31 days of Horror: Day Thirty One-The Devil's Daughter

The Devil's Daughter (1973)

Belinda Montgomery plays Diane Shaw, who returns to California after her mothers death. At the funeral, she meets Lilith (Shelley Winters) who says she was her mother's friend, and insists she come and stay with her. Diane is a bit on the trusting side. She isn't put off by Lilith's overly fawning behaviour, or by the giant painting of Satan over the fire place. By the time she starts demanding a little Independence, she's already deeply ensnared by the group of aging Devil Worshipping socialites, and has already begun to suspect the terrible secret about her own identity.

This is a spooky little TV movie, that wears it's Rosemary's Baby influences on it's sleeve.The plot is completely predictable, but that doesn't stop it from being entertaining. Shelley Winters is perfectly cast as the creepy, and insincere Lilith. One minute sickly sweet, the next flying into a rage. I have a soft spot for Winters, a soft spot for 70's TV thrillers, and a soft spot for the Devil himself, so this film was a perfect storm of awesome for me, and a very nice way to spend my Halloween.

31 days of Horror: Day Thirty-Las luchadoras contra la momia ( Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy)

Las luchadoras contra la momia ( Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy) (1964)

As someone who has a great fondness for professional wrestling, and Monster Movies, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I have a soft spot for Mexican Lucha Libre films. These are movies staring (mostly) masked Mexican wrestlers going up against monsters, aliens, criminals, or foreign spies. The most famous wrestling movie star/superhero is of course El Santo, but there were plenty of others, including the stars of the movie I watched this evening, Las luchadoras or The Wrestling Women.

The movie begins with a number of murders of prominent archaeologists by the Black Dragon gang. The gangs latest victim flees into a wrestling arena where our heroines are in the middle of a match. After they win, they find the man hiding out in their locker room. He explains that he's an archaeologist, one of a group who recently discovered a Codex that could show the whereabouts of the treasure of the Aztecs. Now the Black Dragon gang have been kidnapping, torturing, and killing the members of the group, trying to find the codex. He asks for the help of the girls, as well their Police officer boyfriend, just before he's killed with a poisoned dart. The Black Dragon gang are bunch of generic bad guy Asians, who's leader is a Fu Manchu type. Not that they're real Asians though. They're a bunch of Mexicans dressed up like movie bad guy Asians. Also, the Fu Manchu type leader has two martial arts expert sisters, who can fight the Wrestling Women later. The convoluted plot eventually leads to the awakening of the Aztec Mummy, who doesn't get enough screen time, but is pretty bad ass.

These movies have a tendency to be kind of clunky, and this one is no exception, but if you like old fashioned serial style adventure, and you don't mind the plot stopping every once in a while for an extended wrestling sequence, there's a lot of fun to be had.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Nine-La lama nel corpo (The Murder Clinic)

La lama nel corpo (The Murder Clinic) (1966)

The Murder Clinic is set in England (yeah right!) in the mid 1800s, at an isolated Rest Home. For some reason a cloaked, black gloved killer is murdering the patients with a straight razor. Dr. Vance, the clinic's owner is covering up the slayings. He tells the new nurse that the missing patient left that morning at dawn with her family, and later he's seen burying the body by the blackmailing Gisèle, a murderer in her own right.Even though his wife accuses him of murdering women early on, it's not clear that he's the killer. There are a number of other possibilities. The womanizing straight razor carrying care taker, the patient prone to violent outbursts who tries to stab one of the nurses, and don't forget the cloaked hideous monstrosity that lives on the fourth floor.

This is an entertaining mix of Gothic Horror, and Giallo. On the Gothic side we have an old dark house, long buried family secrets, shifty servants, physical deformity, and insanity. And on the Giallo side we have a high body count, free flowing blood, and an elaborate, and improbable whodunit. This is the perfect kind of scary movie to catch on TV late at night, and great Halloween fare.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Eight- Thirst

Thirst (1979)

Kate Davis is a modern successful lady. In the evenings she, and her mustachioed lover cavort in front of a blazing fire. Imagine her surprise when she's kidnapped by a well financed secret society, and told she's the last living descendant of Elizabeth Bathory. The secret society is made up people who believe they are a superior race, and that the drinking of blood confers youth and power. To keep a steady supply of the good stuff available the society has set up "farms" like the one Kate is being held at. There dozens of "donors" are held captive, and regularly drained of blood (not enough to kill them) in a mechanized factory farm setting. The "donors" seem dopey, and compliant. Kate is meant to join the society, drink blood, and merge her bloodline with that of another powerful family. She's horrified by the concept, and so is subjected to powerful drug fueled brainwashing sessions.

