This is an extra little feature to highlight some of the lesser seen films that have been nominated. I’ve excluded films with more than 1000 IMDb votes. The ranking is the same as on the full ranked list, but also excludes films with less than 3 nominations. This list can also be found on iCheckMovies and IMDb.
1926 / Germany / 110m / BW / Drama | IMDb
Conrad Veidt, Elizza La Porta, Fritz Alberti, Agnes Esterhazy, Ferdinand von Alten, Werner Krauss, Erich Kober, Max Maximilian
“Superior [to the 1913] version, thanks to some moody direction by Henrik Galeen (who was involved in either a writing or directorial capacities in an astonishing number of German horror movies, such as both versions of THE GOLEM, WAXWORKS, ALRAUNE and NOSFERATU) and a fine, powerful performance from Conrad Veidt, who may actually have been the finest horror actor of the silents and is here reunited with his CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI co-star Werner Krauss… there’s a real power in the growing horror of the story, and the final sequences in which Veidt is stalked by himself are absolutely chilling. In a sense, there’s no other horror movie out there quite like this one” – Dave Sindelar, Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
1938 / France / 104m / BW / War | IMDb
Victor Francen, Line Noro, Marie Lou, Jean-Max, Paul Amiot, Jean-Louis Barrault, Marcel Delaître, Renée Devillers, Romuald Joubé, André Nox
“This is a powerful film that leaves quite an impression. Gance told the French government that the film could be used as a recruiting tool, so they allowed him to film at the front (he captured part of the Battle of St. Mihiel) and the footage was used in the movie. He was also able to use soldiers on leave as extras in the climactic scene where the dead come back to life. Most of the men used in this scene were in the army and were tragically killed weeks later. Still, they had seen battle in the trenches of France and you can tell by the looks on their faces that they weren’t acting so much as reacting to what they had experienced.” – John Sinnott, DVD Talk
1957 / Mexico / 95m / BW / Vampire | IMDb
Abel Salazar, Ariadna Welter, Carmen Montejo, José Luis Jiménez, Mercedes Soler, Alicia Montoya, José Chávez, Julio Daneri, Amado Zumaya, Germán Robles
“The movie is enveloped in an all pervading atmosphere of gothic fantasy: cobwebs glisten in artificial moonlight and luminescent mist enshrouds the dilapidated hacienda which is ensconced in permanent shadows. The film has a surprisingly expensive look to it. Although the turn toward horror and fantasy in fifties Mexican cinema was largely inspired by the decline of the industry, the superior production values of it’s heyday in the forties are still very much in evidence in “El Vampiro”. The film is loaded with exceptional moments of directorial brilliance and great imagination – and the camera often moves with a Bava or Argento-like mind of it’s own.” – Blackgloves, Horrorview
1966 / Spain / 86m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Estella Blain, Mabel Karr, Howard Vernon, Fernando Montes, Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui, Cris Huerta, Alberto Bourbón, Lucía Prado, Guy Mairesse
“Many viewers will be coerced into pinching themselves to remember this is a Franco film. Beautifully shot in stunning black-and-white, Franco beautifully composes each shot into a tableau of light and shadow, creating an eerie atmosphere throughout the feature. This is a stunningly beautiful film, filled with luscious outdoor sequences and great suspense setpieces (the capture of Nadia in an abandoned theater is one of Franco’s best)… As with many Franco films, jazz is an important element. Not only is the film’s soundtrack made up primarily of catchy little jazz ditties and horn-driven melodies, the film’s climax is an experimental jazz piece laid onto film: frenetic, wild, and outrageous.” – Casey Scott, DVD Drive-In
1959 / Mexico / 82m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Gastón Santos, Rafael Bertrand, Mapita Cortés, Carlos Ancira, Carolina Barret, Luis Aragón, Beatriz Aguirre, Antonio Raxel, J. Portillo, Abel Salazar
“Mexican director Fernando Méndez crafts astoundingly atmospheric visuals and writer Ramón Obón spins a dizzyingly suspenseful story, both creating an unforgettable film with The Black Pit of Dr. M. The visuals of the long halls of the arcane mental hospital, the dense fog, the Doctor’s villa and the dark shadows will strike you first. There are certain shots that are framed to perfection, including one scene that features the starkly back-lit gallows, which rival any of the classic Universal horror films for their gothic mystique. Secondly, you will notice that the story of intrigue builds upon itself and never leaves a dull moment. Not only that, but time is adequately taken to properly develop the characters as the story unfolds. While the gorgeously gothic visuals help grab your attention and establish the dark mood of the film, it’s the compounding storyline that keeps building that really sets this masterpiece apart.” – Sarah E. Jahier, Fatally Yours’ Horror Reviews
1946 / USA / 65m / BW / Thriller | IMDb
Rondo Hatton, Robert Lowery, Virginia Grey, Bill Goodwin, Martin Kosleck, Alan Napier, Howard Freeman, Virginia Christine, Joan Shawlee
“A distinctly minor film, but in a bargain-basement way it toys with some interesting themes: the root causes of victimhood, the nature of power, and the price of outsourcing your dirty work to somebody else… Kosleck doesn’t disappoint in this film; as always his soft, accented voice works as a perfect counterpoint to his razor-sharp gaze, which can convey anger or madness — or both. Rondo Hatton doesn’t get top billing either, but this movie was designed as a vehicle for him and his peculiar physiognomy. Hatton suffered from a glandular condition called acromegaly, the symptoms of which weren’t apparent until he was well into adulthood. The condition gradually altered the shape of his head and distorted his body and facial features, giving him a coarse, brutal appearance.” – Michael Popham, The Horror Incorporated Project
2007 / Pakistan / 77m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Kunwar Ali Roshan, Rooshanie Ejaz, Rubya Chaudhry, Haider Raza, Osman Khalid Butt, Rehan, Najma Malik, Sultan Billa, Salim Meraj, Razia Malik
““Hell’s Ground” is being touted as ‘Pakistan’s first gore’ movie, and while it certainly offers more blood and guts than the original “Saw,” it is still relatively tame by Herschel Gordon Lewis standards or the recent American remake. It is surprisingly effective, with the cultural perspective adding spice to the mix (the well to do teens speak English, for example, until adrenaline reduces them to their native tongue; Baby’s mother is ostensibly seeking a wife for her son). In addition to the “Saw” like shot compositions, Khan uses plenty of visual and aural Lollywood references and even a few animated asides. The acting is above average for the genre, with Baby a unique treat.” – Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
1936 / UK / 66m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Boris Karloff, John Loder, Anna Lee, Frank Cellier, Donald Calthrop, Cecil Parker, Lyn Harding
““The Man Who Changed His Mind” is perhaps one of the most intense horror films from the 1930s that I’ve come across. From the first time Boris Karloff’s chain-smoking mad scientist crosses paths with Anna Lee’s brilliant and independent-minded surgeon, you know things are going to end badly for more than one of the film’s characters. But even with that knowledge, you’re not going to guess how badly and for whom until the story is all but done unfolding. Even after nearly 75 years, this is a horror film that countless modern-day filmmakers need to study and emulate’ their films would be far better for it.” – Steve Miller, Shades of Gray
1976 / UK / 104m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Anthony Sharp, Susan Penhaligon, Stephanie Beacham, Norman Eshley, Sheila Keith, Hilda Barry, Stewart Bevan, Julia McCarthy, John Yule, Bill Kerr
“Directed by horror auteur Pete Walker, you can almost smell the 1970′s emanating from the screen, a musty smell of cigarette smoke, cheap perfume and Silvikrin hairspray. Walker was known for his more subversive take on British horror which was a few steps ahead of the gothic Hammer ouvre in the way he commented on religion, politics and censorship of the arts. Susan Penhaligon makes a stunningly sexy heroine with her blend of seventies naivety and easy sexuality and plays well opposite an excellent Anthony Sharp as the sexually frustrated priest… On the whole, this is not one of Pete Walker’s best but has enough interesting qualities to make it a worthwhile option for a late-night movie screening.” – Richard Gladman, Classic Horror Campaign
1962 / Mexico / 75m / Col / Witchcraft | IMDb
Rosa Arenas, Armando Calvo, Isabela Corona, Dina de Marco, Carlos Nieto, Alfredo Wally Barrón
“The general mood and the visual style of “The Witch’s Mirror” is probably influenced by the old Universal horror-films and legendary tales by the ones like Edgar Allan Poe, and its gothic-mood has many similarities to the films by Mario Bava from the same era. The very imaginative and clever visual tricks in the film are not necessarily that hard to achieve and are occasionally dated, but they do work very well for the movie and for the black & white cinematography. Flowers are withered for no reason, the piano is playing the favourite tune of the late Elena by itself, the wind is blowing and the mood is restless and spooky. Some optical tricks (like superimposing) are surprisingly good, and filmmakers have used their best imagination to create the illusion with the mirror, the essential object in the film. The movie has almost as much fantasy elements as it has horror, and together they create a pretty effective little flick.” – Jari Kovalainen, DVD Compare
1963 / Mexico / 80m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Rosa Arenas, Abel Salazar, Rita Macedo, Carlos López Moctezuma, Enrique Lucero, Mario Sevilla, Julissa, Roy Fletcher, Arturo Corona
“The film lasts a mere eighty minutes and, with the possible exception of a fight scene between two men that feels more at home in one of the popular lucha libre films of the time, not a moment is wasted. Though there is nothing original at all about it (in addition to its murderous title character, it has a crippled manservant and a madman in the attic), the film is so tightly constructed, the narrative moved along so propulsively, and the experience of watching it so consistently and thrillingly strange, that it rises above the also-rans to become a minor classic of its genre.” – Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
1961 / Mexico / 81m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Elvira Quintana, Ramón Gay, Roberto G. Rivera, Quintín Bulnes, Nora Veryán, Luis Aragón, Alfonso Arnold, Jorge Mondragón, Salvador Lozano, Margarita Villegas
“The diminutive death-dealers carve an astonishingly creepy presence here; and are among the most unforgettable of the Mexi-horror canon. Played by either midgets or small children, the performers all wear what look like wax masks. These facial appliances never move when they breathe, so there’s a realism that adds to the eeriness of these calculating doll monsters creeping towards their victims with poisonous needles ready to pierce your flesh… Aside from some goofy moments here and there, Alazraki’s picture does a surprisingly good job of building suspense; and delivering frighteningly spooky creatures in the form of the macabre countenance of the killer dolls. If you haven’t seen it, fans of the genre are in for a treat” – Brian Bankston, Cool Ass Cinema
1955 / USA / 82m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Faith Domergue, Richard Long, Marshall Thompson, Kathleen Hughes, William Reynolds, Jack Kelly, Myrna Hansen, David Janssen, Leonard Strong, James Dobson
“There’s something extremely haunting about this story of a group of young American soldiers who have survived the horrors of war and yet, when the clouds of strife are lifted, find themselves stalked and cut-down on home turf by a mysterious, evil and (naturally) foreign killer… The cast and the vaguely derivative (but compelling) screenplay work overtime. Russell Metty, the cinematographer, especially delivers the goods. Metty, who shot most of Douglas Sirk’s great melodramas and, lest we forget, Orson Welles’s “Touch Of Evil”, contributes marvelous lighting and some really effective cobra point of view shots.” – Greg Klymkiw, Daily Film Dose
1983 / USA / 69m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Samantha Fox, Diane Cummins, Saul Meth, Miriam Meth, William Szarka, Chris Smith, Dee Cummins, Larry Hunter, Mary Lomay, Rita Rogers
“What would you do if you had a completed film “in the can,” so to speak, but a disgruntled lab worker at the processing facility where it was being developed set fire to the place and destroyed 40% of your movie, leaving you with just over an hour of usable footage, all from various unrelated segments of your flick?… Well, that’s what happened to B-movie auteur Doris Wishman in 1982… I’m not going to claim that Wishman accidentally found greatness with the end product here, that dire circumstances proved to be an act of serendipity that resulted in an unheralded horror masterpiece. There’s a reason A Night to Dismember isn’t regarded as a slasher classic — it’s just not very good. But it certainly should be seen by any true B-movie aficionado. The fact that it even exists is a testament to Doris Wishman’s sheer determination and/or desperation — probably both.” – Ryan C., Trash Film Guru
1969 / Mexico / 99m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Marga López, Joaquín Cordero, Norma Lazareno, Aldo Monti, Lucy Buj, Rafael Llamas, Ada Carrasco, Lilia Castillo, Manuel Dondé, Jorge Mateos
“The Book of Stone carries the echoes of an MR James story with its premise of ancient evil and suggested rather than depicted horror… Bit by bit the story unravels, piling on one little disturbing incident after another, till it places itself firmly in the realm of the supernatural. [The statue] ‘Hugo’ is revealed to have a sinister history and will resist all attempts made to uproot him from his pedestal. Even here, there is far more reliance on the play of light and shadow (cinematographer Ignacio Torres), and juxtaposition of circumstance than any elaborate flashy effect.” – Suresh S, Un-kvlt Site
2012 / USA / 83m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Suziey Block, Karen Baird, Farley Burge, Karen Gorham, Joshua Grote, Florence Hartigan, Bennett Jones, Liesel Kopp, Jonathan Margolis, Patrick McPheron
“Common criticisms call [this] quiet thriller “boring,” label it as meaningless “mumblegore,” or lament that “nothing happens” for the first hour. None of those observations are necessarily inaccurate, though they reductively dismiss the mood directors Dallas Hallam and Patrick Horvath manufacture by teasing all of those terms… Even detractors laud the film’s finale, with some saying to skip straight to the slashing while running right past an uneventfully long lead-in. The reality is, the single take terror of those last twenty minutes packs its punch precisely because the buildup of vague danger boils almost imperceptibly beneath rope-a-dope monotony… it is a small-scale “slice of life” slow burner wringing oppressive dread out of an ordinary existence.” – Ian Sedensky, Culture Crypt
1967 / USA / 72m / Col / Exploitation | IMDb
Elizabeth Davis, Gretchen Wells, Chris Martell, Rodney Bedell, Ronnie Cass, Karl Stoeber, Dianne Wilhite, Andrea Barr, Dianne Raymond, Sherry Robinson
“The Gruesome Twosome is not one of Lewis’ best films, its direction seems rather impersonal and functional and its black humour is not quite as biting as in his masterpieces – but taken by its own terms and seen as a mindless crime and gore comedy, the film is very entertaining and enjoyable indeed, and some setpieces are simply priceless, like the movie Kathy and Dave watch in the drive-in, or the two wigs talking at the beginning of the film – a scene added only at a later date to pad out the running time. In short, no classic by any stretch of imagination, but good lo-fi drive-in fun indeed!” – Mike Haberfelner, (re)search my trash
1969 / Mexico / 81m / Col / Splatter | IMDb
José Elías Moreno, Carlos López Moctezuma, Armando Silvestre, Norma Lazareno, Agustín Martínez Solares, Javier Rizo, Gerardo Zepeda, Noelia Noel, Gina Morett
“In the traditional sense of the word, “Apes” isn’t a very good movie… However, as a slice of cinematic trash, the thing succeeds. The gore and nudity, whilst crudely done, has a certain low rent charm, as does the poor dubbing. It also thankfully moves at a pretty reasonable pace, rarely if ever slowing down and more often then not adding in something to keep your interest. The influence it takes from low rent horror from the 40’s and 50’s is also noticeable, as apart from the aforementioned exploitable elements, has a naive sense of unpretentious fun. Really, that’s the best way to describe this movie” – Joseph Howell, Talk of Horrors
1977 / France / 88m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Alan Scarfe, Beverly Murray, Randi Allen, Dorothy Davis, Mary Morter, Roy Witham, Bryce Allen, Sonny Forbes, Robert V. Girolami, Renée Girard
“Seemingly operating [on] a plane of existence and basic logic far removed from our own, Cathy’s Curse remains one of the craziest entries in the decade’s run of sinister kid movies… and one that actually rewards repeated viewings once you’ve fallen under its crackpot spell… Filled with charmingly low-rent special effects and some of the most unintentionally amusing profanity of the ’70s, Cathy’s Curse is a truly special film if you’re in the right mood. Almost a work of pure surrealism in its refusal to adhere to any kind of rational character development or plotting, it’s a dizzy cash-in on seemingly every supernatural hit from the past five years thrown into a blender with no discernible rhyme or reason. As a result, it’s kind of brilliant.” – Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital
1973 / Spain / 91m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Stelvio Rosi, Maria Pia Conte, Dyanik Zurakowska, Pasquale Basile, Gérard Tichy, Aurora de Alba, Eleonora Vargas, José Cárdenas, Giuliana Garavaglia, Carla Mancini
“Anyone wanting an introduction to seventies Euro-horror could do a lot worse than Orgy Of The Dead, which manages to encapsulate almost all of the themes that dominated that very strange sub-genre of film. Set in an unidentified 19th century European village, the action features some highly suspect aristocrats, much running around in secret passages, sex, violence, and lots and lots of highly exploitable elements that ultimately prove to have little if anything to do with the plot. First and foremost amongst these is Mr Euro-Horror himself, Paul Naschy, aka Jacinto Molina, stepping away from his endless portrayals of werewolves to play Igor the necrophiliac.” – Liz Kingsley, And You Call Yourself a Scientist!
