Category: Z-View

“Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End” (2024) / Z-View

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Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024)

Director: Carles Torrens

Screenplay: Ángel Agudo based on Apocalipsis Z 1. El principio del fin by Manel Loureiro

Stars: Francisco Ortiz.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

A year has passed since Manel’s wife was killed in a terrible car crash.  Manel lives alone with just the cat he and his wife shared.  Manel’s only family, his sister, her husband and his niece live in another city.

When a zombie outbreak begins spreading across the continent, Manel’s sister’s family is evacuated to the Canary Islands.  Manel decides to hunker down in place.  But when his supplies dwindle, Manel is forced to take his cat and venture out.  He hopes to find a way to the Canary Islands where (he hopes) safety awaits.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End is based on the first book in a trilogy of novels by Manel Loureiro.

This is more of a character study that all out horror film.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Body Double” (1984) directed by Brian DePalma, starring Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith & Gregg Henry / Z-View

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Body Double (1984)

Director: Brian De Palma

Screenplay: Brian De Palma, Robert J. Avrech story by Brian De Palma

Stars: Craig Wasson, Melanie Griffith, Gregg Henry, Deborah Shelton, Al Israel, Douglas Warhit, Russ Marin, Lane Davies, Larry Flash Jenkins, Monte Landis, Brinke Stevens, Steven Bauer and Dennis Franz.

Tagline:  You can’t believe everything you see.

The Plot…

Jack Scully (Wasson) is a struggling actor going through a rough patch.  He just lost his role in a low-budget horror film.  He came home to catch his girlfriend in bed with someone else.  Jack needs a new place to live until things get back on track.

Things are looking up when Sam Bouchard (Henry), an actor Jack met at auditions, offers a place to stay.  Sam’s rich friend needs a house-sitter.  Sam shows Jack the place.  It’s in an upscale neighborhood.  Very modern.  Plus, there’s a bonus.  Every night at a specific time, a lady neighbor does a strip tease as she changes into night clothes.  She’s easy to watch through the telescope focused on her window. Jack is skeptical until he sees for himself.  She’s beautiful.

Jack agrees to house sit.  Watching the woman across the way becomes a nightly activity.  He’s becoming obsessed with her.  Then one night Jack sees a scary looking hombre across the way, also watching the woman strip.

Jack wants to warn her.  But how can he without making himself look like a creeper?  The next night as he’s watching her, Jack sees the scary man hiding in her apartment.  He races over to warn her, but is too late.  Jack finds her murdered.

And that makes him the key suspect.  Jack begins to suspect he was set up.

He was.  But NOT to be the murderer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Body Double is a love letter to the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Brian De Palma and Robert J. Avrech are both fans of Hitch.  They screened Vertigo and Rear Window for inspiration.

Deborah Shelton’s voice was dubbed by actress Helen Shaver.

Melanie Griffith was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this film for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

Body Double is a fun ride.

Body Double (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Grotesquerie”: Season 1 (2024) starring Niecy Nash / Z-View

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Grotesquerie: Season 1 (2024)

Created by: Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, Joe Baken

Director: Max Winkler (Eps. 1-2; 5-7); Ryan Murphy (Ep. 3); Alexis Martin Woodall  (Eps. 4; 9-10;); Elegance Bratton (Ep. 8)

Teleplay: Ryan Murphy & Jon Robin Baitz & Joe Baken (Eps. 1-10)

Stars: Niecy Nash, Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Micaela Diamond, Raven Goodwin, Lesley Manville, Joshua Bitton, Jay Alan Christianson and Brooke Smith.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A serial killer is murdering multiple people at a time.  The killer then poses the bodies into elaborate scenes.  Detective Lois Tryon (Nash) is assigned the case.  Lois’ plate is already full.  She’s drinking too much.  Her husband remains hospitalized in a coma.  Lois and her daughter’s relationship is strained and not getting better.

When the killer strikes again, Lois is introduced to Sister Megan Duval (Diamond).  Sister Megan sees religious symbolism that the killer leaves behind.  Her insights into the case are helpful.  Lois brings Sister Megan on board.

As Lois works the case she begins to sense that something isn’t right.

And, boy, is she correct.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Grotesquerie: Season 1 starts off well enough.  A brutal serial killer that murders multiple victims each time out.  A detective who drinks too much and has family problems.  An unconventional nun who may provide the key to the investigation.  This is a great combination for a fun/creepy/scary tale.  The actors are excellent.  The direction is as well done.

