Category: Z-View

“Southern Comfort” directed by Walter Hill, starring Keith Carradine and Powers Boothe / Z-View

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Southern Comfort (1981)

Director: Walter Hill

Screenplay: Michael Kane, Walter Hill, David Giler

Stars: Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Franklyn Seales, T.K. Carter, Lewis Smith, Les Lannom, Peter Coyote, Alan Autry, Brion James, Allan Graf, Ned Dowd and Sonny Landham.

Tagline: In the Louisiana backwaters, it’s easy to make enemies…and VERY difficult to escape from them.

The Plot…

One weekend when the Louisiana Army National Guard is running maneuvers in a bayou, nine soldiers become lost.  As frustrations with their squad leader grow, the men come upon a campsite.  Although no one is there, the site contains three canoes.  Rather than wait for the owners to return, the soldiers decide to leave a note explaining that they “borrowed” the canoes and will leave them once they find their way to civilization.

As they are paddling across the swamp, they hear yelling.  The Cajun hunters have returned and believe the soldiers are stealing their boats.  One of the National guardsmen, stupidly fires his machine gun filled with blanks towards the Cajuns.  The hunters dive for cover and return fire.  The Guardsmen’s leader is killed.  The guardsmen paddle deeper into the swamp.

Lost, with only a few rounds of live ammunition, the soldiers will have to battle each other, the elements and angry Cajun hunters if they are to survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ned Dowd, who played one of the Cajun hunters, transitioned from acting to producing.  Some of these films include The Last of the Mohicans (supervising producer); The 13th Warrior (producer); Reign of Fire (line producer) and Apocalypto (executive producer).

Many believe that Southern Comfort is an allegory for America’s involvement in Viet Nam.  Walter Hill denies this.

Alan Autry, made his feature film debut playing Corporal ‘Coach’ Bowden.  He was listed in the credits as Carlos Brown.

Walter Hill had one of the best starts as any director.  His first seven films were Hard Times; The Driver; The Warriors; The Long Riders; Southern Comfort; 48 Hrs. and Streets of Fire.

Southern Comfort (1981) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Man Who Knew Too Much”(1934) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Peter Lorre / Z-View

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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay: Charles Bennett, D. B. Wyndham-Lewis, Edwin Greenwood (scenario), A. R. Rawlinson (scenario)

Stars: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre and Nova Pilbeam.

Tagline: Public Enemy No. 1 of all the world…

The Plot…

Bob (Banks), Jill (Best) and their daughter, Betty (Pilbeam) are on vacation in Switzerland.  One evening, a man that they recently met is shot.  As the man is dying he tells Jill where he’s hidden information about a terrorist group.  She is to get the note to the British consulate.

The criminals kidnap Betty when they learn that Bob and Jill have information about their planned political assassination.  It will be up to Bob and Jill to get Betty back and foil the assassination.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Peter Lorre was still learning English when Hitchcock cast him.  Lorre had to learn his part phonetically.

The film is in public domain so beware of bad copies.

Alfred Hitchcock has a cameo crossing the street from right to left in a black trenchcoat before Bob and Clive enter the chapel.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“L.A. Confidential” (1997) directed by Curtis Hanson, starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger & Danny DeVito / Z-View

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L.A. Confidential (1997)

Director: Curtis Hanson

Screenplay: Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson based on L.A. CONFIDENTIAL by James Ellroy

Stars: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn, Ron Rifkin, Matt McCoy, Paul Guilfoyle, Paolo Seganti, Elisabeth Granli, Sandra Taylor, Steve Rankin, Graham Beckel, Allan Graf, Symba Smith, Brenda Bakke and Simon Baker.

Tagline: Everything is suspect…everyone is for sale…and nothing is what it seems.

The Plot…

The year is 1953.  Three L.A. detectives find themselves at odds when investigating a series of murders.

  • Straight laced, by-the-book, Ed Exley (Pearce) is the son of a police legend.  Exley’s father was killed in the line of duty.  The murderer never caught.
  • Jack Vincennes (Spacey) is most concerned with his role as technical advisor on a popular cop tv show. Vincennes makes additional cash by providing inside info on celebrity busts to the publisher of a sleazy gossip rag.
  • Bud White (Crowe) isn’t above throwing a beat-down on criminals and is willing to cross certain lines to get justice.

