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John Mills is a union leader in a company who fights to win equal rights for some of his black workforce. His determined efforts win out in the end, but then his daughter tells him that she intends to marry a Caribbean immigrant and his home life becomes strained, especially when it becomes apparent that his wife is racist.
An early 60's example of the racial tensions that were becoming apparent with the Caribbean immigration of the 50's and 60's following the 1959 Notting Hill Riots. The fact that the screenplay has its roots in a stage play is obvious, with long periods of wordplay. Despite its inherent wordiness and characters that are apt to spout polemics at the drop of a hat, this is an assured attempt to address a problem that has never truly gone away.
Alexandria is a young girl recuperating with a broken arm in a Los Angeles Hospital, who befriends another patient. To while away the time he tells her a tale of six men who are on a quest to kill an oppressive leader, for various wrongs he has inflicted on them. He obviously makes this up as he goes along and as it does the tale grows, blending and evolving to encompass her reality.
A film that revels in showing how movies can entrance with breathtaking visuals. The story is inconsequential, don't think about it at all, it's a mere means to draw you into the colour. A feast for the eyes. Sit back and let it roll over you.
aka The Forsaken: Desert Vampires. Desert Vampires. Vampires of the Desert.
Sean is delivering a pristine vintage car by driving it cross-country. Along the way he picks up a hitch-hiker and that's when the fun begins. It turns out that the hitcher is hunting vampires and soon they catch up to his prey. Sean gets bitten and from that moment it becomes a race against time to get to the head vampire before Sean turns forever.
Rather like Near Dark for generation x, an entertaining ride, some funny lines and a bit, though not much, gore. Something for everyone then, it fills your 90 minutes adequately, though its never going to be the top of your too watch pile.
aka George A. Romero's Land of the Dead.
Zombies have overrun the earth, whilst people live in well fortified cities. The rich, including Kaufman (Dennis Hopper), live it up in their penthouse apartments, literally looking down on the poor. But the zombies are getting smarter and the population are growing resentful. In the middle of it all is Riley (Simon Baker), who leads a team supplying the city by foraging outside, using an armoured truck. One of his team steals the truck when Kaufman betrays him, forcing Riley to attempt to get the vehicle back. All the while the zombies keep probing for weaknesses in the barricades.
Another Romero, another alagory about society and it's dog eat dog ways, but this time he ups the action and keeps the film a taught 90 odd minutes, and its all the better for it. Even a few old friends from previous movies turn up, including Blades from Dawn of the Dead.
aka Circus of Terror.
Monica (Joan Crawford), runs a circus which has suffered a series of unexplained deaths. Her indifference and 'show must go on' attitude does not endear her to the performers, and when the business manager dies, the performers get spooked and believe there is a killer loose in their midst. Many suspect Monica of the killings, especially Matilda (Diana Dors). Then Monica's unruly daughter is thrown out of school and returns to the circus, along with an detective, determined to uncover the truth.
A mildly entertaining thriller, enlightened by Joan Crawford's feisty performance, and the various interesting and grizzly deaths, despite the confusing plot and being padded rather too much with plodding circus acts.
aka Code Name: Trixie. Experiment 2000. The Mad People.
In a small town people start going insane. The army quickly quarantines it, much to the confusion of the local populous, who are told nothing as they are rounded up. The confused and angry citizens try to comprehend that they are in a middle of a catastrophe and try to work out what they should do. Meanwhile the army argues amongst themselves about how to contain what is revealed as an accidental biological weapons release into the towns water.
Following on from the success of Night of the Living Dead, this has the same 'realistic' documentary style, and social allegory. At one point the president is appraised about the situation on video, but we never see anything more than the back of his head as he disinterestedly listens. An interesting film, but I never truly care about the characters as they struggle to survive the mayhem and escape. Worth watching as a lesser known Romero, but not essential.
John Mills is a union leader in a company who fights to win equal rights for some of his black workforce. His determined efforts win out in the end, but then his daughter tells him that she intends to marry a Caribbean immigrant and his home life becomes strained, especially when it becomes apparent that his wife is racist.