1992 / Hong Kong / 89m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Danny Lee, Simon Yam, Kent Cheng, Pik Yu Chung, Si Man Hui, Eric Kei, Emily Kwan, Hoi-Shan Lai, King-Kong Lam, Siu-Ming Lau
“The direction is assured, the photography quite stylish, and the performances, for the most part, are pretty solid (Simon Yam Tat-wah’s edgy portrayal of Lam is delirious – equally terrifying and hilarious), so why am I so hesitant to recommend Dr. Lamb? For starters, its taboo combination of graphic sex and violence is sure to upset all but the most jaded of viewers, and its inclusion of campy humor into the grisly proceedings will most likely alienate the arthouse crowd who embraced the not entirely dissimilar Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Ultimately, it’s the exploitation crowd who will flock to Dr. Lamb, and they won’t be disappointed, for it does deliver a number of jolting, effective, and totally outrageous set pieces” – Joey O’Bryan, Austin Chronicle
2009 / Thailand / 90m / Col / Splatter | IMDb
Mai Charoenpura, Rattanaballang Tohssawat, Wiradit Srimalai, Atitaya Shindejanichakul, Pimchanok Leuwisetpaiboon, Somlek Sakdikul
“Meat Grinder manages to set itself apart from the gore glut by exhibiting more bite than most, evoking memories of the likes of Delicatessen, Dumplings and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, before ultimately treading down its own unique, bloodied path. Incorporating elements of socio-political commentary and psychological investigation, the film unravels as an, albeit very violent and gory, exploration of a woman’s tragic freefall into madness after a stilted life of abuse and heartache. Buss is portrayed by Thai pop-singer Mai Charoenpura, whose touching, brave performance elevates the character and ensures she has the audiences’ sympathy despite the brutal acts of carnage she carries out.” – James Gracey, Behind the Couch
1989 / Australia / 102m / Col / Psychological | IMDb
Rebecca Smart, Nicholas Eadie, Victoria Longley, Mary-Anne Fahey, Margaret Ricketts, Alexander Hutchinson, Adrian Mitchell, Callie Gray, Martin Sharman, Clair Couttie
“Calling Celia a macabre fairy tale isn’t quite accurate since the film isn’t overtly heightened; instead, it operates on a plane somewhere between history, reality, and the stuff of nightmares. Some might even take issue with considering it a horror movie since its more fantastical horror elements (the visions of the dead grandmother and the Hobya creatures) serve as metaphorical trimming for the film’s more grim horrors. Celia is a remarkably assured debut for writer/director Turner, who has only directed three features since; that’s quite a shame since Celia would seemingly hail the arrival of a truly distinctive, daring voice from Down Under. Unlike many Aussie genre offerings, Celia isn’t defined by the Ozploitation aesthetic, as it’s silky, evocative, and moody.” – Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!
1988 / Canada / 89m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Wings Hauser, Lynne Adams, Pierre Lenoir, Barbara Jones, Louise-Marie Mennier, Johnny Cuthbert, Robert Austern, Anthony Ulc, Bob Pot, Richard Jutras
“Wellington and company throw a lot of shit at the wall in an effort to see what sticks here — part comedy, part Lynchian absurdist nightmare, part gorefest, part low-grade soap opera, The Carpenter confidently, and nearly seamlessly, blends genres left and right in an effort that some may call haphazard, but others will appreciate for its sheer bravado and for the consistently ethereal tone it maintains throughout these numerous changes.” – Ryan C., Trash Film Guru
1970 / UK / 76m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Anna Cropper, Amanda Walker, Julian Holloway, Freda Bamford, Bernard Hepton, Andy Bradford, Cyril Cross, Robin Wentworth
“Robin Redbreast is a damnably chilling affair. Norah is an intriguing character, one who plays against type and smashes taboos with almost every action. From pre-marital sex, to smoking when pregnant, she portrays the anguished femininity of a post hippie fallout. Cropper is remarkable; strong and confident, yet vulnerable and helpless at the same time. Much in the same way as The Wicker Man is an elaborate game, littered with clues; Robin Redbreast is equally filled with oblique moments of partial exposition. Norah is provided with several sly nods as to what the residents have in store for her, but she misses almost every one.” – Colin McCracken, Diabolique Magazine
1950 / Mexico / 91m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Arturo de Córdova, Carmen Molina, Miguel Ángel Ferriz, Queta Lavat, Chela Campos, Fernando Galiana, Armando Sáenz, Ramón Sánchez, Kika Meyer, Wolf Ruvinskis
“Utilizing elements of expressionism, surrealism, film noir, psychoanalysis and dream symbolism in creating a thorough psychological profile of our troubled lead, this was way ahead of its time. There’s a mother-dominated Psycho a good decade before Hitchcock’s famous film, with even the classic line “We all go a little mad sometimes” equaled with us all having a “bloodthirsty beast that dwells in our hearts.” And its usage of surrealism and eerie, distorted sets to get inside a disturbed head came 15 years before Polanski’s Repulsion. The acting is good all around, with a highly effective showcase performance from de Córdova, who does a superb job descending further and further into madness over the course of the film.” – Justin McKinney, The Bloody Pit of Horror
2004 / Philippines / 117m / Col / Haunted House | IMDb
Kris Aquino, Jay Manalo, Lotlot De Leon, Ilonah Jean, John Manalo, Julianne Gomez, Ernesto Sto. Tomas, Cherry Pie Picache, Noni Buencamino, Jenny Miller
“What makes the movie so interesting to me isn’t necesarily the story, but the general flavor which felt totally new to me. There was clearly a nice budget and the director, Chito S. Rono has a unique artistic vision. At times reminding me of classic Argento lighting and hearkening to Hong Kong horror masters such as the Shaw Brothers. Rono creates an atmosphere that is truly unlike any film I’ve ever seen from any country. Tonally strange, color palette chosen not only creates an other-worldly unease, but a borderline sense of insanity.” – Mr Bones, Morbidly Beautiful
1981 / Spain / 92m / Col / Werewolf | IMDb
Paul Naschy, Julia Saly, Silvia Aguilar, Azucena Hernández, Beatriz Elorrieta, Rafael Hernández, Pepe Ruiz, Ricardo Palacios, Tito García, David Rocha
“Visually the film is a real treat. Pulling triple duties and directing his werewolf for the first time, Naschy bathes the film with gorgeous lighting and visual effects that really help to drench the production in a gothic atmosphere to the extent of the very best of Mario Bava and Terence Fisher… more than just a tribute to the classic gothic horror films of the 1960s and 70s, it is a genuine competitor with them – Naschy fills the film with some amazing imagery and atmosphere that has rarely been matched. While the script lifts many ideas from Werewolf Shadow, it is different enough to be interesting and more successful than some of the other “original” horror films on which he worked.” – Timothy Young, Mondo Esoterica
1977 / USA / 82m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Laurel Barnett, Rosalie Cole, Frank Janson, Richard Hanners, Ruth Ballan, Slosson Bing Jong, Rod Medigovich, Wendell Hudiburg, Chris Tieken, Ralph Lucas
“The movie is a peculiar combination of horror themes, a mash-up of many styles and ideas. What starts looking like a standard supernaturally possessed child film evolves into a non-traditional zombie film… Director Robert Voskanian’s and writer Ralph Lucas’ portfolios are much thinner than that of executive producer Novak and this could be the reason for the strange direction the story takes and some of the apparent filmmaking anomalies seemingly intentionally present in this movie. These quirks are what make the film stand out and enrich it with an element of quaint rather than having detrimental repercussions.” – Pazuzu Iscariot, Horror Extreme
1989 / Germany / 80m / Col / Drama | IMDb
Dóra Szinetár, Brigitte Karner, Károly Eperjes, Hédi Temessy, Barnabás Tóth, Kati Sír, Endre Kátay, János Derzsi, Zoltán Gera, Ildikó Hámori
“Save for some momentary scenes of violence, Laurin moves at a methodically slow and quiet pace, rarely breaking out into shrieks except when necessary. Where other thrillers tend towards loud jump scares or fast paced chase sequences, Laurin deliberately takes it’s time to allow for the rich and often spooky turn-of-the-century gothic atmosphere to soak in a mood of murky unease. Though this period horror thriller doesn’t erupt into overt scares, the overall mood the film’s creepy atmosphere leaves the viewer with is harder to shake than most conventional thrillers.” – Andrew Kotwicki, The Movie Sleuth
1972 / USA / 73m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Jessica Walter, Sally Field, Jill Haworth, Julie Harris, Eleanor Parker, Walter Brennan, John Fink, Med Flory
“Despite its billing as a made for TV slasher, Home for the Holidays actually has a number of things in common with an Italian giallo film. It has a gloved killer (albeit red rather than black), prominent score and themes of madness and paranoia as well as the aforementioned red herring. It’s a really classy murder mystery that skips swiftly through its 74 minute running time and is assuredly written – as expected – by Stefano, with fleshed out characters who all seem to have notable and believable flaws in their personalities.” – Dave Wain, The Schlock Pit
2009 / USA / 83m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Jack Forcinito, Andy Hopper, Nadine Stenovitch, Lew Temple, Vernon Wells, Felissa Rose, Timothy Muskatell, Luke Y. Thompson, Sara Tomko, Ricardo Gray
“… And then Silent Night, Zombie Night comes along and proves to be the exception to the rule and evidence that there is still fresh blood in the genre: The point here is that Silent Night, Zombie Night has an actual story to tell that goes beyond the dead attack and humankind fights for survival, that is carried by strong characters rather than gore effects (though there is plenty of those as well), and that – just like all the better zombie-films since the original Night of the Living Dead – doesn’t bore the audience with another cheesy zombie origin-tale. Add to this a competent cast, and a compact, no-nonsense directorial effort that relies on tension, suspense and atmosphere, and you’ve got one of the most original zombie flicks that was made in the last 10 years, at least.” – Mike Haberfelner, (re)Search my Trash
1997 / UK / 6m / Col / Music Video | IMDb
Aphex Twin, Al Stokes
“Considered one of the scariest music videos of the 90’s (or possibly ever), the video is nothing short of a pure nightmare. Directed by famed music video visionary Chris Cunningham, the video features glitched out environments (that were also used in Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange), dog piss that activates a demon television, and quite possibly the most hideous horde of children you’ll ever see. Definitely not safe for those who suffer from seizures, this video is bound to leave images in your head for, well…the rest of your life?” – Jonathan Barkan, Bloody Disgusting
2009 / South Korea / 112m / Col / Mystery | IMDb
Young-nam Jang, Bo-yeon Kim, Chang-jik Lee, Hie-kyung Moon, Sang-mi Nam, Ji-eun Oh, Ryu Seung-Ryong, Eun-kyung Shim, Eun-Kyung Shin
“Possessed is not your average Korean horror flick: there are no cheap shock tactics, and the only scares come from its eerie atmosphere, and the demons inside those strange animals called men. But it built its success by having faith in its roots, the realization that horror doesn’t simply mean filming angry damsels in white gowns prancing around the room in gravity-defying contortions. If you manage to convince even the skeptics to have some faith in this genre’s future, as long as inventive directors like Lee Yong-Ju get the chance to make the films they like, then that’s a pretty impressive achievement….” – X, Screen Anarchy
2016 / Ireland / 93m / Col / Psychological | IMDb
Alan McKenna, Niamh Algar, James Browne, Brendan Conroy, Donncha Crowley, Morgan C. Jones, Brandon Maher, Alan McNally, Helen Roche, Paul Ward
“Comparisons with Corin Hardy’s The Hallow or Paddy Breathnach’s Shrooms are inevitable: both are independent Irish horror film set in the woods. But where Hardy’s film spiralled into an average monster flick, Finnegan’s forest horror sticks to its cosmic guns. This is a folk horror film about something older than folklore, its a typical forest horror with touches of psychedelic and a good helping of obscured phantasmagoria. Finnegan has constructed a pristine supernatural environment using paranoia and Subliminals.” – Scott Clark, Cinehouse
1987 / Japan / 80m / Col / Science Fiction | IMDb
Hiroyuki Okita, Masako Katsuki, Osamu Saka, Chikao Ohtsuka, Eiko Yamada, Yoshiko Sakakibara, Ryôichi Tanaka, Tesshô Genda, Shigeru Chiba, Hideyuki Tanaka
“The film is immediately distinct from its fellow Alien riffs in its distinction as a mid-80s anime, converting the cheap sets & limited practical effects resources of this genre template into a freeing, visually impressive handdrawn animation style. It’s also, smartly, only an hour-long – firing off its checklist of genre requirements with rapid-fire efficiency where most cheap-o Alien riffs risk drifting into boredom in their half-hearted attempts to stir up atmospheric dread. […] Lily C.A.T. also mutates the Alien template by crossbreeding it with other creature feature influences: Cronenberg, The Thing, and any number of post-Lovecraft cosmic horrors you can conjure. It’s a quick, nasty little monster movie rendered in intricately handdrawn animation – the perfect genre nerd cocktail.” – Brandon Ledet, Swampflix
1985 / Mexico / 88m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Hugo Stiglitz, José Gómez Parcero, Bety Robles, Leo Villanueva, Raúl Meraz, René Cardona III, Servando Manzetti, Andrés García Jr., María Rebeca
“A strange sort of cross between John Carpenter’s Halloween (what with the unstoppable killing machine and the obsessed doctor on his trail) and Bob Clarke’s Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (with the dopey teens, the black mass, and the zombies), Ruben Galindo Jr.’s Cemetery Of Terror is a reasonably well paced horror film with some nice atmosphere, some cool locations, and towards the end of the movie, some nice zombie action. It’s also very much a product of the eighties and as such, it’s pretty dated… Stiglitz is fun in the lead role and while he’ll never be considered a great actor by any stretch he does a good job playing the obsessed doctor and seems to have no problem hamming it up when the script requires it. The rest of the cast is pretty awful, but it adds to the fun of the film” – Ian Jane, DVD Talk
1935 / China / 113m / BW / Drama | IMDb
Menghe Gu, Ping Hu, Shan Jin, Chau-shui Yee, Wenzhu Zhou
“Besides having a great story, Song at Midnight is also a visual treat. Ma-Xu was a not only a fan of Tod Browning’s Universal monster films, he was also an admirer of German universal_style_thumbexpressionism, most notably the works of Fritz Lang and Robert Wiene. Ma-Xu put together a film heavy with gothic atmosphere and haunting images. Ma-Xu sets the mood from the very beginning, by introducing the audience to the cobweb infested theater at night, and having a mysterious man lurking in the shadows. From that point on the scene is set and what follows truly comes from an artistic mind.” – Kimberly J.M. Wilson, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1975 / USA / 160m / Col / Adult | IMDb
Marion Eaton, Melinda McDowell, George Kuchar, Mookie Blodgett, Ken Scudder, Bernie Boyle, Mark Ellinger, Laurie Hendricks, Moira Benson, Virginia Giritlian
