*** Official 10th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge 2009 *** - Page 8

Oct. 5:

Films:

The Screaming Skull (1958)  1/2

I watched this one last year, and remember being fascinated by the use of the Dies Irae.  I thought it might be nice to reiterate some of the musical (and other) aspects that I found interesting.

The film has a few chilling moments, especially the dream sequence, the burning of the portrait, and the overlay of the various characters shown as they are with each speaking during the dream.  Beyond this, I liked Mickey, the 'skull' effects (and the accompanying sound of the scream), and the overall dark quality of the film.

There is some interesting piano music during the woman's terror episodes and the burning of the painting.  When I heard it, I at first thought it was aleatoric (or at the least serialized), but I really have no way of knowing that for certain without taking it down.  It just sounded like that might be the case.

Besides the awesome use of the theramin and various arrangements of the famous Dies Irae (used also in The Shining and in the original Jason and the Argonauts during the skeleton fighting scene), the score had in my estimation a Night Of the Living Dead (1968) feel to it in parts, while the film in general had a House On Haunted Hill (1959) feel to it in parts. I'll have to watch it again for the specific segments I'm referring to, but there were times I thought I was hearing very similar music in parts, at least as far as orchestral colors (if not melodic contours) were concerned.

Speaking of the Dies Irae: When the bride is woken up during the fairly lengthy segment without any dialogue -- the plainchant (on brass) is presented in augmentation, which really draws out the ominous and macabre atmosphere all the more as she waits in terror to see who or what it is that is knocking at the door. And when she opens the door, and eventually looks down, yowza--very nicely done! The skull rolling toward her was also chilling. The Dies Irae is also presented in augmentation during the burning of the painting scene out on the lawn, as the husband and wife move away from the fire and the birds fly off of the tree. And the theme is transposed (very nice!) later in the film during the scene where the bride and groom are putting out the fire, and both see the skull in the ashes. I love these types of films.

Television episodes:

Mr. Monk Goes Home Again (2005) 

This is a nifty gem.  The Neptune bar is the key.  And Mr. Monk and Ambros await their father's return.

 

Update:

Films:

01. The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)  1/2
02. Burnt Offerings (1976)
03. R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2007)  1/2
04. The Three Stooges ("We Want Our Mummy") (1939)  1/2
05. The Three Stooges ("Spook Louder") (1943)
06. The Three Stooges ("Hot Scots") (1948)
07. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)  1/2
08. Games (1967) 
09. The Monster That Challenged the World (1957)
10. Halloweentown (1998)

11. The Screaming Skull (1958)  1/2

Television episodes:

 

01. The Avengers ("Castle De'ath") (1965)
02. Charmed ("From Here To Eternity") (1999) 
03. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("A Night of Fright Is No Delight") (1969)  1/2
04. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("That's Snow Ghost") (1969)  1/2
05. Mr. Monk Goes Home Again (2005) 

 

Edited by Ockeghem - 10/6/09 at 9:19am

Here is my list so far

1.        Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

2.        The Monster That Challenged The World

3.        It! The Terror From Beyond Space

4.        House of Wax (1953)

5.        Peeping Tom

6.        Psycho

7.        The Uninvited

8.        Inside

9.        Quarantine

10.      White Zombie

11.      The Believers

12.      Asylum

13.      The Deadly Mantis

14.      I Walked With A Zombie

15.      Last House On The Left

16.      Friday The 13^th

17.      Delirium (1972)

18.      House On Haunted Hill (1999)

19.      Anatomy

20.      Anatomy 2

21.      Evil Dead 2

Oct. 5

05) WereWolf of London (1935)

Henry Hull as a snooty botanist who becomes inflicted with Lycanthropy (or "Werewolfery", as stated in the film) from the bite of another werewolf (Warner Oland) during an expedition in Tibet. A rare flower which grows there is the only known antidote for the affliction, and Hull and his rival are at odds with one another in trying to secure it. Since this was the very first official "sound" werewolf picture, there are many unconventional aspects to it because there were no cinematic rules early on. This wolf-man lurks about in cape and hat, much like a Mr. Hyde. He's animalistic at one moment, but then can reason and speak rationally through his fangs in another (as in the climax, which can come off as unintentionally humorous). The makeup on Hull is minimal but used to great effect. Warner Oland is quite good as Dr. Yogami, the fellow cursed soul. But Valerie Hobson, who plays Hull's neglected wife, is a handful much like she was in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. And Lester Matthews as a former love interest of Hobson's is ineffective as ususal. Director Stuart Walker seems to try emulating James Whale in a few comical moments, with half-hearted results. This is not a "good" Universal horror, but it's still got enough going for it for a decent time.

