Bad Future

 

 

 (imdb)

FUTURE WAR-1997-Some aliens, cyborgs and dinosaurs invade Earth. A nun (Travis Brooks Stewart) and an alien tracker (Daniel Bern-hardt) try to stop them. The dinosaurs are terrible plastic models but they act better than most of the cast. The tracker, a Jean-Claude Van Damme clone battles the head cyborg (Robert D'Zar) in the finale. Forrest J. Ackerman has a bit role. 

The director Anthony Doublin did visual effects for some big budgeted Hollywood movies (HISTORY OF THE WORLD Part 1; 1941) but went on to a shot on video atrocity SLAUGHTERED.

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Mexican Werewof

 

 (imdb)

EL HOMBRE Y MONSTERO-1959-In this stylish and eerie Mexican horror film, Samuel (Enrique Rambal) makes a pact with the devil to become a great pianist but unfortunately when dealing with Mr. Scratch there's always a catch. Now whenever Sam tinkles the ivories he turns into a hairy werewolf like creature. He lives with his mom and a young protégé he's training. However a nosy reporter (screenwriter Abel Salazar) learns that Sam has the corpse of a female rival he killed in a room and every so often talks to it. After terrorizing he transforms during a big concert and is shot by the police. Director Rafael Baledon also made ORLAK,THE HELL OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN.

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Mummy in Spain

 

 (imdb)

VOODOO BLACK EXORCIST-1974-A voodoo priest in the Caribbean is burned for having an affair with a married woman named Kenya. Many years later he comes back as a revenge seeking mummy when he's discovered by an expedition and brought aboard a luxury liner. He wakes up and sometimes he's crusty looking but most times he's normal. He cuts off the head of a steward and puts the head in the bed of Silvia (Eva Leon), a woman who may be the reincarnation of his girlfriend. Then he has a guy he's made his slave run over a doctor with a steamroller. A short rotund police chief figures out what's going on and the mummy is burned up. 

This production from Spain is pretty bad. The director Manuel Cano also made THE SWAMP OF THE RAVENS.

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What?

 

 

 (imdb)

THE WHIP AND THE BODY-1963-Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee), a sadistic disowned son returns to his family because his brother Christian (Tony Kendall) is about to be married. Kurt's return doesn't sit well with his dad, The Count (Gustavo De Nardo). In fact, Christian is going to marry Kurt's ex-fiance Nevenka (Daliah Lavi) but Kurt blew it when he had an affair with a servant girl who later committed suicide. Kurt has come back to claim his birthright which he seems to think includes Nevenka. When two meet on the beach, he whips her and they have sex. Later Kurt is stabbed to death but it seems his ghost has come back for revenge. 

Great atmospheric photography by Mario Bava. An incomprehensible version titled "What!" used to play on local TV in the '70's. It's since been restored but the version I saw was dubbed (Lee's voice included).

 (imdb)

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Do You Believe?

 

 (amazon.com)

BURN, WITCH, BURN! -1962-Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde), a college professor finds out his wife Tansy (Janet Blair) has been using voodoo she learned in Jamaica to make him successful. After he makes her burn all her charms and talismans, a female student accuses him of rape and a male student threatens him with a gun. After a weird episode at their home, Tansy is convinced Norman will die, so she decides to take his place. He frantically searches for her. She almost drowns herself but Norman saves her using the occult practices he doesn't believe in. Flora Carr (Margret Jackson), a vengeful college secretary seems to be behind it, using voodoo to destroy The Taylors because she feels her husband Lindsey (Colin Gordon) was passed over in flavor of Norman. The climax is good. 

Veteran sci-fi/horror writers Charles Beaumont & Richard Matheson (both worked on TV's The Twilight Zone) collaborated on the script (based on Fritz Leiber's “Conjure Wife”) for AIP's James Nicolson who later turned it over to their British affiliate Anglo-Amalgamated. They wanted Peter Cushing to star but he was busy. 

Director Sidney Hayers (CIRCUS OF HORRORS) does a competent job of holding everything together despite a low budget and provides some good scares. In the 1980's he came to the US and directed for TV. The Universal Pictures “Inner Sanctum” entry WEIRD WOMAN (1944) is also based on Leiber's story. Known in the UK as NIGHT OF THE EAGLE, the US version has a short prologue by Paul Frees.

 (wikipedia)

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PS: There was also a band in the early 2000's called "Burn Witch Burn" lead by "Dead Milken" lead singer Rodney Linderman. Their only release is great!

 (amazon.com)

Alligator Time

 

 (imdb)

THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE-1959-Under hypnotism nurse Joyce Webster (Beverly Garland) tells the tale of how her husband Paul (Richard Crane) went missing on the first night of their honeymoon. Her search for him leads her to a plantation in The Bayou. The owner Mrs. Hawthorne (Frieda Inescort) says she's never heard of Paul but it's obvious she's hiding something. Her friend Dr. Sinclair (George Macready) is doing experiments on people. Trying to find a cure to regenerate limbs with hormones extracted from alligators, he accidentally turned Paul and his other patients into "alligator people". A risky experiment with a cobalt bomb might help but drunken alligator hating ex-worker Manon (Lon Chaney) with a hook hand messes it up and Paul turns into a full-grown alligator man (wearing pants and walking upright). Quicksand and an explosion wrap things up. 

Two shrinks (Bruce Bennett & Douglas Montgomery) who are recording her repressed memory debate whether to tell her or not. 

This crazy sci-fi horror film is fairly entertaining despite the cheap effects. Chaney gives a great performance as the crazed Manon. Beverly Garland once again portrays a strong-willed female intent on finding out the truth. 

Director Ray Del Ruth does a competent workman like job. He started out directing shorts for Mack Sennett and eventually made it to features directing the first version of THE MALTESE FALCON and BLONDE CRAZY (with James Cagney) in 1931. He directed all sorts of films and in 1948 made the notorious THE BABE RUTH STORY. He had directed one horror movie previously THE PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE in 1954.

 (imdb)

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Like Father, Like Son? Think About It, Won't You?

 

 (imdb)

REPTISAURUS-2009-Pretty much a garbage production about a government experiment that accidentally produces a creature that kills people. Gil Gerald is an insane army officer. Director Christopher Ray also made the pretty bad ALMIGHTY THOR. His dad Fred was one of the producers.

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