“Imagine a SNL-skit parodying a black-and-white whodunit mystery-melodrama expanded to epic-length proportions on a single dingy set, but armed with an oddly funny script that has some semblance of wit, and featuring a no-name cast that not only can act decently but is gung-ho for anything on-screen and is also in on the joke for the sake of the audience. Well, that description might be a little much for one to digest, but it does sum-up Thundercrack! in a nutshell, and the film certainly falls under the definitions of “bizarre”, “campy” and, well, “crude”.” – PopOptiq
1949 / India / 165m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Ashok Kumar, Madhubala, M. Kumar, Vijayalaxmi, Kanu Roy, S. Nazir, Eruch Tarapore, Sheela Naik, Leela Pandey, Neelam
“Mahal marked the beginning of a new era for Bollywood films and showcases a marriage of Western filmmaking sensibilities with Hindi religious beliefs. Amrohi elevates gothic storytelling with Bollywood’s trademark music and dance numbers, making the story all the more complex and melodramatic. Mahal is a perfect introduction to the world of Bollywood horror, and overall an integral part of film history.” – Mary Beth McAndrews, Nightmare on Film Street
1944 / USA / 62m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco, Wanda McKay, Louise Currie, Tod Andrews, Ellen Hall, Terry Walker, Mary Currier, Claire James
“With Voodoo Man audiences get a glimpse of what the meta-minded future would hold for fans of horror. It’s tongue-in-cheek to be sure, but the thrills are there throughout. Most of the horror; however, is undercut by the humorous antics and comments of the cops who, ultimately, bring about the end of Voodoo Man’s reign… But pay no mind to them. The real focus of Voodoo Man is Lugosi who, in 1944, was churning out some pretty strong performances. The Hungarian-American actor, famous for his performance in the original 1931 version of Dracula, struggled to find his way through the shadowed corners of his career… His role in Voodoo Man might not have helped any of his struggles BUT, as a low grade thriller, his contribution to the thriller does enough to make it worthy of 60-minutes of your time.” – Loron Hays, Reel Reviews
1957 / USA / 74m / BW / Exploitation | IMDb
Whit Bissell, Phyllis Coates, Robert Burton, Gary Conway, George Lynn, John Cliff, Marshall Bradford, Claudia Bryar, Angela Blake, Russ Whiteman
“Like I Was a Teenage Werewolf, I Was a Teenage Frankenstein taps into a metaphor about teenage dissatisfaction. As in Teenage Werewolf, the monster comes to represent alienated adolescence and Whit Bissell is again cast as a calculating and manipulative scientist/authority figure. It is amusing to see that in this film Frankenstein is no longer traditionally a scientist with misguided intentions, he is utterly ruthless from the outset. I Was a Teenage Frankenstein is played considerably more tongue-in-cheek than Teenage Werewolf and emerges as the better of the two films as a result.” – Richard Scheib, Moria – The Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
1926 / USA / 86m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
George Beranger, Charles Herzinger, Emily Fitzroy, Louise Fazenda, Arthur Housman, Robert McKim, Jack Pickford, Jewel Carmen, Sôjin Kamiyama, Tullio Carminati
“[Director] West is most often brought up today as a possible culprit in the suspicious 1935 death of Thelma Todd. However, in the twenties, he was considered a top director who could fill a theater. The Bat is the movie that made that reputation and it is also considered the prototype for Old Dark House movies… What West did was bring in the atmospheric shadows and sets of the stylish German cinema and combine them with the chills and humor. I should note that West claimed sole credit for these German touches, declaring that he was making this sort of thing before [the Ufa production company] ever existed. I find that less than believable, to say the least… It’s worth seeing for its historical importance and to enjoy the antics of Emily Fitzroy, Louise Fazenda and Arthur Housman.” – Fritzi Kramer, Movies Silently
2003 / Thailand / 109m / Col / Comedy | IMDb
Laila Boonyasak, Krit Sripoomseth, Chompunoot Piyapane, Sirisin Siripornsmathikul, Ampon Rattanawong, Somjai Sukjai, Sayan Meungjarern, Mr. Nicolas
“It’s almost as if director Yuthlert Sippapak (Killer Tattoo) filmed three separate movies; a romantic drama, a comedy and a supernatural horror, and edited them together in post production. And guess what? It works!… This movie has real scares, I kid you not. Buppah’s make-up bears more of a resemblance to a deadite then to the typical J-horror vengeful spook, and forget the whole crawling slowly towards her victim business… Buppah skips merrily, and quickly towards her terrified targets. The movie also appeases the gore junkies with a gooey little hacksaw scene, and finishes off with a particularly macabre ending.” – Jon Condit, Dread Central
1965 / Japan / 105m / Col / Jidaigeki | IMDb
Tatsuya Nakadai, Mariko Okada, Junko Ikeuchi, Mayumi Ôzora, Keiko Awaji, Eitarô Ozawa, Masao Mishima, Mikijirô Hira, Eijirô Tôno, Yasushi Nagata
“Though slow going, the writing and production values are competent and Nakadai does a good job pacing out his character’s decent into amorality and mental deterioration; full-blown psychosis overwhelms his character by the very end. The primary characters are all strongly defined individuals and the entire supporting cast does well. There’s little humor here; it’s mostly grim, oppressive, murky, the lighting is consistently dark and the film doesn’t play favorites (the innocent people die along with the guilty).” – The Bloody Pit of Horror
1975 / Mexico / 96m / Col / Haunted House | IMDb
Claudia Islas, Susana Dosamantes, Helena Rojo, Lucía Méndez, Julián Pastor, Alicia Palacios, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Tamara Garina, Enrique Pontón
“The story in “Más negro que la noche” may be simplistic, even clichéd; however, Taboada’s film seems to be constructed with one single idea in mind: atmosphere. Atmosphere is the key word in “Más negro que la noche”, which showcases a masterful use of lighting and camera-work to create an effectively ominous atmosphere of dread that begins to surround the four main characters. Stylish and elegant, Taboada’s borrowing of Giallo elements does not limit merely to plot devices, but also to the striking visual style… which shows a more than obvious influence from Mario Bava. In the film, Taboada once again excels in his visual narrative, which is fluid and dynamic, developing the story at a nice pace.” – J. Luis Rivera, W-Cinema
2006 / USA / 84m / Col / Found Footage | IMDb
Elizabeth Cartier, Carol J. Clover, Debbie D, Freddie Dingo, Michelle Glick, Julie Katz, Erik Marcisak, Carlina Salemi, Fred Vogel, Bill Zebub
“Many horror films, especially the slasher, are staged as implicit wars of the sexes, with have-nots viciously murdering the haves, giving release to those who might resent their place in the social pecking order of things. S&Man stresses that the creation of these movies logically serves an even more intimate catharsis for the director… Taking off from Carol Clover’s influential Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, S&Man acknowledges that both genders are getting something out of these films—that the victim/killer relationship (or director/actress) is more complicated and mutually rewarding… The film is onto something here—a working-class view of the symbiotic relationship between director and actress in the film business and its parallel with the fantasies of the viewers.” – Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine
1968 / Spain / 88m / Col / Werewolf | IMDb
Paul Naschy, Dyanik Zurakowska, Manuel Manzaneque, Aurora de Alba, Julián Ugarte, José Nieto, Carlos Casaravilla, Ángel Menéndez, Antonio Jiménez Escribano
“The look of this movie is striking, and even lacking the nudity and gore of the later films in the Daninsky cycle, this still generates a marvelous ambiance of menace. The filmmakers make good use of the locations, which are richly decorated by the prop department, and they cover for any deficiencies with a striking use of colored lighting. The whole thing plays as if Terence Fisher and Mario Bava had had their genes spliced and their mutant progeny had turned its attention on the Universal-style monster rally… Even given the movie’s reliance on werewolf action–a given in any Naschy werewolf picture–there’s an otherness to this movie that eludes most of Naschy’s other films and turns the “blender” quality of its construction into a kind of dream logic.” – Christianne Benedict, Krell Laboratories
1950 / UK / 70m / BW / Psychological | IMDb
Gwen Watford, Kay Tendeter, Irving Steen, Vernon Charles, Connie Goodwin, Gavin Lee, Keith Lorraine, Lucy Pavey, Tony Powell-Bristow, Robert Wolard
“Here’s an obscure Edgar Allan Poe adaptation from England that was made more than a decade before the more famous Roger Corman production. Fans of Poe may be a bit divided on it as it’s not really faithful to the source material. And while it’s not exactly good or anything, it’s an interesting enough curio piece that at least has a handful of atmospheric moments… The opening sequence where a bunch of old men sit around telling each other spooky tales is pretty cool though. (It was probably the inspiration for Ghost Story.) But other than that, The Fall of the House of Usher is only worth a look if you absolutely HAVE to see every Poe movie ever made.” – Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum
1942 / USA / 61m / BW / Thriller | IMDb
Bela Lugosi, John Archer, Wanda McKay, Tom Neal, Vince Barnett, Anna Hope, John Berkes, J. Farrell MacDonald, Dave O’Brien, Lucille Vance
“In fact, given its Poverty Row parentage, Bowery at Midnight is actually a fairly respectable programmer. Its ambitions are modest but always within the abilities of its cast and crew, and the dual role of Wagner and Brenner is one that Lugosi could do in his sleep. The story also has that appealing mix of down and dirty thriller mixed with outlandish horror to give it a certain uniqueness that helps it to overcome the limitations of the script.” – Richard Cross, 2020 Movie Reviews
1994 / USA / 82m / Col / Vampire | IMDb
Norman Moses, Tina Ona Paukstelis, John Kishline, Flora Coker, Victor Delorenzo, Mildred Nierras, Jamie Jacobs Anderson, Daniel Demarco, John Garekis, Lee Worrell
“It’s a fun movie, but it’s nothing really original or innovative. Borrowing liberally from “The Shining”, “The Evil Dead”, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Psycho”, and adding a pinch of Filipino horror to the mix, it’s still pretty odd, mostly due to the subject matter, but also due to the strain of very black humor on display, with a few moments (mamma hanging from a window by her very long tongue) garnering chuckles, proving that the people behind this at least know how to have fun. There’s also some nice gore, a few genuinely suspenseful moments, a good enough score by Ken Brahmstedt (dig the weird electronic effects), an interesting subplot, and a fitting, bleak conclusion.” – Joseph Howell, Talk of Horrors
1945 / USA / 69m / BW / Zombie | IMDb
Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Bela Lugosi, Anne Jeffreys, Sheldon Leonard, Frank Jenks, Russell Hopton, Joseph Vitale, Ian Wolfe, Louis Jean Heydt
“Notable enough for being a bit more entertaining than the typical 40’s horror comedy, Zombies on Broadway becomes even more worthy of attention in light of the ongoing rivalry in those days between RKO and Universal as producers of fright films. Universal was by far the more conservative production house, and although RKO’s horror movies weren’t always necessarily better, they were invariably bolder and more innovative. And so consider Zombies on Broadway, which injected RKO’s in-house Abbott and Costello wannabes into a parodic take on I Walked with a Zombie, three years before Universal famously spoofed their own monster lineup in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” – Scott Ashlin, 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting
1925 / USA / 86m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Lon Chaney, Gertrude Olmstead, Hallam Cooley, Johnny Arthur, Charles Sellon, Walter James, Knute Erickson, George Austin, Edward McWade, Ethel Wales
“The Monster is the precursor for the tongue-in-cheek old-dark-house-with-malevolent-horror-star-as-host movie… The Monster is an oddity in the way it uses star Chaney. Chaney’s body of work goes a considerable distance in debunking his reputation as a “horror” actor. The few horror films Chaney appeared in are more aptly described as bizarre, densely psychological melodramas. The Monster, however, could serve as a prototype for a genre celebrity in a B-movie parody… The Monster is not great cinema, its not the best West, best Chaney, or best Old Dark House movie (James Whale would deliver that seven years later), but it is silent pulp and, in the right mindset, it can take you back to the days of milk duds and acne.” – Alfred Eaker, 366 Weird Movies
1969 / USA / 102m / Col / Crime | IMDb
Michael Sarrazin, Gayle Hunnicutt, Eleanor Parker, Tim Henry, Laurence Naismith, Jennifer Leak, Linden Chiles, Mark Herron, Annabelle Garth, Tullia
“Why this nifty little thriller is so forgotten and nowhere to be found today is a mystery. It’s really a rather intriguing, if sometimes uneven, attempt at mixing Hitchcockian suspense with the kind of supernatural theater of the macabre one might associate with an old episode of Night Gallery… Eye of the Cat was one of the earliest films to exploit the subtle malevolence and flagrant creep-out factor of packs of animals. A trend that blossomed into a full-blown horror sub-genre in the ’70s” – Ken Anderson, Dreams Are What Le Cinema Is For…
1940 / USA / 62m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Boris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett, Edward Van Sloan, Ben Taggart, Pedro de Cordoba, Wright Kramer, Bertram Marburgh, Don Beddoe, Robert Fiske
“The mechanical zest with which Director Nick Grinde usually manages to obscure script deficencies in films of this genre is conspicuously absent in “Before I Die.” But if you’re taken in by reels and reels of test tubes, mechanical hearts and other scientific gadgets, or the brooding atmosphere provoked through the use of murky photography, then “Before I Hang” should prove to be moderately entertaining. It’s strictly a one-man show—Mr. Karloff’s as far as performances go, but Pedro de Cordoba manages to get, off a pretty good imitation of a piano maestro.” – Bosley Crowther, The New York Times
1933 / Mexico / 73m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Ramón Pereda, Virginia Zurí, Carlos Orellana, Adriana Lamar, Alberto Martí, Esperanza del Real, Paco Martínez, María Luisa Zea, Alfredo del Diestro, Conchita Gentil Arcos
“Adapted to the screen by two legendary figures of early Mexican cinema, Carlos Noriega Hope (of “Santa” fame) and Fernando De Fuentes (who would become a famous filmmaker on his own right), “La Llorona” is based on a story by A. Guzmán Aguilera which is essentially the narrative of the two most famous variations on the legend of “La Llorona”, framed by a modern tale of mystery and horror, making technically a collection of three stories linked by the legend… [it] may not be the best horror movie of the 30s, but as the very origin of the Mexican tradition of horror film-making (and one of Mexico’s first talkies) is of great interest and importance.” – J. Luis Rivera, W-Cinema
1944 / USA / 62m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
J. Carrol Naish, Ralph Morgan, Tala Birell, Wanda McKay, Terry Frost, Glenn Strange, Alexander Pollard, Sam Flint, Ace the Wonder Dog
“In 1944, legendary B-movie director Sam Newfield (known primarily for quick-made westerns such as The Terror of Tiny Town) introduced the world to Dr. Igor Markoff in The Monster Maker. Often overshadowed by more popular movie madmen, Dr. Markoff is every bit as diabolical and devious as his contemporaries… [The film] also marks the first credited musical score by the most prolific B-movie composer of all time, Albert Glasser. Glasser’s score adds a ton of depth to the film without making it sound like it’s taking itself too seriously… Despite the obvious flaws that make The Monster Maker look like it was made quickly and cheaply, it is an entertaining film. The story is original, the actors are skilled and the film is as well made as a low-budget B-movie can be. And there’s a guy in a gorilla suit.” – James Jay Edwards, FilmFracture
