Creep (2004)

3.5 / 5 May '11
Tagline: Your journey terminates here.
Directed by: Christopher Smith
Written by: Christopher Smith
Actors include: Franka Potente, Sean Harris, Vas Blackwood
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I had no idea going into this film that it was basically a remake of Death Line [Raw Meat] complete with shots of Franka Potente running (ala Lola rennt [Run Lola Run]). Even so it was pretty amusing, especially the way they set the situation up. Kate (Franka Potente) is on her way home from a party when she falls asleep in the subway waiting for a train. She wakes up only to find herself locked in and under attack by a creepy co-worker and of course she seems to make the wrong choice with every turn. While trying to find a place to escape she ends up in the underground with the Homeless people. However in her attempt to escape she finds something far more sinister down below. So it does have some carnage in it, though it's mainly one of those building tension escape type scenarios which is just fine with me. It is relatively well made and the cast make it a little more appealing then it could have been with unknowns. Thanks to horror fiends Axemaster and Happywax (http://doomgoryumshorroremporium.blogspot.com/) for this recommend, definitely a fun little horror flick for most.

Availability:  On DVD

Mosura (1961) aka Mothra

3 / 5 Mar '11
Tagline: EARTH QUAKES AS MONSTER SEEKS TINY MATES!
Directed by: Ishirô Honda
Written by: Takehiko Fukunaga, Shinichirô Nakamura
Actors include: Frankie Sakai, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kyôko Kagawa
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 101 minutes
Banned: Nope





Review: 
Although it's a very beautifully filmed Toho production...and I do mean production (nearly epic) it's rather dull. The first 45 minutes of the film are nothing but talking and completely Mothra free. When Mothra does show up it doesn't really do much except cause destruction with it's wingspan and oddly later in the story when it's flapping about there isn't even a breeze? The plot is about an island that had radiation tests performed on it. The people are tiny, and two little singing Princesses were kidnapped by Men who forced them to sing in an entertainment show. The singing girls sing mainly about Mothra who is summoned to come save them from their captivity. It's a strange one, I mean what were they smoking when they came up with the idea of a radiation victim giant savior Moth? Oh well, it's colorful and nice to look at, just difficult to get through the first half of it and the second half is just silly.

Availability:  On DVD

Kitchen Sink (1989)

3.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Alison Maclean
Written by: Alison Maclean
Actors include: Theresa Healey, Peter Tait, Annagretta Christian
Genre: Horror
Length: 14 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Very unique, stylish and surreal little short film from New Zealand. A woman sees a hair sticking out of her kitchen sink and she tugs on it, after much struggle she pulls out a mini monkey man thing. She throws it in water and it expands to human size and it sort of goes on from there. It was elegantly shot in black and white, and it really is one of those "what is going on here" sort of pictures which makes it quite interesting. If you come seeking answers...well you won't really find them but I do think it makes an interesting statement on obsession with changing people. Pretty neat little flick that made me think perhaps the folks who made Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus.

Availability:  Not on DVD I don't think

The Beast Within (1982)

3 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: Kill me, please kill me... before it's too late.
Directed by: Philippe Mora
Written by: Tom Holland, Edward Levy
Actors include: Ronny Cox, Bibi Besch, Paul Clemens
Genre: Horror
Length: 98 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this had some things going for it at least, the effects although cheesy were ambitious, and the concept was interesting though it's definitely just a monster movie. They also did through in some nice gratuity with gore and nudity and it had a kind of campy feel to it. From the cover it looks like a Teen Wolf sequel, but I assure you it's not. It starts back in the past with a woman being raped by a monster, flash forward seventeen years and the result of the rape, a boy named Michael is about to hit puberty. He's very ill though and nobody seems to know why, only he slips out one night and ends up learning that he craves hunting humans, particularly if they have a certain last name. It's entertaining and easy to watch, and you can tell that the effort was there, the thing is there are huge plot holes wide enough to drive a truck through that definitely require explanation.

