What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[keirarts]

Escape from New York

Kurt Russell and Carpenter reunite to deliver possibly the greatest low budget action movie ever. Set in the distant future of 1997, New York has become a maximum security prison where criminals are dumped and left to rot. When Air Force one crashes in the Prison and the president is captured by the inmates, Prison chief Hauk, played by spaghetti western megastar Lee Van Cleef offers anti hero Snake Plisskin an ex special forces veteran turned bank robber, a pardon in exchange for the rescue of the president. Snake is implanted with two micro explosives set to go off in 22 hours and is sent into the prison on a rescue mission that seems increasingly hopeless.
A big part of the charm of this film is Snake himself. A surly anti-hero who comes across as a more belligerent version of Assault on Precinct 13's Napoleon Wilson. Russell plays the role to perfection, so much so that one of the major complaints over a remake is that its almost impossible to think of someone else inhabiting the role. That said, Carpenter does a great job of world building here, making the audience fully aware of the world their in without messing up the breakneck pace of the film itself. A lot of its not actually shot in or near New York but the film does ots job so well its difficult to notice.

The Thing

Sadly, Carpenters biggest picture. His first foray into studio film-making would fail spectacularly at the box-office. Released at the wrong time of year, to a critical reception from critics who frankly didn't get it it failed spectacularly. The film is so good however that in spite of everyone falling in love with the diabetes inducing E.T. With its lovable stool sample alien and un-challenging plot, The Thing has stood the test of time far better and was ultimately so successful on home video the joy vampires at universal decided to make an unnecessary prequel and declined DP Dean Cundy's offer to work on the film.
The Thing is probably most well regarded for its practical effect which for the most part are genuinely phenomenal (lets not get into the Blair monster too much ). However setting aside the effects work, Carpenter delivers a highly paranoid ensemble piece with a cast of frankly amazing actors doing the best work they can. Still a stone cold classic imo.

[Cinematic Shocks]

Rabid Dogs (1974)

**** out of *****

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Wolfman (1979)

Colin Glasgow returns to his ancestral home on the death of his father and realizes he has inherited more than just the estate, he's also got the family curse. A curse that makes you howl under a full moon.

Producer Earl Owensby is one of those prolific regional film makers that made their name with low budget films that made money but rarely were seen outside of the area they were made. In Owensby's case, Georgia and the South.

Owensby who also plays Glasgow isn't the greatest actor, think an American Paul Naschy and you're part way there, however his co-star, Kristina Reynolds is excellent reminding me of a raven haired Blake Lively. It's a shame she made a paltry two films.

Yes Wolfman is cheap but it's also well made and nicely atmospheric, set in the late nineteenth century it has a creeping Gothicness about it - think swirling fog and musty old houses with added Occultisms with that quaint tv movie vibe of the time, which as Keirarts alluded to earlier isn't a bad thing in the late 70's America. Wolfman has a reek of stale bourbon soaked Southern Gothic and is a film i always enjoy.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

The best of producer / director William Castle's "experience" films. The audience experience in this case being a skeleton that comes out from the screen on wires and hovers around the audience.

Whilst always a fun film with a great atmosphere, House on Haunted Hill certainly has plenty of chills. Ghostly spectre's appearing out of nowhere then disappearing just as quickly, the creepy corridors and dank cellers with their flickering lights help create a startling Gothic atmosphere. The final thrill of the skeleton surfacing from the acid trap then slowly chasing Annabel Loren round the cellar is particularly memorable, even if sadly clearly implausible.

The film has an excellent cast. Not only Vincent Price and Carol Ohmart as the scheming hosts but also Elisha Cook Jr whose constant worried expression is completely at home in this film. In fact its a credit to all the cast who play it beautifully straight faced when it could have been a farce.

House on Haunted Hill is an easy watch, which always has something going on and a film i come back to frequently.

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

The best of producer / director William Castle's "experience" films. The audience experience in this case being a skeleton that comes out from the screen on wires and hovers around the audience

It was called 'Emergo'

[trebor8273]

Along with winter soldier and guardian of the galaxy films this is my favourite marvel film which is largely thanks to the change of pace with it more in tune with guardians of the galaxy. 9/10




Thier is a good film here trying to get out but it's let down by poor direction and being disjointed, the opening scenes on Krypton are great as are the scenes with Johnathan Kent but it's let down by the poor writing/direction and a superman with zero charisma. It looks nice n 4K but it makes the poor CGI look even worse which is very noticeable in the smallville fight. But it does show us just how powerful the character really is 5/10

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Wolfman (1979)

Colin Glasgow returns to his ancestral home on the death of his father and realizes he has inherited more than just the estate, he's also got the family curse. A curse that makes you howl under a full moon.

Producer Earl Owensby is one of those prolific regional film makers that made their name with low budget films that made money but rarely were seen outside of the area they were made. In Owensby's case, Georgia and the South.

Owensby who also plays Glasgow isn't the greatest actor, think an American Paul Naschy and you're part way there, however his co-star, Kristina Reynolds is excellent reminding me of a raven haired Blake Lively. It's a shame she made a paltry two films.

Yes Wolfman is cheap but it's also well made and nicely atmospheric, set in the late nineteenth century it has a creeping Gothicness about it - think swirling fog and musty old houses with added Occultisms with that quaint tv movie vibe of the time, which as Keirarts alluded to earlier isn't a bad thing in the late 70's America. Wolfman has a reek of stale bourbon soaked Southern Gothic and is a film i always enjoy.

Never heard of this before. Thanks for reviewing it.

[Demoncrat]

Southern fried oddity from 79?. SOLD

Well I watched a few things ...

In tribute to Ray Lovelock I watched LDATMM and

La Settima Donna (Francesco Prosperi)
A grim and dour wee film. But if you know the director's more infamous exploits, this is no surprise.
A gang of bank robbers hide out in a retreat for Catholic schoolgirls. Now if that hasn't grabbed your attention .... I have misread my audience
As home invasion films go .... it's in the top 5 with a churning inevitablity to the proceedings. Due to modern 'advances' the ending not as shocking as it once no doubt was. See this film. To boot it has the archetypal 70s Italian ST to rival any other film from this period. Or I may just love that stinging guitar.

[MrBarlow]

The Demoniacs 1974

A band of pirates rape two girls who survived a shipwreck, arrive at a haunted Island. They are given supernatural powers to seek revenge.

Jean Rollin created this bizarre movie, the photography is good, the set piece is amazing, the plot is OK but does get confusing at times and does get slow and dragging on. With a Rollin movie there is plenty of nudity but little gore. The acting is not good and not bad, if there is nothing else to watch try this film.

[Cinematic Shocks]

Street Trash (1987)

***1/2 out of *****

Only the Brave (2017)

**** out of *****