But… (You could feel that coming, couldn’t ya?)

As the series progresses we get the feeling that something is off kilter.  Then so does Detective Lois Tryon.  We are both proved right.  Ok, things to a turn but this can work as long as the writers stick the ending.

They don’t.  The ending didn’t resonate with me.  While this ending could lead into a season two (that we may or may not get), it leaves me dissatisfied.  I’m glad I took the journey, but the trip was more fun than the destination.

Grotesquerie: Season 1 (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

POSTCARD FROM HELL by Rex Dancer

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POSTCARD FROM HELL by Rex Dancer

First sentence…

It was the slowest, deadest part of the night, when time itself was barely moving, and Andre Derain was wide awake – again.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Andy Derain was once a famous New York City fashion photographer.  Fame is fleeting.  And so was Andy.  He fled to New Orleans.

Now Andy is getting by with whatever photo gigs he can get.  Even if it means selling pics from time to time to a sleazy tabloid.  When Andy gets called to a potential crime scene, he takes photos.  Turns out the dead man is Crayfish Joe Coquin’s son.  Crayfish Joe is much more dangerous than his name implies.  It’s a risk, but Andy needs the money.  He sells the pics to the sleaze rag.

About the same time that Andy learns the gangster is looking for him, Andy gets a postcard from Astrid Montebello.  Astrid was a model Andy worked with and cared for.  Astrid is in the Caymen Islands. She may be in trouble.  When Andy gives her a call, there is no answer.

With Crayfish Joe and his goons closing in, Andy decides a trip to the Caymen Islands is just what the doctor ordered.  He will hang with Astrid until Crayfish cools down.

Only problem is, Astrid is nowhere to be found.  And Andy now has the attention of drug dealers and the F.B.I.   Andy is in way over his head.

And Crayfish Joe is waiting in New Orleans if Andy survives.

Rating:

“My Forbidden Past” (1951) starring Robert Mitchum & Ava Gardner / Z-View

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My Forbidden Past (1951)

Director: Robert Stevenson

Screenplay: Marion Parsonnet, Leopold Atlas (adaptation) based on CARRIAGE ENTRANCE by Polan Banks

Stars: Robert Mitchum, Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas, Lucile Watson, Janis Carter, Gordon Oliver, Steve Carruthers and Will Wright.

Tagline:  SHE’s the kind of woman that made NEW ORLEANS famous!

The Plot…

Dr. Mark Lucas (Mitchum) and Barbara Beaurevel (Gardner) are in love.  They plan to elope on the ship Mark is taking to South America. They plan to meet at the ship.  When Barbara is unable to leave, she gives a note to her cousin to take to Mark.  The cousin doesn’t deliver the message, but acts as though he did.

When Mark returns from South America, Barbara is excited to greet him.  She’s shocked when Mark introduces his wife!  Mark, thinking Barbara left him, married a beautiful woman.  Mark comes to learn that Barbara still loves him.  What Mark doesn’t know is his wife, married him for his money.

When Mark’s wife is found murdered, Mark is the #1 suspect.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

My Forbidden Past is a strange mix.  There’s a murder, but there is no mystery to who did it.  There’s a love triangle, but it’s pretty tame.  Mark is set up for the murder, but at pre-trial he’s proven innocent.  Fade out.

My Forbidden Past (1951) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Horror of Dracula” (1958) starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee / Z-View

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Horror of Dracula aka Dracula (1958)

Director: Terence Fisher

Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster based on DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Valerie Gaunt.

Tagline:  Important Note!! Don’t Confuse This Picture With the Other DRACULA Movies! This is the NEWEST and BEST One and the ONLY ONE in TECHNICOLOR!

The Plot…

Doctor Van Helsing (Cushing) is shocked to discover his friend Jonathan Harker has been turned into one of Dracula’s (Lee) vampire slaves.  Van Helsing realizes it is up to him to end Dracula’s reign of terror.

What chance has one man against Dracula?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Christopher Lee as Dracula has only 16 lines of dialogue in the entire film.  And they are all within the first ten minutes.

The title was changed to the Horror of Dracula for its U.S. release.  This was to avoid confusion since the original 1931 Bela Lugosi film was still available for theater showings.

When I first saw Christopher Lee as Dracula, I wasn’t a fan.  I was too sold on Lugosi as the Count.  Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate Lee’s take on the king of vampires and the movies that feature him.