TV Episodes:

10) The Munsters: "Bats of a Feather" -- Grandpa secretly changes himself into a bat to be presented at Eddie's school for "Best Pet", but gets traded away and winds up in a lab in Washington D.C., where he's to be sent into space with a female bat.

11) The Munsters: "Don't Bank on Herman" -- When Lily sends Herman to the bank to draw out "all the money" from their $680 tax account, Herman winds up inadvertently robbing the bank of over $18,000. 

Grace (2009) - Jordan Ladd has been desperately trying to get preganant for a long while.  No sooner does it happen than her husband is killed in a car accident - the same accident that gives her a stillborn birth.  But a funny thing happens, the baby, Grace, doesn't stay dead.  In face, she comes alive with a taste for blood.  Of course, the traumatized Ladd will do anything to keep her child alive ...

While this horror flick tries really hard to do something different, I couldn't help but find myself bored by the one-note premise.  Countless shots of the baby gnawing on Ladd's nipples soon lose their shock value and there's really nothing else to the story.  That said, I liked some of the bizarre character asides (for example, Ladd's mother in law is desperately eager to nurse another child - which leads to some intersting scenes) and the performances are top notch.

It's not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's worth a look.

The Child (1994)

The Pratman's fear that their son Adam may be a killer. The boy is autistic but with alot of these children he has certain gifts. The opening sequence of his birth was suspicious because there was another pregnant women in the emergency room when Mrs. Pratman gave birth. As the boy reaches four-five some deaths start occurring. First the grandfather's dog disappears, a neighbour hood bully is shot with Adam standing by, the housekeeper dies, the grandfather. Well you get the gist. This was a creepy enough movie with some twists to the story. The acting for the most part was decent but certainly not academy award material. It's not one I would go out of my way to watch again but certainly worthwhile viewing once.

016) 10/05/2009 The Mummy's Hand (1940) 1/2

I've personally never found Universal's reinvention of the mummy for its series of 1940s films to be very good.  The mummy, in concept, is a chilling monster but the execution of these films didn't serve the monster well.  The first and best in the series stars Dick Foran as the leader of an expedition that discovers the lost tomb of Princess Ananka, and unleashes the mummy Kharis, who is controlled by a high priest played by George Zucco.  All this is fine, and leads to one classic scene where a doctor realizes the mummy is alive as it slowly grips his hand and then murders him.  The problem is that what fills most of the brief 67 minute running is a lot of cutesy comedy that consistently destroys the mood and tension.  There's the jolly magician, the Wallace Ford character who carries around a little figurine he calls Poopsy, the comical bar fight, and on and on.  Plus, the idea that the mummy is controlled by just the right mixture of tana leaves never really makes a lot of sense.  Why would the gods make it so that Kharis could be given too many tana leaves and become too powerful if his duty was just to watch over the Princess?  I've really tried to warm to this series, but it still leaves me cold.

017) 10/05/2009 Man Made Monster (1941) 

This fast-paced mad scientist flick stars Lionel Atwill as a deranged doctor who wants to create an army of electrical men.  He gets his chance to prove his theory viable when an accident survivor (Lon Chaney, Jr.) shows an immunity to electricity.  Atwill experiments on him, building his tolerance to electricity.  The always-welcome Samuel Hinds is a fellow scientist who discovers what Atwill his doing - to his own detriment.  Today this film is a pretty poweful allegory about drug use, something the original filmmakers may not have intended.  Chaney is very likeable here, and Man Made Monster is the type of efficient B horror picture that Universal could do so well.

018) 10/05/2009 The Wolf Man (1941)  

The only 1940s monster creation that can stand alongside the 1930s classics is the wolf man.  Lon Chaney plays the tortured Larry Talbot, who is bitten by a werewolf while trying to defend a lady in distress.  Now he too is cursed.  The cast (Chaney, Rains, Lugosi, Ouspenskaya) is second to none, the mythology beautifully conceived and executed, and the atmosphere strong.  There is also an incredible amount of pathos here, and Talbot emerges as perhaps the most sympathetic of all the Universal monsters.

Speaking of remakes, I was checking out Redbox's new releases a few minutes ago and saw that IT'S ALIVE was released today.  I didn't even know it was filmed yet let alone released.

