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Moon in Scorpio (1987) ★★★ The bulk of the film is set on a small yacht on which three army veterans and their wives have gone for a short cruise down the West Coast of the US, from California to Acapulco. There are flashbacks to the Vietnam War, showing the three men murdering civilians, though these don't seem to have any relevance to the events on the boat. I understand there's a troubled back story to the film, with director/cinematographer Gary Graver originally intending to tell the story of three soldiers who burned down a temple to a snake goddess, and the goddess or a Vietnamese child comes to exact revenge. Executive producer Moshe Diamant was more interested in 'Halloween on a boat', a body count-type slasher film. It has elements of both but is ultimately neither. Additionally, there is a strange framing device with Linda (Brett Eklund), who is in hospital being questioned by the police about the murders she witnessed and how she survived. Perhaps best subtitled 'Three Films in Search of a Coherent Narrative', this isn't a particularly good film, but nor is it as terrible as I'd been led to believe. It is certainly strange, a film with characters and storylines which are either irrelevant or red herrings, and the big reveal – the killer's identity – doesn't stand up to any scrutiny. As the producers hired another editor to reorder some scenes and include others after filming had finished, Gary Graver can't be held responsible for the plot holes and confusing story. That said, it's fairly enjoyable, it looks very good thanks to Gary Graver's excellent cinematography, and it's ultimately enjoyable because of its flaws.
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Amok Train (AKA Beyond The Door III). 1989. A young girl with her class go to Yugoslavia for a trip and witness a pagan ceremony unaware they are to be sacraficed. I'd never thought i would be able to see this film again and feel fortunate to do so, basically it has nothing to with the previous films more cashing in on the title and Satan's work. The film is a stupid, corny cheese fest yet still in a way enjoyable, Bo Svenson as a professor and leader of a secret pagan cult who wants to sacrifice a young girl to Satan as a wife, the youngsters escape by train that's controlled by evil. The death scenes are decently done and nice ominous eerie background score by Carlo Maria Cordio. p13726_v_h9_aa.jpg
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Legend of the Witches (1970) A revelatory documentary which looks in detail at magic rites and rituals whilst exploring the origins of witchcraft in Britain. Beginning with a man's initiation into a coven - always makes me cringe as the initiation involves chasing round the woods blindfold and totally naked. I'm sure i'd stub my toes after five seconds or stand on something sharp and be on the ground whimpering - then there's the very controversial divination through animal sacrifice which i'm sure is there for shock purposes only as it involves the ritualistic killing of a chicken before it's entrails are 'read' in bloody close up. The film also features a 'Black Mass' and explores Britain's hidden pagan heritage and its continued influence on our lives today, despite rigorous persecution by the Church throughout history. Whilst the soothing voice overs and stark but beautifully filmed black and white images are all quite hypnotic (You can feel like you are falling under a spell) it also comes across very much like a showcase for Alex Sanders and his wife Maxine. Sanders founded Alexandrian Wicca during the 1960s and was a high priest of the Neo-Pagan religion whilst Maxine was a priestess. It's their (Good looking and extremely naked) coven which features throughout Legend of the Witches and they perform all the rituals, but because Sanders frequently courted the press and as much publicity as possible at the time that showcase ideology remains. As it is Legend of the Witches is practically a time capsule for the age and features some of the greatest scenes on film of the witchcraft vibe of the late sixties and early seventies and i fall under it's hazy spell each and every time i watch it. |
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It comes with three commentaries: a fascinating one by Fred Olen Ray, and two interesting and enjoyable fan/academic ones by The Hysteria Continues crew and Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain. They are all good and make a rewatch more likely.
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