Alice in Wonderland (1966)

4 / 5 Jul '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Jonathan Miller
Written by: Lewis Carroll
Actors include: Anne-Marie Malik, Michael Redgrave, Peter Sellers
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Length: 71 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a pretty fascinatingly surreal and psychedelic version of the Alice in Wonderland story. It's shot in black and white in a gothic style, and the cinematography is quite lovely. It features music by Ravi Shankar and a fantastic cast, particularly Anne-Marie Malik in the role of Alice. It was filmed as a TV play of all things, and it's surprisingly well made. What I found so unusual was the character of Alice who yes is a rather inquisitive but here she is stern and extremely flip...moreso than in any other version I've seen. She seems downright pissed off at the wacky people in wonderland and irritated by everything around her. At the same time the contrast makes the story and characters seem even more absurd which is pretty cool. I'm not completely sure how this qualifies as a horror film, but perhaps some of the imagery is a bit grotesque and it is maybe a tad creepy. Just the same a very interesting version of the classic story that really should be seen by any fan of the story, or for those who like unusual '60s flicks.

Availability:  on DVD

Die Screaming, Marianne (1971)

2.5 / 5 Jul '11
Tagline: Death bars the gate to her 21st birthday
Directed by: Pete Walker
Written by: Murray Smith
Actors include: Susan George, Barry Evans, Christopher Sandford
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well, I'm a huge fan of Pete Walker but I'd heard this was pretty lackluster so I'd left it alone until now. Everyone was right, this is very uninteresting and dry to boot. In fact calling it a horror film seems like an exaggeration, it's more of a cheap crime movie with a few little killings in it. Walker favorite Susan George stars as frees pirited dancer Marianne who ends up shacking with an ugly Bloke who nearly ran her down with his car. When he proposes sudden marriage she decides to fix it so that she is married to his best friend instead (wise choice, he is sooo yucky). Anyhow, angry jilted ugly Guy teams up with Marianne's uglier sister in order to scheme to get money out of Marianne. See she has the key to a large sum of money as well as some papers and secrets on her 21st birthday. It's all very cookie cutter and there is no flavor at all to this to note. It's really Walker's transition movie between his nudie cutie pics and his horror works, unfortunately this really won't appeal to fans of either.

Availability:  On DVD

Lifeforce (1985) aka Space Vampires

4 / 5 Jul '11
Tagline: The Cinematic Sci-Fi event of the Eighties
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Written by: Colin Wilson, Dan O'Bannon
Actors include: Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, Peter Firth
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 116 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Okay so let me start by saying: Space vampires who sap energy and change their victims into zombie like creatures. Phew, now if you can swallow that you can enjoy this flick! With Tobe Hooper at the helm and Dan O'Bannon as the screenwriter, you can pretty much guess you are in for an entertaining flick. It springs into action with a space shuttle sent to investigate Halley's Comet only of course they find some strange spaceship. There are strange bat like creatures that appear to be nearly turned to dust as well as three nudies (if you like boobs, then you should get a little something extra from this one) in capsules. They decide to take the specimens back to their ship for investigation thinking everyone is dead...note I said "thinking". Before long, it's super pandemonium in a good 'ole fashion kill fest as zombie like people run rampant and electricity bolts are everywhere. Anyhow the effects on this are quite notable, sure it's a bit cheesy in places but it never veers too far off course. It has violence, sex, a decent enough story considering what the plot entails (it is based upon a book by Colin Wilson called "Space Vampires"). Give it a whirl if you like colorful sci-fi/horror from the '80s, but if you are looking for something seriously scary this won't be ideal.

