zoefan-97714 Reviews

Tenebrae (1982)

Dario Argento at his brilliant best

[22 April 2017]

What can say about what is not only one of Dario Argentos best films but also,in my view,the best Italian Giallo horror film of all time?...well lets see.

The story is as follows...

Peter Neal(an excellent Anthony Franciosca)has travel-ed to Rome to promote his new horror novel "Tenebrae" when things starting going wrong....first his suitcase go missing....and then news spreads around the city that someone is brutally killing young women in the style featured in the book....but just who is the killer....and can Peter Neal find them?

"Tenebrae"is a brilliant but rather gory eighties horror masterpiece.Photographed by Luciano"Suspiria"Tolvoli and played out to a fantastic Goblin score it remains a classic of it's time and a must of all giallo fans.

Under the Skin (I) (2013)

A visually beautiful but truly disturbing film

[10/10 · 22 March 2017]

Based on the novel by Michel Faber and directed by Johnathan Glazer("Sexy Beast"and "Birth")"Under the Skin" is a modern masterpiece.

The story is as follows....a woman(played with chilling power and grace by Scarlett Johansson) has travelled to Glasgow to seemingly do one thing...meet the local men.What they do not know is that she is a cold and calculated alien out to seduce and kill as many of them as she can...but all changes when one of her victims,a blind young man,shows a touch of humanity....and soon she will soon become as vulnerable as her victims.

Beautiful directed,photographed and featuring a chilling film score from Mica Levi "Under the Skin" is a film of real class and great style.

The Long Good Friday (1980)

The Godfather of all British Gangster films

[10/10 · 21 March 2017]

Without question "The Long Good Friday"is not just the greatest British gangster film ever but also one of the best gangster films of all time.

The story of London gangster Harold Shand(an astonishing central performance from the late,great Bob Hoskins)and the fight to save his empire from outside forces is a true classic...and it still is even today.

Add to that an excellent supporting performance from Helen Mirren as Harold's wife Victoria,a great script from Barrie Keeffe and an excellent music score from Francis Monkman and it all adds up to a real treat.

I mean if the great Martin Scorsese rates this film highly that it must be doing something right.

Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

So cheesy.....no funny.....so Roger Corman.

[7/10 · 20 March 2017]

Although i am not the biggest fan of Roger Corman even i have some films of his i like...Piranha is one....and this is the other,

"Battle Beyond the Stars"is a classic nineteen eighties cheese-fest and a quite brilliant "Star Wars" rip-off.

Not only did he get a fine cast together(Richard Thomas,John Saxon,Robert Vaughn,Sybil Danning and George Peppard)he also got a then un-known film score composer to score the film....the name of the composer?....the late and sadly missed James Horner. This might have been his film first film score but it's a real cracker.

In short....cheesy?Yes Fun?you bet!