Island of the Doomed

Director - Mel Welles (Lady Frankenstein, Code of Silence)

Starring - Cameron Mitchell (Jack-O, Terror Night), Elisa Montes (Battered Flesh, Blaues Blut), and Jorges Martin (Death Carries a Cane, Professionals for a Massacre)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What was the terrifying secret of the vampire tree?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Mondo Macabro has been my go to for international horror, especially Bollywood/Hindi horror.  I may not always like their releases but I always have fun experiencing films from different countries and decades.  A few weeks back I was sent several films from Mondo Macabro with one of them being the 1967 co-production between Germany and Spain.  The film, Island of the Doomed, was also released under the title The Blood Suckers and Maneater of Hydra.  I had never heard of this one before but was really looking forward to checking out this late-60s horror flick.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of tourists that find themselves invited to tour an isolated island with promises of beautiful sights.  They agree and go where they meet an estranged scientist and his hired help living in an old mansion.  He has been working on mutating carnivorous plants and succeeded in creating something with a taste for human flesh.

     I didn't know anything about this one when I tossed it in the Blu-ray player.  I was expecting something rather different but the film I found before me was actually pretty enjoyable.  It's not going to be a film that will stick with me for years but I can see myself revisiting it again sometime down the road.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  Some of the characters are throw aways with no purpose other than filling the screen.  These performances are not bad but these characters did nothing for the story and was not that memorable.  However, screen legend and b-movie staple Cameron Mitchell delivers the best performance of the film as the evil Baron creating the carnivorous plants.  He made the film for me and I could absolutely see this character becoming an evil villain/scientist in several other films.  The story for this one is extremely campy but that is exactly what I'm looking for when I toss in a film from the 50s or 60s regardless of the region it was from.  We have a movie with an evil scientist slamming radiation on a plant to mutate it into a man-eating creature is pure drive-in era camp.  It's not something that will be on anyone's best of list but it's cheap fun regardless of what kind of film you enjoy.  Finally, we get some cheesy practical effects with the plants and some not-so memorable deaths.  This was easily the weakest part of the film but it doesn't take away from the experience.  Overall, Island of the Doomed is a fantastic drive-in era cheesefest for those of you that dig the campy flicks of the 50s and 60s.  We have a fun performance from Cameron Mitchell and a solid story.  Check out this release from Mondo Macabro, it's well worth it.  

Compass Rose

Director - Andy Milligan (Surgikill, The Weirdo)

Starring - Anthony Moscini (Seeds of Sin, Gutter Trash), Anne Linden (Hot Erotic Nights, The Vixens), and Candy Hammond (The Promiscuous Sex, Seeds of Sin)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Many years ago I bought The Ghastly Ones and since then I've seen several of his horror titles.  I have seen his more erotic and drama centered films like Vapors and Seeds of Sin when I think it was Vinegar Syndrome released them.  I wasn't really a fan then but I'm really looking forward to checking out some of these other films after watching The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan.  The next movie in the set is the 1967 film Compass Rose.  This was one I had never heard of before and couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film, the best I can tell, follows a group of drag queen performers in an NYC underground theater where they encounter drug addicts, perverts, and other degenerates that inhabit the scene.

     Like all the films in this set, Compass Rose was never completed by Milligan so we have no idea what his final vision was for the film but as it sits currently it is damn near unwatchable.  I went into this one really excited to see some of the things I had learned about him from the documentary but the movie is pieced together the best as possible but that doesn't give us a lot to go on.   The acting in this one is a lot of fun but it is rough.  The cast really gets into their roles and brings a lot of energy in some of the scenes but the dialogue delivery is rough.  Their inexperience is evident but I still had fun with their energy in several of the scenes.  The story for this one is extremely lacking.  I'm sure Milligan had a story or idea in his head when he originally started the film but I have no idea what the end game was without it being finished.  It's extremely difficult to follow and has very little direction as is.  I seriously wanted to get into it but I was confused through most of it.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting deaths.  We do have some nudity and an incoherent story if that's more your speed.  Overall, Compass Rose was a very difficult film to finish.  While I liked the characters and the cast, it was a rough experience.  I wanted to like it but it's not a fun watch as it is.  