Mario,

Dementia really looks interesting.  I may have to pick this one up.  Seeing the names of Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali in one and the same sentence really caught my eye.  Memories of that latter's The Persistence of Memory (1931) haunt me to this day....



I also saw in your post that Alan Crosland directed the episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents above.  Crosland's work on The Outer Limits (original series) is in my estimation phenomenal.  (BTW, although I don't yet own Alfred Hitchcock Presents, this will be something I will pick up one day as I love that series.  Additionally, he is one of my two all-time favorite directors.  When I was a child of around four, Gounod's Funeral March of the Marionette left an indelible impression on me -- so much so that a few years later, I learned it on ... accordion!)

"Trivia: this less satisfactory bastardized version was actually the Midnight ‘Spook Show’ being screened during the memorable climax of Harris’ own best-known production, THE BLOB (1958; which I opted to revisit the very next day on its account), while some of the locations would recognizably serve as backdrop for Orson Welles’ no less sleazy and expressionistic masterwork TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)!"

Fascinating!

 Finally a chance to write up some reviews. 

1. Deadgirl: I LOVED this film. Low budget indie has 2 outcast friends finding a strange lady tied to a table in an abandoned asylum in town. The thing is, this chick is dead - but not so dead; more like undead. She can't seem to be killed. Like the cover of the dvd states, this reminds me of early Cronenberg. I was really amazed by the cinematography, which is way beyond the budget of the flick, as well as the performances by most, especially the 2 leads. Like Donnie Darko, I thought the film really conveyed teen life in a realistic manner. This is a skillfully crafted film and I can't wait to see what the directors (there were 2) do next. Highly recommended.

2. Zombieland: I wanted to love this film. Instead I really liked it. It's a great Hollywood Studio film. How about that? It is certainly better than most of the dreck coming out, but I wanted more. The premise was there. The characters were there. The acting fabulous - great choices all around. But somehow it fell short of my expectations, which were pretty high after all I'd been hearing for the last few months from friends. I'm guessing another viewing in a year, will change my opinion. Still - this is recommended to all.

3. 30 Days of Night: Never got a chance to see this flick before. Very cool. Slickly shot. Interesting main character. Cool vampire effects and makeup. Story is basic, but gets the job done. Nothing new here, but definitely worth a view. 

4. My Name is Bruce: I love Bruce! Everything the man is in just oozes charm, campiness, and fun. And this is no different. Here he decides to use his years of experience and get behind the camera too. Yes sirs and maams - Bruce is our director this time out as well as the star. Here he plays himself - King of the low budget flicks, but life crumpling around him. Suddenly in a remote village, a stupid teen (and die-hard Bruce fan!) awakens the spirit of an ancient Chinese demon (and patron god to bean curd!) The teen gets the idea to kidnap Bruce and have him fight the demon and save the day. It ends up being a slightly borrowed story from the Three Amigos, but Bruce comes in and has to deal with the Chinese demon. It's as campy and fun as any of Bruce's early work and if you are a fan (and if you're not - why in god's name aren't you?) than you have to give this a look-see.

5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920): After 4 new flicks back-to-back, I revisited some familiar territory. This to me is the definitive version of Jekyll and Hyde. Silent? Yes! But the atmosphere created is stunning. John Barrymore's performance is sensational and honestly, you really shouldn't even be reading this sentence - just go out and rent it.

6. The Shining: Kubrick flick based off a Stephen King novel with Jack Nicholson chewing up the scenery. Everyone knows the story, so I can't say more on that. But what amazes me every time I watch is just how freakin' creepy this film is. Really - it's the only flick that consistently scares me and keeps me off balance. Even though I know what's going to happen. The long steadycam shots are absolutely gorgeous (and terribly eerie and effective). What's around that corner says I even with knowledge of what's around the corner. 

7. Night of the Living Dead: Halloween ain't Halloween without you, my sweet. Classic reinvention of the Zombie genre by the master Romero. Take a small shack somewhere in the middle of nowhere and go make a movie. And that he did. One for the ages that will forever be ripped off, but never equalled. 

8. Mysterious Intruder: Mysterious Snoozer would have been more appropriate. I just couldn't get into this flick. And I tried! I really tried. 1940s mystery/horror with Richard Dix (great as always with that amazing voice of his). I usually likes me a WIlliam Castle flick, and maybe I just was in the wrong space at the time. Doubtful if I'll ever revisit. There were some great moments. Love the "shadow" narrator! But just not enough for me.

