attack of the puppet people (1958)

AKA Six Inches Tall.
"There's nothing worse than loneliness."
Sally Reynolds (June Kenney) takes a secretarial job for dollmaker Mr Franz (John Hoyt). Franz specialises in extremely life-like dolls, due to the fact that he is in reality shrinking humans! Due to being lonely he uses these minatures to do his bidding and keep him entertained. June stumbles onto this secret and with her boyfriend Bob (John Agar) she ends up a few inches shorter than she wants to be! Can they extracate themselves and get back to life size?
A fine example of 50's paranoia sci-fi, with rather convincing special effects.

bell book and candle (1958)

"Oh Aunty I don't want to be human."
Shep Henderson (James Stewart) is a publisher who comes to the attention of Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak), who just happens to be a witch. Gillian decides she must have Shep, especially when she finds out that he is about to marry Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule), an adversary from her college days. What's a witch to do but witchcraft and she casts a spell over him. But the course of love never runs true and an exorcist brings with him real danger. Will Gillian get to keep her man, especially when she realises she really is in love, or will he object to being her plaything?
A wonderfully played romantic comedy, with a superb cast including Elsa Lanchester and Jack Lemmon, and who wouldn't fall for Kim Novak?

invaders from mars (1953)

Young David McLean (Jimmy Hunt), is a keen amateur astronomer who sees a spaceship crash into a nearby sandpit one night. His father investigates, but returns somehow different, colder, aloof and angry. Soon others fall prey to the same condition, and David believes aliens are taking over, but who will believe him? Fortunately he comes across a Pat Blake (Helena Carter), a doctor who is friends with a local astronomer, Stuart Kelston (Arthur Franz). Can they discover what is happening and what is underneath the sandpit?
A fantastically realised 50's sci-fi, which features a wonderful visual style, that plays up the fact that we are small fry in a large universe.

the she creature (1956)

"I hate this place, I hate the sound of the ocean, and I hate you!"
Dr Lombardi (Chester Morris) is a carnival showman, who has a 300 year old woman (Marla English) hypnotised as part of his sideshow. When two people are found murdered local Dr Erickson (Lance Fuller) places Lombardi in the vacinity. Lombardi had prophecied that a prehistoric sea creature would attack that night. Could it be that the creature really exists, or is Lombardi behind it all?
Not quite one of those, so bad they are good films, but still not great, but it is entertaining enough if viewed in this manner.

a nightmare on elm street (1984)

"Everyone has to dream."
Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) is having nightmares, horribly realistic nightmares, where Freddie Kruger (Robert Englund) is killing people. People who then die in reality. But what could be causing them, and why will no one tell her who Freddie is?
An 80's horror classic that started the series and kick-started Johnny Depps career.

curse of the fly (1965)

"We're scientists. We have to things that we hate, even sicken us."
Martin Delambre (George Baker) marries Pat Stanley (Carole Gray), who he literally bumps into after she has escaped from a mental hospital. They subsequently go to stay with his father (Brian Donlevy), who is a scientist experimenting in matter transportation, with horrific results, especially on human. These mutants are kept locked up, but Pat discovers one when she escapes, and is convinced that she is going mad. But then the police turn up looking for her...
A fine horror that has little to do with the first two films in the series.

the big steal (1944)

"I took out after Fisk, and Blake took off after me."
Duke Halliday (Robert Mitchem) is in Mexico on the trail of Fisk (Patric Knowles) who has stolen an army payroll off him. Duke in turn is being chased by Capt. Blake (William Bendix), who believes that Duke is in league with Fisk. Complicating matters is Joan Graham (Jane Greer) who is also after Fisk as he borrowed $2000 off her, and then ran off. Duke and Joan subsequently pair up on the trail. All this is watched with interest by the local police chief (Ramon Novarro), who has set the cat off to scare the mice, in his words.
A wonderfully realised script, delivered with a humourous tongue in cheek quality. Witty and creative banter makes this film zing along, as do the plot twists.

house of frankenstein (1944)