The resulting movie is both creepy, and intriguing. I was often reminded of the "Prisoner" TV show, where Patrick McGoohan, plays a spy being held captive in a surreal village where you can't tell who the prisoners are, and who are the jailers. Like McGoohan, Kate seemingly escapes a number of times only to discover she's still trapped. And also like McGoohan, her captors use hallucinogenic drugs, and mind control techniques to break her will. The sterile factory setting , and docile "Blood Cows" (as one character calls them) add to the unsettling atmosphere.

The acting is good across the board, with Shirley Cameron standing out as the most ruthless of the Society members. She plays the part with apparent glee. B Movie mainstay Henry Silva is also present, and although he doesn't get a lot to do, he does get a fantastic death.

While Thirst isn't quite as good as George A. Romero's Vampire revisionist masterpiece Martin, it's sure to please fans of Romero's, and Cronenberg' s 70's output.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Seven- The Blob

The Blob (1988)

People love to complain about remakes, myself include, but that's because they are rarely as awesome as The Blob.

Football player Paul, asks cheerleader Meg out on a date. juvenile delinquent Brian fucks his motorcycle up trying to jump over a broken bridge. Unnamed hobo investigates a giant meteorite crash, discovering a gelatinous alien predator. When unnamed hobo steals Brian's ax to cut his Blob infected hand off, he runs into the road and is hit by Paul, and Meg, out on their date. This leads to everyone going to the hospital, where the hobo melts, and Paule is eaten by the Blob in front of Meg. The Police blame this on Brian, because of his delinquency.

Got all that? It doesn't matter, because what makes The Blob great is it's mix of 80's teen movie conventions and it's insanely grotesque special effects. It's like Ferris Bueller's Day Off seen through the lens of an EC Horror Comic. Everything is candy coloured gore. The creature itself is one of the greatest movie monsters I've ever seen. Special effects guy Tony Gardner totally out did himself. Six years later Director Chuck Russell helped usher in the age of CGI with his next film The Mask, but here it's all glorious latex, and camera tricks.

This flopped when it was first released, which was real shame, both because it continues to be underrated, and because we were all denied the fantastic sequel that is set up at the end. By all means, watch this movie.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Six- Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas

Alucarda, la hija de las tinieblas (1978)

This movie is psychotic. It's like The Devils + The Exorcist + The Vampire Lovers.

Justine moves into a Church run orphanage in 1800's Mexico. She immediately becomes fast friends with Alucarda, another orphan, and Sister Angélica, a kindly nun. Alucarda is a little wild, and soon the two are running through the forest consorting with Satan (who looks like a beatnik), and professing their love for one another. Later Satan joins them in their room, and they pledge a blood oath to evil, and each other. When the Priests, and nuns find out about their pact, they discuss what to do while whipping each other. During the brutal exorcism that follows, Justine is killed, but then returns from the dead for revenge.

This must have been a profoundly shocking film when it was first released. The nudity, blood, and Satanic elements are presented by director Juan López Moctezuma with apparent glee. And although Sister Angélica is the moral center of the film the Church itself is presented as an bunch of dangerous fools, at best. In a country as Catholic as Mexico, I'm surprised it came out at all. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for kinetic energy. The films picks up speed as it goes along. The whole movie is like a nude, screaming, blood orgy. If that sounds good to you, then you will certainly enjoy this film.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Five- House Of The Long Shadows

House Of the Long Shadows (1983)

Here's a movie with a clunky story, a terrible lead actor (The charmless Desi Arnaz Jr.), and two groan inducing endings. So why bother writing about it? Well it brings together four horror icons, has atmosphere to spare, and gives Vincent Price opportunity to call Christopher lee a bitch.

The story follows shallow American writer Kenneth Magee (Arnaz), as he makes a bet for $20'000 with his publisher that he can write a novel in the Gothic style in 24 hours. The Publisher offers Magee the use of a dilapidated manor house in Wales. A house that proves less deserted than the publisher suggested. It seems the former owners of the house (the Grisbane family) have by coincidence chosen the same dark and stormy night for a family reunion. The Grisban's are a family with a lot of skeletons in their closets, and one of those skeletons seems intent on killing the rest off. What's a writer to do?

