Terror-Creatures from the Grave

Director - Massimo Pupillo (Bloody Pit of Horror, Django Kills Softly)

Starring - Barbara Steele (Nightmare Castle, Shivers), Walter Brandi (The Vampire and the Ballerina, The Playgirls and the Vampire), and Mirella Maravidi (Behind the Mask of Zorro, Three Bites of the Apple)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They rise from dank coffins in the DEAD OF NIGHT to inflict AN EVIL CURSE OF DOOM, murdering their victims in an ORGY OF SLAUGHTER!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     It seems like I've found myself reviewing a handful of films from the middle to late-60s up into the 70s.  It's not often that I get to review films this old and really look forward to it but it is strange that I've had so many to review the last week or so.  My friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the Greek sexploitation flicks Sexomania and Lady Desire.  At the same time the fine folks over at Severin sent me copies of The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  It wasn't much longer after that I received their Danza Macabra Volume 4: The Italian Gothic Collection box set with even more 60s and 70s fun.  I couldn't wait to check it and went with the first film in the set which is the 1965 film Terror-Creatures from the Grave.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one along.  

     The film follows a lawyer who visits the estate of a doctor after receiving a letter telling him the exact date and time to be there.  The letter was intended for his partner but he was away on business.  He decided to go in his place because the letter seemed very important.  However, once he arrives he discovers that the doctor passed way almost a year ago to the date and the remaining family, his daughter and her step-mother, have just returned to the villa after being away.  He soon learns that the doctor died after a horrible fall and was once a spiritualist who thought he had command over the spirits on the property which once served as a dumping ground during the black plague.  As he questions why his partner was asked to be there by a doctor no longer living, he uncovers that everyone that signed as a witness to his death has died horrible accidents besides two and soon learns that it was not an accident and his partner was involved with a murder.

     Terror-Creatures from the Grave is a title that I've always loved but never took the time to actually watch.  Honestly, I love the title and always thought it was a fucking phenomenal name for a horror punk band.  However, it wasn't until I hit play on the film that I realized that I had seen the film before.  Many years ago I was sent the Nightmare Castle release from Severin and this film just happened to be one of the special features on that release.  I don't remember watching it but I remembered the film very well which is weird considering I really enjoyed it.  It's a beautifully shot film that does a fantastic job at building tension and atmosphere.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  It is definitely a product of it's time with some overdramatic performances but that is to be expected from films of the time.  The characters are very well written and while many of them are a bit cliched, the cast does a great job at portraying them.  The story for this one is one I really dig.  We have a conspiracy around an accidental death, a little bit of history mixed in with the black death, and then the supernatural aspect.   It starts out almost like a slasher before switching gears and hitting us with a great supernatural tale set against the fantastic gothic architecture and brooding atmosphere.  It works for the most part.  A few of the scenes are a bit slow with one or two being just filler that do absolutely nothing for the plot.  A little bit of trimming could have fixed the pacing in this one.  Finally, the film has a few deaths with some make-up effects but nothing that stands out.  The black death victims look like lepers but they don't look bad.  While the make-up effects are decent, nothing in this regard really stands out or is memorable. Overall, Terror-Creatures from the Grave is the kind of film that I really enjoy.  I love well put together gothic tales done in black and white.  This one really sells the atmosphere and I adore the story.  I highly recommend checking this one out!  

     

Dr. Who and the Daleks

Director - Gordon Flemyng (Shades of Darkness, Flight into Hell)

Starring - Peter Cushing (Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Horror of Dracula), Roy Castle (Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Legend of the Werewolf), and Jennie Linden (Tales of the Unexpected, A Deadly Game)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Sci-Fi/Adventure

