28.2.13

mardi gras massacre (1978)

"I'm going to sacrifice you to evil."
Someone is committing ritual murders on prostitutes in New Orleans. The pressure is on the police to try to capture the serial killer. So Frank Hebert (Curt Dawson) immediately proceeds to interview the last person to see the killer with his victim, by taking her to bed! Yep it's that type of film!
The cheapest kind of slasher flick you are likely to find, full of cheap strippers and the nastiest gore.

the wolfman (2010)

"The prodigal son returns."
It's 1891 and Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) returns from years in America, to his ancestral home in England, when he learns that his brother has gone missing. Upon arrival he finds that his brother has been found, brutally slain by a wild beast.
A decent remake, which ups the gore, but still cannot out pace the original.

hercules and the captive women (1961)

aka Ercole alla conquista di Atlantide. Hercules and the Conquest of Atlantis. Hercules Conquers Atlantis. Hercules and the Haunted Women.
"This is one of those legends."
Hercules (Reg Park) decides to hang up his sandals and settle down, but is drugged by his son (Luciano Marin) and Androcles (Ettore Manni) so they can search for a mysterious country that is threatening Greece. They find it when Hercules rescues Ismene (Laura Efrikian) and she leads them to her mother the Queen of Atlantis (Fay Spain). But instead of thanks they find the Queen plotting to take over the world and kill her daughter.
Hercules again battles monsters and devious women, in an attempt to save the world.

bigfoot (1970)

"They're practically sub-human."
When a biker (Christopher Mitchum) has his girl stolen by a bigfoot in the woods, he decides to rescue her, with the help of two travelling salesmen (John Carradine & John Mitchum), who see the chance of a quick buck.
With a plot written on the back of a cigarette packet, and a budget that could just about buy a pack. They added some cheesecake models to act as distraction from the acting: prime drive-in fodder.

25.2.13

ill manors (2012)

"This is where you wanted to be!"
Gritty drama wrapped around the lives of drug dealers, crack addicts and prostitutes on a South London estate, and low their lives can get.
Plan B aka Ben Drew gives us a harsh look at life on an inner London estate, interweaving the bleak stories and some swish cinematography, in this assured debut.

killer's kiss (1955)

aka Kiss Me, Kill Me.
"It's a mistake to confuse pity with love."
Boxer Davey Gordon (Jamie Smith) intervenes when he sees Gloria Price (Irene Kane) being beaten by her lover Vincent Raphello (Frank Silvera). This brings the two together, much to Raphello's displeasure. So much so, that Raphello tries to kill Davey, but gets the wrong guy. So changing tactics, he then kidnaps Gloria. Can Davey save her?
Kubrick, still finding his feet as a director, gives us a film noir, which looks good, but never engages you with the characters.

death occurred last night (1970)

aka La morte risale a ieri sera. Death Took Place Last Night.
"Does your wife know what it takes to turn you on?"
When a beautiful, but mentally retarded woman in her twenties disappears, police chief Duca Lamberti (Frank Wolff) tries to find her. But when her body turns up, they enter a race to find the killer before her father (Raf Vallone) does.
With the look of a gritty crime drama, this Giallo plays out more seriously than most, and is all the better for it.

don't open till Christmas (1984)

"Don't worry about it, she's just raw with grief."
A serial killer is doling presents to anyone dressed as Santa in London's West End, and Chief Inspector Harris (Edmund Purdom) has the task of catching him. Also on the case is reporter Giles (Alan Lake), who is after a scoop.
Bad acting, script and direction help to make this gruesome slasher into one fine Christmas turkey. Watch out for an appearance of Caroline Munro as she launches, (and ends), her singing career.