Return of the Living Dead (1985)

After rupturing top secret bio waste drums, two bumbling clerks and the manager of a medical storehouse try to get rid of the reanimated remains only to accidentally seed the rainclouds above and have it rain on a graveyard.

God! This film hasn’t changed when I first saw it. This was a silly stupid fun film back in the day. Seeing this movie is like unearthing that toy you played with so much as a kid and you just find it in the back of the attic or basement or even pawnshop. The characters are fluid and real. The makeup effect is awesome for the time. While Russo tried to revitalize the “zombie genre” without stepping on George Romero’s toes and pulls it off with flying colors. And if you all don’t know why Linnea Quigly got famous, check out this movie and you will pretty much find out why. Mind the Barbie codpiece.

I really have nothing bad to say about the movie. Yes, the movie is cheesy, but it’s supposed to be cheesy. It’s supposed to be funny. That’s the purpose of the whole thing. For those who throw temper tantrum that Zombies don’t run, they run, work and talk. So all you getting your undies in a bunch need to sit down, shut up and watch this movie. Not only do the zombies bring a good amount of comedy as well as the element of impending doom and horror. Other then that and maybe the styles at the times which is a nitpick, this is a classic.

The DVD is cool. I love the DVD. Visuals and audio is alright. The extra include documentary on the movie with interviews with most of the cast, a look at the effects art that was used as inspiration for the special effects. Film and TV trailers and two commentaries. One by O’Bannon and will Stout and another by the cast. While I like the O’Bannon commentary, the cast commentary wasn’t my cup of tea. The reason being that they added “zombies” to the commentary. Why? I don’t know. Maybe to be hip with the kids or something. You might like it though. All this covered with a glow in the dark sleeve.

four stars.

La Marca Del Hombre Lobo (1968)

A gypsy couple release a werewolf from deep slumber while robbing his tomb. The werewolf goes on a rampage and is finally stopped by international playboy Waldemar Daninsky. Wounded, Daninsky now carries the werewolf’s burden and finds out the reason why his fore-bearer did not take a possible avenue for a cure.

Not only is this the first movie in the Waldemar Daninsky series of movies, turning shy scriptwriter Jacinto Molina into Paul Naschy, international horror star, but this is the first Spanish horror movie ever. The Franco regime was strict during it’s day and it’s movie censor board even stricter. Without German money and American distribution, this movie would not have been big as it is. Based off of Universal and Hammer pics, this movie works high on gothic settings and uses ruins effectively to augment the chaos of Naschy’s powerful and animistic performance as Daninsky, exceeded all other performances of tormented monsters. This movie was originally shot in 70mm which makes the film more vibrantly colorful then other film. Sometimes, the color patterns are the most beautiful in the film.

There are some low points. The American distributor tries to forcibly shoehorn a ridiculous premise of why there was no Frankenstein in the whole picture. While it doesn’t hurt the movie, it’s just plain stupid to try to form it around the name instead of vice versus. The movie also had times where it was very slowly paced and was making some scenes longer then they should be. The film had to be clipped to fit run times. I think they could have done a bit more here and there, but other then that, it was a good college try.

The DVD from Shreik Show is Fan-tastic. The video is a bit unsteady. The editing of both the European and American print restores the full movie, but gives you patches of soft and sharp stock in the movie. The audio is great. You get all the American promotional materials (trailers, posters, radio spots, etc.), an interview with Paul Naschy, liner notes from DVDdrivein.com’s George Reis and a commentary from the American distributor Sam Sherman who talks about how he found and should this movie, what makes a great horror movie from an artistic and marketing standpoint and how this movie was tied up into the fall of 3-D technology. A very fun and informative commentary.

4 stars.

Coming Attractions

El Ataud del Vampiro (1957)

A grave robber accidentally resurrects Karol Lavud while delivering his body to a hospital Dr. Enrique resides in. Now Enrique must protect Marta from the evil vampire.

This is the sequel to El Vampiro that was released six months after it’s debut. A lot of the same actors come back and really click again. Abel Salizar shows more of himself including his comedic edge in this , which is awesome. A lot of the scenes are beautifully framed and Victor Huerta, the cinematographer, also plays a lot with light and shadows which creates a lot of memorable scenes. This is a very strong sequel and stands on it’s own at the same time.

If there is any downsides to this film…well..besides the cheap special effects (c’mon. give them a little slack)….I think it was a little too fast. While I don’t mind hitting the ground running, they were throwing everything out in one go. I don’t mine a little bit of pacing to set up things and get in the mood. This movie almost loses it. Another thing is that there were holes in the story. Nothing too prominent, but it’s just there. Certain character disappear and appear and you wonder what the hell happen to them. Otherwise, it’s cool.

this is the second disc out of the Vampire Chronicles from Casa Negra. This is like the first disc. The video and audio quality is excellent. You get the original film and K. Murray cut along with the old radio ad put out in the US.

Of course, like El Vampiro, this is a must have. Even though this movie is packaged in a two disc package, if this was a stand alone and if you were collecting Mexican horror, I’d say get this one around near the end of the journey. This is a big title, but I think that seeing both movies back to back kinda flattens the series. So pace yourself with this one

3 stars.

El Vampiro (1957)

A woman travels to her hometown to find her hacienda dilapidated, one of her aunts dead and her other aunt strangely begging her to sell the hacienda. It is later found out that all these happened under the cunning mind of a vampire who wishes to resurrect the remains of his brother and use the hacienda as a new headquarters.