"It's a wonderful night, the darkness becons me..."
Neustedt prison and Niemann (Boris Karloff) and his hunchback assistant (J. Carrol Naish) escape in a storm. They hook up with a travelling freak-show and promptly install themselves as the owners by killing the previous incumbent! Niemann then wastes no time in travelling to his home town, to exact revenge on the burgermeister who had him incarcerated for merely following in Frankenstein's footsteps and trying to reanimate the dead. To do this one of the exhibits proves to be useful, the skeleton of Count Dracula (John Carradine), who he brings back to life to enact his plan. Unfortunately for Dracula he has lousey timekeeping and ends up as dust again. So the mad doctor moves on to another village and finds Laurence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), still tormented as a wolfman, and Frankenstein's creature (Glenn Strange). Niemann brings them both back to life and they inevitably run amok, though not at the same time, before the flaming torch brigade turn up to set fire to everything.
Some fabulous sets, and fantastic Gothic atmosphere fail to conceal the fact that Universal were reaching the bottom of the barrel. Still it is entertaining, if episodic, but on a lesser scale than previous films in the series.

drag me to hell (2009)

"Soon it will be you who will come begging to me."
1969 and a child steals a necklace from some gypsies, is dragged to hell as a consequence and the woman who was trying to protect him vows revenge. Cut to modern day LA and Christine (Alison Lohman) is a bank worker who is desperate to get the promotion that is in the offing. To show her ability to make tough decisions she turns down an old gypsy woman for a re-mortgage, humiliating her in the process. She is later confronted by the woman and she curses Christine. Christine on a whim consults a fortune teller, and he tells her that Lamia, the Black Goat is pursuing her...but should she believe him?
A wonderfully realised chiller where faith the fates and spiritualism are intertwined.

the valley of the gwangi (1969)

"He who takes from Gwangi the evil one is cursed."
1900's Mexico and T.J. Breckenridge (Gila Golan), a beautiful cowgirl, owns a struggling wild west show. Her one attraction that she hopes will help turn things around is a tiny horse. Unfortunately it comes from a Forbidden Valley guarded by gypsies, who demand the return of the horse. Paleontologist, Sir Horace Bromley (Laurence Naismith), comes to hear about the horse and with T.J., her men, and her ex boyfriend Tuck (James Franciscus) they try and find the Valley. They they discover living dinosaurs. Now the horse doesn't matter, but obtaining a Gwangi (as the dinosaur is called by the gypsies),becomes their one aim.
A great little stop motion adventure from Ray Harryhausen, combining cowboys and lost worlds, in what is really a transposition of King Kong to Mexico and using a dinosaur rather than an ape, but I'll forgive them.

the girl on a motorcyle (1968)

AKA Naked Under Leather.
"Rebellion is the only thing that keeps you alive!"
Rebecca (Marianne Faithfull) is a newlywed who leaves her husband (Roger Mutton) on her prized motorbike, to escape and visit her lover in Heidelberg. Whilst journeying across Germany she reminisces and relives her changing relationship with the two men. One a staid teacher, the other (Alain Delon) a rebel figure.
A road movie with a difference, being that it features a woman as the protagonist. It is a product of its time, with many psychedelic passages.

halloween III: season of the witch (1982)

AKA The Last Halloween.
"The world's going to change tonight, doctor, I'm glad you'll be able to watch it."
Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins), a doctor, treats a freaked out old man, who keeps screaming, "They are going to kill us!" whilst holding a Halloween mask. Dan tracks down the mask as one made by the Silver Shamrock mask company. When Harry is subsequently murdered, and the killer calmly blows himself up, the doctor is intrigued. With Harry's daughter Ellie (Stacey Nelkin) he goes to the company's HQ, hoping for some answers. But they are horrified to find that the owner of the company, Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy), trying to use the masks, along with a TV advert for them, to brainwash the kids wearing them.
An interesting aside for the series, with nothing whatsoever to do with the rest of the films. Nevertheless this is an entertaining horror, delving into the mass media and how it can be used to disseminate subliminal messages.

armour of god (1986)

"I brought you for the fighting."
Jackie Chan is a relic hunter, called the Asian Hawk, who helps out an ex-friend, whose girlfriend is in trouble. Jackie has to obtain the armour of god and battle an evil cult of martial arts monks, who are up to no good.
As we've come to expect with a Jackie Chan film we get a bizarre plot, and lots of comedy interspersed with some fantastic stunt and fight sequences.

