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Captive Wild Woman (1943)
Carradine Does it Again
The film is not really 10/10. I just want to get the vote average up.
Anyway it's simply a "Mad Scientist puts human brain in an ape" movie and you can't expect too much, but this film is one of the best of it's infamous kind. Carradine is quite a dedicated scientist who will, as usual do just about anything to accomplish his goals. Acquenetta, top billed, has virtually no dialogue whatsoever, she usually just looks over at the camera in a possibly intoxicated haze. The film will not change your life but if you've seen most of the Universal horror classics and want to explore some of the lesser ones, this is a great one to start off with.
House of Dracula (1945)
What a way to go out.
The film should have been named "HOUSE OF DR. EDELMAN" because that's who the central character is. Two of the main Universal classic monsters show up to Edelman's seeking release from their cursed life, those being Dracula and the Wolfman, while the body of the Frankenstein Monster is found nearby (quite convenient) however Dracula is not sincere to Edelman and donates a little blood to him. Slowly, Edelman goes crazy, but with enough time to help old Larry Talbot at least.
Not a great film, very poor when stacked against other Universal classics, but still fun and nostalgic to watch. John Carradine is not nearly as good as Bela Lugosi when it comes to the titular character.
The Black Cat (1934)
So little, so much,
What's the plot here? Man goes to confront his old nemesis but due to a road accident must take two strangers with him to Karloff's, they stand around talking and hardly doing anything, Karloff's actions are more sinister as the movie builds and then we uncover the truth about his satanic ways.
To explain the film to someone, it sounds like it's really quite boring. One hell of a snooze fest. There is not much action or excitement, just slow dialogue and a little action at the end. When I first saw this film, I didn't even consider it to be very good. A couple of years went by and the inevitable "let's give it another spin" feeling came around and wow. This one is even better than the Raven. I couldn't believe it. A movie with the description above, is that good? More than any film I've ever seen, this one needs to be seen to be believed (in this sense meaning few will actually think it's good until they see it).
Karloff and Lugosi. These two men are brilliant. Look how thin this plot and how thin this action is. Most of the film is an exchange of dialogue, almost a metaphor for the careers of the two leads, each trying to dominate the other. ANY other two actors would have made this a forgettable, bargain bin DVD at K-Mart.
I can only find one fault with this film. The first (and only) shot we get of Herr Poelzig's (Karloff) home, is all too brief. It's easily one of the best of all sets in any film ever and we see it for maybe 5 seconds. Universal did that kind of stuff though. They must have been very disciplined not to use these sets more.
Frankenstein (1931)
Only the Sequel is better
Frankenstein(1931) is a film which has stood the test of time. Far better than other films of it's generation, there is probably no film better than this to sit down with, and spend a rainy, thundering evening eating chips and drinking tea. Even though few people alive today can actually claim this movie is nostalgic and be sincere, even a first-time viewer can watch and feel the nostalgia. The old watch tower set is among the most famous towers seen in any movie, and by far the most memorable. Not many people mention it, but I think Colin Clive had the perfect voice for the role of Henry Frankenstein. Though it seems impossible, the film could have looked quite different with Bela Lugosi to be the first choice to play the monster, but refused due to the lack of dialogue. That mistake would prove disastrous for his career. Karloff was given a screen-test, and created the monster that we all remember today. It was this interpretation of the Frankenstein Monster, and this make-up design by Jack Pierce that have inspired the thousands of knock-offs we have all seen. This is the definitive version of Frankenstein. No October will be complete without a viewing of this work of art of a film. The beautiful back rounds (though obviously fake) give the film it's feel, and for some reason, it all seems part of the nostalgia.
We all know the story, but in case you don't this is a review. We begin with Edward Van Sloan introducing us to the film, warning us that it may "shock" us. From there, we see Henry Frankenstein and his hunchback assistant Fritz peering into a graveyard, waiting for a funeral to end, opening up an opportunity to exhume dead bodies for their experiments. The plan to create a man in Henry's image goes awry when Fritz steals an abnormal, criminal brain, which is of course inserted into the monster. All this, right before Henry Frankenstein is to be married. From there on the film gets more exciting, but I won't reveal it for the few who have yet to see it. It is somewhat dated by today's standards, but the film is far superior to the trash fest horror films we see now days such as Saw, Ghost Ship, and many others.
I recommend this back-to-back with it's surprisingly superior sequel, Bride of Frankenstein.
Vampyr (1932)
Right up there with Frankenstein and the Bride, Orlock and Dracula
If you are a fan of current mainstream horror movies, then stay away. Obviously you have a bad taste in movies.
This movie first of all, is nothing like Nosferatu or Dracula minus the type of supernatural being in question. The film is a surrealist experience since for the most part, it is impossible to distinguish reality from dream sequence. This rare film is almost like a sort of drug trip, the bad dream you can only half remember, and interpret in various ways.