Availability:  On DVD

The Oblong Box (1969) aka Dance, Mephisto

2.5 / 5 Jun '11
Tagline: For the first time... the classic tale of the restless dead and their unspeakable hungers!
Directed by: Gordon Hessler
Written by: Lawrence Huntington, Christopher Wicking, Edgar Allan Poe
Actors include: Rupert Davies, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee
Genre: Horror
Length: 97 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Sigh, to think I'd been holding back on watching this one because I thought it would be decent. Instead it turns out that it's the weakest Vincent Price film I think I've seen yet. First of all it claims to be based around the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name, but it seems to share more in common with The Body Snatcher. The story is about Brothers Sir Julian Markham (Price), and his deformed sibling Sir Edward. The two were off in Africa when the "accident" happened that left Sir Edward disfigured shaming the bloodline Julian kept him chained away. Anyhow some sort of escape plan hatches for Sir Edward with some help, and he's drugged in order to escape in his coffin only to be dug up later of course. Julian is content thinking his Brother is dead, but when a feller in a red mask starts bothering people (as I don't see how tapping them with red paint would do any more than bother a person) he begins to wonder. I think this story could have been made to be interesting with a fair bit of tweaking, and of course raising the level of horror. This wasn't satisfying at all, even the kills were even boring! Even at 97 minutes it overstays it's welcome by a fair margin, I just wanted everyone to shut up and die already (not a really good sign). It's just shocking that a venture with Price and even having Christopher Lee appear in the film that it couldn't be any better than this. Watch all the other AIP, and Price flicks first, save this disappointment for a rainy day.

Availability:  On DVD

The Contraption (1977)

4 / 5  Jun '11
Tagline:  James Dearden
Written by:  James Dearden
Actors include:  Richard O'Brien, Charlotte Cornwell
Genre:  Horror, Short, Mystery
Length:  8 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:

Such strange little short film, I can honestly say I've seen nothing like it before and that's too bad really.  It's so simple yet so entertaining, it's definitely memorable as well.  It starts out like a Home Improvement show as watch a man maniacally build....yes a contraption.  We don't know what it is until of course it's used so hang in there (it's only 8 minutes c'mon here).  It's actually silent barring one line of dialogue at the end, but it doesn't need words.  Not much I can say without giving anything away so just watch it here and be amused: 

Availability:  I don't believe it's on DVD

Panic (1978)

5 / 5 June '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: James Dearden
Written by: James Dearden
Actors include: Julie Neesam, Peter Blake, Avis Bunnage
Genre: Horror, Short
Length: 17 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Wow what a fantastically creepy little short story, especially considering I haven't heard very much about it. This is the sort of film that doesn't smack you over the face with the horror, it's subtle but oh so effective. It's about a young woman called Mandy who we watch get in a spat with her boyfriend. She drives off into the rainy night and decides to perform an act of kindness by picking an old Woman (who happens to be the creepiest hitch-hiker I've ever seen) at the bus stop. She quickly becomes weirded out by this Woman and fakes a flat tire to get her out of the car. The old Woman leaves the bag she was clutching in the car, and this is where the horror begins. It's so gosh darned effective, I really couldn't ask for much more in such a short amount of time. This tale was remade as Turn Left (2006) which throws in a hint of the gratuity that this one didn't have, but it wasn't nearly as frightening.

Availability:  Not on DVD I don't think

Rubber Johnny (2005)

2.5 / 5  May '11
Tagline:  N/A
Directed by:  Chris Cunningham
Written by:  Aphex Twin
Actors include:  Elvis, Percy Rutherford
Genre:  Horror, Short, Animation
Length:  6 minutes
Banned:  Nope







Review:  
Pretty underwhelming little piece about a weird looking boy with shiny eyes who babbles.  He is locked in a basement because he contorts his body into unnatural positions and he's given a little dog for company.  Be prepared for a whole lot of bending and flashy editing as well as music from Aphex Twin.  It just didn't really do anything, and the distortions wore thin rather quickly.  I guess I expected more, and i wasn't really bothered by the fact the boy was supposed to be grotesque or at least he didn't trip me out.  I think if your a fan of this specific techno horror style then you will probably like this but I'll never see it again.

Availability:  On DVD

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

Dream Demon (1988)

 3 / 5 May '11
Tagline: Two women trapped in a savage nightmare...
Directed by: Harley Cokeliss
Written by: Christopher Wicking, Harley Cokeliss
Actors include: Jemma Redgrave, Kathleen Wilhoite, Timothy Spall
Genre: Horror
Length: 86 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:

Overall this is a rather dry and lifeless reworking of A Nightmare on Elm Street however it does have a few surprises along the way. Diana is a rich and famous young British Lass who is hounded by the press about her upcoming marriage. She starts having horribly violent dreams, and until she meets an American girl called Jenny (the only charismatic character in the film played by Kathleen Wilhoite). Jenny believes her past is somehow tied into the house that Diana is staying in, and the two become fast friends. When they realize that the demons in Diana's dreams are causing real damage as she pulls people into dangerous situations if they are nearby. This doesn't sound familiar at all does it? Heck even down to the rescuing of a little girl from a fire that transforms when rescued it's so recycled. Still the thing that really will make this worth watching for genre fans is the surprising gore...heck the best scene is borrowed from 力王 [Riki Oh: The Story of Ricky]. It has potential, it's just a shame they couldn't have made it a bit more exciting and less cliche.

