This film starts out in a morgue with two doctors feeling bad because of the task assign to them . The two doctors must find out what happened to the young wopman on the table who as died. Soon the scene is one where the young woman Laura is telling the story of her life and death. We soon find out that Laura was married to the son of a doctor and this is no happy marriage. Ward her husband wants out and his father is willing to help. Laura tells us that she was held against her will while the doctor and his son attempted to drive her mad or scared her to death. Entered into the story is an ex detective whose awaiting a murder to redeem himself, a noisy housemaid , a reporter with his brainless girlfriend and the creepy hyptonist with his dwarf friend who know a secret. As the movie moves along we learn that Laura may have been married before and betrayed her first husband to the Nazi’s. Is it her new husband and his father trying to scare her to death or the spirit of her first husband come back from the dead?
Reason to Watch
Even though the script is horrific. One shouldn’t miss Scared to Death for the movie is fun. I mean where else can you find so many sany characters under one roof. No one is trying for an Oscar in this movie so all you get is a bunch of actors just attempting to remember there lines. The great part is that you get to watch as they try to finish this movie. I couldn’t even figure out what the dwarf’s name was the detective keeps calling him Indigo while Lugosi calls hom Ingo. There is also a great scene where Indigo or Inigo stomps the detective foot which is straight out of the three stooges.
Context
The movie was released in 1947 post WWll hence the reference to the Nazi’s. The women in the movie are typicall women of movies from this era helpless with know direction.
Most Memorable Quote(s)
1. “Pardon me, Professor, but didn’t I just see you outside baying at the moon.
2.The scene where the maid attempts to announce the arrival of Leonide. He tells her. My dear girl, if I allowed myself to be announced, I doubt I would be recieved anywhere.
What You Need to Get Through This Movie
You will need a foley implanted in your bladder if you plan to watch this movie on some late night movie channel and not on dvd. You need the foley for if you get up to go to the restroom you’ll miss some thing and be totally confused. Beyond confused you’ll miss good laugh scenes. Oh, don’t forget your 3D glasses. No, the films not in 3D but you might want them for the blue or green mask collage that keeps appearing. And don’t forget earplugs to drown out the spooky music that comes for no reason.
Trivia
One of only three films in color Bela Lugosi ever appeared in. In fact, Scared to Death, which was filmed in Cinecolor is the only color film in which Bela Lugosi was the star.
Educational Content
1. Never knew a doctor could listen to your heart and discover you were hypnotised.
2. This film will encourage you to stop drinking or find a new group of friends after you witness poor Wards fate of an unplanned marriage after to much partying.
3. Never let a creepy guy and a dwarf who are dressed alike enter your home you just know troubles coming.
4. Only time I’ve ever witnessed someone look at a BW photo and still figure out colors in the photo.
Justification for Rating
I give Scared to Death a five for it’s a movie that attemps to hold on to what it set out to be. A great cheesy B- movie and that folks is just what it is. There no over acting for the actors in this movie for theres no real script in the first place. But like I said everyone tries and thats what makes a great movie.
Imagine little people fighting big hungry invaders.Now imagine hero astronaut who comes to save the day. Thats Phantom Planet; well almost. When an astronaut is forced to make a crash landing on a remote astroid he gets more than he bargain for. In order to survive the astonaut must wonder out his spaceship and breath the air on this astroid. Breathing the air has drastic consequences for the astronaut as he discovers he’s shrinking. Shruken to a measley 6 inches he soons finds out that he’s not alone; as there are other wee little people on the astroid with him. These wee little people inform him of there fate; the battle against the scary Solarites. The Solarites are creatures who wish to eat the wee little people. Our hero and the wee little people who have turned the astroid into a spaceship forge a battle against the evil Solarites. And of course, fall in love along the way.
Reason to Watch
There is nothing ike a cheap science fiction movie where all care and concern for accuracy is thrown out the window.The Phantom Planet is one movie where all concern for truth and reality was left on the doorstep. However, the movie is a great sci fi movie. It has action and even a love story. The pig faced Solarites are funny looking and I don’t know about you but every time I saw the wee little people I couldn’t help but think about the dwarves in The Wizard of Oz. Sure you can’t help but laugh at some of the corny lines that were written but hey thats what makes the movie so much fun. The sound efects even remind you a western shootout while the fight scenes are almost comical. The women are straight out of the sixties movie era; over flowing with lust fill eyes at the male lead. The goofs are obvious; for instance, the lead star in one scene looks at his wrist for the time even though he has no watch.
Context
The movie was made in the early sixities when America and the world was entering the space race. Everyone had dreams of what outer space held and Hollywood was ready to fuel there interest. Did it matter if Hollywood got it right? No, the only thing that the average movie goer was concerned about was good entertainment and Hollywood was prepaired to feed the hungry masses.
Most Memorable Quote(s)
Here are some best lines from the movie that am sure you’ll find funny and deeply moving. “You know Captain, every year of my life I grow more and more convinced that the wiset and the best is to fix our attention on the good and the beautiful. If you just take the time to lok at it.” Is this not dramatic writing. The Oscars were awaiting
What You Need to Get Through This Movie
First, don’t attempt to watch this movie alone I suggsest four to six close friends who share your worst tendencies. Why the need for a group? Well your going to need someone to help you finish all that beer am going to tell you to buy. Phantom Planet can be tedious at times like pulling teeth; yet, so corny that you can’t stop watching. Have you ever pass a car weak and just couldn’t pull your attention away? Phantom Planet will grab your attention in the same way. You won’t to turn away but can’t. And don’t forget that with a large group of friends you’ll always have someone to turn off the television if you drift of into space.