The Degenerates

Director - Andy Milligan (The Naked Witch, The Man with Two Heads)

Starring - Bryarly Lee (Omnibus, Studio One), Marcia Haufrecht (The Sopranos, Dog Day Afternoon), and Anne Linden (The Vixens, The All American Honeymoon)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "They always go down to the lowest depths of human sensuality"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     There is a lot of filmmakers that were lost to time over the decades as beta and VHS made way to DVD and blu but many boutique labels have made it their mission to find these films. Director Andy Milligan is a filmmaker I was somewhat familiar with.  I began collecting movies when I was in high school and sometime during my college years I found a copy of The Ghastly Ones on DVD for a decent price.  I went ahead and snagged it for my collection.  One of the campus officers would often borrow this movie and during my last year there I gifted it to him.  Sadly, this was one of the few Milligan films that I had seen until a few years back when Severin released their Andy Milligan set.  I snagged a copy and checked it out.  Not all of his films hit for me but I enjoyed most of them.  A few weeks back Severin announced a second Andy Milligan release and this one would feature several lost films of his along with a documentary.  I quickly shot them an email requesting this one for review and they were kind enough to send it over.  It only made sense to start with the The Degenerates from 1967 which is the movie of his that I had always wanted to see but never had the chance.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film takes place some time after a nuclear disaster.  A group of men are searching for survivors when they cross paths with a group of women barricaded in an old farmhouse.  They soon learn that no everyone wants saved and not everyone is a victim.

     I went into The Degenerates knowing a little about the plot but that is about it.  I knew what to expect from the acting and the story but it wasn't until I was getting ready to put my review together that I learned that the film was originally unfinished and had to be edited together to make it more coherent.  With that being said, I actually enjoyed it for what it was.  It is extremely rough around the edges but it's still fun.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from an early Milligan flick.  The cast is really into their roles and you can see how dedicated they really are in some of the more intense scenes but the overacting and lack of emotional depth made a few scenes really awkward.  Some of the cast would go on to have pretty stellar careers but it's clear that this is some of their first films and used it as a learning experience.  The story for this one fits in with the late 60s sci-fi trend with the cold war in full effect.  However, what sets it apart from the others is the role reversal of the women being the depraved.  The film does suffer from pacing issues and I can only assume that some of the middle portion of the film was never filmed which left some gaps in the story but it still finds a way to work in a sexploitation kind of way.  Finally, those of you looking for a bloody flick will be very disappointed.  The film is very light on the effects and the deaths are not gruesome. The movie is clearly a no budget affair and they did not have money in the budget for memorable deaths.  Overall, The Degenerates could have been a career defining film from a fringe filmmaker but was never finished for various reasons.  I would have loved to see what Milligan really envisioned but this is the best we can do.  This is a must see for any cult cinema fan.  Check it out.  

Creature with the Blue Hand

Director(s) - Alfred Vohrer (Derrick, The Black Forest Hospital) and Samuel M. Sherman (Raiders of the Living Dead, Dracula vs. Frankenstein)

Starring - Harald Leipnitz (The Old Fox, A Case for Two), Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre, Vampire in Venice), and Carl Lange (Alpha Alpha, Peter Brown)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Fear will grip you by the throat when the evil hand kills...kills...kills!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Klaus Kinski is seriously one of the most entertaining actors I've witnessed in film.  I've reviewed several of his films over the years and I know he is a controversial figure but no one can deny his talents in front of the camera.  I've been fortunate enough to review several of his films over the years and I was recently sent a double feature from Film Masters to check out.  The first film of the two is the 1967 horror film Creature with the Blue Hand.  