1972 / USA / 73m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Ben Gazzara, Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Douglas, Karen Pearson, Larry Reynolds, Al Waxman, Alan McRae, Chris Pellett, Steve Weston, Robert Warner
“When Michael Calls is an adaptation of a Farris novel, and while it’s neither the first of his books to receive that treatment (Because They’re Young, 1960) nor the most well-known (The Fury, 1978), it’s still a terrific little chiller every bit as deserving of attention. The premise is rife with possibility — revenge, madness, ghostly shenanigans — and it’s really only let down with the fairly obvious nature of the culprit’s identity. Even knowing (or strongly suspecting) who the guilty party is, though, doesn’t hurt the film’s creepy effect. Michael’s calls — the high-pitched voice feels simultaneously childish and adult-like — deliver chills, and once we start catching glimpses of a mysterious boy things grow both mysterious and thrilling.” – Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects
1934 / USA / 68m / BW / Thriller | IMDb
Jack Holt, Fay Wray, Dorothy Burgess, Cora Sue Collins, Arnold Korff, Clarence Muse, Eleanor Wesselhoeft, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Laurence Criner, Lumsden Hare
“Dorothy Burgess excels in the role of Nita, with her ominous looks and wild-eyed dancing. Neill and cinematographer Joseph August bring a great sense of dread to the proceedings, and the shadowy camerawork is film noirish in its execution (pardon the pun). BLACK MOON isn’t particularly scary, but has enough good moments to qualify as horror. It’s an obscure title that’s rarely seen today, and is worth going out of your way to find, especially for Golden Age horror completests.” – Gary Loggins, Cracked Rear Viewer
1944 / USA / 63m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Gwynne, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Morgan, Elisabeth Risdon, Lois Collier, Harry Hayden, Elizabeth Russell, Phil Brown, Kay Harding
“A borderline horror-esque hour of Lon Chaney Jr being harrassed and looking troubled, as all the Inner Sanctum films were. This one was scripted by Brenda Weisberg from the novel Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber, and if that sounds familiar, well, perhaps you’ve read it, or perhaps you’ve seen the more famous British adaptation called Night of the Eagle from the 1960s. Which is best? Well, the British film probably, but that’s not to say the American version is without interest. It does tend to eschew the supernatural explanation after spending almost all of the running time relying on it for thrills, but is fairly enjoyable nonetheless.” – Graeme Clark, The Spinning Image
2007 / Canada / 81m / Col / Found Footage | IMDb
Anthony Alviano, Jean-Marc Fontaine, Paul Fowles, Shane Harbinson, Roger King, Kelly McIntosh, Brad Mittelman, John Terranova, Vik Sahay, Barbara Walsh
“The film never comes across as corny, which is too easily done with a mockumentary, and instead harbours impressive realism. Footage of the cannibal is divided up into segments with detectives giving their thoughts on murder, cannibalism, and the psychology of both. They give an interesting parallel to the first-hand evidence of such horrific crimes as they are carried out by McAlistar. ong Pigs, though not without its flaws, is a promising effort; a study of a well-written, multi-dimensional character who brings a whole new meaning to the term “maneater”, portrayed tremendously by a fine actor who I’d like to see more of in the future, just preferably without such a distasteful habit.” – Stuart O’Connor, ScreenJabber
1983 / Hong Kong / 84m / Col / Exploitation | IMDb
Eddie Chan, Yung-chang Chin, Pak-Kwong Ho, Dan Lau, Sai-gang Lau, San Leung, Pui-pui Liu, Hsiu-ling Lu, Sha-fei Ouyang, Mung-Kwong Tsui
“For the remainder, I’ll just give the highlights. The demon is now inside Boby, which eventually gets transferred to Kwo Wei, who immediately takes on the generic automaton gaze and deliberate walk. There’s dog attacks, there’s dog eating, there’s maid raping, there’s near drowning, there transsexual masturbation, there’s worm eating, there’s a dude being crushed by a room (yes, I mean exactly that) and yes, there’s more slimy demon-sex. A lot of this is done with the accompaniment of some wicked 1980s video game-esque sound effects that make you nostalgic for that Atari system. There are also a couple of signature Hong-Kong-ish battle scenes that don’t make any logical sense, but are really great to watch.” – Zombie-A-GoGo
1946 / USA / 59m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
George Zucco, Ralph Lewis, Hope Kramer, Eddie Acuff, Wheaton Chambers, James Metcalf, Henry Hall, Milton Kibbee, Budd Buster, Terry Frost
“The Devil Bat was a big hit for PRC and The Flying Serpent more or less follows the same basic outline. Unlike that flick, The Flying Serpent is relatively low on chills and chuckles and takes itself very seriously. The special effects aren’t bad for the time (and budget), although you can see the marionette strings that holds the monster up sometimes. Zucco is OK in the lead but he’s no Bela Lugosi, whose wonderfully hammy performance made Devil Bat the classic that it is. He does seem pretty convincing while giving Quetzalcoatl his little pep talks though. I have a soft spot in my heart for these Poverty Row horror movies from the 40’s… The serpent attack scenes were a lot of fun and the scant 58 minute running time flew by.” – Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum
1936 / USA / 56m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Fredi Washington, Philip Brandon, Marie Paxton, Sheldon Leonard, Winifred Harris, Babe Joyce, George Spink, Sidney Easton
“He ended up filming in Jamaica under primitive conditions and the result is terribly crude, but I found it oddly powerful as well — if you can get past the bad script, bad acting and laughable stunt-work. The Voodoo scenes here have a primitive and suitably awed quality to them such as I have seen nowhere else, as if the filmmaker were trying to convey to us something of his own dread and wonderment. Ouanga ended up being largely ignored by the public and shunted off by its distributors as an exploitation show, and frankly it deserved no better. But for those who can look past its incredible ineptitude, this in a unique and haunting bit of work.” – Dan Stumpf, Mystery*File
1935 / USA / 67m / BW / Vampire | IMDb
Ralph Morgan, Pedro de Cordoba, Maxine Doyle, Russell Gleason, Mischa Auer, Lucy Beaumont, Carl Stockdale, Barbara Bedford, Robert Frazer, Ferdinand Schumann-Heink
“Condemned to Live is a post-Nosferatu, post-Dracula film about vampires that may not be the best of the genre, but is entertaining nonetheless. Vampires aside, one knows almost immediately that the film is firmly set within the realm of horror as it features a hunchback – a sure-fire staple that screams of scares to come. That being said, the movie is not all that frightening, it being far more dramatic with just a touch of the supernatural. It is an interesting exercise to observe, not really advancing the vampire mythos in any way, but trying to do something just a little bit different than those films which came before.” – Geoff Rosengren, The Telltale Mind
1953 / USA / 80m / BW / Gothic | IMDb
Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, Katherine Emery, Michael Pate, John Dodsworth, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Fraser, Lilian Bond, Owen McGiveney, Robin Hughes
“Like many of the films from the golden age of 3-D, The Maze doesn’t rely on its 3-D effects to tell its story. In fact, it’s just as effective of a story when watched in two dimensions as it is in three. The Maze was directed by William Cameron Menzies (whose claim to fame was his stunning use of color as the production designer for Gone with the Wind, but he also directed the legendary Invaders from Mars), and his use of the technology is more textural and layering than gimmicky… The castle is a perfect setting for a horror film, with its long hallways, arching doorways and sweeping staircases, and the environment only adds to the excitement.” – James Jay Edwards, FilmFracture
1935 / UK / 81m / BW / Psychological | IMDb
Claude Rains, Fay Wray, Mary Clare, Ben Field, Jane Baxter, Athole Stewart, C. Denier Warren
“In his posthumous memoir, screenwriter Charles Bennett claimed that the script was actually based on a series of strange experiences he had following World War 1. According to Bennett, he grew increasingly superstitious when the war ended and his imagination started working overtime. He began believing he could cause terrible things to happen just by being in the same room with someone after bearing witnesses to multiple tragedies that he felt personally responsible for… The personal nature of the script bolsters the film’s interesting pedigree making it a unique curio that fans of classic horror and suspense should appreciate.” – Kimberly Lindbergs, TCM’s Movie Morlocks
1935 / Germany / 87m / BW / Drama | IMDb
Anton Walbrook, Theodor Loos, Dorothea Wieck, Erich Fiedler, Edna Greyff, Karl Hellmer, Volker von Collande, Fritz Genschow, Elsa Wagner, Miliza Korjus
“Reflecting the changes to the plot, Robison’s film is less an Expressionist nightmare and more a Gothic tragedy, with the emphasis now on the psychological horror instead of the visceral one. For this effect, Robison carefully develops the story of Balduin’s damnation, giving enough space for the characters to grow (even the secondary ones), all with a slick and elegant visual narrative. His “Der Student von Prag” lacks the remarkable visual flair of Galeen’s version, but instead Robison gives his movie a quite appropriate somber tone of ambiguity, with the nature of Dr. Carpis’ power over Balduin left in the dark.” – J Luis Rivera, W-Cinema
1961 / Canada / 83m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Paul Stevens, Claudette Nevins, Bill Walker, Anne Collings, Martin Lavut, Leo Leyden, Norman Ettlinger, Bill Brydon, Jim Moran, Eleanor Beecroft
“The strange aspect of the movie is that there is a very schizophrenic feeling it gives off. While the non-3D sequences are somewhat tame (while still being expertly shot in stark black and white by cinematographer Herbert S. Alpert), the 3D sequences are quite brilliantly directed and shot, almost as if they were created by an entirely different crew. They have this cerebral and surrealist vibe to them, something akin to the best aspects of Georges Franju, FW Murnau, Dali, and William Caste put in a blender, that results in a beautiful fever dream (literally) captured on celluloid… the strength of the film and the reason that people should continue watching The Mask despite its shortcomings — beyond its importance in Canadian cinematic history — lies in these scenes.” – Joe Yanick, Diabolique Magazine
2004 / India / 106m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Vicky Ahuja, J.D. Chakravarthi, Ahsaas Channa, Peeya Rai Chowdhary, Zakir Hussain, Rasika Joshi, Purab Kohli, Bansaree Madhani, Meghna Malik, Rafiqa
“This is a severely scary film, and certainly not for the faint of heart. First time director Sourabh Usha Narang has skillfully manipulated sound and cinematography to great effect, and sincerely ensured a large part of his audience sleep with the lights on… Most of the productions originating from Ram Gopal Varma’s Factory these days are slickly made and cleverly edited, but this substantially raises the bar. From bizarre transitions to surreal angles, the cinematography is ingenuous, and complemented by some inspired editing. There are several shots where characters converse while the camera lingers elsewhere, triggering off a flood of ‘oh, then this must mean…’ thoughts in your then-hyperactive subconscious.” – Raja Sen, Rediff.com
1995 / Hong Kong / 89m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Kwok-Pong Chan, Ellen Chan, Ben Ng, Bobbie Au-Yeung, Gwan Chin, Lily Chung, Woon Ling Hau, Julie Lee, Ta Lei, Meng Lo
“Really, genre fans have pretty much everything they could ask for, and even the most jaded of Cat III aficionados should have no complaints. This, of course, means that it’s probably not a film for viewers without strong stomachs, flexible sensibilities, or those who don’t find it amusing to see Elvis Tsui having his head transformed into a giant penis. In fact, there is a rich vein of lowbrow humour running through the film, which is a definite plus, as it blunts, to a degree at least, the sadistic, misogynistic edge so common in Category III. It goes without saying that the film is still way in the red zone of immorality, though cheerfully so, and without leaving too much of a bad taste in the mouth – if nothing else, the film probably sets a record for the sheer number of wirework airborne sex scenes featured.” – James Mudge, easternKicks
1941 / USA / 65m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Boris Karloff, Richard Fiske, Amanda Duff, Anne Revere, Cy Schindell, Dorothy Adams, Walter Baldwin, Kenneth MacDonald, Shirley Warde
“With its mix of sci-fi and horror elements, THE DEVIL COMMANDS is a unique little film. Karloff is great as usual, showing us a kind man who gradually becomes a physical wreck, driven to madness by the time it’s all over. Although the film lacks great character support, Revere is still quite intense, and at least we get to see the deadpan acting of Kenneth MacDonald (yup,from all those “Three Stooges” shorts) as a sheriff very suspicious of Blair. With a sitting circle of dead people in large metal helmets, and electrical special effects overhead, the sci-fi aspects are visually impressive, and Dmytryk uses shadowy lighting to hide the limited sets and build gloomy atmosphere.” – George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In
1941 / USA / 65m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Ellen Drew, Robert Paige, Paul Lukas, Joseph Calleia, Onslow Stevens, George Zucco, Rod Cameron, Phillip Terry, Marc Lawrence, Gerald Mohr
“The Monster and the Girl is definitely one of the strangest pictures ever made. And when one hears what the plot is, one expects it to be one of the worst films ever made. Surprisingly, Monster turns out to be a fairly effective and entertaining little “B” flick – and not one that gets by just on camp value… Stuart Heisler’s direction is lively and totally committed; his work gives no sign that he is not approaching this story with total seriousness, and he’s aided by good atmospheric contributions from Victor Milner.” – Craig Butler, AllMovie
1988 / India / 135m / Col / Musical | IMDb
Hemant Birje, Jasmin, Sahila Chaddha, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Satish Shah, Vijayendra Ghatge, Gulshan Grover, Rama Vij, Rajesh Vivek, Vijay Arora
“It’s a good thing there’s a warning at the beginning of the film telling us it’s only entertainment, because Veerana approaches Portrait In Crystal levels of candy coated nuttiness. The colors give the film a surreal pop aesthetic that, when combined with the off the wall musical numbers and completely over the top sound effects that literally bombard the viewer any time something of interest happens, creates one of the raddest examples of Bollywood horror to make it to an English-friendly DVD so far. Crazy dancing vampire monster bad guys, a few hot chicks, magic secret hideout caves with giant spider webs and dangling skeletons, old school Hilarious House Of Frightenstein lightning effects, bad make up, an unusually high exploding statue quotient and a stock footage insert of a crazed dog – it is all here!” – Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!
