Tales Of Terror (1962)

4 / 5 May '10
Tagline: A Trilogy of Shock and Horror!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Edgar Allan Poe, Richard Matheson
Actors Include:  Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, Peter Lorre
Genre: Horror
Length: 89 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a very cute yet slightly uneven trilogy of tales featuring the irresistible Mr. Vincent Price. It's got Roger Corman directing and producing plus it's loosely based around Poe tales...what more could one want? The first story "Morella" is about a daughter returning home to her Father (Price) who just happens to be rather unhappy to see her. He blames her for her Mother's death, and Mommy's corpse is still in his house even! The daughter doesn't have long to live so the father and she try to get along. The thing is, Mommy is still very unhappy... It's rather cheesy and the effects are laughable but yet it's still a decent little tale.
The second story "The Black Cat" is probably the best retelling of that tale that I've seen yet. I love Peter Lorre as the grumpy intoxicated black cat hatin' Montresor. He tales his wife's sewing money for booze because he's such a drunk even though it's their food money, he treats everyone rather cruelly but he knows his wine. He brings home fellow wine taster champion Fortunado (Price hamming it up big time) who just happens to start an affair with Montresor's wife. Let's just say this doesn't go well and if you know the story you can guess what happens next. Definitely the best tale of the trilogy.
Lastly we have "The Case of M. Valdemar" which has a dying Price who is being hypnotized by a cruel jerk who manages to prolong his peace in death by keeping him partially alive and trapped in a hypnotic state. It's kinda neat and not a bad tale but it could have been a little more exciting.
Still it's a fairly charming and memorable little trilogy, very little graphic stuff and blood despite what the back of the case would have you believe. Still great actors and creative story telling takes this a long way.

Availability:  On DVD

Die! Die! My Darling! (1965) aka Fanatic

4 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: She's One Mean Mother-in-Law!
Directed by: Silvio Narizzano
Written by: Anne Blaisdell, Richard Matheson
Actors include: Stefanie Powers, Talullah Bankhead, Peter Vaughan
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 97 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
Although not the most original idea, it was a bucket of fun thanks to Tallulah Bankhead (in her final role) as a demented religious fanatic called Mrs. Trefoil...seriously awesomely evil performance. Stefanie Powers plays pretty and likeable Pat Carroll who was engaged to Mrs. Trefoil's son Stephen before he died. At Mrs. Trefoil's behest Pat comes to visit her at her house before planning to run off and marry a man named Allan. The only thing is, Pat isn't allowed to leave and it seems that Mrs. Trefoil is completely insane and seems to blame her for Allan's death! Also in this plot here we have Mrs. Trefoil's other son Harry whom she doesn't seem to like as much, and his wife Anna (Man About The House's Yootha Joyce) and also there is the handicapped Joseph (hilariously played by Donald Sutherland). It's not the most eventful film, but the performances make it more than worthwhile plus who doesn't love watching crazy people?
 
Availability:  On DVD

The House Of Usher (1960) aka The Fall Of The House Of Usher

3.5 / 5 Jan '10
Tagline: Edgar Allan Poe's overwhelming tale of EVIL & TORMENT
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Richard Matheson, Edgar Allan Poe
Actors include: Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey
Genre: Horror, Drama, Romance
Length: 75 minutes
Banned: Norway

Review:
Though I did like this I didn't think it was as amazing as it could have been. Honestly I knew nothing of this story going into watching this, and this is the first version of the story I've seen. It's got atmosphere down pat as it's very much in the style of so many Hammer films which is a good thing. Also who can resist Vincent Price? He plays a rather strange blonde fellow who lives in a creepy castle with his Sister Madeline. After a Suitor named Phillip comes round for Madeline he's soon warned that she cannot leave the house. It seems their is some sort of family curse that causes family members to die when they consider leaving. As soon as Madeline makes up her mind to try to leave with Phillip bad things start happening, it's like the house is trying to kill them! Something really strange is going on there and the story is an amusing little one really. It is surprising, it's very gothic feeling and it's entertaining, it just wasn't one of my favorites is all.

Availability:  On DVD

Night Strangler (1973)

4.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Dan Curtis
Written by: Richard Matheson, Jeffrey Grant Rice
Actors include: Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, Jo Ann Pflug
Genre: Horror
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Y'Know, for tv movies the Kolchak are some of the most fun, and although I'm in the minority with my opinion, I preferred this one to The Night Stalker by a small sliver. This one is about a rash of killings that happen every twenty-one years that leaves the victim's bloodless. It also shows traces of dead flesh on the victims and the killer has been described as both handsome and hideous! Kolchak of course is trying to figure out what's going on and when he gets his finger on the pulse of the mystery, nobody wants to believe him! Just like in the other tv-movie he comes within a smidgen of losing his job of course but that's just Kolchak's wacky ways. It's very well paced, interesting and it keeps you guessing up until the time is just so. I know after watching the two movies that I'm going to love the tv series. Definitely recommended especially if you enjoyed the other film!

Availability:  On DVD as part of a 2fer with "The Night Stalker"