-
For two discussions in a row, I’ve brought a movie that isn’t really horror. However, Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) carries enough geek cred that I don’t want to exclude it. Forgive me for focusing on the murder mystery aspects thinking it was a thriller loosely fitting into the classic horror mold. It’s really a…
-
Except for a horrific ending, we can’t classify Last Summer (1969) as a classic “horror” film. However, it elicits the feeling of nostalgia that accompanies many of the movies we discuss. Plus, if you’ve ever been the victim of psychological bullying, you know it’s a form of horror, especially if it goes as far as to erupt…
-
A 1970s drive-in movie by any other name would be as good… You say Alice, Sweet Alice, I say, Communion, Richard says, Holy Terror, and no one, including this month’s special guest, Bill Mize, says The Mask Murders. (Actually, in a rare disagreement, we don’t agree how good it is.) Then, after Bill heads home…
-
When I watch a film from the Golden or Atomic Age of horror, I’m not bothered by the primitive special effects. I find them charming, and I’m often impressed by how much was accomplished with so little technology. Why then do I watch a movie from the Occult Age and judge it so harshly for…
-
For me, The Devil-Doll (1936) is one of the real curiosities of the Golden Age of horror. With some obvious content, it reminds me of Bride of Frankenstein, released a year earlier. For example, one of the main characters, Malita (Rafaela Ottiano), has a white stripe in her piled hair. Ottiano gives an over-the-top performance that evokes someone…
-
I’m a little perplexed to read about the critical and popular success of The Human Vapor (1960), the third movie in the Japanese “Transforming Human Series” that includes The H-Man (1958) and The Secret of the Telegian (1960.) I mean, I’m thrilled that a film like this is so beloved, but I just didn’t get that much out of it. Others…
-
When we approach the 4th of July holiday, I’m reminded of the summer of 1996 when the movie Independence Day was released. The trailer was spectacular with giant shadows creeping over the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and White House that led to even bigger explosions as the White House and Capitol were destroyed. It was a big deal…
-
When viewing the tapestry of Godzilla’s storied existence, that joy cannot – and should never – be ignored. Thus, it joins a patchwork of cultural depth, historical shifts, creative boldness, and thematic resonance that’s more worthy of exploration and, perhaps most importantly, celebration. When I see a new book released with familiar subject matter, I…
-
Chris is trapped in werewolf form and locked in the mausoleum, but things around him are changing. Come back this Fall as we learn his fate…
-
It’s been a while since I’ve been so thoroughly entertained by a movie. Sure, I’ve seen good movies that I’ve enjoyed watching, and one that affected me in unexpected ways. However, while watching 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964), I simply sat back, soaked it in, and had a delightful experience. You might say I’m 62 years…