project a (1984)

"I proved one thing, there really is gravity."
Dragon (Jackie Chan) is a coast guard cadet in turn of the twentieth century China. The area is plagued by pirates and Dragon's ship is sent to apprehend them, but first decide to have a bar brawl with the police instead, including Yuen Baio. Unfortunately their ships are blown up and their unit is disbanded and they have the ignominy of having to become police officers! Meanwhile Chou (the criminal mastermind of the area) is asked to obtain 100 police rifles and decides to use Mr Fei (Samo Hung), a childhood friend of Dragon's, to do so.
A great fusion of action and comedy, where Chan and Hung show us how it should be done.

wheels on meals (1984)

"Elephants can't climb."
Two friends (Yuen Baio and Jackie Chan) run a mobile cafe in Barcelona, when they come to the aid of a damsel in distress. She turns out to be an heiress being persuade by her evil uncle. The two are joined by Moby (Samo Hung), who is looking for the girl on his first case as a private detective.
An entertaining slap-stick comedy and martial arts action flick from Jackie and Samo.

gumshoe (1971)

"Here's looking at you kid."
Eddie Ginley (Albert Finney) is a nightclub compare with pretensions to be a private detective. He places an ad to that effect in the local paper, and is surprised to receive a phone call asking for his help. Before he really understands what he's getting himself into he's neck deep in trouble, and has to extract himself.
A wonderful take on the film noir, updated to 1970's Liverpool. Finney is perfect in the role, bringing gravitas, but also whimsy to the dreams of Ginley and his quick fire smart banter. In this he is ably assisted by Billie Whitelaw and Frank Finlay amongst a great cast. A wonderful spoof on the Dashiell Hammett noirs, right down to the Sydney Greenstreet style character.

blood: the last vampire (2009)

"Stop screaming!"
Saya is a vampire working within an undercover government agency that hunts down demons. Although over 400 years old she has the look of a teenager. So she is the perfect operative to be sent on a mission in a military school in order to discover which one of her classmates is potentially a demon.
Brooding animation

invasion of the astro-monster (1965)

AKA Kaijû daisenso. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero. Invasion of the Astros. Monster Zero.
"Your request is unusual..."
Astronauts Glen and Fuji (Nick Adams and Akira Takarada) travel to a newly disovered Planet, which has been trying to communicate with Earth. While there the astronauts meet the people of the planet who say they are being attacked by Ghidora. The aliens ask to "borrow" Godzilla and Rodan to rid themselves of the monster. In exchange they will pass on a formula to eradicate cancer. But is there a more sinister reason behind their request?
Those pesky aliens are at it again. Why do we trust them...Meanwhile Godzilla gets to smash up another planet, and stomp some monster butt.
Japanese, Ishirô Honda, Sci-fi,

killers from space (1954)

"Those eyes! Those HORRIBLE eyes!"
Doug Martin (Peter Graves), an atomic scientist, goes missing after his plane crashes following a nuclear test. He then reappears completely unscathed, but acting strangely. He tells the authorities that he was captured by aliens and they are intent on taking over the earth. Although no one believes him, he vows to destroy the aliens and protect the earth.
A cheap and not necessarily that cheerful sci-fi, with some bug-eyed aliens to liven this mediocre tale up.

the raven (1963)

"You sly old thing you."
Dr Craven (Vincent Price) is a has-been sorcerer who helps the magician Bedlo (Peter Lorre), who had been turned into a raven. Once returned to his human form, the pair go to confront the evil Scarabus (Boris Karloff), the reason why Bedlo was a raven. Craven tags along as Bedlo tells him that his long lost wife Lenore (Hazel Court) is in reality alive and well and living with Scarabus.
A wonderful comedy horror, with three great actors hamming it up and making the most of the witty script.

the loved one (1965)

