film is partially told on flashback so the viewer is filled in on everything as the movie really starts in the middle of the crisis. The film builds slowly and I have read a lot of reviews saying that it needs more action and gore. I disagree.
There are some great scenes of tension as our hero JIm (Jay Hayden) is alone after the death of his girlfriend and trapped in a horse stable. The music is very well done too, and adds to the building horror.
The film will remind fans of 28 Days Later and The Crazies, but then very few films are original anymore. This is a winner in my opinion and with a cast of unknowns, it works even better.
The ending is much different than anything else I have seen in the zombie genre, and to me that works well and is refreshing. I suggest you check this out if you like zombie horror.
Monday, November 29, 2021
THE GOLDEN LADY 1979 (REEL VAULT)
Interesting and forgotten action film.
A big business man hires a beautiful woman named Julia Hemingway (Ina Skriver) and her associates, which are all women, to sabotage an important deal being made by another company.
The women spy and seduce some of the men in the company and then steal the secrets. However, when their employer threatens a double cross, there is hell to pay.
Jose Ramon Larraz directed this film and he handles it well, but it is widely known he hated it. The action sequences are well done, and the women in the film are all very lovely, as was usual in the 70's.
This film was touted as a story about the "Female James Bond" but that is a bit overblown. The rest of the cast includes June Chadwick, Anika Paval, Suzanne Danielle and Stephan Chase.
The theme song is sung by The Three Degrees and Nina Carter and Jilly Johnson also apprear. Who are they you ask? The group known as Blonde On Blonde. A 70's mjusic lovers delight.
This film is a good and still undiscovered gem. Give it a try..you might be suprised.
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Saturday, November 27, 2021
BATTLE BENEATH THE EARTH 1968 (WARNER)
This bizarre film has an interesting history with me.
Back in the mid 70's I used to see this listed in TV Guide and their snmall little description made me really want to see the movie. I kept missing it for one reason or another until one night I finally got my chance.
I was highly disappointed as I was a monster crazed kid. The opening of the film built my hopes up high, but all were dashed soon enough. However, after seeing this film as a much older person, I appreciate it much more.
Kerwin Matthews stars as Commander Jonathan Shaw. He is called into a case in Las Vegas of a scientist who has been arrested and put in an asylum after he claims to hear noises underground that sounds "just like ants".
The scientist, Arnold Kramer (Peter Arne) is convinced that something is happening beneath the surface of the USA, but nobody believes him...until there are several disasters that seem to confirm his case.
The Army is sent in and they find a huge series of tunnels that the Red Chinese are using to plant atomic bombs under all of our major cities. The military and scientists use their brains and defeat the Chinese who are under the control of General Chan Lu (Martin Benson).
This is an interesting little film that has been trashed by many over the years, and I believe that is because many kids had my experience with the film when young. It does leave an impression, believe me.
Anyway in these later years I liked the film much more and found the entire thing just very bizarre, but fun.
Friday, November 26, 2021
MONSTER ISLAND 2019 (ASYLUM)
Ugh...what a waste.
Hey, the title caught my attention so I figured I'd give it a whirl. My mistake.
Two people discover a giant starfish monster that has magma for blood. The monster rises to the surface and heads for the coast. What coast you ask? Who the hell cares?
It lays eggs from which come flying dragon-like monsters that spit lava. Soon, another monster comes to life as well and this movie leads you to believe there will be an epic battle. However, the epic battle is staying awake during this drivel.
I usually find Eric Roberts to be an interersting figure in movies, but here he sucks. It's amusing to see him in the wrong uniform and badly needing a haircut as he protrays a Navy "commander".
Good God, if this is what film making has become we movie fans are in trouble indeed. Granted, it's made by The Asylum, but even they have done much better than this trash. For heavens sake avoid this if at all possible. I lost 89 minutes of my life and you needn't suffer the same fate.
Typically bad CGI effects, rotten acting and no direction at all and it adds up to a total loser of a "movie".
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