They Came From Beyond Space (1967)

Low budget Sci-Fi movies are often hard to judge by their cases, and this one we exception. Full of the typical schlock expected in the genre, this one does feature some interesting aspects. What is it? It is the 1967 Sci-Fi flick They Came from Beyond Space. 

Plot/ Scientists investigating an unusual meteor shower in a rural field are possessed by an alien force bent on an ulterior purpose.

From Amicus Productions, this Sci-Fi gem spans the spectrum, from good to bad. Known mostly for their horror anthologies, this entry shows that the company was more than that. While it is not a great movie by any means, it is also nowhere near as bad as it could have been. This one has an entertaining and interesting storyline, some outstanding cinematography (as usual) and some decent performances (not great) and effects. Yes, the score is a touch annoying and the costuming is laughable, but those add to the schlock value after all these years. In the end, this may not be the best movie of the genre produced during this era, but it is also not the worst. If you are in the mood for some low budget Sci-Fi, find this one on Amazon and enjoy it, I am decently sure that it will be well worth your time.

And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973)

Last night I decided to continue venturing down that retro path and turned to Shudder to find something interesting. After some debate, I decided on the 1973 gothic ghost story And Now the Screaming Starts!

Plot/ England, 1795: the young Catherine has just married Charles Fengriffen and moves into his castle. She becomes the victim of an old curse that lays on the family. On her wedding night, she is raped by a ghost and gets pregnant.

This was a different film than I expected and I was actually quite entertained by the odd elements that were added in. From Amicus Studios, this gothic ghost story offers an interesting (albeit somewhat clichéd) storyline that was brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Peter Cushing. The performances were solid, the cinematography and setting were captivating, the atmosphere was heavy, and the visuals and color pallet used was amazing. Yes, the special effects were lacking in quality and the end game was a bit drawn out, but those are small flaws in what is definitely an underrated film in the studios' catalog. In the end, while there were some contradictory moments in the storyline and some of the low budget flaws rise up, for the most part, this one delivers. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is an entertaining movie and one that can be found on Shudder for free if you are in the mood for a classic gothic ghost story.

Asylum (1972)

After spending the day with my beautiful and talented daughter Genesis in Morgantown today, I decided to kick back and find something interesting to watch. Incredibly, while searching Shudder, I accidentally stumbled upon a movie that has eluded me for decades (I could only remember the scenes with the tailor). That movie is the 1972 Amicus anthology Asylum.

Plot/ In order to secure a job at a mental institution, a young psychiatrist must interview four patients inside the asylum.

I love the horror anthologies put out by Amicus during the 1970s, and this one is falls in line with those. While this one may not be the best of its kind, it holds a special place in my heart, as it is the film that made me a fan of horror back decades ago. Yes, it is nowhere near as scary as I remember it as a child; this one has stuck with me (especially the story of the tailor). In fact, I have searched many years and watched many horror films trying to rediscover this one. The cast is outstanding, the performances solid, and the framing story does a great job at setting the atmosphere inside the dark and dismal asylum. Plus, with the stories coming from Robert Block, it is hard to imagine it not leaving an impression. Sure, some of the effects did not age well, and the material does seem a little tame in comparison to some of the other films of the era, but those flaws are easily overlooked. In the end, if you love the vintage anthologies from one of the best periods of horror cinema, give it a shot. It may not be the best, but it is entertaining and a fun watch.

The Beast Must Die (1974)

Sometimes I like to stem into something different when I sit back to watch a flick. Last night was one of those nights, as I wanted something that was both fun and interesting. After some thought, I decided on the 1974 werewolf flick The Beast Must Die.

Plot/ Eight people have been invited to an island estate for the weekend. One of them is a werewolf. Can you guess which one?

I love mysteries and this one was a bit of a surprise. Plus, this is definitely a different take for a werewolf movie being both entertaining and intriguing. The concept was tremendous (yes, somewhat clichéd and familiar in other genres), but it works well as a whodunit. Led by Peter Cushing, the cast is awesome and the scripting works in their favor with a great combination of action and schlocky dialog. On top of that, the decision on how to create the werewolf is perfect for the lower budget, the pacing flows well, and there are just enough twists to make it fun. Sure, the “Werewolf Break” does not really fit (not enough clues) and the some of the baseline theories do not make sense, but those are easy to overlook. In the end, this werewolf flick from Amicus is a fun trip into the genre and a great way to pass some time. Give it a shot if you are in the mood for something a little different.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

As I sat down to find something to watch in honor of the great Horror Icon Peter Cushing’s Birthday, I had nothing pop into my head. That is when I searched Netflix, and found a perfect flick the 1965 Amicus Anthology Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors.

Plot/ Five strangers board a train and are joined by a mysterious fortune teller who offers to read their Tarot cards. Five separate stories unfold: An architect returns to his ancestral home to find a werewolf out for revenge; a doctor discovers his new wife is a vampire; a huge plant takes over a house; a musician gets involved with voodoo; an art critic is pursued by a disembodied hand.

Being the first of the great Amicus anthologies, this is an important horror film. More importantly, it was the perfect film to celebrate the great Peter Cushing’s 98th birthday. To me, this is one of Cushing’s best roles, and he is brilliant with his performance. The five odd stories featuring a Disembodied Hand, Werewolves, Vampires, Voodoo and Creeping Vines were creepy and featured some tremendous pacing and most importantly atmosphere. Personally, my favorite was the Disembodied Hand featuring Christopher Lee. While not perfect, it is a great example of traditional British Horror and the weird fun that made the era of Classic Horror so much fun.