When a police scandal known as Bloody Christmas, puts the reputation of the L.A. police force in jeopardy, Exley devises a solution.  This gets Exley a promotion, but puts him at odds with most of the force.  Then a multiple killing at a coffee house that includes one of the disgraced police officers is assigned to Exley.  Evidence leads to three African-American ex-cons. A shootout ensues and Exley kills them in self-defense.  Exley is cited for bravery and the case closed…

However inconsistences compel Exley to take a closer look.  Were he, as well as the suspects, set up? The evidence points to police and political corruption.  Still an outcast, despite his medal of valor, if Detective Exley refuses to back down, he will be the next targeted for murder.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

L.A. Confidential is based on the novel by James Ellroy.

L.A. Confidential was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won two:

  • Best Picture (nominee) – Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, Michael G. Nathanson
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role (winner) – Kim Basinger
  • Best Director – Curtis Hanson (nominee)
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (winner) – Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
  • Best Cinematography (nominee) – Dante Spinotti 
  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (nominee) – Jeannine Oppewall (art director), Jay Hart (set decorator)
  • Best Sound (nominee) – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Kirk Francis
  • Best Film Editing (nominee) – Peter Honess
  • Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (nominee) – Jerry Goldsmith

Kevin Spacey asked director Curtis Hanson who he would dream cast in the role of Jack Vincennes if the film had been shot in the 1950s.  Hanson surprised him.  Dean Martin, because of his slick, loose style and questionable character was his choice. (Although that choice surprised me as well, I like it! – Craig)

Simon Baker, perhaps best known for his television series The Mentalist, made his feature film debut in L.A. Confidential.

Kevin Spacey got top billing but had less screen time than the other two leads.

L.A. Confidential (1997) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Midnight” (1934) aka “Call It Murder” (1947) featuring Humphrey Bogart

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Midnight (1934) aka Call It Murder (1934)

Director: Chester Erskine

Screenplay: Chester Erskine

Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Fox, O.P. Heggie, Henry Hull, Margaret Wycherly, Richard Whorf and Granville Bates.

Tagline: One woman was to die at midnight!…another woman was to kill at the same hour…why?

The Plot…

On the night of a woman’s scheduled execution, the jury foreman is having trouble dealing with the verdict.  Then something happens that brings the decision home.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Midnight was originally released in 1934.  Humphrey Bogart was listed 8th in the credits.  Then in 1947, after Bogart became a big star, the film was re-released with the title Call It Murder.  Bogart was given a more prominent role in ads despite his small role.

Richard Whorf who plays Arthur Weldon, would continue acting, but also branch out into directing television and feature films.

Midnight aka Call It Murder (1934) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Doomed to Die” (1940) starring Boris Karloff / Z-View

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Doomed to Die (1940)

Director: William Nigh

Screenplay: Hugh Wiley, Ralph Gilbert Bettison, Michael Jacoby

Stars: Boris Karloff, Marjorie Reynolds, Grant Withers, Henry Brandon, Richard Loo, Melvin Lang and Dick Fleming.

Tagline: The master of crime cleans up the dirty game of murder!

The Plot…

Cyrus Wentworth (Lang) was dealing with the aftermath from the fire and sinking of one of his ships.  Four hundred lives were lost.  It’s not a good day.  When William Stelling (Fleming) shows up, they can be heard arguing in Wentworth’s office.  Stelling is the son of one of Wentworth’s competitors and his daughter’s fiancé.

Suddenly a gunshot rings out.  Stelling is seen standing over Wentworth’s dead body. A gun lies near the body.  Police arrive and arrest Stelling.  It appears to be an open-and-shut case.

Then, the famous James Lee Wong (Karloff) is hired to determine the real killer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The scenes of the burning ship were taken from newsreel footage of a real ocean liner that burned and sunk with tremendous loss of life.

This is Boris Karloff’s fifth (and last) outing as detective James Lee Wong.

Doomed to Die (1940) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Sphinx” (1933) starring Lionel Atwell / Z-View

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The Sphinx (1933)

Director: Phil Rosen

Screenplay: Albert DeMond

Stars: Lionel Atwill, Paul Hurst, Lucien Prival, Ernie Adams, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Wilfred Lucas and Paul Fix.

