My life at the movies.
Directed by Panos Cosmatos. Starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, and Ned Dennehy.
Nicolas Cage plays a logger in the Pacific Northwest living a bucolic life with his girlfriend Mandy. A Manson-like cult invades their home, murders Mandy, and leaves Red for dead. But Red survives and descends on the cult like a hellish spirit of vengeance. Continue reading...
Directed by Tom Holland. Starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, and Roddy McDowall.
During a late-night make-out session, a suburban teen sees two men carrying a coffin into the neighboring basement. Intrigued, he spies on the nightly goings-on next-door, only to discover his suave new neighbor—played by Chris Sarandon—has fangs. Desperate for help, he turns to the local creature-feature host, an aging horror star played by Roddy McDowall. Continue reading...
Directed by Kenny Ortega. Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, and Omri Katz.
On Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts, a transplanted L.A. teen inadvertently resurrects three witches, played by Midler, Parker, and Najimy. With a single night to live, they attempt to steal the town’s children’s life to extend their existence. Continue reading...
Directed by Mario Gariazzo. Starring Ray Lovelock, Anna Maria Rizzoli, Mario Cutini, and Antonella Antinori.
I expected a sleazy giallo and I got a sleazy giallo. The catchy folk-rock theme song? That surprised me. Continue reading...
Directed by Sergio Martino. Starring Suzy Kendall, Tina Aumont, Luc Merenda, and John Richardson.
In scenic Perugia, Italy, a masked killer strangles two female university students, sparking a manhunt. Another student may have recognized the murder weapon, leading to threatening phone calls from the killer. Alarmed, she retreats to a cliff-side villa with four girlfriends, including an American exchange student, played by Suzy Kendall. The killer, of course, follows. Continue reading...
Directed by Mario Landi. Starring Leonora Fani, Jeff Blynn, Gianni Dei, and Michele Renzullo.
I have a soft-spot for over-the-top exploitation films. I gave Island of Death a four-star review, praising its “everything-but-the-kitchen sink approach that pushes the film past any genuine scares or mean-spirited umbrage, and firmly into parody.” Giallo a Venezia is no parody. Continue reading...
Directed by Jag Mundhra. Starring Hy Pyke, Gregory Scott Cummins, Katina Garner, and Carla B..
So-bad-it’s-good schlock sees Hy Pyke masterminding a satanic cult in rural California. He’s out to initiate his incestuous son on Halloween night. ’80s fashions, nice location photography, and Pyke’s grand-camp performance buoy the wooden acting and specious plotting. Not for everyone, but lots of fun.
Directed by Lucio Fulci. Starring Florinda Bolkan, Barbara Bouchet, Tomas Milian, and Irene Papas.
In rural Italy, a reporter and socialite struggle to uncover the culprit behind a rash of child murders. Unlike Fulci’s prior thrillers, Don’t Torture a Duckling nudges closer to horror, playing like a werewolf story. Continue reading...
Directed by Peyton Reed. Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, and Walton Goggins.
Opens strong, with creative production backing real emotional stakes via Rudd’s bond with his daughter. Devolves into a series of set pieces where Rudd—once again—proves expendable.
Directed by Enzo Milioni. Starring Barbara Magnolfi, Stefania D'Amario, Anna Zinnemann, and Vanni Materassi.
The Sister of Ursula centers on two sisters, Dagmar and Ursula. As the film opens, they’re checking into a luxury hotel on the Italian coast. Ursula begs Dagmar to leave, claiming visions of a horrible future. With heavy sighs, Dagmar dismisses Ursula’s pleadings. Ursula pouts. Instead of establishing a forbidding atmosphere, the scene left me cold to Ursula’s petulant behavior. Continue reading...
