Mia Farrow arrives at her Uncle's country manor to recuperate after losing her eyesight after a horseriding accident. After a riding trip she returns to the house and slowly comes to realise that the household have been brutally slaughtered and the killer has left an identity bracelet behind, which he returns to collect....
Or Blind Terror as it's normally known in Britain. Right from the start the director shows his intentions as the killer, only recognisable, until the end, by his cowboy boots, coming out of a cinema double bill showing 'The Convent Murders' and 'Rapist Cult' and focuses on toy guns in windows, violence on the tvs in shop windows etc. Then he plays the class card as an upper crust car (actually the car of of Mia Farrow's uncle) has the temerity to splash his boots and so the killer crosses a zebra crossing, stopping the car from moving on. The uncle driving the car says, echoing the viewer, "Ok, move along. You've made your point." But I'm being harsh. Besides all this, and the old disabled person/woman in peril plotline' this is a finely made taut thriller from the confident hand of 60/70s tv supremo Brian Clemens. The only major complaint is that the ending just sort of fizzles out. Not flawless, but still an overlooked gem.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
The Hanging Woman (1973)
Serge Chekov arrives at his ancestor's castle for the reading of a will and sees a hanging woman in the graveyard, which disappears aftyer he raises the alarm. He sets out to investigate just how is uncle was killed.
One of those Eurohorrors that appears in many forms and many, many titles. Mostly remembered these days by the cameo appearance of Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy as a necrophiliac gravedigger, this is a reasonable horror with a rousing climax, but a tad slow in the first half.
One of those Eurohorrors that appears in many forms and many, many titles. Mostly remembered these days by the cameo appearance of Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy as a necrophiliac gravedigger, this is a reasonable horror with a rousing climax, but a tad slow in the first half.
March Of The Wooden Soldiers (1934)
In Toyland the evil Silas Barnaby attempts to force Bo Peep to marry him prompting Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee to do what they can to thwart his plans .
Basically this is Stan and Ollie in panto with a load of operetta songs thrown into the mix. For once colour would have been nice here to make the most of the wonderful sets. However, although this was made during their best period, this isn't one of their best. More than most, the film lags horribly when the boys are not on the screen.
Basically this is Stan and Ollie in panto with a load of operetta songs thrown into the mix. For once colour would have been nice here to make the most of the wonderful sets. However, although this was made during their best period, this isn't one of their best. More than most, the film lags horribly when the boys are not on the screen.
Tintin and the Blue Oranges (1964)
After being sent a blue orange by his colleague, Professor Calculus is kidnapped. Tintin and Captain Haddock go to the rescue.
A second live action for the boy reporter. A somewhat confusing plot but thoroughly charming also for fans of Tintin. The characters are lovingly created and the whole film looks like it was drawn by Hergé. It is quite talkative, which may explain the convolutions of the plot, and for once a dubbed film would have been preferable. But if you are a fan of Tintin, it's a treat.
A second live action for the boy reporter. A somewhat confusing plot but thoroughly charming also for fans of Tintin. The characters are lovingly created and the whole film looks like it was drawn by Hergé. It is quite talkative, which may explain the convolutions of the plot, and for once a dubbed film would have been preferable. But if you are a fan of Tintin, it's a treat.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Orange County (2002)
Shaun is a surfer dudeon the Californian coast who reads a book that changes his life. He decides he wants to be a writer and applies to Stanford College, but gets rejected because of mis-sent information. He enlists his girlfriend and stoner brother to try and help him get into the college.
Pretty run of the mill teen comedy that is pefectly watchable and made all the more so when Jack Black is on the screen. Harmless.
Pretty run of the mill teen comedy that is pefectly watchable and made all the more so when Jack Black is on the screen. Harmless.
The Big Racket (1976)
An organised group of criminals is running a protection racket that is getting out of control. Detective Nico Palmieri is determined to bring them to justice, one way or another.
A highly entertaining Italian crime drama, chock full of fistfights, car chases and a detective being continuously in trouble with his boss. Some great scenes, including the detective being rolled down a hill in his car with the camera on the inside and a great finale that manages to wipe out most of the cast. The dubbing is of particular humerous interest with words like diddly and basket being used frequently to mask swear words. Great fun.
A highly entertaining Italian crime drama, chock full of fistfights, car chases and a detective being continuously in trouble with his boss. Some great scenes, including the detective being rolled down a hill in his car with the camera on the inside and a great finale that manages to wipe out most of the cast. The dubbing is of particular humerous interest with words like diddly and basket being used frequently to mask swear words. Great fun.
Race To Witch Mountain (2009)
Been to the pictures with my daughter!
A taxi driver tries to help two extra terrestial children find their way to their spaceship, helped by a UFO specialist.
My daughter loved it. I got myself into an internal fight with one half saying that this film was full of half baked ideas, no character development and a bloody awful script. The other half said to shut it, it's for the kids so stop being so picky. On reflection I don't think they should get away with making sloppy films just because they are for kids. On the plus side, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) isn't the worst ever actor to come from the WWF.
A taxi driver tries to help two extra terrestial children find their way to their spaceship, helped by a UFO specialist.
My daughter loved it. I got myself into an internal fight with one half saying that this film was full of half baked ideas, no character development and a bloody awful script. The other half said to shut it, it's for the kids so stop being so picky. On reflection I don't think they should get away with making sloppy films just because they are for kids. On the plus side, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) isn't the worst ever actor to come from the WWF.
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