Tagline - "The wildest space adventure on... or off the Earth!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      I learned a lot in college and I don't mean in my studies.  I started my college career when I turned 21 and then found myself opening up to a lot of things that I normally wouldn't.  I never gave Ronnie James Dio a chance because of my dedication to Ozzy and the original Black Sabbath line up but a friend in college hooked me up with some songs and I fell in love.  I was also introduced to sci-fi shows I had never seen before.  I was familiar with shows like Star Trek,  Lexx, Battlestar Galactica, and so on thanks to my grandmother but this friend sent me in a whole new direction.  He recommended shows like Red Dwarf and the iconic Doctor Who.  The Doctor Who revival was just a few seasons into it and I binged those seasons over and over again that summer.  I was hooked.  I watched it often up until Robert Capaldi became the doctor.  Not because I disliked him but because time just got away from him.  Over the years since then I've watched some of the original serious with the original doctors along with the two Amicus films starring Peter Cushing.  A few months back Severin Films announced that they would be releasing those two films on UHD.  I quickly preordered these films and when they arrived I quickly added them to  my watch list and started with the first film, Dr. Who and the Daleks.  

     The films follows Dr. Who (Cushing) who has a created a machine that can travel through space and time that he has named TARDIS.  However, a man who visited his home to pick his granddaughter up for a date accidentally turns it on and sends them to a distant world ravaged by atomic war.  A group of creatures seeking refuge from the atomic radiation has created machines to live in called Daleks.  After all these years they are still waging war with a human like race that has created a solution to the radiation problem.  The Daleks, after realizing how smart the Dr. is, tries to use him as a pawn to trick the others into giving them their secrets.  The Dr., seeing through their plan, helps the others while stopping the Daleks.

     Dr. Who and the Daleks was a new spin on the Doctor Who serials that were popular of the time.  While it did offer up a lot of differences from the show, it still delivered on the whimsical side of sci-fi that wasn't explored a lot before then.  The acting in this is great.  Peter Cushing, along with Christopher Lee, is one of the bests to ever do it and this is no exception.  He brings on a new spin to the doctor and is brilliant in it.  The same can be said about his supporting cast.  The characters are all likeable and the acting is phenomenal. The story for this one has similarities to the show along with some major differences.  The TARDIS and Daleks are here in the same form they can be found in the show along with the companions that usually accompany the doctor.  In this adaptation, the companions are his grandchildren while the doctor, who is an an alien from Gallifrey, is human in this film.  We get some family friendly humor, some sci-fi action, and a huge scope for such a small film.  Finally, the effects are very dated which adds to the charm of the film.  It's not a bloody flick, but we do have some gorgeous sets, make-up effects, and the look of the daleks are iconic.  Fans of 60s science fiction will truly appreciate the effects in this film.  Overall, Dr. Who and the Daleks doesn't follow the show that closely but does borrow the important parts while making it's own path.  It's a lot of fun and Severin did a wonderful job with this release.  I highly recommend it.  

     

Motorpsycho!

Director - Russ Meyer (Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill!, Up!)

Starring - Haji (Bigfoot, Killer Drag Queen on Dope), Alex Rocco (Blood Mania, Detroit 9000), and Steve Oliver (Werewolves on Wheels, Angels from Hell)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Thriller/Drama

Tagline - "Bike riding hoodlums flat-out on their murder cycles"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Russ Meyer is one of those filmmakers that many movie fans either love or hate but his stamp on cinema history cannot be overlooked.  Often credited for the creation of the "nudie cutie" films that became popular in the mid-50s but it wasn't until the 60s when he created his "gothic" trilogy that became popular among exploitation fans.  Among those three films is the 1965 action flick Motorpsycho!.  This is a film I've seen several times over the years after acquiring a VHS copy of it when I was in high school before finding a DVD release sometime later.  A few weeks back my friends over at Severin released the film on UHD and blu.  I want to take a moment thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a young man who is hunting three bikers who violently raped his wife.  On his hunt for the three men he finds a young woman who survived an attack from the three but her elderly husband was murdered.  She joins him on his hunt for the bikers before they can hurt anyone else.

