Frank's Movie Log

Like Lust of the Vampire, an uncredited Mario Bava assumed the director’s chair after the credited director abandoned the project. The plot concerns the first atomic rocket mission into space. The pilot runs into unexplained trouble and has to abandon the mission. I feared this would devolve into a cheap Quatermass knock-off, but I’m pleased to report we’re not subjected to any laughable rubber-suited aliens. Continue reading...

A lesser Bergman effort sees upper-class Malmsten blinded in a military accident. During his recovery, he inspires lower-class Zetterling to pursue an education. She falls for him, but their class divide proves too large an obstacle. Time passes. Malmsten slides further down the social ladder, while Zetterling ascends. A chance meeting reunites them. You can see where this is going. Continue reading...

An uneven amalgam of war picture, spy drama, and romance. In late WWI, O’Brien captains a naval crew aboard a decoy ship posing as merchant marines. They’re hunting for a notorious German U-boat. Continue reading...

The dead are returning to life in murderous rages. You drive up to a remote country house. All is dark. You get out of the car and call out, attracting your brother-in-law’s reanimated corpse, which attacks with ferocity. You struggle, but make it back inside the car and peel out. Here, the film almost lost me because our lead drives a few hundred feet, then pulls over and exits the car. Why? Because the script needs to reunite two characters. This bit of lazy writing proves the lone blemish on what’s otherwise a terrific zombie picture. Continue reading...

Scathing indictment of the news media. Gyllenhaal plays a ghoulish sociopath who stumbles into a career filming the graphic aftermath of car crashes, domestic violence, and home invasions. He sells his wares to Russo, who plays the graveyard-shift news manager at a local TV station. Continue reading...

Set in a dystopian future where a freak accident has killed all postpubescent women, Crimes of the Future follows Adrian, director of the dermatological clinic that caused the accident. Continue reading...

Misses more than it hits, but the hits are home runs. Set in rural 18th-century England, the story concerns some strange remains unearthed in a local field. Soon hairy, clawed arms are emerging from floors and the village children have formed an evil cult. Continue reading...

Engaging—albeit overlong—sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry, Ron, and Hermione race to uncover the culprit behind several petrifications at Hogwarts. I enjoyed the atmosphere and world-building, but wished Columbus had coaxed a better performance from Radcliffe and toned down Grint’s mugging.