This is by no means a perfect movie, but it has a lot of charm. Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carridine ham it up, and are perfectly situated in the spooky old mansion. Any one of them seems likely to loom out of the darkness at any moment. Also great is Sheila Keith, as the sister. Keith is a wonderful British Actress, a regular collaborator of director Pete Walker (most famously as a drill wielding psycho in Frightmare), and a horror icon in her own right. The mansion itself is a fantastic location, but I found myself regularly wishing for better lighting. There are also some problems with pacing, the middle sort of plods along for a while. But, if you like Old Dark House type movies, this is ones pretty fun.

Playlist and download link for October 7th 2009

Killer Aliens

John Carpenter-March Of The Children-Village Of The Damned
Contamination Sample
John Scott-Inseminoid-Inseminoid
Goblin-Contamination suite II-Contamination
Ennio Morricone-Eternity-The Thing
Contamination Sample
Harry Bromley Davenport-Main Title/Brain storn-Xtro
Jerry Goldsmith-The Shaft-Alien
Gino Marinuzzi Jr-Exploring Aura/Dead Crewmen Found-Planet Of The Vampires
Contamination Sample
John Scott-Virus-Inseminoid
Harry Bromley Davenport-Extra-Territorial-Xtro
Henry Mancini-The Vampire Lives-Lifeforce
Alan Silvestri-Swinging Rude Boys-Predator 2
Contamination Sample-Danny Zeitlin-Flight-Invasion Of The Body Snatchers
Contamination Sample
Tristram Cary-Daleks Disintergrate-Doctor Who:The Devils Planets

Download link

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Four- Bloody Birthday

Bloody Birthday (1981)

In 1970 3 children are born during a solar eclipse. As a character explains later this meant that the Sun was blocking Saturn which is responsible for the emotions, and that's why all three kids become murderous little fuckers. This is bad for their friends, and families, but great for us.

Someone is killing local teenagers while they make out in open graves. Who could it be? For some reason the sheriff thinks it's a good idea to ask a class of ten year olds. It wasn't a bad idea either, because all three killers were in the class. Don't think that this means the sheriff is hot on their trail though, he doesn't have a clue, and soon gets his head bashed in with a baseball bat. The older sister of one of the classmates of the kids thinks something is fishy is going on, but of course no one will listen to her, and soon she's a target as well.

This is a good, creepy slasher. The kids are all good actors, and carry out their murders with a childlike good humour. This is one of the best things about the movie. The kids aren't presented as "Evil Incarnate", they seem to think killing people is a pretty good joke. The result is unsettling. Also great is the dreary low budget look of the film. It's like the degrassi kids turned psycho.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Three - Minaccia d'amore (Dial: Help)

Minaccia d'amore (Dial: Help) (1988)

Jenny Cooper is a British fashion model living in Italy. She's trying to get in contact with the dick head she's going out with, but he's not returning her phone calls. When she dials the wrong number and gets the office of an old dating agency, the magic/psychic phone at the agency falls in love, and begins stalking her. It phone's her up at home, or where ever else she is and plays strange noises and old recordings. At first Jenny thinks these are ordinary prank phone calls, but when the phone kills all her fish, and makes her neighbour take his shirt off and try to jump off her balcony, she knows it's serious. She gets her rock music playing, sports car driving friend who is also a telephone repairman, to look into things. He tells her "I've got a report that there's an energy that can't be explained in any way". She goes down to the subway looking for him, and finds him burned alive, then she's attacked by a maniac, but a payphone shoots coins at her attacker turning him into a bloody mess.

You get the picture. This is a nonsensical Italian horror movie that manages to be as constantly entertaining as it is confusing. Charlotte Lewis who plays Jenny, looks good, and does her best with the material. As is often the case with Italian genre films the cinematography is better than it has any right to be, and fans of hot 80's fashion phones will be delighted with what's on display. Director Ruggero Deodato is most famous for starting a cycle of hyper gory Cannibal films (he had to bring actors into court to prove he hadn't murdered them on camera) but he shows here, he can turn out an entertaining movie even if the blood is kept to a minimum, and nobody gets impaled.

