Disappointing monster movie, originally titled Kyôryû kaichô no densetsu, is largely devoted to plesiosaur attacks in a lake where a festival is being held, in imitation of Jaws, although at the same time a scientist is investigating reports of the discovery of a giant egg in the mountains. A fair amount of violence, including some …
Read the full post →“<em>Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds</em> (1977)”
A UFO causes a plane to crash in a remote location, and the survivors of the crash must then contend with hostile aliens that turn their victims into vampires. Vivid, unrealistic colors give the movie a visual presence, but the story drags a bit, with some implausible behavior by the characters and perhaps a bit …
A woman comes to visit a country home that had belonged to her deceased husband, and there she meets the house’s hunchbacked caretaker and finds the atmosphere decidedly unsettling. Her decision to visit was an unfortunate one. This creepy tale of a haunted house and the doom that befalls those who recklessly visit it (also …
A number of the Bowery Boys pictures revolve around something strange happening to Sach (Huntz Hall), and the amusing Master Minds is no exception. This time, Sach develops the ability to predict the future, and Slip (Leo Gorcey) looks to exploit it by setting him up as a carnival attraction. Yet there’s menace in the …
Read the full post →“<em>Master Minds</em> (Monogram, 1949)”
Complex West German horror film (original title: Die Nackte und der Satan) has a conscience-less scientist (Horst Frank) exploiting the discovery of another scientist (Michel Simon) to keep that scientist’s head alive after a fatal accident and force it to assist in a scheme to transplant a woman’s head onto a new body. Murder and …
Bela Lugosi is in fine form as kindly Dr. Carruthers, who harbors a sinister secret. Resentful of the success of those who purchased a valuable formula from him — though he had turned down an opportunity to partner instead — and who have since become quite wealthy, he has developed a means of taking his …
The spirit of an evil Egyptian queen (Valerie Leon), called up as the result of an archaeological expedition, possesses a young woman (also Valerie Leon) and stalks the members of the expedition to secure the treasures that are needed to bring her back to life permanently. Leon is alluring and effective as the wicked queen, …
Read the full post →“<em>Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb</em> (1971)”
Rosalba Neri dominates in this horror picture, as a mysterious evil countess with an appetite for blood: she literally bathes in it at one point. Mark Damon plays twin brothers, one a reckless rascal, the other a studious sort, both after the fabled Ring of the Nibelungen, which is in the possession of the countess. …
Read the full post →“<em>The Devil’s Wedding Night</em> (1973)”
An American artist (Anne Kimbell) on vacation in Mexico faces an uphill battle convincing others she has glimpsed a giant monster in the ocean, even after a mysterious death. Complicating matters are those who acknowledge the existence of the creature but intend to worship it with a sacrifice. There seem to be some strong echoes …
Read the full post →“<em>Monster from the Ocean Floor</em> (Lippert, 1954)”
Four young women move into the house, complete with hostile housekeeper, that one has inherited from an aunt with the stipulation that she care for the aunt’s beloved house cat — a stipulation that brings stress and eventually doom in this creepy tale of hauntings and killings. There are plenty of unexpected developments to maintain …
Read the full post →“<em>Más negro que la noche</em> (1975)”