Availability:  Not currently on DVD

Horror Hospital (1973) aka Computer Killers

3 / 5 Apr '11
Tagline: The Operation is a Success ... When the Patient Dies
Directed by: Antony Balch
Written by: Alan Watson, Antony Balch
Actors include: Michael Gough, Robin Askwith, Vanessa Shaw
Genre: Horror, Black Comedy, Sci-Fi
Length: 100 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one silly campy and ridiculous mess of a movie but parts of it were at least amusing. It's about a rock singer (who definitely looks like a member of the Rolling Stones) who wrote a really fantastic song (so he says) that is ripped off by his band. He needs a breather so he sees an advert for "Hairy Holidays" (what?) and signs up immediately. He happens to meet up with a young lady (with an identical haircut) at the train station on the way to the retreat. Of course she is headed to the same retreat to meet her Aunt Harris (who happens to be one of the staff at this place). This place isn't quite what they expected...in fact it's a hospital where the evil Dr. Storm (Michael Gough) uses clients to perform mind control surgery of some sort. It really doesn't bother with things like logic or scares, it's very much a black comedy really. It at least does bother to offer a unique decapitation method you won't soon forget but little else is worth remembering.

Availability:  On DVD

The Sandman (1991)

4 / 5 Apr '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Paul Berry
Written by: N/A
Actors include: N/A
Genre: Horror, Animation
Length: 9 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I did not see this coming somehow...no wonder children are terrified of the Sandman! The style is Tim Burtonesque, sort of gnarled and twisted but whimsical too. It's created with stop-motion and the attention to detail is remarkable. The story is about a Mother who sends her little Boy up to bed with a flickering candle. Before long the Sandman is creeping around, but what could he want? Surprising and refreshing, not the sort of thing one should show to children at all. Very creative and creepy little delight, well worth checking out, and it was nominated for an Oscar for best short film in 1992.

Availability:  I don't think it's on DVD

Witchfinder General (1968) aka Conqueror Worm

4 / 5 Mar '11
Tagline: He'll hang, burn and mutilate you. He's the... witchfinder general
Directed by: Michael Reeves
Written by: Michael Reeves, Tom Baker
Actors include: Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies
Genre: Horror
Length: 86 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although it's not the best of it's kind, it's a very well done tale of a witch finder and it has Vincent Price in the title role...what more could you want? The sets, and cinematography are very nice, and the acting is decent as well. It's not the quickest paced film, but when it picks up it becomes pretty entertaining and even a bit bloody! The tale is of the Witchfinder and his assistant coming to town to accuse a Priest of witchcraft. The priest has a lovely Niece who is engaged to a brave young man who fights for Parliament. While he's away the Witchfinder betrays his Bride-To-Be and revenge is all he can think about. I appreciated that they did include some fun scenes of torture and cruelty. Pretty classic really, though I hate to say that I prefer it's copycat Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält [Mark of the Devil]. Thanks to tuukkis for suggesting that I watch this!

Availability:  On DVD

Triangle (2009)

3 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: Fear Comes in Waves
Directed by: Christopher Smith
Written by: Christopher Smith
Actors include: Joshua McIvor, Melissa George, Jack Taylor
Genre: Horror
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
It's like Groundhog Day meets The Shining only not nearly as good as either. The story takes place with a group of friends going sailing, but things turn out for the worst once they hit a big storm and their boat overturns. Standing on the overturned boat they are relieved to see a big ship appear out of nowhere, though nobody seems to be greeting them as they climb aboard. Shortly after they learn that they made a poor choice as murder and mayhem take place. It's a psychological thing and although I get the basics of what is going on here a little more explanation would have been nice. It is a bit bloody, the story does intrigue and the way they tie some things together is quite clever. Although it isn't earth shattering and it's a bit unsatisfying it's still worth a gander, at least some effort was definitely put forth here and it's well shot, and the actors do a decent job.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Sudden Terror (1970) aka Eyewitness