Playlist and download link for October 29th 2008

In honour of Halloween, I'm going to uploading some of my scarier episodes of Solamente Nero. This one was dedicated to Slashers.

Bernard Herrman-The Murder-Psycho
Segment From Friday the 13th PT 2
Harry Manfredini-Excerpts In Terror-Friday The 13th
Segment from Black Christmas
John Carpenter-The Shape Stalks-Halloween
Segment From My Bloody Valentine
Charles Bernstein-Rod Hanged/Night Stalking-Nightmare On Elm Street
Tobe Hopper-Opening Titles-Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Segment From Friday the 13th PT 2
Stelvio Cipriani-Ecologia Del Delitto-Bay Of Blood
Segment From My Bloody Valentine
Goblin-Waiting Death-Tenebrae
Carl Zittrer-Piano Recital-Black Christmas
Segment from Black Christmas
John Carpenter-Main Theme-Halloween
Segment From Halloween
Marco Beltrami-Altered Ego-Scream
Segment From Halloween
John Carpenter-Micheal Kills Judeth-Halloween
Segment From Friday the 13th PT 2
Philip Glass-Candyman Suite/Carbrini Green-Candyman
Segment from Black Christmas
Charles Bernstein-Pier Pressure-Nightmare On Elm Street
Segment From Friday the 13th PT 2
Fred Myrow-Phantasm Disco remix-Phantasm
Segment From Halloween
Frankie Vinci-Your Just What I've Been Looking For/Angela's Theme-Sleepaway Camp
Segment from Black Christmas

Download here.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty Two - Yôkai daisensô (Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare)

Yôkai daisensô (Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare) (1968)

Sorry for the delay, this should have gone up yesterday.

In 1968 and 69 the Daiei Motion Picture Company, the company responsible for the Gamera film series and the Daimajin Trilogy, released 3 children's films based on traditional Japanese monsters called Yôkai. Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare was the first of this trilogy, and it's as much fun as the poster suggests.

The movie begins as tomb raiders in what was Babylonia break into a tomb searching for treasure, and inadvertently release a powerful demon. The demon spares no time killing the two thieves, and heads out into the world to cause mischief. He causes a storm that sinks a ship, and then comes to Japan where he kills a local Lord, and takes his place. The formally good hearted Lord's newly malicious behaviour disturbs his daughter and the household. He kills his daughter's dog with his sword, when it barks at him, and immediately destroys the Shinto, and Buddhist altars in his house. When one of his servants questions his actions, he bites the servant's neck, drinking his blood, and taking control of him as well. The disturbance draws the attention of a Water Imp who can see the demon's true form, but is not powerful enough to defeat him. The Water Imp calls on the other Yôkai to go to war with the demon, lest he destroy the honour of Japanese spirits. Meanwhile the Lord begins taking local children prisoner, so he can drink their blood.

This is a fantastic movie. It moves along at a good pace, is chock full of bizarre creatures, and although it's a kids movie has some blood letting. The various monsters are amazing. They look like the bad guys from Power rangers. If you like this sort of thing, there are the two sequels, and Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) made a remake of sorts in 2005 with The Great Yokai War.

One last thing to note is the possibility that the Babylonian demon bad guy could be the first film appearance of Pazuzu (pictured below). There is even a scene where a Buddhist monk is trying to use an exorcism spell to drive away the monster, and is burned alive for his trouble. If it is Pazuzu, than we could see the Exorcist as an unofficial sequel.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty One - Vamp

Vamp (1986)

The movie opens on a Satanic Cult in the middle of a sacrifice ritual. Oh, wait! That's not a Satanic Cult! That's a bunch of jerk off, frat boys. The two about to get sacrificed are just pledges. The pledges work out a deal, where instead of doing this mock Satanic shit, if they secure a stripper for the big party, then they get in. This leads to a 1980's style trip to the mean streets of the nearest city, and to a seedy strip joint called "The After Dark Club".

The city is full of mean movie Punks, and the strip club is run by sexy vampire Grace Jones. One look at Grace's bizarre twitchy dance routine, and the boys decide she's the one they want for their party. When one of the guys goes back stage to sign Grace up, she decides he'd make a tasty snack. Now it's up to the other guy, and the new-girl-stripper-good-girl-love-interest, and the tag-a-long-dork-comic-relief. to find out what happened to their friend, and avoid the vampire's deadly bite.