Tagline: What was the sinister secret of the man who could speak only with his eyes……………?

The Plot…

The main suspect in a murder case is a mute.  The only problem is that the witness at the scene of the crime heard him talking.  Is he a killer or being framed?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

For Lionel Atwell completists only.

The Sphinx (1933) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Assault on Precinct 13” (1976) written & directed by John Carpenter, starring Austin Stoker & Darwin Joston / Z-View

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Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Director: John Carpenter

Screenplay: John Carpenter

Stars: Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Martin West, Tony Burton, Charles Cyphers, Nancy Kyes, Henry Brandon, Frank Doubleday, John Carpenter and Kim Richards.

Tagline: A cop with a war on his hands. His enemy… an army of street killers. His only ally… a convicted murderer.

The Plot…

After members of Street Thunder, a gang who had stolen assault rifles, is ambushed by LA police officers, the gang is out for retribution.

Lieutenant Ethan Bishop’s (Stoker) first assignment is to take command of a Precinct house that is being closed down.  There are only a couple of police officers and secretaries there.  Then a prison transport bus pulls in.  One of the prisoners is sick.  They want to hold a few of the prisoners, one guilty of killing several men, in the jail cells.  What should be a quiet night is turned upside down when a man comes running in.  He witnessed gang members murder his little daughter and an ice cream salesman.

Now the Precinct house is under attack by the street gang.  They’ve killed the two cops on duty.  The phone lines have been cut and no one will be coming to the rescue.  What chance do Lieutenant Bishop, two secretaries and two convicts have for survival?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

John Carpenter originally titled the screenplay The Anderson Alamo.  He later changed it to The Siege.  No studio was interested in distributing the film until Turtle Releasing Organization.  They changed the title to Assault on Precinct 13.  The is a mistake since the police station attacked is Precinct 9, Division 13.

Assault on Precinct 13 was made on an ultra low budget.  Carpenter wrote and directed from a script that he wrote in eight days.  Carpenter also wrote the film’s score (in just three days).  Using the pseudonym, John T. Chance (John Wayne’s character’s name in Rio Bravo), John Carpenter also served as the movie’s editor.  The film was shot in less than a month.  (Oh, and by the way, John Carpenter also plays one of the gang members killed trying to climb through a police station window.)

Darwin Joston, who is excellent as the killer Napoleon Wilson, was John Carpenter’s next door neighbor.

Charles Cyphers and Nancy Loomis would work with John Carpenter on his next film, Halloween.

Frank Doubleday, the actor who kills the ice cream man and little Kim Richards, would go on to appear as Romero in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York.

Assault on Precinct 13 hit me at a perfect time.  It was one of the first films I discovered after getting a VCR back in 1980.  I loved the movie then and still do.  Your mileage may vary.

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Monster Walks” (1932) / Z-View

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The Monster Walks (1932)

Director: Frank R. Strayer

Screenplay: Robert Ellis

Stars: Mischa Auer, Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds and Willie Best.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ruth Earlton (Reynolds) is called back to her childhood home.  Her father has died and the will is going to read.  Ruth and her fiancé, Ted (Lease) arrive on a dark, stormy night.  Ted is introduced to Ruth’s wheelchair-bound Uncle, Mrs. Krug, the strange housekeeper, and her even stranger adult son Hanns.  Oh, and let’s not forget the large ape caged in the basement.

Everyone learns that the estate has been left to Ruth… as long as she is alive.  If she dies it goes to her uncle. Will Ruth make it through the night?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although posters for The Monster Walks features a huge ape, the movie uses a chimpanzee.

The Monster Walks has the right ingredients (creepy house with secret passageways, dark and stormy night, strange characters, a will leaving the money to one family member as long as they live, an ape) but the end result isn’t as good as could be expected.

The Monster Walks (1932) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“30 Days of Night” (2007) starring Josh Harnett, Melissa George & Danny Huston / Z-View

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30 Days of Night (2007)

Director: David Slade

Screenplay: Steve Niles, Stuart Beattie, Brian Nelson based on 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith

Stars: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior, Elizabeth Hawthorne and Nathaniel Lees.