     The film follows a twin brother and his siblings who live in a mansion when they receive news that their brother, the other twin, has escaped prison where he was held for murder.  While the police investigate his whereabouts, they uncover a string of murders that they associate with him and his escape.      From the moment I hit play on this one until the end credits rolled, I was mesmerized.  Klaus Kinski delivers what may be one of my favorite performances and without him I don't think the film would have been as great as it is.  The acting, as I just stated, is fantastic.  Kinski never disappoints and him taking on the dual roles of twins is a stroke of brilliance.  He delivers one hell of a performance and I don't see the film being as enjoyable as it is if anyone else would have taken the role.  The supporting cast is just as great but they don't have the energy nor the intensity that Kinski has.  The story for this one is very fun and not as predictable as you would believe.  The gothic murder mystery unfolds very well and the slower scenes are compensated for with fantastic acting and characters arcs.  With that being said, the last leg of the film is a bit predictable if you pay attention but for the most part it works.  Finally, don't expect a bloody flick.  The film doesn't really show the murders on screen.  That take place out of the camera's view or with classic camera tricks.  The focus is the story and not the deaths.  Overall, Creature with the Blue Hand is a fantastic film and Film Masters' release looks amazing.  Fans of Kinski or late 60s gothic horror will truly appreciate this release.  Check it out.  

Spy on the Fly

Director - Ray Harrison (The Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone, Always on Sunday)

Starring - Warren Fremming 

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

I'm not a fan of the James Bond films.  My grandmother would try for years to get me interested in them but they were just something that bored the hell out of me.  I loved the cheeky characters but I hated how the situations and stories were always so predictable and cliched.  Sure, I love cheesy movies that are often predictable but it was something about how series the movies tried to be that just turned me off.  When I ordered the What Really Happened to Baby Jane? and the films of the Gay Girls Riding Club I never expected to see a drag parody of a James Bond film.  Yet, here I sit writing a review for Spy on the Fly from 1967.  I didn't care for it but it was a lot more fun than most of the James Bond flicks.

     The film follows a female spy who travels to San Francisco to stop an evil villain from nuking the world.  However, her trip there results in several hijinks and calamities.  

     I've never been a fan of spy films.  I grew up as a normal kid watching age appropriate films like Space Jam, Transformers: The Movie, Good Burger, Air Bud, and so on.  I was born in the mid-80s but the 90s was my playground and during that time I was never really interested in spy flicks.  In late middle-school and early high school I was introduced to John Waters after a few years of horror so my tastes in film started to change.  That would explain why I found myself more interest in Spy on the Fly than films like those with James Bond or Mission Impossible.   Regardless, Spy on the Fly had some moments but was also a wash like most of the films it was trying to parody.  The acting in this one is consistent with the other film in the set.  The cast is all high energy and charismatic on screen but the characters have no depth and no attachment to the story.  Not really the casts fault but don't expect a traditionally acted short here.  The story for this one is difficult to follow which is a theme for the films in this set.  Its goofy, and there is a few humorous moments, but the way the film was shot doesn't leave an actual plot or story for the viewer to enjoy.  It's chaotic and difficult to follow.  Finally, don't expect a bloody mess of a film.  No blood or gore here but we do have some men in drag bringing about levels of energy on screen that is rarely duplicated.  Overall, Spy on the Fly is another weak contribution to this set.  It's not really a bad film but the lack of story and characters does make it a difficult one to finish.  Honestly, I would skip this one for this releases flagship short.  

     

She Freak

Director(s) - Byron Mabe (The Lustful Turk, Space Thing) and Donn Davison (Honey Britches, Blood Beast of Monster Mountain)

Starring - Claire Brennen (Ritual of Evil, Maneater), Lee Raymond (Men into Space, Mission: Impossible), and Lynn Courtney (I Am a Camera)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Behind the tents and tinsel of a monster midway something barbaric occurs in the Alley of Nightmares"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been heavily collecting the AGFA releases for a couple years now.  I was introduced to their releases when MVD sent over a couple for me to review.  Their partnership with Something Weird has brought us upgraded and remastered releases of movies that I had never heard about or owned on a bare bones DVD prior to now.  I had picked up She Freak many years ago from Amazon when I was heavily collecting exploitation and older horror titles.  I had only watched it once or twice during my college years but it never really stood out to me at the time.  When AGFA and Something Weird announced a new blu release I almost skipped it.  However, my urge to collect all the AGFA releases forced my hand.  I'm kind of glad I did because it was fun to actually revisit this odd one.  

