DESTINATION INNER SPACE (1966). If You go into this expecting a Filet Mignon, You will be disappointed, But if all You want is a big juicy hamburger, You will probably enjoy DIS. An underwater sea station finds a wrecked space ship underwater and one of the crew foolishly brings back a cylinder which expands and a snarling monster pops out. There is also the pre-requisite love triangle and Science aspiration to study the monster.

Very very cheesy;;;the sets are so low budget;You would swear You are looking at bathtub toys and the monster looks like, as CREEPY CLASSICS rightfully said, "A cross between a Christmas tree and The Creature From The Black Lagoon!"

So nothing earth shattering, but worth a look. And while watching, I could have sworn I had seen the plot somewhere else and it was-a-couple-of years-in-the-making THE GREEN SLIME. **1/2

STRANGLER OF THE SWAMP (1946). Very very low budget, yet atmospheric PRC quickie. Accused of a crime He didn't commit, a Ferry operator is executed. Hisvghosts prowls around the (quite small) swampy area, bumping off those who wronged him as well as relatives. A new Ferry Operator-a Young woman tries to save her boyfriend, whose father was involved in the crime and a pretty decent wrap-up.

Only people I know of here are Rosemary LaPlanche (Miss California for three years running and Miss America before putting her lovely self into films) and Blake Edwards as her boyfriend. After a few roles, Blake decided to change occupations , becoming more involved in the technical side, eventually directing movies such as BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, THE PNK PANTHER, S.O.B. and VICTOR/VICTORIA and marrying Julie Andrews. ***

THE OMEGANS (1968). One of the first leading roles for Ingrid Pitt, who a couple of years later tasted big success via Hammer and other studios. She's an unhappy wife married to a much older painter, who travels around the world painting and earning big bucks for his work. She has a lover and they conspire to kill hubby after enough money comes, but unfortunately for them, the Husband gets wind of their plans and undertakes a somewhat nasty revenge; almost COUNTESS DRACULA in reverse.

Ingrid is luscious here, but film isn't much; suffering from pedestrian direction by W Lee Wilder (Brother of legendary William) and a an oddly out of place music score. The revenge angle is pretty good as mentioned, but it might be hard going to get there. **

SEDDOK-L'EREDE DI SATANA (1960)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


The untruncated version of ATOM AGE VAMPIRE with an extra 20 minutes actually helps the story line tremendously and provides logic (of some sort, at least) while some things are done ;eg, why does the Doctor inject himself with the formula to change before going out?

The same basic story; a hot (yet whiny and ungrateful) stripper is dumped by her boyfriend (really no loss-He's a jerk) because she won't give up her job. Distraught, she drives too fast, has a fiery auto crash which badly disfigures her and comes along when help is offered. Of course, the Doctor falls hard for her, even though his loyal assistant/girlfriend is very lovely. The movie entails a bad case of unrequited love.

Along with more coherent story line, more Euro-sleaze is added showing the stripper's act (complete with pasties::shocked::! and lots of thigh), another performer gyrating right in your face, the distraught boyfriend who instigated the whole business going back to the SAME nightclub to drink and brood, despite his anger at his girl working there.

So, still nothing essential, but this version is a big improvement over edited versions normally seen on collections and worth a look. ***

Monster on the Campus (1958)
6/10

Mildly fun Black & White feature. Perfect for riffing with friends ala MST3K. This is a classic case of a film being unintentionally funny.

Sort of a mix of classic concepts. A professor is able to examine a prehistoric fish. Now, people are being murdered on campus while some folks are seeing other prehistoric things.

Unintentionally funny is the truth...I love the loud plaid shirt he wears and how he gets infected twice...in the same way::big grin::!

RAGE (1966). Gritty Western with Glenn Ford grieving the death of his wife in childbirth and drinking to major excess while a doctor in a small Mexican town. He is bitten. by a rabid dog and has 48 hours to get to hospital. Will He make it in time?

Glenn is very good as a tortured, closed off soul with fine support by David Reynoso and a lovely Stella Stevens, yet again playing a fallen woman with a heart. But as one of my favorite actresses, I'll check out whatever she is in. ***

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
6/10

There're some things to like about Curse of Frankenstein, such as the sets, makeup and Christopher Lee's performance of the creature.

The biggest problem I have with it is its lack of character development. Victor Frankenstein doesn't make much sense and so isn't a very compelling character. Basically, based on his actions, we know he's driven to do his experiments, has few scruples and no empathy. He remains unchanged throughout. Although he's driven, he seems to suffer from simple immaturity rather than passion.

Christopher Lee is able to evoke some sympathy through miming, as he does not speak. The 1931 film "Frankenstein" engages in motivations for the creature; but unfortunately, this script doesn't provide any motivations for anything the creature does besides the possibility his brain may have been damage. It's hard to create anticipation and suspense when the characters aren't understandable.

The film also lacks suspense or scares. There is certainly some matter-of-fact horror and a little gore.

THE MUMMY (1959). Continuing with remaking the classic monsters after CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HORROR OF DRACULA, Hammer does a bang up job remaking the old musty film, focusing on Kharis. and the same basic story. Good acting by all and good production values.
As usual, Peter Cushing steals every scene He is in ; what a treasure! Using every prop He could snatch up, extreme physicality (such as sliding over and off a table despite his character having a bad leg) and the best selling of being throttled I've ever seen.::big grin::

Also, kudos to Christopher Lee as the bandaged one. Lon Chaney Jr's rendition was very slow and it really shouldn't have been too much trouble to get away. Lee's Kharis is very tall, very fast and almost TERMINATOR-esque as "...it can't be reasoned with, it doesn't feel pity and it absolutely WILL NOT STOP -ever-until You are dead!" ***1/2

I just saw Mummy 1959 recently. The sets were a feast for the eyes! Loved the modern conversation Mehemet Bey has with John (Peter Cushing); Bey lashing the British for taking Egyptian relics back to England. And yes, good stunts by Cushing, and nice squib (bullet hit) effects!

========== Spoilers ======================================
It was kinda funny when Peter Cushing's wife, Isobel, just sort of pops up out of nowhere in the last quarter of the film, just in time to look like the image of Princess Ananka. It's funny too when Inspector Mulrooney leaves Isobel alone in the dark trees when an assassin is expected to descend of the house from somewhere. ::big grin::

Was surprising how abrupt the ending was. And it was a rather odd too... was there really a need to shoot up Kharis? ::big grin:: Wouldn't an archaeologist want to interview him for a few decades? Apparently he already knew English. Just needed to teach him to write. ::big grin::

THE RAVEN (1963). This Roger Corman comedy concerning conflicting sorcerers has aged pretty well and quite funny throughout, particularly Vincent Price and a constantly ad-libbing Peter Lorre. Boris Karloff is also quite good (his duel with Price certainly has its moments) and I've heard he was not amused how Lorre was constantly going off script.
Also an early performance with Jack Nicholson (already chewing the scenery) and lovely Hazel Court playing an extremely duplicitous gold digger. ***