     Motorpsycho! is nothing special when you compare it to similar exploitation films that followed.  However, for 1965 it was something unique.  Also, it's the first film to depict a Vietnam vet as mentally unstable and homicidal.  While the film does feel a bit underwhelming, it is still enjoyable for a first time watch.  The acting in this one is decent for the most part but there is a few scenes where the cast rushes through dialogue.  These tend to be the scenes with a bit more action but it's not that bad in the long run.  It doesn't really take away from the movie but it is very noticeable especially when you compare them to the more slower scenes.  The story for this one is straight to the point but for a mid-60s exploitation flick, it does offer up some rather unique ideas especially for the time.  A Vietnam vet returning home with a mental disorder was never mentioned in film before but it was something the U.S. was seeing at the time.  Inadequate mental health resources of the time mixed with the atrocities witnessed during deployment caused many that returned to suffer.  Sometimes this did turn deadly and would become more prevalent in films of the 70s.  You mix this with Meyer's eye and experience with the nudie-cutie films he was known for and you have something that is a bit different for the time.  Sadly, it doesn't hold up too well over all the years but it's still enjoyable for a first time view.  Finally, don't expect to see blood and gore in this one.  There is several deaths but they don't have any effects for the viewer to enjoy.  Overall, Motorpsycho! isn't a film that will be sticking with you like so many other films but it's fun if you are looking for something you had never seen before.  I've watched it a few times now and I do enjoy it but I know it's fairly mild and tame compared to the film I usually watch.  It's still a fun flick and this release from Severin looks fantastic.  Check it out.  

                

The Girl Can't Stop

THE GIRL CAN'T STOP promo trailer from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Director - Willy Rozier (Beside Murder, Sin and Desire)

Starring - Xenia Kalogeropoulou (The Storyteller, The Prodigal Son), Georges Riviere (Castle of Blood, Horror Castle), and Jean Sobieski (Plucked, Playgirl 70)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Crime/Drama

Tagline - "The shocking story of the far side of love... and the men and women with twisted desires who play there!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My month long horror binge is well under way. So far this month I’ve watched slashers, films about the occult, demon slaying, murder mysteries, and a film adaptation of a children’s book that was a childhood favorite of mine. My annual October horror movie binge is something I look forward to each and every year. However, sometimes I get non-horror films in for review and try to sneak them in from time to time. A couple weeks back Mondo Macabro sent over a few releases of theirs to check out. I wanted to review them before my October binge but I never could find the time. After watching a few horror titles I decided it was time to check out one of these releases. The first was a double feature with the first film in the set being The Girl Can’t Stop from 1965. This French title was a new one to me and I couldn’t wait to check it out. I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way. 

      The film follows a failing business man who just lost his last bit of money gambling. A sleazy friend of his convinces him to have his wife sleep with a wealthy banker so he will feel obligated to loan him money. He reluctantly agrees and soon convinces his wife to go along with their seedy plan. She eventually falls in love with the banker but the grass is not always greener on the other side. She discovers that he is a sadistic man who enjoys when his servant tortures women. 

      This one looked like it would be a fun sexploitation with some twisted moments. Sadly, that was not the case. It’s a drama that worked that ended with a little perversion that may have been considered taboo in the mid-60s but to a generation that grew up with South Park and G-String Divas it was relatively mild. The acting in this one was very well done for the most part. I really liked the characters and the lengths the cast went to keep them grounded and believable. However, a few scenes did feel rushed and it looked as if the cast was just going through the motions to finish. This was only in a few scenes but the inconsistent performances are very noticeable. The story for this one is very predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The man convincing his wife to sleep with a banker so he can secure a loan only for her to fall in love with him is something the viewer can spot a mile away. The perversion part is a bit unexpected but it’s not that wild when you consider most have read or at least watched the film adaptation of 50 Shades of Gray. Honestly, I liked the film but I was expecting more of a sexploitation than a drama. Finally, this is not a film with any bloodshed or gore. It’s a character driven piece that is enjoyable but not something you would want to toss in during your Halloween viewing. Overall, The Girl Cant Stop was very enjoyable. I really enjoyed it but I do wish it was a little more sleazy. With that being said, I highly recommend grabbing a copy.

