shadow of the vampire (2000)

"What an actor...dedication."
A dramatisation of the making of the 1922 silent classic Nosferatu. Murnau's (John Malkovich) production is hampered by his star performer Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe), who is either a genius method actor, or a real vampire.
Intriguing hypothisis that produces an interesting and at times chilling film.

achilles (1962)

aka The Fury Of Achilles.
"It is difficult to wash away the odour of death."
As the Trojan War rumbles on tension between Achilles (Gordon Mitchell) and Agamemnon (Mario Petri) divides the Greek camp. Can Hector (Jacques Bergerac) exploit this rift giving the Trojans a chance finally win the war?
Action and psychological drama makes this one of the more interesting Peplum, as Achilles knows that to win the war he needs to kill Hector, and thus seal his own doom.

desperately seeking susan (1985)

"Between you and me, how much do you really know about Roberta?"
Roberta (Rosanna Arquette) is an bored housewife living in New Jersey who is fascinated with a woman who posts messages in the personals of a New York tabloid, Susan (Madonna), a free-spirited drifter. But when Roberta bumps her head she awakes thinking she is Susan, and soon adopts her lifestyle, much to the annoyance of Susan herself and Roberta's husband (Mark Blum).
Fun film that introduced the world to Madonna, though you shouldn't hold that against it.

alien species (1996)

"Why do I suddenly feel that I'm in a bad episode of the x-files."
UFOs are attacking, and scientist (Hoke Howell) finds himself in an unlikely group including a sheriff (Charles Napier), his deputies, and a number of prisoners sheltering in a cave from the onslaught. Can this disperate group band together and defeat the aliens? What do you think!
Mildly diverting B movie, complete with plot holes, bad acting and an even worse script. Topped off by the prescence of Charlies Napier.

the house on 92nd street (1945)

"You're fooling around with a lot of stuff you shouldn't be."
Bill Dietrich (William Eythe) agrees to become a double agent, posing as a Nazi willing to sabotage the USA's war effort, but really he's spying for the FBI.
Produced as a docudrama, this is an entertaining thriller promoting the work of the FBI in counter-espionage.

the eye creatures (1965)

aka Attack of the Eye Creatures.
"I expected to be frightened on my wedding night, but nothing like this!"
Some aliens land on earth, at a local lovers lane spot, and one promptly gets itself run over by a couple of teens. They inevitably inform the authorities, and they inevitably don't believe them...
Bad plot, full of ridiculous characters, and teens played by 30 year olds, 80 minutes you will never get back!

viy (1967)

aka Spirt of Evil.
"I summon the vampires! I summon the werewolves!... I summon Viy!"
Khoma (Leonid Kuravlyov) a novice monk is ordered to preside over the wake of a witch, which means he has to spend three nights alone with the corpse, something that will test his faith.
Supposedly the first horror film made in Russia, this is a Ukranian folktale that provides a fun fairytale atmosphere, though no true scares.

the immoral mr teas (1959)

aka Mr Teas and his playthings.
"The guitar is a very sensitive instrument, with "G" being the third string, and is played over a system of frets. Sensitive men have been fretting over G-strings for years!"
Meyer, yet to find his true auteur voice, produces a nudie cutie, where the titular character (Bill Teas) discovers he can see women without their clothes on, and stumbles from one woman to another...
Even at only an hour long, this seems longer! A film truly of its age, when the censor had a vertiable fit if more than a hint of sex was seen on screen.

head (1968)

"Hey hey we are the Monkees, you know we aim to please. A manufactured image with no philosophies."
The pop phenonemon of the Monkees had run its course, but they had one last roll of the dice, a film exploding the myth of the group via a number of rambling drug fuelled episodes. The kids didn't understand it and it bombed. But what they produced was a remarkable piece of comedy and music.
Featuring a number of Hollywood's counter culture activists, from Jack Nicholson, to Frank Zappa, this is a remarkable take on a particular moment in pop culture.

the legend of hell house (1973)

"The house tried to kill me. It almost succeeded."
Four people (Pamela Franklin, Roddy McDowall, Gayle Hunnicutt and Clive Revill) are tasked with establishing whether there is life after death and are sent to the notorious Belasco House to do so. The house having a reputaion of driving occupants mad or killing them. Can the team survive a week in the house and solve the mystery?
The typical haunted house script is lifted by its cast and direction that manages to maintains a chilling, and beguilingly erotic atmosphere, and thus entertains all the more than most.

the brothers grimm (2005)

"Don't trust the trees."
It's 1811 and the brothers (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger) travel Germany using ancient stories to con villagers out of their money performing exorcisms and vanquishing witches. That is until they stumble on a real horror story.
An entertaining attempt at telling how the Brothers Grimm got inspiration for their tales.

bye bye birdie (1963)

"Who wants to bye a song by someone with a glass jaw."
Rock sensation Birdie Conrad (Jesse Pearson) is about to be drafted and Rosie (Janet Leigh) cooks up one last publicity stunt to see him off, and to set her boyfriend Al (Dick Van Dyke) up with a guaranteed hit.
Catchy main tune but what could have been an interesting take on teen life is squandered and the flick fails to truly grip.

it came from hollywood (1982)

"I like a good cat fight."
Compilation of sci-fi and horror b movie clips, played for laughs with voice overs and clips of comedians such as John Candy and Cheech and Chong.
This comes across as an affectionate mocking of these 'classic' bad films, and hits most of its targets.

the wrong road (1937)

"You do still love me don't you?"
A young couple, Jimmy and Ruth (Richard Cromwell and Helen Mack), rob a bank where the man works, stash the money, turn themselves in, and plan to return for it when released from prison. All goes well, they do their time and are parolled, but the insurance investigator (Lionel Atwill) and Jimmy's old cellmate, are on their tail waiting for them to pick up the money.
An improbable tale that would have worked better as a comedy, but unfortunately isn't.

the violent years (1956)

"You're very observant for a pretty boy."
A young girl Paula Parkins (Jean Moorhead), feeling neglected by her parents, decides to form a girl gang and is soon robbing and raping the young men in town.
Written by Edward D. Wood Jr, this is a run of the mill JD flick, with the usual moralistic tone to justify the crimes portrayed, and include his usual sermonising - parents talk to your children!