apocalypse z: the beginning of the end (2024)

AKA Apocalypse Z: El principio del fin
"Come to the Canaries."
Manel (Francisco Ortiz) is caught up in a state-wide lockdown due to a virus that has zombie like effects on those infected. When the authorities evacuate the city he decides to stay, holed up with his cat. But inevitably he has to face going outside due to lack of food. But should he stay scavenging or flee?
A slow start builds to an entertaining exploration of a post-apocalyptical world.

the dog and the diamonds (1953)

"This is no time for playing!"
A gang of children are banned from owning pets by the council, but secretly do. And one hits on the idea of hiding them in a disused manor house, and set about making it into their private zoo. Unfortunately a gang of jewel thieves are using the house as their hideout and. The children and their animals do their best to defeat the villains and bring them to justice.
A wellmade adventure with some ingenious kids v crooks.

the high terrace (1956)

"Stephanie. Why do we always have to quarrel?"
American playwright Bill Lang (Dale Robertson) comes to the aid of leading actress Stephanie Blake (Lois Maxwell) when the show's producer is killed, with her scissors being the murder weapon!
A competant but standard B-pict mix from the time.

the crater lake monster (1977)

"You saw what?"
Some scientists uncover cave paintings depicting men fighting a dinosaur in a remote part of Oregon. Meanwhile a meteor crashes into a nearby lake. Then tourists and cattle start to go missing prompting a local Sheriff Steve Hanson (Richard Cardella) to investigate...
Hmmm....could be better.

the lost continent (1951)

"Sacred mountain taboo. No one ever come back from mountain."
Major Joe Nolan (Cesar Romero) leads an expedition sent to the South Pacific to recover a rogue atomic rocket only to crash on a mysterious island of dinosaurs and the unbiquitous native girl (Acquanetta).
Promises oh so much more than it delivers.

women without men (1956)

"Like most women in prison I'm here because of a man!"
Aka Blonde Bait
Statuesque Angie (Beverly Michaels) tells her story, about how she has ended up in prison and how she has promised her boyfriend Nick (Jim Davis) she will meet him at a certain pub at midnight on New Years. As the time approaches is Angie desperate enough to chance a break out?
So-so thriller, enlivened by Thora Hird as a wise old lag. Later he film was re-edited with a much altered storyline to become Blonde Bait.

smart alec (1951)

"Any message for Sylvia"
Alex (Peter Reynolds) is a bounder who develops a plot to literally get away with murder, and everyone is stumped as to how he has done it. Especially after he is brazen enough to reveal his masterly plan after he is cleared of the murder.
Intreging crime drama quickly disolves into a slap-stick comedy once the crime comes to be investigated as the likes of Charles Hawtrey get involved. A truely oddball how-done-it.