The Ghost

In 1963, The Ghost brought Barbara Steele back to the screen.  This Italian thriller features most everything required to make the Spooky Atmosphere Hall of Fame.  The cast is excellent, and their excessive stage acting only adds to the nostalgia this sort of film can bring.  The set work is wonderful, drawing the viewer in, and it contributes greatly towards the movie's success.

You will find several iconic scenes in this one, and the overcomplicated ending seems fitting.  Anything less might have been a disappointment.  Villains, as you may know, are forever foiling their own plans.  And this provides a great joy for the viewer, because The Ghost is a rare tale where no one has to feel guilty about enjoying the horror.  It's a case of villain against villain; a story almost free of morals.  No heroes were harmed in the making of this picture.

While The Ghost is billed as a sequel to The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, it is best taken in as a stand alone film.  There is no need to attach anything else to a story already complete in its perfection.  In fact, The Ghost brought such a solid portrayal of its themes to the screen, that many other movies can be said to owe their existence to this one.  You won't find anything new here, but you will see the common done uncommonly well.

City of the Living Dead

In this Lucio Fulci film, also called The Gates of Hell, we find a tough reporter and a troubled psychic teaming up to answer some very common questions: Why are the dead walking this world, and how can they be stopped?

The why is simple. A priest has hung himself in the cemetery, thus opening the gates of Hell. This explains why zombies now stalk the town, displaying powers that might make a vampire jealous. But stopping these fiends is a bit more complicated. The gates of Hell must be closed before All Saint's Day. Or is it before the end of All Saints Day? Does it matter? Apparently not. I don't believe anyone involved with this picture had a good grasp on time.

And that goes double for the psychic. When I said she was troubled, I didn't mean that she had a few concerns. Her part in all this begins when she dies, is buried, and returns to life. Now that's a timing issue. Fortunately, our reporter is there, and he hears her screams from below the earth. His rescue attempt nearly puts her back in the grave, but I don't want to give away too much.

If you are fortunate enough to see an unedited version, you'll find quite a surprising bit of gore in this 1980 Italian film. The effects are fairly well produced. In one scene, a young actress works with actual sheep entrails. She's either quite stouthearted, or perhaps just not a very picky eater.

There are two endings to this film. Neither one makes a good deal of sense, but both teach some important lessons. For one thing, you should always get clear instructions when undertaking important tasks like shutting Hell's gates. For another, when you're on a strict deadline, you might want to wear a good watch.

Lisa and the Devil

This 1974 film comes with a warning: Make sure you see the original.

Someone felt that a Mario Bava horror flick would not do well in America. So, the work was re-edited, turned into an uninspired Exorcist spin off, and renamed The House of Exorcism. I'd like to think Americans don't really enjoy poorly acted train wrecks that depend on four letter words for shock value.

The original cut is one of those films the true horror historian must see. Telly Savalas appears to be playing himself, complete with trademark lollipops. He even tosses off a line about giving up cigarettes--the real reason behind his sweet habit. Elke Sommer takes on a role that is nothing like her character from A Shot in the Dark.

Without spoiling anyone's fun, I'll say that nothing comes between a real automotive aficionado and his transportation of choice. This scene alone is worth the viewer's time. In fact, you might want to back up and hit it again.

Those who are too curious can follow up the original film with a peek at the re-edit for comparison. The new ending on Satan's Airlines is amusing, but on the whole, the American version is a horror in it's own right

Another Year

Has it been another year already?

We shall never forget you here, old friend.

Rest Well.

Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow

And now, a cautionary tale.

Since I've reviewed The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, a movie that works in spite of itself, I felt compelled to give an example of one that doesn't. This time, I take you on a short visit to Dragstrip Hollow.


Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow left me horribly disappointed. So much more could have been done with this film. If you are expecting a haunted hollow, forget it. Ghost of a vengeful drag racer? No such spirit here. You won't even find much drag racing action.

