Social Media Post - Lust for a Vampire (1970)

 LUST FOR A VAMPIRE (1971)

In 1970, Hammer Films released The Vampire Lovers, the first film about the sadistic and Satanic Karnstein family. The three movies, known as The Karnstein Trilogy, have become infamous for titillating scenes of nudity and their through-the-male-lens depiction of lesbianism. The films are based on the novella Carmilla by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu. Polish actor Ingrid Pitt was the first to wear the shroud of Carmilla Karnstein, who destroyed families with her ravenous desire for budding flesh. In Lust For A Vampire (directed by Jimmy Sangster from Tudor Gates’ script), blonde, Danish Yutte Stensgaard takes up the Karnstein, blood-stained funerary garments and heads off to school.

Social Media Post -  The Vampire Lovers (1970)

 England’s Hammer Films became the new home of gothic horror in the late 1950s when they began remaking the classic Universal monsters movies.  Beautifully shot in vibrant technicolor with elaborate sets and period costumes, the studio included many beautiful, scantily dressed women displaying prominent decolletage straining the seams of their diaphanous nightgowns.

Social Media Post: Horror Movie Trivia

Horror Movie Trivia Time! 

Did you know that Universal Studios did not give Boris Karloff credit for playing Frankenstein's Monster?  A question mark stands in the place of his name in the opening credits.

It wasn't until the final credits rolled at the film's December 4, 1931 premier that the audience learned the name of the actor whose sympathetic portrayal of the monster had touched them?

Karloff himself was not even invited to the premier!

 

Social Media Post - Revenge (Coralie Fargeat 2017)

 Social Media Post - Revenge 

SPOILER ALERT!

 The on-screen depiction of acts of violence against women, especially rape, and the victim’s response (especially if it resembles revenge) have always provoked powerful responses from the viewing public and critics. One troubling aspect, according to Carol Clover in her 1992 book, “Men, Women, and Chain Saws,” is the male audience’s sadistic and voyeuristic reaction to the suffering of the victim and her turn to avenging hero. She describes how theater audiences, of mostly adolescent males, undergo a curious identification switch during the film - first they watch and cheer at the attack on the victim, depicted in unflinching, graphic displays. Then they “reverse their sympathies to cheer the survivor on as she assaults the killer” (Carol Clover - Men, Women, and Chainsaws, p23).

Social Media Post: WIWLN Goes to Paris

"Stop! This is the Kingdom of the Dead"

Where does horror reside? One answer is in the abject. The abject is a place where we are exposed to transgressive objects - things that should not be or fewest things that should not be seen. Crossing into the abject is to abandon the known, familiar and welcoming for the unknown, unfamiliar and unwelcoming. As horror fans, we are often dedicated to exploring the abject from the safety of our friendly places.

 

Our own bodies are often the first exposure to this frightful realm. Knowledge of the whole unseen world under our skin can be both fascinating and frightening. The first sight (or taste!) of blood, seeing the exposed organs of a carcass or the pictures in my mother’s anatomy textbooks and the first time touching a corpse are cemented in my mind. These days, encountering a skeleton outside its meat envelope is no longer disconcerting, but being amongst the six million skeletons residing in the Paris Catacombs was a somber reminder of what awaits us all.

 

Dr. Pretorius toasts a freshly harvested skeleton's new life in The Bride of Frankenstein.

The Killer Victim - Social Media Post

 The Killer Victim

Two of the most common motives in revenge films are the Lex Talionis Adjudication and Survival Mode. Lex talionis is Old Testament, eye for an eye justice. An act of righteous retribution, delivered by the victims, balances the scales. In Survival Mode, the priorities are different. The victim must turn the tables on the killer to stay alive. 

Social Media Post: Horror Rises from the Tomb

Horror Rises from the Tomb (1973)

Spanish horror cinema from the 1970s is full of mind bending craziness. Screenwriter and director Jacinto Molina Alvarez, better known as Paul Naschy, holds an especially enduring place within that lunacy. His 1973 Horror Rises from the Tomb, (El espanto surge de la tumba) is an excellent example of his love of classic horror cinema and his “everything but the kitchen sink,” over-the-top storytelling. His script explores the eternal nature of evil and the power of good to overcome it. There are ancient warlocks and witches, multi-generational curses, bloody hearts being ripped out of living bodies, and plenty of other audacious delights.

Social Media Post: A Taste of Blood

A Taste of Blood , Argentina


Last week I got a chance to watch a pre-release screener of Argentinian vampire film Sangre Vurdalak, which has been on my watch list since 2020! The movie will be available in North America on Blu-ray and VOD on May 10th as A Taste of Blood. directed by Santiago Fernandez Calvete and based on Aleksey Tolstoy’s 1839 short story “The Family Of The Vourdalak.'' The film examines a family coming apart as they battle a monster whose main weapon is their love for each other.