Tagline: They’re Coming!

The Plot…

The remote city of Barrow, Alaska, because of it’s location has a month of darkness once a year.  Most of the city’s inhabitants leave.  Those that stay have to live with “30 days of night”.  This year they will also have to deal with a coven of vampires who have come to Barrow to feast!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Steve Niles conceived 30 Days of Night as a graphic novel.  Although he pitched the idea, there was no interest.  Niles then reworked the idea and pitched 30 Days of Night as a movie.  Again there was no interest.  Niles put the idea on the back-burner until a discussion at IDW Publishing brought 30 Days of Night back from the, uh, dead.  Niles and artist Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night comic was a hit.  This led to several movie studios showing interest in adapting 30 Days of Night.

A picture of Steve Niles can be seen in the attic hideout.

30 Days of Night does a great job of building suspense and ratcheting the tension as the vampires destroy Barlow’s ability to communicate with the outside world.  Then we see vampire attacks to those on the outskirts of the city.  The full-on attack of the city with the overhead shots of the mayhem is still a favorite scene.

Danny Huston is amazing as Marlow the leader of the vampire coven.  Kudos also to Ben Foster.

30 Days of Night (2007) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Mars Attacks” (1996) directed by Tim Burton / Z-View

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Mars Attacks (1996)

Director: Tim Burton

Screenplay: Jonathan Gems, Tim Burton (uncredited) based on Topps Mars Attacks! trading cards

Stars: Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, Lisa Marie, Sylvia Sidney, Paul Winfield, Pam Grier, Jack Black, Joe Don Baker, Christina Applegate  and Tom Jones.

Tagline: Nice planet. We’ll take it!

The Plot…

An armada of Martian ships have come to Earth.  At the first meeting between the Martian and US Ambassador and accident makes the Martians think that they are under attack.  The aliens then decide to take over the Earth.

Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tim Burton directs an all-star cast.

Tim Burton pitched the idea by showing Warner Bros. the Mars Attacks! trading cards released in 1962.  The cards featured art by Wally Wood and Norman Saunders.  The card set told of a Martian invasion of Earth.  Because the cards were aimed at the kiddie market, many parents felt that the violence was too graphic.  This led to a limited distribution.  The Mars Attacks! cards have become collector’s items.  In the 1980s, Topps revisited the Mars Attacks! by re-releasing the card set, new Mars Attacks! cards and comic books.

Mars Attacks! marks Sylvia Sidney’s final film appearance.

Although Tim Burton co-wrote the film with Jonathan Gems, but gave Gems full credit.  Jonathan Gems wrote the Mars Attacks! novelization and dedicated the book to Tim Burton.

Mars Attacks (1996) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Tango & Cash” (1989) starring Sylvester Stallone & Kurt Russell / Z-View

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Tango & Cash (1989)

Director: Andrei Konchalovsky, Albert Magnoli (uncredited)

Screenplay: Randy Feldman

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Teri Hatcher, Jack Palance, Brion James, James Hong, Marc Alaimo, Philip Tan, Michael J. Pollard, Robert Z’Dar, Lewis Arquette, Edward Bunker, Roy Brocksmith, Susan Krebs, David Byrd, Richard Fancy, Michael Jeter,  Patti Davis, Billy Blanks, Geoffrey Lewis, Benny Urquidez and Clint Howard.

Tagline: Two of L.A.’s top rival cops are going to have to work together… Even if it kills them.

The Plot…

Detectives Ray Tango (Stallone) and Gabriel Cash (Russell) are two of LA’s top narcotic cops. They have a friendly rivalry and different styles.  They don’t work together but their busts have put a dent in drug kingpin, Yves Perret’s (Palance) operation.

Perret has Tango and Cash framed, convicted and sent to prison.  Now he plans to have them murdered.

If they are to survive Tango and Cash will have to work together, escape prison and find evidence to clear their names.  Let the fun begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tango & Cash had two directors.  Andrei (Runaway Train) Konchalovsky helmed most of the film. Producers wanted a lighter, funnier film.  Konchalovsky and Stallone felt a serious film with some humor would work better.  Disagreements were constant, but Konchalovsky refused to give in.  This and the movie going over-budget led to him being fired.  Albert (Purple Rain) Magnoli was brought in to finish the film.

