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Rating:

Review

In the world of horror it is a given that in every set of twins, one is good and one is evil. In Dead Men Walk we open at the funeral of a man, we quickly find out that his brother killed him, but that is OK because the surviving brother is the good twin as the dead twin was evil and obsessed with the occult. However it is through occult that the evil twin wakes from the dead and is now suddenly and for no particular reason a vampire seeking revenge. This is a pretty good film in it’s own right, Frances Zucco gets to stretch his acting chops as both brothers, they even get to appear on screen at the same time in some pretty flashy special effects. What makes this film interesting is that that bad guy is the one seeking revenge and really his only crime was looking into the occult for which he brother threw him off a cliff. I would be feeling pretty revengeful myself.

Reason to Watch

There is a good story, the characters are interesting and the acting is actually pretty good. As a vampire film it lacks blood, but 1940s cinema had not yet reached the gore stage of evolution.

Context

This film sits quite comfortably among other horror films in the 30s and 40s, you have a clear bad guy, some occult, and loads of people who don’t believe that any of that crazy mumbo jumbo is real.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

“You’ll pray for death long before you die”.

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

To get through this movie, I suggest the following cocktail, drunken by practitioners of the occult the world over. Brian Hemorrhage 1 oz. Peach Schnapps 1 tsp. Bailey’s Irish Cream 2 drops Grenadine Pour the Peach Schnapps into a large shot glass. Slowly add the Bailey’s and top with the grenadine.

Trivia

Diretor Sam Newfield is renowned as the most prolific director in Hollywood history, he directed over 300 films, 16 of those in 1943 alone. Dead Men Walk was the last film for Mary Carlisle, following yet another damsel-in-distress role she quite the silver screen forever.

Educational Content

1. No one will investigate the death of someone who falls off a cliff.
2. Always have lackey on hand who will dig up your corpse if you die.
3. The evil twin always dresses in black.
4. Books about vampires don’t burn.
5. A blood transfusion with cure all ills.

Justification for Rating

Dead Men Walk, tells only a small lie in the title, since only a Dead Man Walks. But all is forgiven for this neat little film that is bookend by funerals with plenty of drama in-between.

Rating:

Review

A crook decides to bump off members of his inept crew and blame their deaths on a legendary sea creature. What he doesn’t know is that the creature is real

Reason to Watch

I would like to mention that the film quality was horrible throughout most of this film, as was the sound. It made it really hard to get good screenshots of the characters in most instances, yet the most cheesiest moster made up for it all!

Context

Made in the early sixties it took place after the revolution in Cuba at sea mainly.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

Mary Belle: “You know sump’n? We oughta get married.”
Renzo: “Now don’t be a drag baby.”

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

The only way youll make it through this B film is a couple shots of morphine and a cuban cigar!

Trivia

http://www.amazon.com/Creature-Haunted-Sea-Black-White/dp/B001BSBBMG (you can also watch it in color!!)

Educational Content

If you encounter any sea monsters while on a boating trip you have a very good chance of smelling like a big turd afterwards.

Justification for Rating

Though I give the monster a 10 in the laugh factor. The blurrness and horrible sound brang it down to a 2.5

Rating:

Review

Carnival of Souls is a film that has a well known reputation as cult classic and for good reason. Mary Henry’s life goes terribly wrong when she accepts race that leads her to crash off a bridge and plunge into the muddy waters below. Everyone thinks the three girls in the died, but Mary Henry emerges out of the river unscaved. She now sets out to start a new life as an organ player (which everyone agrees is better than an organ donor). But she finds her self haunted by men in white-face and the idea that she doesn’t quite belong.

Reason to Watch

This is a cult classic, it is kinda spooky, kinda weird and the man sharing her bed and breakfast is kinda creepy. Makes for some good viewing.

Context

Clocking in a micro budget, director Herk Harvey intended the the film to only ever be seen as B-Movie. It flopped at the cinema and really found a home and an audience on late night TV.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

“I don’t know those big words, I’m just an ordinary guy who works in a warehouse.”
“You had a fright, hysteria won’t solve anything.”
“I am a person of strong will, the time to go out there is now and if have to, I will go out alone.”
“I not only drink really, I really drink.”