9. Evil Dead 2: Back to Bruce for another round - a much, much earlier round. Sam Raimi revisits his classic Evil Dead with a higher budget and just as much charm. Yeah - the effects are outdated, but there is so much fun onscreen - how the hell cares? A Farewell to Arms still cracks me up every time. Haven't watched the flick in 2 years now. Great revisit.

Up next is Trick or Treat. Been waiting 2 years to see this. Have it in hand. Will watch later tonight!

Oh - if anyone is interested, I just posted 3 cutaways for my new flick on my facebook page. Let me know what you think.

Hi Scott,

Well, Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali went from being the best of friends to the worst of enemies and, whether they liked it or not, somebody could hardly mention one without at least thinking of the other! 

I too recall studying that famous Dali painting you illustrated from back in college around 1992...which, as it happens, was the year I caught my first-ever Bunuel film - even if his two collaborations with Dali were still a few years away from getting viewed by yours truly.

I recently acquired the original TV serieses in their entirety of both THE OUTER LIMITS and THE TWILIGHT ZONE but, while I have seen several episodes of the latter over the years, as far as I know I have yet to watch any of the former! This Challenge should have provided me with ample opportunity in theory but I have far too many unwatched feature films of the horror variety as it is... 

 

16. Maniac (1980)
A maniac prowls the streets of New York City killing strangers in very gruesome ways. A few things make this movie powerful- Joe Spinell's performance, Tom Savini's effects, the late 1970's New York City hellhole locations and the low budget. It's a tough movie to watch (and I think watching it infrequently helps it maintain its power) but I like to break it out during the challenge every year.

Boy, you guys have been busy.  It's taken me this long to catch up on the thread since Friday.  So here we go...

First time viewings in red. 

Movies:

1.  Jigoku (1960).  Shirô Shimizu’s life is slowly destroyed through the presence of his roommate, the mysterious Tamúrá.  (Who is he?  A man?  A conscience?  A doppelgänger?  A demon?  The God of Death?)  Shirô becomes an accomplice to a hit-and-run.  When he tries to go to the police, his fiancée dies in an auto accident.  Soon, he, and everyone associated with him, are pulled into a whirlpool of death.  And then (as in a Jack T. Chick tract), everyone goes to Hell. 

This is a film that the adjective “oneiric” definitely applies to.  It was a bit difficult to get into at the start, but once the hit-and-run accident happen, I began to be pulled in, and by the end I was mightly impressed.  Nobuo Nakagawa was a brilliant director, and I hope more of his films become available on DVD.
 

There are just so many techniques in this film that I loved -- extreme camera angles and movements (my favorite was the upside down shot as Shirô started crossing the bridge), Bavaesque lighting effects, brilliant sound design (with blasts of jazz coming out of nowhere, and the loud noises preceding Tamúrá’s appearances).  Then there is the minimalist set design, suggesting that the characters are about to be swallowed by the void.  Even the more elaborate sets are shot in such an expressionistic way that the surrounding darkness foreshadows everyone’s ultimate fate.
 

And what a fate!  Who knew Buddhists had such a dark streak in them?  We are all sinners, we are all damned, and, hoo boy, are we going to suffer for it!  Nakagawa pulls out all the stops here.  This is some delirous filmmaking here, with just one surrealistic image after another, heightened by some occasional lens distortion and a judicious use of gore.
 

Not sure if I completely understand the ending, though.
 

The extras, if few, are quite good.  The documentary was enlightening, especially with Yoichi Numata stating he didn’t quite know how to play Tamúrá.  The clips from Ghost Story of Yotsuya got me excited about seeing that film, and make me hope that Criterion will release it soon, either as a standalone DVD or as part of an Eclipse set.
 

The trailer and the poster gallery were interesting insights into Japanese exploitation, while the booklet essay is essential to help non-Japanese understand what’s going on.
 

This is the type of stuff that Criterion does best.

2.  Stolen Face (1952).  Plastic surgeon Philip Ritter (Paul Henreid) has a theory that physical deformity causes criminal behavior, and has been performing pro bono work at the local prison.  During a vacation, he falls in love with concert pianist Alice Brent (Lizabeth Scott), but Alice already has a fiancé, David (André Morell).  When he returns to the prison, he decides to operate on severely scarred criminal psychopath Lily Conover (Mary Mackenzie), transforming her into Alice's doppelgänger (also Scott)... and marries her!  But then Alice re-enters his life after she ends her engagement...