Jeffrey (Lethal Weapon 2 & 3) did uncredited re-writes on the film.

Patrick Swayze was originally cast as Cash.  He dropped out to do Road House.

Sly’s character is asked if he stopped for “coffee and a Danish”.  He replies, “I hate Danish.” This is an in-joke as Sly had recently divorced Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen.

Both Brion James and Robert Z’Dar originally had smaller parts, but they impressed enough folks that their roles were expanded.

Geoffrey Lewis has an uncredited cameo.

Tango & Cash (1989) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Your Lucky Day” (2023) written & directed by Daniel Brown / Z-View

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Your Lucky Day (2023)

Director: Daniel Brown

Screenplay: Daniel Brown

Stars: Angus Cloud, Elliot Knight, Jessica Garza, Sterling Beaumon, Mousa Hussein Kraish, Spencer Garrett, Jason O’Mara and Jason Wiles .

Tagline: Cashing in will cost you.

The Plot…

Late night at a small convenience store a customer discovers that he has a winning lottery ticket for $156 million.  He makes a big deal about it and everyone in the store hears he has the big winner.  A drug dealer (Cloud) pulls a gun and demands the ticket.  The two argue. A security guard pulls his gun and tells crook to drop his.

The two exchange shots.  The security guard’s shot kills the ticket holder.  The crook’s shot takes out the security guard.  The thug then gathers everyone in the store.  They include a pregnant woman, her lover, and the store owner.  Fearing that they will all be killed, the store owner tells the thug he will never get to cash the ticket.  He reasons that if thug kills them all, there will be no explaining how he got the winning ticket.  If he doesn’t kill them, they could talk.  BUT if he splits the winnings with him, they can help him get rid of the two bodies and come up with a plausible story about the winning ticket.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Angus Cloud was excellent as the drug dealer/robber.  Sadly, he died before the film’s release.

Your Lucky Day (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Bowery at Midnight” (1942) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Bowery at Midnight (1942)

Director: Wallace Fox

Screenplay: Gerald Schnitzer

Stars: Bela Lugosi, John Archer, Wanda McKay, Tom Neal, Vince Barnett, John Berkes, ‘Snub’ Pollard and Bernard Gorcey.

Tagline: BELA LUGOSI CHILLER! WEIRD! THRILLING!

The Plot…

Karl Wagner (Lugosi) runs a soup kitchen that serves as a front for his many criminal enterprises.  Wagner recruits ex-cons and those who are down-and-out to perform robberies and worse.  Wagner then kills them. He disposes of their bodies in a secret room that leads underground.  His accomplice, a doctor who is also an addict, performs experiments on the cadavers.

As the cops close in, Wagner will go to any extreme to escape.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

At the end the undercover cop played by John Archer is shot and presumably killed.  He is taken by the doctor who we discover has perfected the ability to bring the dead back to life as zombies.  Lugosi’s character is attacked by the zombies when he goes into the basement.  Then the final scene of the movie is John Archer’s character with his love interest.  He appears to be totally recovered from being dead and isn’t a zombie.  Huh?

Bowery at Midnight (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Civil War” (2024) written & directed by Alex Garland, starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny & Stephen McKinley Henderson / Z-View

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Civil War (2024)

Director: Alex Garland

Screenplay:  Alex Garland

Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Nick Offerman, Jefferson White, Nelson Lee, Evan Lai, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Jesse Plemons.

Tagline: Welcome to the frontline

The Plot…

In the near future the United States is deeply involved in a civil war.  A third-term President controls the military of the loyalist states.  Texas and California have formed an alliance called the Western Forces.  Florida along with several southern states are part of the Florida Alliance.  Despite the President’s assurances to the nation that victory is near, rumors float that the rebels are close to bringing down the current administration.

Lee (Dunst), a famous war photographer, and her reporter partner Joel (Moura) plan to get to Washington, D.C. to cover the end of the President’s regime.  They end up bringing along Sammy (McKinley Henderson), an older reporter friend, and Jessie (Spaeny), a young woman who dreams of being a war photographer.

