The Virgin of Nuremberg

Director - Antonio Margheriti (The Unnaturals, Cannibal Apocalypse)

Starring - Rossana Podesta (Hercules. Man of the Year), Georges Riviere (Agent 3S3: Passport to Hell, Castle of Blood), and Christopher Lee (The Hunting of the Snark, Dark Shadows)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Women's virtues made him a killer"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I received The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Volume 3 from Severin Films, I expected to see several titles that were completely new to me.  However, I'm surprised by how many of these films in this set that I had actually seen.  I had just finished Beat Girls and The Hands of Orlac when I decided to continue on with 1963's The Virgin of Nuremberg.  This was a movie I thought I had never seen before but I soon realized that it was very familiar to me.  After a quick search I learned that the film was also released under the title Horror Castle.  This was a film I had previously watched back many years ago and completely forgot about it.  It was awesome getting to revisit it in this amazing set from my friends over at Severin.

     The film follows a young American bride who is taken to her husband's German castle after their marriage.  She soon learns of the rich history the castle has and how one of the properties long time employee was once disfigured by Nazis during World War II.  While exploring the castle and it's many rooms, she finds a woman bound and tortured but when she returns with her husband the woman is nowhere to be found.  She then learns about the castles "secret" from decades before when an evil man known as "The Punisher' would torture people in the castle's dungeon.  While the more superstitious employees say that he is back, the young woman suspects that her new husband or one of his employees are responsible for the heinous acts.

     I was not expecting to see this one when I hit play on The Virgin of Nuremberg but it was pretty cool to revisit this one after all these years.  It's a fantastic film but it's nowhere near the top 20 of Lee's best performances.  I do enjoy it and can see this set being worth it just for this film alone but in the 70 years Lee was in film, it's not even a speck on his career.  The acting in this one is solid but not the best I've seen.  Many, like myself, will be tossing this one in with hopes of seeing a fantastic performance from a young Christopher Lee.  He delivers a solid enough performance but his character is not that memorable and he doesn't really get the screen time fans would have liked.  However, Georges Riviere is great in her role.  She does a great job carrying the scenes and shows a wide array of emotions.  I've always liked her in this film but can't think of a reason why I have yet to look up other films of hers.  The supporting cast is decent but we do get a lot of cheesy performances from many of them.  It's not the worst I've scene but early 60s cinema is a lot of camp.  The story for this one is one that was pretty popular in the 60s where we follow a woman in an old castle where something sinister once took place.  It's not the most original story I've seen from the time but I do enjoy the Nazi addition to the story to give the film real world lore.  It has great atmosphere and tension but the predictability and poor pacing in some scenes does stop it from reaching it's full potential.  Finally, the film has some solid make-up effects and light blood but doesn't really deliver on the gore.  Early 60s genre films were more about locations, atmosphere, and story over blood and gore.  Overall, The Virgin of Nuremberg is an effective gothic horror title with some great atmosphere and tension but does have issues with it's pacing.  While Lee does appear in the film, he does not have as much screen time as I would have liked.  Regardless, it's a fun film that deserves to be seen.  

Sparrows Can't Sing

Director - Joan Littlewood (Oh! What a Lovely War, Peierrots)

Starring - James Booth (Pray for Death, Bad Guys), Barbara Windsor (The Great Bang, Double Vision), and Roy Kinnear (Scrooge, Watership Down)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "Sailor, sailor home from the sea.  Whose little stranger can this one be?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      A few weeks back I was sent several new releases from my friends over at Severin to review.  The package included the amazing set Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection along with several films from director Peter Medak.  I really enjoyed MOST of the film the films that I was sent directed by Medak with the exception of the film Negatives.  I was not a fan of the film but it was the first film in a double feature with the 1963 comedy Sparrow's Can't Sing.  I had assumed that the film was directed by Medak as well but that was not the case.  Regardless, I couldn't wait to check it out in hopes it was better than the other film in the set.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a young man who is returning home after 2 years at sea.  He learns that his neighborhood, his home included, has been demolished.  He can't find his wife and starts looking for her around town while meeting many familiar faces that he knew before he was gone.  When he is able to find her, she is shacked up with another man and taking care of their child.  