Mexico’s first classic horror movie.This is what started Fantastic film in Mexico. The gothics and atmosphere are great. The cinematography is very moody and framed wonderfully. The acting was very well done. Especially from German Robles, who makes his debut in this film. Fast trivia fact. Robles character, Karol de Lavud, was the first vampire not only to be filmed getting out of his coffin, but also the first vampire to bar his fangs as well.

What really made this film great was that they took the idea of vampires and the Universal ideal and made it their own. Where Universal’s Dracula took place in an alternate reality and Hammer’s Horror of Dracula took place during Victorian England, El Vampiro took place in the present day rural Mexico. This helped the build up of tension and horror better. Which makes it so good.

If there needs to be any complaints about the film, it’s that Abel Salizar was as utilized as the Van Helsing type character. Sure, he was built up that way, and it was cool someone else killed Lavud, but Abel’s character was too much Harker to be Van Helsing.

Again, Casa Negra gives you packages. This is the first disc in the two disc collection. There are some defects in the film and shows on the DVD, but I’m Cool with that. The audio is alright. You get a ton of extras. You got both original print and the K. Gordon dub. A commentary track by author Robert Cotter, who is the big aficionado of Mexican Fantastic. A photo essay, “Fear a la Mexicana.” by historian David Witt, Abel Salizar’s obituary from the Boston Globe, bios and An American Radio ad.

All horror fans must have this in their collection. This is a classic in the way that it started a great trend in movies. It is a must. General fans will dig it too as a conversation piece.

Five stars.

La Maldicion de La Llorona (1961)

A woman and her husband returns to the home of the aunt who raised her on the eve of her 25th birthday, only to find out that she is the basis of curse that sees her become  forced into the resurrecting of La Llorona.

A lot of people who I’ve talked to about this movie has stated that it has a very Black Sunday like vibe to it. I tend to agree. Black Sunday was released a year before this picture and I wouldn’t be surprised if Rafael Baledon, the director was inspired by Bava to make this film. What makes it interesting is that you can not say it’s a copy. While it does have the basic structure, Baledon amps up the Gothics and adds a bit of supernatural psychedelics to make it his own. His play with shadow and light, as well as working in just one large set makes the movie truly unique. The music also works well with  the movie. I wish the score was availible to purchase. The actors work well off one another, especially between Rosa Arenas, Rita Macedo and Abel Salazar, who by this time have worked on projects together before.

I think the only thing I had trouble with was the pacing. There were several moments that felt like they dragged on and on. Now granted, my first and second viewing of the movie was hindered because I was quite tired the time I was watching the movie. The third and fourth viewings however had myself nodding a bit.Things were a bit too silent and a bit too slow. I’d have preferred a bit more dialogue to kill the monotony.

I love Casa Negra. They’re like that cool new friend you just made who finds out some of your hobbies and leads you to a whole basement of glorious joy because he or she knows you’ll probably put it to the best use. They give you a very well made package. Not a DVD, a package. You get a bilingual disc with the original print and the K.Murray Prods. dub (I dig the original because it flows smoother.) The video is brilliant and the audio, despite some wear is quite good. Extras include stills and poster gallery, an essay on Baledon by David Wilt, bios, a commentary track done quite well by Casa Negra veep and historian Michel Luizza and an insert containing another essay by Entertainment Weekly’s Peter Landau as well as original art done by Rue Morgue Magazine’s Gary Pullin. See! A package!

I urge the horror and general film fan alike to pick this up and give it a once over. You will not regret watching this movie.

Four Stars.

Attack of The 50 Ft. Woman (1958)

After seeing a UFO land as well as it’s enormous inhabitant, a beautiful, but unstable heiress tries to tell anyone what she encountered. Taking it a metal relapse, her thieving husband plays along as the doubting Thomas until they encounter the UFO again. He leaves he behind the heiress at the mercy of the alien. Returned home and radiated, the heiress grows to large proportions and wreaks havoc on the town.

The Good

Directed by Academy Award winner Nathan Juran, this cult classic has great acting as well as an awesome score by Roland Stein. Stein’s score is what propelled him onto bigger and more well known sci-fi and horror features. It’s the kind of music you can listen to on it’s own.

The thing that really brings this movie out from all the rest is the way Juran decorates and lights sets due to his expertise in set design and lighting. Some of the designs are copied even to this day. He really make set pieces look really professional.

The Bad

Oh boy. Even though Juran was good at design, he was never given a decent effects budget. He had to rely on one giant rubber hand and a lot of double exposure to film just at least try to get the effect he wanted. Even in his final breath, he threw a fit about the effects of the movie. In the end, this folly helps this movie have it’s own distinct charm.

The story was too short and the dialog was cheesy. While the actors tried to carry the movie the best they could, it had the faint mac and cheese smell to it still. But then again, people were used to sitting through a hour long movie when a double feature was involved.

The DVD!!!

This is part of the Warner Bros Cult Camp Classics Sci-Fi Thrillers box set. The video is very clear and the sound is awesome crisp. Extras include commentary from movie historian Tom Weaver and actress Yvette Vickers, who was in the movie. While an essay would have been nice on the cultural impact this movie had, it all works well with the commentary alone.

Conclusion

This is a must have for the DVD collector. A time capsule of the fifties now on DVD. This is fun watching at parties or anytime really. If you’re really into film in general, this is the movie for you.