Change Your Image
markwebby
Reviews
Le notti del terrore (1981)
So dreadful its hilarious!
I first saw a heavily cut version of this film back in about 1990. I'd bought it for £3.99 at a petrol station, and it instantly became a cult classic with all my friends, screenings being held regularly after the pub on Fridays. You only fully appreciate this film under the influence, and this is where it works so well! Peter Bark, God love 'im! The scene where he's tucked up in bed, his mother checks on him and then when shes gone he opens his bug eyes to swirly psychedelic music: knockout! The actor is older than the actors playing his parents.
Now re-released in England as 'The Zombie Dead', its uncut. Out of sheer stupidity I've brought it again. Obviously this version is not as funny because you see everything.(Priceless watching the Actor playing the professor, chowing down on offal. He's not enjoying himself at all, almost wretching on it, and he's a zombie!!)
The scene where a girl is caught in a mantrap with her boyfriend trying to fight off hoards of undead, and prize the trap open. Superb!
These zombies dont go for your guts; they chomp on your funny bone!
The Criminal (1999)
Sadly: Very bad
This film lacked the basics; tension, atmosphere and a half decent script. It didnt work. It didnt know what it was. It ended up being Farce. Keystone cops, 'U' certificate violence, dodgy flashbacks, Bethnal Green Town-hall;(When do you ever get an oak panelled cop shop?) I can only think that the American actress playing the street-wise urchin, (taking the film to an even more embarassing depth), was only there because a relation of hers put money into the project! Whats sad is its got such a good cast. Oh what could have been done with them and the budget! It makes 'Honest' look like a masterpiece. They'd probabley make a good double-bill!!
Ms .45 (1981)
Early 80's Ferrara surprisingly = Classic!
I was surprised at how tight and good this film was. Before i saw it i thought, oh yeah early Ferrara; its going to be interesting but awful at the same time.(Lets face it 'Driller Killer' is dire.)And i'm a fan of his recent output. Walken is almost to Ferrara what Oates was to Peckinpah. But Ms.45 might be his Masterpiece. I say might. This is a brutal film as 'Bad Ltnt' was,and Ferrara could have gone full tilt for exploitation. But he holds back , and it works. The only humour in the film is when Larna decides to use the neighbours dog to help her get rid of evidence. Even when she tries to murder an innocent man at the entrance to his flat, she gets to the door too late and cant get in, we see the pain and frustration of someone who cant sate their addiction. Sure a few of the cast give ropey performances but in the late 70's/ early 80's you could get away with that. You cant now. Zoe Tamerlis is stunning as the avenging angel.
The Bunker (2001)
Exciting Psychological horror
From the foreboding pre-credit sequence,that sends a tingle down your spine, through the opening credits, you can sense you're in for an exciting and uncomfortable trip. A trip that all fans of Psychological horror love to take. And it has its 'Trippy' moments , wait and see! It happens to be a great War film too. Whats left of a retreating German unit , hole up in a bunker. The Americans are close behind them. "Out of the frying pan into the Fire", because of what waits for them inside. A fine British cast; led by Jason Flemyng( one of the stand-outs in 'From Hell'), Andrew Tiernan at his intense best and Christopher Fairbank, looking like he's just climbed out of 'Das Boot'. I was able to see it at the 'FrightFest 2001' in London, where it won best Film of the Festival! Hopefully it will be in all the Multiplexes across the country very soon. With its dark Claustrophobic catacombs and battle fatigued, disillusioned soldiers on the edge; 'The Bunker' is a classic British Horror film.
Dog Soldiers (2002)
British Horror with Bite
Finally, after 20 Years, another great Werewolf Movie has come along! I've seen a few! This is the best since 'An American Werewolf in London' and dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Ok 'Ginger Snaps' was good, and 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' is very good( Even though its a Lion!),'A Company of Wolves' a luscious, dark Fairytale, but if you want 'Aliens' with Werewolves, 'Dog Soldiers' is the business.Its scary, very Funny and the monsters are just what you want to see; Big, mean wolves on two legs.There's a plethora of great European character actors too. Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee and Liam Cunningham as good as they usually are in straight drama. It has an exciting opening, a gruelling middle and a tense finale. You also have some of the cheesiest one-liners, gory set-pieces, major firefights that add up to a Classic White knuckle 100 mins in the Cinema. I was lucky enough to see it at a test screening in Sept 2001. It will be a tragedy if this goes straight to Video. I'm sure in the States it will do well on the back of 'Brotherhood of the wolf'.
Death Line (1972)
70's British Horror Gem
I think that 'Death line' is one of the unsung classics of british horror films in the 70's.(I cant believe that it only rates 4.9 out of 10 here). Pleasence is on top from; he's like Oldman - complete screen prescence, always watchable. Even if he is O.T.T! The subterranian scenes in the Tube tunnels are great, including for me, one of the best tracking shots in any movie; the strung up victims and the dead in bunk-beds. It has dark humour and a lovely use of London. It is a 'London Film'. The opening credit sequence in Soho an example.