Le Diable Noir (1905) aka The Black Imp

4.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Length: 4 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I really enjoyed this one, it's hilarious and the effects are very impressive for the time. This time Georges Méliès treats us to a 4 minute comedy/horror romp involving a black imp. He flips about in a room and lies on the bed before flipping into the mirror (neat trick). Then a traveler shows up to rest in the room for the night, but as he tries to put away his belongings the Imp has a few menacing surprises waiting for him. I'm really amazed that he pulled this off so well and it was so darned fun to watch, highly recommended for anyone really. I wish all early cinema was this entertaining!

Availability:  On DVD

Le Chaudron Infernal (1903) aka The Infernal Boiling Pot

4 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Georges Méliès
Written by: Georges Méliès
Actors include: Georges Méliès
Genre: Horror
Length: 2 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I actually thought this was a pretty visually interesting little film with a few tricks up it's sleeve. This one features green demons (the film is hand painted) who are throwing helpless people into a flaming cauldron. Then they summons their spirits to come out and fly about. The effects are pretty cool honestly, and the film has held up very well as far as preservation goes. I like that it is rather evil in nature, and it's very to the point and easy to understand. Definitely a likeable early horror picture from the very creative director Georges Méliès.

Availability:  On DVD

Nightmares (1983)

3 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: Nightmares... is this year's sleeper.
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Written by: Jeffrey Bloom, Christopher Crowe
Actors include: Cristina Raines, Joe Lambie, Emilio Estevez
Genre: Horror
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
While this is a rather weak and unoriginal attempt at an anthology yet two out of the four segments are pretty entertaining. The plot synopsis offers that each tale will have a twist but hilariously the first one doesn't at all...it couldn't have been more direct. A nicotine addict needs smokes, she goes to the store despite multiple warnings that a maniac is on the loose in her area. She doesn't lock her vehicle doors...blah blah blah. The next tale is a rip-off of TRON with Emilio Estevez as a cocky arcade wiz determined to beat the 13th level of some game I've never heard of. When he breaks into the arcade to practice late at night things get crazy. The third tale is also decent, it's about a Priest who questions his faith, then ends up in a Duel style situation with a demonic pick-up truck. Lastly the worst tale involved a giant devil rat tearing up a family's home...the effects are so very bad and the story was so very stupid. Not a very positive note to end on at all. Considering this is a horror movie, it's more of a kiddie anthology, I think only one animal and one person dies throughout the entire film. Still despite all of it's many flaws it did entertain me and I had no difficulty getting to the end, one could certainly do better though.

Availability:  On DVD

Orphan (2009)

3.5 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: Can you keep a secret?
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written by: David Johnson
Actors include: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 123 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well, having just seen the wretched film Case 39, I was expecting this to be basically the exact same idea. It was, however this one is far superior, it's not as predictable (though it's not exactly surprising) and they actually bothered to explain what was happening which I appreciated. At any rate, a couple who have a deaf little girl and a little boy are having a hard time after a stillborn comes there way. They decide to adopt, so they go to an Orphanage and find Esther, a particularly unusual and bright 9 year old girl sitting off by herself. They fall for her and take her home and adopt her, and at first everything seems perfect. From there it basically goes into a retread of The Bad Seed only there is something different about this tale. It's not the most horrific film ever, in fact yes it's more of a thriller but I have to give it credit, it's over 2 hours long but it held my attention. That being said, in no way did it need to be that long but just the same probably worth a viewing on a rainy day.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Devil's Gift (1984) aka Il Dono Del Diavolo

1 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Kenneth J. Berton
Written by: Kenneth J. Berton, Hayden O'Harra
Actors include: Bob Mendelsohn, Vicki Saputo, Struan Robertson
Genre: Horror
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well, I have seen worse movies, this one is at least laughably abysmal. Most of it is mundane talking about changing the oil in one's car or something similar, or ridiculously over the top family love-ins and friendly touching. The most entertaining part of the film is watching the Father in the family interacting with their neighbor friend Pete (they seriously want to have sex with one another though that has nothing to do with the movie or it's plot). Anyhow, Father and Stepmother have a son Michael who likes to play with Star Wars toys and watch generic cartoons (that we get to watch for a while because they had nothing better to fill the time with). When Michael's birthday hits Stepmother buys him one of those ugly cymbal monkeys from an antique shop. The monkey spends lots of time giving evil glares on the verge of clapping his symbols together. For whatever reason he is making the Stepmother attempt to kill the family dog and son? Who knows, it was cheaper than hell, duller than dirt and there wasn't any payoff. It's a big ripoff of Stephen King's "The Monkey's Paw" only it's the most boring representation dragged out over an hour and a half imaginable. Return this gift to sender (couldn't resist), it's got absolutely nothing going for it.