 
Mario Bava previously filmed the “Family of the Vourdalak” in 1963 as part of his Black Sabbath anthology, with Boris Karloff giving one of his finest performances as Gorca, the family patriarch. Calvete has done an admirable job of updating the story and moving the setting to rural Argentina while keeping the elements the same as the source: a family waits in anticipation for the return of their father, worried that he has been turned into a vampire. There are a couple of pretty good scares, but also some heartbreaking moments, as the director points out that those who love us the most are also the ones that hurt us the most.

Releasing May 10, the film stars German Palacios, Tomas Carullo Lizzio, Naiara Awada, Lautaro Bettoni and Alfonsina Carrocio.

Social Media Post Eaten Alive! (1976), directed by Tobe Hooper

 Eaten Alive 1976 Tobe Hooper (Why is this crocodile still hungry?)

Eaten Alive! takes the viewer on a journey to the darkest heart of America that can be found the swamps of Texas. Tobe Hooper's first feature film after the iconic Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) invites guests to spend a night in terror at the Starlight Hotel, struggling to survive proprietor Judd’s swinging scythe and the hungry jaws of his pet crocodile in this underrated masterpiece.


First 15 minutes makes TCM appear demur as a young prostitute is ejected from her whore house for refusing to have anal sex with Buck (pre-Nightmare on Elm Street, Robert Eglund), who declares “My name is Buck and I’m raring to…” Seeking shelter at a local hotel, Clara (Roberta Collins) is slaughtered by disturbed Vietnam Vet Judd (Neville Brand) and fed to his crocodile. From this point forward, Eaten Alive! begins introducing a string of disaffected Americans, all searching for something or on their way to something better only to find their quests cut short at The Starlight Motel. Notable among the victims is distinguished actor Mel Ferrer, who also was in another Eaten Alive! - Umberto Lenzi’s 1980 cannibal fest. Also, Marilyn Burns (TCM’s Sally Hardesty!) again proves she was one of Hollywood's toughest actors as Faye, a suburban mom traveling with her child and neurotic husband.


Eaten Alive! featured veteran actors Stuart Whitman and Carolyn Jones (proto-goth-girl Mortician Adams from the The Addams Family TV series in the 1960s). Decorated World War II soldier turned actor Neville Brand turned in a thoroughly over-the-top performance as the bitter, paranoid and completely insane Judd.


Not nearly as well known as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Eaten Alive! left a definite mark on popular culture. When released on VHS in England, it was declared a video nasty and removed from rental shelves in 1982. Quentin Tarantino referenced its opening lines in 2003’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1: sleazy orderly Buck introduces himself to the comatose Bride, “My name is Buck and I’m here to…”

Eaten Alive! is currently streaming on Shudder and Tubi.

Social Media Post The Blue Parrot

The Bloody Parrot 

Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers Studio served as an introduction to Asian culture for many fantastic film fans. Their vast catalog spans several decades and multiple genres. One movie could be a mixture of several genres at once. 1981’s The Bloody Parrot is a great example of a melange of kung fu, horror, and straight up exploitation in one baffling film.

The Bloody Parrot's (1981) incoherent story serves only as a vehicle to showcase the excellently choreographed fight action that Shaw Brothers Studio was famous for around the globe. In its simplest terms, Yeh Ting Feng (Pai Piao), a wandering swordsman, goes on a quest to bury a fallen comrade. Along the way, he encounters stolen treasure, treachery, black magic, and even some romance. Battles break out every few minutes (and sometimes even faster!) as his foes attempt to stop him. In a weird gesture, they introduce themselves with a name derived from their weapon of choice.

The Bloody Parrot is pure eye candy for the viewer. The movie features an abundance of Peking Opera style acrobatics in the well choreographed fights and elaborate costumes. There is also plenty of gore as blood spurts, body parts are severed and maggots crawl on monstrous creatures. All this happens on amazing sets, from beautifully appointed courtesan’s bedrooms to a baffling underground maze of mirrors. There is always something to delight the viewer.

Another Shaw Brothers trademark is lots of (mostly unexplained) nudity. None of the characters give the odd, bare breast a second thought (or glance). Actress Jenny Liang regularly appears half dressed, from left to right, which adds a layer of bizarreness to her demonic possession scene.

As far as what all this means, that is up to the viewer to decide. The story may be an incoherent mess, but it is a well made incoherent mess.