     I went into Sparrow's Can't Sing completely blind and it wasn't until the opening credits that I realized it wasn't directed by Medak.  That didn't really turn me off to the film, and while it was better than Negatives, it still wasn't as great as I would have liked.  The acting in this one is actually pretty well done.  I loved the cast and the characters they brought to life.  While the characters are pretty cliched and generic, the cast does a great job which made the film a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one is a bit messy but I did like several elements of it.  The humor, if the film had any, did not find it's mark.  It may have been funny if you had that old style sense of humor but from today's standpoint, it was not funny.  I didn't realize it was meant to be a comedy until I was putting the review together and saw it listed as such on the imdb page.  Also, I didn't like the way that the film focused more on the protagonist's interactions with supporting characters instead of his search for his missing wife.  The movie plays out the same way that I play sandbox games.  Finally, the film has no blood or gore so those looking for carnage will be very disappointed.  Overall, Sparrows Can't Sing is a movie that had promise but fails to pull anything together.  I liked the acting and the baseline for the story but the execution fell flat.  I really wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  Skip it.  

The Right Hand of the Devil

Director - Aram Katcher (I Dream of Jeannie, Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens)

Starring - Aram Katcher, Lisa McDonald, and Brad Trumbull (A Gathering of Eagles, The Longshot)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "The most Satanic plot since "Diabolique"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of films in for review that I've never heard of before which only peaks my curiosity of said films.  I love going into a movie completely blind with no preconceived notions about them.  Recently I was sent a copy of Film Master's Door to Door Maniac.  This 1961 crime thriller starred country legend Johnny Cash and was every bit as entertaining as I had hoped.  The released included another early 60s crime film that I had never heard of before.  The film, 1963's The Right Hand of the Devil, featured the tagline "The most Satanic plot since "Diabolique" which really made my imagination work overtime.  As soon as I finished Door to Door Maniac I quickly tossed in The Right Hand of the Devil!

     The film follows a criminal mastermind that put together a plan to rob a racetrack.  He begins by putting together a small team and then seducing the older teller at the track to get access.  Once he has her head over hills for him he he sets out to rob them.  Once done he celebrates with his team where he poisons them to tie up any loose ends along with disposing of the teller.  He then packs up all the money and flees to Rio to live the high life until someone from the crime unexpectedly appears.  

     I was very curious about this one after seeing that tagline and I honestly enjoyed it.  I noticed that it was directed by and starring Katcher which made it very clear that it was a vanity project.  The movie is essentially a criminal mastermind that is always two steps ahead and is smooth with the ladies finds his next score and pulls it off with a little twist near the end.  Yea, a vanity project for sure.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  Katcher himself carries the film and he makes sure he doesn't shorten himself any screen time.  I really like his character and how arrogant and intelligent he is.  He does a wonderful job bringing him to life and the film would not be near as fun as it is if this character wasn't so flamboyant.  The supporting cast does a fantastic job as well but they are nowhere near the same level as Katcher's.  The story for this one is very forward and you can see the twist ending coming a mile away but I'm sure it was rather clever for an early 60's crime drama.  It's not as dark as I was hoping for but the level of detail that went into the heist and so on was actually very impressive.  I would have loved to see a much bigger twist but I respect the one we do have.  Finally, the film does have some make-up effects but if you want some blood and gore then you will be disappointed here.  Overall, The Right Hand of the Devil was a surprisingly enjoyable bonus film in this set.  While the plot was not "satanic" by any means, it was still fun.  I highly recommend it.  