This early Hammer/Lippert co-production (stylish directed by Terence Fisher, and with a score by Malcolm Arnold and the London Philharmonic) is not strictly a horror film, but more a film noir with sci-fi "mad scientist" elements.  Its interest lies in that it touches on themes that Hammer would return to in much more graphic ways just a few years hence.  Henreid plays the part straight, especially given the creepy undercurrent of obsession in his behavior.  Scott also handles the dual role admirably.  I'm surprised Hammer didn't revisit this script during their heyday and give it a full-on horror makeover. 

 

TV Shows: 

1.  Doctor Who:  "The Rescue - The Powerful Enemy" (2 Jan 1965).  Introducing new companion Vicki (Maureen O'Brien)... and a new monster, Koquillion.  But what is his secret?

2.  Dark Shadows:  Episode 384 (14 Dec 1967).  Barnabas mortally wounds Jeremiah in the duel.

3.  Doctor Who:  "The Rescue - Desperate Measures" (9 Jan 1965)

4.  Dark Shadows:  Episode 385 (15 Dec 1967).  Introducing witch hunter Reverend Trask, who interrogates Victoria, and then leaves her tied to a tree all night to test if she is a witch. 

5.  Mystery Science Theater 3000:  Show #1012 - Squirm (with the short A Case of Spring Fever) (1 Aug 1999).   We're getting near the end of the "ecological horror" cycle with this 1976 film.  Start with a risible concept (cross 300,000 volts of electricity with a worm farm produces, not dead worms, but millions of rampaging, man-eating worms), add some overripe sub-Deliverance Southern stereotypes affecting absurdly thick accents, and top with a "hero" that projects more ineffectualness than usual for such a role results in a perfect target for Mike and the 'Bots.  However, it intrigued me enough that I am going to keep an eye out for the MGM DVD of the complete film. 

6.  Dark Shadows:  Episode 386 (18 Dec 1967).  Barnabas and Nathan Forbes rescue Victoria, but now Angelique knows she has a scapegoat for her activities. 

My tally.

Do you swear like this in real life or  are you just going overboard for a reason?

Just curious.

DAY FIVE: OCTOBER 5TH

 

What you get when the cast learns to speak english on the same day they take their first acting lesson...a day before shooting begins.

 

 

20. BLOOD FOR DRACULA. (1974) Oddly appealing mix of goofball, soft porn and blood-sucking vampires. It usually works it's strange and weird magic on me. Not this year. I was nearly nodding off. Not sure what the hell happened. Unfortunately this would be the order of the 5th day for me. Sucks. But these kinds of days always crop up. Usually I'll start grabbing at random something I don't crave at all to see if it saves it. Then maybe turning in early.

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL: 7

 

Dracula: The English as a Second Language version.

______________________________

 

Some horror films shine...some don't...

 

 

21. 1408 (2007) After crashing and burning with "a sure thing" with BLOOD I grabbed one of this years new purchases I'd been looking forward to seeing. In fact, when shopping for this year flicks I chose this Stephen King adaption ("The best since The Shining" according to the box) with John Cusack AND Samuel L. Jackson on the cover over an alternate called WHITE NOISE with Michael Keaton. I don't know whether to be regretful or not. 1408 was like an odd entry in the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series that doesn't include Freddy. Really, the whole damn thing was too familiar. And...wasn't Samuel L. in this? His agent even read the script? What a completely thankless role... Cusack fails because of the material. He's okay as an author famous for book on haunted places in the world. The concept was intriguing but it failed to deliver. WHITE NOISE would have to be better than this.

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL: 6

 

Sam L should have forced him at gunpoint to stay in 1409 instead. "Take this mo-fo 1409 key and get the f-k in your mo-fo room! ...and say '1408' again mo-fo...I dare ya!!!"

______________________________________

 

Clowns: second on the list of things 12 year old boys should fear.

 

 

22. CLOWNHOUSE. (1989) Grabbed without much thought. A kid's movie with clowns was just fine after the previous disappointment. ...waited a hour and 25 minutes for it to finally end. I've seen it before but was pretty bored this time around. It's an exercise in "could have been good" but the director was obviously preoccupied with the young male stars to worry about making a competent horror film since he got in trouble for doing things with the 12 year old star. See? Clowns really aren't all that scary either are they? Jeepers Creepers, his next effort I believe, is much more fun than this. I think if you have a young person who wants to graduate away from Goosebumps, this would be okay. There's a little blood but not too bad. The director also felt it necessary to include some "boy nudity". Again, clowns are just not that scary with all the other scary shiit in the world.

