The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (1971)

Today seems like a blur, my Hail and Farewell Breakfast, followed by my retirement ceremony practice. Wow, Monday is almost here, and I can move on to bigger and better things. Since I really have no life lately, I decided to sit back and watch yet another flick from the Pure Terror Collection; this entry is The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave from 1971.

Plot/ A wealthy English lord is suffering a mental breakdown following the death of his red-headed wife, Evelyn, whom he feared was cheating on him. He tours local bars and dives, scouring for lovely red-heads willing to come back to his decaying castle in the country, where he seduces them, then tortures and kills them.

This 1970s combination Gothic Horror / Giallo is quite an interesting flick; full of just enough os these cinematic influences to an enjoyable and creepy atmospheric film. Filmed on a lower budget, the movie boasts solid acting, some disturbing moments, a decent soundtrack, awesome cinematography and decent characterization. Yes, the storyline is simple and there are some pacing issues (especially through the first section of the film), but overall those flaws are rather minor.  Throw in the great combination of some intelligent murders and nudity and you have a winner. In the end, this is not a great film, but it is an entertaining and very good flick that should be watched if you get the chance.

The Thirsty Dead (1974)

After taking a day off to travel back to New Jersey, I decided to sit back and relax while I prepare for the New Jersey Zombie Walk and Undead Festival this weekend (not to mention my retirement which is a mere 10 days away). My movie selection for last evening was the 1974 action/adventure/horror flick The Thirsty Dead. 

Plot/ Beautiful young girls are kidnapped off the streets of Manila by a death cult that needs their blood to remain immortal.

When I looked at the promo booklet and noticed the PG rating, it kind of raised an eyebrow. With the movie being from 1974, to me that was unheard of in the horror genre from that era. I gave it a shot anyway (not really expecting much), and honestly was not taken in any way. Sure, it was not a horrible movie, but it also was not that great. There really were not any chills, thrills or scares, and certainly there was no terror. The acting was decent, the sets interesting and there was actually a tad bit of action scattered throughout (especially toward the end). However, with no blood, gore, language or nudity, it was more of an after school special than horror flick. I would definitely pass on this one unless you truly have no other options.

Beast From Haunted Cave (1959)

As I was recovering yesterday from the final 48 hours of Chiefs Induction, I decided to sit back and enjoy some more flicks. My decision was to back a few years for the 1959 creature feature Beast From Haunted Cave.

Plot/ Gangster Alexander Ward, his girl friend, Gypsy Boulet, and two henchmen come to Deadwood, South Dakota with the idea of stealing a few gold bars. They enlist the aid of a local ski instructor, Gil Jackson, and plan to use him as a guide out of the territory after the robbery. However, a blizzard forces them to take refuge in Jackson's cabin, where the giant spider-like creature they disturbed will set out for vengeance.  

This 1950s low-budget flick is far from a great creature feature. In fact, I would say this is more of a crime drama than creature feature, but that’s just me. This fun and entertaining B-Movie actually succeeds a little more than others of the era with some decent character development, great use of scenery and some very good atmospheric elements tied to the tension between characters. Unfortunately, that is where the positives end. The pacing is way off plodding along until the last 15 minutes or so, the acting is uneven, the scripting and dialogue poor, and the effects and make-up (especially the creature) are beyond laughable. However, it is entertaining and a great example of the low-budget flicks that made the midnight creature features what they were. Not for everyone, I believe classic horror fans and creature feature lovers will at least enjoy it (with a few laughs along the way).

The Naked Witch (1961)

After taking a few days off from blogging, I decided to just back into it with something a little different. My selection was The Naked Witch from Something Weird Video.

Plot/ A student researching the German settlements of Central Texas unearths the grave of a reputed witch. The witch (who happens to be both beautiful and naked) rises from her grave and embarks on a campaign of seduction and murder against the descendants of her persecutors. It's up to the student to stop her bloody reign of terror-if he can resist the seductive powers of her evil beauty.

If you have read my blog, you know that I am a fan of weird and strange B Movies, and honestly, I find that Something Weird Video is awesome. However, this entry from their catalogue left a lot to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good points (especially considering the budget) like the setting and some of the camera work, but that does little to make-up for the bad. The plot holes, acting and seriously over narrated plot/story definitely take a toll, even with a runtime of a little over an hour. If it were a documentary, I may have enjoyed it more, but it is not a documentary and it was not on the History Channel. Watch at your own risk.