The Whip and the Body (1963)

As I sat here on the eve of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday, I had originally intended to watch one of he classics based on his works. However, after some thought, I decided to venture into something that could have been inspired by Poe, with the 1963 Mario Bava classic The Whip and the Body.  

Plot/ In the 19th century, a sadistic nobleman terrorizes the members of his family. He is found dead, but his ghost soon returns to haunt the residents of his castle.

I am sure that when this one came out, it was controversial with the mixture of gothic horror with some sadism mixed in for good measure. In 1963, movies such as that were considered taboo, and likely would have not been well received. Starring Christopher Lee, this Mario Bava entry is an entertaining movie, and one that has many of the elements that made his movies memorable. Between the beautiful cinematography and the stylistic use of colors, solid performances, and an interesting storyline, this movie has everything a Bava fan could ask for. Yes, the ending does feel lacking and there a many illogical moments, but those almost seem to be part of Bava lore. In the end, this movie is an entertaining watch and one that should be viewed. If you have not seen it, but love gothic horror cinema, give it a shot.

Blood Feast (1963)

There is nothing like watching one of those memorable films that helped shape my love of the horror genre, and that is exactly what I did last night. What was that movie? It was the 1963 splatterfest Blood Feast!

Plot/ An Egyptian caterer kills various women in suburban Miami to use their body parts to bring to life a dormant Egyptian goddess, while an inept police detective tries to track him down.

There are times where it can be difficult to trace the origins of a storyline or genre. That is definitely not the case with this movie, as it is one of the most influential movies of the splatter/gore movement in horror. This movie by Herschell Gordon Lewis may not be the most technically sound, it mat lack a coherent plot, and the effects are laughable at best, but its place in horror history is cemented by the blood, guts, gore, and beauties that became all the rage in exploitation and 1980s big box cinema. In the end, this may not be the best movie of its kind and it has some major problems besides what I already mentioned, but that does not matter one bit. This movie takes no prisoners and does not care that it offends, which makes it one of the best gorefests to ever grace the screen. If you have not seen it; you are wrong! Check this one out.

Evil Eye (1963)

Now that I finished my last movie from Family Video, it is time to dive back into some of the great films I have caught on Shudder. The next one in line from the string of flicks (now interrupted by a Supernatural marathon with Jillian), is the 1963 Mario Bava classic Evil Eye (AKA The Girl Who Knew too Much).

Plot/ Nora is a young tourist traveling through Rome which takes a sudden turn when she witnesses a murder by a serial killer that the police have sought for years for the so-called Alphabet Killings, and Nora soon finds herself in way-over-her-head trouble when the police want her cooperation to catch the killer while the mystery killer soon targets her for his next victim.

There is nothing like a classic Italian giallo, and in many ways, the origin of that horror subgenre can be traced to the Mario Bava standard. This one has every aspect one would look for in that movement. Full of atmosphere and tension, this is a great mixture of thriller and suspense that draws the viewer in and keeps them enthralled throughout. The performances are solid, the cinematography masterful, and every scene and set matches the anxiety that emanates from the storyline. Plus, with perfect black and white elements, this one definitely transports the viewer back to one of the greatest eras of horror cinema. Yes, it is quite tame and some gore fans will not like it, but for me, it is one of the best films of the genre. In the end, this one is definitely worth watching and is a must for fans of the giallo subgenre. If you have not seen it, what are you waiting for?

Dementia 13 (1963)

Well, I thought I was done with the Horror: Do Not Watch Alone set when it dawned on me that I have not wrote a review of one of the first horror movie I have ever seen (not to mention watched a few times over the past 30 or so years). So, I watched it again last night. That movie is Dementia 13.

Plot/ John Haloran has a fatal heart attack, but his wife Louise won't get any of the inheritance when Lady Haloran dies if John is dead. Louise forges a letter from John to convince the rest of his family he's been called to New York on important business, and goes to his Irish ancestral home, Castle Haloran, to meet the family and look for a way to ensure a cut of the loot. Seven years earlier John's sister Kathleen was drowned in the pond, and the Halorans enact a morbid ritual in remembrance. Secrets shroud the sister's demise, and soon the family and guests begin experiencing an attrition problem.

Ironically Hollywood Icon Francis Ford Coppola's made his debut with this one (it is amazing how many greats start in Horror). This combination Thriller/Mystery/Horror is one of the first entries in what became the slasher boom, this flick is pretty good featuring a solid storyline, great atmospheric build-up with the use of sound effects and some shocking scenes especially for that era. Unfortunately, the flick is far from perfect and does suffer some minor flaws with the killers identity too easily discerned throughout the film, which tends to take away from the overall feel. In the end, this is a low budget gem backed by Roger Corman and one that is easily found and a must see.

