Island of Terror
Part 1 of a double bill of Terrence Fisher films for planet films. In this one scientists looking for a cure for cancer inadvertently create bone-eating silica monsters that leave their victims a floppy mess. They slowly begin to terrorise the small island of the east coast of ireland and its up to Peter Cushing et al to stop them!
Cheap and cheerful as most planet films productions were, the film really benefits the skilled direction of Fisher to deliver an entertaining and well paced sci-fi horror. Certainly the silicates look a little 'vintage Dr who' but that's part of the charm. The Blu-ray releases appears to be uncut and includes the hand chopping that was missing from the DD release on DVD. Quite surprising really, the level of nastiness on display and the film only warrants a PG.
Still, thanks to Fisher and Cushing this is an entertaining picture.
Night of the big heat.
Part two of my Terrance Fisher/planet films double bill. This one also set on an island, this time the temperature is sky rocketing in spite of it being mid winter and tensions sexual and otherwise begin to rise on the island. Only oddball scientist Christopher Lee can shed light on what's really going on. Perhaps a little more sophisticated than Island of Terror, this one leaves the menace suggested for a large portion of the screen time. In stead a lot of the action centres around the un-pc plot with Patrick Allen trying desperately to fend off the attentions of his secretary. Difficult when her rack seems to be on display for large portions of time. In fairness she tends to derail a lot of the film as she's pretty bloody gorgeous. Nontheless the film really benefits from the able direction of Terrance fisher once again.
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