Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

I am usually not a big one for going to see the latest hype movies in the theater, but sometimes when the opportunity comes to watch a surprise with AMC Screen Unseen, I jump at it. There what happened last night when I got an early surprise with the 2024 entry,  Lisa Frankenstein.

Plot: A misunderstood teenager and a reanimated corpse embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness and a few missing body parts.

I have to start by early I loved this movie.  It was the right niche of comedy, darkness, lightheartedness, and nostalgia, that it should appeal to everyone.  For me,  the brooding 80s soundtrack was the icing on top.  The cast is outstanding and their performances really work to make this one extremely entertaining. Sure, the storyline is outlandish and a bit unpredictable,  but that works in this quirky film.  The writing is solid and the character development was spot on.  Truly everything within this one worked to continue building throughout,  especially with the costuming and make-up effects that added so much to the overall feel. In the end,  I am so glad that AMC gave me the opportunity to see this one early,  it was well worth it,  and I may actually go see it again. 

Dracula (1931)

After spending most of my night last night working on my video for the Poe Arts Festival Poetry contest, I decided to jump back into the classics today. My next selection from Shudder was the one that started it all, Dracula from 1931.

Plot/ The ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young Mina.

For me, this was one of my first horror films that I watched back in my younger days and one that still resonates with me today. While I do love the classic silent unauthorized adaptation Nosferatu, there is something with the adaptation that takes the Bran Stoker story to an all-new level especially when you remember that the movie was made in 1931. Whether it was the amazing performance by Bela Lugosi or the technical vision and work of Tod Browning, this film creates one of the most iconic and memorable films of the history of cinema. Of course, there are other factors that help make this one great. All of the performances are solid and work within the storyline; the setting and cinematography create something dark and atmospheric, and as the first in the run of Universal Monsters the movie allows the rest of the universe grow by laying a tremendous foundation everything that would follow. Yes, the ending is a bit mellow and there are some head-scratching moments, but those do not really hold the movie back in any way. In the end, this movie remains a must see (along with Nosferatu) for fans of the vampire genre and one that stands tall in horror history. If you have not seen it, you are missing out.

The Mummy (1932)

After watching an entire series last night in Lore, I decided that I wanted to go back to the roots of horror for my next movie and review. My viewing choice for the evening is the 1932 Universal Studios classic The Mummy.

Plot/ In 1921 a field expedition in Egypt discovers the mummy of ancient Egyptian prince Im-Ho-Tep, who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege. Also found in the tomb is the Scroll of Thoth, which can bring the dead back to life. One night a young member of the expedition reads the Scroll aloud, and then goes insane, realizing that he has brought Im-Ho-Tep back to life. Ten years later, disguised as a modern Egyptian, the mummy attempts to reunite with his lost love, an ancient princess who has been reincarnated into a beautiful young woman.

People who suffered through the latest reboot of The Mummy should definitely head over to Shudder and revisit the 1932 Universal Studios classic to burn the modern monstrosity out of their minds. While this is not a straight horror film with it actually feeling more like a gothic romance/drama only in a different location, it does have all the elements needed to make it an entertaining and memorable trip into darkness. This movie screams atmosphere and creates a dreamlike state that takes the viewer to a different place. The performances are outstanding, especially horror icon Boris Karloff in one of his most memorable characters, what little make-up effects that are used are tremendous, and the cinematography, setting, and the set pieces are remarkable. Of course, many viewers that watch this will not like the slower pace and lack of action, but those elements just help bring the story to life in a way that ties the entire movie together. In the end, this may be one of the most subdued horror films from that early 1930s Universal catalog, but it is still an amazing watch. If you have not seen it, there is no way you can call yourself a true horror fan. Head over to Shudder and watch it. It is a must see.

Crowley (2009)

With yesterday being my birthday, I decided to take a break from the computer after dinner. Yes, I did watch some more of Ash vs. Evil Dead and some homework, but other than that there was no writing or creative moments. Tonight was different, as I decided to find something a little darker than my recent entries. My selection for the evening was the 2009 entry Crowley (AKA Chemical Wedding).

Plot/ In 1947, noted Neo-Pagan Aleister Crowley dies. In Cambridge, 43 years later, with the help of a computer, Crowley's spirit takes over the body of Haddo, a mild-mannered, stuttering don. Over four days, as Crowley prepares for an occult extravaganza, bodies pile up, Crowley's elect engage in rites of passage, and Lia, a red-headed campus reporter, sniffs out a story that puts her in grave danger. Mathers, a scientist recently arrived from Cal Tech, may hold the key to her destiny.

