The House That Dripped Blood 1971 ★★★½

The house that dripped blood is a fun anthology with four stories about a house where mysterious deaths and disappearances occur.

About ten years before turning into the man who got lost in his own museum, Denholm Elliott delivers a solid performance as a writer who goes mad when stalked by his own creation. With what you think is a twist before that goes wrong too.

The second story sees a variation on the House of wax with a pretty eerie final shot of Cushing's face. The third one brings us Christopher Lee as a father and a stern one at that. What else, with a voice like his? The climax can be seen coming a mile away and let's just say it's one that the good people at the Good Guy doll corporation would not approve of.

As is common with anthologies, the level of the different stories varies and this one fares no other. The last story is less memorable and the wrap around is wrapped up quickly. That said, the score really a layer of eeriness to the writer story and it's the type of cheesy horror score that I do love. Needless to say, Cushing and Lee are always a joy to watch.

A worthy part of the golden age and a fun addition to your seventies collection.

Saturday the 14th 1981 ★★★

A horror comedy that does an amazing job at being hilariously stupid. I don't know what's better

the Creepshow-esque opening credits
the dad, aka what would happen if Norm MacDonald turned Richard Forster into an SNL-character
the Jaws-theme knockoff in of all things a fricking bathtub
the exterminator: a crossover between Guillermo Del Toro and a huge, awkward nerd
the schlocky special effects that come with a Corman-production (though this time it's Mrs Corman at the helm)
the children from a time where all boys were stupid and all teenage girls were hysterical
the Beetlejuice rejects that make up their family and neighbours
Jeffrey Tambor and Nancy Lee Andrews hamming it up as the vampire
The Van Helsing parachuted in, because why not?

Also a nice touch to have the TV play nothing but The Twilight Zone. It's a TZ equivalent of the time when Homer got to design a car and its stupidity is precisely what makes it entertaining and endearing.

For people in the mood for “a movie that does dumb well”.

MORTUARY (1983-although various dates are listed). Your patience may be tested by this one. Mary Elizabeth McDonough (from TV's THE WALTONS) play a girl who is affected by her Father's murder and has reason to feel the killer is coming after Her-a contentious relationship with her Mother (Lynda Day George) and an ineffectual boyfriend also does not help. Adding to her woes are sleepwalking and being pursued by the killer in a long cloak with a white face-all I could think of was the writer of SCREAM must have seen this. Also, You can figure out who the killer is, halfway through the film; never a good sign.
Mary Elizabeth is appealing and while there is some nudity, it's via a Body double (I remember Judy Morton from the same show has shown all to PLAYBOY and was thinking another Walton girl went the same path). Also Christopher George (in his last film) and stealing every scene He is , is a very young, very skinny Bill Paxton who hams outrageously throughout. **1/2

Manhattan 1979 ★★★½

Damn, the Simpsons were great. While watching Manhattan, I could not stop myself from thinking: that one line that Flanders had (you know the one) is so on the money it's hilarious. You know what? That's one thing you should do: if you ever plan on watching this one or Annie Hall, you should watch A milhouse divided as a warm-up. Pretty sure, it will add to the enjoyment.

Through 2024 eyes, this felt like a time stamp more than anything else. A love letter to New York City, or at least to the good side. I mean, after all, Woody Allen writes about the type of characters never go to Travis Bickle's side of the city. Heck, they would not even have a Bickle-like cab driver in a Woody Allen-flick. This is the sunny side of NYC during the last carefree days, before HIV roared its ugly head.

Also, not going to lie, but with today's knowledge in the back of your mind, the plot with Tracy does become pretty awkward. Not knocking on the movie or the people who like it, but you cannot really ignore it either.

Because – don't get me wrong – this is a good movie. With a lot of witty dialogue and laugh out loud lines. As a comedy, it still holds up. With lines like “you're so beautiful I can hardly keep my eyes on the meter” or the whole argument between Isaac and Yale. For some reason, I also thought this was the one where Woody brought out the author who then went “you know nothing about my work”. Which one was that again?

Anyways, I can see why it got two Oscar-nods at the time and why Siskel and Ebert would give this one two thumbs up. Their (great)grandchildren... probably not so much.

Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong 1989 ★★★

When watching this, I was mostly reminded of the unique talent of Louis Armstrong. Well, Lewis or Louis?

How he improved and laid his mark on every band he joined and every movie he appeared in. With the documentary not failing to mention how offensive some of the roles were. You know that saying how you can't polish a turd? Well, Louis came pretty darn close to being able to.

