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.