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

Plaster on a face mask so you like one of the ghouls, turn out all the lights and get shit faced on Whisky because you don’t just want to really like this film, you want to like this film really drunk. If you are going to make night of it, you might consider getting in Night of the Living Dead too and making it a double feature.

Trivia

David Lynch named this film as being an influence for his “Lost Highway”.
Star Candace Hilligoss was a Lee Strasberg-trained actress, however Carnival of Souls was one of only 2 films she appeared.
Director Herk Harvey plays the man in white face who freaks out Mary throughout the film.

Educational Content

1. Women can’t drive straight.
2. Men in white face is scary, men in black face is racist.
3. Souls enjoy a nice slow dance.
4. Church organ players don’t have to believe in God and can earn a pretty good wage.

Justification for Rating

So the ending is not going surprise anyone, but other than that there is a lot to like. For a small budget B-Movie it is actually quite scary, but then director Herk Harvey did spend his career making social guidance films like “What About Alcoholism?”, “Make Your Home Safe” and the truly shocking “Pork: The Meal with a Squeal”. This film gets 4.5 for giving me the willies when I watch it alone and laughs when I watch it with friends. A cult classic that should make up the corner stone of any horror DVD (download) collection.

Rating:

Review

Klaas van Gelder is the wealthy owner of a jungle plantation and married to the beautiful Dina. During a confrontation with his just-fired plantation manager (Barney Chavez, played by Raymond Burr), he discovers Chavez and Dina are having an affair and is thrown by Chavez into the path of a venomous snake. The murder is witnessed by Al-long, an old native woman, who provides a false alibi for Chavez the next day during questioning by police commissioner Taro (Lon Chaney). After witnessing the murder Al-long has, in fact, placed a voodoo spell on Chavez. Now married to Dina, he is cursed to turn into a gorilla each night as Taro begins to investigate the natives’ reports of a terrifying creature stalking the jungle. Worried and alienated by her husband, Dina is comforted by the local doctor, Viet. Increasingly unable to resist the draw of the jungle, Chavez continues to neglect his wife and is eventually suspicious and jealous of her relationship with Viet. He forces her into the jungle, where all parties converge for a final confrontation.

Reason to Watch

This particular film is one-stop shopping for the clich\u00e9s of the genre: beautiful and buxom blond (with a first-rate scream), creepy old woman with an eastern-European accent (in a tropical jungle, no less), urbane sub-supporting actor (also in love with the leading lady), exotic location, and sinister music.

Context

While dark and grainy cinematography often lends cheesiness to this genre’, it actually contributes to the quality of the special effects in this movie. You’ll find yourself unwilling to look away, determined to wait for a good look at the gorilla.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

Dr. Viet: White people shouldn’t live too long in the jungle.
Dina: (screaming in the distance)
Taro: Over here!
Dina: (screaming in the distance)
Taro: Over there!
Dina: (screaming in the distance)
Taro: Over here!
Narrator: Like something that has been haunting the world for millions of years, the jungle has punished Barney Chavez for his crime!

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

If you intend to avoid headaches and temporary blindness, you’ll want to ratchet the brightness button on your TV up a bit.

Trivia

This film was actually created for the sole purpose of being a second feature to a more mainstream film.

Educational Content

Who would have ever thought that Maria Ouspenskaya wasn’t the only actress in Hollywood that could play, opposite Lon Chaney, an old woman with an Eastern European accent?

Justification for Rating

Bride of the Gorilla is worth watching just to see a Lon Chaney movie in which the hand that turns hairy and beast-like isn’t Chaney’s.

Rating:

Review

Fonda Chu is a young woman who was just released from prison and is looking to make a fresh start. Things begin to look promising when a letter arrives offering her work at a newspaper in small town. Inquiring minds want to know who she is and where she came from. But it seems that no matter how hard she tries someone will not let her forget her past. Strange and awful things begin to happen to those around her and all fingers point straight to her. Fonda must figure out who is responsible and answer questions to her past before it is too late. Read the rest of this entry »