House of Terrors

Director - Hajime Sato (The Glorious Ghost, Terror Beneath the Sea)

Starring - Ko Nishimura (47 Ronin, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis), Yuko Kusunoki (Goke: Body Snatcher from Hell, The Call of Flesh), and Shinjiro Ebara (Invasion of the Neptune Men, Ninja Hunt)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you have followed the site or my reviews for any length of time you may have noticed that most Mondo Macabro releases comes in three and it’s rare for me to like all of them. Usually one or two of them don’t sit well with me while one or so makes the releases worth it. However, this is the first time in awhile that Mondo Macabro has released three films together and they all were hits. After watching In the Folds of the Flesh and A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse I quickly took the dive into The House of Terrors aka The Ghost of the Hunchback and Satan’s Pit. Like many of Mondo Macacabro’s releases, this was a new one to me and I couldn’t wait to dig into this Japanese horror flick. Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAB for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a young woman who finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her husband. After his death she discovers that he owned a second home which was a mansion complete with it’s own caretaker. The hunchback was tasked with taking care of the property for her late husband but warns her and her friends who are investigating the property that others have suffered strange deaths on the grounds. They disregard their warnings and soon find themselves surrounded by a sinister force. 

      I didn’t know what to expect from The House of Terrors, but it did not disappoint at all. It was a great blend of mystery and haunted house horror with just a small dash of drama. It’s a great looking paranormal film with some great atmosphere and imagery. I wasn’t a fan of some of the scenes and revealing too much of the story early on, but I liked it especially as a late-night watch. The acting in this one is a little inconsistent but enjoyable. We get some scenes where the cast is well grounded yet generic. The characters are what you would expect from a horror by numbers piece, but the cast does a decent job during these scenes. However, during the more tense and suspenseful scenes the cast really hammed it up. They were extremely over-dramatic which added an unintentional sense of humor to a scene that would have been perfect without it. It really destroyed the atmosphere and suspense the film was building up to. The story for this one is pretty simple and you don’t have to really pay attention to predict what is going to happen because the film itself tells you from time to time. The foreshadowing is too blatant and does more damage to the story than good. I wish the story would have unfolded naturally allowing the viewer to make guesses as to what is really going on instead of being force fed the “twists.” Finally, this is not a film filled with blood. Instead, we get some great gothic images and some seriously impressive atmosphere. I loved the look of the location and the supernatural scenes had that classic look about them. Overall, The House of Terrors is an effective Japanese haunted house film with a story that doesn’t leave itself up to the viewer to figure out. Instead, it just tells you the twists before they happen. It’s the perfect watch for a late night scare but it does hold itself back from becoming something timeless. Check it out.

Monster a Go-Go

Director(s) - Bill Rebane (The Capture of Bigfoot, Twister's Revenge) and Herschell Gordon Lewis (Moonshine Mountain, Scum of the Earth)

Starring - Philip Morton (TerrorVision, Viewer Discretion Advised), June Travis (The Case of the Black Cat, The Gladiator), and George Perry 

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "An astronaut went up... a "guess what" came down!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I think we are in the golden age of movie collecting.  We have so many boutique labels bringing us movies in high definition that would normally never see the light of day.  I'm not talking Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead getting another re-release on a different format but movies I've never heard of getting remastered and restored for the first time since their theatrical release.  A few weeks ago Arrow Video announced the release of the Bill Rebane box set called Weird Wisconsin.  I was really intrigued by this.  Up to this point the only Rebane film that I had seen was Blood Harvest which was released by Vinegar Syndrome.  Not long after the announcement of this release I received the blus to review from my friends over at MVD.  I couldn't wait to dig into it so I started with 1965's Monster a Go-Go.

      The film follows an astronaut that crashes back to Earth in his shuttle but they are unable to retrieve his body.  They suspect he perished in the crash but when bodies are discovered drained of life they suspect that he lived and is mutated by the radiation he was exposed to while in space.

