Starship Invasions (1977)

After a stretch of modern movie with mixed results, I was in the mood for some classic Sci-Fi  schlock. While searching,  I found it with this 70s Alien Invasion film tradition none other than Sir Christopher Lee. It is the 1977 entry,  Starship Invasions. 

Plot: An advance team from a dying, far-off civilization seeks a new world to conquer and inhabit -- Earth.

With a cast featuring Christopher Lee and Robert Vaugh, how could this one go so wrong? Sure, it's not terrible,  but it's not really good either.  In fact,  it's perfect mindless 70s aliens themed schlock. The concept is interesting and there are some good visuals and effects (along with some bad ones). However,  this low budget film suffers mightily from low energy.  Other than Lee and Vaugh, the unrecognizable cat is just blah,  and that almost dooms this from the start. Truly,  the performances drag down what could have potentionally been somewhat memorable. Instead,  what is left is a late-night horror Host special that isn't really worth watching unless you are looking for a mindless alien themed flick for background fodder.

Horror Express (1972)

Before I got distracted last night by the news of the unknown aircraft that was shot down of the coast of Alaska, I did find some time to watch a classic horror flick.  My selection for the afternoon/evening was 1972s Horror Express.

Plot: While on the Trans-Siberian Express, an anthropologist and his rival must contain the threat posed by the former's cargo: a prehistoric ape which is the host for a parasitic life-for.

This movie has to be one of the best films of 1972. Starring horror icons Peter Cushing and Christpher Lee, what more can you ask for? This one comes complete with an intriguing storyline,  an array of classic scares, and enough claustrophic atmosphere to keep you entertained throughout. In many ways, this movie is really more than a horror flick touching on a wide variety of topics throughout.  Unfortunately,  as good as the storyline is,  it does have some holes (a lot) and there are a bunch of head-scratching moments,  but those are easy to overlook. In them end,  this is a must see for horror fans.  Yes,  there are some things that may feel dated, but that doesn't matter. Sit back and enjoy!

Scream and Scream Again (1970)

Having spent many evenings working on these radio-drama scripts I have been contracted to do, I have found myself diving into many different genres over the past few weeks and it has been fun. Older movies seem to have such a wider appeal than the typical slasher or paranormal flicks that have overtaken horror and Sci-Fi in recent years. A perfect example of this is this 1970 entry, Scream and Scream Again.

Plot/ A serial killer who drains his victims' blood is on the loose in London; the police follow him to a house owned by an eccentric scientist.

It is funny, for years I thought I had already watched and reviewed this flick. For me, it was a great surprise when I decided to watch this bizarre weirdness. Starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing, this movie has everything you need to make a camp classic. It is truly a great mixture of horror, mystery, thriller, and Sci-Fi and most importantly, it was an easy watch considering the number of layers that are woven into the story. Honestly, you may feel lost at the start, but it is well worth watching and letting everything fall into place. The story is fun, interesting, and somewhat complex, the effects are solid (a little campy but solid), and all the performances are fun especially Price playing a mad scientist to perfection. Sure, it does have a few low budget head scratching moments and Price, Lee, and Cushing could have had larger roles (their screen time makes you want to see more), but overall the movie works on multiple levels and any flaws are easily overlooked. In the end, this is by no means the movie I expected or thought it was and that is a great thing. If you haven’t watched it, it will make great viewing as Halloween approaches. If you have seen it, check it out again.

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.

Extraordinary Tales (2013)

Having watched Crimson Peak last night, I needed something else to help me focus on my final script project for my film writing class. After some debate with the voices in my head, I decided to venture into the mind of Edgar Allan Poe with the 2013 animated adaption Extraordinary Tales.

Plot/ The film is an animation-accompanied narration of some excerpts of some of the short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. The movie contains: The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell Tale Heart, The Facts In the Case Of M. Valdemar, The Pit and The Pendulum, and The Masque of the Red Death.

If you have read this blog, you should already know how I feel about Edgar Allen Poe. Not only was he a genius who set the stage for modern American horror, his influence on both the cinematic and literary community may never truly be matched. Unfortunately, some of his popularity has waned in recent years, as the rise of technology has reduced the amount of kids interested in the classics. While this may not be a perfect adaptation, it is an interesting journey into the mind of the master and some of his epic tales. Complete with a diverse animation backdrop, the segments range from great (The Pit & The Pendulum) to the uneven (The Tell-Tale Heart). Of course, the opinions will vary because of the different styles used. What made this even more intriguing is the group of actors used to bring it to life. Legends such as Roger Corman, Sir Christopher Lee, and Bela Lugosi, were joined by Julian Sands and Guillermo del Toro to create a movie that could easily serve as an introduction to Poe for a new generation of fans. In the end, this one will not be for everyone, but it is an entertaining journey into the macabre visions of a literary genius.

