Seeing out this Octoberfest with a mini-binge:

ZOMBIE 5: KILLING BIRDS – I always feel a bit warm and fuzzy when I see the word ‘Filmirage’ pop up onscreen, and ‘Zombie 5’ is no exception. It’s from 1987, which puts it out of sync with those other flicks by Fulci, Mattei and Fragasso, but that’s a mere quibble. It has a different vibe, too, being less a clusterf*ck of random zombie action and more a mood piece, although you wouldn’t guess that from all the throat slashing at the start. In it, a bunch of college kids head out into the woods to find the last of the soon-to-be-extinct ‘grey-billed woodpeckers’, so credit to whoever came up with that one, it is slightly more imaginative than the usual camping trip. Robert Vaughn, of all people, crops up as the creepy ex-throat slasher turned professional twitcher, but the bulk of the film focuses on the kids as they wander around in a decrepit house. It could be boring, but a rank atmosphere sets in courtesy of the location and the cinematography, very well done by Joe D’Amato. After it decides that it needs to be more than a haunted house movie, some gore effects arrive along with night, fog and the undead, although the long-awaited killing birds only appear in the form of a skyful of swarming black dots right at the end. I really enjoyed ‘Zombie 5’, it has all the hallmarks of the late period Italian horror knock-offs that I so enjoy, from the strangely familiar sounding synths ‘n’ sequencer soundtrack to the chronic garishness that makes lines like “I meant to scare you, and I’m glad I did” sound natural and at home.

DEAD HEAT – A film I never used to really rate, but one I’ve grown increasingly fond of over the years. It’s a sharp splice between buddy-cop-action-comedy and eighties prosthetic horror – Treat Williams plays a zombie cop hot on the tail of a conspiracy of reanimators presided over by cackling Vincent Price. Great fun, with some wonderfully manic make up fx moments, such as the edible undead in the Chinese restaurant.

THE STONE TAPE – I have a very faint but at the same time quite vivid memory of watching a rerun of this in the early eighties. Only snippets stay with me, but I remember being suitably freaked out by the phosphorescent ‘thing’ at the end, which set me up for a preoccupation with nameless horrors that has lasted a lifetime. A founding text of all things hauntologically seventies, ‘The Stone Tape’ was written by Nigel Kneale and has Jane Asher as a spiritually sensitive scientist and Peter Bryant as her cocksure (in fact, cock full stop) boss, both a bit perturbed by the paranormal happenings besetting their lab. A dainty-looking Victorian spook gives rise to lots of furious speculation and algorithm-speak, but there’s something far more ominous echoing from some place deep within their surrounds. Flat TV play aesthetic aside, ‘The Stone Tape’ still has a formidable shudder running through it right up to those final moments. And what could be more sinister than that end-credit sequence?

Happy Hallowe'en everyone, and don't slip too many razors in with that candy!

The Ape Man. 1943.

A scientist transforms himself in to a half man half ape creature and tries to find a cure in a way of body donors.

This was one of those so bad it was good movies from Bela Lugosi that's full of drama, horror and campiness, what amazes me about these films, they don't seem to be big budget, the running time is just over a hour (which is time well spent). The acting is what makes it worth sitting down, it does rely on the actors to make it eerie and gloomy even though a actor is in a monkey suit makes it laughable but you go with what was available to do in those days..

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Tonight's viewing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHUv2ooG38

Film 5

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Beautifully crafted film that really makes you feel Halloween is actually happening. I love how everything ties together it just looks and feels Halloween and Sam is the coolest little thing. Its not Halloween without watching this.

Going end the night with something different and less horrific.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZXg6Uaxd2k

Night of the Demons (1988)

https://i1.wp.com/halloweenshindig.c...td_angela3.gif

Well that's it for Halloween Season 2020, this was my 45th film and all new viewings!

What's the matter Judy? Don't you like your blind date?

Angela is throwing a Halloween party in an abandoned funeral home, like you do, and after dancing and drinking for a bit they try to talk to the spirits of the departed through a mirror. In 1988 they should have been self aware enough to know that you don't try and talk to the dead through a mirror in a funeral home, it's just not the done thing. Although stupidity aside it does lead to a fantastic camera shot of the whole party through fragments of broken mirror!

The best scene however is Angela's lone Goth Girl dancing by strobe light to Bauhaus, absolutely electric! I've decided I love Angela! The other cast members not so much, although Linnea as Suzanne was a highlight, I've never seen lipstick applied in such a manner before.

A good movie, a bit cheesy and very silly, but some good practical effects and makeup. This would probably be tons better if I was watching with some friends and some alcohol.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 1975.

A newly engaged couple's car breaks down and they venture to a house to seek assistance unaware the owner is is creating another life in his lab.

Say what you can about this film, it's a drama, comedy, musical and must have been horror for guys to walk in heels, some woman make it look easy, a film that was poorly received when it was released and now a cult favourite to which I still enjoy watching...and ok dancing as well, come on you gotta dance to the time warp every time you hear it. Perfect setting though, heavy rain and a dark gothic mansion, it's the start of a good movie.

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I may end this horror fest here, if I do just want to say thanks to all with your likes on the comments and pic gallery, you guys rock, love ya all, stay safe people

Danza Macabra (1964, Sergio Corbucci)

Yes, I know it's called something else, but this is how my my one starts ahem.
A writer spends the night in a proverbial ancestral pile. The other tenants are ... a difficult bunch to warm to. :skull:

Years it's been with this one. Set in an England that only existed in the Italian imagination, this sombre wee chamber piece still works. Can love come from beyond? Let's find out ...

Had to watch something gothic fer flips sake. :ghostclap: and this will do nicely. Steele exudes a skittish fragility.

Love this film I watched it one night, it was titled Castle Of Blood, good choice Demon

October 30th
 

Don't Let Them In (2020)

Well this was a nice surprise. I thought it was an American made movie on the lines of The Purge but what it actually is a British low budgeter about a couple of social workers who on Halloween visit an old hotel to see their client recently released from prison on a charge of child murder.

This takes it's time to set the scene but the acting and dialogue is good. I suppose those who want to bracket a movie will say it's Purge like but for me Ben Wheatley's Kill List is more of a reference point in the way the plot twists and turns and basically morphs into a totally different movie about ritualistic murder during the final twenty minutes.

As a movie from a first time director it was remarkably competent. I liked it.

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

This was my twelfth viewing of this superbly realised Halloween anthology movie.

Along with The Witch and House of 1000 Corpses it's my favourite horror film of the twenty first century.

Happy Halloween Scooby Doo (2020)

Bad idea to leave this until last as i nodded off shortly after the film turned into Mad Max Fury Road.

Up until then it was a lot of fun. Full review in 12 months time.