     The film follows a small town waitress who catches the eye of most of the men in her town.  However, she has bigger dreams than working at a dirty diner and when a barker for a traveling carnival stops in for a bite she finds herself swept away by the lights and attention.  She leaves her small town life behind to join the carnival but soon realizes that she does not like the carnival attractions and oddities.  This comes back to bite her in the end when the carnies and attractions come together to exact revenge.  

     She Freak is a movie that I've heard a lot of genre fans bash but I genuinely like it. Like I said before, it's not a movie that would add to a top 10, 20, or even 100 list but it's not a bad movie.  It is easily forgettable but fun while you are watching it.  The acting in this one isn't the worst but there is plenty of room for improvement.  I always find it funny when amateurs or actors with no experience raise their voices to show emotions.  They never rely on mannerisms and facial expressions to convey emotions.  Instead, they yell and scream to show various emotions.  It's funny to me and She Freak had me straight up cackling during some of the scenes.  Don't get me wrong, the acting is not as bad as a Friday the 13th fan film made by teenagers but it does have plenty of room for improvement.  The story for this one is Freaks with the horror removed.  You did read that correctly, the horror aspect is literally removed from the film until the last 10 minutes or so.  I love a good horror film set against a circus or carnival but this one focuses more on the characters and the bigotry that people that are different face.  It's a solid dark drama but if you are looking for the She Freak like the cover paints you will be disappointed.  Actually, the She Freak is the title is referring to the film's main character and how much of a monster she is toward those she deems below her.  Finally, the film has some fun make-up effects are the end of the film but if you are looking for a film with a body count you will be greatly disappointed.  Overall, She Freak is a true exploitation film in every sense of the word but it can be slow and dull at times.  It's not the best horror film but if you like character driven exploitation flicks then you will enjoy this one.  The new blu release from AGFA and Something Weird is a must own for collectors.  I highly recommend it.  

The Herculoids

Creator - Alex Toth (Space Ghost, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast)

Starring - Mike Road (Godzilla, The Fantastic Four), Ted Eccles (Bad Ronald, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour), and Virginia Gregg (Psycho III, The Fockford Files)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Being born in the 80s gave me the ability to grow up through some of the most iconic television shows in history. However, previous decades had their own iconic shows as well along with some nearly forgotten series.  In 1967 Hanna-Barbera released the sci-fi fantasy series The Herculoids and would have episodes rerun for two years before finally cancelling.  I'm a huge fan of Hanna-Barbera but this is one series I had never really seen before.  When Warner Bros. announced the entire series was getting released on blu as part of their Archive Collection.  I quickly reached out and they were kind enough to send over a review copy for me to check out.  

     The series follows a barbaric king, his wife, his son, and their group of creatures who protect their planet from invading forces and various other threats.

     I was really excited to check out The Herculoids.  I had watched Thundarr not too long ago and was really excited to check out another sci-fi fantasy series in the same line.  The Herculoids was a great series that may have been the inspiration for shows like Thundarr and Masters of the Universe.  It was a lot of fun but the sudden ending to the show really left me feeling empty and wanting more.  The voice acting in this one is fun but far from the best I had seen.  The shows I grew up on seemed to have characters that really stand out.  You find yourself thinking about the things they said days after watching episodes.  However, The Herculoids doesn't really stand out.  Their voices resemble other characters from the Hanna-Barbera catalogue of the time.  Also, the characters lacked the memorable personalities that make them stand out.  The story for this one is very similar to other sci-fi fantasy shows.  I really enjoyed it and how the series really did take leaps and risks with it.  The creatures and scenarios we find The Herculoids in is what really sold me on the show.  I don't see myself revisiting the series anytime soon but I wouldn't mind newer episodes to dig into.  Finally, the animation is exactly what you would expect from a late 60s Hanna-Barbara's cartoon.  Honestly, I enjoyed the art style but it might not be something that stands out to some viewers.  Overall, The Herculoids is a fun short lived series that brings the sci-fi fantasy elements to the viewer.  It may not be memorable but it's not bad.  I really enjoyed it and the blu looks great.  It does lack supplemental material but it's worth the price.  

