October Horror Movie Marathon

[MrBarlow]

Evilspeak. 1981.

At a military academy, a cadet is bullied by his classmates and teachers, decides to translate a Latin written satanic book via a computer only to awake a demon and seek revenge.

This is the second time I have watched this film, the first time was a badly edited version think from Prism dvd and it really put me off this film but after seeing the trailer for it, why not give it another go and glad i did. Nice to see Clint Howard in a lead role and he really works his ass off for it. R.G. Armstrong stars along as the old Sarge come drunk caretaker and Don stark as Bubba the main bully.

You can tell this was from the 80s with the age of computers making more appearances and improving technology, but with those computers you will never get Pornhub on it. The crypt under the church is the perfect atmosphere to do some black magic with a nice good background score.

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[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I really liked this when i watched the dvd a few years ago. The scenes with blind Tony Todd are superb and i'd go as far as to say it's his standout performance.

That's what I thought. Tony Todd has generally played the same character in many different films, from Final Destination to Hatchet: a stoic and slightly threatening man. This performance shows he's someone with real talent and range, something he hasn't showed since Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and more like his early roles in films where he is in minor roles.

I was surprised the cover art for Frankenstein didn't have glowing quotes from five-star reviews as I think it's an outstanding film.

[MrBarlow]

Mind Ripper. 1995.

A group of scientists find a body in the desert try to use new technology to bring it back to life but end up creating something else.

Billed to some as The Hils Have Eyes Part III, Wes Craven name is on it as executive producer only and his son Johnathan takes the helm as writer. With Lance Henriksen starring and later stated he was embarrassed to be in this or be associated with the film is understandable, I rented this back in the 90s and really couldn't get into it, a man wakes up after being re-animated, probably not in the best mood and goes on a killing spree in a bunker. After watching it I was disappointed in it again, there is plenty gore splatter but seems to drag on at a strange pace to the point I was nodding off. Maybe a third view in order but wont be anytime soon.

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[Frankie Teardrop]

THE CROSS OF THE SEVEN JEWELS – Hails from late eighties Italy, although speaks a different language to movies familiar from the fag-end of Italo-exploitation. That’s because most of that last gasp stuff by Lenzi, Fulci et al was still studio product, whereas ‘The Cross Of The Seven Jewels’ is, I think, pretty much an indie flick. There’s a difference in the way things look and pull together, a grittiness to the exteriors, although on the other hand the cinematography and visuals are very basic and bland, the editing stilted, the flow fumbled. What it does share with its better-heeled cousins is a complete lack of sense, although TCOTSJ takes traditional Euro-horror absurdism to much sillier extremes. It’s about a guy whose ‘cross of seven jewels’ seems to protect him against his own lycanthropy… after said cross is nicked by some guys on a scooter, his restorative quest for justice gets him tangled in a hard-to-follow subplot involving the mafia and political intrigue – I say ‘hard to follow’, it may actually be pretty straightforward but I tuned out of this bit because it was skull numbingly boring. Which is a shame, because the rest of TCOTSJ is ecstatically bonkers. It’s hard to summarise this craziness, so I’ll just throw out some random examples – lame satanic s&m scenes populated by cast-offs from ‘hot gossip’, a sexed-up Chewbacca clone who turns out to be the main guy’s demonic father, werewolf make-up that consists of something resembling a tea-cosy cut into the shape of a Norman helmet, an agonising transformation scene where badly faked wolf hair grows shot-by-shot (it takes forever and if you aren’t howling with laughter by the end of it, you may already have switched off), werewolf guy’s strange ability to melt people’s faces in preference to clawing them in the more creature-appropriate manner, something shared with his dad, who at one point causes someone’s stomach to swell and burst just by looking at it… etc etc. I’m not convinced that I’ve captured the bizarreness of this eccentric little charmer, but it will certainly convince you quite well of that by itself if you give it the chance. No idea why it doesn’t have a legit release beyond old VHS; somewhere like Vinegar Syndrome or Severin would be its natural habitat. For now, it is available to the curious on YouTube.

[MrBarlow]

That one sounds intriguing Frankie, will check that out at some point.

[Nordicdusk]

30 Days Of Unseen Horror

Day 27

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A prison ship runs into difficulty and a handful of prisoners and the ships doctor get to the life boat but soon after they drift into a storm and the lifeboat is ripped apart. A few survivors wash up on a strange nameless island filled with voodoo and killer fishmen.

Right from the start this is a winner when gold hunters show up in the first scene and the angry fishmen rip off heads rip out guts and throats. I absolutely love the opening with the dark caves eerie beach and thick rolling fog very atmospheric you cant beat a creepy sea and fog scene just missing a lighthouse

I loved every single second of this the fishmen look cool especially the under water scenes plenty of gore plenty of action and the owner of the island is such a dick just brilliant fun from start to finish. I have to give a mention to the soundtrack its so good.

Where has this film been all my life.

8/10

[MrBarlow]

IT. 2017.

In the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to survive and destroy a shape-shifting monster that has taken form of a clown.

This remake I have always enjoyed even though I do enjoy the original version as well, Bill Skarsgard does play a good part of Pennywise and even bloody creepy with the eyes. The kids are the main stars and do a decent job of being scared then finding a pair to beat up their fears, even though they do intend to develop a foul mouth at times and try to blend some humour to their horror even though the parents seem to be controlling but i'm sure our parents were like that when we were young. Even if you had a fear of clown's Stephen King made it possible to hate and fear them more with his imagination of a monster story, even the book was darker and creepier that made your imagination go wild.

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Up next the dreaded chapter II.

[Dave Boy]

27.

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FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (1958)

Great fun movie. I remember first seeing this many, many years ago on late night TV and being gobsmacked at the sight of the creatures. What a great design. The highlight of course is when the creatures become visible and lay siege to the house. Good stop motion effects and blood spurts from the fiends as they squelch along on their spine tails.

[Justin101]

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)



I've never seen an Iranian film before but somehow I don't think that this is representative of the country's normal output.

This dreamlike almost plotless film made me think of Jean Rollin. Almost existential and definitely fantastique in equal measures. In fact the scene with Sheila Vand as The Girl on a skateboard, her chador flapping behind her made me think instantly of Brigitte Lahaie in Fascination walking towards the camera scythe in hand and cape swirling in the wind. I'm probably alone in that thought.

Really not much happens, a girl who we quickly learn is a vampire preys on men who treat women badly. She meets Arash and falls for him, but can't reveal her secret life to him. That being said I was hooked and couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It helps that our two leads are impossibly beautiful to look at, both the girl and Arash. Also the photography is gorgeous and the often shallow focus makes the viewer concentrate on the centre of the screen with the blurred edges adding to the dream.

This is one of the more interesting films I've seen during my horror film marathon this year, and there is certainly a lot to think about, I think I might schedule a re-watch shortly.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

That's what I thought. Tony Todd has generally played the same character in many different films, from Final Destination to Hatchet: a stoic and slightly threatening man. This performance shows he's someone with real talent and range, something he hasn't showed since Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and more like his early roles in films where he is in minor roles.



I was surprised the cover art for Frankenstein didn't have glowing quotes from five-star reviews as I think it's an outstanding film.

The cover art presents it as a very different film. Seems to riff off a I, Frankenstein with Aaron Eckhart i thought. 20201027_230745.jpg

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