The film is mostly a bunch of slang spouting talking heads. There are a few silly gags that do nothing to move the film forward, are not believable, and one in particular that defies all explanation. The acting is terrible. And the ghost? The notion of a haunting only comes toward the end of the film and it feels tacked on; a gimmick to sell tickets. In fact, when the riddle of the ghost is solved, the solution feels forced as well.

Everyone involved with this motion picture has failed. The male cast has no notables, and the female cast would be unremarkable if not for the somewhat stunning geek girl. The brightest spark comes from realizing that this film and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini both feature songs called "Geronimo," even though they are completely different tunes.

Unless you are a serious fan of of bad cinema, avoid this one and do something better with that hour. It's not like your time here is endless....

Mariachi Man

This little fellow entertains me throughout the day and night. With Dia de los Muertos fast approaching, I thought I'd share his charms with all of you.



He can be found at Gorey Details. Simply click on one of their ad banners to the right or below. Type, "Skeleton Mariachi," in the search field and you will discover an entire band of talented souls.

This one in particular is male and stands about 5 1/2 inches high.

I can't begin to tell you how fond I am of characters like this one. They never fail to bring cheer back to the darkness. If you have a favorite reminder of that border between our two worlds, do let me know. I'm always ready to receive new guests.

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini

Here we have an unusual film for the dedicated viewer. Those who have never seen the movie before may wonder why it's even included here. Those who first saw this picture many decades ago will likely remember it fondly, though repeated viewing might hurt the nostalgia. The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini owes it's greatest horror thrill to the fact that it successfully used Nancy Sinatra and The Bobby Fuller Four to kill off the Beach Party film series. This was the seventh and last entry into that famous American International Pictures line.

It's not Nancy's singing that puts an end to an otherwise lively series. In fact, her rendition of "Geronimo" is one of Bikini's most remembered scenes. The movie's troubles come from choppy editing, unnecessary scene changes, character and plot inconsistencies, and an almost complete lack of association with the other Beach Party films.

Boris Karloff adds his considerable appeal, but his scenes are few, and it's not enough to boost this picture in the eyes of horror fans. As the recently deceased Hiram Stokley, he must lead his proper heirs to their inheritance without leaving his crypt. Former love interest Cicely (Susan Hart) offers her ghostly assistance. I believe hilarity was meant to ensue. Granted, the film was never intended to be a serious scare, but most of the jokes are flat and even many of the character names seem to be poorly thought out puns.

Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck)puts in a so-so appearance, and it is he and his gang that provide the strongest relation to the previous Beach Party titles. Without them, Bikini would probably have long been forgotten under the fog of passing years.

One of Bikini's best moments comes in the form of a one liner. Eric Von Zipper, speaking of Basil Rathbone's character, says he, "...looks like Sherlock Holmes." Mr. Rathbone, as some of you may know, is most famous for his portrayals of the great detective, though he has also made a good showing in other horror films. He even appeared with Karloff in both "The Comedy of Terrors" and "Son of Frankenstein."

I must also give mention of Bikini's fem fatale, Sinistra. Quinn O'Hara puts on a comically sexy performance that makes her stand out among the many young ladies in the picture--no small feat.

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini may not please everyone. It certainly would have benefited from a little more time in the planning stages. It has not benefited from the passage of time since its creation. However, this spectator will always remember it fondly, and so I include it here. I hope the very brave among you will give it try and find yourselves richer for the experience.

Edgar Allan Poe

I'd like to take a moment today to acknowledge one of the masters of the macabre.

Mister Poe, among the mortals you are both appreciated and missed.

Rest well, old friend.

NaNoWriMo Revisted

For those who participated in this year's NaNoWriMo, let me congratulate you. It matters not if you failed to finish your novel in one month. What's more important is that you dared to begin.

I'm sure there are many aspiring authors of the macabre out there in NaNo land. I wish them, and all the other brave souls, much personal success.

For those who did not participate, you may still peer in on the world of words. In fact, if you insist, they will still take a donation.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

The Writing on the Wall

On this great day of all things creepy, many of us will be preparing to enjoy a haunted evening. As the Midnight hour approaches, many others will be preparing for something just as terrifying: NANOWRIMO.