1996 / Japan / 110m / Col / Body Horror | IMDb
Kei Fujiwara, Kimihiko Hasegawa, Natsuyo Kanahama, Kenji Nasa, Ryu Okubo, Tojima Shozo, Shun Sugata
“The story concerns a cop searching for his partner kidnapped by organ transplanting criminals: but it is told in a non-linear fashion through a series of shocking and surreal images that are truly grotesque and disgusting. Everybody is sick and perverted in some way, the events portrayed may be too strong for even hardened gore-hounds to sit through. How to describe it? Imagine Cronenberg’s VIDEODROME body-horror times ten, but with even less coherence. After a while, the viewer becomes numbed to the steady procession of insanity, forgets about trying to keep track of whats going on, and begins to get sucked into the nightmare world on display.” – Snowblood wielding a Masamune
1986 / Hong Kong / 78m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Ken Boyle, Bing-Chuen Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Siu-Ho Chin, Yuen Chor, Yun-Fat Chow, Joyce Godenzi, Shu-Yuan Hsu, Sibelle Hu, Kara Hui
“At its core, The Seventh Curse is an adventure film heavily styled after Indiana Jones with thick lashings of excessive, grossout gore and ineffective yet endearing horror, with frantic action scenes of well-choreographed martial arts and satisfying pyrotechnics bookending several parts of the feature. Demon fetuses, flesh-eating skeletons, body-popping ailments and expendable extras paint the screen red, there is never much reasoning for anything and it’s all highly entertaining, it very much is a Hong Kong-centric fusion of the aforementioned Indiana Jones and Evil Dead, almost. This whole affair seems to transcend quality storytelling with its madness; plotholes abound, characters are never developed, but you simply cannot hate anything you are seeing.” – Forgotten Junk
1944 / Spain / 85m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Antonio Casal, Isabel de Pomés, Guillermo Marín, Félix de Pomés, Julia Lajos, Julia Pachelo, Manolita Morán, Antonio Riquelme, José Franco, Manuel Miranda
“Neville’s film is not exactly good, but it certainly is fascinating. In many ways it’s like a rather corny Universal horror movie of the ’30s (featuring a few performances that would show even Lugosi in an impressive light); but no Hollywood film-maker – with the possible exception of Whale or Browning – would pepper a plot with such delightful nonsense (the ghost of Napoleon turns up at one point) and grotesquerie. The Spanish taste for the fantastic, the bizarre and the surreal is much in evidence, and one is left breathless by the sheer audacity of the ludicrous plot. It can, of course, be seen as an allegory on the state of the nation after the Civil War, but is best viewed as weird but wonderful wackiness.” – GA, Time Out London
1984 / Italy / 87m / Col / Nature | IMDb
Lorraine De Selle, John Aldrich, Ugo Bologna, Louisa Lloyd, John Stacy, Enzo Pezzu, Monica Nickel, Stefania Pinna, Simonetta Pinna, Alessandra Svampa
“Wild Beasts is a romp in every sense of the word. There’s carnage and havoc and the kill scenes are exactly what you want from a movie about escaped zoo animals, which is to say that there’s a stampede. It’s impressive that Prosperi managed to coordinate and film such a menagerie—polar bears aren’t exactly the most cooperative bunch. There’s some memorable dialogue (“Children are extraterrestrials that come from outer space to destroy their parents”) and the characters that provide comic relief are charming in a drunk uncle kind of way. Explosions, sexism in the workplace, abuse of slow motion, and a touch of sleaze make this film molto Italiano.” – Annie Choi, Bleeding Skull
1947 / UK / 103m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Jean Simmons, Katina Paxinou, Derrick De Marney, Derek Bond, Sophie Stewart, Esmond Knight, Reginald Tate, Manning Whiley, Marjorie Rhodes, John Laurie
“It’s not a horror movie, but by tapping in to its strong Gothic roots, and by shooting several of the scenes with a gloomy and forbidding atmosphere, it has the feel of a horror movie on occasion; there are spooky cobweb-filled passages and a frightening face in the window just for starters. It also has fine performances from all, with special mention going to Katina Paxinou, whose hard-drinking French governess character is unsettlingly creepy. It takes a while to get rolling, and some of the pacing is awkward, but it builds up to a truly satisfying climax.” – Dave Sindelar, Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings
1945 / USA / 66m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Brenda Joyce, J. Edward Bromberg, Rosalind Ivan, Clara Blandick, George Cleveland, Wilton Graff, Bernard Thomas, Fern Emmett
“I do like old dark house mysteries and this one contains many of the elements that you expect such as murder, a strange family, and a hidden room [no will though], while also providing a surprise-filled plot, especially succeeding with its conclusion which really knocked me for six. While not ignoring the necessary atmosphere, director Wallace Fox certainly doing well in creating plenty, it’s also the fastest paced of all the films, the darkest, and possibly even the creepiest despite the fact that we remember from the previous ones that the supernatural doesn’t really exist.” – Dr Lenera, Horror Cult Films
1986 / Japan / 72m / Col / Splatter | IMDb
Saeko Kizuki, Naomi Hagio, Megumi Kawashima, Osamu Tsuruoka, Daiki Katô, Hideki Takahashi, Kazuhiko Goda
“Like most Japanese films of this genre, Entrails of a Virgin is chocked full of female degradation and uncomfortable rape scenes. However, what’s unique this time around is that in addition to slaughtering people, it’s the mud monster doing the majority of the perverse acts. That’s right. The monster is sexually-frustrated and endowed like, well, a monster. In fact, one of the more charming scenes involves an impaling with said monstrous member. You can’t go wrong there. With all the strange scenes of gore that are sprinkled throughout the film’s erotic themes, it sort of resembles an episode of HBO’s “Real Sex,” if it were filmed on the set of Evil Dead.” – Dustin Wilmes, Passport Cinema
1959 / Philippines / 89m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen, Richard Derr, Oscar Kesse, Lilia Duran, Peyton Keesee, Flory Carlos
“A horror film which prefigures the signature Hemisphere style of putting a deeply eccentric spin on tired and shopworn premises. It was quite successful in the Philippines, but initially failed miserably enough at the American box office… the reissue [in 1964 as Blood Creature] made so much money that Romero spent the rest of the decade spinning it off into a loosely organized series of increasingly sex-crazed and blood-soaked horror flicks set on Terror Is a Man’s imaginary Blood Island… On the technical side, Terror Is a Man is one of the most beautifully shot movies I’ve seen in quite some time. This is probably the film’s most remarkable feature, seeing as one hardly expects first-rate cinematography from a 40-plus-year-old horror flick made in the Philippines!” – Scott Ashlin, 1000 Misspent Hours
1973 / Spain / 87m / Col / Gothic | IMDb
Paul Naschy, Rosanna Yanni, Víctor Alcázar, María Elena Arpón, Manuel de Blas, Antonio Pica, Kino Pueyo, Adolfo Thous, Ángel Menéndez, Fernando Sotuela
“Far gorier than you might expect, The Hunchback Of The Morgue isn’t really breaking any new ground and it borrows heavily from the Hammer and Universal films that came before it, but it’s still a lot of fun and plenty atmospheric. Aguirre’s direction is strong as he keeps the movie going at a very brisk pace but manages to do so without sacrificing important character development bits which make Gotho [the hunchback] a very sympathetic lead. Naschy does quite well in the part, keeping in character and not often straying from the ‘hunchback stance’ that he manages to maintain quite convincingly throughout the film. The script, co-written by Naschy as Jacinto Molina, is lean and to the point but it manages to give us a few characters to care about aside from Gotho” – Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!
1923 / Germany / 90m / BW / Drama | IMDb
Alexander Granach, Max Gülstorff, Lilli Herder, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Fritz Kortner, Karl Platen, Fritz Rasp, Eugen Rex, Ferdinand von Alten, Gustav von Wangenheim
“At the time of production in 1922, Warning Shadows was a remarkable achievement. Its purely psychological direction opened new attributes of the cinema. It was a rare instance of complete filmic unity, with the possible exception of the unnecessary roof-garden scene. The continuity of theme, the smooth development from one sequence into another, the gradual communication of the thoughts of the characters, were flawlessly presented. It carried an air of romance, of fantasy, of tragedy. Every filmic property for the expression of mood, for the creation of atmosphere, that was known at the time was used with imagination and intelligence. Its supreme value as an example of unity of purpose, of time, of place, of theme, cannot be over-estimated.” – Paul Rotha
1946 / USA / 59m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Rosemary La Planche, Robert Barrat, Blake Edwards, Charles Middleton, Effie Laird, Nolan Leary, Frank Conlan, Therese Lyon, Virginia Farmer
“While the film’s sparse setting is no doubt a result of its limited budget, director Wisbar makes it a strength by infusing it with an overbearing gloominess. This is actually a remake of his own film, Fahrmann Maria, and he ports the gothic leanings of his native Germany over in this translation. While it’s not as overtly stylish and expressionist as early German horror, Strangler of the Swamp is bathed in shadows, mist, and moonlight and feels like a spectral dream not unlike The Vampyr. The persistent presence of the ferry recalls Charon and the River Styx, and it’s almost as if viewers are transported to a dismal underworld inhabited by the sprits of the living and the dead.” – Brett Gallman, Oh the Horror!
1976 / Hong Kong / 89m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Lung Ti, Ni Tien, Lily Li, Feng Lin, Wei Tu Lin, Terry Liu, Lieh Lo, Tzu-yun Mai, Chih-Li Ou, Cheng-cheng Wang
“Instead of continuing on with the same characters and telling more of their story, Black Magic 2 treats the black magic itself as the “character” worth exploring further in the sequel. Of course, the audience reaps the benefits, as this sequel is nastier, nuttier and a whole lot funner to watch. And since the twisted ways of Southeast Asian black magic are our main focus, it makes sense that the evil black magic practitioner (played wonderfully by Lo Lieh) is essentially the star of the film… It’s highly entertaining and it takes story risks that pay off incredibly well, resulting in a sequel that is better than the original film in nearly every way.” – Will Kouf, Silver Emulsion
1934 / Mexico / 85m / BW / Haunted House | IMDb
Enrique del Campo, Marta Roel, Carlos Villatoro, Paco Martínez, Victorio Blanco, Francisco Lugo, Beltrán de Heredia, Agustín González, José Ignacio Rocha
“As so many other horror films are, El fantasma del convento is essentially a morality tale. Adulterous couple Cristina (Roel) and Alfonso (del Campo) become lost one night while attempting to find a good make out spot. Enter a bizarre guide of sorts – is it ever wise to follow a stranger in a horror film? – who leads the pair to a foreboding monastery… don’t let a little predictability deter you from seeing this beautifully shot and eerie film. For those of you who are fans of Matthew Lewis’ 1796 horror novel, The Monk, you will certainly see the book’s influence in the film.” – Geoff Fogleman, Bloody Disgusting
2012 / USA / 91m / Col / Psychological | IMDb
Jason Vail, Nicholas Wilder, Sarah Schoofs, Kirstianna Mueller, Kaitlyn Mueller, Angie Bullaro, Ria Burns-Wilder, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Karl Pfeiffer, Leisa Haddad
“The title may insinuate blood and flowing intestines, but this is a bit misleading—in a methodical, graceful way. The true meat of the story lies in the dark, twisted fantasy of regular 9-5ers who become captivated by an erratic obsession due to uneventful lives. It effectively explores the possibilities on the effects of leading a lethargic life and how a meaningless horror-flick obsession can progress into a lethal battle. Gut breaks typical Hollywood gore-infested stereotypes by executing a plot with powerful purpose. On a psychological level, the moral of the film is deeper than the gloved hand piercing through the stomach. The ending of the film, though a tad abrupt, leaves the viewer with a strange feeling of vertigo combined with a “Can this really happen?” aftershock.” – Samantha Cortez, Review Fix
1943 / USA / 65m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Turhan Bey, Evelyn Ankers, David Bruce, George Zucco, Charles McGraw, Robert Armstrong, Milburn Stone, Rose Hobart, Andrew Tombes, Addison Richards
“This is a pretty neat little horror picture that’s raised several notches by the presence of George Zucco as the openly lecherous mad scientist who turns David Bruce into the title monster—as much for a shot at leading lady Evelyn Ankers (he wants to teach her how to read “the book of life”) as for the good of science. The results are actually pretty grisly for its era—and the Mad Ghoul looks alarmingly like a George Romero zombie… An unnamed British critic is said to have reviewed the film by noting, “To be a ghoul would be disconcerting enough. To be a mad ghoul must be the height of personal embarassment.”” – Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress
1990 / Hong Kong / 87m / Col / Martial Arts | IMDb
Ching-Ying Lam, Kiu Wai Miu, Wilson Lam, Mei-Wah Wong, Michiko Nishiwaki, Ma Wu, Billy Chow, Chi-leung Chan, Woon Ling Hau, Yuk-Hang Wong
“As for the story, Magic Cop has a plot that has been done countless times, but thanks to Stephen Tung Wai’s direction, the imagination on the Taoist monk scenes and the supporting cast, the film is fun from beginning to end. Wai’s film direction is good, with good pacing (although it takes quite a bit to really begin) that adds energy to the film, but it is Wai’s action direction that stand out. Wai’s action direction has always been about efficiency rather than flash (see the Jet Li film Hitman and his choreography in films like Reign of Assassins) and it shows in Magic Cop.” – Harris Dang, easternKicks
1989 / USA / 82m / Col / Vampire | IMDb
Starr Andreeff, Cyril O’Reilly, Debbie Nassar, Maria Ford, Athena Worthy, Tom Ruben, Chuck Rhee, J. Bartell, Paisley Yankolovich, Eric Coplin
“In many respects this might have been a play rather than a film, which is one of its strengths and whilst starting with a level of exploitation quickly finds its feet as an excellent drama… this is not a film for those looking for pure horror, as it really isn’t, this is an intelligent film that explores humanity and despair. It is one that you will have to really search out but is well worth the effort and shows just how good a low budget film can be if the correct script and actors are used.” – A. Boylan, Taliesin Meets The Vampires
1964 / UK / 79m / Col / Witchcraft | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Jack Hedley, Jill Dixon, Viola Keats, Marie Ney, David Weston, Diane Clare, Yvette Rees, Barry Linehan, Victor Brooks
“Another choice film from the late Don Sharp, Witchcraft was made the year after the gaudily effective Kiss of the Vampire, and despite working in black and white and with a less exciting cast, Sharp pulls off another minor genre miracle with this cool little film… Lon Chaney Jr has a small role as Amy’s father Morgan, but Witchcraft isn’t driven by star-power; Harry Spalding’s script rigorously develops the idea of the past catching up with the present, and Sharp brings ingenious touches to the material… Older horror fans complain about the lack of story in recent films; Witch Craft would be a good place for a younger fan to start.” – Eddie B, Film Authority
1959 / Mexico / 78m / BW / Werewolf | IMDb
Enrique Rambal, Abel Salazar, Martha Roth, Ofelia Guilmáin, Ana Laura Baledon, José Chávez, Maricarmen Vela, Carlos Suárez, Anita Blanch
“A nearly perfect monster movie of the old school, compelling in its humane approach to its titular monster, The Man and the Monster is emotionally intense. Far more than physical violence, drooling monsters, and pulp-style thrills are emphasized. Souls and sanity wait in the balance as man struggles with his conscience (or lack thereof). Not a typical creature feature, the major themes of sacrifice, price, and personal Id/Ego vs. the welfare of society are played out in operatic fashion. A neglected dark masterpiece of tension and visual aplomb, ‘Monster kids’ will get a kick out of the shlocky makeup of Sameul, who resembles a shaggy cross between a dog and a werewolf. The enticing grotesqueness of the story is mirrored by dazzling shot nightmare set-pieces. Baledon creates a morally challenging fable, one which is pleasing as both a horror film and moral allegory.” – William P. Simmons, SexGoreMutants
1996 / USA / 83m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Debbie Rochon, Grant Cramer, John Mowod, Dawn Michelucci, Savannah Calhoun, Marilyn Eastman, Julie Wallace Deklavon, Christopher Boyle, Terri Lewandowski, Ed Lewandowski
“John A. Russo has written and directed one of the best ‘whack-job stalker’ movies that I have seen. This movie is fairly gory but has more nudity than a Larry Flynt hot tub party, which is the films biggest saving grace. A light hearted Christmas soundtrack being played while our killer does his dirty work while wearing a Santa Clause suit is a great added touch. This one will be enjoyed by fans of horror, fans of humor and fans of naked chicks alike. Did someone say stocking stuffer?” – The Cryptkeeper, Buried.com
1944 / USA / 86m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Vera Ralston, Richard Arlen, Erich von Stroheim, Helen Vinson, Mary Nash, Sidney Blackmer, Janet Martin, William Henry, Charles Cane, Juanita Quigley
“The first film adaptation of Kurt Siodmak’s influential novel Donovan’s Brain features, for the first time on screen, a disembodied brain asserting its influence on people around it. Well shot and directed for second-tier studio Republic in a gothic noir style, and good acting from Erich von Stroheim and Richard Arlen. Unfortunately the script doesn’t live up to its source material and the film contains ghastly wooden acting from Czechoslovakian ice-skater-turned-studio-boss’-girlfriend Eva Hruba Ralston in her first feature role… There are some very nice pans and tracking shots of the lab, experimental low-angle shots and of course the wonderfully expressionistic lighting of the DP Alton creates a very claustrophobic and moody atmosphere.” – Janne Wass, Scifist
1965 / Italy / 87m / BW / Zombie | IMDb
Barbara Steele, Walter Brandi, Mirella Maravidi, Alfredo Rizzo, Riccardo Garrone, Luciano Pigozzi, Ennio Balbo, Steve Robinson, Lewis Czerny, Peter Sarto
“Considerably more bizarre than your traditional Italian gothic horror film of the 1960’s, Nightmare Castle benefits from a few truly memorable set pieces. When Stephen murder Muriel he doesn’t just stab her or kill her quietly, no, he gets her and the man he’s falsely accused her of boinking behind his back with a hot poker. On top of that, Jennifer’s first nightmare features a strange man whose face is obscured behind a white cloth mask and all manner of odd sporadic violence. The film has a few slow spots and hits cliché after cliché after cliché along the way, but it all builds up to a completely fantastic and otherworldly conclusion that doesn’t really tie things up particularly well but at least entertains. The big finish is surprisingly effects heavy and plenty horrific and it’s strong enough to actually still surprise us, even if it might leave you scratching your head.” – Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!