     Blood Harvest is an extremely rough slasher but the cheesy and campiness of the film makes for a very fun movie experience.  I was hoping that even though these films are twenty some odd years apart that the cheesy would still be as entertaining here as it was in Blood Harvest.  Sadly, it wasn't.  Monster a Go-Go is not a bad film but it's not as fun either.  It's a bit slow, predictable, and lackluster.  The acting in this one is solid enough but far from perfect.  The characters are very cliched and flat but they work well enough for the story.  The cast is dedicated to their roll but their performances do come up a little short at times.  The story for this one is one we have seen many times before especially by 1965.  An astronaut returning to Earth mutated is nothing we haven't seen before especially in sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s.  Because of this the film is rather predictable but it does offer up some fun even if you know exactly where it's going.  Finally, the film has several deaths that take place off screen.  No blood or gore for this one but we do get some make-up effects that makes the scene work.  It's nothing spectacular but they do their job.  Overall, Monster a Go-Go is far from perfect.  Its a fun one for a first time watch but you have to be open to it.  It's predictable but not THAT bad. 

     

     

Orgy of the Dead

Director - Stephen C. Apostolof (The Class Reunion, The Snow Bunnies)
Starring - Criswell (Plan 9 from Outer Space, Night of the Ghouls), Fawn Silver (Legend of Horror, Terror in the Jungle), and Pat Barrington (The Satanist, The Acid Eaters)
Release Date - 1965
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "A masterpiece of erotic horror!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror has seen so many icons rise over the decades ranging from the talented Boris Karloff, the eerie Bela Lugosi, the masterful Lon Chaney, to modern icons like Tom Savini and George A. Romero.  All these people are recognizable for something they are good at.  Chaney and Savini are amazing effects masters.  Lugosi and Karloff are talented in front of the camera having brought dozens of memorable characters to life and Romero has directed some genre changing films.  One man made a name for himself by being good at being bad.  Ed Wood is a filmmaker a lot of us know of because of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp but most horror fans know of his work because it is so bad.  Wires hanging from the ceiling, cast forgetting their lines, backdrops falling during the scene and so on has earned this man the "worst director" award on several occasions.  In 1965 Orgy of the Damned was penned by Ed Wood and directed by Stephen C. Apostolof.  The film was recently released on blu by the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows an aspiring horror author who takes his newest girlfriend to the cemetery for inspiration at night and suffers an accident.  They awaken and find the cemetery full of life as the lord of the dead has his minions force the recently deceased women to dance while he determines a suitable outcome for their endless torment.

         
     Orgy of the Dead is far from perfect.  Honestly, it is probably one of the laziest films I have ever seen but I couldn't help but enjoy it.  The film offered up some solid entertainment and is one I wish I would have watched in college with some of my friends and plenty of beer.  The acting in this one is choppy at best.  The cast dedicates themselves to the role 100% but they lack direction and experience.  They are unable to fully develop their characters into something memorable.  The story for this one is what really held my interest.  The emperor, or the lord over all the dead things, is visiting the cemetery where all the recently dead beauties dance nude for him.  Their dance reflects on their life and how they die and he uses this to sentence them to their eternity.  I really liked this and my mind is going crazy thinking about the possibilities of what could have been.  The story is really what makes this film so damn enjoyable.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you wont find it here.  However, if you want naked women dancing provocatively then this film is for you.  Overall, Orgy of the Dead left a lot to be desired but the story really holds my attention.  Sure, most of the movie is women dancing but the story around it all is fascinating.  Check this sleazy cinema out!

