The Psychic Killer (1975)

3 / 5 July '10
Tagline: First it drives you mad, then it kills and kills and kills!
Directed by: Ray Danton
Written by: Greydon Clark, Mikel Angel
Actors include: Paul Burke, Jim Hutton, Julie Adams
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 89 minutes
Banned: Iceland

Review:
Oh dear, this is quite a film I suppose. It reminds me of Patrick I guess, only this film uses some sort of astral projection in order to get revenge. Arnold Masters is in a mental hospital for a crime he didn't commit. He makes friends with another in the hospital who gives him his magical charm when executed which teaches Arnold astral projection revenge. See Arnold is very mad at the people who killed his Mother and the Men who set him up to make him look guilty. One by one they die off in amusing ways (I give credit there, they did try with the deaths), but it's baffling the cops. See they are tailing Arnold and watching him go into trances while the murders happen, but will they be able to solve the puzzle before Arnold goes too far? It's rather slow and dry for the most part but it never really got to the level of being boring. The amusing deaths and strange story aren't exactly a must see but some will find this entertaining.

Availability:  On DVD

Silent Madness (1984)

3.5 / 5 July '10
Tagline: Dare You Watch It Alone?
Directed by: Simon Nuchtern
Written by: Nelson DeMille, Bill Milling
Actors include: Belinda Montgomery, Viveca Lindfors, Solly Marx
Genre: Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Sweden

Review:
I liked this, it's actually a colorful little slasher film that although it doesn't offer much in the way of original thought it still is rather fun. That and it managed to have a death in it that I'd never seen before, and the acting is decent, especially from lead psychologist Dr. Gilmore (the mom from Doogie Houser MD.). This tale is about a paranoid psychotic who is accidentally released because his name is similar to another patient. This mental hospital is possibly the weirdest and most illogical one I've ever seen. Instead of admitting the error they lie about it pretending the dangerous guy is dead. Dr. Gilmore stumbles upon this problem and gets into it even thicker when she stays at a sorority house where the killer's murders started many years before. Small parts of it were intended to be in 3D which is unnecessary and useless considering I don't think a proper version of this exists with glasses and stuff. It's also got a ton of cutaway violence, if you like seeing the gruesome stuff this might disappoint as it's all offscreen. It does seem like it has a bit of a sense of humour and even a tad bit of tension here and there. Considering how rarely I've heard this film mentioned it's actually one of the better unknowns from the '80s, I'd say watch it if you like horror from this time.

Availability:  Not On DVD

A Taste Of Evil (1971)

3 / 5 Jan '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: John Llewellyn Moxey
Written by: Jimmy Sangster
Actors include: Barbara Stanwyck, Roddy McDowall, Barbara Parkins
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 73 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Considering this was a '70s made-for-tv movie that was written by Jimmy Sangster and produced by Aaron Spelling productions I thought this would be a winner! It's not, in fact it's a rehash of so many films seen previously and this particular retelling is very dry. It's about a young girl who is raped, then put in an asylum because she's in a catatonic state and has sever trauma from the accident. We catch up with her as she's coming home to stay, though she doesn't seem particularly well. See she keeps seeing her Stepfather dead in various places which is tormenting her to say the least. She also has an over-the-top nutty Mother (Barbara Stanwyck) does provide some campy laughter but not a heck of a lot else. I don't want to give more away in case you do want to watch this but let's just say I was underwhelmed. It did have a tidy conclusion and it made clear sense at least!

Availability:  Currently unavailable anywhere

The Forgotten (1973) aka Don't Look In The Basement aka Death Ward #13

3 / 5 Nov '09
Tagline: The Day The Insane Took Over The Asylum!
Directed by: S.F. Brownrigg
Written by: Tim Pope
Actors include: Bill McGhee, Jessie Lee Fulton, Robert Dracup
Genre: Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Iceland

 

Review:

I started through this once before but got bored and walked away. This time though, I made it! It's a very cheap (it was shot in 12 days with less than 100 grand) weird little flick that takes place in an experimental mental institution with kooky inhabitants (who are portrayed like demented violent children). One girl has a doll she treats as a real baby, one feller plays with toy boats, one is a Judge who uses axe therapy chopping wood (which ultimately leads to the Doctor's death). Then an older Nurse leaves and a Young Nurse steps in her place even though she hears about the fate of the Doctor. She fights to stay on staff (as the surviving Nurse doesn't want her aboard) and ultimately wins erm loses! I think in some ways the cheapness and strangeness adds to the atmosphere and actually makes it feel a bit eerie and desolate, but at the same time it leads to it's downfall. Considering this was a video nasty I'm a little surprised as the blood in here really looks like Ketchup, plus nothing too shocking actually happens. It could be much worse, but those looking for a gorefest will be disappointed! Asylum did a much better job with this premise!

Availability:  On DVD also watch for free online here:  http://www.classiccinemaonline.com/cinema/horror/dontlookinthebasement.html