1957 / USA / 69m / BW / Vampire | IMDb
Sandra Harrison, Louise Lewis, Gail Ganley, Jerry Blaine, Heather Ames, Malcolm Atterbury, Mary Adams, Thomas Browne Henry, Don Devlin, Jean Dean
“This really should’ve been called I Was a Teenage Vampire. Unfortunately, the folks at AIP chickened out. It’s the third in the series, and while it isn’t quite in the same league as I Was a Teenage Werewolf or I Was a Teenage Frankenstein; it still has its moments. The film is essentially a remake of I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Instead of Michael Landon getting hypnotized by a deranged doctor into becoming a werewolf, we get a mousy chick (Sandra Harrison) getting hypnotized by a deranged doctor (Louise Lewis) into becoming a vampire. Other than that, it’s the same damn thing. There’s even a funny rock song (called “Puppy Love”) in there for no good reason whatsoever.” – Mitch Lovell, The Video Vacuum
1983 / Hong Kong / 88m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Norman Chu, Phillip Ko, Maria Jo, Yung Wang, Mi Tien, Kar-Man Wai, Hsin Nan Hung, Man-Biu Bak, Ling-Chi Fu, Erik Chan Ka Kei
“The crowning ghoulish jewel in the recent wave of Shaw Brothers horror releases is undoubtedly the notorious, long sought after Seeding of a Ghost… Without wishing to spoil too many of the gruesome surprises in store, it’s fair to say that Seeding of a Ghost pretty much has it all, from grave robbing, corpse kissing, worm vomiting, and brain eating through to the decidedly inappropriate use of an oversized matchstick. However, such delights pale in comparison to the frankly insane final bloodbath, which is worth the price of admission on its own, and which is a guaranteed eye opener even for the most jaded fan of the black magic subgenre.” – Andrew Heskins, easternKicks.com
1996 / Japan / 75m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Yûrei Yanagi, Yasuyo Shirashima, Kei Ishibashi, Ren Ohsugi, Takanori Kikuchi, SABU, Reita Serizawa, Akira Hibino, Hirofumi Kobayashi, Dan Li
“Ring wasn’t just effortlessly scary – it didn’t come out of nowhere. Hideo Nakata had already been trying out how to scare audiences with a ghost girl all the way through Ghost Actress, which makes it an interesting watch. Strangely, the ghost is seen many more times than in Ring – here she’s more active, more vocal and more hands on!… well-acted, atmospheric, occasionally creepy, but a little too brief at 73 minutes – you’re left wanting more story, including a better reason for the haunting. But it’s a lively precursor to the terrifying Ring-cycle” – Mark Hodgson, Black Hole DVD Reviews
1973 / Australia / 54m / Col / Exploitation | IMDb
Norman Yemm, Carla Hoogeveen, Mike Dorsey, Briony Behets, Peter Armstrong, James Moss, Curt Jansen, Pinkie
“Critics have often described Terry Bourke’s Night of Fear as a “curio”. It was also a seminal work in an emerging horror genre. The film can be categorised as part of the phenomena known as Ozploitation (a series of exploitation films produced between the early 1970s and the late 1980s specific to Australia) […] Bourke transcended the limitations of budget, and, using no dialogue and over a very brief running-time, he created a film full of dizzying suspense and nauseating horror. He also created a minor cult-classic, even though most (even those well versed in the horror genre) have never seen it.” – William “Bill” Blick, Senses of Cinema
1974 / UK / 89m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
William Marshall, Terry Carter, Austin Stoker, Carol Speed, Juanita Moore, Charles Kissinger, Elliott Moffitt, Nathan Cook, Nancy Lee Owens, William P. Bradford
“This film undoubtedly rides the coattails of The Exorcist… [but] there is some new, intriguing ground broken by setting the possession not only in a minister’s family, but also in a black family — given the prominent role that religion plays within the African-American community. Still, the big draw is seeing a prim and proper church lady grope and drop the MF bomb on unsuspecting parishioners, and in that respect, Abby delivers. It’s also genuinely creepy at times, thanks to the thunderous audio filled with guttural groans and demonic voices. It’s solid entertainment that deserves a wider audience” – BlackHorrorMovies.com
1974 / Canada / 98m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Jonathan Frid, Martine Beswick, Joseph Sirola, Christina Pickles, Hervé Villechaize, Anne Meacham, Roger De Koven, Troy Donahue, Mary Woronov, Richard Cox
“As a number of noted American filmmakers had roots in low budget genre productions (look at the Roger Corman school for numerous examples), it’s not surprising that young New York-born Vietnam vet Oliver Stone’s maiden directorial effort would be in horror… It was obvious that Stone and company were trying to make something a bit smarter than the average monster or slasher film, resulting in an oddball and at times crude piece of filmmaking with far out editing techniques… Produced independently and shot entirely on location in what must have been a very cold Ontario, Canada, SEIZURE’s casting is what makes it easily approachable and easy to watch, even when it comes off like an hallucinatory-induced episode of “Night Gallery”.” – George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In
1973 / Canada / 84m / Col / Cannibal | IMDb
Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Ronald Ulrich, Randall Carpenter, Bonnie Neilson, Mira Pawluk, Bob McHeady, Alan Gordon, Allan Price, Earl Pomerantz
“Another classic Canadian horror delivers some laughs, a bit of blood, and a trio of beautiful and dangerous women, straight from the mind of Ivan Reitman… Within the first few moments of Cannibal Girls, you get a very good understanding of what lies ahead. A couple decide to make out in the woods, in the winter because it is Canada you know. A creepy figure emerges from the bush, brandishes a pickax and eliminates the man before tearing open the woman’s shirt to expose her breasts. The rest of the film plays out in pretty much the same way. Just throw in a little comic relief with Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin and you have a perfect example of Canadian exploitation.” – Will Brownridge, The Film Reel
1966 / UK / 95m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Dana Andrews, Anna Palk, Philip Gilbert, Kathleen Breck, Karel Stepanek, Basil Henson, Alan Tilvern, Anne Tirard, Edward Fox, Oliver MacGreevy
“By 1966 a few soft-core exploitation producers had begun to produce crude and offensive movies about sexual torture in concentration camps… Although it isn’t sexually explicit, the Warner Brothers-released The Frozen Dead pushed the borders of rotten taste. The studio thought so much of it that it was released in the U.S. in B&W prints. We didn’t see it in color until it showed up on local television a decade later… Murky moral back-issues aside, The Frozen Dead is a likeable hoot with a number of graces (its jolly disregard for good taste) and flaws (clumsily written characters). And if I’m not mistaken, the film neglects to account for one major Nazi character, who simply disappears in the last reel.” – Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant
1969 / Mexico / 81m / Col / Vampire | IMDb
Santo, Aldo Monti, Noelia Noel, Roberto G. Rivera, Carlos Agostí, Alberto Rojas, Pili González, Jorge Mondragón, Gina Morett, Fernando Mendoza
“While EL VAMPIRO Y EL SEXO is certainly entertaining, it suffers from a pronounced lack of Santo, who appears in less than ten minutes of the first half of the movie. The reason is clear: Santo (the real Santo) refused to appear in any erotic scenes… If it were just a few topless women, that would be unusually frank enough for a Santo adventure, but the erotic content also includes full nudity and much breast kissing by Dracula (I think we found his fetish). Strangely, despite the sexual material, director Rene Cardona (NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES) refrains from showing even a drop of blood.” – Marty McKee, Johnny LaRue’s Crane Shot
2019 / USA / 111m / Col / Mystery | IMDb
Kate Arrington, Tim Hopper, James Vincent Meredith, Marika Engelhardt, Tony Fitzpatrick, Audrey Francis, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Grace Smith, Ty Olwin, Alex Moss
“The stylish psychedelic psycho-thriller parody and part musical by veteran director/writer Jennifer Reeder (“Signature Move”/”Blood Below The Skin”) is a good original one (even if uneven in presentation) and a difficult movie to label as for genre identity, even if its subtle female empowerment messages remind one of those by other artistic directors such as Chantal Akerman. In its ethereal nature this mood piece compares favorably with the restless quirky attitude of films like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Here there’s a coming-of-age tale with multi-racial eccentric characters and a bizarre narrative with horror tropes and 80s music that promotes the idea that a grieving America is still wrestling with itself to find its identity after years of betrayal by the patriarchal society and those in power.” – Dennis Schwartz, Dennis Schwartz Reviews
1976 / USA / 90m / Col / Nature | IMDb
David McCallum, Sandra McCabe, George Wyner, Eric Server, Linda Gray, Dean Santoro, Holly Harris, Sterling Swanson, Barry Greenberg, Michael Davis
“Typically in genre flicks such as “Dogs,” there’s an outside foe which threatens in the wild. This 1976 gem subverts that concept with its beasts invited willingly into their victims’ unsuspecting homes. The plot is decidedly barebones, and there’s an underdeveloped insinuation that a government experiment reverted domesticated dogs to feral instincts which goes nowhere. Still, “Dogs” is nonetheless thrilling. Filled with ample tension, grisly effects, and a compelling albeit subdued performance by David McCallum, “Dogs” succeeds as a delightful, campy genre effort.” – Moe Long, Cup of Moe
2006 / Japan / 107m / Col / Anthology | IMDb
Noriko Nakagoshi, Yûko Kobayashi, Riko Suzuki, Miharu Morina, Yayoi Okuyama, Kaori Fuseya, Aiko Chisaka, Hisayo Ebine, Atsuko Abe, Harumi Yazawa
“In “Rattle Rattle”, a girl is transported to an alternate dimension and chased by a psychotic, wraith-like bitch. With a non-stop tempo, this is very lean and satisfying. “Hagane” is a spectacular romantic comedy horror about a guy who goes on a blind date with a woman who (for some unknown reason) covers the upper half of her body with a potato sack. This mind-numbingly weird entry is a resounding success in terms of originality, humor, and frightfulness. “Inheritance” is a well-made, deliberately-paced possession film that focuses on child abuse. Overall, this anthology is essential viewing even for the “Hagane” short alone.” – Erik Ebossert, Cult Reviews
1944 / USA / 64m / BW / Thriller | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Acquanetta, Jean Parker, Paul Kelly, Thomas Gomez, Jonathan Hale, Edward Fielding, George Meeker, Pierre Watkin, Eddie Dunn
“The Inner Sanctum Mysteries that Chaney, Jr. starred in between 1943-45 have historically been thought of as inferior to his better known work, though Universal’s 2006 release of all six movies in a single collection reveals them to be fun and fast-paced even if you do consider them simple and routine mysteries… They are tidy little hour-long “B” pictures each linked by Lon Chaney, Jr. and enhanced by familiar supporting players throughout the series. Because of Chaney and the dark subject material they’re marketed as horror movies, but they are mostly and mainly mystery films. While none of them approaches the top echelon of either genre, each is entertaining and Dead Man’s Eyes–either despite or because of its being one of the most routine–is my own favorite by a slight margin.” – Cliff Aliperti, Immortal Ephemera
1964 / UK / 101m / BW / Psychological | IMDb
Albert Finney, Mona Washbourne, Susan Hampshire, Sheila Hancock, Michael Medwin, Joe Gladwin, Martin Wyldeck, John Gill
“The psychological thriller, about a murderous psychopath who descends upon a country estate, began life in 1935 as a stage play by Emlyn Williams… Perhaps the thing that was most repulsive to audiences who saw this horrifying opening after Tom Jones is that Finney bounces around with an enthusiasm similar to that character, but with all the warmth drained away. It was as if Jones had turned on them, all his happy wrinkles pressed into cold, emotionless flesh. Finney has Danny speak like a deranged ventriloquist’s dummy, using his familiar staccato delivery to horrifying effect. He seems possessed, and the scary thing about it is that just about everyone around him thinks it’s hilarious.” – Kendahl Cruver, A Classic Movie Blog
1976 / USA / 97m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
May Britt, Cameron Mitchell, Aldo Ray, William Gray Espy, Ben Hammer, E.J. André, Kendall Jackson, Susan Nohr, Robert Hippard, Don Dolan
“As soon as I saw the blank black screen, emulsion lines, and scratches, I knew Haunts was going to be good… With a combination of tame-yet-uncomfortable subject matter (no gore, no nudity, no explicit sex) and capable filmmaking from Herb Freed (Graduation Day), Haunts kicked out its low-budget limitations for world class uneasiness. The tight editing, quiet atmosphere, and “real” acting (most people seem to be playing themselves), worked in tandem with the grittiness of the film stock; a nice example of the whole slightly inching above the sum. I could’ve done without some of the padding, as the film tended to drag a bit towards the end, but overall, I was surprisingly taken. And a little scared.” – Joseph A. Ziemba, Bleeding Skull!
