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Death Carries a Cane (1973) A photographer, played by Nieves Navarro, witnesses the murder of a woman through a tourist telescope. Unable to get a clear sight of the killer she informs the police as one by one all witnesses to the killers escape wind up dead. Directed by Maurizio Pradeaux, and one of only two gialli he made out of a rather tiny seven film career, the other being 1977's Death Steps in the Dark. Death Carries a Cane is a promising entry in the giallo genre. The film possesses some nice touches, the typical giallo killer - black hat, coat and gloves, being one. I also like the idea of the cane. The killer holds his victims down using the cane handle before slashing their throats with the razor. In fact the film is certainly one of the sleazier entries with grizzly throat slashings and salacious sex galore. Death Carries a Cane is a very watchable if unremarkable example of the giallo thriller. |
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Burnt Offerings 1976. A couple and their son decide to spend the summer in a house unaware of its back history. Different take on the haunted house genre with a dark gothic tone atmosphere, Oliver Reed and Karen Black play the couple who rent the house and look after the strange old lady in the room that nobody sees. Burgess Meredith and Eileen Heckart play the siblings who rent out the creepy house, and Bette Davis Joins as aunt Elizabeth. The film does has his moments of dragging on and slow moments, but does have its creepy moments with the smiling chauffeur wth a good background score. 5-6 out of 10
__________________ " I have seen trees that look like tortured souls" |
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MV5BMTUzMzAxMTk1M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjc1MTU2MQ@@._V1_.jpg Pakistan's fist gore film, i didn't know what to expect with this one but i'm always up for an obscure foreign horror film. hells-ground-06.jpg It's a very interesting and entertaining mix of indian style culture and 70's horror movie tropes, coming across as a mix of elements of Zombie flesh eaters/Texas chainsaw massacre but set in a wood filled with fog that is reminiscent of the style of The Evil dead. Added to the mix is some cheesy acting, a funky indian style theme tune and it's all topped off with a fair amount of gore. hellsground.jpg The plot is simple and derivative but if like me you're a fan of goofy 70's low budget horror it's perfectly acceptable, basically some kids head off to a rock concert and get sidetracked ending up in a cursed area. hellsgroundpic.jpg They drive an old camper van in scenes that ape TCM,( run into some random zombies ??? who infect one of the group) a crazy bearded guy who they give a lift to and finally an nuts old woman and a giant burkha wearing creature swinging a whacking great ball with spikes. Who will survive and will they taste good in a curry? zibakhana-film.jpg I found this very entertaining, it's pretty well made and atmospheric for a low budget horror, the background music in some places was very 70's experimental and pretty effective, (the stuff used in the zombie scene gave me a Manchester Morgue vibe) and it doesn't outstay it's welcome at a brisk 75 minutes Distributed by the guys at Mondo Macabro, this is partly written by Pete Tombs and features music by Stephen Thrower. Also in the set i have is the film "Dracula in Pakistan" that i need to watch at some point. It's a region 2 release and has a spoken English language version as an option, think it may be a Dutch release. hell-still4.jpg A very enjoyable 7.5 / 10 Here's a trailer so you can judge if it's your kind of thing.
__________________ MIKE: I've got it! Peter Cushing! We've got to drive a stake through his heart! VYVYAN: Great! I'll get the car! NEIL: I'll get a cushion. |
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The Playgirls and the Vampire (1960) One stormy night five showgirls and their manager show up at an old spooky castle seeking shelter, home of Count Kernassy (Walter Brandi). The film has echoes of Carmilla but the first half is largely a plotless mix of the girls dancing and stripping in babydoll nighties and high heels. It's only the final twenty minutes when it can really be considered a horror film. Whilst there is a small amount of nudity, gore is limited to a couple of tiny red dots on a girls neck to signify a vampire bite and the castle itself is far too white in decor to ever be considered creepy. When you compare what the likes of Hammer were putting out at the time, The Playgirls and the Vampire really isn't very good, with the acting at times risible, especially the vampire baring his fangs looking like Lugosi on speed. I do however have a soft spot for the film, it's difficult to say why, maybe because it's... no, no idea really, let's just say it has a certain charm that only Italian films of the period could replicate. |
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__________________ RIP Douglas White. 11-06-33 - 01-07-2017 |
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Time Warp (1980) Found this today. If ye wants to see Batman perv after a missing astronaut's wife? Line up here. A double bill with Warp Speed (1981), which is a tad duller Hellraiser 3: Hell On Earth It's still not a great film. Her from DS9 gets involved this time. I had to put on Inferno to take my mind off it. Now there's a film. Why didn't I review that instead?
__________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [B] "... the days ahead will be filled with struggle ... and coated in marzipan ... "[/B] |
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Madhouse 1981. A woman escapes an asylum and heads out to pursue her twin sister on the lead up to their birthday. For the first half of this movie was in two minds to switch it off, it just seemed slow and stop but it did get better...just a little bit. Think this film makes you think twice going to a mansion for a birthday party that hardly ends well. Patricia Mickey does try to hold out as the heroine but poor acting from others doesn't do well and almost totally predictable. 3-4 out of 10.
__________________ " I have seen trees that look like tortured souls" |
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I'm not full of much hope for it now. |
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I quite enjoyed "Madhouse" a few weeks ago so i guess it's just down to personal taste.
__________________ MIKE: I've got it! Peter Cushing! We've got to drive a stake through his heart! VYVYAN: Great! I'll get the car! NEIL: I'll get a cushion. |
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