This neon coloured 80's Horror Comedy is good good fun, and the vampire make up is awesome.

31 days of Horror: Day Twenty - La main du diable (Carnival of Sinners)( The Devil's Hand)

La main du diable (Carnival of Sinners)( The Devil's Hand) (1943)

Director Jacques Tourneur needs no introduction to fans of Horror cinema, his collaborations with producer Val Lewton in the 40'son films like Cat People, and I Walked With A Zombie, are seen as high points of the genre. Less well know, are his father, Maurice Tourneur 's entry's. This Faustian story of a painter who sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for success is full of atmosphere, and allegorical underpinnings, not the least of which was the fact that it was made in occupied France under the watchful eye of the Nazis.

An unsuccessful painter buys a talisman in the form of a severed left hand, that brings him wealth and fame, but as is often the case, not happiness. One of the catches is that he must sell the hand at a loss before he dies, or the Devil gets his soul. The Devil, in the form of a nondescript little man regularly shows up to taunt him with this fact, as well to point out that selling it is easier said than done. This leads the unfortunate painter on a quest to discover the source of the severed hand, and some way out of the curse.

This is a beautifully made film. A very different kind of French Horror than the one I highlighted yesterday. In this case the story is a highly moral one, where the horror comes across through symbolism, and suggestion, rather than through explicit violence. Many people have commented that this film was a major influence on Jacques Tourneur's 1957 masterpiece Night Of The Demon. If you appreciate the genius of the son, you'll find much to like in the work of the father as well.

31 days of Horror: Day nineteen - À l'intérieur (Inside)

À l'intérieur (Inside) (2007)

For the past decade French Horror Cinema has become widely known for relentlessly brutal films. Well here it is, relentless brutality.

A pregnant woman (Sarah) is involved in a serious car crash which leaves her injured, and kills her husband. Four months later Sarah is still dealing with her loss while getting ready for the birth of her baby. The night before the birth, a mysterious woman comes abound Sarah's house, trying to gain entry. Sarah phones the police, but when they arrive, the woman has gone. Later that night the woman breaks into Sarah's house, and the terror begins.

This simple premise of the pregnant lady in peril, and furiously fighting for her life is then vigorously pursued. The shocking violence goes on and on reaching cartoon proportions. Each time we think we're numbed to what's going on, it ratchet's up to a new level, and we're horrified all over again. in a lot of ways this reminds me of the low budget Grind House films of the 70's, vicious and mean spirited. This is not the kind of Horror film that I really love, but it's hard not to be impressed by it's bloody single mindedness.

This is not going to satisfy those looking for a spooky story, or even those who loved the suspense of John Carpenter's Halloween, but gore hounds, and those who love to cringe will find a lot to like. One of the films more (unintentional?) campy elements is the CGI fetus who reacts to the various unfortunate situations the mother finds herself in. I bet John Waters, and his fans would like this movie too.

31 days of Horror: Day Eighteen - Yami no Teiô Kyûketsuki Dorakyura (Tomb Of Dracula)

Yami no Teiô Kyûketsuki Dorakyura (Tomb Of Dracula) (1980)

In the 1970's Marvel comics excelled at combining superhero storytelling, and horror. The most successful result of this combination was Ghost Rider, but there were many more, including, Son Of Satan, Werewolf By Night, and Tomb Of Dracula. Tomb Of Dracula was a minor masterpiece by writer Marv Wolfman, and Artist Gene Colan, that ran for 70 issues, introduced the world to Blade, the vampire hunter, and in 1980 was the subject of an Anime by Toei.

The Anime, originally released in the United States as as Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned, was based directly on a storyline from the comic where Dracula decides to trick a group of Satanists into thinking that he is the Devil, so that he can use their cult to influence the world.. He accepts the bride that they have chosen for him, and with her has a son named Janus. Meanwhile a group of vampire hunters led by Dr. Quincy Harker (son of Jonathan and Mina Harker) and featuring Frank Drake (a descendant of Dracula himself) try to track down Dracula's location so they can kill him. It turns out the Janus is not Dracula's son after all, but an Angel sent by god (who fights the Silver Surfer in the comic version of the story) to thwart the Satanist plot(did I mention that Janus grows into an adult spandex wearer,with various super Powers when he's a few days old?).