Doctor of Doom

Director - Rene Cardona (Night of the Bloody Apes, Treasure of the Amazon)

Starring - Lorena Velazquez (The Rape of the Sabines, She-Wolves in the Ring), Armando Silvestre (The Killing Zone, Amityville Playhouse), and Elizabeth Campbell (The Panther Women, Planet of the Female Invaders)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love discovering movies that are new to me.  Even if they are not for me and I don't like them I still find myself enjoying the experience.  It's even more fascinating when the film is international and from years long passed.  When VCI Entertainment sent over their release of Night of the Bloody Apes on blu I was fucking excited.  I had never seen the film before but I had heard about it which only stirred my curiosity.  Sadly, I was not a fan of the film but that didn't stop me from checking out the second film on the set which was 1963's Doctor of Doom.  This film was actually the original film to Cardona's Night of the Bloody Ape's remake.  This made me even more excited to finally check it out.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and VCI for sending this one over.

     The film follows a luchadora who's sister is attacked and left for dead.  The culprit is an ape like creature controlled by an evil scientist who is using the victims in his horrible experiments.  After discovering that her sister was one of several victims she sets out to find who is responsible and stop them before more suffer at his hands. 

     Doctor of Doom, in my eyes, was a better film than the remake which is strange considering both films were directed by Rene Cardona after he had spent almost a decade refining his skills.  Doctor of Doom just had a better pacing and atmosphere about it that Bloody Apes could not replicate.  The acting in this one is very similar to the remake.  The cast is great on screen, they work very well with each other, and their personalities hold the scene.  I really enjoyed the casting and how loud and enjoyable the characters are.  The cast had something to grab onto it.  The story for this one works much better than the remake.  The lucha story meets a slasher like story is such a fun combination that works in this case.  It's campy, with smooth pacing, and even though it's predictable it's still enjoyable.  I would have loved watching this one at the drive-in with some other lucha themed horror films.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects but that is the extent of it.  If you are looking for a bloody flick you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Doctor of Doom is the superior of the two films.  It's fun and campy.  I would highly recommend this one for those of you looking for an early 60s cheesefest.  It was a lot of fun. 

Rififi in the City

Director - Jesus Franco (Hellhole Women, White Cannibal Queen)

Starring - Fernando Fernan Gomez (The Grandfather, The Mistress), Jean Servais (Donkey Skin, Black Jesus), and Laura Granados (The War Starts in Cuba, Shoot to Kill)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Crime/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      When I started this Franco Noir double feature I was on the fence.  Honestly, I was hesitant on these films because I rarely like a Franco film that's not a horror or sexploitation film so I had little hope in these films.  I tried to keep an open mind but after twenty minutes or so in Death Whistles the Blues I knew this was going to be a tough 3 hours.  As I prepared for the second film in the set, Rafifi in the City, I was praying that I liked it more than I did the first film in the set.

     The film follows a small community leading up to an election when a police informant turns up dead.  Soon, members of a political party start dying one by one as well leaving many to suspect that someone from the opposing part is snuffing them out.

     Rififi in the City was one mess of a film.  I'm sure it went over my head but I found myself struggling to finish it.  What we get for a story felt rushed and poorly written while the acting felt more like a sketch comedy than an actual movie.  I really wanted to love it and I hate writing a negative review for a film sent to me but this was not for me.  The acting in this one did make me laugh a few times.  Not because they were comedic performances but because they didn't feel like real performances.  The cast stands around awkwardly facing the camera and their dialogue felt like it was just written prior to filming.  The cast is very charismatic but they have no dedication to their characters at all.  The story for this one has potential to be a political thriller but it's chaotic and difficult to follow.  I could get behind a political thriller following an ex-Nazi trying to gain a political position through murder.  However, the way this one is filmed made it difficult for me to follow.  I don't mind reading my films.  Hell, I've reviewed several hundreds of films with subtitles but this one was a serious chore to follow.  It's choppy and uneven with several scenes that feel like they are there for filler with no point toward the story.  Finally, there is a body count but the deaths are not that enjoyable.  Don't expect blood or gore.  Overall, Rififi in the City is another painful film from Franco.  I respect the man more than I care to admit but this film was not entertaining.  I'm an idiot so it's probably because I didn't get it but I'm not a fan.   

The Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone

Director - Ray Harrison (Always on Sunday, What Really Happened to Baby Jane?)

Starring - Antonio Vierra 

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Comedy/Romance

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had no idea what to expect when I ordered What Really Happened to Baby Jane? and the Films of the Gay Girls Riding Club.  I knew somewhat about the people behind it but I had no idea what the films in this set was going to be like.  I was underwhelmed by Always on Sunday but the set paid for itself with What Really Happened to Baby Jane?  I couldn't wait to dive deeper into these drag parodies and the third in the set was The Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone which was, as you guess it, another parody.  This time the film was a parody of The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.  I was unfamiliar with the film it drew inspiration from but that didn't stop me from diving into it head first.  

     The film follows a woman who travels to Italy where she meets a young man.  He tricks her into loving him while he conspires with an evil woman.

     I actually enjoyed this one even though I was not familiar with the original film.  I'm sure there was aspects of the film that went over my head but I found it funny and charming the way it was.  The acting in this one is similar to Always on Sunday where we follow overdramatic and eccentric characters as they do extraordinary things.  The cast is fully committed to their roles even though it is apparent that they don't have a lot of on screen experience.  It's still fun to watch all their energy while they are having fun.  The story for this one is difficult to follow but it's mostly the characters and their interactions that makes this one enjoyable.  As I stated earlier, I'm not familiar with the original film so I can't attest to how close it is to it but as a drag film I would have to say it's fun and slightly funny at times.  Finally, the film has no blood and gore which is to be expected from a film like this.  However, if you are looking for an early 60s short with some laughs then this one is for you.  Overall, The Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone is not going to be for everyone and that's alright because it wasn't made for everyone.  It was made for people who like to have fun and have a taste for odd cinema.  It's unique but not replayable.  It's worth your time but nothing life changing.  

What Really Happened to Baby Jane?

Director - Ray Harrison (All About Alice, Always on Sunday)

Starring - Freida and Roz Berri

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     As 2021 was coming to an end I decided to try to watch as many of the films in the new AGFA and Something Weird blu release of What Really Happened to Baby Jane? and the films of the Gay Girls Riding Club.  The film film to play was the short Always on Sunday.  It was a little underwhelming but I did appreciate what they were doing especially when you consider it was a short made by the gay community in the early 60s when something like that was considered taboo.  The second film in the set is where this release gets it's name from.  What Really Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1963 "parody" of the 1962 horror-thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?  I had seen the film it was mocking and couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film follows Baby Jane who suffers an accident after receiving an award for her performance.  However, her jealous sister is tasked with taking care of her.  Her sister was once a child star but was never able to transition to adult stardom like her sister.  

      What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is somewhat of a historic piece of horror genre which inspired several elderly centered horror titles in it's wake.  It's a fun film for what it is but it's not one I would say that I love or would add it to any list.  However, I think I was more excited to see a drag parody of the film than I ever was with the original.  This thirty minute parody is more of a queer homage to an eccentric horror thriller that was popular at the time.  I enjoyed it but, much like the film that inspired it, I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is fun.  The cast is very eccentric and the characters match the film it's parodying while keeping with the silent motif that can also be seen in Always on Sunday.  They do a lot, especially with the story, without saying a single word.  The story for this one is a fast tracked parody of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? which I had mentioned several times now, but it's done in the GGRC style.  It's a silent tribute with some bold characters and some funny moments.  I actually found it funny and really enjoyed it for what it was.  Finally, don't expect blood or gore in this one.  It's centered around the characters and their place in the parody of WEHtBJ.  It has a little bit of a horror tone but it's not really a bloody horror flick that most of us expect out of the genre.  Overall, What Really Happened to Baby Jane? was a fun rip at the classic with a drag touch.  I think it's an important film in regards to cinema and a solid watch but it doesn't have much of a replay value.  

