The Undying Monster (1942)

While my plans for this first weekend of vacation are still a bit up in the air, I decided that I would watch some classic horror in case that I don’t make it to Monster Bash. My selection was the 1942 werewolf flick The Undying Monster.

Plot/ A legendary monster threatens surviving members of an aristocratic English family when they venture out on chilly, foggy nights.

Honestly, there is nothing better than the B-movies of the early sci-fi and horror that came out during the cinema’s infancy and this is a great example of that. This 1942 werewolf entry has all the elements that made those films popular. With its dark and heavy atmosphere, some solid performances, and a storyline that does a great job mixing mystery into the werewolf genre. Yes, some of the dialog is a bit off, the characterizations are uneven, and there are some of the typical flaws that plague movies from that era, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this is one of the better B-class werewolf films and a movie that those that enjoy classic horror/mystery should enjoy. Check it out!

The Red House (1947)

I love October; it gives me even more of an excuse to watch different styles of movies in preparation for Halloween. Every once in a while, I decide to venture way back in time for some classic noir cinema, which is the case with my next review: The Red House from 1947.

Plot/ An old man and his sister are concealing a terrible secret from their adopted teen daughter, concerning a hidden abandon farmhouse, located deep in the woods.

I watched this film for the first time tonight and was surprise by some of the material. This surprise was not because of what the material was, it was because when the movie came out (1947). Honestly, some of this may have been considered taboo during that era. This one has some solid acting, a perfect soundtrack, and a layered storyline that kept me entertained throughout. Sure, it was not perfect, but it was one of the more atmospheric movies from that era. In the end, this piece of noir cinema is entertaining and rather twisted considering its age; if you have not seen it and love movies from that period, give it a shot. This is definitely an underrated gem!

The Fall of the House of Usher (1949)

To me, it is not Halloween without a little Edgar Allan Poe, and it just so happens that TCM has a nice selection of Poe adaptations available for viewing. For me, Poe has been such an influential author and person in my life. Some of the earliest trips into the world of darkness came from his quill, and his words continually resonate in my mind. My selection for the night was the classic, The Fall of the House of Usher from 1949.  

Plot/ A traveler arrived at the Usher mansion to visit his old friend, Roderick Usher. Upon arrival, he discovers that Roderick and his sister, Madeline, have been afflicted with a mysterious malady: Roderick's senses have become painfully acute, while Madeline has become nearly catatonic. That evening, Roderick tells his guest of an old Usher family curse: any time there has been more than one Usher child, all of the siblings have gone insane and died horrible deaths. As the days wear on, the effects of the curse reach their terrifying climax.

I love Poe, and movies about his work. Unfortunately, it is a mixed bag on what you get when you watch them. Sometimes, you get a great tale, and sometimes you do not. That is where this loose adaptation comes in. To me, this may be one of my least favorite adaptations of Usher. While it is not terrible and there is some decent atmosphere, it definitely comes across as seriously disjointed. While it is somewhat unique, and has a tolerable 76-minute run time, it definitely has more than low budget flaws. The most glaring flaw is the pacing, which is uneven throughout the flick. In watching it, I am unsure whether that is due to scripting or the directorial constraints encountered with a low budget and short run time. In the end, this was a decent and interesting effort but one that fails in comparison to some of the other adaptations from the period. If you love Poe and have some time check it out, but do not feel compelled to search for it.

Shock (1946)

With my appetite for mindless exploitation complete, I decided to dive into something totally different with some classic cinema film noir. My selection for the evening, the 1946 entry, Shock!

Plot/ A psychologically distraught woman is committed to a private sanitarium by the man whom she witnessed commit a murder.

