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....