1973 / Spain / 73m / Col / Werewolf | IMDb
Paul Naschy, Fabiola Falcón, Mariano Vidal Molina, Maritza Olivares, José Manuel Martín, María Silva, Elsa Zabala, Eduardo Calvo, Ana Farra, Fernando Sánchez Polack
“The ambience of the film is very much like the later 1970s Hammer films and this film could easily be mistaken for a production from the British studio with its effective 19th Century atmosphere and rural settings. Director Carlos Aured does some good work throughout – the night-time scenes in particular are well made, using shooting at night rather than using the obvious blue-for-night filters of the earlier films. Similar to Werewolf Shadow, the werewolf attacks are suitably bloody and there are a couple of female topless and nude shots. Gone is the mix of light jazz and minimalist horror in the soundtrack from the earlier films, replaced with a light orchestral track helps to keep the Hammer feel to the whole piece.” – Timothy Young, Mondo-Esoterica
1980 / Hong Kong / 90m / Col / Martial Arts | IMDb
Norman Chu, Eddy Ko, Melvin Wong, Kwok Choi Hon, Mo-lin Cheung, Fung Fung, Chih Hung Ling, Tin Sang Lung, Kei Mai, Yung-sheng Pan
“The film is certainly very entertaining, and whilst very definitely in the worst possible taste (especially the scenes involving a grotesque and overweight transvestite intent on seducing everyone he sees), is jovial enough that it’s never actually offensive. “We’re Going to Eat You” is certainly quite a bloody film, and although there is little actual cannibalism, there are plenty of dismemberments, bisections, impalements, and martial arts battles involving meat cleavers. However, the gore is often offset by some rather endearing and silly touches, such as having protagonists wear roller-skates, or the liberal application of the time honored Hong Kong cinema tradition of slapstick.” – James Mudge, Beyond Hollywood
1987 / Czechoslovakia / 92m / Col / Science Fiction | IMDb
Miroslav Machácek, Tomás Palatý, Stepánka Cervenková, Jan Bidlas, Rita Dudusová, Irena Mrozková, Hana Mrozkovy, Norbert Pycha, Simona Racková, Roman Fiser
“It’s part your usual summer camp movie, part slasher (though with a low body count) – but also part political metaphor, as the whole thing can also be understood as an allegory for the police state, which rather hit home given the political situation of Czechoslovakia in the 1980s. And add to that some typically Czech humour and that people’s predilection for the macabre and you’ve got … not a perfect movie, it stays too close to teen camp and slasher mainstays for that, but a very interesting historical document – made up as a shallow horror flick.” – Mike Haberfelner, (re)Search my Trash
1943 / USA / 63m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Patricia Morison, J. Carrol Naish, David Bruce, Ramsay Ames, Fay Helm, Holmes Herbert, Alec Craig, Frederick Giermann, Lisa Golm
“As far as mysteries go, Calling Dr. Death was not that mysterious and it could be chalked up to the passage of time for making it so. When the film was released in 1943 it might have been fresh and original yet going on seventy years later it just tended to be a little clichéd. For all its faults of which that was the biggest, the film did manage to captivate with Chaney excelling as the downtrodden and confused doctor.” – Geoff Rosengren, The Telltale Mind
1945 / USA / 61m / BW / Mystery | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Evelyn Ankers, Milburn Stone, Douglass Dumbrille, Martin Kosleck, Elena Verdugo, Tala Birell, Arthur Hohl
“Ghost’s charms are modest, so much so that they are rather hard to define. Certainly, the screenplay is no work of art. Much of it doesn’t make sense, and there are several moments when the audience will groan at the manipulated actions of the characters. The dialogue doesn’t exactly sparkle – although it does have a certain “B” movie cheesiness that is hard to resist. Many will be bothered by Lon Chaney Jr.’s mannered performance, but it also is somewhat mesmerizing; there’s a power to it, even if it’s often phony and hokey. The supporting cast is actually pretty good, within the confines of the script, and it’s enjoyable seeing Milburn Stone in this kind of role. Harold Young’s direction is for the most part average, but he and cinematographer Paul Ivano do some very nice things with the opening hypnosis sequence and there are a few surprising and effective angles employed later on that give the film a little edge.” – Craig Butler, AllMovie
1987 / Soviet Union / 109m / Col / Mystery | IMDb
Viktor Avilov, Anna Demyanenko, Mikhail Kozakov, Ivan Krasko, Vadim Lobanov, Valentina Malakhiyeva, Konstantin Lukashov
“Very loosely based on the novella “Grey Automobile” by Alexander Grin, it’s an eerie, tragic tale of an artist whose desire to capture something divine and immortal through his art ends up being his undoing. Having watched the film several times now, I’m still quite haunted by the saturated colors and imagery, gorgeous pre-revolutionary St. Petersburg sets… Mister Designer is the kind of movie that gets under your skin. Every moment in the film is screen-shot worthy and the soundtrack [by Sergey Kuryokhin] is repeatedly enjoyable, but it’s all those elements combined that create the tense, tragic and beautiful atmosphere” – Tanya, Cinema Midnight
2018 / USA / 95m / Col / Drama | IMDb
Azura Skye, Bryce Pinkham, Ashley Bell, Zach Rand, Taen Phillips, Liam Seib, Deborah Hedwall, Dan Daily, Jason Gupton, Lindsay Jackson
““The Swerve” is as raw and unnerving as watching someone have a complete mental breakdown. A story about anguish smothering and withering away every last ounce of life and hope could easily be a one-note, feel-bad bummer, but that never happens here. It’s riveting to watch the dread accelerate and be served straight-up without a chaser to make its portrayal of mental decay more comfortable. Making his feature film debut, writer-director Dean Kapsalis draws the viewer in immediately with the demonstrative, fascinating face of character actor Azura Skye and never loses their attention.” – Jeremy Kibler, The Artful Critic
1946 / USA / 72m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
John Carradine, Claudia Drake, Robert Shayne, Maris Wrixon, Willie Best, Thomas E. Jackson, Rosa Rey, Neal Burns, Donald Kerr, Allan Ray
“The Face of Marble has the look of a classic Universal or Hammer horror film. It’s dark, gritty and very spooky. The locations are perfect for a film of its type, from the sprawling gothic beach home where most of the action takes place to the Frankenstein-esque laboratory where the scientists do their thing… All of the visual aspects of the film come together to give it an unforgettable mood that, with the lights turned off, could raise a few goose-bumps in even the most desensitized horror fan. William Beaudrine’s work runs the gamut from utterly ridiculous crossover films to family-oriented television, but The Face of Marble is probably his most genuinely scary film. Plot holes and unanswered questions aside, the tight little film about science and superstition will not disappoint anyone who invests a little over an hour into watching.” – James Jay Edwards, FilmFracture
2012 / USA / 81m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Lance Henriksen, Sean Elliot, Rose Sirna, Jimmy Gonzales, Doran Ingram, Andrew Varenhorst, Cameron Wofford, Cassie Kinchen, Dog, Larry Jack Dotson
“The monster stuff is wonderfully and atmospherically handled, at any rate; the creature’s screen time is relatively scarce but effective. Constantly shrouded by mist or the surrounding woods, it’s (rightfully) rarely glimpsed until the climax, so director Scooter Downey and co-writer Elliot show command of suspense and tension building. Even more striking is his ability to allow the actors to carry the film through their performances. It’s in the Blood is hardly a flashy, overly kinetic film that attempts to bludgeon your sensibilities, as its gore is calculated and impacting, especially a squirm inducing leg injury that results in Henriksen spending most of the movie slumped against a tree. It hardly matters, though, as Henriksen delivers a fantastically layered performance that paints a three-dimensional portrait of a man who is broken but not pathetic, gruff, but not without his charms.” – Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!
1959 / USA / 70m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Eduard Franz, Valerie French, Grant Richards, Henry Daniell, Lumsden Hare, Frank Gerstle, Paul Wexler, Howard Wendell, Paul Cavanagh
“THE FOUR SKULLS OF JONATHAN DRAKE is a real cheapie with soundstage-bound sets (the whole show takes place in two different darkly lit houses), but a moody, creepy little thriller at that. Somewhat resembling a 1950s William Castle effort (especially a sequence with four floating skulls) veteran workman director Edward L. Cahn is able to cram enough thrills into 70 minutes, and the cast does a decent job with the material. Wrinkly Daniell makes a really creepy villain, and as a witch doctor, is able to perform some nasty things (the head shrinking is pretty graphic for the time) in his dungeon-like basement.” – George R. Reis, DVD Drive-In
1945 / USA / 62m / BW / Crime | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., Brenda Joyce, J. Carrol Naish, Milburn Stone, Lloyd Bridges, Addison Richards, Mary Gordon, George Chandler, Gregory Marshall, Wilton Graff
“This is the fifth Inner Sanctum Mystery put to film and it is not so much a mystery as a thriller, though a slow-burning one at that. There is no mystery to be found here, yet the picture holds tension and a measure of suspense to grab your attention and keep it throughout its running time. As far as movies about revenge go, the film does a great job and it was refreshing to see Chaney in something that might have been outside of his comfort zone, or at least a role that was not one normally associated with the man. Grief and revenge, a combination that is utterly dangerous and Strange Confession is a fine example of it.” – Geoff Rosengren, The Telltale Mind
2007 / Russia / 123m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Ekaterina Shcheglova, Mikhail Dementyev, Nikita Emshanov, Darya Charusha, Artyom Semakin, Ravshana Kurkova, Mikhail Efimov, Ivan Volkov, Elena Morozova, Irina Brazgovka
“There is not a second where you get the impression that Ruminov isn’t in control over what is shown and what isn’t. There’s also a fair share of Sogo Ishii to be recognized, especially when the camera is racing behind the characters. It creates a lovely mood and it’s rare to see camera work like this that well done. Ruminov also remains in control over the audio at all times, never reverting to loud scares but carefully building up an atmosphere. Add to that some snappy and precise editing, and even people with dulled-down senses will be pleased with Dead Daughters.” – Niels Matthijs, onderhond.com
1968 / Brazil / 80m / Col / Anthology | IMDb
Luís Sérgio Person, Vany Miller, Mário Lima, Verônica Krimann, Rosalvo Caçador, Paula Ramos, Tony Cardi, Esmeralda Ruchel, Messias de Melo, Leila de Oliveira
“It’s rare to find a movie that genuinely shocks while still maintaining its artistic integrity, but Mojica does it here, and delivers the goods that any horror fan should find satisfying. A natural bridge between the Coffin Joe films and the madness of Awakening of the Beast, this is a truly wild anthology show demands attention and reverence, outstripping even This Night… in terms of shocking perversity and eerie, disturbing effectiveness.” – The Vicar of VHS, Mad Mad Mad Mad Movies
1989 / USA / 80m / Col / Splatter | IMDb
Edward Terry, Joan Roth, Stacy Haiduk, Thomas Mills, Jerry Clarke, Tom Brittingham, Carlton Williams, ‘Chicken’ Klabunde, Gil Rogers, Karen Maurise
“A geek, as defined in “Luther the Geek,” is a disturbed carnival sideshow performer who bites the heads off snakes and chickens, usually for a reward that helps to calm urges of alcoholism and drug addiction… [the film] plays around with the nightmarish vocation, transporting a Depression-era celebration of the macabre to a slightly more modern setting, with writer/director Carlton J. Albright creating a slasher-type event with a truly disturbing murderer. It’s a weird movie, but one that owns its strangeness through a commitment to character and unusual encounters between the (clucking) hunter and his understandably confused prey.” – Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com
1957 / Mexico / 80m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Columba Domínguez, Crox Alvarado, Wolf Ruvinskis, Carlos Riquelme, Arturo Martínez, Eduardo Alcaraz, Guillermo Hernández, Yerye Beirute, Alberto Catalá, Lee Morgan
“Subdued lighting renders Wolf Ruvinskis’ monstrous appearance all the more horrifying, as does the actor’s depiction of Guillermo Santata as a boyish, dashing sort with a flirtatious streak. His transformation to a rampaging creature drives the film to a precipitous finale—but it is his abrupt and jarring lapse from heroism to victimization, early on in the proceedings, that renders the film a study in terror. Méndez’ use of the wrestling-ring demimonde—seedy and energetic, with an assortment of colorful eccentrics—provides a vivid backdrop.” – Michael H. Price, Forgotten Horrors Vol. 7
1990 / USA / 86m / Col / Anthology | IMDb
James Earl Jones, Brad Dourif, Will Hare, Marc McClure, Michelle Joyner, William Atherton, Lisa Eichhorn, Wendy J. Cooke, Scott Paulin, Jennifer Barlow
“A prim New Englander (Dourif) finds his campsite invaded by a grizzled, smelly mountain man (Jones), who turns up with a fresh corpse slung over his saddle. Mutual mistrust spurs them to scare each other with horror stories through the night. The four tales are ingeniously varied (and intelligently keyed to the character of the teller and the situation around the camp-fire); but it’s the writing of the framing story and the two lead performances that make the film so special.” – Time Out
1960 / Mexico / 92m / Col / Black Comedy | IMDb
Arturo de Córdova, Amparo Rivelles, Elda Peralta, Guillermo Orea, Rosenda Monteros, Luis Aragón, Mercedes Pascual, Antonio Bravo, Angelines Fernández, Armando Arriola
“Mexican cinema embraces black comedy in this engaging domestic thriller about a sincere husband who becomes an unrepentant murderer. Luis Alcoriza, the writer of most of Luis Buñuel’s Mexican films, lightens the macabre subject with a comic tone similar to that of the then-current Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV show. A mocking critique of false piety, The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales thumbs its nose at the conventions of ‘respectable’ Mexican film fare… Good performances add to the air of perversity.” – Glenn Erickson, DVD Talk
1965 / USA / 89m / BW / Supernatural | IMDb
Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Andrea King, Tom Drake, Dolores Faith, Sabrina, Jerome Thor, Sherwood Keith, Catherine Petty, George Mitchell
“This is a so bad it’s good film. Trash film producer Jerry Warren took an uncompleted film, finished it with mainly lots of bad bikini dancing, advertised horror legends Carradine and Chaney Jr., and produced an incomprehensible yet compelling mess. Film involves a town of devil worshipers locked in a power struggle between dueling warlocks Carradine and Chaney Jr., who never appear on screen together. How could they? They were making different films! The whole mess is populated with actors who, besides the leads, look nothing like devil worshipers. The plot sort of resembles a dark arts version of Peyton Place with the screen’s cheapest werewolf mask. This barely released film, which amazingly has atmosphere, must be seen to be believed.” – Doug Gibson, Plan 9 Crunch
2004 / Philippines / 102m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Jomari Yllana, Richard Gutierrez, Iza Calzado, Angel Locsin, James Blanco, Ella Guevara, Lui Manansala, Tessie Villarama, Pocholo Montes, Ronnie Lazaro
“Sigaw, despite its oppressive use of drab olive greens and dreary sepia browns, is a beautifully shot film with some truly interesting camera angles and clever use of negative space. The moody musical score adds to the feelings of foreboding and danger, and the ambience of knocking, crying, and clanking are stealthily woven in to create a creepy cloak of sound. Each of the actors does a believable job of conveying a real sense of dread. While the solving of the mystery comes as no surprise and some questions are left hanging, the writer (Roy C. Iglesias) and director do a nice job of making the audience care what happens to the characters anyway.” – Staci Layne, Horror.com
1971 / UK / 80m / Col / Vampire | IMDb
Michael Blodgett, Sherry Miles, Celeste Yarnall, Gene Shane, Jerry Daniels, Sandy Ward, Paul Prokop, Chris Woodley, Robert Tessier