The Birds

Director - Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, Rear Window)

Starring - Rod Taylor (Inglorious Basterds, The Time Machine), Jessica Tandy (*batteries not included, Cocoon), and Suzanne Pleshette (The Invaders, Blackbeard's Ghost)

Release Date - 1963

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "...and remember, the next scream you hear could be your own"

Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger, around 4 years old or so, my home life was not the best.  In fact, the police and social services were often called to my home to deal with my mentally ill mother and dumb ass father.  It was also during this time that I remember my first brush with horror.  It was one of the many days that I had to stay with my grandmother because of the shit going on with my parents.  While I was at her home we were watching movies like we would often do.  She then introduced me to Hitchcock's classic The Birds.  This would not be the film that made me fall in love with horror but it is the first film that truly scared the living shit out of me.  I've watched it countless times since then but I couldn't wait to revisit it on 4K.

     The film follows Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) who was tricked by a lawyer when she was visiting a bird ship.  To return the prank, she discovers where his family stays on weekends and delivers two love birds to him.  However, her little trip backfires and she starts to fall in love with the good looking lawyer but neither of them can foresee the horrors that befall them when the birds flying around the small coastal town get a taste for blood.

     The Birds, just like Psycho, is one of the most iconic horror films to ever filmed. The film is able to bring about a sense of dread and danger without having to cover the viewer in blood and gore like most modern flicks.  The fact that it involves birds which, when I was little, was an irrational fear that I had prior to seeing this.  However, after watching the film I found myself fucking terrified.  From my understanding, I was not the only person that this film did that to.  Sure, I'm over now and was soon after seeing that film for the first time but for a short period of time that film scared the shit out of me.  The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal.  Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren are fantastic together and their characters work so fucking well for the story.  I know Hitchcock is known as the master of suspense but he knew how to tie characters to stories and he couldn't achieve that without these amazing casts.  The story for this one is simple on paper but painfully difficult to shoot.  The story works because it uses nature against us.  Something real that we can't control has always scared man so turning something so innocent as a bird into a killer is enough to send chills.  Knowing that one or two birds posed no danger, Hitchcock had masses of birds for the film.  Using old school camera tricks and split screen he is able to pull off these tricky shots that works with the story.  Finally, if you are looking for a blood soaked film you will be disappointed.  We get a little blood and some make-up effects but that is the extent of it.  The film does use classic camera tricks that we mentioned before but those wanted practical effects will be disappointed.  Overall, The Birds is essential viewing for movie fans regardless of the genre they prefer.  It's an important part of horror history, as well as, movie history.  The 4K release is absolutely mind blowing.  It looks so good compared to the DVD I bought some Halloweens ago.    

