Female SS officer and twisted doctor, SS Kratsch (what a great name for an evil character) has developed a genetically engineered half-man, half-maniac (think a cross between Ralphus from Bloodsucking Freaks and the real-life serial killer Fred West) who is fed a diet of 'mega-aphrodisiacs' which meets that his libido is through the roof and …
Continue reading The Video Nasties Reviewed- Section 1- Day 5- The Beast In Heat (1977)
Spoiler alert This review reveals vital details about the plot or should that be, the device used for the film. A strange series of murders occurs around a bay. This is one of Mario Bava's best known films and also one of his most violent. I first learn of it whilst studying film at university. …
Continue reading The Video Nasties Reviewed- Section 1- Day 4- Bay of Blood (1971)
A group of tourists explore the Greek Islands. Unfortunately, someone or something starts bumping them off. There's so much to love about Joe D'Amato's Anthropophagus The Beast. Firstly, it delivers. The film's reputation is one of extreme gore and about it being utterly disgusting. And, thankfully, it is, which is perfect for horror fans. How …
Continue reading The Video Nasties Reviewed- Section 1- Day 2- Anthropophagus The Beast (1980)
One of the best things about Yorkshire Television, when I was growing up, was the eclectic fare that made up their schedules. At night they showed the most wonderful and unexpected films you could ever imagine. They also showed films you had never heard of before that were either unavailable on video because of some …
Continue reading Meathook Cinema Hall of Fame- Slithis (1978)
I had heard so much about the original of Black Christmas from 1974 by the time I finally got to see it. Its reputation as being the main film that inspired the slasher movie sub-genre pre-Halloween was well established, with horror fans salivating over it and singing its praises to the heavens. 'Let's see how …
Continue reading The Gift That Keeps On Giving- What Makes Black Christmas So Darn Scary?
Eddie Turner steps on a landmine whilst serving in Nam and loses his limbs as a result. His fiance Winifred is a physicist and looks to her former teacher Doctor Stein (his name is a red flag already) who has recently won the Nobel prize for his work regarding DNA and so may be able …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween- Day 5- Blackenstein (1973)
Jessica, her husband Duncan and their friend Woody arrive at a new house in the country that Jessica and Duncan have bought. When they arrive they are surprised to find someone squatting there. They ask this person, Emily to join them for their evening meal and then to sleep there for the night. The next …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween- Day 2- Let’s Scare Jessica To Death (1971)
One of my earliest memories involves the film Friday the 13th (those who know me are rolling their eyes and thinking 'This doesn't surprise me!') I'm 5 years old and I'm running towards my local cinema, The Odeon in York. I regularly go there when my family ventures into town as there are posters and …
Continue reading ‘It’s Got A Death Curse!’- Taking A Deep Dive Into Friday The 13th (1980)
I first heard of the director Jeff Lieberman when I recalled seeing the artwork for one of his films, Squirm on the video shelves in the 80's. The sleeve depicting a shower head dripping with worms instead of water with some of them having crawled under the skin of the scared woman in the picture …
I love the horror films that are unlike any other films in the genre and stand-alone with their quirks and idiosyncrasies. One such film is Alice Sweet Alice. The film was actually called Communion when it premiered at numerous film festivals but was then retitled Alice Sweet Alice when it was picked up by its …