"Ah shore do feel bad about yore uncle. He's the one that learned me good English."
Dennis Barlow (Robert Morse) arrives in Hollywood with high hopes, but no idea of what to do. He finds his way when his uncle dies and he has to arrange the funeral at Whispering Glades. Being attracted to one of the cosmeticians, Aimee Thanatogenos (Anjanette Comer), he decides to work in the business. Unfortunately he can only get a job at the Happy Hunting Ground pet cemetery and has to contend with a rival embalmer Mr Joyboy (Rod Steiger) for the attentions of Aimee.
Satire on the American way of life, Hollywood and the funeral business. Crammed full of name actors, this is in turn a subtle satire and then a broad comedy, attacking everything in sight. Fantastically black entertainment.

harold and maude (1971)

"A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life."
Harold (Bud Cort), is a rich 20 year old, bored of life and who attends funerals for fun. At one such event he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), a 79 year old who has a zest for life and fun. She opens up a world of possibilities to him, and he grows to love her.
A love story, between a young and jaded and an old and life loving couple. The fact that this works is totally down to the chemistry between the two leads.

life for ruth (1962)

"...to save some other mother having to go through the same thing..."
Ruth (Lynn Taylor) has an accident, which necessitates a blood transfusion or she will die. Unfortunately for Ruth her father's religion forbids such things. When Ruth inevitably dies we see the consequences on her parents (Michael Craig and Janet Munro), friends and family and the doctor (Patrick McGoohan) who is determined that this will not happen again and takes the father to court charged with manslaughter.
A very unbiased and complicated set of emotions and beliefs are dealt with in an unsensational way. Leaving the viewer questioning what they would do in this situation.

dead meat (2004)

"Martin! What are you doing?"
Helena (Marián Araújo) and Martin (David Ryan) are touring rural Ireland, when they run over a man who attacks Martin. Helena has to go for help but is subsequently attacked by Martin, and some unknown others and has to escape. Searching for sanctuary she meets Desmond (David Muyllaert) and they pair up to find somewhere safe, and figure out what is causing all this mayhem. When the couple meet another duo it slowly dawns on them that mad cow disease has crossed over into humans transforming them into the living dead.
A cheap and cheerful horror, that entertains, but never quite gets out of second gear. Though it does have its moments and makes good use of the Irish countryside.

daughter of darkness (1948)

"Can't you see I'm all alone, cold and wet, with no one to turn to."
A small village in Ireland and Emily Beaudine (Siobahn Mckenna) is causing quite a stir. The women of the village demand that she is forced out, possibly due to the effect she seems to have on the men folk! She does indeed end up packed off to England, when she attacks a boxer from the travelling fare, when he forces himself upon her. She is dispatched to a small village in England, where she seems to have a similarly disquieting effect on all there as well, especially on Bess (Anne Crawford). Then the fair arrives in town, along with Dan, who after confronting her ends up dead in a barn.
An interesting film that flags towards the end, is never the less a sort of low budget version of Black Narcissus - all repressed sexuality, that ends up in madness and tragedy.

dead of night (1945)

"That story is totally incredible and decidedly improper!"
Walter Craig (Mervyn Johns), an architect, visits a prospective client's house on a farm. Once there he announces that he believes he has been here before, and recognised everyone in the room, even though they've never met him before. He goes on to explain that he has a recurring dream of these people, then the party one by one reveal that each has at some time undergone an "inexplicable" experience similar to Craig's. Cue a number of individual stories of horror.
A portmanteau film that has some real moments that are spine chilling. As with most compilations some stories are better than others, but here we have a consistently high grade of chills, that will leave you with a growing sense of unease rather than shocks. A classic.

i spit on your grave (1978)

AKA Day Of The Woman. I Hate Your Guts. The Rape and Revenge of Jennifer Hill.
"Total submission. That's what I like in a woman - total submission."
Jennifer (Camille Keaton) is a writer who takes a cottage in the woods of upstate New York to get away and finish her novel, but she is noticed by a gang of young locals who like what they see. They end up raping her and leaving her for dead, but unfortunately for them she recovers and soon they discover that she isn't the soft touch they thought she was.
Extremely realistic and violent, this is not entertainment in the general sense of the term, due to the extended rape sequences.

tales of terror (1962)