As the four travel from New York City to DC, we see first hand the effect the war is having on citizens and soldiers.  Not all will survive…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s interesting that although writer/director, Alex Garland worked to keep the story politically neutral, some viewers are assigning their political beliefs to the film.  Although the President is serving a third term, we don’t know what led to that.  The President is described in the film as a fascist, which is a term that has been applied to leaders of both US political parties.

Often in the film, it’s hard to tell if the soldiers are loyalists or rebels.  In one particular scene, two soldiers and our foursome are pinned down by a sniper.  We never learn the affiliation of the sniper or soldiers.  We only know that someone is trying to kill them before they can kill him.

I believe that Garland’s goal is to get people talking about the film and to show that war is hell. At one point in the film, Dunst’s character says something to the effect that her job is to get the shot and the viewer’s job to ask the questions.  That’s a great way to describe Garland’s outlook with the film.  He made the movie and it is the audience’s job to ask questions to get to the answers.

There are several tense scenes both in and out of battle. We see the best and worst in people from both the loyalists and the rebels.  There are several scenes that will stick with the viewer long after the movie has ended.  Hopefully it will also leave the viewer with thoughts / questions.  Some that came to me were…

  • Were the secret service agents guarding the President there because they believed in him and the things that he did or were they there because of their oath to protect him.
  • What was the cause of the civil war?  We are “told” the President is a fascist and that he used the military to kill some US citizens.  We don’t know enough about these things to determine their truth.  If true, what was tried to bring about justice before resorting to civil war?
  • The President is killed at the end of the film.  He was unarmed and begging for his life. He could have been captured and brought to justice.  Simply executing him sounds like something a fascist regime would do.  Are the rebels the good guys? If not, did the bad guys win?  Or maybe, just maybe labeling people as good or bad is just too simplistic.
  • War brings out the best and worst in people.  One could point out several examples of heroism on both sides of the battle.  Also on both sides we see people who enjoy the killing.
  • Civil War is extremely well acted.  The four leads, Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Stephen McKinley Henderson are excellent.  Jesse Plemons is always good and here, in a small scene, he’s never been better.  Kudos to Alex Garland for making an exceptional film.

Civil War (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Chamber of Horrors” (1966) starring Patrick O’Neal, Cesare Danova & Wilfrid Hyde-White / Z-View

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Chamber of Horrors (1966)

Director: Hy Averback

Screenplay: Stephen Kandel, Ray Russell

Stars: Patrick O’Neal, Cesare Danova, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jeanette Nolan, Marie Windsor, Wayne Rogers, Charles Seel, William Conrad (voice) and Tony Curtis.

Tagline: The motion picture with the Fear Flasher and the Horror Horn

The Plot…

Jason Cravatte (O’Neal) was convicted of killing a young woman and then forcing a Justice of the Peace to perform a marriage ceremony for Cravatte and his victim.  While being transported to prison, Cravatte escaped by cutting off his own hand.

Now fully healed, Cravatte has replaced his hand with a covering that can hold a hook, a long blade and more.  Cravatte plans to get revenge on everyone responsible for his capture.  That includes the judge who sentenced him, the police officer who caught him, Anthony Draco (Danova) and Harold Blount (Hyde-White) who assisted in the capture.

Draco and Blount own a wax museum with a focus on famous gruesome murderers.  Wouldn’t that be the perfect place for Cravatte to take his final revenge?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I first saw Chamber of Horrors as a kid.  I was probably 9 years old.  I loved the film then and am still a fan.

Chamber of Horrors was originally filmed as a pilot for a tv series.  The network thought it was too violent, so it received a theatrical release.  Sadly no television series was ever produced.  I still think it would make a fun series.

Tony Curtis appears in a cameo that has no bearing on the plot.  When it was decided to release the film as a feature, additional time was needed so the scene with Tony Curtis was added.  Also added were the gimmicks of The Fear Flasher and The Horror Horn which were seen and heard before the most intense scenes.  William Conrad also recorded the warning before the start of the film.

Wayne Rogers plays the young police officer intent on re-capturing Cravatte. This is years before he became famous on M*A*S*H.

Chamber of Horrors (1966) rates 4 of 5 stars.