“Given the genre (horror) and the budget (extremely low), it may seem perverse to say that Stephanie Rothman’s 1971 film is among the best women’s films ever made, but so it is—a highly intelligent, deftly poetic reimagining of the vampire myth, with the theme of fatal sexuality transferred to a female character. The vampire is neither an aggressor nor a seductress, but an abstract figure of polymorphous sensuality: her “victims” choose her, and they range from a would-be rapist to a liberated (and wittily parodied) southern California couple.” – Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
2004 / Thailand / 95m / Col / Zombie | IMDb
Suthep Po-ngam, Supakorn Kitsuwon, Phintusuda Tunphairao, Lena Christensen, Andrew Biggs, Naowarat Yuktanan, Somlek Sakdikul, Peud Blackcat, Chatchai Doroman, Kittikorn Liasirikun
“Although the plot is essentially similar to that of Versus, Bio-Zombie and countless others from the late 1990s and early 2000s, the excellently-titled SARS Wars scores extra points for working in some surreal comedy and irreverent social commentary amongst the plentiful gore and scantily clad women. The laughs are generally effective, if at times rather puzzling for western viewers and compliment the film’s more serious horror elements quite nicely. Although the film degenerates into narrative chaos long before the nonsensical final scenes, since it is obvious from the start that the whole affair is not meant to be taken seriously, this approach actually works quite well and the wackiness never feels forced.” – James Mudge, eastenKicks
1978 / USA / 84m / Col / Slasher | IMDb
Damien Knight, Jeannetta Arnette, Nick Carter, Nikki Barthen, Michael Hollingsworth, Gyr Patterson, T.G. Finkbinder, Christopher Flint, Richard Timmins, Jessica Bein
“Chock full of disjointed plotting and bizarre storytelling, it’s best not to try and assign any sort of socio-political agenda to the movie and just accept it for what it is, and that’s a strange horror film made on a modest budget with some pretty memorable kill scenes and a surprising amount of atmosphere. The murder set pieces in the film may not score top marks for gore or bloodshed but they still pack a bit of a punch thanks to the fact that they’re fairly visceral and more than a little bit harsh even by the standards of the genre. On top of that, there’s some good camerawork here, which helps things out quite a bit and which helps to build a bit of solid atmosphere which, thankfully, is never harmed by the movie’s low budget.” – Ian Jane, DVD Talk
1978 / Spain / 82m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Ángel Aranda, Sandra Alberti, Mariana Karr, José María Guillén, Manuel Pereiro, Luis Barboo, José Pagán, Isidro Luengo, Ascensión Moreno, Carlos Castellano
“Asking us to enjoy the very elements that it uses to set us at unease, its cannibal witches may be disguised as scantly clad seductresses and shadows from a murky past but they’re out to eat you just the same – your spirit, your sanity, your sense of identity. At the same time, its subversive story, careful direction, and commendable performances make it an unflinching expose of corruption – breakdowns of mind, and spirit reflected by ravishments of the flesh. While gothic in atmosphere, even approaching the surreal in terms of its lush, decrepit setting, a lurking sense of brutality throbs beneath the surface of even the quieter moments in this movie, the suggestion of suspense throbbing beneath even the most innocent dialogue and character development. Undeniably surreal, intensely sexual, and unsettlingly beautiful in its depiction of practices and behaviors that should make us queasy, Puerto exhibits an impressive ability to make the terrible desirable and the repulsive seductive.” – William P. Simmons, DVD Drive-In
1928 / Germany / 108m / BW / Drama | IMDb
Brigitte Helm, Paul Wegener, Iván Petrovich, Wolfgang Zilzer, Louis Ralph, Hans Trautner, John Loder, Mia Pankau, Valeska Gert, Georg John
“Alraune’s embrace of her own amorality and her lack of interest in pleasing men that strive to exert control over her is honestly admirable, making this one of the more emotionally complicated and even occasionally feminist silent films, despite it utilizing a highly unlikely foundation for delivering that message. Director Galeen helped bring to life some of the most sympathetic monsters of the silent era, and Alraune fits in as one of those hopeless outsiders like Nosferatu or the Golem. Helm does an incredible job of portraying her, and the unrepentant power that emanates from her is enough to give chills even nearly a century later.” – Sara Century, All The Right Movies
1964 / Italy / 90m / BW / Gothic | IMDb
Christopher Lee, Gaia Germani, Philippe Leroy, Mirko Valentin, Donald Sutherland, Renato Terra, Antonio De Martino, Luciano Pigozzi, Ennio Antonelli, Jacques Stany
“LIVING DEAD isn’t the best of Lee’s contributions to the Italian Gothic cycle (that would be THE WHIP AND THE BODY), but its fascinating backstory, confusion over exactly who directed it, and that it features the film debut of an unknown Donald Sutherland in two roles… have combined to keep its cult status going for nearly 50 years… Utilizing black & white, [writer/director] Kiefer and cinematographer Aldo Tonti have a nice Gothic look to the whole thing, filled with ominous shadows and howling winds… There’s one incredibly striking shot late in the film that ranks with the macabre best of Bava: the discovery of the corpse of Drago’s late wife, propped up in bed, perfectly still, head positioned toward a handheld mirror in her right hand as if frozen in time, admiring her own beauty for all eternity.” – Mark Tinta, Good Efficient Butchery
1964 / India / 153m / BW / Thriller | IMDb
Biswajeet, Waheeda Rehman, Lalita Pawar, Tarun Bose, Madan Puri, Manmohan Krishna, Asit Kumar Sen, Badri Prasad, Abhi Bhattacharya, Sujit Kumar
“Ostensibly a remake of Hitchcock’s Rebecca, Kohraa fared poorly, according to Hemant Kumar, because Nag couldn’t decide to make it either a ghost story or a psychological drama sans haunting presence. But that ambiguity–“kohraa,” after all, means “fog”–seems intentional. Everything about Kohraa–from the plot to the cinematography–seems crafted to thwart the average viewer’s expectations. The result is an arty noir ghost story that could have been filmed by Maya Deren taking conflicting, oulipian instructions from Fritz Lang and Robert Wiene.” – Gary, Ghost World: Bollywood Noir
1964 / Mexico / 85m / BW / Adventure | IMDb
Lorena Velázquez, Armando Silvestre, Elizabeth Campbell, María Eugenia San Martín, Chucho Salinas, Ramón Bugarini, Víctor Velázquez, Tona La Tapatia, Irma Gonzales, Chabela Romero
“WRESTLING WOMEN VS. THE AZTEC MUMMY is still amusing hokum. It too feels like a 40s serial for a lot of the running time. The mummy doesn’t appear until the last 20 minutes or so, and when he does, it’s mainly footage culled from LA MOMIA AZTECA (1957), the first Aztec mummy film which was never dubbed into English. There isn’t much “wrestling women vs. the mummy” action as the memorable title implies, but when the mummy transforms into a bat and back, hilarious dialog like “Look, he’s a vampire now!” followed by “He’s a mummy again!” will having you chuckling for certain.” – DVD Drive-In
1954 / USA / 83m / Col / Thriller | IMDb
Karl Malden, Claude Dauphin, Patricia Medina, Steve Forrest, Allyn Ann McLerie, Anthony Caruso, Veola Vonn, Dolores Dorn, Merv Griffin, Paul Richards
“Laced with humor, ghoulishness, bloodshed, and melancholy, it’s quite unfaithful to the plot of Poe’s original story; however, these qualities effuse throughout the Poe canon, making Phantom of the Rue Morgue a fine tonal fit for the author’s work. It may have been hatched as a studio inevitability after the success of [the previous year’s] House of Wax, but the film is well-realized with strong performances (particularly from Malden, who goes from lovelorn to deranged within one scene) and a handsomely mounted production.” – Brett Gallman, Oh, the Horror!
2006 / Philippines / 110m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Kris Aquino, Claudine Barretto, Wendell Ramos, Boots Anson-Roa, Ronaldo Valdez, Bernard Palanca, Liza Lorena, Maja Salvador, Raquel Villavicencio, Jhong Hilario
“Let me reiterate that this is the best Filipino horror movie despite some flaws and missteps. The originality to the premise, unique antagonist, and outright scares are all wonderful. The mystery can be a tad predictable, but the pacing keeps you engaged to the end. The flower girl herself is creepy and intimidating even if the makeup effects are sub-par and unworthy of such a cool ghost. The actors turn in decent performances, and I have to give a shout out to my girl Boots! Though the film does end on a lackluster note, this doesn’t detract from the ride up to that point. Overall, this is a severely underrated entry into the Asian horror market that I believe many fans need to check out.” – Ryan, Ryan’s Movie Reviews
1989 / West Germany / 75m / Col / Splatter | IMDb
Andreas Schnaas, Gabi Bäzner, Wolfgang Hinz, Volker Mechter, Christian Biallas, Uwe Boldt, Marco Hegele, Lars Warncke, Werner Knifke, Bettina X.
“This one way overuses some pretty bad late 80’s video effects but it definitely delivers in the gore department. Made for peanuts, the picture nevertheless leaves nothing to the imagination. None of the acting is any good and the score is periodically grating. The camera work is bad as is the audio and there really isn’t much of a story here. Still, director Andreas Schnaas and company are definitely inspired when it comes to the carnage and the bloodshed that serve as the movie’s only real reason for existing in the first place. You’ve got to admire the creativity and determination on display here!” – Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!
1958 / USA / 83m / BW / Science Fiction | IMDb
Boris Karloff, Tom Duggan, Jana Lund, Don ‘Red’ Barry, Charlotte Austin, Irwin Berke, Rudolph Anders, Norbert Schiller, John Dennis, Mike Lane
“Hardly a great film, Frankenstein 1970 remains somewhat underrated. While Karloff indeed chews a lot of pork, he enjoys his role. Additionally, it has an intriguing pulp premise. The descendant of the original Baron Victor Frankenstein, horribly scarred as a holocaust victim, rents out the famous castle to a schlock Hollywood film crew in order to raise cash for the equipment necessary to carry on his ancestor’s experiments… Despite the film that surrounds him, Karloff gives a tour de force performance and for that reason alone, Frankenstein 1970 is enjoyably unremarkable, which is something that can be said for the bulk of the actor’s late film work.” – Alfred Eaker, alfredeaker.com
1955 / UK / 99m / BW / Anthology | IMDb
Orson Welles, John Gregson, Elizabeth Sellars, Emrys Jones, Alan Badel, André Morell, Hugh Pryse, Leueen MacGrath, Eddie Byrne, Helen Cherry
“This unusual British film seems to have gone relatively unnoticed by numerous horror film historians and if it does warrant a mention it’s usually dismissed without much afterthought. But with a cast that includes Orson Welles and a segment directed by one of Britain’s first female directors (Wendy Toye), THREE CASES OF MURDER stands out as a wonderful example of early British horror cinema that rivals the highly acclaimed anthology DEAD OF NIGHT (1945)… George More O’Ferrall supposedly directed [the third] segment but in Peter Bogdanovich‘s acclaimed book This Is Orson Welles he credits Welles with co-directing the dream sequences and I have no reason to doubt him.” – Kimberly Lindbergs, TCM’s Movie Morlocks
1997 / Hong Kong / 98m / Col / Anthology | IMDb
Simon Lui, Louis Koo, Allen Ting, Jason Chu, Teresa Mak, Ada Choi, Kar Sin Pak, Lan Law, Lik-Chi Lee, Sunny Chan
“This is more a film about strange ghost occurences than outright gory horror stuff. If you can get used to the mildness of the whole thing then you may find some amusement, and Simon Lui ties everything together with a sometimes annoying, but fittingly overdone and amusing comic performance. What makes this film interesting is the crossing narratives, as characters reappear in different stories, and even narrator Peter Butt gets involved in the final story. The nifty framing device makes the individual tales more interesting than they would be alone, and despite the fact that there’s no payoff, the ultimate feeling is one of mild amusement.” – Kozo, LoveHKFilm
1984 / India / 144m / Col / Supernatural | IMDb
Mohnish Bahl, Arti Gupta, Puneet Issar, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Ajay Agarwal, Sadhana Khote, Satish Shah, Trilok Kapoor, Dr. Satish Chopra, Rajendra Nath
“It’s fun, fast-paced (whenever it kicks into gear) and even exciting in spots. Many of the horror sequences are also pretty stellar. They’re not only edited, lit, photographed and scored in a rather inventive, off-kilter fashion, but the special effects makeup is pretty good and many of the locations used, as well as the art direction and use of both colorful lighting and lots of fog, ensure they’re also extremely atmospheric. There’s plenty of blood and gore, the design of the hairy demon creature is great and echoes of numerous American, British, Italian and Hong Kong horror movies are felt throughout.” – Justin McKinney, The Bloody Pit of Horror
1991 / USA / 95m / Col / Comedy | IMDb
Mark Thomas Miller, Jeanne Bates, Brion James, Mary Beth McDonough, Art Evans, Stella Stevens, Claudia Christian, Maray Ayres, Christopher Doyle, Tim Trella
“Had it not been for the morbid and dour ending, this might have been a pretty sweet piece of horror comedy. The idea of the nice sweet granny turning into a flesh eating monster is fantastic, and the interplay between her and her son made for some pretty funny scenes… If you’re into 80s/90s low-budget horror, this has the feel you’re looking for, just not finish. Further on that theme of 80s/90s low-budget, Mom had me feeling nostalgic. It really has that video store find vibe to it, the 6th or 7th grade sleepover party pick-up, best enjoyed with some junk food and soda.” – Matt, Direct to Video Connoisseur
2013 / UK / 104m / Col / Romance | IMDb
Anna Walton, Tom Wisdom, Tanya Myers, Nick Brimble, Emma Cleasby, Guy Armitage, Rebecca Kiser, Amelia Tyler, Felix Coles, Anubis
“Soulmate unspools in its own stately, majestic pace, allowing its characters to develop and the ethereal mood to swell. Walton is beguiling; her porcelain beauty imparting fragility and fortitude, and Wisdom is suitably scary: his ghost is frustrated and desperate, credibly menacing rather than arbitrarily vindictive. Soulmate’s look is one of studied, poetic beauty, and when so many genre flicks aspire to a shiftless lack of visual sensation, Soulmate’s considered lights and shadows; the redolent mists, the flickering candles; are to be applauded. Soulmate is a film to curl up inside.” – Benjamin Poole, The Movie Waffler
1971 / USA / 99m / Col / Witchcraft | IMDb
Allyson Ames, Sharon Berryhill, Jerry Brooke, Norman Burton, Angus Duncan, Michael C. Ford, Ray Galvin, Richard Ford Grayling, John Hart, Art Hern
“As gloriously early ’70s and post-Woodstock as you can get, this moody, darkly comic fantasy about white magic in Los Angeles was widely marketed as a horror film but turns out to be something a lot weirder and more interesting… A memorable character study of sorts set in a realm not often depicted on film, this could have been a much more significant cult film had audiences gotten a better idea of what to expect. It still has its fans, of course, which is inevitable for a counterculture piece loaded with goodies like Andy Warhol Factory icon Ultra Violet leading a nude wiccan ceremony or a psychedelic freak out of a climax that gets closer to trippy Saul Bass territory than you’d expect.” – Nathaniel Thompson, Mondo Digital
1973 / Mexico / 99m / Col / Surrealism | IMDb
Claudio Brook, Arthur Hansel, Ellen Sherman, Martin LaSalle, David Silva, Mónica Serna, Max Kerlow, Susana Kamini, Pancho Córdova, Roberto Dumont
“This is an effort at once sleazy and artful, exploitative and contemplative, filled with seemingly gratuitous violence/nudity and yet undeniably sociopolitical just below the surface. It’s got rough edges, to be sure, but it’s also got passion and heart that comes through as well. While not a film that everyone will love, at the same time, there’s enough here to appreciate and recommend.” – Aaron Christensen, HORROR 101 with Dr. AC
1952 / Finland / 80m / BW / Witchcraft | IMDb
Mirja Mane, Toivo Mäkelä, Hillevi Lagerstam, Sakari Jurkka, Helge Herala, Aku Korhonen, Rakel Laakso, Elna Hellman, Elsa Turakainen, Elli Ylimaa
“There’s more to this than a simplistic idea that sexually free and flirty young women will excite men and arouse feelings of jealousy among women, although that’s certainly a cereal point. For one thing, the gender divide is not absolute – the other main female character is not irrationally hateful towards the young woman, while the older generation, both male and female, wish to persecute her. It’s less about a fear of female sexuality as it is about the way the old resent the young because of their vibrancy, their energy and their beauty.” – David Flint, The Reprobate