Horror of Dracula aka Dracula (1958) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Black Cat” (1941) starring Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford & Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Black Cat (1941)

Director: Albert S. Rogell

Screenplay: Robert Lees, Frederic I. Rinaldo, Eric Taylor, Robert Neville based on The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe

Stars: Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford, Bela Lugosi, Anne Gwynne, Gladys Cooper, Cecilia Loftus, John Eldredge and Alan Ladd.

Tagline:  Even Ladd Is Scared!

The Plot…

Rich, old, Henrietta Winslow (Loftus) is dying.  She called her family to her big, creepy remote house. While still alive, Henrietta wants everyone to know what they’re getting once she’s dead.

The family members arrive along with realtor Gil Smith and antiques dealer Mr. Penny.  Smith and Penny were invited by a family member anticipating the sale of Henrietta’s home and valuables.

The family members learns what each will get. There is one surprise. No one will get anything until Henrietta’s housekeeper dies!  Surprise turns to shock when Henrietta is found murdered!

Who is the killer?  Who will be next to die?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Another in the “old, dark house” genre with a group of people trapped with an unknown murderer in a creepy old isolated house full of secret passageways.

This one had potential to be much better.  For some reason it just didn’t resonate with me.

Black Cat (1941) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Fort Apache” (1948) directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple & Pedro Armendáriz / Z-View

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Fort Apache (1948)

Director: John Ford

Screenplay: Frank S. Nugent based on Massacre by James Warner Bellah

Stars: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Pedro Armendáriz, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Anna Lee, Dick Foran, Guy Kibbee, Movita, Mary Gordon, John Agar, Hank Worden, Ben Johnson and Grant Withers.

Tagline:  John Ford’s Masterpiece of the Frontier!

The Plot…

Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Fonda) has been assigned the command of Fort Apache, a remote post located deep on the frontier.  Thursday sees this as an insult.  He feels he was on track for greater things.  Thursday is arrogant, overbearing and sees himself as a class above the men he commands.  He thinks even less of Native Americans.

Arriving at Fort Apache at the same time as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday is his daughter, Philadelphia (Temple) and West Point graduate Lieutenant Michael O’Rourke (Agar).  Michael’s father, Sergeant Major Michael O’Rourke (Bond) also serves at Fort Apache.

From the moment he arrives, Lieutenant Colonel Thursday puts himself at odds with the well liked Captain York (Wayne) and Sergeant O’Rourke.  The friction intensifies when Cochise stirs unrest among the Apache.  Captain York explains the government’s Indian Agent, Silas Meacham has been shorting the tribe’s food allocations.  Meacham has also been providing the Apache with cheap whiskey and repeating rifles.  Thursday downplays this.

Colonel Thursday intends to round up the Apache or kill them if they refuse to return to the reservation.  Captain York warns that the Apache outnumber the local soldiers four to one.  Thursday ignores York.  He sees an opportunity to enhance his reputation.

This will not end well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Shirley Temple and John Agar’s characters fall in love.  The two were a married couple in real life.

Actor/stuntman Ben Johnson appears in the film, as a stuntman for Henry Fonda.

Fort Apache’s culminating battle is loosely based on Custer’s Last Stand and how Custer’s mistakes were downplayed to create a legendary hero.

Fort Apache (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.

The Strangler (1964) starring Victor Buono

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The Strangler (1964)

Director: Burt Topper

Screenplay: Bill S. Ballinger

Stars: Victor Buono, David McLean, Diane Sayer, Davey Davison, Baynes Barron, Russ Bender, Jeanne Bates, Byron Morrow, James Sikking, Selette Cole, Fred Aldrich and Ellen Corby.

Tagline:  Based on the terror that has shocked the nation!

The Plot…

A serial killer has strangled several women in a short amount of time.  Police have few clues and no good leads.  Little do they know that in one of their roundups, they had the killer.  He’s a mild mannered overweight lab technician.  He offered to take a lie detector test and passed with flying colors.

How many more women will die at his hands?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Strangler was inspired by the serial killer known as The Boston Strangler.  The police had not caught the Boston Strangler when The Strangler went into production.  At one point, the producers were going to call the movie, The Boston Strangler.  They decided to go with the shorter title and not name the city in the film.

