Reviews of movies directed by Roger Corman.
Grade: C
Synopsis: The leader (Peter Fonda) of a chapter of Hells Angels finds himself questioning his life after a trip to recover a friend’s (Bruce Dern) bike leads to tragedy.
The Wild Angels, at the time, was an interesting take on the biker movie, in that the story is told from the point of view of the bikers themselves. As such, the film feels more honest and real, and it certainly helped pave the way for the king of the biker films, Easy Rider (1969). MORE »
Grade: C+
Synopsis: A man (Vincent Price) returns to the house inhabited by his ancestor, a warlock burned alive 100 years ago.
The Haunted Palace is notable as the first film adaptation of a work by renowned horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Directed by Roger Corman, it was meant to be a slight departure from the Edgar Allan Poe adaptations he’d been doing at the time with star Vincent Price, but the studio, wary of changing the formula, slapped a Poe title and closing quote on the film and marketed it as yet another Poe adaptation. MORE »
Grade: D+
Synopsis: Recently turned into a raven, a magician (Peter Lorre) talks a fellow magician (Vincent Price) into helping him exact revenge on the magician (Boris Karloff) responsible.
The Raven is an ill-conceived horror spoof from director Roger Corman and screenwriter Richard Matheson, loosely based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe.
The problem here is the tone. Rather than keeping things low-key and opting for a black comedy, the filmmaker’s go over the top from scene one. The result is a camp-fest that’s neither scary nor funny, and only mildly witty at best. MORE »
Grade: B
Synopsis: A prince (Vincent Price) revels in debauchery while a plague ravages the surrounding countryside.
The Masque of the Red Death stands out among director Roger Corman’s Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, and for good reason.
The script by Charles Beaumont and R. Wright Campbell is significantly darker, and less pulpy than Richard Matheson’s adaptations. They craft a truly evil character in Prince Prospero; a man so drunk with ego and power, he’s completely devoid of any compassion or morality. For his part, Vincent Price avoids the camp and plays Prospero straight, every line dripping with condescension, and in doing so makes the movie. MORE »
Grade: C
Synopsis: Three tales culled from the works of Edgar Allen Poe including Morella, The Black Cat, and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.
Tales of Terror is an uneven film. Director Roger Corman and screenwriter Richard Matheson give us three stories, one good, one bad, and one that’s just okay. MORE »
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