Trivia
Included in the cast of Phantom Planet are some legendary actors. Richard Kiel, known for his charater (Jaws) in the seventies James Bond action movies plays an evil giant Slorarite out to devour the citizens of Phantom Planet.
Educational Content
1. I never knew that breathing air could change your whole molecular make up and turn you into a wee little person.
2. Never knew that one could walk in outer space unteathered.
3. Check out the spaceship that takes off straight up into space but lands on it’s side.
4. Or a people so advance with space technology yet still live in caves and have no social graces.
Justification for Rating
Even though this movie is comical the film is still a crowd pleaser as it tries to entertain us with science fiction fantasy and action . Within the movie you can see the rise of the future science fiction shows like Star Trek.
Due to the radioactive fallout from a returning space probe, dead bodies are returning to “life” and stalking human prey, eating their victims once they catch up to them. A group of disparate people barricade themselves inside a farmhouse hoping to be rescued from these beings. I’m sure that at the time of its release, this classic, influential movie shocked and repulsed viewers. Time, and countless pale imitations, have taken some of its impact away, but it’s still great viewing. The budget – which I can believe was very low – only serves to gives the movie an almost realistic feel. Acting is very sharp, especially from top-billed Duane Jones, cast in what must have been the first (or one of the first) instances of a horror movie having an African-American hero. The only sour note may be that the leading female character, played by Judith O’Dea, is unfortunately one-note – wimpy and useless. This movie is actually more genuinely spooky than many of the more glossier and explicit horror movies released since. In fact, in a similar fashion to Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”, the movie makes quite a good use out of a low budget, and it’s entertaining throughout. Co-writer / director George A. Romero and co-writer John Russo have bit parts; co-stars Karl Hardman (who plays ‘Harry Cooper’) and Russell Streiner (who appears uncredited as ‘Johnny’) were the movie’s producers. Remade by Romero in 1990; followed by “Dawn of the Dead” in 1978 and “Day of the Dead” in 1985 and then a slew of “Return of the Living Dead” feature
A transport bus from a hospital for disturbed children crashes and five extremely disturbed, psychologically unbalanced children escape from the bus. Wondering trough the snow the group comes across the large house of Papa Doc, who is hosting a weekend get-together with his business mates and their wives. Shortly after taking in five children, a caretaker and his friends begin to regret their generosity. No sooner have the kids arrived then they set out to lay traps for the adults in the house. A series of horrible murders follows and caretaker and his friends begin to die violent deaths, one after another.
Reason to Watch
If you like to watch savage and gory death scenes than this is the right movie for you.
Context
This movie was made in 1970′s, a period that coud be called a horror film fan’s nirvana, when low-budget fright shows were outdoing themselves to be the next Last House on the Left or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Most Memorable Quote(s)
Talking to the dead nun and driver: “Excuse me sister… Naughty maniac drivers don’t deserve medals”
What You Need to Get Through This Movie
Brand new, top of the top, security doors and alarm system because when the movie gets rolling you don’t want anyone uninvited to drop in.
Trivia
The first cut ran less than an hour so the producers had to get together and write additional scenes and bring in a new director to direct them. This explains why many of the actors sometimes seem to be in scenes by themselves, why the walls in some rooms change colors.
Educational Content
I know how kids can be cute, but think once more if you want to take strange kid into your house.
Justification for Rating
I didn’t really liked concept this movie but I must admit, those kids have interesting idea on how to kill someone.
This masterpiece by italian director Dario Argento revolves around the story of Marcus Daly, a music teacher, as he investigates the brutal murder of a mysterious psychic named Helga Ulmann. Many clues are present throughout the movie that should help Daly resolve the murder, but these are often overlooked by the music teacher, who has a hard time understanding what happens around him, and thus becomes a danger for himself and for others.
Reason to Watch
As with many of Argento’s movies, this is a very visual and psychological movie. Even though the story is pretty basic and overused, the settings, the imagery, and the psychological state in which the characters are is enough to make this movie very enjoyable.
Context
Profondo Rosso is definitively a good example of horror movies produced by Italy in the 70′s. Animal cruelty, mysterious characters and beautifully orchestrated scenes of violence abound, like in any good movie by Argento, Fulci or Deodato.
Most Memorable Quote(s)
Olga’s remark at the lizard mutilation scene is pure gold: “Don’t pay any attention; my father’s just a little crazy.”
What You Need to Get Through This Movie
This italian slasher is a good example of a movie where the rich smell of freshly cooked popcorn is essential (Although you won’t have much appetite during the viewing, unless the bubbly sound of hot blood makes you hungry)
Trivia
Note that the scene in which a small lizard gets impaled by a pin is entirely true, as it is often the case in italian horror movies where animals get injured.
Educational Content
This shocker film will let you know one thing: Are you a true B-movie snob? if you enjoyed it like I did, than yes, you can now attend horror movie shootings wearing a beret and cussing about how modern horror movies have “no soul”.
Justification for Rating
I love B movies. I love Dario Argento. I love italian horror movies. if you were like me, you’d put 4 stars too!
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