What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Quest for Love (1971)

A British sci-fi drama from Ralph Thomas, who was best known for the Doctor series of comedy films, in which Tom Bell plays a scientist who following an experiment with a particle accelerator that goes wrong finds himself in a parallel universe slightly different from our own where there wasn't a WWII and Everest had yet to be conquered. Bell discovers he's not a scientist but a famous author in a seemingly irreparable relationship with his wife, played by Joan Collins, thanks to his constant adultery in this alternate timeline.

Quest for Love is a wonderful film, it's based on a story from John (Day of the Triffids) Wyndham and it cleverly blends romance with science fiction . It's beautifully written and it goes at a cracking pace and throws in various witty asides . Bell is extremely likable as the scientist at first out of his depth and bewildered and later more comfortable in his role as the philandering scribe but it's not hard to figure out what happens with his relationship with Collins, who has never been more appealing than here.

The final third becomes a race against time in a life or death situation and it's incredibly tense thanks to that great character building and fine performances from the two leads during the films middle third.

This is pretty much a lost movie - although i have it on a great looking dvd from ITV / Strawberry Media and is highly recommended should you wish to seek it out. I've seen it three times now and i f*cking love it.

[nicholasrope]

Bridge On The River Kwai

Classic War Film about a group of P.O.W's who are forced to build a Bridge by the Japanese and the battle of wills from both Commanding Officers. After an escape, the Allies attempt to blow it up. The run time concerned me as a film that's 160 minutes sometimes have the tendency to be drawn out with several slow points and lulls but this had a brisk pace and it didn't seem to be a long film.

The British Commanding Officer was an interesting character as he butted heads with the Japanese but he wanted to make sure that it was done properly. The spot where Shears sees the Bridge and was rather bemused that it was better than originally anticipated was rather funny however I did wonder what the rest of his men thought being pushed like that.

I did rather enjoy this one.

Defending Your Life

Interesting Film in which Albert Brooks dies and in order to move on he must convince the Powers That Be that he is worthy by having a sort of trial in which certain days of his life are scrutinized. This was done smartly and was quite entertaining. Meryl Streep co-stars.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Has anyone got the Second Sight Blu of Switchblade Romance (Haute Tension)?

What are the subtitles like?

I put the dvd on last night (Optimum) and they were so intrusive. Really large lettering that took up about a quarter of the 2.35:1 image.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

For what it's worth reviews for Morgiana (1972), X The Unknown (1956), Pillow of Death (1945) and Dorian Gray (2009) can be found here -

Demdike's Gothic Horror Thread.

In short. I like them all.

[Dave Boy]

zeppelin-start-the-revolutoion-without-me-cinema-quad-movie-poster-_1.jpg
ZEPPELIN (1971)

It's WW1 and officer Michael York is sent to Germany to steal the plans of a new airship. Pretending to be a deserter, Scottish/German York finds himself on the Zeppelin and heading to Scotland to destroy historical papers and release Mustard Gas on the defenders of the castle where they are. What is he to do?

For the most part, it's very much a talky movie but that does not stop it being entertaining. The model shots and effects are the real stars of the movie and the Zeppelin looks great and it all looks very real.
If you are looking for action, it's the final reel that supplies it as the Zeppelin crew attack the castle and then try to hold off the British aircraft attacking the airship in flight.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Prom Night (1980)

Whilst out playing and causing general mayhem, four kids cause the death of a friend through bullying. Years later an axe wielding, black masked killer turns up on high school prom night to wreak revenge.

I'm starting to like Prom Night a lot more than i used to. That initial hour barely registers as a horror film and fits in nicely with high school movies such as Dazed and Confused Rock n' Roll High School or American Graffiti as we get to know the characters, chiefly Jamie Lee Curtis, who is probably at her most fun here. All it needs is a thumping rock soundtrack from the era and we'd be laughing. I must admit the Prom Night disco song isn't bad but it's not Rock n' Roll All Night or School's Out class.

There are some absurdities. Starting with the films timeline following the kids prank gone wrong in the prologue. Things then turn to the present day or six years later as the screen caption states. This is kind of strange as the kids who all appeared to be around eight or nine have all become fully fledged drinking, driving and f*cking adults and in Jamie Lee's case 22 years old.

It does come to life as a slasher film in it's final third which has a tense stalking sequence through the dimly lit corridors of the school not to mention the head rolling down the stage murder which is a highlight of not just this film but slasher cinema in general.

The afore mentioned Curtis is once again in 'final girl' mode as she was in 78's Halloween and also Terror Train from 1980. Where Prom Night differs is *SPOILER ALERT* despite being the final girl she's never actually in any danger as the killer turns out to be her loving brother. But of course we don't know this until the final reveal.

[Justin101]

I have only ever seen Prom Night once and I remember it being slow, and then a bit disco near the end when it is the actual Prom. However, I have been tempted to pick up the Blu while its a tenner, and I might be convinced. You had me at Dazed and Graffiti.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)

A batshit crazy sequel in name only to 1980's Prom Night in which the promiscuous Mary Lou Maloney is burned to death on stage by a stink bomb prank gone wrong back in 1957.

Thirty years later on the eve of Hamilton High's prom, sweet Vicki Carpenter is possessed by the spirit of Mary Lou who vows revenge on those that killed her including current school principle Michael Ironside.

It's as if the film makers decided nothing much happened in the original film (It didn't) and decided to dial the madness up to 11 with this one. It's as 80's horror as you'd ever want with those electrical special effects that you only ever got in genre schlock of the era, not to mention a body tearing open and a different person gorily breaking out - that's one way to make an entrance as prom queen.

Throw in a bunch of religious extremists, including Vicki's mum, and you have the Carrie on Exorcist Street movie that you never knew you needed.

Superior to the original in every way.

I'm looking forward to a second visit from Mary Lou Maloney in another rewatch of Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (1990) tonight.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (1990)

Forgettable third film in the series which continues the resurrection of the spirit of Mary Lou Maloney after she escapes from hell, severing her chains with a nail file, she returns to Hamilton High to wreak more havoc possessing student Alex Grey to enable her to do her deeds.

This ups the supernatural elements from the second film to daft levels in what is pretty much a comedy horror that's neither scary or funny. It's also as far removed from the first film as you can get. Having said that, it has one or two moments and a few funny lines such as ""I don't get mad, I bake." declares Alex actual girlfriend on hearing he's seeing this Mary Lou girl.

I imagine the unrated version is better than this R-rated cut released in the US and in the UK by Network, which pretty much emits all the nudity and much of the gore but i'm not particularly bothered about seeking it out.

[Nordicdusk]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Has anyone got the Second Sight Blu of Switchblade Romance (Haute Tension)?

What are the subtitles like?

I put the dvd on last night (Optimum) and they were so intrusive. Really large lettering that took up about a quarter of the 2.35:1 image.

I only have the opium Blu Ray myself it's been years since I last watched it I'm assuming the subs are the same.