The Mafu Cage (1978) aka Deviant aka Don't Ring The Doorbell aka My Sister, My Love aka The Cage

3.5 / 5 Jun '11
Tagline: A Psychological Thriller
Directed by: Karen Arthur
Written by: Don Chastain, Éric Wesphal
Actors include: Lee Grant, Carol Kane, Will Geer
Genre: Drama, Exploitation, Horror
Length: 102 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one odd duck of a film, it's not going to be for everyone but to select few it should be entertaining. The story is originally from a play which is somewhat evident by the claustrophobic feel to the film. The film takes place in a bizarre home where two sisters live together. Ellen (Lee Grant) is the normal sister who vows to look after Cissy (Carol Kane) when their Father dies. Cissy has problems to put it lightly, she was in Africa apparently and is rather "wild" living in their jungle like abode with a pet Monkey called Mafu (who is kept in a cage, hence the title). Cissy is into drawing a picture of Mafu, but when the picture is finished look out! The story has weird themes of incest, mental illness, manipulation and all kinds of good exploitation like stuff. Considering all that is going on it somehow manages to refrain from being too sleazy and although it is a bit slow to start it does keep a decent momentum. It's more like a weird drama rather than an actual horror film but it definitely has elements from the genre. Rather twisted and strange most definitely and it's quite something to see Kane's performance, worth it for fans of weirdness.

Availability:  On DVD

Panic (1978)

5 / 5 June '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: James Dearden
Written by: James Dearden
Actors include: Julie Neesam, Peter Blake, Avis Bunnage
Genre: Horror, Short
Length: 17 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Wow what a fantastically creepy little short story, especially considering I haven't heard very much about it. This is the sort of film that doesn't smack you over the face with the horror, it's subtle but oh so effective. It's about a young woman called Mandy who we watch get in a spat with her boyfriend. She drives off into the rainy night and decides to perform an act of kindness by picking an old Woman (who happens to be the creepiest hitch-hiker I've ever seen) at the bus stop. She quickly becomes weirded out by this Woman and fakes a flat tire to get her out of the car. The old Woman leaves the bag she was clutching in the car, and this is where the horror begins. It's so gosh darned effective, I really couldn't ask for much more in such a short amount of time. This tale was remade as Turn Left (2006) which throws in a hint of the gratuity that this one didn't have, but it wasn't nearly as frightening.

Availability:  Not on DVD I don't think

Clockwork (1978)

2 / 5 May '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Written by: Sam Raimi
Actors include: Cheryl Guttridge, Scott Spiegel
Genre: Horror, Short
Length: 7 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
So this is where it all began for Sam Raimi (along with the precursor to The Evil Dead called Within the Woods). It's a short film that certainly oozes "Student Film" left right and centre. It's grainy and very cheap looking (though the aged print may have been the issue with this) and it's certainly not very well developed plot wise. We watch a Woman move about her apartment before going to sleep (though we see someone standing outside who is obviously ready for some killin' action). She wakes up to some noises (for some reason El Killer is throwing a Ketchup bottle and being destructive towards condiments?) only to find of course that the murderer is in her house. If only she'd invested in doors that weren't made of paper perhaps this tale could have gone differently. It's just really nothing much to see, it's not gory, it's not scary and it's not even interesting. I suppose Raimi buffs may want to have a gander like I did and heck I suppose it will only waste 7 minutes of your time.

Availability:  Not on DVD

Enigma Rosso (1978) aka Virgin Killer aka Red Rings Of Fear aka Rings Of Fear

2.5 / 5 Feb '11
Tagline: Sweet sixteen ... they'll lose more than just their lives.
Directed by: Alberto Negrin
Written by: Peter Berling, Marcello Coscia
Actors include: Fabio Testi, Christine Kaufmann, Ivan Desny
Genre: Giallo, Horror, Mystery
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Apparently this is the third part of the "schoolgirls" trilogy, the first two parts being Cosa avete fatto a Solange? [What Have They Done to Solange?], and La polizia chiede aiuto [The Police Want Help] both had the same director, and this one has a different fellow in charge. That may be why this film is way inferior to the other two. The muddy giallo plot involves the murder of a young girl (killed by a big dick). They start questioning her friends (they were quite a clique) and of course anyone else who might have done something so terrible. There are red herrings, and unnecessary nudity left right and center. What it is missing is violence, and gratuity and satisfying plot conclusion. By the time they actually got to the ending I couldn't have cared less (though I suppose they tried a little bit). It just lacked whatever character the first two had, it's very bland and forgettable really, heck I only saw this two days ago and I'm having trouble remembering it. Not a must see but it's okay I guess if you are a gialli addict.