Availability:  On DVD

eXistenZ (1999)

2.5 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: Play it. Live it. Kill for it.
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: David Cronenberg
Actors include: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Ian Holm
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 97 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well I like David Cronenberg films, and I like Jennifer Jason Leigh as an actress so combining the two should be excellent right? Well the answer is yes for most people but I actually hated this. I found myself rolling my eyes through most of it and laughing at the technology and imagined advancements for the future. Leigh plays Allegra Gellar, a person who takes part in a new game along with a test group of others. Of course the line is blurred between reality and the game, and it's seemingly dangerous. There are also little reptile creatures with multiple heads everywhere and strange little computer animated effects that were silly. I guess this idea is fine, but the execution was sheerly silly, but perhaps it's because this is now 2010 and the technology from the '90s is a bit behind? I think it's more than that, I just never really got into this and I kept looking at the time because I really wanted it to be over. Take someone else's opinion because I think giving it 2.5 stars is generous but I think I'm in the minority here.

Availability:  On DVD

King Kong (1933)

4.5 / 5 July '10
Tagline: A Monster of Creation's Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!
Directed by: N/A
Written by: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose
Actors Include: Robert Armstrong, Fay Wray, John Cabot
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Length: 104 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
Wow this is one exquisitely filmed picture, it's downright shocking that they were able to accomplish so very much in 1933! The story is about some movie makers who are filming a picture on Skull Island, he's got most things in place, he's only missing a leading lady. Enter Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) a lovely but down on her luck young Lady who is eager to join the crew. When they get to this mysterious island things aren't quite what they expected. The locals seem to worship a giant gorilla named Kong, and they want to serve up Ann to him as a sacrifice. They give her to Kong, and that is where the film really takes off. See one of the film crew wants to capture the ape to bring it home for an attraction, and of course save the girl. The last half hour is pretty much amazing, the shots of New York are stunning and the effects are quite something. The scenes were Kong has gone nuts are my favorites but pretty much the entire thing is a spectacle. I can't believe it took me so long to watch this, this is something you just have to see no matter what sort of films you enjoy.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Beast In The Cellar (1970)

3 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: A chill-filled festival of horror!
Directed by: James Kelley
Written by: James Kelley
Actors include:  Beryl Reid, Flora Robson, John Hamill
Genre: Horror
Length: 88 minutes/110 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this did have some things going for it, I liked the concept and the two main characters are old bitties that are quite amusing (well acted). The two old Women are spinsters who seem to be hiding something. When a monster appears to be murdering local soldiers they seem sorta panicked, that is until they realize they probably know who is responsible once they find a hole in their cellar. It's very slow and actually seems rather like a play what with limited sets and a ton of talking. The good news is that the film is often very dryly and darkly humorous, it's just too much chatting and not enough horror. Sure they mention that the bodies are horribly mutilated but we never see them, in fact I don't recall seeing a single drop of blood. Now I've heard rumours that there is a 110 minute version of the film floating around with gore intact and it apparently makes more sense too. I watched the DVD version and it was only 88 minutes and definitely appeared cut so I'd love to find a full version to watch. This is a Tigon film, it feels quite cheap and really it clearly illustrates why folks usually choose Hammer then Amicus first before hittin' Tigon.

Availability:  On DVD

Horror Express (1972)

4 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: Can it be stopped?
Directed by: Eugenio Martin
Written by: Arnaud d'Usseau, Julian Zimet
Actors include: Christopher Lee, Telly Savalis, Peter Cushing
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although I enjoyed the story and the actors and everything I think the cheapness with which this was made hindered the film unfortunately. That being said it's probably Eugenio Martín's most accomplished film but I've enjoyed most I've seen from him. Anyhow this one borrows heavily from The Thing From Another World [The Thing] along with several others but I thought it was quite fun anyhow. A Professor (Christopher Lee) finds some bones that he thinks may be the missing link, so he transports them on the Siberian Express. While on the train he meets his acquaintance Dr. Wells (Peter Cushing) who is very interested in the Professor's specimen. On the way the monster thaws out and starts attacking the passengers and it even takes on their memories! It's pretty thrilling in many ways actually and Lee & Cushing are a treat to watch as always. It's not the most original idea surely, but I thought it was a really entertaining film none the less, definitely worth giving a try to.