"Keep that beast away from me or I'll kick his head in!"
AKA Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Terror. Poe's Tales of Terror.
Three Edgar Allen Poe stories adapted by Corman. Firstly, 'Morella', where a man and his daughter are reunited, long after the death of his wife. Then 'The Black Cat'; a drunkard who has to contend with a meddlesome cat and a lack of money for wine. He meets a local wine expert and his troubles really start. And finally 'The Case of M. Valdemar'. A dying man is hypnotized at the moment of death, and although the body dies, his brain is still controlled by the hypnotist.
A sterling cast including Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone make this an entertaining horror. The Black Cat sequence was revamped and recycled a year later as the Comedy Of Terrors, with the same cast, just switched around a bit.

leningrad cowboys go america (1989)

"This is rock n roll...study it."
The Leningrad Cowboys are told to try making it in America, so off they set. Their manager gets them an audition in New York, and the promoter gives them a job at his cousins wedding in Mexico. Their only problem is how to get there. Once they've spent all their money on a second hand Cadillac they have to find bars to play on their journey down through the US to Mexico.
The manager lives the life of Riley as the band suffers for their art, all with an admiral stoicism and much black humour. If you get into the grove of this its a wonderfully entertaining 90 minutes, otherwise I'm sure you will come out of this baffled! As much a love song to America as it is a comedy.

two thousand maniacs (1964)

"The south will rise again..."
The residents of Pleasant Valley in Georgia are celebrating their centennial. As part of the entertainment they divert six tourists into the town, and treat them as guests of honor. Unfortunately for them the townsfolk are hell bent on revenging their destruction during the American Civil War by Union soldiers. In turn they take out their revenge on the guests, until only two remain, but will anyone believe their bizarre story?
A horror version of Brigadoon, full of the usual Lewis gore. Cheap and badly acted, but entertaining for all the tortures inflicted on the hapless victims.

the premature burial (1963)

"Can you possibly conceive it. The unendurable oppression of the lungs, the stifling fumes of the earth, the rigid embrace of the coffin, the blackness of absolute night and the silence, like an overwhelming sea."
Emily (Hazel Court) arrives at the house of Guy Carrell (Ray Milland), in an attempt to revive their relationship. She faces open hostility from his sister Kate (Heather Angel), but her opposition cannot prevent them marrying. Their perfect marriage has but one problem, Guy's crippling fear of being buried alive, a fear that will come horribly true due to the treachery of someone close to him.
If you've seen any other of the Corman/Poe films, you will know exactly what to expect here. Milland and Court acquit themselves adequately, and the atmosphere is suitably dank and mist filled. Not the best of this cycle of films, but still entertaining.

the cat and the canary (1939)

"I'm so scared, even my goose pimples have goose pimples."
Ten years after the death of Cyrus Norman the family are gathered for the reading of the millionaires will in a backwoods New Orleans swamp. These include Wally (Bob Hope) and Joyce (Paulette Goddard). Joyce is named as the sole heir to the fortune, but only if she doesn't fall victim to the family curse of insanity. This clause obviously puts her in danger, especially when Miss Lu (Gail Sondergard), the spooky maid, predicts that one of the party will die that night! Then they are told that 'The Cat', a homicidal maniac has escaped the local insane asylum and is on the prowl!
Screwball comedy horror, where Bob Hope bounces around the rooms pinging quips like there's no tomorrow, whilst Goddard tries to solve the mystery and prevent herself from being killed. A classic, that leaves little time to draw breath and features some wonderfully atmospheric set pieces.

the evil of frankenstein (1964)

"I realized long ago that the only way to prove my theories was to make something in my laboratory that actually lived. I never told you, Hans... I succeeded once."
Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), with his assistant Hans (Sandor Elès), return to his ancestral castle, to continue his experiments. Luckily he finds the creature (Kiwi Kingston) he had previously working on and manages to bring it back to life. But its brain seems not to work properly, and Frankenstein decides to bring in the mesmerist, Zoltan (Peter Woodthorpe), to kick start the creatures brain. Unfortunately Zoltan, now in control of the creature, secretly sends it to steal gold and take vengeance on those that have wronged him.
The continuing saga of Frankenstein, sees a commendable performance from Cushing, in this entertaining film, but it is possibly the worst creature make up so far! Being a crude approximation of the Universal Creature make up from the original films.