The Strangler (1964) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Nocturne” (1946) starring George Raft & Lyn Bari / Z-View

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Nocturne (1946)

Director: Edwin L. Marin

Screenplay: Jonathan Latimer;  story by Roland Brown, Frank Fenton

Stars: George Raft, Lynn Bari, Virginia Huston, Joseph Pevney, Myrna Dell, Edward Ashley, Walter Sande,
Dorothy Adams and John Banner.

Tagline:  Whose legs are these? 10 of Hollywood’s most beautiful brunettes all had motives for murder!

The Plot…

Keith Vincent (Ashley), a famous Hollywood composer and womanizer is found dead from a gunshot to the head.  Most of the cops on the scene are ready to call it a suicide and close the case.  Police Detective Joe Warne (Raft) feels differently.  Vincent’s housekeeper is a woman who has served time.  Vincent keeps photos of his past conquests.  One is missing.  Detective Warne pushes to investigate the case.  His Captain gives him one day.

As Warne digs deeper things aren’t adding up.  He wants more time, but the Captain calls him off the case.  Warne refuses to back off.  If he continues his investigation it could cost him his job… and maybe even his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Banner, best known as Sgt. “I know nothing” Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes appears uncredited as the character Charles Shawn.

Nocturne (1946) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Team Foxcatcher” (2016) / Z-View

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Team Foxcatcher (2016)

Director: Jon Greenhalgh

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Billionaire John DuPont was always a bit off.  DuPont’s eccentricities were overlooked because of his philanthropy.  He was very generous.  Mr. DuPont supported his city police, athletic sports and various charities.  When John DuPont took an interest in Olympic wrestling, he went all in.

John DuPont built a million dollar facility on his sprawling estate.  In addition to his mansion, there were several houses, a state of the art weight/workout center and a gigantic wrestling room with multiple mats.  DuPont hired a full-time trainer.  John reached out to Dave Schultz, the United States most decorated world champion/Olympic champion wrestler.  Dave Schultz agreed to come on board.  DuPont then contacted other of USA’s best wrestlers to join his team.  He provided them housing and a stipend to come train as part of his team.

This was seen as a godsend by the invited wrestlers.  They no longer had to worry about supporting themselves.  They could train every day with the best wrestlers in the world.  DuPont’s system worked.  The USA team begin to win consistently.

DuPont had always been off kilter.  He was slowly getting worse.  DuPont thought he was capable of wrestling competitively.  The wrestlers, not wanting to upset him, played along.  When he began seeing “things” in the woods around his house, most of them went along.  Then he wanted to get rid of anything black in his life.  He sold his black horses.  He told one of the wrestlers living on the compound to get rid of his black car.  He then fired all of the black wrestlers on Team Foxcatcher.  Even when he pulled a gun on one of the wrestlers, it was played off as “John being John.”

Then one morning John DuPont drove over to the house Dave Schultz was staying.  Dave and his wife were out front.  DuPont rolled down his window and shot Dave Schultz in the chest.  Murdered him in cold blood.

This is the story of how too much money blinded too many people to the warning signs that increasingly indicated a man becoming a danger to himself and others.

Team Foxcatcher (2016) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“I Walk Alone” (1947) starring Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott & Kirk Douglas / Z-View

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I Walk Alone (1947)

Director: Byron Haskin

Screenplay: Charles Schnee, Robert Smith (adaptation), John Bright (adaptation) based on Beggars Are Coming to Town by Theodore Reeves

Stars: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Kristine Miller, Marc Lawrence, Mickey Knox, Bobby Barber and Mike Mazurki.

Tagline:  He Fell for the Oldest Trick in the World. If You Want to Pump a Guy… Send a Dame.

The Plot…

Frankie Madison (Lancaster) and Noll Turner (Douglas) were best friends and bootlegging partners.  It was 50-50 right down the line.  On their last run, they got into a gunfight with thieves who attempted to hijack their load.  The noise brought the police.  Deciding it was best to split up, Frankie stayed with the truck of bootleg hooch, and Noll split.

Frankie was caught, convicted and sent to prison.  That was 14 years ago.

While Frankie was in prison, Noll took the money he and Frankie had, and invested it in a bar.  He then sold the bar to buy a better nightclub.  It took work, but Noll built it into an exclusive hotspot.  Noll became very rich.

Now that Frankie’s out, he’s ready to join Noll.  They’d  always agreed that everything would be 50-50.  Frankie never ratted out Noll.  Frankie did the time.  He and Noll were best friends and business partners.  Noll would never double cross Frankie.

Would he?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made seven movies together.  This is the first.