Blood Feast

Director - Herschell Gordon Lewis (A Taste of Blood, Color Me Blood Red)
Starring - William Kerwin (The Aliens are Coming, Whiskey Mountain), Mal Arnold (Vampire Cop, Scum of the Earth), and Connie Mason (Two Thousand Maniacs, The Godfather: Part II)
Release Date - 1963
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Nothing so appalling in the annals of horror"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     There has been many masters of horror over the years but few have left their mark in low budget horror like the Godfather of Gore Herschell Gordon Lewis.  Lewis has left a bloody smear across b-movie horror and sleazy movies alike with films like Wizard of Gore, Color Me Blood Red, Two Thousand Maniacs, Monster a Go-Go, and A Taste of Blood.  One of his more notorious films, Blood Feast, was recently released on blu by the folks over at Arrow Video.  I had seen several of Lewis' films over the years but Blood Feast was one I was never to make time for.  With the film getting an amazing blu release I figured it was time to check it out.  I want to thank MVD for being kind enough to send a copy my way to check out.
     The film follows an Egyptian caterer who is contacted to deliver a feast unlike anyone else in her suburb has seen before.  He offers to deliver an Egyptian feast which has not been seen for 5000 years.  She is excited about this but is unaware that this is actually a plow by the caterer to slaughter innocent women as part of a ceremony to his goddess in order to resurrect her.  What he doesn't know is that his final victim is dating a cop and his plan comes crashing down at the last minute.
     I've really enjoyed the few HGL films I've seen.  They are straight forward, bloody, and usually have an interesting story.  Modern gore flicks focus more on the gore and not the story.  Stories can be stupid but the point is to at least have one.  Blood Feast has one that is appealing and not something you can find somewhere else aside from a few other HGL films.  The acting in this one is inconsistent.  In some of the scenes the cast does a fantastic job.  Their characters are fun in a trashy cinema kind of way but they quickly lose their appeal as the film goes on and their personalities are no longer visible.  This takes away some of the impact the films has but not enough to take away the fun.  The story for this one is great considering its a gore flick centered around an Egyptian named after a pharaoh who worships a Babylonian god.  This was cool and how incorporate the ritual into the film.  I really enjoyed story and the pacing.  Finally, the film has some dismemberment and lots of blood.  The effects are hit and miss.  The practicality of the effects are great but the glowing red blood almost ruins the gag.  The saving grace of this bright red film is that it actually fits the lunacy of the film.  Overall, Blood Feast is a no budget joyride.  I love the story and the outlandish effects.  If you are new to the works of The Godfather of Gore I would recommend starting with this film! 

    

13 Frightened Girls

Director - William Castle (Macabre, House on Haunted Hill)
Starring - Kathy Dunn (Days of Our Lives, Ride with Terror), Murray Hamilton (The Golden Girls, The Amityville Horror), and Hugh Marlowe (The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Earth vs. the Flying Saucer)
Release Date - 1963
Genre - Crime/Mystery
Tagline - "The big fright.  The eerie sight"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     If Roger Corman is known as the King of the B-Movies then William Castle is known as the King of Horror Gimmicks.  During The Tingler he paid people to get up and scream in the theater as if something was crawling up their backs.  With Homicidal he had the coward's corner where people who were afraid could leave and request a refund.  With 13 Ghosts he created a special view finder so those that believe in ghosts could see the ones in the film while those that were afraid could not.  Castle was so known for his horror gimmicks that even his non-horror projects was billed as horror and his gimmicks were applied.  Case in point, 13 Frightened Girls.  13 Frightened Girls was billed as a horror film but was actually a Cold War spy film that followed a teenage daughter of a diplomat.  The film was the second film in a William Castle Double Feature from Mill Creek Entertainment with 13 Ghosts.
     The film follows the teenage Candy Hull (Dunn) who is the daughter of an American diplomat who goes to an all girl school with the daughter of the leaders from several other countries.  He father is friends with an intelligence agent and she begins to fall in love with him.  She falsely believes that he is a master spy and attempts to become a spy herself.  She goes under the guise of Kitten and finds out she is very good at it especially considering she goes to a school with the daughters of other world leaders.  She uses her connections to get top secret information but this comes at a price.  The other countries then want Kitten's head on a platter and it is up to her father and the intelligence agent to keep her alive.
     I went into 13 Frightened Girls thinking it was a horror flick.  The poster work and title is very misleading.  That fact that it was paired with 13 Ghosts only added to the horror element.  Instead, the film is a spy drama speared with comedy and set directly in the middle of the Cold War.  The film is not bad by any means but proper marketing would get the viewer in the right mindset before seeing it.  The acting is great.  The relatively unknown Kathy Dunn is fantastic in the role as Candy Hull.  Her imdb is depressing.  We only have a handful of credits to her name which is a crime.  She was great and really could have made a name for herself but stepped away from acting to pursue something else.  Her supporting cast is great but her charm and brilliance made her the star.  The story for this one has a good mixture of drama, comedy, and espionage.  The film tosses in some laughs here and there to break up the film's story before tossing in a little action and some twists.  The film does have some dry spots but the humor does move it along.  Finally, the action in this one is light and the action we do get is quickly cut or happens off screen.  A film like this is expected to have action and this one is watered down.  Overall, 13 Frightened Girls is a fun Cold War comedy that has some fun characters and some entertaining moments.  Sadly, it does not work well paired with 13 Ghosts.    