Also how he helped launch people in his sphere or slipstream or under his wing (or whichever term is respectfull enough), like Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Milt Hinton and a whole host of others I am now forgetting. Lest we forget his influence on people like Billie Holiday.

Does Satchmo give a complete image of Louis Armstrong? Not really, I guess. If you listen carefully and read between the lines, you also get a sense of a different Louis. A side that this documentary does not really get into. How his infidelity is quickly glossed over. Or the touching remark about marihuana helped form a shield against the pain racism caused.

Some remarks also give an insight into Armstrong's business sense. Underneath that happy go lucky image, we found both a hurtful soul and a savvy businessman who knows well enough to promote both himself and his art.

Not easy to get genuine quotes or images on those themes, since I would imagine that Louis rarely let his shield down. Also because a lot of the people interviewed were not that willing to get into that.

Nonetheless, a entertaining and informative documentary. Fun stuff.

LOADED GUNS (1975). A stewardess -played an absolutely ravishing Ursula Andress- is kind enough to deliver a letter and finds herself in a vendetta between two gangs- almost A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS scenario- one led by Woody Strode (looking quite intimidating). These early portions are ugly as Ursula is beaten quite badly to get information She really doesn't have-You will wonder why it takes so many guys to carry this mission out. However, She is able to turn the tables. After this sort of gritty opening quarter, the goofiness begins with a lot of Ursula nudity (By this time, She was knocking on 40's door, but has the body of a 25 year::love::) and painfully unfunny episodes throughout; Ursula calling about a clogged tub, a pointless car chase and a big gang fight-reminding Me of the Kung-Fu films the time- with the film makers finding it humorous to have a big guy knocked into a fountain and just as He's about to climb out, the same guy karate kicks him back in ...several times. Ha Ha::sad:: *1/2

THE REVENGERS (1972).>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> I had never heard of this Western until my wife found it on TUBI. William Holden has made a good life for himself some years after The Civil War until a gang massacres his family and steals his horses. After finding out the Gang leaders name, He ventures to a Mexican prison, hires out about six prisoners to help him in his search (THE DIRTY HALF DOZEN-??). Of course, they all become buddies in their quest. Some great photography, a low key Woody Strode, an unbelievably hammy Ernest Borgnine and Susan Hayward's last appearance (and a pretty wasted one). TR reminds lot of THE SEARCHERS with THE WILD BUNCH thrown in, but lots of logic missing, especially when Bill's group injures the gang leader and almost an hour later, finds him and in a true WTF moment, lets him go::shocked::::shocked:: not much point that I can see. **

https://moviesfilmsandflix.com/wp-co...16/09/trap.png

This has become one of my personal favorites now. I watched this last year and I watched it for the second time this year. Plan on planning this off of Amazon, and adding it to my collection of horror movies that I own.

CLOAK & DAGGER (1984). Very enjoyable film of a video game (dealing with espionage) playing pre-teen who by circumstance finds himself in a real life espionage episode involving government document and cold blooded hit men after him. Sadly, no one believes him;;not his father or the police. It's up to Davey (Henry Thomas from ET) and his imaginary friend from the games, Jack Flack to somehow keep ahead.

This reminded Me a lot of 1949's THE WINDOW about an imaginative pre-teen whose embellishments wear old and no one believes him when He's telling the truth. Pretty suspenseful and some laughs. Some good supporting turns by John McIntyre (whose name, George McCready is the same as a 40's-50's actor who normally played villains), Jeanette Nolan and an absolutely terrific turn by Dabney Coleman as Davey's loving yet occupied father (recently widowed, busy work schedule) as well as Jack Flack himself! ***1/2

THE HOWLING 2: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985). For years, I've heard nothing but bad about this and after finally seeing it yesterday,I must confess that the negativity was punctuated with too much kindness. H2YSIAW is truly one of the worst, poorly put together and ridiculous films I've ever seen. The acting isn't good (especially the two leads), the werewolf effects look hokey and WHAT is with the awful band being allowed to play the same song so many times. Christopher Lee, in what must have been a "Mortgage" role slums throughout (I came across a website with a review and a photo of him "...looking like He wants to die". Sybil Danning looks lovely and she provides the film with any spark it might have. She had requested not to do so much nudity and a compromise of sorts was reached. Her bit is lovely as always, but the producers pulled a sneaky move and justifiably Sybil was not happy about it. Pass this by and watch the great original. 1/2

THE DEEP (1977). While vacationing in Bermuda, a young couple explores a ship on a reef, discovering what appears to be gold and other items that might mean gold to other people and not so nice ones either...