Eddie Muller called I Walk Alone a landmark crime film because it marked the first time movie outlaws moved from working outside the system to becoming legitimate operators working within the system.

I Walk Alone (1947) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“This is Zodiac Speaking” (2024) / Z-View

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This is Zodiac Speaking (2024)

Director: Phil Lott (Eps. 1-3), Ari Mark (Eps. 1-3)

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

Arthur Leigh Allen has been one of the top suspects, if not THE top suspect, of being the Zodiac killer for years.  David, Don and Connie Seawater were children when their mother had a relationship with Arthur Leigh Allen.  As kids they thought Mr. Allen was just a nice man. He treated them and their mother well.  Now as adults they believe he was the Zodiac killer and they have evidence to prove it.

Robert Graysmith who investigated the case and wrote ZODIAC: THE SHOCKING TRUE STORY OF AMERICA’S MOST ELUSIVE SERIAL KILLER weighs in as well.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This is the Zodiac Speaking does an excellent job of summarizing the case as well as presenting the new evidence in an interesting and compelling manner.  While many documentaries would have padded several episodes, the story is presented in just three.

This is Zodiac Speaking (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Outside” (2024) written & directed by Carlo Ledesma / Z-View

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Outside (2024)

Director: Carlo Ledesma

Screenplay: Carlo Ledesma

Stars: Sid Lucero, Beauty Gonzalez, Marco Masa and Aiden Tyler Patdu.

Tagline:  You can’t keep out what’s already inside.

The Plot…

A zombie outbreak has arrived.  Francis (Lucero) takes his wife, Iris (Gonzalez) and their two sons, Josh (Masa) and Lucas (Patdu) to his father’s remote farm.  Francis finds his mother is a zombie.  He kills her.  Francis then finds his father dead by suicide.

Iris believes the family should continue north.  There are reports of a human stronghold that will provide safety.  Francis overrules her.  The family will barricade the house and stay on the farm until it is safe to go outside.

Iris will soon realize, it might be safer out there.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Outside is a zombie story, but the emphasis is not on the apocalypse.  There are a few scenes with zombies, but the focus isn’t on THAT danger.

Outside (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996) written by Shane Black, directed by Renny Harlin, starring Gena Davis & Samuel L. Jackson / Z-View

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The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Director: Renny Harlin

Screenplay: Shane Black

Stars: Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Yvonne Zima, Craig Bierko, Brian Cox, Patrick Malahide, David Morse, Joseph McKenna, Melina Kanakaredes, Alan North, Edwin Hodge, G.D. Spradlin and Rex Linn.

Tagline:  Eight years ago she lost her memory. Now, a detective must help her remember the past before it buries them both. What’s forgotten is not always gone.

The Plot…

Samantha Caine (Davis) is a small town schoolteacher.  Life is quiet.  Life is good.  Samantha is happy.  She lives with her daughter and boyfriend.  Samantha has come a long way in eight years.  That was when she was found on a Jersey beach, pregnant and with no memory of her past.

At first Samantha hired the best detectives to try to discover her past. They all struck out. Mitch Henessey (Jackson) is a shady PI.  Mitch lucked onto a suitcase with info that may help Samantha.

Samantha is shocked when a crazed convict breaks into her house to kill her.  Samantha is even more dumbfounded by the fighting skills she didn’t know she had. The killer calls Samantha by a different name.  He obviously knew her.  In a fight to the death Samantha wins.

Mitch shows up.  Samantha and Mitch decide to follow the clues the suitcase provides.  Samantha will discover the truth to her past.  The people that thought Samantha was dead will realize the job needs to be finished.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Long Kiss Goodnight came at the right time.  Writer Shane Black was at the top of his game.  His screenplay provides the right mix of over-the-top action and humor.  Director Renny Harlin was also killing it.  He’s supported by a great cast.  Gena Davis is perfect as the school teacher/assassin.  Samuel L. Jackson wasn’t yet THE Samuel L. Jackson and is perfect as the guy who just wants to do one thing right.  Kudos to Craig Bierko for owning all of his scenes.  Brian Cox and David Morse are also perfectly cast.

Samuel L. Jackson has said that this was his favorite role.

Gena Davis and Renny Harlin were married when this film was made.

The Long Kiss Goodnight was ahead of it’s time.  Now female action heroes are fairly common, but this was a groundbreaking role by Gena Davis.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) rates 5 of 5 stars.