the rover (2014)

"He ain't giving up."
Eric (Guy Pierce) lives in a post-apocalyptic Australia, in the near future, with his only possession being his car. So naturally he's slightly incensed when it's stolen, and sets off to get it back. To do so he kidnaps the carjacker's younger brother (Robert Pattinson), forcing him to lead him to the hideout, and unexpectedly they bond in adversity.
Intense, and doggedly, broodingly, slow in pace, this simple tale holds your attention due to the sheer presence of the two main actors.

fx18 (1964)

aka Agent Secret FX 18.
"We'll never get out of here."
Coplan (Ken Clark) is brought in on a case when a number of scientists go missing.
Decidedly down market Bond clone.

sanctuary (1961)

"You know the price."
Nancy (Odetta), the maid to the Governor's daughter Temple Drake (Lee Remick) is convicted of the murder of Temple's child, and sentenced to hang. But the night before the hanging Temple attempts to come clean and get the servant off. Telling of the time she went to a moonshine operation run by Candy Man (Yves Montand), how he raped her, and how she subsequently became his lover...until 'rescued' by Gowan (Bradford Dillman), the man who took her to the moonshiners in the first place.
Based on a William Faulkner melodrama book and play, that examines the moral decay of the U.S. deep south in the 1920's.

an angel for satan (1966)

aka Un angelo per Satana.
"You have put a curse on us."
In a 19th century Italian village, an old statue is recovered from a lake, but the superstitious villagers believe the statue to be cursed. Into this arrives Harriet (Barbara Steele), an English woman with an inheritance to claim, and her resemblance to the statue is soon noted. Soon also her seemingly schizophrenic actions...
Evocative, with a pervasive menace.

the devil's playground (2010)

aka Human Contagion: Devil's Playground.
"Have you got any soya milk?"
Angela Mills (MyAnna Buring) is a testing patient for a new performance drug. Unfortunately it goes wrong, unleashing a zombie apocalypse, with only Angela remaining immune. She teams up with the usual ill matched people, including her ex boyfriend (Danny Dyer) and a heavy from the drug company that created the mess in the first place (Craig Fairbrass).
Fast moving horror, that relies on you not noticing the slim plot, or that it copies many others along the way.

meet mr Callaghan (1955)

"You've been lying haven't you?"
Slim Callaghan (Derrick de Marney) is a private eye out to solve the murder of a deeply disliked businessman. This involves him meeting people like Larry The Dip and fem-fatale nightclub singers.
Brisk, and involving thriller.

so darling, so deadly (1966)

aka Agent Joe Walker: Operation Far East. Kommissar X - In den Klauen des goldenen Drachen.
"he looks like a real ladykiller."
Two agents (Tony Kendall & Brad Harris) are hired to protect a scientist who has created a death ray from an evil gang who obviously would like it for themselves.
Like Bond on viagra; Absurd adventure, where the two spies lurch from one fight to the next as they follow their loins around the Far East.

cat and mouse (1958)

aka The Desperate Men.
"I don't want to knock sense into you, unless you make me."
Ann (Ann Sears), whose father was hung for murder, following a bungled diamond heist, is attacked by a man who believes she knows where the gems are hidden. When the man dies, Rod (Lee Patterson), initially plays the helpful friend, but is really after the diamonds himself.
Interesting little noir featuring a score by Edwin Astley.

extraterrestrial (2014)

aka The Visitors.
"Is it still in the house?"
Five young adults visit a remote cabin in the woods, and witness a spaceship crash. When they investigate, they find footprints leading away from the UFO and towards their cabin...
A base script that we've seen a hundred times before (cabin, kids/bait, something/one to stalk and slash them), but done with a verve that lifts it above most.

thunder rock (1942)

"All it is, is a toilet for gulls."
David Charleston (Michael Redgrave) is a bitter and tormented ex-journalist, who has retreated from the world, by working in a remote lighthouse. Disgusted at his inability to convince the world of the dangers of fascism he relives the ghosts of his past, and the past of those who have died, smashed on rock the lighthouse is built on.
The slow pace and sermonising will put many off, but the talented cast manage to give some life to this quirky propaganda piece.

code name: jaguar (1965)

aka Corrida pour un espion. The Spy Who Went Into Hell.
"You have a sensitive and appealing nature, and I would just love to help you."
The Russians have penetrated an American Naval base, so the US authorities bring in Jeff Larson (Ray Danton) to root out the mole.
Likeable, if unremarkable spy yarn.