Dark Tower (1987)

2 / 5 Dec '10
Tagline: In a city that never sleeps... this building is a nightmare.
Directed by: Freddie Francis, Ken Wiederhorn
Written by: Robert J. Avrech
Actors include: Michael Moriarty, Jenny Agutter, Carol Lynley
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 91 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was a rather predictable ghost story with beyond stupid effects and lackluster straight to video acting (even though Jenny Agutter is usually very good). She plays the widow of a apartment building that her husband had built. He's now around in ghost form attacking those who peep at her changing or those who try to get in her way. Some of the deaths were kind of fun, towards the beginning of the film I had higher hopes but as it dragged on and on it became painfully obvious that they just gave up. Such an unoriginal concept and it was truly impossible to even care what the resolve was (what was with the mask by the way?). Oh well it's really not worth digging out of any vault, leave it hidden where it is or be bored to tears.

Availability:  Not on DVD

Girly (1970) aka Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny And Girly

4 / 5 July '10
Tagline: Everyone is dying to meet girly.....
Directed by: Freddie Francis
Written by: Brian Comport
Actors include: Vanessa Howard, Michael Bryant, Ursula Howells
Genre: Horror, Exploitation
Length: 101 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is the sort of film that one doesn't forget...how could you? It's one of the strangest things I've ever seen and oddly it doesn't really have any explanation for it either. The story is about Mumsy (the Mum of course), Nanny (the caretaker) and children Sonny and Girly (both of which are probably in their early '20s). It's pretty weird watching adult pretend they are kids and giggle and chase one another about...but it's even weirder when you learn what's going on. See their job is to lure back new "friends" who must play the "game" or be killed. What is this game? Well it's that they each must be in character and play for a certain amount of time a day and they have to follow rules and can't leave and whatnot. Why all of this is taking place is beyond me but it's quite a bizarre film that kept my attention most definitely. Recommended for those who like strange '70s cinema, you won't see another like this.

Availability:  On DVD