Availability:  On DVD

The Descent: Part 2 (2009)

2.5 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline:  Fear Runs Deeper
Directed by: Jon Harris
Written by: J. Blakeston, James McCarthy
Actors include: Shauna MacDonald, Michael J. Reynolds, Jessika Williams
Genre: HorrorLength: 94 minute
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was quite depressing, I mean I really loved the first film and I wasn't quite sure how a sequel would work. Apparently neither were the folks making it as they disregarded several pieces of information that we learned from the first film. The idea here is that it picks up right where the last film left off, Sarah crawls out all bloodied and is then told to go back into the mine so they can find out what happened to her friends. Something tells me that in real life, this sort of thing wouldn't happen. At any rate, they are playing her up to be some sort of looney with no memory but shortly after they turn up one of the corpses of her former friends it seems to come back to her. The mission is once again dangerous and this time the rescue crew are in deep trouble from the mine goblins. The very fact that her friend Juno is found alive in the caves is ridiculous. Also unexplained is the fact that in the alternate ending of the original Sarah dies...how could she be in a sequel?The very fact that her friend Juno is found alive in the caves is ridiculous. Also unexplained is the fact that in the alternate ending of the original Sarah dies...how could she be in a sequel? Oh well, they still have some bloody moments but it all felt very half assed and lazy. They should have left this one alone, and if you haven't seen this yet, you are lucky I'd keep it that way if I were you.

Availability:  on DVD

Attack Of The Crab Monsters (1957)

3 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: From the depths of the sea... a tidal wave of terror!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Charles B. Griffith
Actors include: Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, Russell Johnson
Genre: Sci-fi, Horror
Length: 62 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Oh it's pretty cheesy and if it had been any longer than 62 minutes I might have had to drop my rating slightly but it's a slick to the point monster film and nothing more. It's cheap surely, but it's an early Roger Corman flick, what does one expect? Considering how early this is it does have a bit of blood and disaster in it, and the crab monsters do look menacing I suppose. The monster in this case (as was the case with many films of this time) was created because of the H-Bomb but the unusual thing about these crab creatures is that they can imitate the voices and thoughts from the people they kill. Sort of an odd twist that I liked to the whole thing, however generic in some ways it feels. This isn't going to make a heck of a lot of sense to anyone nor is it one of the best science fiction pieces, but there is something entertaining about it but that's the Corman in it I think. Worth a view for genre fans but not necessary for most I'd say.

Availability:  On DVD

Fiend Without A Face (1958)

4 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: New Horrors! Mad Science Spawns Evil Fiends! ...Taking form before your horrified eyes!
Directed by: Arthur Crabtree
Written by: Herbert J. Leder, Amelia Reynolds Long
Actors include: Marshall Thompson, Kynaston Reeves, Kim Parker
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 75 minutes
Banned: Sweden

Review:
So this starts out rather slow, a whole bunch of chatting and invisible monster attacks dominate the first part of the film. See the idea is that a Scientist is experimenting with powers and nuclear power and he creates something new. The new "thing" escapes from the lab and beings multiplying and attacking people by sucking their spinal cords and brains out. A bunch of locals are dying and blame is being thrown around but it's only when they discover this "mental vampire" monster is responsible that things really take off. Once we can finally see the culprit it's impossible to not be impressed, some of the best effects I've seen from a film so early. The monsters are creepy, and the film is gory and violent and all things exciting from that point on. Seriously at first I thought this would be dullsville but hang in there because this one is a really unique treasure.

Availability:  On DVD

Salem's Lot (1979)

4.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: The ultimate in terror!
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Written by: Stephen King, Paul Monash
Actors include: David Soul, James Mason, Bonnie Bedelia
Genre: Horror
Length: 183 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Definitely one of the better King adaptations, this one manages to actually be creepy, have an interesting story and keep quite true to the novel so just about anyone should be able to enjoy this. As the story goes the creepy Renfield appears in a small little town opening an antique shop in a haunted house. Also former inhabitant (an now famous author) Ben Mears returns home to write a book but is fascinated with the haunted house being taken over by Renfield. Our other main character is teenager Mark who just happens to know be a horror addict with extensive knowledge about monsters (convenient). Of course the two skeptics must come together to solve the Renfield mystery before the town is doomed! The atmosphere is great, the fact that it is 183 minutes long (the DVD version anyhow) and it never slows or becomes dull speaks volumes about how great this film is. It even has some rather surprising parts considering this was a made-for-tv movie! Extremely effective and one of the best vampire films I've encountered, I wish there were more like this 'un!