Availability:  On DVD

Starcrash (1978) aka The Adventures Of Stella Star

2.5 / 5 Feb '11
Tagline: A Sexy Space Adventure
Directed by: Luigi Cozzi
Written by: Luigi Cozzi
Actors include: Caroline Munro, David Hasselhoff, Christopher Plummer
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Even by it's title you can tell it's a Star Wars imitator, but it also has a fair bit in common with Barbarella too. The cast is what drew me to the film, I mean Christopher Plummer (as "The Emperor"), Joe Spinell (as the evil "Count" ahem Vader", David Hasselhoff (as Luke er Simon) and the scantily clad Caroline Munro in the leading role Stella Star. The plot is rather epic, it's about a secret weapon capable of mass destruction that Stella Star, her alien friend and robot friend (with a penis helmet) must save the world from. The acting is quite terrible, and so are the hilariously bad effects. It's also a laugh for quite a bit as you point out what parts were stolen from what film and so forth. I think the main purpose of the film was to show of Munro's legs but when dealing with a film this cheesy it's hard to say. I'm kinda sad we bought this on blu-ray but I guess if nothing more it did amuse until it bored to tears...skip this unless you like bad movies.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Initiation Of Sarah (1978)

2.5 / 5 Sept '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Robert Day
Written by: Kenette Gfeller, Tom Holland
Actors include: Kay Lenz, Shelley Winters, Tisa Farrow
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 96 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this was really a combination of Carrie and Revenge of the Nerds only I really loved both of those films and I thought this one was dull and mundane. It was a made-for-tv (expect no violence and no killing...it's a horror movie, what were they thinking?) about a girl named Sarah with unexplained powers (that are usually used for dunking people in water who piss her off), she belongs to an adoptive family that have a daughter her age called Patty. The sisters go off to college, Patty is beautiful and has a great personality to match, so she gets in the "cool" fraternity. Sarah is an introvert and a brain and frankly a bit strange so she gets into the lamer fraternity that doesn't seem to care about much of anything. Sarah's "den mother" (Shelley Winters) is into witchcraft and wants Sarah for some sort of old initiation (which had someone die in it last time it was performed). See not much is explained, and the payoff is very weak to say the least. Despite the fact that it's tolerable schlock and well acted it's still not really worth bothering with, I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it never really reached that point. It certainly could have been worse but considering the premise it should have been so much better.

Availability:  Not on DVD

The Evil (1978) aka The House Of Evil

2.5 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: Escape is just a nerve-shredding scream for salvation!
Directed by: Gus Trikonis
Written by: Galen Thompson
Actors include: Richard Crenna, Joanna Pettet, Andrew Prine
Genre: Horror
Length: 84 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I saw the preview for this before actually watching it so I thought it was going to be quite good. Imagine my surprise when the first 50 minutes has basically nothing happen (unless you consider a statue turning it's head and a blob of white light that appears excitement). The plot is about a group of friends who move into a big 'ole house in order to fix it up. Little do they know that most of them won't ever leave bwahahaha. See the house is inhabited by...oh yes the devil and because of this annoying things keep happening to people. The deaths are pretty lackluster minus the fire suits and it does have one cool scene with a saw. The last little bit of the movie does pick up but it's a case of too little too late. Most of this is as dry as can be and it's all been done before blah blah blah. Not one to rush out and grab unless you intend to see every haunted house movie, but I suppose you could do worse.

Availability:  Not on DVD currently

Alien Prey (1978) aka Prey

3 / 5 July '10
Tagline: His savage hunger makes us all... Alien Prey
Directed by: Norman J. Warren
Written by: Quinn Donoghue, Max Cuff
Actors include: Barry Stokes, Sally Faulkner, Glory Annen
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Exploitation
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this is one of the stranger things I've come across (thanks to the recommendation of cosmicnoiree) though not a "successful" movie there is still something for weird film lovers to observe here. The plot (though barely explained) is about some alien creature crashing down and invading a feller's body. This feller ends up stumbling onto the doorstep of a Lesbian couple who are going through a tough time. See one of them wants to leave and experience the world (and possibly some Men instead) yet the other is desperate to hold on to her and not let her leave. They welcome this weird alien fellow into their home (for some unknown reason) and they end up dressing him up and treating him almost like some sort of toy. The thing is, the angry Lesbian has been up to her own "dangerous" activities and the roaming Lesbian doesn't quite know what do to...will she run off with the alien? It's all very absurd and pointless, I'm sure that's why many hate this. Still I couldn't help but watch and I wasn't exactly bored, a few odd developments kept this slightly above average I think.

Availability:  on DVD

Long Weekend (1978)

4.5 / 5 July '10
Tagline: Their crime was against nature...Nature found them guilty.
Directed by: Colin Eggleston
Written by: Everett De Roche
Actors include: John Hargreaves, Briony Behets, Mike McEwen
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one heck of a film and it most definitely makes it's point. It's an Australian film about a fella named Peter who wants to go camping in the wilderness...the only thing is that he's a menace to the outdoors. He's reluctantly dragging along his girlfriend Marcia who hates the outdoors. This sounds like a comedy and in a demented way it kind of is...I mean this couple does everything but burnt down the outdoors. Peter is particularly evil and cruel, even to Marcia who starts to realize something is terribly wrong. See nature isn't going to take this kind of abuse sitting down...it's going to take revenge! Strange things begin happening to the couple including animals attacking them, so Marcia takes the hint and wants to go home. Thing is Peter isn't about to let her leave, and nature isn't about to let them leave either... It's quite an interesting film, when I read the plot I knew I had to see this to see just exactly how this plays out. It's actually rather well made, nicely filmed and it more than makes it's point. Definitely recommended for those looking to see a different kind of horror film.