Availability:  Not on DVD

The House Of The Devil (2009)

4 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: Talk on the Phone. Finish Your Homework. Watch TV. Die.
Directed by: Ti West
Written by: Ti West
Actors include: Jocelin Donahue, Mary Wuornov, Tom Noonan
Genre: Horror
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Finally a newer movie for those of us who don't like newer movies, I thought this was a lot of fun. It's set in 1982 (and they beat us over the head with this though it's fun to watch), but the plot is similar to several films of the late '70s (which I love). The story is about a young woman who is in need of moula, so she answers an add for a babysitter. Right from the start things don't seem quite right, and well let's just say that things get more and more doomy from there. I really liked that the folks who put the ad out were played by Mary Woronov and Tom Noonan both of whom are a lot of fun to watch. Now the story sort of builds and builds without a heck of a lot happening for the first bit, but I think it's creating atmosphere and dread. If you are just out for a gore film, this does have some but it's more of a story based film, which I appreciated. This may not be for everyone, but I thought it was a heck of a lot of fun, and well made to boot. Definitely one of the best horror films of the decade, I hope this new vintage trend continues, I'm sold!

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Lisa And The Devil (1974) aka Lisa E Il Diavolo

3 / 5 Sept '10
Tagline: Every corner of the soul is lost to the icy clutch of the supernatural!
Directed by: Mario Bava, Alfredo Leone
Written by: Alberto Cittini, Mario Bava
Actors include: Telly Savalis, Elke Sommer
Genre: Mystery, Horror
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Gee you know, I kind of thought this would be far more interesting than it was. Still credit is due for shooting a visually beautiful film, it's very surreal in nature (but also sort of confusing). I also thought the first half was very uninteresting and dull despite the fact that yes the scenery was lovely. It did pick up for the second half, and Telly Savalas was pretty hilarious and callous, really the reason for tuning in. The plot is about a girl named Lisa who is a lost tourist that ends up in this old mansion with a strange cast of characters. There is something definitely wrong with the people in the house, one guy keeps transforming from a dummy to a human, and shortly after a few people turn up dead. Apparently two edits of this film exist, the one I watched was called "Lisa And The Devil", there is also another called "House Of Exorcism" which apparently changes this into an Exorcism style rip-off with more gratuity. I really wish I'd watched that version instead, then at least something would have been going on rather than what actually was (though I'm sure the version I saw was more elegant). It's not horrible and it did wrap up decently, I just was disappointed and rather bored through most of it unfortunately.

Availability:  on DVD

L'Antichristo (1974) aka The Antichrist aka The Tempter

3 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Alberto De Martino
Written by: Gianfranco Clerici, Alberto De Martino
Actors include: Carla Gravina, Mel Ferrer, Arthur Kennedy
Genre: Drama, Horror
Length: 112 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
Another Italian clone of The Exorcist, and heck it's not even one of the better imitations. It has some amusing things going on including loads of pea soup vomit, and one heck of a demonic performance from Carla Gravina as Ippolita a crippled Woman. Ippolita is given past life regression and of course discovers that she was a witch who was burned because she took in the devil as her lord. Once again she's tempted with the option as he offers her the ability to walk again. Before you know it she's freaking out, yelling things, using different voices and soon she's trying to bed and destroy Men! Oh and there is a goat scene that must be seen to be believed. The film is overly long and so much of it should have been condensed, and although it's not a happy film, it's not as dark as it should have been. It's not very satisfying on a horror front either, it's not even creepy at all and since it's all rehash it's not like it's surprising either. They did manage to pull a few nifty moments but for the most part it was pretty uninteresting unfortunately.

Availability:  On DVD

Eye Of The Devil (1966)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: we've got your number!
Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
Written by: Robin Estridge, Dennis Murphy
Actors include: Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Donald Pleasence
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 96 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a rather elegant picture with beautiful black and white photography really quite well made. Sharon Tate actually makes her first appearance here even though I think they dubbed over her voice oddly enough. What it has also working in it's favor is that it's actually rather creepy...some of the imagery is impressive and eerie. It's sort of a precursor for The Wicker Man in some ways, it's about Philippe de Montfaucon who is summonzed back to his hometown castle leaving his wife and children behind. Of course they get lonely and show up at the castle, but something isn't quite right. Especially when his wife walks in on some sort of black magic rite with everyone in hoods. It's better than I had expected yet the lead character is so square that it's kind of annoying in some ways unfortunately. Still a stellar story and really they did do a good job making it unsettling which I liked. Recommended but maybe not something to rush out and try to see.