In the comic, this storyline revels in it's own absurdity, and ends up being great fun. The movie is less successful, but is still well worth a watch for comic fans, Dracula fans, and fans of horror anime like Vampire Hunter D.

31 days of Horror: Day Seventeen - Frenzy

Frenzy (1972)

In 1972 Alfred Hitchcock returned to the Psycho Killer genre he helped popularize. Frenzy is a murder thriller as much like an Italian Giallo as it like anything Hitchcock produced before. Shocking violence, and lurid sexuality is explicitly shown, as opposed to hinted at. Though Hitchcock's typically ghoulish sense of humour is well represented.

London is in the grip of a sex crazed killer, the Necktie Murderer. A woman's body is found in the Thames, and a group of onlookers push and shove for a better view. In a pub, an upper class gentleman jokes that he hopes the killer isn't caught too soon. It's good for tourism. we are introduced to Richard Blaney, a bitter divorcee, just as he's fired from his job as a barman. Richard drinks to much, and is prone to violent outbursts of self pity. Could he be the killer? No, but after his ex-wife is strangled, he's having a hard time convincing the police of that. That might look like a spoiler, but Frenzy isn't a murder mystery. We see the killer in action, and know his identity early on.

Frenzy doesn't rank up there with Psycho, but it's an interesting film, sure to please those who enjoy the Murder Thrillers that popped up world wide in Psycho's wake.

31 days of Horror: Day Sixteen - Strigoi

Strigoi (2009)

Strigoi is black comedy about vampires (or strigoi) set in rural Romania. These are creatures of Romanian folklore, not the vampires we're used to seeing in movies, and things don't play out in the usual way.

The movie opens with the towns people of a small Romanian village dragging a rich man, and his wife from their house, and accusing them of the murder of another villager. The two plead their innocence, and ask to be brought before the police if there is any evidence. "We want real justice" says one of the villagers. "Not the kind you pay for". And then they kill them.

This all takes place with light hearted upbeat music playing in the background. The music suggests a comedy, but it's a very black one. As the song Spirit In The Sky plays we see the villagers ransacking, and looting the rich couples home. The next morning we meet the films main character Vlad, who has just returned to the village from working in Italy. Although Vlad finished medical school, he didn't pass his qualifying exam to practice medicine, and so has worked lousy low paying jobs.
He can't help but notice that everybody is acting strangely, and dedicates himself to finding out whats going on. Meanwhile the rich couple have returned from the dead, and are now Strigoi, a type of traditional Romanian restless spirit that drinks the blood of the living.

As the story plays out we see a whole range of Romanian resentments bubble to the surface, and the underlying corruption seems to taint everyone. This isn't that scary a movie, but vampire fans will likely find these more traditional blood suckers interesting. The film is darkly funny, and thoroughly entertaining.

31 days of Horror: Day Fifteen - Shakma

Shakma (1990)

I love a good killer animal movie. The best ones are about killer fish, but killer monkeys are pretty good too.

A bunch of medical students who are also role playing game nerds, are getting ready for LARP session. The students include Christopher Atkins (from The Blue Lagoon), Ari Meyers (from Kate And Allie), and their dungeon master/teacher is Roddy McDowall (From The Planet Of The Apes). Besides being med students, the group is involved in animal research, including testing a drug that is supposed to inhibit aggressive behaviour, "but sometimes has the opposite effect". They give the drug to Shakma, a baboon at the lab, and when the monkey attacks one of the students, they decide to put him down. The movie would end right there except they mistakenly give Shakma more of the rage inducing drug by mistake, and then leave him on an examining table. Once the LARPing has started, Shakma wakes up and goes on a murderous rampage.

This is not the kind of movie to watch when you're in the mood for a masterpiece. It's just an old fashioned shitty horror movie, with slumming character actors, and TV personalities trying to break onto the big screen. The characters do stupid things to put themselves in peril, and Shakma flips the fuck out. There's not a lot of real tension, but there's plenty of monkey mayhem, and baboons are really scary. What more could you want.

31 days of Horror: Day Fourteen - Angst

Angst (1983)

Most of the movies on this list are here because I think they're fun. Angst isn't fun. Except for the wiener dog.