The Panther Women

Director - Rene Cardona (La Llorona, Doctor of Doom)

Starring - Ariadne Welter (The Devil's Hand, Bloody Sea), Elizabeth Campbell (The Phantom Gunslinger, She-Wolves in the Ring), and Tongolele (Isle of the Snake People, The King of the Neighborhood)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few weeks ago I was browsing the MVD website when I saw that they were handling the blu release of a Rene Cardona double feature for VCI Entertainment.  I was really interested in this release especially for The Batwoman.  Sadly, I was not a fan of that flick when I was able to check it out which didn't leave high hopes for the second film in the set.  However, The Panther Women really surprised and the story was just as wild as I had hoped The Batwoman to be.  I want to once again thank MVD for sending this one over for review.  

     The film follows a group of female wrestlers who are tasked with finding the people or thing responsible for a series of murders.  However, what they soon uncover is that a Satanic cult is behind these murders who are panther women and lead by an evil witch.

     I went into this one expecting a mess of a film like The Batwoman but I was really surprised by how wild and well put together this one was.  I have a huge soft spot for cults and seeing a Mexican lucha flick with werepanthers and witches in a cult really sold the film for me.  The acting in this one is a little flat like The Batwoman.  I think it was a style of the time mixed with regional traditions but the cast is very underwhelming.  Some of the characters are a little more entertaining than others but they are still generally flat.  The story for this one has a lot going on and unlike The Batwoman we get to see and explore each aspect of it.  Maybe Cardona had producers more hands on with The Batwoman due to it's title character but The Panther Women is put together better and far more entertaining.  With that being said, the lazy acting and dialogue heavy scenes does make the film feel a lot longer than it actually is.  Finally, the film has some fun moments like the undead cult members and the female wrestling.  However, if you are looking for blood and gore you will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Panther Women really surprised me.  It's not going to be for everyone but if you are a fan of 1960's lucha libra movies then I highly recommend snagging this weird horror flick.  It's well worth a watch.  

This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse

Director - Jose Mojica Marins (The Profane Exhibit, End of Man)
Starring - Jose Mojica Marins, Tina Wohlers (Amantes, Amanha Se Houver Sol), and Nadia Freitas
Release Date - 1967
Genre - Horror
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I first learned of Coffin Joe several years back when I was watching Cinemassacre's Monster Madness I was more excited for the sequel than anything.  In the Coffin Joe segment James Rolfe went over the first two films which sold it on me but it was when he went into how the second film ended that I knew I had to see it.  Sadly, I never had the opportunity to check it out.  The box set was just too expensive for me to sink the money into and I couldn't stand the thought of buying the movies one at a time so I put it off until one of those box sets lowered in price.  Lucky for me my friends over at Synapse Films released three of the Coffin Joe films in a nice box set and was kind enough to send them my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film, once again, follows Ze do Caixao who has fled town and is now living in another small town similar to the old.  The people in town fear Ze do, aka Coffin Joe, who is still looking for that one woman to give birth to his son.  He has his hunchback assistant Bruno to capture women where he brings them back to their dungeon and tortures them so they can find the one to bare his son.  He is able to find the perfect woman to carry his seed but her father hires a gang to kill Coffin Joe but fail.  In the mean time, the woman dies sending Coffin Joe spiraling into madness.

   

     This movie was more of what we saw in the first film which was a bit of a let down until the final act of the film when things go bat shit crazy.  I believe Jose Mojica Marins knew that the film wasn't much different from the first film and decided to throw the viewer for a loop with the second.  The acting in this one is identical to the first film.  The supporting cast shows little to no experience in front of the camera and are clearly there just to be there.  However, Jose Mojica Marins shines once again.  His theatrics hold the show and mesmerize the viewer.  I honestly believe that these films would be shit if it wasn't for him.  The story for this one is more of the same as the previous films before all hell breaks loose at the end.  This portion is utterly bonkers and makes no sense but I love it.  I had to rewind it several times to make sure I did, in fact, see what I saw.  This more than made up for the repetitive beginning.  Finally, the film has some blood and minimal practical effects but it is very story driven.  Overall, This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse is a worthy sequel to the classic Coffin Joe film.  Please check this out.  

