What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Videodrome (1983)

Even though Videodrome probably has logic gaps throughout it's still a deeply complex, disturbing and intense viewing experience.
S
The film explores many of director David Cronenberg's career themes and obsessions such as technology fusing (is that the right word?) with the human body and the links between sex and violence. It features one of James Woods most unscrupulous performances - he's a cable channel programmer who gets drawn in completely over his head to a repulsive S&M channel called Videodrome - and, who along with the indecently depraved Deborah Harry and some risque imagery (in the uncut version) make Videodrome an unsettling viewing experience.

Watched it on Friday night again,still my favourite Cronenberg film along with The Dead Zone.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Purge (2013)

The Bay, Lords of Salem, Oculus, The Town that Dreaded Sundown and The Green Inferno - these are the only Blumhouse productions i consider any good.

Well now i can add The Purge. Blumhouse's take on Rio Bravo and Assault on Precinct 13 as Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey attempt to protect their family and home from a sadistic gang on Purge night, a single twelve hour night where anything goes.

A gripping exercise in sustained terror with an almighty twist that kicks in with ten minutes to go. Yes the whole concept is ridiculously OTT but i loved it.

[gag]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

The Purge (2013)

The Bay, Lords of Salem, Oculus, The Town that Dreaded Sundown and The Green Inferno - these are the only Blumhouse productions i consider any good.

Well now i can add The Purge. Blumhouse's take on Rio Bravo and Assault on Precinct 13 as Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey attempt to protect their family and home from a sadistic gang on Purge night, a single twelve hour night where anything goes.

A gripping exercise in sustained terror with an almighty twist that kicks in with ten minutes to go. Yes the whole concept is ridiculously OTT but i loved it.

I would have thought the 2nd purge would have been more fitting as the first film tbh.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by gag

I would have thought the 2nd purge would have been more fitting as the first film tbh.

Don't know as i haven't seen it.

I do own it though. Picked them both up as a box set for a quid before Xmas from a charity shop. Probably watch it next weekend.

[Nordicdusk]

Draculaad1972.jpg

A bored group of friends looking to put a bit of adventure into their lives plan a ritual the instigator is one Johnny Alucard. Johnny has it all fancy car big house money and woman but what he craves more than all that is immortality. With Dracula risen from the grave to what lenghts will Johnny go to to achieve ever lasting life.

One of those films i dont know why it took me so long to finally watch it. It did feel strange at times like when the ritual is happening in the old abandoned church and there is a gothic feel to it only for some what can only be described as 70s cop show music playing in the background

As is more than obvious to everyone when these two legends are on screen Lee and Cushing have some great scenes together from the opening fight with the carriage wheel to the great showdown at the end. Lees screen time is limited but he lights up the screen when he is there.

7/10

[Nordicdusk]

s-l300.jpg

Rasputin blows through town like a storm drinking dancing womanising and curing the sick he's like a rock n roll Jesus. In order to support his lifestyle of booze and woman he brain washes people into acquiring his services my harming those around them without realising it themselves all as part of his plan knowing that only he has the power to heal them. But his new found fame not only brings him riches but also powerful enemies and they conspire to put an end to his rise in society.

I always love this film Christopher Lee is fantastic with the hair beard and intense crazy eyes he is just so threatening and imposing owning the screen.

8/10

[Demoncrat]

Pretty In Pink

Another one off the list. Wish I had kept it like this. Now I liked 16 Candles, but this?
No one dressed like that. No one spoke like that. And if they did , they sure weren't worth idolizing. AWFUL. And yet again, no black people go to this school???
Hughes must DIE.

[Nordicdusk]

Originally Posted by Demoncrat

Pretty In Pink

Another one off the list. Wish I had kept it like this. Now I liked 16 Candles, but this?
No one dressed like that. No one spoke like that. And if they did , they sure weren't worth idolizing. AWFUL. And yet again, no black people go to this school???
Hughes must DIE.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Virgin Witch (1972)

Two pretty girls are recruited for a modeling assignment at a large country mansion. All is not what it seems though as a witches coven lurks in the background,and aims to use the girls in their erotic rites.

Other films dealing with witchcraft such as Legend of the Witches have over the past few years been re-evaluated and been given more credit than they first received, not so Virgin Witch which is still seen as a guilty pleasure, a piece of sexploitation, rather than an acclaimed seventies horror film. Director Ray Austin gives the audience plenty of up-skirt shots and his camera comes to a halt each time it focuses on a pair of bare breasts or a pert posterior, adding to the smuttyness of the proceedings. Its these values that make Virgin Witch an offbeat, sleazy almost unsettlingly voyeuristic movie. The horror aspects to the film largely go unexplored until the last third.

The film has impressive scenes of the black arts. The sequences are directed with abundant glee as Ann Michelle's Christine is "taken" on the alter the rest of the coven are happily enjoying their own erotically charged rituals. Sans kit naturally.

The film stars sisters Ann and Vicki Michelle, Both actresses feel that the nudity involved was not what they signed up for and felt exploited by the experience. Both have disowned the film. It should be noted that according to author Simon Sheridan's booklet notes neither actress was paid in full nor has been to this day for working on the film so this probably fuels the resentment towards it as much as their experiences working on it.

The film itself is enjoyable enough if not actually scary or horrific, it has good production values and was filmed at the beautiful Admiral's Walk manor house near Woking, the same place Norman J Warren filmed Terror and the brilliant Satan's Slave.

[Demoncrat]

Penelope (1966, Arthur Hiller)

Delightful (ish) romp with Natalie Wood, Ian Bannen, Peter Falk and Jonathan Winters. Not sold yet?

The plot is just gubbins, twas the 60s after all, but they all have hair . Peter Falks his way through it, practising without knowing it for Columbo. Some light heartedness, as there may be trouble ahead .... no one sings though, thank Cthulhu!!