Each year, starting on November first, tens of thousands of writers strive to achieve a frightening goal. They hope to pen a short novel (50,000 words) in only 30 days. Many horror writers can be found within this brave legion.

And so, as 12:01 approaches, I'd like to salute the fine men and women of NANOWRIMO. They do quite a lot to keep the future of literature bright--and the light of literacy is one thing that should never go dark.

Why not visit them, even if you don't have an author inside you trying to claw its way out. They appreciate the attention to their cause, and a donation is always welcome.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat

Here we have a little gem from 1990 or so. The writing and acting might make you chuckle now and then, but that's fine. It was intended as a comedy.

The humor is corny at times, and I've seen soap operas with better drama. I don't think Director Anthony Hickox considers this his best work, but the cast probably stands out in his memory. Some of the best cult film thespians, like Bruce Campbell and David Carradine, do their best to lift this tale out of low budget stagnation. I would go so far as to say the recently departed David Carradine would have made his equally famous father John proud. John Carradine, like David, took on all sorts of roles, but did his best work adding a touch of class to an otherwise common film.

The concept is simple, the leader of the vampires (Carradine) has purchased an old ghost town and fixed the place up. Here, he hopes to keep his brethren away from most of mankind while they work on a blood substitute. Before he can perfect his plan and stop being such a leech on society, the blood serum refinery experiences some troubles. Complicating matters, about half of his followers have decided they miss the thrill of hunting for their own food.

I can't tell you much more without giving away what few surprises the movie contains. You'll have to see things for yourself, and you should. Especially take note of the speech Carradine makes near the middle of the film. Go into it knowing the whole thing was done in a single take. That might not seem like much to the average viewer, but the folks in movieland know better.

In this Spectator's opinion, Sundown is a cult classic that deserved a bigger audience. It was, perhaps, overshadowed by other films during the original release, but I expect it will find new life on DVD.

Farewell, David. Say hello to your father for me. You are both missed.

The Ghost Busters

There's been a resurgence of interest in Ghostbusters lately. It actually pre-dates the release of the new Ghostbusters video game. However, I wonder how many of my more corporeal readers remember the original Ghost Busters.

The television show aired in the seventies courtesy of Filmation. It was a short lived attempt to compete with the Krofft line up of live action children's programming. In all fairness, many of Krofft's shows didn't last very long either.

The Ghost Busters stands apart as a horrible vehicle for a whole lot of talent. Besides a wealth of guest stars, the show's two main characters were played by Forest Tucker and Larry Storch of F-Troop fame. These gentleman worked so well together in other projects, but their chemistry couldn't save The Ghost Busters from an early grave. Not even the career gorilla styling of Bob Burns as Tracy the ape kept Filmation's scripts from arriving cold and ready for the ground.

The humor was decidedly low brow, and it wasn't the first or last time writers underestimated their child audience. In this spectator's humble opinion, Larry Storch carried the show, though without his usual level of energy. Without him, it would not have lasted half a season. True, Mr. Tucker's solo career is more notable, but he did not bring that experience on this outing.

You would think, from my comments so far, that I'd warn those who's clocks are still ticking to save their time. Not at all. Bad writing, inconsistencies, and lame jokes aside, the show still offers laughs and interest for the true fan. I would especially recommend renting the DVD set to anyone born in the late sixties/early seventies. They might remember some of the actors involved, and a little bit of nostalgia can be a great thing. You might just find yourself recalling other Saturday morning shows and those variety programs your parents watched in the evenings.


If nothing else, the theme song alone will scare any unwanted presences away.

The Skull

Truly a classic here, and an interesting vehicle for Peter Cushing. Even Christopher Lee puts in an appearance, though this is clearly Peter's film. Amicus is known for producing great horror films, and this is one of their best single story efforts.