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL: 6

 

You know what they say about clowns who have to weat extra large clown shoes...? wink wink

 

_______________________________

 

Let's do a movie called sit and talk, then stand, walk and talk...

 

 

23. RASEN/THE SPIRAL/(Ringu 2?  Whatever!). (1998) Being talky made this a bore (haven't read this much in age!!)...even the head-scratchingly goofy wrap up didn't keep me more interested than where the running time was currently situated. Really...this is what they decided to do to continue the material? My thought was "give birth to a screen writer honey"!!! This was truly nutty. Not too much fun. I hope the other 2 films are better.

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL: 5

 

Cook this pork a little longer and serve it with noodles.

 

 

 

Sucky day #1: the big bore! Hopefully today my 'thon will right itself. I got some great stuff on the shelf...well, great stuff like I though 1408 would be. grrr....

 Radioman, White Noise was one of the worst movies i ever paid to see. 1408 was the better choice, for whatever thats worth. Now go watch Shock Waves, and get back to me!

17. My Bloody Valentine (1981) (uncut)
A miner comes back to town to stop the townspeople from celebrating Valentine's Day because he was wronged 20 years before. One of my favorite slasher movies. Despite embarassing performances from some of the supporting actors, I really enjoy this movie and the recent uncut release made me a bigger fan. I'm looking forward to the Blu-ray next month (and I'm still shocked that a movie this small is even coming to Blu-ray).

18. Eyes Of A Stranger
A maniac kills women in Miami because he's angry and crazy. There's some pretty suspenseful scenes (involving the maniac making creepy harassing phone calls to his future victims) but that gets buried underneath some really ugly misogyny. Of some note, Jennifer Jason Leigh makes her screen debut in this movie as the second female lead.

Hound of Baskervilles, The (1959)
 

Terence Fisher
 

Handsomely produced version of Arthur Conan Doyle's story from Hammer has Peter Cushing stepping into the role of Sherlock Holmes and making it his own.  In the film, the Baskerville curse seems to be back as Sir Hugo is killed by some sort of wild beast, which puts the fear out there that Sir Henry (Christopher Lee) might be next.  Holmes (Cushing) and Watson (Andre Morell) are called in to try and solve the case.  This might not be the most faithful adaptation but it's perhaps the most beautiful to look at as the studio certainly got everything right in terms of atmosphere, performances and cinematography.  What impressed me most was the actual look of the film, which is so good that you can slip out of focus and catch yourself not paying too much attention to the story.  The cinematography by Jack Asher is just a strong of a character as even Holmes.  He captures the beautiful fog lit country side as well as inside the creepy mansion.  Another major plus is that we've got the brilliant Peter Cushing delivering a perfect performance as Holmes.  Yes, I think Rathbone is the best at the role but you can't deny that Cushing gives him a major run for his money.  It's rather amazing how Cushing could take any role Hammer gave him, be it Dr. Frankenstein or Van Helsing, and make it his own.  He sinks his teeth into the material and really delivers something very memorable.  I'm not overly wild with Morell in the role of Watson as I feel he's a tad bit too dry.  Lee is good in his supporting role and plays well off of Cushing.  The one negative thing I can say is that the final twenty-minutes start to drag but the ending packs a nice little punch.
 

It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958)
 

Edward L. Cahn
 

Tell me if this plot sounds familiar.  A space expedition to Mars ends in disaster as all but one crew member ends up dead.  A second group are sent to space to bring that survivor back with everyone thinking he killed the others.  However, he claims that some sort of monster got on board and sure enough, he's back again.  There's no question that the classic ALIEN ripped this film off but I must admit that I feel this movie is a lot better and delivers just as many classic scenes.  One can't forget that this is an extremely low-budget movie but it's also the perfect example of what can be done with limited funds.  There are several things that make this a winner but one is the direction by Cahn who was certainly no stranger to this type of film as he also made VOODOO WOMAN, INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN and ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU.  What Cahn does so well here is build up a rather nice atmosphere thanks in large part to the creative idea of using shadows instead of just showing all the violence being created by the monster.  The monster too is a very important part as the costume, especially the face and hands, look terrific.  Ray Corrigan does a terrific job in the costume and really makes this a very mean but fun monster.  The cast includes Marshall Thompson, Ann Doran, Paul Langton and Robert Bice among others and they all do fine work.  The low budget does hamper a few things and that includes all of the shots of outer space, which are very weak as are some of the spaceship scenes.  With that said, the small sets work in some ways because it creates a rather claustrophobic sense that adds to the entertainment value.  In the end, this movie not only contains a great title and monster but it also manages to do a lot of good things that many bigger budgeted sci-fi movies of the era couldn't do.
 

