Category Archives: Uncategorized

That’s right, PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES contains no vampires. Not a one. That’s because the original title is TERROR IN SPACE which makes it sound more like ALIEN which it closely resembles or vice versa as this Italian-Spanish co-production was made in 1965, 14 years before Ridley Scott’s epic. He and writer Dan O’Bannon swearContinue reading “WARNING! PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES Contains No Vampires”

The headline is a reference to writer/producer/director Sidney W. Pink (or just plain Sid Pink) who collaborated with Ib Melchior on 3 of my favorite low budget entries in the sci-fi B movie sweepstakes. They are ANGRY RED PLANET, JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET, and this one. The fact that the last two are Danish-AmericanContinue reading “REPTILICUS Tickled Me PINK!”

I consider this 1958 film a classic of its kind but that doesn’t make it a “classic”. However it follows honorably in the footsteps of 1940s film producer Val Lewton in the “less is more” category by using sight and sound rather than shock to create a profound sense of unease. It’s a B movieContinue reading “I BURY THE LIVING: A Classic Of Its Kind”

When PSYCHOMANIA first appeared, most critics and moviegoers didn’t know what to make of it. Horror film? Biker movie? Black comedy? Even the title doesn’t make any sense. It turns out to be a combination of all three plus a little bit more. Having recently watched it again after many years, I was struck byContinue reading “PSYCHOMANIA (1972): The Return of “The Living Dead””

For those of you unfamiliar with the term “Giallo”, it refers to a genre of movies that are usually Italian and that focus on an unknown killer who brutally murders young women (and the occasional man if he gets in the way) before being unmasked and then dying in some singularly unpleasant fashion. Originally itContinue reading “VIOLENT MIDNIGHT Is An American Giallo”

This movie starts off like a salute to the Hammer Mummy films of yore with a prologue that even features Christopher Lee and a young but easily recognizable Gerard Butler. Russell Mulcahy (of HIGHLANDER fame) has crafted his own take on the Mummy mythos that incorporates ideas from several other films. While some CGI isContinue reading “TALE OF THE MUMMY Is Not Your Typical Mummy Movie”

I must confess that even though I am a silent film enthusiast with quite a collection of silent films on DVD/Blu-ray (and a number of reviews of them on Amazon), I had never heard of THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH. Now that I have seen it the surprise is even greater. Made by Samuel GoldwynContinue reading “THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH (1926) Is Worth It For Ronald Colman As Well As Gary Cooper”

THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE was one of those low budget sci-fi films that dominated pre-cable TV back in the 1960s and 70s. As a kid at that time you either didn’t notice the budgetary limitations (stock footage, obvious models) or you didn’t care and that’s because SUBMARINE told a good story in cinematic terms. It hasContinue reading “THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE (1959): A Blast From The Past That Still Entertains Despite Budget Limitations”

British espionage movies generally fall into two categories. Those that are inspired by Ian Fleming and those inspired by John Le Carre’. If you are looking for daring escapes, beautiful girls, gadgets and gizmos plus lots of pyrotechnics then don’t bother with THE INTERNECINE PROJECT. On the other hand if the concept of an ingeniousContinue reading “THE INTERNECINE PROJECT Is A Superior Espionage Yarn That Is More Cerebral Than Action Packed”

There have been 4 major film adaptations of GATSBY to date. The 1926 silent version made right after the novel was published is currently a lost film. Too bad as, if nothing else, it would have been authentic. That was also the case with this one until a clean print was discovered in 2012. TheContinue reading “THE GREAT GATSBY (1949): The One I Prefer”