This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse

                                                                  Written by Mrparka

                “This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse” is the second in the Coffin Joe trilogy. Made three years after the first, the violence, nudity, and insanity is doubled.  The last time Coffin Joe was seen, he had paid retribution for his brutal crimes. Luckily for Joe the escapades of his past did not lead to his haunting death. Once again, Joe begins his passionate quest to create the perfect child, and therefore the perfect race, by alienating and killing all who oppose him.

                “This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse” starts quickly with the kidnapping of six women. These women are subjected to strange tortures involving spiders and snakes. These scenes seem to have a real sense of danger for the actresses involved and are a tad uneasy to watch.  The spider scene is a bit reminiscing of “The Beyond” although not nearly as violent.  I don’t doubt that “This Night” inspired quite a few classics as well as borrowed from others. “This Night” sports a weird variety of tropes from a wide variety of different film genres.  The music box Joe plays feels like it belongs in a Sergio Leone film. The hunchback sidekick, trap doors, crypts, and spiders scream gothic horror. While the gory surrealism that is featured in an amazing nightmare scene that ends in hell (the only scene in color) feels completely different than anything else.  The film almost comes to a complete stop for this scene; it is abundant with nudity, torture, and mesmerizing shots. The most visceral frames from these scenes are the ones of victims screaming, trapped in stone.  The film's major downfall, however, is the runtime. With the first film clocking in at less than 80 minutes, it was a breath of fresh air and gone before it wore out its welcome. “This Night” runs for nearly two hours, and becomes slightly tedious by the end. Although the film is big and transgressive in terms of extremism, it does feel like “This Night” pads the runtime only to add in extra victims and push buttons. “This Night” really plays as a remake of “At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul” while adding to the exploits of our killer and opening his state of mind to the audience a tad bit more.

                “This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse” contains an adequate amount of features, including an interview of Jose Marins, a short film featuring his life, and a look into his macabre museum. The film looks solid on DVD and has been remastered from the negatives.

Plot Summary:
This sequel to the ground-breaking Brazilian horror masterpiece, AT MIDNIGHT I'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL brings back the demented murderous caretaker, Coffin Joe (known as Zé do Caixão, and portrayed by director José Mojica Marins). Surviving the terrors of the first film, Coffin Joe is now joined by a hunchbacked assistant named Bruno to help him on his unholy quest for the perfect bride. After kidnapping and torturing women and submitting them to sadistic trials, Joe thinks he's finally found the right woman to bear him a child. Unfortunately, things don t go as planned and Joe suffers horrible nightmares from killing a pregnant woman. What follows is a hallucinatory descent into the Hellish underworld as Joe struggles to survive his blasphemous visions and the wrath of the local villagers.

THIS NIGHT I'LL POSSESS YOUR CORPSE is even more brutal than its predecessor, and contains the controversial color Hell sequence.

This film is the second installment in the Coffin Joe Trilogy, and is followed by EMBODIMENT OF EVIL (which is also available from Synapse Films).

Special Features:

- 35mm negative scan supervised by director José Mojica Marins
- The Making of THIS NIGHT I'LL POSSESS YOUR CORPSE (8 minutes)
- A visit to the Coffin Joe Museum (5 minutes)
- The Universe of Mojica Marins 'New Release Info Worksheet'! Vintage Featurette (25 minutes)
- Interview with José Mojica Marins (8 minutes)
- Introduction to the film by Coffin Joe
- Original theatrical trailer
- Photo gallery

The Five Golden Dragons

Director - Jeremy Summers (Nightmare)
Starring - Robert Cummings (Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color), Margaret Lee (Asylum Erotica), and Rupert Davies (Dracula Has Risen from the Grave)
Release Date - 1976
Genre - Crime/Drama/Action
Tagline - "girls, gold, intrigue!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I didn't know how to approach this one.  When I was sent the Circus of Fear/The Five Golden Dragons double feature from Blue Underground I assumed that Circus of Fear would be the better film of the two but I quickly discovered that CoF was pretty shitty.  Usually Blue Underground sends over films that are entertaining in one aspect or another but I couldn't find any redeeming qualities with CoF.  That put a lot of pressure on the second film in the set, The Five Golden Dragons.  This one, also, had Klaus Kinski in it.  I now wish I would have opened with this film instead of the other.

