Zombie Creeping Flesh (1980)

Cheap Italian rip off of possibly Dawn of the Dead as SWAT team types on a mission (To do what, i have no idea) end up battling zombies in the jungles of New Guinea.

Despite gallons of gore this is one of the least scary horror films imaginable. The zombies do whatever they please, half the time they seem intelligent enough to be afraid of guns - witness a SWAT goon dancing among them waving his rifle around without them attacking - the other half they dice and slice anything in their way. There's zero tension and the film is plagued by wildlife stock footage when the film should be approaching it's climax.

The SWAT goons are idiots and behave like The Three Stooges on a bad day and are memorable but not in a good way as the acting is dreadful and the dialogue even worse. No wonder Margit Evelyn Newton pretty much allowed herself to have a zombie hand thrust in her mouth and the fingers push out her eyes from the inside out as it's possibly a better option than sitting through this film.

BUT, for some reason i can't fathom, i actually like Zombie Creeping Flesh. The term 'So bad it's good' is frequently over used, but really does fit this film.

I enjoy Zombie Creeping Flesh a lot too, it's basically daft isn't it? I prefer it to the likes of Burial Ground and Zombie Holocaust for that reason.

Nightmare City (1980)

Radiation = zombies... or something on those lines as a plane lands and contaminated mutants break out and kill everyone. What makes this different is the ghouls know how to use guns at least they do in the airport shoot out. Naturally the ghouls victims don't stay dead for long either.

Nightmare City is another Italian mish mash of a movie and like Fulci's Murder Rock, appears to be a reason for slaughtering wearers of spandex. The film zips along at an almost obscene pace as Hugo Stiglitz and Mel Ferrer try and make sense of things amid all the carnage. I wouldn't worry guys. It's all just a dream.

Nightmare City is a decent watch that always keeps me entertained, it has a sense of scale unmatched even by Fulci's Zombie Flesh Eaters, and rates as one of the best of the mid tier splatter films to come out of Italy in the 70's / 80's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI3sDQnzq3E

6.5/10


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVtoztPJMoM

7/10

Some more carry on's.

Off too see Hellboy on Sunday will be interesting to see if it's as bad as the critics make out. It's sitting at 12% on rotten tomatoes.

The Case of the scorpian's tail 1971.

After the death of a millionaire, the wife who is the beneficiary collects the money, a investigator deals in more than he may handle.

This had its fair share of twists and turns that any giallo fan will appreciate, Sergio Martino delivers another good flick that can keep you entertained and somewhat intrigued to the end with a good background score by Bruno Nicolai. George Hilton delivers another good performance aswell as Anita Strindberg, with great setting in Athens and good atmosphere it's one worth watching. 7 out of 10.

'A Quiet Place' - I liked this, kept me entertained and certainly doesn't outstay it's welcome. Performances are really good and I found it visually appealing. Miles ahead of the similar, but utterly ridiculous, 'Birdbox'.

Or is it...

Four of the apocalypse(1975)

a card shark(fabio testi), a pregnent hooker, a crazy black chap, and a town drunk all get out of jail and end up wandering in the desert. and fall into the clutches of the insane Chaco(Thomas Milian).

not really a massive fan of westerns, apart from the odd exception of clint Eastwood and a bit of charles Bronson. but one directed by Lucio Fulci is well worth a look and is definately different. with some sadistic scenes of torture, murder, rape, and even a bit of cannabilism.
acting is pretty good as well despite some rubbish dubbing, with great chemistry between testi and Lynne Frederick, who stars as bonny the hooker.
And Fulci regular Sergio Salvati provides some nice cinematography too. just a shame about the score which was a bit crap i thought.

But definately a solid 78 out of a 100 for this Italian western. :)

A very good western. Would make a cracking Arrow release!

Excalibur 1981.

The myth of Merlin the Magician guiding young Arthur who became king and his sword Excalibur.

When John Boorman made The Exorcist II, his career may have taken a dive, he came back with this adaptation that's been told a few times.

Filmed in Ireland and a lot of outdoor scenery this film relied on use of lights, weather and good acting and non of the CGI effects or stop motion,. Nigel Terry takes on the role of Arthur brilliantly, Helen Mirren plays Morgana who is Arthur's half sister and nemesis of Merlin played brilliantly by Nicol Williamson. Gabriel Byrne has a small role of King Uther who had Excalibur and why it was placed in the stone. There is some appreances by Patrick Stewart, Clive Swift and Liam Neeson in supporting roles. With a good background score Trevor Jones and cinematography by Alex Thomson, this is one worth a watch.