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors

Director - Freddie Francis (The Doctor and the Devils, Legend of the Werewolf)
Starring - Christopher Lee (Dark Shadows, Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Ring), Roy Castle (Highway, Legend of the Werewolf), and Peter Cushing (Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, From Beyond the Grave)
Release Date - 1965
Genre - Horror
Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     This year has been one of the worst when it comes to deaths that the horror genre has seen.  We have lost so many legends this year but the one that hit me the hardest was the passing of cinematic legend Christopher Lee.  Lee was known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Star Wars, and his classic work with Hammer.  As much as I truly love Lee and his work, I have just a pinch more love for the late Peter Cushing.  Cushing is also known for his work with Hammer and his appearance in the original Star Wars trilogy.  The two have been known to appear in several Hammer films together and even worked on the very first anthology film from Amicus titled Dr. Terror's House of Horrors which was recently released on blu from my friends over at Olive Films.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a group of men boarding a train late at night when an elderly man (portrayed by the great Peter Cushing) gets on board and reveals a deck of tarot cards.  An art critic (portrayed by the late Christopher Lee) scoffs at the notion of tarot cards while the remainder of the group is intrigued.  The card reader then starts shuffling his cards and revealing everyone's grim future.  The first to have their future read is Jim Dawson (played by Neil McCallum).  His story goes that he will be called to work on an old house where a werewolf will start killing the staff.  The second person to go is Bill Rogers (Alan Freeman).  His story is that he will return to his home after a long vacation where a mutant vine will kill forcing him to remain in doors for fear of his life.  Next up is the art critic, Franklyn Marsh.  He has been very rough when reviewing the art work of a certain artist but the artist refuses to let that get the best of him.  He openly embarrasses the critic during an art show resulting in the critic running him over with his car and injuring his hand.  The doctors are unable to save the artist's hand and have to remove it.  The hand then seeks revenge on the critic.  The last person to have their future told is an American doctor (Donald Sutherland) who marries a beautiful French woman.  They move back to his hometown where a vampire starts leaving a bloody trail to his doorstep.
     One of my favorite anthologies, From Beyond the Grave, is single handedly the film that made me fall in love with Peter Cushing.  He was brilliant in that film and ever since then I've had to see every movie he had a part in.  When I was younger I thought I had watched Dr. Terror's House of Horrors on television and it was a black and white film.  However, after receiving the blu I was clearly wrong and determined to find out what that movie actually was.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  We get another amazing performance from the man himself, Peter Cushing, who does a phenomenal job as a mysterious card reader with a possible bigger twist depending on how you interpret the ending.  The film also has amazing performances from Neil McCallum, Alan Freeman, Donald Sutherland, and the late and great Christopher Lee.  They all bring their stories to life and make the film what it is.  The stories in this one range in quality but all offer up some great atmosphere and entertainment.  Some of the stories are not that original while others were fun and offered up that fun Tales from the Crypt twist ending.  Fans of other Amicus films, as well as, the more contemporary Hammer horror flicks will surely enjoy the stories crafted in this anthology.  Finally, the film does have a few kill scenes but they are not that gruesome and bloody.  Fans of Amicus and Hammer know that their films are not that bloody but they offer up a great deal of atmosphere and suspense while telling bone chilling stories.  Overall, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is a superb horror anthology for those of you that love classic horror films.  The film is not that gory but has superb story telling.  I recommend this one!

Amanti d'oltretomba

aka Nightmare Castle

Director - Mario Caiano (Seven Pistols for a Massacre)

Starring - Barbara Steele (Piranha, The Silent Scream), Paul Muller (Lady Frankenstein), and Helga Line (Horror Express)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Tagline(s) - "So weird! ...So shocking! Do YOU dare see it!" and "A mad, sadistic scientist on the loose"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (15 Horror Movies Volume 2)

Rating (out of 5):

      Those of you that have actually been reading my reviews may think that because the movie is bad that I did not have a good time watching it.  The truth is I always have fun watching a movie and I can only name one or two times that the movie was so bad that I did not enjoy myself.  I personally have a soft spot for bad movies.  They may not have any redeeming qualities but they may still make you laugh unintentionally.  I just genuinely like watching movies.  I heard about this movie when I was younger but was not interested in it.  At the time I really liked my horror flicks bloody instead of the psychological type.   After accumulating a few copies of this film on various box sets, I decided it was time to finally watch it.

     The film follows a maniacal count who fancies himself a scientist.  The sadistic count found his wife in bed with her secret lover.  He kills the two lovers and discovers that she left her fortune to her twin sister who is institutionalized.  He swoops in on his white horse and marries her.  The count and his servant plan on using her mental illness against her and drug her.  They hope that after drugging her she will drift off in to insanity and he will inherit the castle and fortune.  However, before he is able to slip her the hallucinogenic she starts to hear her deceased sister's voice.  The count chalks it up to her actually being crazy and assumes his plan is unfolding accordingly.  The new bride keeps hearing her sister more and more which slowly works on her fragile mind.  When she starts to think she is actually insane her dead sister and lover appear to settle an old score.