The Wicker Tree (2010)



After watching 11-11-11, I decided to venture back to the Family Video Store to see if I could find something of a religious nature to continue my unplanned religion week here on the site. While there was a ton of selections, one film caught my eye, The Wicker Tree. This sequel (30 some years later) is one I had hoped would someday be made, as the original flick The Wicker Man, is one of the greatest flicks I have seen. How did it stack up? Well…

Plot/ Charmed by the residents of Tressock, Scotland, two young missionaries accept the invitation to participate in a local festival, fully unaware of the consequences of their decision.

I probably should not review this one. As a huge fan of the original classic The Wicker Man, I knew that there was no way a sequel (or remake) could ever duplicate the intricacies and depth of the original. This film is very different from that great work. Full of cliché, dark humor, and stereotype, it seemed forced and failed to create the atmosphere or curiosity of the first one. The script was flat, acting uneven, and some of it made absolutely no sense. There were some positives in it (like seeing Christopher Lee in a cameo) and there was definitely some potential there, but much of the film left me blah. Maybe in a few years I would rewatch it without thinking of the classic, but until then, I guess it is time to dust off my copy of the Lee classic and watch a true journey into the depths of paganism, religion and sacrifice.

Hugo (2011)

One of the movements in life that I absolutely love, but have not been able to truly find my place in is Steampunk. Everything about it fascinates me, as I feel like much of the world would be better if we embraced that culture and improved upon it. Life could be simpler, better and more open. Ironically, when I first saw the preview for Hugo, that same feel popped into my mind, and now, I finally sat down to watch it to see.

Plot/ Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

This was an interesting flick; I am just not sure who the intended audience was. We picked it up for the daughters, but they drifted off within the first hour, me, I was captivated by the scenery and the idea. Honestly, it may be one of the most visually stunning movies I have seen in some time, and the story, while a bit choppy, inspired me. Yes, some of the pacing seemed a bit slow, and some of it may have been a bit confusing, but that did not deter this film at all. With an amazing atmosphere, solid back-story, heartfelt message and truly amazing look, this movie was like a dream opening the doors to an imagination that had been closed a long time ago. In the end, this ode to the early days of film may be a tad slow, but it is a piece of cinematic genius that must be seen.

The Creeping Flesh (1973)

Yes, it has only been a couple days, but it feels like an eternity since I last watched a good horror flick. Today, I decided it had been long enough and dove into the Peter Cushing / Christopher Lee well with The Creeping Flesh from 1973.

Plot/ A Victorian-age scientist returns to London with his paleontological bag-of-bones discovery from Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, when exposed to water, flesh returns to the bones unleashing a malevolent being on the scientist's family and friends.

Any time that Cushing and Lee work together, it seems that something magical happens. This film is no different. This is pure atmospheric gothic horror featuring a solid script, an interesting storyline, an eerie soundtrack, some stellar performances and some philosophical questioning. Throw in one of Cushing's best roles, a complex plot and some good effects and you have one of the best British horror flicks of the decade.  This is an awesome flick that is definitely worth watching. Check it out!  

Castle of the Walking Dead (1967)

After enjoying my trip into the Vincentennial, I turned my attention to Horror Master Christopher Lee, in honor of his birthday. At first, I thought of revisiting The Wicker Man (one of my favorites). Instead, I decided on Castle of the Walking Dead (AKA Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism).

Plot/ Count Regula is drawn and quartered for killing twelve virgins in his dungeon torture chamber. Thirty-five years later, he comes back to seek revenge on the daughter of his intended thirteenth victim and the son of his prosecutor in order to attain immortal life.

Much like the flick I selected to celebrate Horror Icon Vincent Price (Master of the World), this may be one of the most underrated films in Lee’s catalogue. Very loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, this movie is a surreal and atmospheric classic. Yes, it is not perfect, with some of the performances being subpar, but those flaws are easily overlooked because of the detailed cinematography, outstanding pacing, beautiful set design and creepy atmosphere. Most importantly, Lee’s performance is top notch and perfect for the role. For me, this is a flick that I can watch all of the time. It is an entertaining and distinctive display of vintage gothic horror and perfect for fans of grand years of Hammer Horror.

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.

The Oblong Box (1969)

There is nothing like waking up in the morning to a movie that combined so many classic horror icons. Yesterday, I got to enjoy Edgar Allan Poe , Christopher Lee and Vincent Price  in 1969s The Oblong Box.

Plot/ Aristocrat Julian Markham keeps his disfigured brother, Sir Edward, locked in a tower of his house. Occasionally Sir Edward escapes and causes havoc around the town.

  

This was another film that was very loosely on the writings of Poe. Combine that with the talents of Price and Lee, and you should have a masterpiece. Regrettably, you do not.  This flick definitely maintains a dark, gloomy, gothic atmosphere throughout, and definitely does a great job at staying true to the period. Unfortunately, this flick was mired in bad luck from the beginning and these happenings seemed to impact the entire project. The acting, plot and scripting were constantly in flux, moving in different directions that cause constant continuity issues. Even the performances of Price and Lee were a bit uneven, almost uninspired. In the end, this movie is definitely watchable. It is not the greatest but it is not the worst.