Take a break from the calamitous state of the World at present and rejoice in the mellow yet haunting vibe of “Sundown” from the recently departed Gordon Lightfoot. He was a singer-songwriter who had many cool tunes. I saw him perform once in California during simpler times. Well, I was younger back then and the times certainly seemed better. Great song. Enjoy it!
We mention the sad departing of the guy who wore “The Creature From The Black Lagoon” costume UNDERWATER for that great Universal monster series. The underwater sequence where the Creature mirrors the movie heroine’s movements is basically a well-choreographed ballet. Pretty amazing. We thank you, Ricou, for your great contributions to the moving image!
They ain’t kidding with the bit about “the end of Love”. This is a very violent, depressing environmental horror tale from the early 1970’s which sets the downbeat vibe with the title sequence showing a parched desert floor with the anguished silhouettes of contorted human figures laboring across it. We then see a montage of car exhaust pipes and factory chimneys spewing out ugly exhaust, polluted waterways and landscapes, and scenes of overcrowded, congested cities. (The title sequence from “Soylent Green”, another grim portrait of a futuristic nightmare society, nicked this montage.) It doesn’t help matters that folkie Roger Whittaker [More]
I want to like “Rose Red” but it is just not a very scary or suspenseful movie. I don’t really like any of the characters so that impacts my interest toward this two-night Stephen King television movie. It used to be a regular event for network television to buy one of King’s properties and then create a TV movie. Some were good, others not so good. I think this is one lesser quality King works. A team of ghost hunters head off to a notorious haunted property to see if they can find any evidence of activity. Their search will [More]
This very recognizable and enjoyable actor died in 2022. I have been very negligent in posting about some of the entertainers I have admired who passed away during the run of this blog (not just this year). I need to make amends in my own mind and list those who have passed that I have very badly neglected. David Warner appeared in a number of memorable roles over the years. I was fond of his performance as the mentally challenged instigator of the societal clash in Peckinpah’s “Straw Dogs”. He played the inquisitive photographer who stumbles on the supernatural forces [More]
An engaging 1970’s era documentary that examines reports of strange flying objects from ancient times up until the present which was 1974 when this documentary was made. Cool recreations of eyewitness accounts are interspersed with actual pictures and films taken by pilots, military personnel, NASA astronauts and civilians alike. The whole shebang is hosted by the great Rod Serling, the creator of “The Twilight Zone” and MC of “The Night Gallery”. It appears as though his recorded segments were filmed among the remains of his “Night Gallery” set: spotlight on Rod, and various illustrative props given a bit of highlight [More]
This entry is stretching a point, I’ll tell you right up front. Have you noticed the reactions of characters being revolted by their food or drink and tossing it aside or pouring the drink out? I was watching “The French Connection” and there is a scene where the cop, Doyle, pursuing the drug smuggler lord has to stand out in frigid temperatures across the street from the lavish, Four-Star French restaurant where the kingpin is consuming a seven course, exquisite meal. The cop is reduced to eating a warmed-over slice of pizza and some disgusting coffee. After taking a sip, [More]
“Hand of Death” is called a science fiction/horror movie but based on its length, a measly 60 minutes, it might be better described as a long lost “Outer Limits” TV episode. Not knocking it but this movie is a whirlwind of scenes of lab work, human to monster transformation and chases. And then it’s over! A doctor works on a nerve agent for the Military but becomes exposed to his own bad gas and it doesn’t do him any favors. You’ve heard of Leatherface? This monster should be called Rubberface. With his built-in tire treads across his face in tow, [More]
An outsider travels to a rural English town to conduct business and uncovers an ages old secret. The town commemorates the execution of a witch centuries before. Our businessman begins to experience nightmares of weird rituals of which he is a participant and stumbles upon evidence of unwelcome intrusions into his room. Could it be that witchcraft practitioners are still active in the town and he is to be one of their unwitting sacrifices? I think you know the answer to that. Enjoyable romp due chiefly to the presence of horror legends Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee. Both are very [More]
I love this documentary! This is a very cool mixture of documentary filmmaking styles examining the Bigfoot legend which are then combined with dramatic recreations of encounters with the mysterious hairy giants discussed by the witnesses. The hybrid style works! This thing will keep you engaged all the way through. Actor Peter Graves hosts and looks very serious and, well, grave, throughout. His demeanor expresses the Gravity of the situation of our subject. His reaction shots to the scientific fellows examining and discussing evidence are priceless. Actual recordings of Bigfoot vocalizations, footprint photos, eyewitness stories and the inclusion of the [More]
Polyerius perform at the first annual Quarantinefest in San Jose on Halloween night, 2020. There should be another edition of this event this year. COVID and its handlers may have finally shit themselves out. We can only hope.
Very fine, very abridged visual retelling of the F. Marion Crawford classic ghost story, “The Upper Berth”. I first read this story in one of the old “Alfred Hitchcock Presents Stories to Keep You Awake At Night” or some such gaudy title. It was an excellent story and is well worth seeking out and getting the chills from. An adventurer finds that his cabinmate aboard a freighter may not be all he appears to be. He may not even be among the living. And there the fun really begins. Read the original story too! This video takes a very cool, [More]
Miners uncover a piece of preserved dinosaur tail that ends up thawing in a scientific research facility. That ends up being an awful turn of events. The small bit of flesh soon grows and regenerates a complete dinosaur! The resilient reptile. Very soon, a full-fledged rampaging beast is on the loose and begins laying waste to the Denmark countryside where the tale takes place. There are bits of this fantasy film that I find actually enjoyable. There is a travelogue of sorts that appears near the middle of the film that highlights some of the festive night spots and activities [More]
Another blast from the past. The amazing, original line up of The Stranglers in their music video for “Duchess”. Ah, they just don’t make them like this anymore and you may say that’s a good thing. But it does have a nice and gritty cinematic quality using those old ’70’s film stocks. Directed by old school music video maestro, Russell Mulcahy. Whatever happened to him? Time relentlessly passes.