jamesaxbrice

I viewed this film amidst a collection of thirty Horror films, some quite obscure. This was, by far, the greatest find of them all. I felt like a man who knows all bands and musical details of the sixties, yet, out of the blue, discovers Jimi Hendrix. Instead of another synopsis (there are a ton already for you to read) I will say that this movie is like Carnival of Souls meets H.P. Lovecraft meets Night of the Living Dead, with a nod from the lovely psychedelic early seventies. Many people complain that this film is flawed. To me, it is like saying "you are flawed because the right side of your face doesn't look just like the left side." Actually our so-called flaws make us who we are as much as our so-called attributes do. In short, if you don't like art, or movies that are an experience you should avoid this film. Also, if you are a person who must be spoon-fed every detail of what is or MAY be going on in a film, avoid this movie. If you enjoy a truly disturbing and creepy story that is more about mood than story details, then this movie is for you. Having said that, I must also say I thought there were plenty of story details letting the audience know what SEEMS to be happening. As in Lovecraft's stories, the horror is noted but only slightly detailed, for the full truth of it would drive you insane...that is the feeling one gets with this movie. Insanity seems to be a threat in this movie as much as outward danger. The acting is most adequate with great cameos by Elisha Cook Jr. and Royal Dano, but my favorite character was Toni, the child like cuddly hippie chick played by Joy Bang. It seems that much of today's movie goers need constant action and a fast-moving plot. If you can't get into a movie's atmosphere and mood, and sit back and enjoy images and sensation, this movie is NOT for you. If you have a more disciplined mind and enjoy an art experience, this movie is right up your alley.

As usual, the Outer Limits was once again ahead of the curve with this episode. Universities were heavily experimenting with LSD during this time and were coming forth with amazing, positive and promising results until the Nixon admin shut the whole thing down and loaded on masses of negative propaganda about the drug. It is one of my personal favorites because of story matter and a well conceived plot, with Skip Homeier doing some excellent acting. C.E. drugs are in play throughout this episode. C.E. stands for consciousness expansion, aka LSD, DMT, STP, Peyote, Mushrooms, etc... The storyline figures, heck, if you can expand the consciousness, why not the intellect, physical prowess, ESP, the whole ball of wax? Great! But at what price to humanity? Many consider this episode too talky, almost like an old Perry Mason episode. And yes, if you are looking for mind blowing science fiction this will not be your cup of tea. It is much more subtle and I'm sure an episode that saved them a ton during production. But the story had me hooked from beginning to end. Also, an Asian professor gives the most poetic and accurate description of a mind expanded by the use of LSD that I have ever come across. It almost blows the minds of the policemen listening to him.

I went to see Van Helsing thinking I would at least be partially entertained. I was wrong. I was bored out of my everlovin skull. The acting was abominable, and it was probably the best thing about the movie. I have rarely been exposed to such a toxically bad script. The "monsters" looked like something from the movie Shrek, and I'm not exaggerating. As a matter of fact I think Mr. Hyde was played by Shrek if I'm not mistaken. The outfits worn by the Van Helsing character and the unbelievable heroine were so ridiculous that I had to consciously force myself not to roll my eyes. And the Werewolf... Lord! How do I describe the failure of the Werewolf? Computer generated monsters are NOT scary, they are fantastical. A Werewolf is a fictional extension of a psychopath. Since, In reality, people are the most frightening thing on Earth, psychopathic killers are the most frightening people. A Werewolf is basically a hyper-psychotic, bent on killing and mutilation. It is therefore essential that for a Werewolf to be frightening, or for just about any humanlike monster to be frightening, the monster must be played by an actual human. that is another reason why the monsters in this film are such a disgrace to all the classic monsters of the past. This movie leaves out the human element; an element that must be present for any movie to succeed on ANY level or genre. By the way... since when does a guy turning into a werewolf have the ability to crawl backwards up a wall like Spiderman?

As a fan of horror films I can say with confidence that The Ring is the most terrifying movie ever made. This film is based on the Japanese novel and movie, Ringu. I own both the Ring, and Ringu, and The Ring adds much to the original. After so many disappointing horror films it is good to come across such a fresh approach to what frightens us. The story of a vengeful ghost looking for retribution is just the cover for the true horror of this film. A couple who refuse to accept nature's, or God's, will that they simply weren't meant to have a child somehow manage a pregnancy. Their offspring, a little girl named Samara, is far more than she appears. An undefined dark force channels itself through her, and infects people and animals with horrible mental images. One has the since that this force is evil itself and, in a truly Lovecraftian sense, if one were to see this evil fully it would be more than the mind could handle, which suggests how this entity kills people through Samara. The movie is eloquently and beautifully directed with gorgeous cinematography and an eerie music score by Hans Zimmer. This next comment is a spoiler, so stop reading here if you have not seen the film. The most terrifying thing about the film is the knowledge that this darkest evil will not stop, but will infect the world.

On certain days I consider The Curse of the Werewolf to be my all-time favorite horror film. In my opinion it was Hammer's best effort except, possibly, for the highly underrated Phantom of the Opera with Herbert Lom. The story is most unique and carries a strong, yet very Catholic, spiritual element. The cinematography is excellent as well as Terence Fisher's direction. One of the most outstanding qualities of the movie is the immaculately intricate and powerful music score by Benjamin Frankel. I've never heard of this composer before or since, but I would love to find this score on CD.

There are already plenty of write-ups detailing thoughts on the story, so I won't go there. The acting is adequate to superb, and Oliver Reed does an outstanding job portraying a tormented soul protractedly possessed by the raging spirit of unbridled destruction. I've notice one goof in the movie that is actually rather glaring when you notice it... The movie starts off with narration, "Some two-hundred years ago in a village in Spain, blah blah blah...", and as the story develops to the end of the narration, the servant girl is in the swamp as Clifford Evans approaches and the narration ends with, "and that is how I found her."

The movie is filled with powerful scenes and the story keeps the viewer involved at all times. It slips a bit when the wolf hunter, Pepe, finds a dead sheep and says, " Hello, what's this then?" A bona-fide Spanish Limey! Despite the movie's low-budget production and the era it was created, it ranks as an excellent horror film even by today's standards. If you are a person who has to have graphic violence and lots of running and screaming to keep you entertained, then this movie is not for you. If you enjoy a good, original story and interesting characters then this movie will suffice.