There are some good things about TD...the underwater photography is stunning, lovely aerial views of Bermuda itself, Robert Shaw is an unstoppable force of nature and wet T-shirt notwithstanding (no doubt a big draw), Jacqueline Bisset is glamorously lovely.

The biggest problem is how the story drags...there is way too much filler-I read NBC added 53 minutes to this for the TV debut and can't imagine having to slog through that. And the single biggest liability is Nick Nolte's character. Nick isn't the kind of guy that engenders good feelings-how much better Jeff Bridges would have been-and his David is a stupid impulsive doofus...there's NO WAY You could picture a regal woman like JB with him. **1/2

DAWN:PORTRAIT OF A TEENAGE RUNAWAY (1976). The always entertaining PSYCHOTRONIC magazine referred to DAWN as "..the Drive-In comes to America's Living Room" as the TV film can get quite tawdry. Dawn (Eve Plumb from THE BRADY BUNCH-!) is fed up with her dull life and alcoholic mother and decides to head to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the streets are tough and finding it impossible to get a job, she has to resort to teen prostitution. Luckily, She has a friend who also is a prostiture, so He can understand her dilemma and offer her some stability, although she sure doesn't seem appreciative. Throughout, she sounds like a snippy Jan Brady::wink::. Some coolness factor added with Bo Hopkins as a pimp, Georg Sanford Brown (THE ROOKIES, STIR CRAZY) as a tough talking yet emphatic Parole office as well as Suzanne Crough (Tracy from THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY) also playing a runaway. Even more coolness factor added by having "Cherry Bomb" by The Runaways playing on the soundtrack. **1/2

In a documentary that Christopher Lee did, he said about Howling II "the less said about that the better."

I can imagine him saying that::big grin::

J.D.'S REVENGE (1976). Kind of a goofy premise, but quite entertaining tale of a young law student/taxi driver who is persuaded by his wife and their friends to go out to relax. First to a Strip Joint (This wouldn't be my idea of a couple's evening out, but what the heck::big grin::!) then to a hypnotist. While under hypnosis, the spirit of a long dead gangster/black marketeer/all around bad ass enters his body for revenge on the people who murdered him. It's kind of funny seeing Glynn Turman (RAISIN IN THE SUN, SUPER 8 and great as Mayor Royce on THE WIRE) go from a burned out albeit lovable guy into a jive talking , street hustling, hyper sexual, violent Bad-Ass MoFo! You'll love the hair style and outfits He ends up wearing. I had wanted to see this for some time and certainly not bad at all. ***

PUMPKINHEAD (1988). Lance Henriksen is great as a father trying avenge the death of his young son caused by the foolishness of an asshole motorcycle driver and his friends. However, He finds it's not as easy to stop something as it is to start it. The rest of the cast is less than memorable and the story meanders something fierce, although the title monster is pretty cool. **

Dracula A.D.1972

TERROR IN THE AISLES (1984). Odd collage of scenes from various scary movies with somewhat dry narration fromDonald Pleasence and Nancy Allen. It goes as far back as BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN up to around 1982. This actually played in the theaters-I saw it a couple of times-and it encouraged Me to seek out some of the films like ALONE IN THE DARK, MS 45, VICE SQUAD, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, plus a lot of the usual suspects. Not necessary, but a fun little watch, especially if You have some background. One Caveat Emptor is TITA is jammed with spoilers or showing "The Good Stuff", so be ready for that. ***

IMPULSE (1974). Absolutely looney film with William Shatner, due to a traumatic childhood experience, has become a leisure suited gigolo/psycho going after affluent widows and not for long term either. Bill sweats and twitches, but the women just love him, although the daughter of the most recent girlfriend sees through him astute She is, but also a TOTAL brat! While Shatner has nothing good to say about the film-very low budget- it's off beat enough to check out. Also with Ruth Roman (THE WINDOW, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, THE BABY) and Harold Sakata (OddJob himself from GOLDFINGER). **1/2

played the Texas chain saw massacre game and was disappointed, so I decided to watch the original movie again to clean my palate, one of my all time favorites, love the opening scene, aswell as the closing, just classic.::love::

How does the Texas chain saw massacre game go? Do you play someone trying to escape their house or something?