It is funny, as Crowley (the man and his works) has come up in many conversations over the past week, so it was awesome to sit back and enjoy a movie with him and his works at the core. Yes, this movie will not be for everyone, and I am sure there will be many that are offended by some of the material, but that is to be expected will the subject matter. Personally, I enjoyed it tremendously, especially the mixture of Satanism and sadism sprinkled inside. As a low budget entry, there was a lot to like with an interesting storyline, some intriguing theories, and some decent performances. Yes, there were some confusing moments, the pace started in a slow manner, and some of the scripting was uneven, but again, for a low budget entry, it was not bad. In the end, this may not be for everyone, but if you sometimes enjoy a trip into the dark arts or some surrealistic worlds, give it a shot. You could do much worse.

Frankenstein vs. The Mummy (2015)

This has been a long day. While the Nightmares first tournament at Thiel was a mixed bag and at times frustrating, the girls definitely got better as the day progressed and put up an outstanding battle with in the knockout round. With five hours of driving, and five hours of softball behind me, I needed a mindless break. After some searching, I settled on the 2015 monster flick, Frankenstein vs. The Mummy.

Plot/ The mummy of a cursed pharaoh and a reanimated corpse terrorize a medical university. Only an Egyptologist and a college professor, the deranged Dr. Frankenstein, may be able to stop the creatures before it is too late.

I honestly did not expect much from this one, and that is exactly what I got. Unfortunately, my selection for mindless horror was not a tight 90 minutes, and it was definitely longer than it should have been. Yes, there were some decent effects that were better than CGI and the quick mention of ancient alien theory was nice, but that was about it. The scripting and characters were flat, the horror sequences were not memorable, and the performances were average. In the end, this film is one that did help pass my evening, but it is also one that I will likely forget by the morning. Unless you have no other choices, you may want to pass on this one.

The Lazarus Effect (2015)

Three weeks down in transmedia class and I finalized the Copy Deck for the group project, now all that is left is putting it all together. It should definitely be fun. Anytime I can submerge myself into the world of H.P. Lovecraft, I jump at the opportunity and I look forward to seeing how this comes out. While working on it last night, I decided to kick back and watch The Lazarus Effect (2015) as I contemplated what order the fictional blog, Wisdom From Beyond, should be populated.

Plot/ When the dean of their university learns of their underground experiments, their project is unexpectedly shut down and their materials confiscated. Frank, Zoe and their team take matters into their own hands, launching a rogue attempt to recreate their experiment, during which things go terribly wrong and one of their own, Zoe, is horrifically killed. Fueled by terror and grief, Frank pushes them to do the unthinkable: attempt to resurrect their first human test subject.

If you are a horror fiend like me, you will have seen many interpretations of this story since you started into the genre. Personally, most horror has become somewhat predictable to me, and I have accepted that aspect of the films. That was definitely the case with this one. On one hand, it was predictable, but there were also some interesting facets that made it a lot more entertaining than many of its predecessors. The performances were solid, the cinematography worked and most importantly, as a PG-13 entry it makes it a great Halloween treat for the entire family. Yes, I would have loved something darker, but sometimes I just embrace watching something with the daughters. Of course, between the predictability and the uneven storyline, there were some head scratching moments that if streamlined could have made the flick even better. In the end, this was much better than I expected it to be, and was an entertaining homage to the classic Frankenstein narrative. If you are looking for something to get the Halloween juices flowing for the entire family, give it a shot. This one will at least make you thank a little bit.

Dead Girls (2014)

After spending yesterday with my mind wrapped up in the genius of Tusk (#WalrusYes), I took a break from movies and just relaxed. Tonight was a different day, and it was time to get back into some horror. My next flick on the docket is the 2014 no-budget entry Dead Girls.

Plot/ This anthology features three stories of abused and forsaken girls who return from the dead to take their revenge.

Horror anthologies are often hit or miss. For some reason, the material between the segments often drifts and there is a lack of characterization developed inside and that can often kill specific fragments. While this low budget entry from Brain Damage Films may not be perfect, it does feature some creative moments and there are some entertaining parts that capture reality in a perfect way. Unfortunately, it does suffer from some of the same issues that plague no-budget cinema with uneven performances, some clichéd moments, and some stagnate areas with the scripting that does not help story development in any way. In the end, this movie is better than many of the anthologies I have seen even on a smaller budget. Is it perfect, absolutely not, and it is not for everyone, but it was at least entertaining in spots and came across better than most of the low budget flicks that have come out in the past few months! 

Audrey Rose (1977)

Now that out whirlwind trip to North Carolina is behind us, it is time to dive back into the blog. To get there, I had to find something to watch. After some debate, I decided to venture into the strange world of reincarnation. With that in mind, I decided on the 1977 film Audrey Rose.