The story begins in the mid 1800s but jumps almost immediately to modern England (Then 1965). Audiences get to see Peter Cushing in a non-period piece for once--a true rarity. Despite the modern setting and a very small budget, The Skull has plenty of atmosphere. It's environment actually serves to point out an unusual quality of Mr. Cushing's: The man appears to be late middle-aged no matter how old he actually is. Viewers may not have noticed this trend in earlier works, but Peter spends most of his acting career playing men who walk just the other side of the hill. On the rare occasions when his character must lash out, it gives his physical force a surprising quality, while at the same time displaying an almost feminine frailty about the performer. I mean this with no disrespect. In fact, I consider Mr. Cushing one of the top five horror actors of all time.

The rest of the cast round out the film well by simply being interesting and talented. Even the largely unknowns play their parts in a convincing way, and their faces will stand out in the horror fan's memory. You can also catch more than a peek of April Olrich in film's early scenes. An excellent actress and stage performer in her own right, she does much to set the mood for The Skull.

Though the plot involves the skull of the Marquis De Sade, it doesn't limit the story in any way. Those with no interest in that historic figure can still enjoy the film. The only real drawback to this piece is a bit of unexplained inconsistency. When the skull exorcises its power over mortal men, it often gives off a bright light. This light is sometimes steady, sometimes pulsing. It comes in shades of green, white, and yellow. There is apparently no rhyme or reason to these differences, save perhaps the constraints of budget.

For those who wish to see this classic, I can recommend the newer DVD release. The film has been restored to its original format and the colors come through brilliantly. Of course, for those who feel compelled the own a piece of horror history, the DVD print is what you'll want on your shelf--just hope it stays there....

Fatal Fickle Fate

It was a not-so-funny bit of irony.

As we've been speaking of mortality, the very instrument that I've used to compose these entries has up and died. That is to say, a computer has met its end.

But life goes on. Another instrument has arrived to produce new works. May it last longer than the previous infernal machine....

For now, I promise you another regular entry within mere days. Be watchful!

Loving Labors Lost

It's been a while since my last post. I had written about those for whom death is merely work, and it started me thinking about those who work themselves to death.

So, I decided to take a vacation.

Now that I've returned, I present to you this little item in honor of my time away. You'll notice the emblem affixed to the front. It contains the Japanese word,"Karoshi," which means "death from overwork." Yes, the Japanese actually have a word for that. Perhaps every language should. The complete text reads, "Karoshi: be careful not to work too hard."
That's a concept I can get behind. If it appeals to you as well, you can purchase one of these fine shirts from J-List. You'll find their ad banner on this very blog, and you'll be looking for item number SHIRT-OVER1 .

Just think of all the fun you'll have explaining your new motto to the tired masses.

Dead Like Me: Life After Death

Dead Like Me.... Ah, a series that really spoke to me. It deserves
a place here, and since the long awaited conclusion has finally
arrived, this seems a good time to mention it.
Life After Death is the name of this new production. Not a lot can be said about the plot without spoiling the entire movie. I'm going to just break it down to a few Pros and Cons.

Pros: It wraps up the series. Period. There aren't really any
important questions left unanswered by the end of the film. Yes, some viewers will want more, but trust me, the series is best left right here. Fans of the series will be glad they finally came back to put the lid on, so to speak.

Cons: For one, the dead don't age well (Sorry George). For another,
there's a good five year gap between the end of the series and this
film. A lot is glossed over. It doesn't hurt the movie, but it
doesn't help. Also, the film seems a bit choppy. It's barely longer
than a regular episode and perhaps they should have taken a full two
hours to tell the story. The worst flaw, in my opinion, is a very
unfortunate bit of re-casting for the character of Daisy.

If you haven't seen the original series, this movie will mean nothing
to you. It's definately not a stand alone. It serves almost no
purpose beyond giving the fans what they wanted--a proper burial for a good show. If you have seen the series, prepare to bite your tongue a bit, but don't skip this one. Take a refresher course on the series first if you like. Every episode is available on DvD.