     This movie has so much going for it but fails as an overall film. The film does have a lot of great qualities but in the end it all comes together with the bad to create a mediocre and mildly entertaining flick.  The acting is great across the board.  The entire cast does an amazing job.  This is my first Barbara Steele flick and I can definitely see what the big deal is when it comes to her.  She does a great job in her dual role in this film as the slutty first wife of the count and her innocent, mentally unstable sister.  The story is great though it is nothing special.  The storyline is perfect for a black and white film.  Because the movie was filmed in black and white we get this great haunted house vibe that creates great atmosphere and tension.  The film, like so many of the time, lacks on special effects.  What little we are treated to is nothing special nor "aww" inspiring.  The downfall of the flick is the slow burning dialogue and pointless scenes.  Many of the scenes contain horrible dialogue that goes nowhere, as well as, scenes that truly have nothing to do with the story what so ever.  I often caught myself screaming at the television asking why I had to see that.  Overall, this is a slow burning film that is a great watch if your looking for something you have not seen before, however, this movie has no replay value.

       

      

Il Boia Scarlatto

aka The Bloody Pit of Horror

Director - Massimo Pupillo (Terror-Creatures from the Grave)

Starring - Mickey Hargitay (Lady Frankenstein), Walter Brandi (Terror-Creatures from the Grave), and Luisa Barrato (The Devil's Man)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "He was a homicidal manic who lived to kill"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (15 Horror Movies Volume 1)

Rating (out of 5):

     I wish there was a law that prohibits movies that suck from using bad ass titles and forcing the shitty movies to pick even worse titles.  This movie is one of those films.  I have looked over so many movie because they had shitty and unappealing titles only to discover they kick ass while I grab shitty flicks because the title was cool.  Who wouldn't want to see a flick called The Bloody Pit of Horror?  When I purchased this box set a few titles caught my eye and this film was one of them.  The title was pretty bad ass and my mind raced with ideas of what this movie could be about.  Nothing could prepare me for this flick and what was about to cross my t.v. screen.

     The film follows a publisher, a photographer, and a group of models as they travel the countryside for the perfect castle to be the backdrop of their next photo-shoot.  The group comes across the perfect castle that looks deserted.  The group break in to the castle only to discover that it is inhabited by a man named Travis and his two servants.  Travis forces the group to leave the castle until he meets one of the young models.  After seeing her he lets them stay to take their photos.  As the models prepare for their photo shoot they slowly start to go missing around the time Travis informs them of the castle's history.  The castle was once home to the Crimson Executioner before he was sentenced to death.  The group starts to suspect that it is the ghost of the Crimson Executioner responsible for the murders, however, they are only half way right.  Travis is obsessed with the lore of the Crimson Executioner and purchased the castle.  Travis and his two goons capture and torture innocent victims.  Travis was engaged before becoming a recluse and his ex-fiancee is one of the girls there to model and that is why he let them stay.  It is up to one of the men in the group and Travis' ex-fiancee to stop the muscle bound man from killing everyone.

     I don't know how many times I have grabbed a movie because the title sounded awesome and the movie would turn out to be shit.  After watching I Bury the Living I had big hopes for this box set.  This set had a few movies I have seen before and loved like House on Haunted Hill and The Last Man on Earth.  However, for the ones that are new to me I was excited for.  This movie does have potential but the filmmakers dropped the ball when the scantly clad females arrived on the set.  The acting is horrible and the dubbing is equally as bad.  I had a hard time figuring out if the film was filmed in Italian with horrible English dubbing or filmed in English and the audio track is slightly off.  Either way, it is truly annoying watching people stop talking and then hear what they have to say a few seconds later.  The story is mediocre but is very well delivered.  Unfortunately, this is the only redeeming quality of the film.  The story unfolds flawlessly, however, the characters, aside from Travis, are all flat and dull.  They have no identifying traits and at times it is hard to tell them all apart.  Finally, the film lacks on special effects.  The film offers clever torture devices but does not give the viewer any real blood, gore, or deaths on camera.  Overall, this film could have been a mediocre horror flick but chose to show half-nude women and a buff man in a hood for over an hour instead of anything entertaining.