16.1.10

dead snow (2009)

AKA Død snø.
"We should have gone to Sunny Beach like I told you!"
It's Easter and seven students meet up at a remote cabin in the mountains owned by a friend, for some skiing. The friend is not there to meet them, but they think nothing of it and are unconcerned until a stranger arrives, with tales about the murky past of the region. He tells them of how during WWII a dreaded SS division occupied the area, before being left for dead in the mountains by the locals when they finally fought back. Due to these events he tells them to be careful as the area is evil. Being cocky students they dismiss his stories as scaremongering. The next morning and with no sign of the friend one leaves to search for her...
A well made and thrilling zombie flick, that references many classics of the genre, and is essentially a zombie Evil Dead, but it does add some of its own original moves, alongside some impressive gore. A classic in the making.

night train to terror (1985)

AKA Shiver.
"Everyone's got something to do but you!"
God and Satan sit on a train engaged in a theological debate, and watch three short stories. After each story they discuss which of the participants should go to heaven and which to hell! Whilst this goes on, in another part of the train a group perform a run of the mill 80's new wave song, whilst some teens jerk about and breakdance, unaware they are aboard a train bound for death!
A portmanteau film cobbled together from three random films that the producers had hanging around the office. One for those of you who don't need comprehensible plots, just some female nudity, crazed gorehound killers and synsesised 80's tunes! An interesting film, but for all the wrong reasons. Watch only if you have a need to see some truly horrendous 80's fashion crimes. The MTV generation has a lot to answer for!

castle of the walking dead (1967)

AKA Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel. Blood of the Virgins. Pendulum. The Blood Demon. The Snake Pit. The Snake Pit and the Pendulum. The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism. The Torture Room. Torture Chamber.
"I warn you young man, don't go there!"

It's the 18th Century and Count Regula (Christopher Lee) is sentanced to death for the murder of twelve woman, but before he dies he curses the family of the two people who aided his capture. Forward thirty-five years and Roger Mont Elise (Lex Barker), the son of the man who captured Regula, receives an invitation to stay at Regula’s castle. Intreged by the invite he decides to go. On his way he meets Baroness Lilian Brabont (Karin Dor), the daughter of the other family cursed by Regula, who also recieved an invite. Ignoring the obvious they continue on. Once at the castle they soon fall pray to the Count's fiendish plans and various tortures he has devised for them.
Reindl paints a nightmarish picture, using all the tools available to him. He tells a Poesque story that draws you in from the off, with the brutal death of Regula, creating an entertaining grand guignol.