The only advantage of being seriously ill is the chance to watch back to back horror instead of staring at a ceiling whilst stuck in bed...
Anthology-athon Part 1
I will do my recent viewings over 3 or 4 posts as to keep them in a sensible length not a manifesto
Dead Of Night (1945)
One of my all time favourites,Melvyn Johns drives to a house in which he meets 5 people whom he informs he has met before in his dreams,5 stories unfold of the house guests experiences of the supernatural including a creepy hearse driver who saves the life of a racing car driver & a ventriloquists doll with a life of it's own some broken glasses and an arrogantly sceptic Shrink ends the wrap around story shockingly. This film truly is a masterpiece and deserves the fantastic praise it gets. 9/10
Tales from the Crypt. (1972)
5 unlucky people get to see Ralph Richardson in a bathrobe who then unfolds their futures, Joan Collins encounters a Santa who likes to Slay,whilst Ian Hendry isn't informed he sleepwalked and put his face in bubble and squeak after a car accident,throw in a skeletal Biker, some Razorblades in walls & Peter Cushing's heartbreaking performance following the demise of his real life wife very recently before his segment & you have one of amicus finest Hours. 8/10
Vault of Horror (1973)
The only amicus anthology where Cushing didn't appear. Some people say Vault is one of the poorest of their output but I disagree I love the film. Tom Baker hides his head under an Hgv,while Terry Thomas Marries Dead of Night's Melvyn Johns Daughter and rants insanely about an empty cupboard,a man is "heading" for an early grave & Kurt Jurgens finds money just hangoney for old rope that might just hang him. Whilst Daniel Massey "necks" his drink in a rather unsociable restaraunt. 8/10
Torture Garden (1968)
(FOR ME) this was the worst Amicus Anthology and is the only one I can't stand, an annoying idiot at a funfair asks Jack Palance and others to stare at some garden shears whilst their fates are foretold. Some drivel about Cats with odd names and a piano with a life of it's own if you're still awake by the end well done 3/10
The House That Dripped Blood. (1971)
A Police inspector investigates why everyone who lives in a house locally dies in nasty mysterious ways. We then visit the last days of 5 previous occupants of said abode. Peter Cushing is obsessed with a head in a waxworks,Christopher Lee realises Chloe Franks isn't as cute as she seems,Denholm Elliot finds his written work coming to life & Wurzel Gummidge can't trust Ingrid pitt. With a nice in joke in that final segment "bela lugosi of course not that new chap" in reference to Dracula and of course a cheeky wink at Mr Lee who of course appeared a segment earlier 7/10
Dr Terror's House of Horror's (1965)
Peter Cushing boards a train with his Tarot Cards in Amicus First effort, he proceeds to tell the futures of Christopher lee,Roy Castle,Donald Sutherland and others. This first effort from Amicus is tame in comparison to Vault & Crypt but is still good fun and eesential to any fan's collection. Cue weeds that overtake and strangle everything,Wolves who need to cut their fingernails & Vampire Doctors amonst others 7/10
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