     The film follows an American who is under investigation by the Hong Kong police when someone he is supposed to meet up falls to his death from his apartment building.  He befriends two beautiful sisters and tries to have a good time but one of them gets caught up a conspiracy involving an organized crime syndicate and a group of wealthy men who control them known as the Golden Dragons.  Now he must work closely with the police in order to bring down the dragons.
     After watching Circus of Fear I went into The Five Golden Dragons with no hope and low expectations.  However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the film.  The film was flawed and had a lot of situations that could now be considered racist but it still had a redeeming quality that most films like it could not replicate.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The entire cast delivers exceptional performances.  The women are all beautiful and extremely talented and the men are offer up outstanding performances.  With all that being said, Robert Cummings was phenomenal.  The cast is great, and I mean this as no disrespect to them, but the film would not have been as fun if someone else was cast.  The story for this one is not that original but was something different at the time it was released.  The spy movies of late 60s were mostly Bond clones that relied heavily on gadgets, espionage, and sex appeal.  This film follows the Get Smart approach and offers up humor in place of story.  The film still has sex appeal but humor is this films driving force.  The acting is there but it doesn't hold the viewer's attention like it should.  Finally, those of you looking for blood will not find it here.  There is a few deaths but they are laughable and offer up no blood or effects.  This film is purely story driven and not for the horror fan.  Overall, The Five Golden Dragons is a fun action comedy that is far from perfect but does offer up some laughs.  The titles is misleading but still fits the story.  Check it out but don't expect much.

The Million Eyes of Sumuru

Director - Lindsay Shonteff (Devil Doll)
Starring - Frankie Avalon (Horror House), George Nader (Alfred Hitchcock Presents), and Shirley Eaton (The Blood of Fu Manchu)
Release Date - 1967
Genre - Action/Adventure
Tagline "She rules a palace of pleasure...for women"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of the time, almost 99% of the time, I get horror films to review from distribution companies and independent filmmakers alike.  I love it, I truly do but watching two or three horror flicks a day starts to wear down on a person regardless of how fond of the genre they really are.  When I am sent something other than horror I often greet it with optimism and a great break from the everyday blood and gore that I am so used to seeing.  Recently Blue Underground released two Sumuru films on bluray in a double feature.  The first of the two films is the 1967 The Million Eyes of Sumuru. Thanks Blue Underground for sending this beautiful release my way!

     The film follows a secret agent who is tasked with infiltrating the evil organization ran by Sumuru (Eaton).  Sumuru is an evil woman wants to rid the world of it's male leaders and replace it with her own female agents.  The agent is soon apprehended by Sumuru where she reveals her evil plan to him.  The agent, along with another agent, slowly convert other members of her group to join their cause and are able to topple Sumuru and her evil organization with the local militia.
     I'm not too familiar with the spy films of the late 60s but if they are anything like The Million Eyes of Sumuru then I may be checking them out.  I was never a Bond fan but to be completely honest, I never really gave the films a chance.  With that being said, I really enjoyed The Million Eyes of Sumuru.  The acting in this one is not that great but it does do it's job.  The cast is enjoyable, for the most part, and Eaton is the star of the show.  This story had to be written with Eaton in mind as Sumuru.  She was sexy, provocative, and seriously evil.  This film would not have been the same without her.  The story for this one is fun but very cheesy and cliched.  The film following a secret agent infiltrating a secret organization made up entirely of women was actually pretty fun.  Some beautiful women wearing next to nothing playing the bad guy was pretty sexy if you ask me.  Sadly, the story does not reach an action packed climax like one would assume considering how the story goes.  Instead, we get a small action sequence and then it just ends.  Makes me think the film was never properly finished.  Finally, those of you looking for blood and guts clearly did not read any of my review before now.  The film has some minor action but no great kills and practical effects we long for.  Overall, The Million Eyes of Sumuru is a great late 60s spy film that has a solid story and a decent cast.  It holds the time well but does not really deliver on the action.  If you are looking for a break from the horror then check this one ut!