As soon as I saw that this 1965 Amicus film was directed by Freddie Francis I knew that the direction and photography would be beautiful. And I was right! I was also excited as I knew that this was a horror anthology film and starred two heavyweights of the genre, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 28- Dr Terror’s House of Horrors (1965)
A few things about this film should attract cult film aficionados. Firstly, it stars John Saxon and Lynda Day George. It was also released on the infamous video label VIPCO (home of Zombie Flesh Eaters and Shogun Assassin in the early 80's). It's also features some of the cheapest special effects I've ever seen which …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 27- Beyond Evil (1980)
George A Romero's 2009 zombie flick and a concept that involves the found footage of a film student assembled into a movie by one of the film's other characters. All of the movie is shot on camcorders and other similar devices available at the time commercially. This found footage chronicles a group of film studies …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 26- Diary of the Dead (2009)
A very exclusive school is lobotomising (what is it about lobotomies in my choice of films for this year's 31 Days of Halloween?!) it's students so that they become the kind of upstanding captains of industry that makes society great. This is the High School version of The Stepford Wives. Played more for comedy than …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 25- Zombie High (1987)
When I saw that Robin Askwith headed the cast of this British 70's horror flick I instantly thought of the brilliant bawdy comedies The Confessions series which he starred in and were delightfully mucky and low-brow. Perfect for the era. If Mr Askwith could prove a huge hit with the sexploitation brigade surely he could …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 24- Horror Hospital (1973)
I remember when this was released on home video in 1988. I couldn't wait to watch it as the poster alone harked back to the original film, it's mythology and the very Panaglide soaked vision that helped make it such a masterpiece. I was hoping for the film to be just as impressive. If they …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 23- Halloween 4- The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
A young cartoonist Josh chats up a young woman named Cheryl in the street (the board at Gillette must be despairing at this) but when she collapses she is then taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance which has been called for her. When Josh tries to track her down there appears to be …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 22- The Ambulance (1990)
A young man who can restore frescos (ancient works of art) arrives to restore one such artwork but finds events within the remote town to be far from normal. Indeed, they are downright bizarre. Does the fresco hold any clues? Does it depict what people have been led to believe it shows? Will the events …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 21- The House With Laughing Windows (1976)
A young couple have their young baby snatched away from them and offered as a human sacrifice to an ancient tree to prolong it's life by the infant's nanny. We then see a short time later the Druid nanny from Hell starts new employment caring for another couple's child. This tautly and stunningly beautiful film …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 20- The Guardian (1990)
A remake of the much loved and revered masterpiece Dawn of the Dead was always going to be sneered at by fans and film scholars alike when the project was announced. I actually saw the film on it's release when I was visiting Glasgow and was expecting to roll my eyes constantly whilst saying 'Psst!' …
Continue reading 31 Days of Halloween 2020- Day 19- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Meathook Cinema 