Movies I Watched in October, Part 2

Don't think of this as a pathetically late October movie recap, think of it as a surprisingly early Christmas present...



After watching (and loving) “Suspiria,” I popped this Blu-ray into the player, because it was – I dunno? Another 1970s violent, offbeat horror movie by a foreign director with a title that started with an “S”? Because that’s just about all they have in common, except for the fact that they’re both damned good. This one is a little rougher around the edges than Argento’s masterwork, mostly because it was David Cronenberg’s first “real” movie after some bizarre (and decidedly non-commercial) earlier work. What’s amazing how much of what Cronenberg became famed for is already present in “Shivers”: sexual undercurrents (and over-currents); the idea that the monster is a disease and, what’s more, the disease is the “hero” of the film; a cool, almost clinical detachment; and the feeling that, even though it’s a movie about sex zombies, it’s a thoughtful, intelligent movie about sex zombies. Not for everyone, of course, and definitely absolutely not for the kiddies.

It’s great. One of my all-time favorite New York movies, horror movies and just plain movies in general. I wrote a lot more about it here .

Compelling 1956 big-screen version of a TV drama that hit small screens a year earlier. Written by Rod Serling, it’s a tough-minded tale about a New York corporation that hires a bright-eyed eager executive (Van Heflin) to replace a friendly but past-his-prime VP (Ed Begley). Solid performances all around, especially from Everett Sloane (who played a much meeker guy 15 years earlier in “Citizen Kane”) as the ruthless president. It’s a fascinating look at a bygone era, but by the end, when Heflin and Sloane angrily put all their cards on the table, the tension is so thick I was half expecting them to kiss. (Spoiler alert: They don’t.)

A hypnotic, low-key noir starring Humphrey Bogart as a mysterious screenwriter (named, ahem, “Dix Steele”) accused of killing a young woman. He’s cleared by the testimony of his equally mysterious neighbor (Gloria Grahame, who split from her husband, director Nicholas Ray, while both were working on this movie). Thing is, because Steele is such an edgy guy, you’re always wondering if maybe he really is a murderer after all.  Apparently, Bogart was never wild about this movie, despite his top-notch, uncharacteristic performance (he felt the character was a little too close to the real Bogey), but that tension, combined with whatever weird vibes were bouncing back and forth between Ray and Grahame, give the movie a mature, intelligent feel that most other movies of the era – even the great noirs – tend to lack. If you’ve never seen it, this is the one to watch from this list. And Criterion has a gorgeous Blu-ray available, so you’ve got no excuse.

A much earlier, cornier Bogart movie – but still a lot of fun, especially if you’re a fan of old Warner Bros. crime melodramas. Bogart, still typecast as an unrepentant villain in this pre-“Maltese Falcon” era, gets a troubled young man (former Dead End Kid Billy Halop) arrested in a robbery. What’s worse, they use the gun belonging to his sister’s (Gale Page) boyfriend (Harvey Stephens). All three guys wind up in Sing Sing, but poor Harvey gets the death penalty. Naturally, there are jailbreaks, double-crosses and last-minute crises of conscience, and it all winds up in a perfectly neat little bow, with a dose of sober  tragedy to remind the audience that crime, in fact, does not pay. It’s not great, but it’s fun, and the supporting cast includes Henry Travers and Frank Faylen (Clarence and Ernie from “It’s a Wonderful Life”) and Eddie “Rochester” Anderson from the Jack Benny show.

For some reason, I remembered enjoying this 1985 Stephen King adaptation when I saw it in a theater during my freshman year of college. Now, watching it 33 years later, I have no idea why. It’s slow, it’s not scary and the central concept – Corey Haim’s drunk uncle Gary Busey builds him a souped-up wheelchair (the titular “Silver Bullet”) and they team up for fight a werewolf – is just silly. Nice to see Everett McGill (Big Ed from “Twin Peaks”) as the monstrous minister, and after watching and re-watching the 1980s “Anne of Green Gables” series (actually quite good!) Amy and Allie were glad that Megan Follows, who played Anne, had a major role. But otherwise, it’s not good. Watch “Twin Peaks” or “Anne of Green Gables” instead. Trust me on this one.
Released in America as "The Hand," this very early Oliver Stone (!) movie tells the story of a comic strip artist played by Michael Caine (!) who loses his hand in a freak accident (!) only to see the hand go on a murder spree (!) It’s as goofy as it sounds, but it’s also surprisingly well-made, with restrained direction from young Mr. Stone and a committed performance from Caine. Silly as hell, but what do you want in a story about a murderous hand? (Keep an eye out for Bruce “D-Day” McGill, Charles “Roger Rabbit” Fleisher and Tracey “Repo Man” Walter in supporting roles.)