Why Are They Scared?

13 FRIGHTENED GIRLS!-1965-This talky, innocuous drama shows the decline of once popular "gimmick" director William Castle. 

13 girls from a Swiss boarding school (all daughters of diplomats) get into trouble while on vacation. The story focuses on one girl Candy (Kathy Dunn) who's diplomatic father is played by Hugh Marlowe (EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS). Khigh Dhiegh (in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE the year before) is the Red Chinese diplomat who's niece Candy befriends. Murray Hamilton and Joyce Taylor are the special agents Candy helps. Despite the violence and espionage this almost seems aimed at teenage girls!

Emil Sitka has an un-billed role as the school's care taker. Castle made the comical remake of THE OLD DARK HOUSE the same year. Screenwriter Robert Dillon also penned Corman's X-THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES the same year.

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Late Castle

LET'S KILL UNCLE-1966-Shock/gimmick director William Castle was nearing the end of his long career when he made this weird talky mystery that takes place mostly on a secluded island.

A bratty kid named Barnaby (Pat Cardi) is the heir to his deceased father's fortune. He goes to the island to meet his only other relative, his uncle Kevin (Nigel Green who was in KHARTOUM the same year). Accompanying Barnaby is a police sergeant (Robert Pickering) and the same aged Chrisse (Mary Badham) who's going to visit her aunt (Linda Lawson) who lives on the island. Before the uncle arrives the kids get into some trouble at an abandoned hotel who's only occupant is Ketchman (Ref Sanchez) a legless, scar faced fisherman who has a shark in the hotel's swimming pool. Once the uncle arrives it's obvious he wants to do away with his nephew but since the kid is a braggart and liar no one believes him. He and Chrissie decide to kill "Unk" first.

There's a lot of false scares and talk and the ending is kind of idiotic. Also with Nestor Paiva as a ship captain. Cardi was a busy child actor on TV in the '60's and starred in the low budget horror film TWISTED BRAIN in 1974. He later created Moviefone.

Badham was nominated for a Academy Award in 1962 for her role as Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD but never did much else. After a almost 40 year absence she returned to the screen in OUR VERY OWN in 2005. Lawson was later in MRS. STONE'S THING with Ed Wood! Castle made 4 more movies after this and died in 1977. Sometimes called LET'S KILL UNCLE BEFORE HE KILLS US.

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No Spiders!

SPIDER FOREST-1981-This is a highly unusual Korean horror film. It seems influenced by David Lynch. A man tries to come to terms with his life after his wife is killed in a plane crash. This leads him to Spider Forest and a horrible murder committed there. Unlike Hollywood horror films today SF leaves a lot of "clues" for the viewer to figure out. Pretty cool but slow going at times. Warning! No giant spiders eat anyone in this film directed by II-gon Song.

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Cavedog Like!

HULK WORLD/PLANET HULK-2010-This Marvel Animation Production is based on one of their graphic novels. In it the Hulk is banished to another world by Iron Man and other Earth superheroes. He winds up on a planet where gladiator type fights take place between different alien warriors. Guess who becomes the champion? It's entertaining with action and drama and Beta Ray Bill even shows up in the arena! It premiered on the Disney cable channel XD.

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Andy Warhol's Favorite Movie..They Say...

CREATION OF THE HUMANOIDS-1962-After a nuclear war, the human race has dwindled. They've created robots (humanoids) to help out. They are green, bald and have no emotions and are called "clickers" by people who dislike them. Due to the weird looking Dr. Raven (Don Doo-little) some robots are getting more emotional. Another scientist Cragis (Don Megowan) sees the robots as threats to humanity and heads the "Order of Flesh and Blood". His sister is having a "relationship" with a clicker named Pax (David Cross, who was in Bert I. Gordon's THE MAGIC SWORD around the same time). Dudley Manlove (Eros in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE) is one of the lead clickers.

There's not much action in this Technicolor wonder that has bad acting, funny Ed Wood like dialogue and strange Art Deco sets.

Makeup is by the great Jack Pierce and the cinematographer was two time Oscar winners Hal Mohr!

COTH was directed by former child actor Wesley Barry who made other movies but was mostly an assistant director on movies and TV shows. Co-writer Jay Simms wrote the screenplay for PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO the same year.

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Gor! Rhymes with Bore!

GOR-1987-After a car crash, a nerdy college teacher (Urbano Barberini) is transported to the alternate world of Gor while wearing his father's magic ring. Once there he meets some desert warriors fighting to overthrow the oppression of it's evil tyrant (Oliver Reed; his overacting is the only highlight) as Sarm, who likes to torture people. Paul L. Smith turns up as a trader who roughs up a dwarf.

This stupid movie was made in Italy (with a mostly Italian cast) by American director Fritz Kiersch (CHILDREN OF THE CORN). It's based on the first novel in the adult fantasy series by John Norman but was obviously more inspired by Conan The Barbarian and other sword and sorcery shenanigans popular at the time. The acting is awful, the swordplay pretty pathetic but some might enjoy it for the "attributes" displayed by female lead Rebecca Ferratti.

Though Jack Palance is third billed he only shows up in the last few minutes of the movie to set up a sequel. Yes, there was a sequel called OUTLAW OF GOR (which also starred Barberini and Ferratti) which found a fitting place in history being used for an episode of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000! Barberini was later in Dario Argento's OPERA. Arnold Vosloo has a small role in the modern day scenes.

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Moon Men

THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE-1967-A group of scientists investigate a mysterious meteor shower and have their minds taken over by some alien invaders (from the Moon). The leader of the group (Robert Hutton) can't be controlled because he has a metal plate in his head. He tries to discover the secret of the invasion while being thwarted by alien possessed humans. After the aliens release a "scarlet plague" he goes on a one man mission to infiltrate the base. Eventually he meets The Master of The Moon (Michael Gough) and his pals who wear very colorful robes and finds out their true purpose. Jennifer Jayne co-stars.

This low budget Amicus production is based on a novel by American author Joseph Millard called "The Gods Hate Kansas". Director/cinematographer Freddie Francis made TORTURE GARDEN the same year.

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