Destination Inner Space (1966)

I was pretty excited last night as I stood one of the Ringmaster's Originals, the line of prints I created to salvage old comic book art from randomly destroyed vintage comics.  To me, preserving this art is important and something that isn't that hard to accomplish. While debating with myself about what piece should be next,  I kicked back with a classic creature feature from the 1960s, Destination Inner Space. 

Plot: A group of scientists working in a deep-sea research station discovers a strange craft of extraterrestrial origin.

Let me start by saying that if you don't enjoy classic B-grade creature feature schlock, this one isn't for you.  If you do,  then you should get a kick out of this one.  Yes,  it has low-grade effects,  probably a lower budget,  and some (I'm sure) unintentional laughs,  but those things add to the campy feel of the entire film.   And, of course, that is all before I get to the overstuffed Sci-Fi bass that stands as one of the more unique aliens from that era of film.  In the end,  if you want to suspend belief and drift into a bygone era of fun mindless creature features, this one is definitely for you.  This has all the campy elements and much more.  

The Plague of the Zombies (1966)

This weekend I had a great time at Monsterfest 14. Not only was I able to debut my two new books After the Static and Salvation, but also I was able to interact with some horror fans of all genres. By the end of the night, although tired, many of us came to the zombie double feature. The first movie from the evening was the 1966 Hammer Horror entry The Plague of the Zombies.

Plot/ A medical professor and his daughter link a Cornish epidemic to a village squire's voodoo.

It’s funny when you think that you had watched something, but get the ultimate surprise when you realize you were mistaken. That was the case with this one and what I found was one of the best Hammer Films I have seen. From 1966, this atmospheric zombie entry (Hammer Films only venture into the genre) predates the groundbreaking George Romero zombie epic Night of the Living Dead and lays the groundwork for what has developed over the years. The pacing is sound, the atmosphere is amazing, and the cast and performances are solid. Honestly, it is one of the best Hammer films I have seen and gives credence to the thought that the studio should have expanded their catalog to other creatures in the genre. Yes, some of it does feel dated and the story is somewhat predictable, but those flaws are minor. In the end, this was a perfect way to end the evening at Monsterfest 14 and an underrated entry that all zombie fans much see. Check it out.

Gammera the Invincible (1966)

All right, I had planned to review a film that I rented at Family Video, however, that movie was even worse than some of my latest selections. Needing to clear my mind, I decided to head back into some of the schlockfests that came with my 12 Creature Features set, after some debate, I decided on the 1966 American release Gammera the Invincible.

Plot/ An atomic explosion awakens Gammera--a giant, fire-breathing turtle monster--from his millions of years of hibernation. Enraged at being roused from such a sound sleep, he takes it out on Tokyo.

Fans of no-budget monster flicks from the 1960s and 70s should already know what expect from this one; a lower budgeted Godzilla type flick full of cheese and schlock. In fact, this one offers that and more. Yes, there are the cheesy effects with a rubber suit and miniature cities, the storyline is unfathomable and hilarious, the dialog and dubbing while bad and uneven make this one extremely entertaining and laughable. Plus, the soundtrack is awesome and the Cold War tensions are perfect! Of course, for non-fans of this genre, they will say this is a miserable movie with very few redeemable qualities; to them, I say grab some popcorn and free your mind. In the end, technically, there are definitely many flaws, but then again, that was part of the charm of these movies when watching them on the Saturday morning creature features on a UHF channel. If you are from that generation, you should definitely agree with me on that. This one is easy to find in the bargain bins, find it and check it out.

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966)

After enjoying the horror/western Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, I decided to venture back into that era and genre with Billy the Kid Versus Dracula.

Plot/ Dracula travels to the American West, intent on making a beautiful ranch owner his next victim. Her fiancé, outlaw Billy the Kid, finds out about it and rushes to save her.

While better than its sister piece Jesse James meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, many of the flaws and elements are the same. Yes, the title is alluring and the fundamental idea is interesting, but much like the other entry, it fails to take full advantage of the potential of the interesting old west meets classic monster horror romp. The plot is rough full of many unanswered questions within the unbelievable sequences that consistently take place. The film lacks action, is rather slow, and boasts some of the worst effects I have ever seen (rubber bats anyone?). John Carradine is a ham as Dracula, a performance that at least makes the flick a tad enjoyable. This may not be great, but it should at least be on your list to watch once if you are a fan of old-time monster movies.

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)

With Jolene off to see Miranda Cosgrove, I was lucky enough to spend the evening with Markie and Jillian. After watching a classic episode of The Outer Limits, it was time to settle down for another installment of scary movie night. Our choice for the evening Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter.

Plot/ Legendary outlaw of the Old West Jesse James, on the run from Marshal MacPhee, hides out in the castle of Baron Frankenstein's granddaughter Maria, who proceeds to transform Jesse's slow-witted pal Hank into a bald zombie, which she names Igor.

The best part of this flick may be the title. This low budget entry has all of the elements in place to be a good movie, but fails to take full advantage of the potential of the interesting old west meets classic monster horror romp. The plot is rough full of many unanswered questions within the unbelievable sequences that consistently take place. The film lacks action and is rather slow, and to top it off there is almost no scares anywhere to be found. While it was a flawed flick, I am glad that I spent the time to watch it with my daughters. This may not be great, but it should at least be on your list to watch once if you are a fan of old-time monster movies.

The Undertaker and His Pals (1966)

After suffering through Zombie Armageddon, I figured it would be a good time to change gears and watch something else. I picked the last flick on disk one of the Horror: Do Not Watch Alone Collection, The Undertaker and his Pals from 1966.

Plot/ An undertaker and his two friends, who are restaurant owners, drum up business by going out on the town and killing people; the restaurant owners use parts of the bodies for their menu, and the undertaker gets paid by the families to bury the remainder. Their racket goes awry when 2 detectives suspect that something isn't quite kosher.

Yes, this little gem is not a lost classic. However, it is a lot of fun and much better than the Zombie Bloodbath stuff that I have been suffering through. While not great by any means, with poor acting, a so-so plot and next to no horror qualities, this film offers quite a bit of subtle humor and a decent soundtrack. Who would have thought that you could get trading stamps that funeral home? There are also some very unnerving aspects to the film that come across pretty well within the fabric of the comedy. Overall, this enjoyable film is full of cheesy b-movie fun!

Kill Baby Kill (1966)

Now that I have finished the Gorehouse Greats Collection it is time for me to move on to my next collection of films, Cult Horror Collection. The first flick I chose was the 1966 Mario Bava gem Kill Baby Kill.

Plot / Dr. Eswai is called by Inspector Kruger to a small village to perform an autopsy on a woman who has died under suspicious circumstances. Despite help from Ruth, the village witch, Kruger is killed and it is revealed that the ghost of Melissa, a young girl who, fed by the hatred of her grieving mother, Baroness Graps, exacts her revenge on them, has killed the dead woman, as well as other villagers. Dr. Eswai, along with Monica, a local nurse, is lured into a fateful confrontation at the Villa Graps.

This is a true classic of the era, breathing a great Gothic atmosphere full of chills and mystery. This movie is an awesome example of how a great script with the perfect set can leave a lasting impression on ones mind with the right director at the helm. Combine the eerie textures with a great score that accentuates the visual flair, and quite a tense mood is set. The plot is a bit odd, but interesting and the acting was not the greatest, however, the special effects and make-up are some of the best examples of the decade. If the movie has a major drawback, it is the ending, which seemed a bit too easy and scripted. In the end, this movie was a great way to start a new collection and a perfect film for a stormy night! I highly recommend it to any horror fan!