Directed by Toshiharu Ikeda Directors Company/Japan Home Video There’s a LOT about this Japanese flick that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – including the title vis-à-vis the content of the picture – but maybe that’s par for the course with a quasi-supernatural mystery-haunted-house-slasher, who can say. (Synopsis: A television newsmagazine reporter traces a … Continue reading 死霊の罠 aka Evil Dead Trap aka Shiryô no wana (1988)
directed by ruggero deodato eurogroup film/esse c1 Only epistemologically a horror movie until late in the proceedings, this noirish sexcapade does eventually manage to induce a chill or three … but most viewers will hardly care, as the goings-on are so dementedly entertaining. Caveat: the preceding clause may imply traditional male viewers, as this video … Continue reading The Washing Machine aka Vortice Mortale (1993)
regia di sergio martino compagnia cinematografica champion s.p.a. When you select una giallo for your viewing pleasure, you might reasonably expect a stylish (and quite possibly stylized) engagement, with at least a veneer of sleek sophistication, plus of course sex appeal and suspense and suspicious activity in some proportion. This offering from “Island of the … Continue reading I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale aka Torso aka Carnal Violence (1973)
directed by emilio p. miraglia phoenix cinematografica roma s.p.a. I don’t know about you, but with a title like this one, I found myself expecting a shoddily filmed 76-minute exploitation picture about vengeful undead … so in a sense I was sorely disappointed by this lavish Italian epic of misdirection and aristocratic shenanigans. I was … Continue reading La notte che Evelyn uscì dalla Tomba aka The night Evelyn came out of the grave (1971)
directed by Mario caiano transeuropa film/tv13 filmproduktion/filmages First off, this picture has the most swingin’ soundtrack you’re likely to hear for some time, vast amounts of fusion-era Miles Davis electrobop courtesy of composer Roberto Nicolosi. It also has pretty great examples of breathless, stentorian dubbing for the dialogue. (The title translates as “Eye in the … Continue reading L’occhio nel Labirinto (1972)
directed by alfred sole harristown funding/allied artists This is a weird one, the kind of movie they really don’t make anymore. Kind of an American giallo, it also pays homage in a way to Don’t Look Back by Nicolas Roeg, complete with the signature rain slicker. (I have never seen Don’t Look Back, but am … Continue reading Alice, Sweet Alice aka Communion aka Holy Terror (1976)
directed by constantine s. gochis enterprise pictures limited If you try, you can find the claim that this chunk of tripe was a precursor to the slasher craze or some such nonsense. What it IS is a convoluted bit of inanity that doesn’t make much sense and doesn’t really bother to try. There’s no “class … Continue reading The Redeemer: Son of Satan aka Class Reunion Massacre (1978)
SPACE RATS From Outer Space 