Giant from the Unknown (1958)

Richard E. Cunha
 

Rather boring 50's horror tale about an expedition in Northern California where they unleash a giant Spanish conquistador who has been dead for over four-hundred years.  Buddy Baer, Max's brother, plays the giant here but that doesn't really matter because this is the type of film that holds the monster away until around the fifty-minute mark and even then we only see him ever so often.  Roger Corman liked to use this trick and a lot of times it could work but whenever our human characters are boring and the screenplay is full of bland talk then the lack of a monster really hurts and that's what happens here.  Ed Kemmer, Sally Fraser and Morris Ankrum are the three who dig the thing up and all the romantic stuff between Kemmer and Fraser is rather silly and rather laughable.  Bob Steele does a good job at playing the sheriff and he's the main reason to see this thing.  The movie does have a few good things going for it and that includes the final chase that looks pretty good as the snow is falling.  The actual ending has a rather obvious goof in it but I won't spoil what happens for you.  The look of the monster really didn't impress me either nor did his little outfit.  This isn't an outright horrible movie but I think fans of 50's horror will be disappointed because there's just not much going on here and certainly not enough to carry the 77-minute running time.  The same director also made SHE DEMONS, FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER and MISSILE TO THE MOON.
 

Rodan (1956)
 

Ishiro Honda
 

Famous monster flick from Toho has some miners coming across a couple eggs that, when hatched, become the title character who then destroys Tokyo.  My reaction to this film is rather strange because quite often I bash the Toho films for containing too much "story" and not enough action.  This film, in its American form, runs just 72-minutes and doesn't feature too much story but for some reason the movie seems to drag in more spots than your typical Toho movie.  I've read some reviews that seem to hate the monster and the film but I wouldn't go that far and in fact I'd say Rodan is one of my favorite monsters from the studio even though he didn't make as many films as say Godzilla did.  What works so well for me in regards to the monster is his look.  Yes, it's obviously fake but I just love the bone structure of the creature and how he looks facing the camera.  I love the look of his head, wings and just about everything else.  Whether he's flying or just standing around I think the look is one of the best of any of the studio's monsters.  The rest of the special effects are rather mixed to say the least.  The stuff with the army tanks is so obviously fake that I couldn't help but laugh and want to turn my eyes away from the screen.  The stuff with the cities being destroyed are a little better because I think the wind effects are a lot better than a monster stomping on obvious cardboard sets.  The ending is pretty lame but there's still enough entertainment here to make it worth viewing at least once.
 

The Initiation (1984) - a group of sorority pledges sneak into a mall overnight to pull off a prank that will get them initiated. Someone else is in there with them though, and it isn't long before bloodshed ensues. This is actually one of my favorite slashers, a large reason for that being the creepy atmosphere of the mall at night. It has multiple levels and is unlike any mall I've ever been to. We also get a few instances of characters catching a glimpse of the killer lurking about, something that I'm a sucker for. Getting that eerie look at something out of the corner of your eye, not sure if you really saw anything at all. Daphne Zuniga plays the lead, and I've always found her appealing even if she's far from the greatest actress. Vera Miles and Clu Gulager are also on hand to add some class to the proceedings. As for the kills, they're not the bloodiest, but they do their job. On my initial viewing, I didn't see the ending coming, though I've heard people say they did. There are some blatant clues.

Trick 'r Treat (2008, FTV) - much talked about film has four interwoven horror stories taking place on Halloween night. I just finished watching this and I thought it made for a great time. It has gotten a good deal of hype, mainly due to people not being able to see it due to it being shelved for a few years. While it's not up to the hype, as far as anthologies go, I'd say it's pretty much perfect. The film oozes Halloween spirit. There's some beautiful imagery here, all the more sterling in HD. I also loved how each story took place in the same town on the same night. I appreciate that kind of interconnectivity, sort of like you find in various Stephen King novels. Of the stories themselves, the
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) one was my favorite, mainly because of the terrific climax. The
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) was also a pretty nifty creation. Consider me a fan. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it does nail the anthology.

I'm with you, Justin.