Availability:  On DVD

20 Million Miles To Earth (1957) aka The Beast From Space

3 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: Monster from outerspace runs wild!
Directed by: Nathan Juran
Written by: Robert Creighton Williams, Christopher Knopf
Actors include: William Hopper, Joan Taylor, Frank Puglia
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy
Length: 82 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was a disappointment, see I recently enjoyed The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms so why not try another Harryhausen flick? This one has quite an excellent reputation and after watching it I'm really puzzled as to why. It's about a Space ship that went to Venus that crash lands and it's cargo (an alien from Venus that is still an egg) is lost. A snot nosed little boy named Pepe who I seriously want to beat to a pulp finds it and sells it to a Scientist so he can have a cowboy hat (sigh). Of course it grows gigantic because it's not used to our atmosphere and it makes elephant noises and even fights an elephant for a long period of time. Sometimes the effects look good but overall I wasn't that impressed unfortunately. I actually think the characters are what made me so frustrated with it, that and poor pacing and plenty of dull drama too. It has it's moments but there just aren't enough to make this an exciting science fiction flick.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) aka Monster From Beneath The Sea

4 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: It's alive!
Directed by: Eugene Lourie
Written by: Ray Bradbury, Fred Freiberger
Actors include: Lee Van Cleef, Paul Hubschmid, Paula Raymond
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 80 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
After an atomic test bomb thingy goes off a gigantic Rhedosaurus wakes up from his frozen sleep and starts terrorizing the cities and buildings of New York. It's actually rather similar to ゴジラ [Godzilla] but actually since this was 1953 it came first! I believe super stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen even claimed that ゴジラ [Godzilla] ripped this one off! The effects are most impressive, the dinosaur is big and menacing and has some decent munches, snatches and destruction behind him. We are even treated to a fight between an octopus and a whale of sorts! It's a bit wooden on start-up but hold on to your had because it has a thrilling finale, rollercoaster action and some definitely amusing moments. This was based around a short story from Ray Bradbury so it's pretty darned interesting as one might imagine. I think this is a public domain flick or at least it's available for next to nothing just about anywhere I go. Grab it up, it's definitely one of the better early sci-fi flicks!

Availability:  On DVD

Gargoyles (1972)

3.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: They're coming for you!
Directed by: Bill L. Norton
Written by: Elinor Karpf, Steven Karpf
Actors include: Cornel Wilde, Jennifer Salt, Grayson Hall
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Length: 74 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was unique in many ways as well I can't think of another horror picture about gargoyles, particularly considering this was a made-for-tv movie. Stephen King named this as one of his favorites, which is actually somewhat surprising really. See it starts out amazingly...it's creepy, there is a skeleton from a gargoyle that looks rather real. The old Man who found it was telling his story to our main characters (a Man and his inappropriately dressed at all times daughter) when suddenly the roof of his shack crashes in and flapping noises are heard in the air. As the Man and his daughter try to escape a live gargoyle attacks their car (seriously exciting stuff) but then it gets beyond stupid. First of all I need to mention that the gargoyle effects are friggin' terrible...some of the worst I've seen. They resemble the Creature from the Black Lagoon only cheaper and more plastic looking. Oh and did I mention that they talk and read books...yes I mean the gargoyles. I really wish it had stayed with it's exciting first half into an exciting conclusion. Instead it was laughable, sad and even boring...I was seriously dying for the 74 minutes to be up! It's just too bad because it seems like so much more could have been done with this one, but as is still worth a gander.

Availability:  On DVD

The Beast With A Million Eyes (1955) aka The Beast with 1,000,000 Eyes

2 / 5 Nov '09
Tagline: Screaming Terror!
Directed by: David Kramarsky, Lou Place
Written by: Tom Filer
Actors include: Paul Birch, Lorna Thayer, Dona Cole
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 75 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:

Apparently before making the film the director came up with this title and an interesting ad to go with. Since they liked it he created the film around the ad and title, but when he showed it to folks they were disappointed. I guess the ad was more interesting than the actual product. It starts out with a bitter evil housewife complaining of jealous feelings for her daughter (they live out in the middle of nowhere near mountains). They have a mute mild pervert living next door (who they feed and are mean to), and a loud noise happens disrupting everything (and breaks the good china!). After the noise nature seems to be attacking (birds, chickens, cows etc)...well by attacking, I mean coming towards! Apparently that requires shooting the animal? I'm sure this spawned many of the later nature gone bad movies, but this really does lack horror nearly entirely despite the situation. Heck the beast doesn't even ever really show up except for in blurry form and it appears he has 2 eyes, and is a tiny plastic thing...and that doesn't happen until the last 3 minutes of the film (though it's voice appears after an hour). Not very rewarding at all unfortunately but still I sat through it so that should count for something?

Availability:  On DVD or watch it for free online here:  http://www.hulu.com/the-beast-with-a-million-eyes