Social Media Post; Blood of the Virgins

 Blood of the Virgins (Sangre de vírgenes), 1967, Argentina.

Writer-director Emilio Vieyra’s unusual, and slightly puzzling, attempt to bring old-fashioned gothic vampires into the modern world begins with a pre-credits prologue set in the past before jumping to the wild and decadent 1960s. Jealous and jilted vampire, Gustavo (Walter Kliche), kills the husband of his beloved Ofelia (Susana Beltrán) after she rebuffs him. He forcibly turns her into a vampire and calls her from her grave. After a creepy, animated title sequence, the action switches to a montage of what could be a film made by Argentina’s Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística. Viewers spend next ten minutes following a healthy (and lusty) group of tourists visiting many of Argentina’s outdoor attractions and clothing-optional, swinging nightclubs. Stranded on the way to their next stop, the young tourists take refuge at the haunted villa where Gustavo and Ofelia reside. The vampire’s tragic love story reaches its crescendo as new love begins.

Like Gerardo de Leon’s The Blood Drinkers and Hammer’s Dracula A.D. 1972, Vieyra struggles to bring ancient vampires into the modern world. While not a perfect movie, Blood of the Virgins has much to offer for fans of vampire films, offbeat world cinema, and sexy-60’s exploitation. The film keeps viewers engaged in its highly entertaining, if baffling, story. Well worth watching, this oddity is currently streaming on Tubi.

Cherry Falls (200) Review

 My review of slash Cherry Falls is live here

Social Media Post The Curious Dr. Humpp

Another post from the unexplored world of South American Horror!

















The Banshee

The Curious Dr. Humpp (1969) is easily one of the most bizarre entries on this tour of Latin America horror movies! Argentinian director Emilio Vieyra's Dr. Humpp’s (Dr. Zoide in the original Spanish version) search for the elixir of eternal life among Buenos Aires' hedonistic youth is a brain-bending mix of sex, horror, and science fiction.
Vintage boutique sleaze vendors AGFA and Something Weird Video released a deluxe Blu-ray of this unusual film. Included on the disc is a freshly scanned 2k copy of the film in both the 87 minute English version and the uncut, original, Spanish-language version AND a commentary by exploitation auteur, Frank Henenlotter (BASKET CASE). Sadly, instead of SWVs usual ton of extras, shorts and trailers, there is only one “Salacious Short” and a handful of trailers.
With dialogue like “Sex dominates the world, now I dominate sex!” a talking brain in a jar and guitar playing monsters, The Curious Dr. Humpp might not be to everyone's taste, but for fans of bizarre world cinema, it is not to be missed.

X (2022) Film Review – X Marks the Spot

 My review of X is live here 

Social Media Post Latin American Horror Double Feature

 One of my social media posts on The Banshee site. For some reason, I can't share directly from there. The Banshee is an awesome site devoted to horror in all forms.

This week’s tour of Latin America Horror cinema visits Paraguay and Brazil for two ghostly narratives from the morgue.

Morgue, 2019 Paraguay - Written and directed by Hugo Cardozo, Morgue reveals the tale of security guard Diego’s (Pablo Martinez) first night patrolling the morgue. The film provides a couple of solid jump scares but becomes mired in the shadowy areas of its environment about halfway through. There is no connection established between Diego’s guilt over accidentally killing a man and the supernatural torment he experiences. This robs the audience of watching any sort of resolution or redemption on his behalf. Morgue is available for rental on Amazon and for free on Tubi.

The Nightshifter (Morto Não Fala), 2019, Brazil - Another tale of a fellow who works in the morgue whose wrong decisions literally come back to haunt him. Dennison Ramalho directs the film from his script co-written with Cláudia Jouvin and based on a novel by Marco de Castro. Hardworking morgue attendant Stênio (Daniel de Oliveira) devotes his nights to casually conversing with the lifeless people he meets at work. When he uses secrets revealed by the corpses for revenge, he unleashes a furious phantom, calling for its own vengeance. The Nightshifter is currently streaming on Shudder and Amazon

Violation - Film Review on The Banshee

Starting out as a tense reunion between two sisters, Violation quickly blows past any expectations the viewer may have and charges into the uncharted areas of the abject.

Check it out here!

Ad Lib - Short Film Review on The Banshee!

Joseph Catté's award-winning short Ad Lib is a fantasy thriller that uses music and karaoke to tell the story of Max and Julie's troubled relationship. Everything is not as it seems and the world beyond the colorful songs is dark and dangerous and has plenty of surprises. Check out our film review here:

https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/the-banshee/ad-lib-short-2022-short-film-review/

Big Doin's

 I got an article published at another site today! For those that are interested, you can read it here.