I watched Trick 'r Treat last night and I LOVED it.  I was very skeptical since the hype that loaded this film was so staggering.  Even more shocked though, to find that it nearly stood up to all of it.

I've never seen a film loaded with this much Halloween spirit and atmosphere.  It's evident in almost every frame and it's just such a blast to watch.  All the stories were great, but the last story, with Brian Cox, would have to be my favorite.  

I plan on watching this one again before the end of October, I love this movie and it looks great on Blu-ray.  

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

This is an awsome idea!!! I'm getting in a little late but i'll take the challenge anyway.

First viewings are bold
1 thru 4 stars

1) Zombieland
Edited by Mark Leiter - 10/8/09 at 6:35am

I have a question, I plan on seeing a live stage performance of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" in a week or two. Does live theater count?

DAY SIX:  OCTOBER 6TH

Junior follows in the footsteps of his loving mother....



24. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2. (1981) I do these Horrorthons for nostalgia, mostly.  Stress relief is a welcome side effect.  Never fully consider that until I started turning into an old man a few years ago.  I was in the local clinic on a Friday last October and had a bad reaction to something.  Ended up in the hospital all afternoon worrying about my dog Goldie, who was very very sick with cancer and at home with only my other dog Scooter for company. When I finally returned home Goldie had bled everywhere making it look like a murder scene.  So I got her bandaged up, cleaned up the house, took a shower, cooked some pizza and threw on this film, forever sealing a nostalgic place for it in my brain.  That's what I was thinking about while watching it.  How awesome last years viewing experience was after all I'd been thru that day.  This year I stopped the film at about 20 minutes, took a movie length nap and was all the better for it.  Enjoyed the final hour or so much more than the first 20 minutes.  Although I think the upconversion/LCD TV I've been cheering lately might take away some of the nostalgia of viewing certain films like this where a regular boob tube was the only other way you've seen them. I think I'll get used to it though... Anyway, really fun entry in this series.  I particularly like the cast of would-be victims this time around.  I know that honey who skinny dips was simply hired to do that one scene-HAD TO BE!  :D 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL: 8

If you even think about having sex you could lose an eye...be careful...
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There's just some things you simply cannot plan for...



25. THE COTTAGE UNRATED. (2008)  I chose 1408 over WHITE NOISE.  For THE COTTAGE I couldn't decide so I bought both.  More on the other one after I watch it.  About 30 minutes into this film I had laughed a lot!  I was lovin' it...but starting to get worried since it was more of a crime/comedy hybrid.  I was sure there was horror...hell, the DVD cover art was hideous....



I remember the preview trailer being very tense.  But I could have been fooled since I almost always limit the level of research so I don't retain a lot of spoiler info.  Turns out this one throws in some crazy surprises.  I won't say anymore other than giving it a hearty recommendation.  The cast is wonderful!  The man behind Gollum and KING KONG is here, one of the hilarious actors from the classic britcom LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN is constantly bully-laugh worthy and there's a Irish actress who reminds me of an Irish XENA THE WARRIOR PRINCESS or something. I like that.  :p  A word a warning, do like I do and watch the film from beginning to the very end, including the credits. With films like this you'll be the better for it.  

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  MAX'D OUT!

I have to say I didn't expect this! 

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The guy just wants his candy cane...



26. JOY RIDE. (2001) During these things it can be tough to decide on what to follow a really good one with.  I was trying to decide between 3 others but as soon as I saw this on the shelf I snatched it up instead.  I haven't seen it in years.  It's a modern take on the DUEL idea and it succeeds marvelously!  Edge of the seat at times.  I won't say there's a lot of surprises, especially if you've seen it once or 3 times already, but there's a likable cast and fun watching how everything unfolds.  It's also like DUEL in that it gives off a "it could happen" vibe.  Sure, there's a few "only movie people would do this" moments, but you just have to just go along with it.  Half the time films like this just scream "Well, why don't they just call the police?!!" and this is no different.  I don't have the urge to watch the sequel at this time.  Maybe someday...  A rewatch of this once in a while is all I need.  I like this cast a little bit.  The 2 brothers, the crazy trucker (voice) and the girl.  It's kind of like JEEPERS CREEPERS with the sister and brother main characters.  It works really well in films like this.  Who would you save from a bad predicament first?  Your sister or your girlfriend?  Your brother or your boyfriend? 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  9

Bumpy ride...in a good way...



Really fun day! 

I'll try to get back today and comment...