This brutal Austrian film is loosely based on the serial killer Werner Kniesek. A disturbed man (Erwin Leder) leaves prison, and immediately begins looking for someone to kill. after a few unsuccessful attempts, he breaks into a house where he terrorises, and murders a family of three.

That's most of the plot right there, but what makes this a special film is how it plays out. We spend the entire film with the killer. A voice over narration brings us right inside his head as he explains his motivations, and tells stories of his childhood.
The fantastic cinematography by Oscar winner Zbigniew Rybczyński is another window into the killers distorted Psyche. Rybczyński uses extreme close ups, chaotic hand held movements, and some kind of harness mounted camera similar to the one used in the movie Pi to give us insight into how the killer sees the world. The effect is both disorienting, and disturbing. And when the violence starts the camera doesn't shy away. Add to this a brilliant pounding electronic score by German composer Klaus Schulze, and you have quite a potent stew.

As I said, Angst isn't a fun movie, and would likely kill the mood at your Halloween party. But it is a strikingly original, and powerful film. It's well worth tracking down.

31 days of Horror: Day Thirteen - The Loved Ones

The Loved Ones (2009)

The Loved Ones is an appalling movie. I don't mean that as a insult, appalling is exactly what you want in a horror movie sometimes.

Brent is riddled with guilt after he gets in a car accident that kills his father. Six months has done little to heal his emotional wounds, and he seems intent on punishing him self. When Lola asks him to go prom, he politely lets her down, telling her he's going with his girlfriend Holly. Unfortunately Lola doesn't take rejection well. She has her psycho father chloroform Brent, and keeps him prisoner at her own private party.

What follows is a wonderfully entertaining hybrid. A little bit of Carrie here, a little bit of Texas Chainsaw Massacre there, and throw in some Misery for good measure. Which is not to suggest that this is a by the numbers horror flick. I was constantly surprised, and shocked as things progressed. The three main actors are phenomenal. Robin McLeavy is fantastic as Lola, in what could have easily been a one note character. John Brumpton as her father also delivers a super creepy performance, and Xavier Samuel (Brent) acts his heart out with barely any lines.

The violence is brutal, but sometimes it's also brutally funny. This is an excellent film to watch with friends.

31 days of Horror: Day Twelve: Aparecidos (The Appeared)

Aparecidos (The Appeared) (2007)

Very nicely done political horror.

Malena and Pablo are in Argentina to deal with their father's estate, and sign the papers to remove him from life support. Malena wants to get it done, and return home to Spain, but Pablo didn't know his father well, and wants to learn a little more about him. He convinces Malena to come with him on a road trip to their fathers house. On the way Pablo discovers an diary that seems to describe a terrible crime that took place twenty years ago. Going to the places described in the diary, the two are confronted with the ghosts of the victims, as the crime seems to play out over and over again.

This is an interesting film. The ghost story allows the film makers to dredge up the recent history of Argentina. During the 70s and 80's thousands of people were "Disappeared" by the government. Taken to secret prisons, tortured, and murdered. This national history is closely tied to Malena and Pablo's personal, family history. The more the two learn, the more painful and dangerous the situation becomes.

If you're looking for something off the beaten track this film is well worth searching out. It works as a political thriller, but is also creepy, and frightening enough to satisfy horror fans.

31 days of Horror: Day Eleven:Two on a Guillotine

Two on a Guillotine (1965)

Duke Duquesne (Cesar Romero) is a stage Magician, who specialises in setting up elaborate murders for his beautiful wife (and assistant) Melinda(Connie Stevens). His newest idea is to have Melinda take on the role of Marie Antoinette, and behead her on stage. Melinda seems less than thrilled.

We jump ahead twenty years to Duquesne's funeral. The tireless showman has publicly promised to try to return from the grave, and his estranged daughter Cassie (Connie Stevens again) is to play a role. As a part of his will he has left her 300 000 dollars, but only if can spend 7 nights in his creepy old mansion, the site of his resurrection. Melinda had disappeared twenty years before, and the sight of her physically identical daughter sends the local reporters into a feeding frenzy. Val Henderson (Dean Jones) befriends the young woman, at first looking for a story, but soon for more personal reasons.

The rest of the plot involves Cassie, and Val developing a relationship, while assorted strange happenings take place at the house. Can Duke Duquesne really return from the dead, or is the whole thing some elaborate hoax? And what really happened to Melinda Duquesne?

