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

Schramm (1993) aka Schramm: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer

4 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: ...today I am dirty, but tomorrow I'll be just dirt.
Directed by: Jörg Buttgereit
Written by: Jörg Buttgereit, Franz Rodenkirchen
Actors include: Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Monika M., Micha Brendel
Genre: Horror, Romance, Thriller
Length: 65 minutes
Banned: Finland, Singapore

Review:
This is an odd one...I'm not even sure who this was aimed at. It's part German art film, part goreophile's dream, part gross-out and part romantic drama (I kid you not). I was definitely intrigued and it held my attention, it just didn't come together as cleanly as I would have liked. As it goes we are watching our "Lipstick Killer" dying in a pool of paint and blood as we get hazy and fragmented memories that we are to piece together from his life. The thing is, there is symbolism, suggestion, hallucinations (I think) and all sorts of stuff to confuse someone trying to make sense of it though I'm sure that's the point. The acting was very good and believable and it does have a certain harshness that makes it uncomfortable. Our killer had a relationship with a Hooker, he had a meeting with religious folks, and a bizarre Denist meeting that I just can't begin to understand. Still there is something intriguing and memorable about this and it is quite unlike most. I should also mention that the whole thing wraps up in about 65 minutes so it's not much commitment. I do kinda wish they had added another twenty minutes to it to explain a couple of things or give us some more background info but well it is what it is. This will be something that some will definitely want to see but others will hate it.

Availability:  On DVD