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LOST HIGHWAY-1997-I’ll be the first to admit that David Lynch is a unique director with a visual style that sets him apart from other filmmakers. I also admit that I am not a fan. While I find his work behind the camera startling and unusual, his story telling technique seems muddled and overly symbolic. What good is making a movie that will only be understood (if in fact it’s suppose to be understood at all) by no one but the director? Of course there are those who would disagree with me and find HIGHWAY to be a challenging puzzle that grows better with each viewing (and in some ways this is true).
That said, LOST HIGHWAY does have the possibilities for cult status. It’s nearly incoherent story line is oozing symbolism. Bill Pullman plays Fred Madison, a jazz saxophonist who murders his wife (Patricia Arquette) who he believes is unfaithful. While on death row he “creates” a new identity (now played by Balthzaar Getty from HABITAT) to “escape reality” and becomes involved with sleazy thug Mr. Eddie (Robert Loggia) and his mistress (also played by Arquette who has a lot of nude scenes). Lurking around the whole time is Mystery Man (Robert “Baretta” Blake,looking like a CARNIVAL OF SOULS ghoul) who may be death, the devil or just another figment of Madison’s psycho killer’s mind. The key to the whole thing seems to be the phrase “Dick Laurent Is Dead”.
Co-star Natasha Gregson Wagner also has a nude scene. A strange bunch of smaller appearances highlight the film. Gary Busey plays Fred’s father and Richard Pryor and Henry Rollins have brief roles. For me the weirdest casting was Guy Siner (who played the gay Lieutenant Gruber on the British TV show ‘ALLO ‘ALLO) and Gene Ross (who played The Judge in DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT!!) both featured in a prison parole scene! And of course Lynch regular Jack Nance (who was killed before this was released) puts in an appearance. The script is by Lynch and Barry Gifford (who wrote the novel Wild At Heart!).
This was kind of touted as Robert Blake’s “comeback” film but he went on to bigger and badder things.
CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB-Hammer-1964 -A usually over looked Hammer production directed and written by Hammer head honcho Michael Carreras takes along time to get started but is highlighted by an amusing performance by Fred Clark as (what else?) a big mouth, PT Barnum like American promoter who says things like: “Of course I have enemies. I’m in show business!”. Too bad he’s killed off before the action starts. I guess it’s a kind of follow up to THE MUMMY though hardly up to the standards set by Terence Fisher.
Roland (son of Leslie) Howard stars as an archeologist who helps open the cursed tomb of Ra-Antef. Naturally, the mummy (Dickie Owen) is stolen and comes back to life looking for revenge. It looks kind of like Lee’s bandaged ancient one except it has less facial features. Meanwhile Howard’s French fiancée (Jeanne Roland) is being wooed by the real villain (Terence Morgan), the mummy’s brother! It features nice flashbacks, severed hands and Michael Ripper in a small cameo. CURSE is by no means classic Hammer but is entertaining nonetheless. Quite ignobly, Ra-Antef meets his end in a sewer. The studio’s next mummy effort would be BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB in 1971 (which Carreras would finish after the death it’s original director, Seth Holt)!
And last and least:
MURDERCYCLE-1998 - A suspicious CIA agent, a psychic and a group of Marine troopers (led by a suicidal sergeant) battle an alien possessed motorcyclist armed with deadly lasers. The alien was sent by it’s race to recover a device the CIA won’t give back. This is pretty standard direct to video stuff except that all the characters have the names of real life comic book people: Lee, Kirby, Wood, Frazetta, Ditko, Buscema, Kubert, Vince Coletta and Joe Sinnott! Some of the troopers even compare themselves to The Fantastic Four! Most of them argue, scream and then get killed.
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