Plot/ A stranger attempts to convince a happily married couple that their daughter is actually his daughter reincarnated.

It had been some time since I have watched Audrey Rose, but it is always fun to revisit movies from my youth to see how they stand up. For me, this journey into reincarnation was one of the more memorable flicks from that timeframe. The story is intelligent, with enough tension and creepiness to draw you in. The acting is solid, the scripting works, and the storyline does a great job at diving into one of the more controversial subjects that still mystifies society. Yes, there are some pacing issues, some overacting, and there are some predictable moments, but that does little to drag the film down. In the end, this one is more of a psychological thriller than horror movie, but it does stand the test of time. If you have not seen it, give it a shot, it is much better than some of the modern ilk that hits the screen.

I, Frankenstein (2014)

Ever since watching Jericho and subsequently reading the graphic novel, I have been hooked. I love the feel of graphic novels, and am always interested in finding movies based on them to see how well they translate. That was exactly what I found to watch tonight, 2014s I, Frankenstein.

Plot/ Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans.

Movies based on graphic novels can be difficult to replicate on the screen, and I, Frankenstein was no exception. This CGI driven action flick was simple and effects driven. In no way did it make you thing when you were watching it. While some of the action sequences were impressive, the acting solid, and even the general idea interesting, there was too much packed into the 90 minutes to make it really hit home. Between the plot holes, uneven dialog, and an somewhat confusing timeline, it was easy to just block everything out and enjoy the action. In the end, it may be somewhat entertaining for a CGI film, but the is nothing new to make it memorable. At PG-13, it was fun to watch with the daughters, but that is about all I would recommend it for-Scary Movie Night with the kids.

The Shining (1980)

When thinking about Halloween and the dark, eerie times we live in, it is hard not to search for that perfect supernatural horror flick to make you look over your shoulder. While these are becoming rare, some classics leave a lasting impression.  Being in a Stanley Kubrick mood, I decided to take a trip down memory lane to 1980, and his classic, The Shining.

Plot/ A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

The adaptation of the Stephen King classic may be one of the best horror / supernatural movies of the 1980s. While King was not a fan of Kubricks’ vision, it is truly a masterpiece. The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, the acting is outstanding, the cinematography is amazing, and the scripting perfect for the downward spiral into an abyss. Sure, there were some slow moments, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, The Shining is one of the most frightening films from my youth and one that stands-up to the test of time. If you have not ventured into this masterpiece, you are wrong. This is a must see for all horror fans. 

Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013)

With my vacation finally here, it was time to start it with some movies. While I grabbed a few flicks at the Family Video Store, there was one that really perked my interest. Hansel & Gretel Get Baked from 2013.

Plot/ A brother and sister battle a witch who lures teenagers into her suburban home with her special blend of marijuana where she then proceeds to kill and eat them to maintain her youth and beauty.

When I grabbed this, I initially thought it was going to be some type of indie stoner flick. What I found though, was an interesting take on the Hansel & Gretel fairy tale. This horror-comedy has many moments and is a lot of fun. Yes, it isn't side-splitting comedy, but its fun. The cast works well together and the scripting is solid with the cannibal /zombie / rejuvenation storyline flowing perfectly. The acting is good, the cinematography straight and the effects fall into place to add something to the comedic flair. Is it a perfect movie, no way, but it is a creative twist on a classic tail and one that should be given a chance. 

Satan's Slave (1976)

After watching some decent movies, it was time to get myself prepared for this weeks episode of American Horror Story (I am bummed, I missed last weeks and that halted my weekly review – but I will catch up Monday). So, I decided to sit back and watch some Satanic / Reincarnation goodness with the 1976 entry Satan’s Slave (AKA Evil Heritage)

Plot/ A young girl is caught up in a devil cult run by her evil uncle and cousin. She can trust no one and even people she thought were dead comes back to haunt her.

This flick was definitely one that I enjoyed. Any time you get bizarre twists with some mind-provoking imagery couples with equal amounts of nudity and bloodshed, you should have a winner. This one had all of that and more. In fact, other than some minor pacing issues and some strange illogical story twists that were a bit confusing, everything else worked. The acting and characterization were solid, atmosphere was creepy, the cinematography was on point and the effects were decent considering the age of the film (love the head smashing and pin to the eye). More importantly, the ending was quite an enjoyable twist that was not expected. In the end, this 1976 film seems to stand as a marker for the tragic end of the Hammer Horror monopoly, demonstrating that society had tired of the Hammer blueprint, and quality gore, horror and supernatural movies could come from other studio's as well. Overall, I would definitely recommend this one to horror fans or fans of the 1970s, and the great thing is, it is available for less than full price on a few Mill Creek Box Sets… A Win-Win for all!