the final programme (1973)

aka The Last Days Of Man On Earth.
"The third wold war has been going on for years, but everyone has been so busy watching the commercials that no one has noticed."
Following the death of his father, a famous geneticist, Jerry Cornelius (Jon Finch) gets involved in the search for his fathers 'Final Programme'. A formula laying out the design for a perfect, self-replicating human being: thus creating an immortal man!
Based on the Michael Moorcock novel, this is a pop art thriller that never quite sparks to life.

and soon the darkness (1970)

"It was you!"
Two young English women are on a cycling tour of rural France, when they have an argument that sees the two split up. Subsequently one goes missing (Michele Dotrice), and worried, the other (Pamela Franklin) tries to find her, but is hampered by her limited knowledge of French, and beings to mistrust the locals as the day goes on.
Slow to develop, this turns into an atmospheric thriller.

the devil's rain (1975)

aka Hell Rain.
"Give Corbis what belongs to him."
When Mark Preston (William Shatner) sees his dad melt before him, pleading that Mark hand over a book to Satanist John Corbis (Ernest Borgnine), he sets off to confront the coven, rather than give them the book. Later Tom Preston (Tom Skerritt) finds out his whole family are missing, and sets out to find out what has happened to them, getting mixed up in a Satanist pact that goes back centuries.
An all star cast, including Ida Lupino, and John Travolta (in his feature debut), ham it up in this inconsequential horror.

dr phibes rises again (1972)

Dr. Phibes is awakened three years after his last outing, with the idea of finding the River of Life in Egypt, which flows only once every 2000 years. He hopes the waters will revive him and re-animate his dead wife. Unfortunately he finds his house has been destroyed and the map he needs is missing. But Vulnavia again helps him as he finds the culprit and the papyrus, then leaves for Egypt with Inspector Trout hot on his heels.
This sequel continues in the same light hearted way as the original and whilst it follows a similar formula, and similarly ingenius murders, it can't quite hold up against the first film. Nevertheless its still an entertaining and humerous horror and worth 90 minutes of your time, especially if you enjoyed the first one.

the abominable dr phibes (1971)

aka The Curse of Dr. Phibes.
Doctors and surgeons are being murdered in interesting ways, based on the curse of the pharaohs. Various representations of the ten Biblical plagues. Detectives are initially puzzled, but soon figure out that they are all linked to an unsuccessful operation on the wife of the dead Dr. Phibes.
An entertaining and beautifully realised horror, set in the 1920's. The art direction makes the most of the art deco excess of the period and the tongue in cheek style perfectly fits with Vincent Price's over the top acting style. Camp and humourous entertainment.