Availability:  On DVD

Solamente Nero (1978) aka The Bloodstained Shadow aka Only Blackness

3.5 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Antonio Bido
Written by: Marisa Andalò, Antonio Bido
Actors include: Lino Capolicchio, Stefania Casini, Craig Hill
Genre: Horror, Giallo, Thriller, Mystery
Length: 109 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well unfortunately this starts out very slow, the gloomy serious nature of the film does add to it, and the cinematography is quite nice. However the restraint wasn't appreciated by me (this is a giallo film, I want sleaze!) and the cast for the most part is very unfortunate looking (and what was wardrobe thinking?). If you can get through the dull first half the second half is definitely more what one would expect from this kind of film. The soundtrack is one of the highlights though thanks to Stelvio Cipriani who's work creates tension and definitely adds to the film big time. Since a schoolgirl was murdered in the past (or the opening credits for us) and the murderer is never caught a young man named Stefano returns to his home (where the murder happened). He wants to try to figure out what happened along with his help of his seriously older brother (uh more like Dad) the local Priest. When another young girl is killed in front of the Priest and some ominous things start happening it's a rush to find out who is doing the killings. It does seem to borrow from better films like Profondo rosso [Deep Red] and 4 mosche di velluto grigio [Four Flies on Grey Velvet] and it's definitely not one of the best core gialli, but it's still worth a viewing for fans I'd say.

Availability:  On DVD

The Manitou (1978)

3 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: Evil does not die... It waits to be re-born!
Directed by: William Girdler
Written by: William Girdler, Graham Masterton
Actors include: Tony Curtis, Michael Ansara, Ann Sothern
Genre: Horror
Length: 104 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
You have to see it to believe it (or at least I had to) but I can't imagine anyone watching it twice. Somehow randomly (explanation is for suckers?) a woman ends up with a growth on her neck/back area that contains the fetus of a 400 year old Indian Medicine Man spirit hellbent on revenge. Hilariously this Medicine Man is played by a "Little Person" covered in goo angrily trotting about in a room having a hissy fit (because another Indian was able to temporarily contain him using a circle of ash or something). Tony Curtis is funny as the Psychic boyfriend of fetus Lady who has to get help from another powerful Indian to stop the madness. See most of the time when an Indian Spirit is born from another's body, the "host" dies and Curtis doesn't want his lady friend to die so he's got to try! Surprisingly it's rather dull for much of the film (until the spirit is born) and then after that they didn't really seem to know what to do with it. Kudos to them for coming up with one of the most ridiculous stories I've heard then trying to play it straight though...

Availability:  On DVD

Satan's Blood (1978) aka Don't Panic aka Escalofrío

4 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Carlos Puerto
Written by: Carlos Puerto
Actors include: Ángel Aranda, Sandra Alberti, Mariana Karr
Genre: Horror
Length: 82 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Quite an interesting take on Satanism, thanks Spain! When it started out I figured we were in for another Rosemary's Baby clone, but this was far from that. See this is riddled with nudity, it's got blood and sleaze galore and even an orgy! The idea is that a young couple is stopped on the road by another claiming to know the husband from college...funny thing is that he has no memory of meeting this man before. Before they know it they are on their way out in the middle of nowhere back to this mysterious couple's giant stone mansion. At first things aren't too weird but once we catch the lady of the house biting some sort of entrails in the kitchen we know something is wrong. Other big giveaways include books on satanism and the fact that they don't seem to want to let this couple leave. It's kinda neat because as they informed us before the movie started, they really did do much research into Satanism and a lot of what is in the movie is based around what occurs in real rituals. Well that's what the director (I think) told us anyhow, kinda cool really. It does go places I didn't expect it to and it was rather charming, probably one of the better devil films from the '70s.

Availability:  On DVD

The Shout (1978)

4 / 5 Jan '10
Tagline: A film of intense perversity - the madness of the mind.
Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski
Written by: Robert Graves, Michael Austin
Actors include: Alan Bates, Susannah York, John Hurt
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Drama
Length: 86 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Imagine if Robert Altman directed What About Bob?, only instead of a pesty Bill Murray insert some sort of intense demon like fellow who practices Aborigine magic. Like an Altman film this has absolutely beautiful scenery amidst the unusual psychological sort of horror. The evil fellow shows up in the lives of married couple Anthony (William Hurt) and Rachel (Susannah York) Fielding. Anthony plays the organ for church services and is obsessed with recording sound effects. Rachel is the devoted wife who seems drawn to this evil guy (or rather possessed by). When this new evil pest offers to show him a sound effect he'll never forget things are never the same. It really kept me guessing and the whole mood of the film is very uneasy, which I did like and the style was quite something too. I guess I wish it had a touch more clarity as id did leave several questions in my head anyhow. Still one of the more creative and strange thrillers one is likely to come across, definitely interesting. Thanks to cosmicnoiree for recommending it to me!

Availability:  On DVD in PAL format only