This early Price Thriller is a far cry from the movies that made him a Horror Icon. As usual, Price delivers a solid performance throughout this rather lackluster affair. While the premise is sound (possibly a bit cliché today), the cinematography (even for that time) leaves a bit to be desired, almost trying to imitate the great Alfred Hitchcock’s mastery and wasting an opportunity to create a tremendously dark and atmospheric film. In fact, the flick just seems to plod along even though it featured a great score which did what it could to enhance the mood.  In the end, Prices’ performance is for not in this run-of-the-mill thriller. If you are a fan of the great Vincent Price, check it out once to see young Vincent in action, everyone else, save your 70 minutes for something else.

King of the Zombies (1941)

I was talking with my wife about the dunk tank for the Zombie Beach Party being thrown by the guys at Bad Zombie in May when I stumbled upon the gem from the 1940s. While not modern zombies, the classic voodoo zombies always make good entertainment, and 1941s King of the Zombies is no different.

Plot/ During World War 2, a small plane off the south coast of America is low on fuel and blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crashland on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor. The easily-spooked manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and ghosts.

This is definitely an often overlooked and underappreciated flick from the 1940's. While it does have some flaws due to the low production values and social overtones of the time, the direction more than makes up for that. The film boasts some sound pacing and acting that worked well within the storyline. Yes, the effects are hilarious (the model plane at the beginning), but for what it is, it works. This is really a great Saturday afternoon classic voodoo zombie romp, and should be enjoyed.

Two More Snoozers from Undead: The Vampire Collection

As I continued through another DVD in the Undead: Vampire Collection, I continued with the bat theme. This time it was the 1941 B-Movie, the Devil Bat, starring Bela Lugosi. Another of the long line of non vampire movies gracing this collection.

Plot/ A mad scientist develops an aftershave lotion that causes his gigantic bats to kill anyone who wears it. Yes, Dr. Carruthers feels bitter about being betrayed by his employers, Heath and Morton, when they became rich because of a product he devised. He gains revenge by electrically enlarging bats and sending them out to kill his employers' family members by instilling in the bats a hatred for a particular perfume he has discovered, which he gets his victims to apply before going outdoors. Johnny Layton, a reporter, finally figures out Carruthers is the killer and, after putting the perfume on himself, douses it on Carruthers in the hopes it will get him to give himself away. One of the two is attacked as the giant bat makes one of its screaming, swooping power dives.

If not for a great performance from Lugosi, this film would fall even more with there being very limited help from the other actors, the director, the script or special effects. This movie boasts cheap sets, a below average script and the "devil bat" itself is laughable. Yet, as he always does, Bela makes the movie entertaining. He plays one of his many mad scientists -- this one a perfume maker who was monetarily wronged by his partners, now millionaires. As expected, Lugosi makes the character interesting, complex and even sympathetic -- and yet also fearsome as he tells each of his victims, "goodbye" after they try on his new fragrance. Still, for the Bela Lugosi fan, this movie is enjoyable as you watch what one great and talented actor can do in one bad movie.

After that, I moved onto 1969’s Blood of Dracula’s Castle, a movie that I have seen a couple times while watching some of my other Mill Creek sets. As stories go, this one has many of the elements of the Dracula films of the decade, but that is where all of the positives stop.

Plot/ A photographer and his fiancée, are pleased to find that he has inherited Falconroc Castle after the death of his uncle Thomas. Unfortunately, an old couple--Count Charles Townsend and his wife, who have been renting the castle for over 60 years, already inhabits Falconroc. Unfortunately, for the couple, Count Townsend is none other than Count Dracula, and he and his wife like Falconroc where their retarded and disfigured strongman Mango catches young girls, for the Count and his wife to dine on. Throw in some sacrifices, a strange butler and the worship of the Moon God Luna and you have everything you need in a film.

In all, as many probably know, this movie may be one of the worst Dracula movies ever made. It is a shame though, the scenery is great and the acting isn’t half bad. However, while watchable, there isn’t much to make you ever want to suffer through this film again and the copy on this set makes it almost impossible to sit through. The only good thing is it at least brought vampires back into this set (which seems about 50/50) so far.



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