3 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: Pins you to the edge of your seat.
Directed by: John Hough
Written by: Ronald Harwood
Actors include: Mark Lester, Susan George, Lionel Jeffries
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this is a rather clean thriller that hasn't many thrills but it has a few interesting ideas at least. Our story is about a boy named Ziggy (played by Mark Lester of Oliver! fame) who is a chronic liar, storyteller and brat. His sister takes him to go see the President drive by, only he takes off and ends up witnessing the assassination of this President. Of course he's seen, and he's chased and blah blah blah, boy who cries wolf story of course. Of course nobody believes him until it's almost too late, and Sister (Susan George) meets a stranger who is very resourceful and together with their Grandfather they all must try and stay alive. It's just not as action packed and violent as I'd have liked, and Ziggy was just such an obnoxious character I was rooting for the bad guys to get him. Oh well, I sat through it without too much struggle, I just expected a fair bit more out of this.

Availability:  On DVD

Night Of The Eagle (1962) aka Burn, Witch, Burn!

3.5 / 5 Dec '10
Tagline: Witch or Woman, What Was It?
Directed by: Sidney Hayers
Written by: Fritz Leiber Jr., Charles Beaumont
Actors include: Janet Blair, Peter Wyngarde, Margaret Johnston
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is actually a charming little film even though at times it's rather dry and talky and it's not exactly scary though I'm sure at the time the subject matter creeped a few out. Norman Taylor is a charming young teacher, his students adore him and he has everything life could offer, even an adoring wife (played by singer Janet Blair). When he discovers his Wife has been engaging in the practice of witchcraft (he doesn't believe in it) he burns all of her protection gear. Well let's just say burning voodoo style stuff isn't exactly the best plan as they are sort of doomed from that point on. This has some pretty neat scenes and the visuals are positively lovely, even though parts are less than interesting the bigger picture is engaging enough to keep following it. If you are looking for straight up horror you might be disappointed but if you are looking for a neat little story that has horror elements than this is more for you.

Availability:  On DVD

The Woods (2006)

2 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: Every high school has its secrets...
Directed by: Lucky McGee
Written by: David Ross
Actors include: Lauren Birkell, Agnes Bruckner, Jane Gilchrist
Genre: Horror
Length: 91 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well the biggest pro I can think of with this movie is main character Heather (Agnes Bruckner) who is charismatic and really carries the film. Everything else is pretty much uninteresting, particularly because it borrows pretty heavily from a much better film (Suspiria). Heather is a bad girl who likes to start fires, she is put in this special school out in the woods. The teachers seem very strange, and the classmates seem afraid or snobbish, depending on whom you go to. When students start disappearing Heather must find out the real truth about the school before it's too late! It unfortunately feels a big like an M. Night Shyamalan picture which I find off-putting, I really hoped it would be more like Lucky McKee's other film May. Oh well, it started off much stronger than it ended up, it was actually laughable in places and I don't think it's aim was to be silly. Oh and all of you Bruce Campbell fans take note, he appears in the film in a minor role but you will probably want to see it for that reason alone. It's not the worst thing ever, but I certainly had hoped for a heck of a lot more.

Availability:  On DVD

Scream Pretty Peggy (1973)

4 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Gordon Hessler
Written by: Jimmy Sangster, Arthur Hoff
Actors include: Ted Bessell, Bette Davis, Sian Barbara Allen
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 73 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Pretty darned entertaining although entirely derivative of two movies specifically A Bucket of Blood and Psycho but it's still good fun. The story is about a girl whom they call pretty Peggy (though I think that's quite an exaggeration), she needs a job and is interested in sculpture. When she finds a low paying house cleaning job working for a semi-famous sculptor named Jeffrey and his unusual elderly Mother (Bette Davis playing that role she plays in horror films). Peggy is desperately throwing herself at Jeffrey and eagerly trying to please the family, but his Mother keeps trying to get her to quit. Peggy soon starts to suspect something isn't quite right when she sees someone moving around in the forbidden rooms over the garage. Also when a Man turns up looking for his missing daughter who used to work for the family, she gets suspicious. It's pretty satisfying even if quite predictable, but for a made-for-tv movie it's pretty stellar.