This is a charming haunted house/mystery, with a very strong cast. It's great fun Seeing Dean Jones(That Darn Cat, The Love Bug, etc.) in a non Disney role. On top of that it's gorgeously shot, full of atmosphere, and even provides a couple of good jump scares. Perfect light Halloween fare.

31 days of Horror: Day Ten-Spookies

Spookies (1986)

Holy shit! We're Troll 2 territory here.

From what I can tell Spookies was pieced together from an earlier unfinished film called Twisted Souls. There wasn't enough usable footage for a feature length film, and the original actors wouldn't take part, so a new script involving new actors was shot, ant the two were spliced together. The results are nowhere near seamless.

Billy is running away from home, because his parents forgot his birthday. in the woods he meets some dude and explains his motivations for doing things. after he leaves the dude is killed by a monster cat creature dressed like a disco pirate. Meanwhile a group of not very young, young people are driving down a lonely road looking for a place to party. The leader of the group is wearing a leather jacket thing with a yellow stripe running diagonally across it, and leather pants. for some reason there's a guy wearing a suit following behind in another car going to the same party. At first I thought this was the dad of one of the characters. The comic relief character has a puppet he sometimes talks through. he's also wearing a t-shirt with his own face on it. One of the girls in the group has what sounds like a fake British accent. Her being British never comes up as a plot point so I'm not sure why they did that. Maybe it's because she's stuck up?

Billy goes in to an old mansion and finds a birthday party set up with balloons, and a cake. He assumes that his parents have thrown him a surprise party. when he opens a present there is a screaming head inside. He runs away and is killed by the cat creature. Meanwhile the party seekers find the mansion which is in the middle of a graveyard, and decide to party there. Also there's this evil pasty dude who hangs out with the cat creature and can see everything all the characters are doing and comments on it. Pretty soon a ouija board is found, and Demons are unleashed.

The acting is beyond terrible, and the story never approaches making sense, but things move along at a steady pace and the make up, and monster effects are fantastic. The monsters include the already mentioned cat creature, a spider woman, little gremlin like things, a skull faced grim reaper with red glowing eyes, a murderous little boy in a druid cloak, and zombies that could have walked right off an Iron Maiden album cover.

If you get some beer, and invite some friends over Spookies could be a hell of a time.

31 days of Horror: Day Nine-Somos Lo Que Hay (We Are What We Are)

Somos Lo Que Hay (We Are What We Are) (2010)

We Are What We Are is a tasty mix of social/political satire, Art house sensibilities, and Exploitation style violence.

The movie opens with a shabby looking man stumbling through a busy shopping district. He stops to look at the manikins in a fashionable clothing store, before being shooed away. He suddenly falls to the ground, and begins throwing up blood. he convulses and dies. Within seconds his body is dragged away, a janitor mops up the blood, and disinterested shoppers stroll through, unaware that anything has happened.

Director Jorge Michel Grau introduces us to a world of invisible people. The main characters are the family of the dead man. They are a group of cannibals who hunt down, kill, and eat the disenfranchised. Well, they mostly did the eating. It was the father who was the hunter, and with him dead the family is thrown into crisis. The eldest son, Alfredo believes he should become the new provider, but his initial attempts don't work out very well. When he and his brother, Julián try to catch a homeless child, they are attacked and driven off by the other children. next they kidnap a prostitute, but their mother becomes enraged, claiming that the prostitute is not appropriate for their needs, which involves a ritual of some kind.

The film plays out slowly, spending more time on the internal dynamics of the family than it does on the plot movements we're used to in a genre flick. Eventually though, the pieces fall into place. Two cops begin investigating the murders because they hope the lurid nature of the crimes will attract the kind of attention that leads to promotions. The prostitutes band together for their own safety(they can't expect any help from the lazy, and corrupt cops), and go in search of revenge. All the while the family's internal struggles come to a head.

Don't come to We Are What We Are if you're looking for typical slasher stuff, but if you can handle a slow film with a lot of ambiguities, and moments of shocking violence, this film has much to offer. The acting is strong and naturalistic, with a lot of the movie playing out like a social drama. The cinematography is beautiful. And if you like your horror mixed up with social commentary in the George A. Romero style, you might end up loving this as much as I did.