Many a fan complains about the 'poor quality' of the film. This was done deliberately by Dreyer, for the most part. A light leak in the camera caused an entire days shooting to look foggy and blurry. Upon review, Dreyer thought this to be atmospheric, and decided to film most of the rest of the film that way.
This film is very rare, and probably a little more pricey than usual, but for a film like Vampyr, it's worth it.
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
I'm voting this a ten to make other people mad.
This film isn't bad. it's a solid 6 out of ten, and the only reason people don't like it is because they want to seem as though they are 'Professional movie goers' and that they're above it. How can you not like it? Because it's immature, because there's little plot, because it's ridiculously unrealistic, or because it's just crude and all in bad taste? There is no emotion to the film, just sex joke after sex joke, or toilet joke after toilet joke. Yes, this is a stupid film, but upon first viewing at least is hilarious. Heres a news flash for you so-called 'Professional audiences'. A film like Brokeback Mountain which I haven't even seen is in bad taste, and FGF deserves a best picture nomination more than Heath Ledger and Butt-Buddy Jake Gayenhall.
FGF is hilarious and overall is actually just an OK movie. Watch it. Get inside the animals(the funniest part).
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
Cheesy Classic
Some of the worst lines I have ever heard come from this movie. The only reason it gets a ten? It deserves more than the low 5.8 it has now. In reality, it gets between a 6 and a 7. Lon Chaney easily is the worst monster of them all, and probably the most frustrating to watch. The real problem with this film is that it's not packed with action as other films in the series are. It starts off quick with the traditional villagers blowing up a castle Ygor(Lugosi) just happens to inhabit. Upon doing so, they unknowingly expose and release the Monster, who gets struck by lightning, and through that his strength multiplies. The end scene where Ygors brain is transplanted into the monster produces ridiculous results and dialog. I'm just glad they didn't put Ygor in any films after this as he was annoying. Lugosi is great no doubt, but as Dracula only, not as Ygor.
One of Universal's worst Monster movies, the film is enjoyable, laughable, cheesy, not scary or even thrilling for a second, but as far as entertainment goes, you couldn't do much better on a foggy October night .
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
They couldn't have done it better
I was really surprised at how great the movie was compared to the classic TV show. It's probably the best comedy of 2006, and the best Canadian movie of the year too.
The movie is like an extra long episode of the show with all the usual characters plus a few new ones. Jim Lahey is his drunken old self with his assistant/lover trying to get Ricky Julian and Bubbles in trouble.
When Julian gets out of jail, he wants to pull off what he calls 'the big dirty' and commit one last big crime so he can retire. At the same time, Ricky is frustrated with his ex-girlfriend working at a strip club, while Bubbles is concerned for his shed and kitties.
Tower of London (1962)
Very impressive
Vincent Price gives one of his best performances as Richard the third, who kills his enemies in front of him to the throne. Price is extremely evil in this movie making him an unlikable villain. But Price does die, and does he ever, but not before he goes on a killing spree.
This version is actually superior to the 1939 version (that Price was also in), despite it's stature as a B-movie. Roger Corman directs and scores yet again along with his other stuff from the early sixties.
I bought the Midnite Movies release of this and The Haunted Palace, and this turned out even better than HP. I say buy it(for cheap). then, you can even watch it.
La momia azteca contra el robot humano (1958)
I'll never get that hour back
Mexican 'classic' was the third entry in the Aztec Mummy series. As you will soon find out, this movie is anything but a classic, instead, it's more like a movie that deliberately tries to bore you.
Some scientist wants to steal Aztec treasure from a tomb, but guarding that tomb is that walking toilet paper commercial: The Aztec Mummy. Knowing he can't beat the Mummy, he then builds a robot, and a very bad one at that. We only get to see Mr.Robot in the last reel, as he clunks around, and does battle with the Aztec Mummy.
I have seen a lot of lousy Sci-Fi films, hell most Sci-Fi films I see are lousy, but this one, for it's entire duration of 64 Minuites, is the worst movie I've seen, with Fubar coming in a close second....
In conclusion: Don't waste your time.
The Haunted Palace (1963)
Good for a rainy night
The reason I'm giving this a 10, is simply because it deserves more than the 6.4 user rating. Lon Chaney Jr. has some really stupid lines, like: Well, when will you have full control? Price delivers another great performance as always as Charles Dexter Ward, who turns from a good person into a monster. Everyday, Charles tries to leave the Palace and everyday, Chaney has to stall him somehow, so that he'll look at his Grandfathers portrait and turn evil. The towns people are a bunch of unemployed Drunks who spend all their days and nights drinking in a tavern talking about the same old thing every night, the curse of Price's Grand daddy. Watch it, it's a lot of cheesy fun.