Sebastian Bendix's Blog, page 11
October 26, 2014
10/26/14 – day twenty-six of 31 days of horror!
You can’t do a horror list without a Mario Bava film, and seeing as it’s the last Sunday before Halloween, it seemed only natural to include this classic. Bava’s take on Gothic horror is pretty much unbeatable, as is the scream queen-cementing performance of the striking Barbara Steele, and you may find yourself surprised at how a film more than fifty years old still has the power to shock and horrify. Today’s pick, the inimitable, unforgettable “Black Sunday” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054067/?ref_=nv_sr_1
October 25, 2014
10/25/14 – day twenty-five of 31 days of horror!
The idea of lycanthrope as a metaphor for a teen coming of age may have been done first in “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”, but it was arguably perfected in this scrappy, turn of the century Canadian film. Smart, sincere and just an all-around good time, this tale of two sisters is anchored by the truthful performances of its young female leads as well a surprising comedic turn by Mimi Rogers, making it the rare werewolf movie that is actually worthy of note. Well-known among genre fans but still obscure to causal viewers, today’s pick, “Ginger Snaps”, will satisfy your craving to bark at the moon. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210070/?ref_=nv_sr_1
10/24/14 – day twenty-four of 31 days of horror!
Another cheat as today’s pick is a TV show, but who cares? This was the great Rod Serling’s follow up to “The Twilight Zone”, another anthology show that focused on supernatural horror stories rather than science fiction. Poor Rod looks more like a human cigarette than a proper horror host, but he acquits himself just fine and the show boasts a cavalcade of great actors — the pilot episode (broadcast on the day of my birth) alone features Roddy McDowall, Ossie Davis and Joan Crawford! Don’t you think it’s high time you dropped by Rod’s place to see what’s hanging in the…. “Night Gallery”? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065327/?ref_=nv_sr_1
October 23, 2014
10/23/14 – day twenty-three of 31 days of horror!
Released under the “Tales From the Crypt” banner, this film was completely off my radar until I worked at CineFile Video in Los Angeles and had the pleasure of meeting its director, the great Ernest R. Dickerson. Discovering this film for myself, I was really taken with its fun, simple premise, visual inventiveness and strong ensemble cast which includes William Sadler, Thomas Hayden Church and a wickedly over-the-top Billy Zane. If you like your horror fast, funny and chocked full of practical effects, you’d be remiss not to unearth or revisit today’s pick, “Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight”!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114608/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
October 22, 2014
10/22/14 – day twenty-two of 31 days of horror!
If you love Vincent Price (and really, who doesn’t?) and you love revenge (again, who doesn’t?) you really owe it to yourself to spend a little quality time with Dr. Anton Phibes. Part Phantom of the Opera, part 70’s camp and part grand guignol theater, this madcap romp is a treasure trove of weirdness and spectacular production design. Price, in full horror icon mode, turns in a performance in which he must only use his eyes to emote while speaking through some arcane sort of vocoder…look, you just gotta see it. Today’s pick, “The Abominable Dr. Phibes”! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066740/?ref_=nv_sr_1
October 21, 2014
10/21/14 – day twenty-one of 31 days of horror!
Hopefully you’ve forgotten that the horrible, horrible remake of this ever existed and can still enjoy this creepy and atmospheric tale of vengeance from beyond the watery grave. Coming hot off the heels of “Halloween” (again, not the remake) John Carpenter was at the peak of his horror game, and though it gets a lot less kudos than its predecessor, it is of a similar cloth in terms of suspense and may be even more satisfying to fans of the overtly supernatural. Plus it has sexy, pockmarked lothario Tom Atkins bedding down with a nubile young Jamie Lee Curtis…who could ask for anything more? Today’s pick: “The Fog”!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080749/?ref_=nv_sr_2
October 20, 2014
10/20/14 – day twenty of 31 days of horror!
One of my favorite horror films in recent years, and I think it’s the most logical riff on the Frankenstein concept in the modern era. This is the sort of movie David Cronenberg used to make in the 70’s and 80’s — clinical, frightening conceptually and full of really, really disturbing imagery and events. Pretty much ignored upon release, this deserves your attention if you haven’t seen it, and the cold cinematography and unsettling creature design really pop in HD. Today’s pick: “Splice”.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1017460/?ref_=nv_sr_1
October 19, 2014
10/19/14 – day nineteen of 31 days of horror!
Another golden age classic, this time the best filmed version (to date) of H.G. Wells’ “Island of Dr. Moreau.” Surprisingly modern in its sensibilities for a movie from 1932, this features a delicious, mustache-twirling performance from Charles Laughton as Moreau and a bestial turn from Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law.Though not a Universal film, this fits comfortably in the classic monster canon, so if you like your Frankensteins and Wolfmen it’s a safe bet that you’ll enjoy “Island of Lost Souls.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024188/?ref_=nv_sr_1
October 18, 2014
10/18/14 – day eighteen of 31 days of horror!
Today’s pick is in honor of the late Elizabeth Pena, a great character actress who turns in an awesomely unsettling and sexy performance in this hallucinogenic descent into waking nightmare. Some day I hope the world can look back on the work of Adrian Lyne and truly appreciate the masterful way in which he balances art and sleaze, and this 1990 film sees him at the peak of his fevered powers. The disturbing imagery in this would be cribbed ad-nauseum by horror directors in years to come, but that lessens none of its impact in the original and unforgettable “Jacob’s Ladder.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099871/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
October 17, 2014
10/17/14 – day seventeen of 31 days of horror!
Yesterday I was asked what was the first horror movie I saw in the theater, and I’m pretty sure it was this film. I was too young to have seen “Jaws” in its original theatrical run, but I wasn’t too young to be obsessed with murderous sea creatures, so after much cajoling my dad allowed me to see this when it hit screens in 1977. He probably regretted it around the time that the whale fetus hit the deck of Richard Harris’ boat, but oh well. Over the years I have revisited it and am always struck by how good it actually is — beautifully cinematic, well performed and you can’t beat that Ennio Morricone score. Plus, this superseded and bested “Jaws: The Revenge” with the whole ‘this time it’s personal’ idea. Today’s pick: “Orca”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076504/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