Availability:  On DVD but I'm not sure how common it is

The Children (2008)

3 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: You brought them into this world. Now ... They will take you out.
Directed by: Tom Shankland
Written by: Tom Shankland, Paul Andrew Williams
Actors include: Eva Birthistle, Rachel Shelley, Stephen Campbell Moore
Genre: Horror
Length: 84 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
The first half of this movie is so gosh darned painful that I barely made it to the second more exciting half but I'm glad I did. See the first half of the film is two couples with their children (and one teenager) arrive at a cottage for Christmas. The children are continually screaming and making terrible noise, it's enough to give anyone a headache. I mean seriously, 40 minutes of kids banging on toys running all willy nilly while Adults try to talk over top and the teenager pouts...so frigging awful. At least the second half gave us some action as the little children start attacking and killing the adults in gruesome ways. The effects are decent and it does look cool with all that blood out in the snow, credit there. The style is a but frustrating as things happen so fast it's often hard to get what just happened, I mean it's obvious seconds later but at the time it's kind of annoying. Still the revenge and attack scenes are pretty cool, and the teenager becomes a rather likeable warrior. Also who doesn't enjoy watching irritating children go down? Some of the reactions seem a bit silly, would Parents really be that oblivious but I'm not one, so maybe I just don't get that aspect. The story does offer a few twists and turns too that maybe aren't instantly obvious, so definite points for trying there too. Not the greatest new movie ever but it did have some things worthy of mentioning and it's probably worth a viewing for fans of horror.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Tomb Of Ligeia (1964)

4 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: Even on her wedding night she must share the man she loved with the "female thing" that lived in the Tomb of the Cat!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Edgar Allan Poe
Actors include: Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd, John Westbrook
Genre: Horror
Length: 81 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Another fun Poe/Vincent Price/Roger Corman film and in fact it was the last in this series with Corman & Poe. Verden Fell (Price who seems too old to be in the role but who cares) plays a reclusive man who meets and falls in love with and marries Lady Rowena (Elizabeth Shepherd). The only problem is that Verden was married before to a Lady Ligea who tragically died, and he's still obsessed with her. There is also a black cat who lingers about and seems less than welcoming, especially to Lady Rowena. After a while of this environment some strange changes start taking place with Lady Rowena's behavior as well, but what could be going on? It's very stylish and the scenery and ruins are superb to watch, the actors really make this easy to enjoy as well. It's not the best film in their series of collaborations but it's still quite good and worthy of a viewing.

Availability:  On DVD

A History Of Horror With Mark Gatiss (2010) BBC4

4 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: N/A
Written by: N/A
Actors include: Mark Gatiss, John Carpenter, Barbara Steele
Genre: Horror Documentary
Length: 3 hours (3 one hour episodes)
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this Mark Gatiss is someone who shares many of the same horror opinions I do, so I found this particular series quite a bit of fun to watch though it didn't have much that I didn't already know to offer. The first episode focuses mainly on the '30s to the '50s, really the beginnings of American and British horror (it completely avoids most other films for some reason, the gaping hole being the German films of the time). It goes into Val Lewton (who for some reason Carpenter disses big time...I like Lewton), Lon Chaney and a brief summery of his horror works, James Whale and of course the Universal Monster films. The second episode focuses on the Hammer Horror age with close attention to that studio, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and even into some Amicus anthologies that I love and even a Tigon production (The Blood on Satan's Claw). It definitely mainly focuses in on the UK but that is where most of the action was at that time. The third portion goes into slashers like Psycho, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the like, but it stops right after Halloween. Also since this set of episodes is so British centric I was surprised there was no mention of Pete Walker. At least they tried to talk to several people involved, and Mark takes us to several of the locations and throws in little tidbits here and there too. It's not comprehensive...it is just his favorite films and some of the details within so yes many areas are completely untouched but what it does cover is interesting and informative. Mark is a likeable host though where he and I disagree is that I think there is merit in the '80s slashers and so forth but heck I at least like every film I've seen mentioned on the list (and I'd seen most of them). Worthy of a viewing for fans of the genre, but if you like the new stuff this might have nothing to offer you.

Availability:  Airs on BBC4 from time to time