Voodoo Woman (1957)
An uninspired little B-movie, no different from a million others. The only thing which makes this one distinct is the use of a jungle setting, although this is obviously studio bound. The acting is all pretty much standard for a…
The 27th Day (1957)
“The 27th Day”. It’s premise immediately called to mind the plot for the the best film of it’s kind in the genre, “The Day The Earth Stood Still”. However, instead of offering the citizens of Earth an ultimatum as in…
El Topo (1970)
So far I had only seen Jodorowsky’s “Santa Sangre”, but that one happens to be my all-time favorite film! One thing’s for sure with this director whenever you check out one of his films for the first time: you should…
20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)
20 Million Miles to Earth is written by Bob Williams and Christopher Knopf from an original treatment by Charlott Knight. The film was produced by Charles H. Schneer’s Morningside Productions for Columbia Pictures and directed by Nathan H. Juran. It…
Baron Blood (1972)
Mario Bava’s BARON BLOOD is a fine a tribute to the monster movies of Hollywood’s golden age. So evocative of that period is this film that it takes not even a moment’s thought to mentally recast Boris Karloff as the…
Kill Baby, Kill (1966)
Mario Bava may well be the most influential horror director of all time. His works have admittedly served as inspiration not only among horror directors, but well-regarded auteurs such as Federico Fellini, Tim Burton and David Lynch. He’s basically responsible…
Playgirls of Munich (1977)
Roger Caine and Zebedy Colt are two American telephone repair men in New York. Caine has a book about “Sexual Europe” and reads about the Bavarian ways in Munich. On a repair job in the airfield, they decide to take…
The Beyond (1981)
The story is a disturbing mix of elements. In the first minutes during the execution of Schweick , it is clear what kind of tale is L’aldilá. Vengeance beyond the grave, an apocalypse that is unavoidable. Common people trapped in…
Panic in Year Zero! (1962)
This is a genuinely enjoyable example of a “post-nuclear holocaust survival film.” It may seem a bit campy by modern standards, but is actually well thought- out and acted. The early 60’s were an era in which it seemed possible…
Hands of the Ripper (1971)
Orphaned teenager Anna (innocent-looking Angharad Rees) is placed under the care of the awful Mrs. Golding (Dora Bryan), a fake medium who uses her in moneymaking schemes and pimps her out to customers, which leads to her murder. Anna is…
The Exterminator (1980)
John Eastland (Robert Ginty) is a Vietnam vet whose war buddy and long time best friend Michael Jefferson (Steve James.) When Michael is fatally wounded by thugs, Eastland decides that not only those responsible should pay: the pimps, pushers and…
The Black Sleep (1956)
“The Black Sleep” is a glorious, elegant all-star “monster romp” in black and white from Hollywood’s “ghoulden era.” The film has it all: rich performances (both mimed and spoken), evocative sets, lighting and cinematography, an involving story and detailed script,…
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)
The wealthy Dr. William Barton (Jeff Morrow) organizes an expedition to the Florida Everglades with the scientists Dr. Thomas Morgan (Rex Reason), Dr. Borg (Maurice Manson) and Dr. Johnson (James Rawley) to capture the Creature. They navigate in the ship…
Thunder (1983)
When Thunder (played by Mark Gregory of 1990:Bronx Warriors) returns home to see his girlfriend, he finds the local bank has financed the construction of a new building directly on top a sacred family Indian burial ground still owned by…
This Island Earth (1954)
The basic story: Some scientists are being gathered by an unknown agency to work on leading-edge technology. It turns out that the agency is really peopled by extraterrestrials whose motives, in the beginning of the film, are unclear. Before the…
The House by the Cemetery (1981)
If I have to be objective, I would say that I can understand why some people criticize “The House by the Cemetery” for being a film that lacks of logical explanations all the way through. As a matter of fact,…
Cockfighter (1974)
“Cockfighter” is not an easy movie. It doesn’t have one of those carbon-copy scripts that you can write like cheap romance novels. It doesn’t have characters that cater to what the stars think will make them look good. There is…
Masters Of Your Own Fate
A group of business associates and I were traveling back from Atlanta this week. It is a long drive but the emerging greenery and the fresh spring air make it pleasant. Seated beside me in the front passenger seat was…
The Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
The vampires drink blood to survive but besides this they seem pretty human. They can tolerate daylight, but not direct sunlight. They also are not all that powerful, but the head vampire can summon one of his brood from afar,…
Savage Abduction (1973)
Very little to do with bikers, biker gangs and the “Ride Free, Ride hard” attitude. There are no 1% riders here. What we are left with is mostly a bad psychological mess with a wealthy homicidal maniac, with an Oedipus…