Dead Like Me: Life After Death. Do I have to write it down for you
on a little yellow Post-It?

A Charming Charm

I'm a bare bones kind of fellow, and so I was quite taken with this little charm.
This skull is carved from a block of wood and then connected to a cord so that it might be hung up almost anywhere. It's crafted in Japan, and The Living there often use them as keychains or to dress up cell phones, knapsacks, and purses.

I, personally, like to hang them all around my abode. They add such a festive whimsy any time of year, and guests are always pleasantly surprised to discover one peeking out at them from the most unexpected places.

If you'd like one or two of your own, you can find them at J-Box. Their ad banner can be found right on this page, and once there, you'll be looking for the Box Tree Skull Netsuke item SZ134.

The Asphyx

The Asphyx came out sometime around 1973, but I don’t remember seeing it until much later in the 80’s. It left an impression, though I’d forgotten the name, and for years I wondered just what that crazy film had been. When you see the movie, you’ll wonder how the name could have slipped my mind. I make no excuses.

I’d rate this film a guaranteed must-see for all fans of Gothic Horror.

It’s true that the movie is not without its flaws. The dialog, for example, is often laughably bad. Certain makeup effects are absolutely pathetic—I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll leave it at that.

However, Sir Robert Stephens gives a charged performance. He really carries the film with only the aid of beautiful period sets. And understand, the sets are truly gorgeous. If you can view the film in widescreen, please do so. There are DVD copies available now that have done a great job of restoring the color and sharpness of the original.

Also of note are the special effects. For 1973, they are pretty good even if simple. The overall combined effect of the sets and special effects puts the Gothic in Gothic Horror. The atmosphere is excellent, and that’s what really stuck with me all these years.

One final note about the Asphyx itself: Is that thing Slimer’s ugly stepsister, or what? When you see the floating critter, you can’t help but think of Ghostbuster’s little green mascot. I’ve often wondered if the firehouse crew got the idea for Slimer from this film. Anyone have proof?

Final Verdict: Quotable stumbles aside, this is one to own.

Phenomena

Let's kick the lid off with a little movie review.




Phenomena (originally titled “Creepers”) came out in 1985, and it was a must see for me, because I like to catch anything with Donald Pleasence in it (though I sometimes ask myself “why”: afterward). This film, while simple and far from scary, has its merits.

For one thing, we learn that The Don can’t speak with a Scottish accent for more than three seconds without blowing it.

We also learn that the young Ms. Connelly, who grew into quite an attractive woman, had some disappointing stick legs back in the day.

Upon viewing the film, we also discover that while bugs are prominently featured on the movie posters, they don’t pop up often in the movie itself. In my opinion, that’s a good thing. Not wanting to give any spoilers, I can say that the bugs are still a very important part of the plot. In fact, the movie could not move forward in the same way without them. This could have been another “bug attack” movie, but it didn’t turn out that way, and I’m grateful.

Also on the plus side is the absolute train wreck of an ending. By “train wreck,” I refer to the individual elements that had all been barreling toward the climax coming together in a massive pileup. I honestly laughed out loud. It would not have been surprising if a large safe or grand piano had fallen out of the sky during the final action sequence.

While you’re watching, take note of the soundtrack. Actually, you’d have a hard time missing it. While the volume sometimes spikes in an annoying way and the music doesn’t seem to fit the movie at all, it was a pleasant surprise. For those of us old enough to remember, most of the movie’s pieces are so extremely 80’s, they cause flashbacks. More than once, I wondered if David Bowie would make a singing appearance via some Labyrinth connection with Ms. Connelly. Most of the pieces are done by a group called Goblin. Look them up. They’ve scored Italian films for years. Call me strange, but I’d actually like an MP3 of the ending theme. It made me stay to read the credits.

Final verdict: If you’re knocking out the classics, don’t skip this one. If nothing else, there’s a monkey in it, and we all like monkeys, right?

Welcome

In the posts that follow, I'll present the best and worst of all things macabre.

I promise something for everyone, but I don't guarantee survivors.