SHARK KILL (1976). TV movie obviously made due to the success of JAWS and even borrowing a good deal of the story from that film. A prickly ichthyologist notices a Great White Shark hanging around an oil rig and despite warnings, the work goes on and a couple of fatalities occur. A bounty is put on the shark and the scientist and the cranky brother of a victim decide to team up collect the reward. An accident happens where they end up in the ocean with the fish out there...somewhere (I'm thinking the makers of 2003's OPEN WATER may have seen this).

Not really bad as TV movies go, but loaded with stock footage and oddly a virtual cast of unknowns. The only name performer I recognized was Jennifer Warren (SLAP SHOT, NIGHT MOVES) and Roxanna Bonilla who was the only actress in the previous year's HARK'S TREASURE. **

gave the classic Silver Bullet (1985) a re watch, love me some good werewolf blood and gore!

I just rewatched Hell House.

Just rewatched Puppet Master (1989)

THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (1988). Searching a cave, a group of explorers find themselves in another dimension with uncivilized people and ape like creatures as well as a few decent claymation dinosaurs. A pretty cool cast in here as well like Jeffrey Coombs, Russ Tamblyn, Sybil Danning, Robert Quarry and Michelle Bauer.

While I can appreciate the fan boy aspects of TPE, a truly awful script, bad acting and lackluster Fred Olen Ray direction make this a long harrowing ordeal. If You're a fan of the performers, it's worth a look, but not really for much else. *1/2

The Fog (1980)

RED SUN (1971). Pretty decent, offbeat western noted for an international cast at the time of release. Charles Bronson helps Alain Delon steal valuables and a samurai sword carried by Japanese dignitaries hoping to present it to President Grant. After a double-cross, Chuck is ordered to assist one of the Japanese ambassador's guards (Toshiro Mifune, who is aces in the film) in a week. Chuck is more interested in finding the spoils and is constantly trying o ditch the samurai, but with no luck. Eventually, they come to an understanding and are later joined by Ursula Andress, who, as usual, is window dressing, but such lovely window dressing. I wasn't totally convinced by the ending, but enjoyed RS enough, although Bronson is SUCH a jerk in this. ***

Never heard of this film. Coincidentally...


Midway (1976)
7/10

Good for a war picture. Has all the big names at the time and to come... Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Ed Nelson, Hal Holbrook, Robert Webber, Toshiro Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, Pat Morita, Dabney Coleman, Erik Estrada and Tom Selleck.

It actually mixes stock war footage with 1976 Hollywood cinematography, which really surprised me. It was not seamless, but it wasn't distracting either. I'm curious if they matched the modern film color palette and/or lighting to closer match the stock.

Also, has very interesting side story of Charlton Heston's son, a new navy pilot, asks his high-ranking father to pull some strings... his Japanese fiancé's parents in the US were scooped up in Hawaii to be deported because they had some Japanese magazines the State Dept though were subversive.

It does a nice job telling the story of the Battle of Midway, which is an interesting story to begin with. For 1976, I was a little surprised with all the profanity of "Jesus" and "God damn", as it's sort of an all-American, maybe even family, film.

MIDWAY is a long haul, but it's a good story, certainly an important one. And the cast is impressive-Good to see You back, Sculpt::cool::!

GEMINI AFFAIR (1975)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Pretty cheesy film about a young woman (Marta Kristen from LOST IN SPACE) leaving her small town to Hollywood where She will stay with a friend until the "big break" happens. Of course, things never turn out as planned and a lot of dues paying. GA is quite stagy, but gets its notoriety when the two women after hooking up in California "hook up" in another way. Pretty steamy stuff and worth it for seeing "Judy Robinson" like You wished You could have back when You were watching LIS.
Pretty forgettable other than Marta, who I was able to meet a convention in 2006. Very nice and still lovely...I'm wondering if anyone would have the nerve to ask her about this one. **1/2

Thanks, FryeDwight! Good to see ya! Yes, I definitely had a little crush on Marta Kristen as Judy Robinson from lost in space. She was always so stoic. I guess her role was "oldest" and "big sister", especially when the show decided to focus on the youngest child Will Robinson (Bill Mumy).