The Ghost (1963)

Saturday has gone, another day gone by, and another few hours of counting down until Hurricane Irene makes her presence known (although, I expect more rain than anything). As I sit here thinking of my blog (and the vintage wiggling hand I picked up earlier). I decided to finish up a review of the underrated 1963 Italian Horror flick The Ghost starring the lovely Barbara Steele.  

Plot/ A woman and her lover murder her husband, a doctor. Soon, however, strange things start happening, and they wonder if they really killed him, or if he is coming back from the dead to haunt them.

Man, I love Barbara Steele! She is a true horror icon and is captivating on screen. This movie is no different as she is at the top of her game.  This rather bland and clichéd story is something of a quandary. Yes, it features some great atmospheric elements, some solid cinematography, sound and Steele,, but the overall feel lacks depth. The acting is so-so and the plot is fairly common, really nothing spectacular. In the end, if you are a fan of Italian Horror, you will definitely enjoy this one and really it is worth watching at least once.  

The Birds (1963)

It was awesome on Saturday night as all four of my daughters were sitting together at their grandmothers’ house watching some television. Fortunately, I never leave the house unprepared for just these situations, and this time was no different. So, without hesitation, I fired up the DVD player for the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock classic The Birds!

Plot/ A wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.

Ever since I watched this classic the first time years ago, I was hooked on all things Alfred Hitchcock. Everything the master did was amazing and I am still amazed at the quality of his flicks all these years later. The Birds feature some of the best special effects of the era (especially the attack scenes), great cinematography, solid acting and an awesome soundtrack. His use of silence to build tension and atmosphere was brilliant and worked perfectly. Yes, originally I found the ending a bit anticlimactic, but that has grown on me more and more every time I watch it and the dialogue has started to feel dated, but those are very minor flaws that are barely noticeable. This is a true classic and film that everyone should enjoy. If you have not watched it yet, why not? Check it out!
 

Black Sabbath (1963)

After watching Phantasm IV: Oblivion, I stumbled upon, Mario Bava’s classic, Black Sabbath from 1963 on Netflix. That masterpiece is always a joy to watch.

Plot/ A trio of atmospheric horror tales about: A woman terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from an escaped prisoner from her past; a Russian count in the early 1800s who stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a particularly vicious line of vampires; and a 1900-era nurse who makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients - an elderly medium who died during a séance.

This is a great example of what made Mario Bava one of the greatest names in horror. Full of atmosphere and creepiness, his cinematography, with his signature lighting and unique camera work, remain an art form all its own. While the three segments are a bit uneven, and at times even predictable, the solid direction and acting keep the film alive. All-in-all, this is a great flick and one that is truly a joy to watch. Check this out, you will not be disappointed.

The Raven (1963)

After a long day, I decided to turn to something reliable to put a smile on my face. What is that? The combination of Roger Corman, Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe, in 1963s The Raven.

Plot/ A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help in this film loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

While this Roger Corman adaptation of Poe’s The Raven is far from a horror flick, it is definitely a must see for horror fans. Yes, there is not much linking the film to Poe other than the title, but what Richard Matheson’s scripting created is one of the best Corman trips into the world of Poe. Littered with comedy, the fusing of Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff (with a young Jack Nicholson), really works within the confines of this often overlooked Corman masterpiece. The special effects are decent (especially on the budget), the sets are tremendous and the script is amazing. Yes, there are flaws (as there are in all of Corman’s low-budget flicks), but they are easily overlooked. Check this out, you will not be disappointed.

Terrified! (1963)

Another night, another time that I can not see myelf diving back into the Undead Collection. With success on my first venture into the Gorehouse Great Collection being a successful one in Blood Mania, I figured I would roll the dice one more time and watch Terrified. I remember watching this for the first time back growing up on Chilly Billy's Chiller Theatre, it was one of those movies that just drew me in and made me want to watch it all over again (I beleive I actually recorded it one night, but who knows now). Seeing it on the Gorehouse Greats set made it an easy selection, although I hadn't seen it in 10-to-15 years.

Plot/ A well dressed but stealthy psychopath is terrorizing kids in a ghost town (starting awesomely with an opening sequence where a guy is being buried in wet cement). Marge and two men, David and Ken are determined to find out what happened. When Ken is left alone in town, the villain targets him in throughout the film.

Directed by silent movie legend Lew Landers (actually his last film), the movie is definitely more about atmosphere than horror. Yes, the script isn't great and the budget cannot be much better, but Landers does an amazing job transforming the settings into desolate and eerie surroundings perfect for a killer to work his magic. While the acting isn't the greatest, the film as a whole works tremendously and really stands tall within the "B" Movie genre. To me, this is a great film and a "Must See" for fans of that era or the movies of William Castle.