I take a crack at reviewing classic blaxploitation horror film Sugar Hill. 

Let me know what you think

Nothing brings a family together better than the holidays. Unless it is a deranged alien bent on destroying eveything. That will united even the most dysfunctional familys.

 

Read Time:2 Minute, 50 Second

Shocktoberfest 2021, Yuletide Edition

What do you do if you are into horror films but none of your family is, yet they insist you put together a list of holiday favorite movies because you are also the designated AV and IT guy? You can apply yourself to coming up with a bunch of family favorites guaranteed to warm their hearts or do such a terrible job that they will ask nothing of you ever again.

This situation does not warrant compromise. Either everyone will gather with cups of warm cocoa in their best Christmas sweaters and chuckle at the hijinks of whatever nightmarishly wholesome story of family bonding they settled on while you sit off to the side in your Nightmare on Elm Street —Dream Warriors hoodie, praying for a zombie apocalypse, or they glare with hatred at you as they pack up their still wrapped presents and leave.

SHOCKTOBERFEST 2021 FINAL EDITION -SLASHTASTIC!

Jason and Me

How I caught air in the theater.

Slashers were once unwelcome companions on my horror movie journey. The stories about the deaths of obnoxious teenagers seemed more like pointless exercises in sadism than genuine horror. But they would do in a pinch. When I was a freshman in college, my girlfriend and I went to see Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. It was hard to keep my opinion quiet about how awful the movie was. Everything from the terrible choices the characters made to the predictable jump-scares were cause for complaint. Most irritating was the scene where Trish Jarvis (Kimberly Beck) returns to the dark basement where she just witnessed Jason kill Rob (E. Erick Anderson). What was she thinking? Rob was dead and Jason was still lurking in the dark. When she turned to run back up the stairs, I whispered to my date, “Watch, he is going to grab her!”

Watching a good scary movie can be a real physical experience. Releasing intense emotions causes an equal release of energy. As my prediction came true and Jason grabbed Trish, my words were lost in the loud scream that came out instead and  I vaulted over the divider and onto my girlfriend’s lap.

Obviously, there was much to learn about the power slashers.

SHOCKTOBERFEST 2021 - WEEK 3 - IT'S HENENLOTTER WEEK!

HENENLOTTER WEEK!

Everything Old is New Again

For the third edition of this year’s Shocktoberfest, I found a link between a contemporary film and a filmmaker rooted The Golden Age of Exploitation.

James Wan, a modern filmmaker whose hits include The Conjuring, Saw, and Insidious, heads in a new direction with his latest film, Malignant. The movie has been making waves in the horror community since its release. Stephen King himself extolled it in a tweet, heaping the highest praise on it. While looking forward, Wan's film rely's on the dirty DNA of Frank Henenlotter’s gory masterpiece, Basket Case.

SHOCKTOBERFEST 2021 WEEK TWO, THE PIZZA RITUAL

 

The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show cast – Bob “Hoolihan” Wells, “Little” John Rinaldi, and “Big Chuck” Shodowski

Ever since I was old enough to stay up late and use the stove by myself, Friday nights were all about eating frozen pizzas and watching horror movies on TV. Before the Internet and VCRs, I was limited to the choices of whatever the local stations had on hand. Right after the nightly news, The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show would start its weekly program of movies, silly skits, and PSAs for activities in Cleveland. Eventually, my parents bought a VCR, and the local video stores expanded my access to horror movies.

Now, nearly four decades later, I celebrate my love of horror movies and frozen pizzas whenever I can. Here is the lineup from my latest Friday Night Pizza and Horror Movies ritual:

SHOCKTOBERFEST 2021, WEEK ONE!

 

Let’s get this party started! Time for this year’s round of Shocktoberfest mini-reviews!

I believe that horror can save us. Horror makes sense of the chaotic, unpredictable modern world. It provides solace to our stressed and grieving hearts. Horror paints vibrant colors over darkened existences. Horror helps us discover the best in all of us.

The stories themselves bring these changes. Discovering the strange and unusual helps us to bond with others. It encourages trust-building, attachment, vulnerability, and empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand and even feel what another person is experiencing. To paraphrase The Prayer For Peace, also known as the Prayer of Saint Francis, it is better to understand than to be understood*. Embracing the unknown brings us knowledge.

Of course, in horror, everything becomes subverted and twisted. A wily serial killer may use empathy to get closer to their victim. In the first Shocktoberfest 2021 movie, failing to understand can be a lethal thing.

Have the lambs stopped screaming yet?