It’s amazing how many films came out on VHS and have never been re-released. Which isn’t to say that many — or even most — of them don’t deserve to languish in obscurity. But thanks to the wonders of Youtube, a lot of films that were just a whisper heard here or there, a comment […]
Read more "Futuropolis (1984)"This one is fun. In fact, it rates right up there with some of my favorite Fifties SF films. At least where the fun is concerned. Curiously, most of the film isn’t even about giant, fifty-foot women. In fact, it is mostly familiar Film Noir territory, with the scorned neurotic wife, the cheating gigolo, his […]
Read more "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)"This was Willis O’Brien’s final monster movie. In fact, he would work on only one more film before his death, providing the out of control ladder truck for It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. And frankly I find it rather sad that this was the swan song for King Kong‘s creator. He deserved better […]
Read more "The Lost World (1960)"(aka Doctor Mabuse Strikes Back, Doctor M. Strikes Back) For some strange reason, Jess Franco has a bit of a cult following. I suppose it is natural as he made a lot — and I do mean a lot — of trashy Euro horror films, often with lots and lots of female flesh on display. […]
Read more "Dr. M schlägt zu [The Vengeance of Doctor Mabuse] (1972)"I don’t recognize Brian Blessed when he isn’t overacting. This comes as a mild surprise to me, as I really couldn’t imagine watching something with King Vultan in it without immediately noticing his character and thinking, boy, he reminds me of Brian Blessed. But here we have him playing someone almost normal, and doing so […]
Read more "The Day After Tomorrow: Into Infinity (1976)"I love this film. I mean, where else are you going to find an epic, post-Apocalyptic, science fiction, Western vampire hunting martial arts film. It even starts with an animated sequence directed by Gennady Tartakovsky. Yep, the guy who created Samurai Jack. That Gennady Tartakovsky. In fact, the vampires are monstrous creatures, a separate, intelligent […]
Read more "Priest (2011)"No one has ever made a creature feature quite like the original King Kong. Well, except perhaps the silent version of The Lost World. Legendary stop-motion animator, Willis O’Brien, used a method for Kong that has never been used in any film since. And there is a reason for that. He created miniature sets for […]
Read more "The Black Scorpion (1957)"