Dagon (2001)
Dagon is a 2001 Spanish horror film based on H. P. Lovecraft’s novella The Shadow Over Innsmouth rather than his earlier short story “Dagon”. Interesting story written by someone who knows and likes the Lovecraftian genre, good production values, the acting is acceptable, the CGI is not great but the physical effects, gory horror and makeup are good. A bit slow at times, mainly the start, but overall a well made and entertaining film. 2.5.
Wikipedia
Suspiria (2018)
Why?
Incident at Ravens Gate (1988)
Incident at Raven’s Gate (also released as Encounter at Raven’s Gate) is a 1988 Australian science fiction film. This is a strange little short film spread out to feature length mostly about a small groups of peoples relationships in a small town, and then on top a weird alien force creating problems and eventually attacking the town. Its definitely interesting. 2.5 stars.
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Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
Repo! The Genetic Opera is a 2008 American science fiction, gothic rock opera horror film based on the 2002 musical of the same name. Stars Nivek Ogre from Skinny Puppy. I couldn’t handle watching this. I assume it is good, it looks well produced. Rarely can I get into watching musicals. No rating.
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Basket Case 2 (1990)
Basket Case 2 is the 1990 sequel to… Basket Case (1982), its a slasher/comedy with practical monster effects. Its starts off right where the first ended and is a direct continuation of the story. This is more like Freaks (1932). Duane and Belial escape a hospital and are taken in by a community of other creatures. A journalist snoops around and tries to destroy their way of life. The creatures fight back. Its not as simple and low budget and enjoyable as the original, it just doesn’t have the same humor and energy. 2 stars.
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Basket Case 3: The Progeny (1991)
Basket Case 3: The Progeny is a 1991 American slasher film, obviously the 3rd in the Basket Case series. This is a lot more over the top and crazy, and nonsensical, than the other two. I didn’t find it enjoyable and ended up skipping around. 1.5 stars.
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Repulsion (1965)
Repulsion is a 1965 British psychological horror film directed by Roman Polanski, and starring Catherine Deneuve.
“A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister’s boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.” Sounds pretty grim. And it is. This is actually an excellently made film, a real psychological horror, well paced, well acted, fantastically composed. A creepy decent into madness and murder. 2.5.
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Octaman (1971)
Octaman is a 1971 Mexican-American monster film. Some top level B grade stuff.
“A team of scientists, led by Dr. Rick Torres travels to Mexico to research radioactive material in the water. While there, they discover several octopi that appear to have a human mutation and take them back to the lab for more study. Their benign abduction awakens the parent octopus, however, endangering the lives of all the scientists. Octaman, as he is called, employs several predatory methods, including strangulation and hypnosis.”
Octaman itself looks awesomely B-grade, the story isn’t too dire and its just over an hour long, so its slow pace isnt too bad at all. 2 stars.
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The Death Wheelers (1973)
The Death Wheelers aka Psychomania is a 1973 British outlaw biker horror film, though what hooror there is is mild or just plain weird. Lots of groovy music, groovy clothes and some groovy effects (when the gang transforms at 1:26:46!).
The IMDB synopis sums it up “An amiable, psychopathic leader of a violent teen motorbike gang is spurred by his mother, a Satan-worshiping spiritual medium, into committing suicide and returning to life as an “undead”” Its a bit of fun, extremely early 70s, but they really spread it out over 90mins. 2 stars.
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The Asphyx (1972)
The Asphyx, also known as Spirit of the Dead and The Horror of Death, is a 1972 British horror film / science fiction film.
A period film of rather good production values, The version I have has been pieced together to create a complete and uncut version, which is noticeable.
English country squire Sir Hugo Cunningham searches for immortality by literally ‘bottling up’ the Spirit of the Dead, or Asphyx. Photographing individuals at the moment of death the resultant photos depict a strange smudge hovering around the body. Cunningham concludes that the blur is not the soul but a force known in Greek mythology as an “asphyx”, a kind of personal Grim Reaper from Greek mythology that comes for every individual at the moment of his or her death.
A really interesting story, with lively acting and generally very production, some interesting effects as well. 3 stars!
Wikipedia
The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
The Giant Spider Invasion is a 1975 Science Fiction/Horror film directed by Bill Rebane (who’s films we will watch more of this month). Starts out pretty slow but when the giant spiders appear, which they are very sparse in showing, it gets pretty fun. 2 stars because they just dont show the spiders enough.
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The Devil Rides Out (1968)
The Devil Rides Out, known as The Devil’s Bride in the United States, is a 1968 British horror film, based on the 1934 novel of the same name. Christopher Lee! Goat sacrifice! Lots of slow talking! Its a Hammer film. Pretty good as a late night film, 2.5 stars.
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Strange Behavior (1981)
Strange Behavior (also known as Dead Kids) is a 1981 slasher film. “The film is considered a seminal work of New Zealand cinema, being the first horror film produced in the country”. This is also a Section 3 Video Nasty (under the name Dead Kids). Soundtrack is by Tangerine Dream but the song Shivers by The Birthday Party (still The Boys Next Door at the time) appears at 26:23min.
Its “small, original and offbeat” like many Aus and NZ films from around that period, it has an interesting, suspenseful story line that builds in strangeness and is deeper than you initially expect, what slasher moments there are are decent, and the mad science is creepy.
It is essentially a Sci Fi/mad scientist and suspense film with some slasher elements. I give it 2.5/5 because yes it is good, it is worth watching, though it is unfortunately a bit sparse and slow at times.
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1) Werewolves on Wheels (1971)
This is pretty much a road trip biker movie of its time with a supernatural and werewolf twist. Bikers come across a satanic cult who turn one of the bikers girlfriends into a werewolf, she turns her boyfriend into a werewolf, and as the group continue to travel the werewolf couple slowly pick off the other bikers. Eventually they transform in front of the remaining bikers who kill them. And then there is a very strange ending. Great film.
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2) The Hidden (1987)
The Hidden is a 1987 SciFi/Horror film staring Kyle MacLachlan.
“A cop and an FBI agent race for answers after law abiding people suddenly become violent criminals.” IT WAS ALIENS!
This was OK, it didn’t suck, but it wasn’t a 2.5/5 or a 3.
Wikipedia
Delirium (1979, also known as Psycho Puppet)
Death Trap (1976, also known as Eaten Alive, Starlight Slaughter, Horror Hotel)
Don’t Go in the House (1980, alternately titled Dont Go into the House!)
Don’t Go in the Woods (1981, aka Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone!)
Delerium is a long winded uneventful thriller/cop drama. Death Trap/Eaten Alive, a Tobe Hooper film that stars Robert Englund, is a strangely atmospheric and quite bizarre film that’s worth a watch. Don’t Go in the House is about a psycho firebug killing for revenge, creepy at times with some strange dream/ hallucination sequences. Don’t Go in the Woods is basically a paint by numbers slasher…comedy? its so difficult to tell how self aware it is, kind of enjoyable.
The Burning (1981)
Cannibal Ferox (also known as Make Them Die Slowly)
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Contamination (1980)
The Burning stars Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld), that’s about it. Cannibal Ferox and Cannibal Holocaust are pretty standard “Cannibal…” type films, though Holocaust is far more bizarre and extreme. Contamination is slow and pretty boring and there is not enough of the weird-ass alien or action.