Availability:  Not currently on DVD
Eye of the Devil

The Mephisto Waltz (1971)

3.5 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: The Devil Calls The Tune
Directed by: Paul Wendkos
Written by: Ben Maddow, Fred Mustard Stewart
Actors Include: Alan Alda, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Parkins
Genre: Horror
Length: 115 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This wasn't the most exciting film, in fact it dragged and dragged for much of the time (it did not need to be nearly 2 hours long), yet the story is a rewarding one. I think the biggest problem with this film is actually Alan Alda who is pretty unlikeable, especially as a romantic lead (eww). Alda plays a pianist with a great range and quite the ability, in fact when he meets with a famous classical composer the two seem inseparable. Something doesn't seem quite right however (maybe because the composer is a Satanist?), and shortly after the composer's death there are some major changes in Alda. Most of those who dig looking at women will appreciate Jacqueline Bisset as the female romantic lead here (though I kept picturing her as James on Nip/Tuck) who does show a bit of skin. Bissette notices something isn't right with her Husband and starts to solve the mystery...but will it be too late? If they changed Alda with another actor and tightened it up this could have been quite brilliant, the story is a good one. It's just a shame that as is, it's worthwhile but a bit frustrating for quite a while.

Availability:  On DVD as part of a 2fer with House On Skull Mountain

Deadly Blessing (1981)

3 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: A gruesome secret, protected for generations, rises to give its...
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Glenn M. Benest, Matthew Barr
Actors include: Maren Jensen, Sharon Stone, Jeff East
Genre: Horror
Length: 100 minutes
Banned: Norway, Finland

Review:
Certainly not one of Wes Craven's finer pictures yet not his worst either, this at least has an unusual subject manner. It's got something to do with a sect of extreme Amish called the Hittites who believe technology is so evil that it's pretty much being in cahoots with the Devil himself. We meet up with a fellow who appears to have abandoned his Amish heritage for a beautiful wife, he's still a farmer only he has a tractor that the nearby Hittites seem to hate. When the fellow is mysteriously murdered by his own tractor things go from bad to worse. The young widow invites some friends over to help her after the death (one of which is the beautiful Sharon Stone in one of her earliest roles) only they all end up in peril. See spiders and snakes seem to be trying to kill the beautiful young ladies but could the Hittites be responsible or is it something more sinister? It's kinda neat that Michael Berryman turns up as a creepy Hittite, and well if you want to gaze upon beautiful Women this film should keep you busy. The resolve is beyond stupid, it really doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense and it's very unsatisfying I thought. This could have been worse but it could have been so much better, especially since it does have a rather unique concept.

Availability:  This is available on PAL DVD only currently

Holocaust 2000 (1977) aka Rain Of Fire aka The Chosen aka The Hex Massacre

3.5 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: The world will be destroyed in a rain of fire. It is written.
Directed by: Alberto De Martino
Written by: Sergio Donati, Alberto De Martino
Actors include: Kirk Douglas, Simon Ward, Agostina Belli
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Length: 106 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Sure this isn't the movie for everyone, it's very cheesy implausible and over the top but I think that's why I liked it. At first I thought it was going to be a dull talky with Kirk Douglas in it...that is until they stabbed his wife in the groin violently! (p.s. I didn't know that could kill someone?) Turns out Mr. Douglas is in charge of building a Nuclear Power in the Middle East. Douglas' creepy ugly son Angel seems to have very definite plans of his own, and doesn't mind taking over either. When Douglas meets and impregnates a new girlfriend things get even worse...especially when he hears that "his seed is evil"! Let's just say he doesn't want her to have the baby because he thinks it will be evil, but what if it isn't? Really I guess you could say this is an Italian take on The Omen with touches of Rosemary's Baby only way more ridiculous and campy. This is a must for those who love bad film that is entertaining, but a pass for those who like films that make sense.

Availability:  On DVD

The Devil's Rain (1975)

3.5 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: Absolutely the most incredible ending of any motion picture
Directed by: Robert Fuest
Written by: James Ashton, Gabe Essoe
Actors include: Ernest Borgnine, Tom Skerritt, William Shatner
Genre: Horror
Length: 86 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This one is sort of a mixed bag, on the plus side we have Ernest Borgnine as one of the leads of the erm church of the devil. On the con side, the plot is pretty ridiculous, a group of Satanists who have something called "the devil's rain" in a jar (which causes them to melt if broken?). William Shatner plays Mark Preston, a curious fellow investigating what happened to his Mom who turned up dead with blackened eye holes. See it seems that most of the worshippers have blackened eye holes (which is dark glass of some kind hiding the eyes, sort of a cool effect) after joining the cult. The film was overseen by real life Satanic cult leader Anton LaVey which is kinda neat I suppose, perhaps that means some of the rituals are based in fact who knows? The effects are reasonably impressive, especially for something that feels so low budget, and this film also marks the debut appearance of John Travolta (though blink and you will miss him). As far as Satanism movies go, this isn't my favorite but it's still a reasonable offering, I just think the end goes on for way too long. Worth a viewing for fans of trash and devil related films, probably not as bad as it's reputation would suggest.

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