Category: Horror

Cat People (1942)

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Cat People (1942)

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Screenplay: DeWitt Bodeen

Stars: Simone Simon, Tom Conway, Kent Smith

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a sensual monster movie!”

Tagline: A Kiss Could Change Her Into a Monstrous Fang-and-Claw Killer!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Kent Smith meets, falls in love and quickly marries Irena Dubrovna only to discover that Irena believes she is cursed to turn into a panther when her passions rise.  I kid you not.

As with all reviews, your mileage may vary, but I think that most people will like Cat People better than me.  I found it to be slow and silly (but not funny).  Meow.

 

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Director: Don Siegel

Screenplay: Daniel Mainwaring based on a story by Jack Finney

Stars: Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, Carolyn Jones, Sam Peckinpah, Whit Bissell and Richard Deacon

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a smart monster movie!”

Tagline: “Something is happening! Send your men of science quick!” The panic stricken cry went over the phone to Washington D. C. until the lines went dead!……

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a couple of Dr. Miles Bennell’s patients show up with the concern that their family members have been replaced by identical look-alikes, he becomes concerned.  He wants to find out what is causing the delusions, but discovers that they ARE being replaced by things from outer space.  Now Bennell is their next target!

 

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The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

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The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

Director: Terence Fisher

Screenplay: Anthony Hinds (as John Elder) based on the novel by Guy Endore

Stars: Clifford Evans, Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a werewolf movie!”

Tagline: Even the innocent girl who loved him was not safe… once the full moon rose!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Leon (Reed), the son of a nobleman, is born with the curse of the werewolf.

 

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Nosferatu (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau, starring Max Schreck / Z-View

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Nosferatu (1922)

Director: F.W. Murnau

Screenplay: Henrik Galeen; based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff

Tagline: A thrilling mystery masterpiece – a chilling psycho-drama of blood-lust.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Nosferatu is an unauthorized retelling of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA.

Thoughts…

Nosferatu was based on Bram Stoker’s novel.  The filmmakers changed characters’ names in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid a lawsuit.  Stoker’s wife sued and won.  All prints of Nosferatu were supposed to be destroyed.  Luckily enough survived for film restoration.

Nosferatu was banned in Switzerland until 1972.

Considered a classic, your mileage may vary, as I find it to be good but not great.

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Dracula (1931)

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Dracula (1931)

Director: Tod Browning

Screenplay: Hamilton Deane & John L. Balderston  from the play by Garrett Fort based on characters created by Bram Stoker

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan.

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s bring Dracula to the silver screen!”

Tagline: Carl Laemmle Presents The VAMPIRE THRILLER!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

THE classic!  Bela Lugosi is the evil vampire Count Dracula who has journeyed to England with plans to make the lovely Nina is bride!

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“Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman” – Two of the Universal Biggies in One Movie!

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When I was a child I loved horror movies.  I still do.  Back then we’d stay up late on weekends to Sammy Terry (Indiana’s Horror Host) present a monster movie double feature.  It was a great time to be a kid.  Especially when Sammy presented a movie like Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman.  Two of the big Universal monsters in one movie.  Truth be told, I still get a bit of excitement when I cue it up.

 

Train to Busan (2016)

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Train to Busan (2016)

Director: Sang-ho Yeon

Screenplay: Joo-Suk Park and Sang-ho Yeon

Stars: Yoo Gong, Soo-an Kim, Yu-mi Jung and Dong-seok Ma

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a zombie movie!”

Tagline: None

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Passengers on a train to Buscan (including a father and his young daughter, a husband with his very pregnant wife and others) have to come to grips that a zombie apocalypse has begun and there are infected on the train!

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Them! (1954)

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Them! (1954)

Director: Gordon Douglas

Screenplay: Ted Sherdeman and Russell S. Hughes from a story by George Worthing Yates

Stars: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness, Fess Parker, Richard Deacon and Leonard Nimoy.

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a movie about giant ants!”

Tagline: FANTASTIC MONSTERS ATTACK EARTH!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Nuclear testing in the desert has turned ants into gigantic killing machines.  Before the nests are discovered some of the ants make their way to the LA sewer system.  If they’re not all destroyed it could be the end of mankind.

What could have been another silly movie about giant bugs is actually one of my favorite horror movies of all time.  It’s played straight with an excellent cast.  Fans of my age will love that you get Matt Dillon, Davy Crockett and Spock in the same movie!

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Kong: Skull Island (2017)

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Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Screenplay: Dan Gilroy and Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly from a story by John Gatins based on the character created by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace

Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly and John Goodman

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a King Kong movie!”

Tagline: All hail the King!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A group of scientists led by a military team are brought together to chart a mysterious island. Immediately they encounter Kong and get the worst of it.  Trapped on the island they must fight their way to a pickup location.  To get there the survivors will have to deal with natives, the island’s giant monsters and Kong!

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