Torture Garden (1967)

Sitting here in my recliner, it will be nice to start watching some more horror flicks. Luckily, I have had some time now to catch-up on some of the flicks that I enjoyed here lately. Next up for review, the 1967 Amicus entry Torture Garden.

Plot/ A special sideshow torture exhibit has the power, according to the showman Dr. Diablo, to warn people of evil in their futures. The skeptical customers are shown the greed and violence they're hiding.

This Amicus entry is an interesting anthology, and actually decently entertaining. Based on the works of horror icon Robert Bloch, the stories vary from dark to humorous, with a very sound atmosphere throughout, the cast is solid and all have some very good performances (especially Jack Palance and Peter Cushing in The Man Who Collected Poe) and it carries a decent feel throughout. In the end, this is no masterpiece, Hell, it may not be the best Amicus Anthology, but it has enough moments and twists to keep it interesting (not to mention the eerie carnival music). While far from perfect, it is a must see for horror fans.

Tales from the Crypt (1972)

With the Steelers game on last night, it was not until late in the evening that I could relax and decide on another holiday horror classic. After some searching, I decided on the 1972 Amicus entry Tales from the Crypt.

Plot/ Five people are trapped in a crypt and are shown their futures by the evil cryptkeeper. They are given the option of avoiding their fates - by avoiding living out the rest of their lives.

This may be the best adaptation of the once controversial comic book, taking each of these stories directly from the pages. These tales are definitely a combination of the strange, terrifying and often baffling elements that seem to come out and perplex people. The script was solid, the cinematography was good and the atmosphere was tremendous. More importantly, the acting, which featured a cast with the likes of Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Patrick Magee and Sir Ralph Richardson as the crypt keeper was very believable. In all, this is a fantastic piece of 1970s British Horror and one that make perfect viewing during the holiday season.

Madhouse (1974)

As I move into day four of Vincent Price Week, I decided to watch and review his 1974 entry Madhouse. While this is not my favorite Price film, it definitely seems to grow on me more every time I watch it.

Plot/ Paul Toombes made himself a Hollywood star by playing the role of Dr. Death in a series of successful horror films written by his friend, Herbert Flay. Now, after years in a mental institution following the murder of his fiancée, Ellen - a murder that many, and even he himself, believe he committed - he wants nothing to do with the homicidal character. Herbert, who is writing a new TV series about Dr. Death, persuades him to return to the role. Paul soon regrets the decision when the producer of the series turns out to be the former maker of porn movies in which Ellen starred. Worse, his new female lead is arrogant and incompetent. Meanwhile, he discovers that he is not the only guest in Herbert's home. There's also Faye, his former co-star, who has gone mad after being deformed in a car explosion. But none of this unpleasantness compares to the horror of Dr. Death himself. It seems the character has a will of his own - a will to commit murder.

This is definitely more of a mystery, rather than pure horror (cheaply made horror film at that) that manages to add a small tinge of creepiness. Boast icons Price and Peter Cushing, it is a shame that this film, based on the novel Devilday by Angus Hall, seems to miss more than it hits. The script as many holes and despite some brilliant flashbacks to some of Price’s best roles from earlier film, the movie does not keep its momentum throughout. However, the film does have a campy feel with some nice visual elements sprinkled throughout. With that in mind, while this is not the best movie of his career, Madhouse is at least good fun (especially for Price fans).

Enjoy Your Stay At The Horror Hotel

After starting my One Step Beyond series and stumbling onto that 1960 British version of The Tell-Tale Heart, I have been in an extreme nostalgic mood with horror this week. Last night, I sat down and watch the 1960 Christopher Lee classic  Horror Hotel (one of Lee’s best non-Hammer performances next to Horror Express (1972) and The Wicker Man (1974)). The premise of the story is about a college student who goes to do research in a small town and promptly runs into strange goings on.

Synopsis: After listening to a lecture by Professor Alan Driscoll (Lee) about the town of Whitewood, Massachusetts set in 1692 where a local witch, Elizabeth Slwyn was burned at the stake, a student, Nan Barlow, decides to do a term paper on the subject. Nan drives to Whitewood to get whatever information she could get on the subject from what’s available in the towns records dating back to the 17th Century about witchcraft in general and the Slwyn case in particular. Getting instructions from a reluctant local living in the area, Nan drives into the town of Whitewood and checks into the Raven Inn where she meets the owner Mrs. Newlis and her mute helper Lottie,. Unknowing to her, she was about to meet a fate reserved only for someone like her, an innocent girl, that was needed for the Witches Holiday of Candlemass Eve (the fabricated Satanic mocking of the Church).  Ironically, Candlemass Eve is actually the celebration of Christ in the Temple (shame on those who thought it was actually a Satanic Holiday).

This early witchcraft and satanic movie predated both Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist, yet, remains one of the best of the genre despite having a much lower budget to work with. In all, it is an eerie and spooky film about the practice of witchcraft and takes an honest look at the subject by covering some of the 300-years that transpired between the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 to the beginning of the 1960's. The black and white cinematography does a tremendous job at setting the mood throughout the film. At times, Whitewood just cries for a foreboding breath of fresh air and the eeriness permeates through the fabric of the town in an almost Lovecraftian way. Although I have seen this movie several times, I have to say that there are some elements that hit a nerve, with even the soundtrack making my skin crawl a bit. It is definitely a movie worth watching if you haven't yet had the chance.

One thing that must be mentioned is the similarities between Horror Hotel (Also released as The City of the Dead) and Psycho. Change out the characters of Norman and Mother, and the stories are virtually identical. However, I will admit that the idea of witchcraft and Satanic rituals against the creepily dark New England backdrop created a visual backdrop in my mind.