Last week's viewings:
Doomwatch (1972)
The PG rating does hurt this one, and although the TV show of the same name shares the same rating, you kind of expect it more from TV than film, which has the remit to push things a little further. The run-time is also extended so it does lag a little vs. the 50 min 'leaner' episodes. However, the story itself is told well with some genuine suspense, plus the always lovely Judy Geeson is certainly a welcome addition to the proceedings.
64/100 Repo Man (1984)
A firm favourite of mine since the very first time I watched it. A melting pot of characters and situations blend into a highly unique whole. A lot of fun and highly-quotable. "The life of a repo man is always intense."
94/100 Hounds of Love (2016)
Gritty, Aussie psychological thriller about a couple who kidnap, rape, torture and then kill young girls. Generally well-acted with plenty of characterisation on all sides and lots of tension throughout. Recommended for those who are drawn to these kind of films.
73/100 The Company of Wolves (1984)
Fantasy / coming of age tale, which I've always rated highly and is also quite probably my favourite werewolf film - albeit not in the conventional sense.
84/100 The Day of the Jackal (1973)
A police procedural thriller that dramatises a fictional plot based on a Frederick Forsyth novel to kill Charles de Gaulle by the hiring of an assassin known as The Jackal. What it lacks in raw action it makes up in documenting the details of the plot and is no less thrilling for doing so. Recommended.
80/100 Badlands (1973)
A classic on-the-run road movie based on the Starkweather-Fugate killings of the 1950s employing sumptuous photography, and a mixture of minimalism and madness as Martin Sheen kills and drives his way through Dakota along with Sissy Spacek, who plays his 15 year old girlfriend.
82/100 The Devil Incarnate (El caminante) AKA: The Traveller (1979)
Spanish film directed by Paul Naschy detailing the trials and tribulations of The Devil made flesh on Earth who travels with a companion leaving corruption and evil in his wake. More of an excuse for Naschy (who plays the devil) to fornicate with various women along the way, this whilst predictable and not really having a point as such makes for a fairly pacy film which is chock full of the usual nudity, debasement and imagery we can expect. Recommended for all Naschy and Euro-sleaze fans.
66/100 Dead Heat (1988)
Buddy cop film with a zombie twist, whilst fun lacks some of the chemistry of other buddy cop pairings as well as the laughs / horror of other zombie comedy films from the same era. Also, I don't think I've seen either lead in any other film off the top of my head, which is unusual. Bonus points for Vincent Price and being fairly unique overall with some fun set-pieces though.
63/100 Nightmares (1983)
Fairly standard horror anthology film that doesn't go out of its way to bring anything fresh or new to the table - in fact all of the tales are rip-offs of better films made around the same time except the first story which is just a take-off of a popular urban legend. The acting is pretty solid throughout and the effects are okay (until you get to the 'giant' rat story that is). A curio and enjoyable enough but about as fresh as last month's milk festering at the back of the fridge.
55/100 Cosmos (2015)
Żuławski's swan-song whch is both a middle finger to art-house film as well as cementing its place within it. A great companion piece to Possession in more ways than one... definitely on for the re-watch pile.
75/100 Matinee (1993)
A loving homage to the B-movie against a back-drop of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis complete with giant ants, a cigar-chewing John Goodman, teen romance, comedy and destruction all compliments of Joe Dante. Good fun.
71/100