Poe X 3

 

 (imdb)

SPIRITS OF THE DEAD-1968-3 tales loosely based on stories by the legendary Edgar Allen Poe by 3 different directors. 

The first is "Metzengerstein" by Roger Vadim, about a cruel countess (Jane Fonda) whose life of debauchery is changed by the death of her mysterious cousin (Peter Fonda) and a wild horse he owned. "William Wilson" by Louis Malle is about a psychotic man (Alain Delon) plagued by another man who has the same name. He plays cards with a woman (Bridgitte Bardot) and wins by cheating. To pay her debt, he whips her but the other Wilson exposes him. They have a duel; both end up dying. "Toby Dammit" by Federico Fellini is about a burnout film star (Terence Stamp) who agrees to be in an Italian movie because the producers promise to give him a Ferrari in lieu of payment. It seems to be a plot by the devil, in the guise of a sinister little girl, to get his head. 

Strange trilogy that could have been better. Despite the three directors, it's missing something. Originally, Orson Welles and/or Luis Bunel were supposed to direct a segment. When AIP released it in the US it had opening narration by Vincent Price.

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Fightful

(imdb)

FRIGHTMARE-1983-Some idiot fans of the recently deceased horror star Conrad Razoff (Ferdinand Mayne; THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (1967)) steal his corpse and have a party where they get drunk and dance with him. Later they put him in the attic. His wife contacts a psychic (Nita Talbott) who performs a seance that brings Conrad back to life. He kills most of them (including Jeffery Combs in his third film) and a fat cop investigates. One guy (future director Luca Bercovici) is cremated alive. Leon Askin (from TV's "Hogan's Heroes" has a small role). 

Confused typical '80's slasher nonsense written & directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane who many years earlier penned The Herman's Hermits movie MRS. BROWN, YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER (1968).

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Ruined

 

 (imdb)

THE RUINS-2008-Some stupid Americans (Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Laura Ramsey, Shawn Ashmore) on vacation in Mexico are terrorized by mysterious locals and killer plant roots but it's mostly characters screaming and crying. Carter Smith directed. Co-male lead Ashmore played Ice Man in the original X-Men film series.

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Solar Times 2

 

 (amazon)

SOLAR DESTRUCTION-2008-Solar flares threaten Earth. A 15-year-old math genius asshole (Chris Brochu) predicts what will happen but nobody believes him even after two scientists (Tracey Gold, Cliff DeYoung) back him up. An evil rich guy works against them. I've seen worst but this is pretty bad. The acting really blows. Low budget boredom from director Fred Olen Ray. Aka SOLAR FLARE.

 (the moviedb.org)

SOLAR IMPACT-2019-Forgettable 28 DAYS LATER rip-off about a group of dummies trying to survive after solar debris has turned most of the population of England into crazed zombies. Later it becomes a NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD talk fest. Directed by Craig Tudor James.

Double Thanks for reading!

Reap This Righteous Rift

 

 

 (wikipedia)

REET, PETITE AND GONE-1947-Bandleader Louis Jarvis (the great Louis Jordan) goes to visit his dying father but is too late. In the old man's will, Louis inherits everything if he marries a woman dad describes in the will. Oddly the woman described matches their crooked lawyer's (Lorenzo Tucker) secretary. Louis and his manager Sam (Milton Woods) advertise for the leading woman in their new play who must match the description for Louis' wife. Despite the thin plot, this is really a showcase for the real Jordan to show off his talent doing the title song, “The Green Grass Grows All Around”, “Ain't That Just Like A Woman” and more. 

Director William Forest Crouch directed many musical shorts featuring Jordan, The Jubalaires, Nat “King” Cole and others.

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Mantan's Back

 

 (imdb)

MR. WASHINGTON GOES TO TOWN-1941-Crazy goings on at a hotel inherited by new owner Schenectady (Mantan Moreland) and his partner in crime Wallingford (FE Miller). A blustery criminal businessman Brutus Blake (Maceo B. Sheffield) holds a mortgage on the place because he believes there's a fortune hidden there. Occasionally a parrot narrates the action. It was directed by the super-fast William Beaudine but the producer Jed Buell is credited.

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Beastly

 

 (imdb)

WILD BEASTS-1984-Animals go crazy and attack humans in this Italian production. First rats kill a couple having sex in a car. Then lions, tigers and elephants escape from the zoo and maul and eat employees. Then a blind guy is killed by his guide dog. Elephants cause car crashes and crush people. A polar bear eats some teachers. Cows and horses stampede a city. A scientist figures out PCP has infected the water. Meanwhile, Laura (Lorraine Del Selle), a reporter snoops around. In the finale the children at her daughter's school all turn psychotic and seem to kill everyone!

Writer/director Franco Prosperi also made the notorious AFRICA: BLOOD AND GUTS.

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