BEN (1972). Another film that was better in my early adolescence. The sequel to WILLARD starts out as a recap to lead into this story, where Ben, an intelligent black rat becomes the defect leader of a whole bunch of rodents-I must give praise to Moe Desesso and help who trained what looks like at least a 1000 rats. I give give much praise at all to the horrid script and the extremely uneven acting, particularly Lee Hartcourt Montgomery, playing Ben's sickly friend. You are almost hoping against hope that He'll be eaten...the film just screeches to a halt every time He's on screen and hearing him talk/sing/play harmonica to "Ben" (which we hear Michael Jackson sing on the credits) will just astound You how bad it is. Also a young Meredith Baxter and longtime character actor Kenneth Tobey. I must also give credit for a pretty wild scene involving rats in a grocery store (No alarm? in Los Angeles especially::roll eyes::!) and all sorts of product placement. Proceed with risk. **

Does Lee Hartcourt Montgomery actually sing to Ben? ew... I'm glad I've forgotten that. ::big grin::

Do you remember how you liked Willard '71? Crispin Glover is really fun to watch in the 2003 remake.

Yes, Lee does sing and You are lucky to have forgotten that::wink:: WILLARD is pretty good and I thought the reboot was decent as ell. I thought Crispin was very good when He reveals his true feeling during his mother's funeral. I did think his (literally) snotty mewling for his job was embarrassing.

THE DEAD NEXT DOOR (1988). Very very low budget film by JK Bookwalter (who wrote for the great CULT MOVIES magazine) has a bad script and even worse acting, but it's so goofy and offbeat that I halfway enjoyed. The dead are back at it, a "Zombie Squad" is trying to contain with resistance from other group. A lot of "nods" to the Romero films and some pretty funny scenes, especially "customer selection" at a video store. ***

BARQUERO (1970). After a town is plundered and its residents massacred (almost THE WILD BUNCH), psycho Warren Oates and his crew ride to the next settlement to cross the Rio Grande into Mexico. Unfortunately for them, the bargemen-Lee Van Cleef in his first lead role-knows that there will not be a happy ending for he or the "squatters" of the new village. So a standoff occurs....

Decent Western with two of my favorite character actors and a great turn by Forrest Tucker as "Mountain Phil". Also, an unusual scene where wholesome Marietta Hartley offers a "reward" to Lee if he rescues her husband; even though she can't stand him::confused:: and even more strange how Lee's girlfriend-Marie Gomez from THE PROFESSIONALS- who is quick with a gun, very handy and incredibly built doesn't seem to mind::confused::. Not a classic, but worth a watch. ***

Hello Mary Lou Prom Night 2 1987. I enjoyed this.

PASS THE AMMO (1988). Very odd comedy involving the exposing and re-acquiring funds from a sham religious group and what should be a simple case of petty larceny becomes an involved siege; reminded Me a lot of 1994's AIRHEADS. It's also clear that PTA is referencing, and not in a subtle way, the public exposes of Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert at around the same time.

Good performances by Bill Paxton, Annie Potts and Linda Kozlowski (CROCODILE DUNDEE), but Tim Curry, as per usual, takes the ball and runs and flashing that truly big insincere grin.

PTA goes on a little too long and some dead spots, but enough good parts that makes it worth the watch. Also of interest, it was filmed in Eureka Springs, Arkansas-You can see the big Christ Of The Ozarks statue- although I've heard some of the residents weren't pleased to see religious people made to look foolish. ***

THE CREEPING FLEASH (1973). I must say that this is pretty good and certainly aged better than many films of the era. TCF concerns the competition between two brothers for a prestigious prize and the desperate and/or conniving ways it's gone about. Peter Cushing is good as always, particularly is his well meaning, but misguided attempt at "...doing what is best". for his daughter. And a very impressive turn by Christopher Lee as a man who has the brass ring very close and not adverse to how he gets it. ***

DEMON RAGE (1982-many many other titles and release dates). This could almost play on a double bill with THE ENTITY; ie, a woman having sexual relations with a Demonic force. However, the spirit (and flesh) is more willing in DR. Lana Wood (Natalie's younger sister and featured in DIAMOND ARE FOREVER) is married to a nasty abusive asshole who ignore her wants for a more loving relationship and then gets pissed when She won't respond to him. It seems her unhappiness calls forth a demonic force that has his way with her...several times which ends up showing Lana's impressive (to say the least) breasts.

Also in here for marquee value is Britt Ekland (also in a James Bond film; THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN) and John Carradine in his customary cameo. I believe the Demon who looks like a tall Tom Savini was also in a James Bond film, but can't remember which and am too lazy to look it up. **1/2

A rewatch of The Amityville Horror, classic