The Terror

Director(s) - Roger Corman (Tales of Terror), Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), Monte Hellman (Back Door to Hell), Jack Hill (Blood Bath), and Jack Nicholson (Goin' South)
Starring - Boris Karloff (Frankenstein), Jack Nicholson (The Shining), and Sandra Knight (Frankenstein's Daughter)
Release Date - 1963
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few weeks I have noticed that I have watched and reviewed several films that were connected to King of the B-Movie, Roger Corman.  Corman has one of the most impressive careers in terms of longevity.  His career has spanned over 60 years.  This man has been producing and directing films for over 6 decades.  That is very impressive considering most can't stay in the business for one decade let alone 6.  He has produced Sorority House Massacre, Mountain Top Motel Massacre, The Slumber Party Massacre, The Raven, Tales of Terror, and so many more classics.  On top of producing he has also directed the now iconic films Tower of London, Pit and the Pendulum, and the original Little Shop of Horrors.  He career is legendary but some people have a hard time getting behind his no budget - cost saving approach to filmmaking.  Recently, I was contacted about the release of the Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson led supernatural horror film The Terror that was original released in 1963.  The film was getting the bluray treatment and I was asked to share the press release.  I agreed and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys for allowing me the opportunity to check it out!
     The film takes in France as we follow an officer in Napoleon's army, Lt. Andre (Nicholson) who is separated from his group and is wondering the beach when he meets a lovely young woman.  The woman is strange and disappears in the surf before reappearing on the nearby hillside.  He chases after and soon finds himself weary and unable to give chase.  He is found by an older lady and her hawk where she nurses him for the night before telling him about the local baron who has ties to the lady he is now looking for.  He visits the baron (Karloff) and learns that the lady he was seeing was actually his late wife that perished 20 years before.  He suspects the baron is lying and starts to investigate his castle where learns the baron is right about her being dead but something far more sinister is at play.

     The older Corman films, circa 50s and 60s, were beautiful films that had amazing atmosphere and beautiful set designs that you just don't see in horror anymore.  Most of the sets were recycled from previous films to save cost but they were still great to look at and really added to that gothic horror vibe that we just don't see anymore.  The Terror used this to it's full advantage.  It was a fun period piece that was able to use two of the greatest actors to step in front of the camera at two ends of their career.  The acting in this one is great.  Karloff once again shines just like every role he was in before.  He goes through a range of emotions and sends chill down your spine with his dialogue delivery.  On the other side of the screen we have Nicholson who gives a commanding performance.  He demands your attention and deserves it.  He absolutely killed it.  The supporting cast is solid as well but they don't steer the scenes like Karloff and Nicholson do.  The story for this one is one you would expect to see on television on Halloween.  We have the witch using magic to bring the dead back to life along with the castle with hidden passages and great gothic atmosphere.  The story does get dry in several scenes which results in wondering viewers but for those that stick it out will really enjoy themselves with the films chocking atmosphere.  Finally, those of you looking for blood or boobs will be let down.  The film has neither but if you want a story rich film that is character driven then you will really enjoy this one.  Overall, The Terror is one of those films that makes me wish I grew up during the time films actually had sets and tried to be ominous.  The film has a great story that could use some revising and a brilliant cast.  Check it out when you can.