.Hong Kong

AB-NORMAL BEAUTY-2004-A young photographer becomes obsessed with photographing death after taking some pictures of a car accident victim. She seems to be haunted by a childhood rape and is eventually made an S & M victim by a stalker who sends her a snuff tape. Her girlfriend tries to help her but to no avail. Although there are some well-done scenes in this strange drama it is once again (as in many Hong Kong produced horror tales) mostly style over story.

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Serious but Funny...??

JIANG HU-THE TRIAD ZONE-2000-Tony Leung plays a Hong Kong Triad boss in this kind of unusual but entertaining action film. It’s a comedy/drama satire with some seriously violent overtones. Leung is Jim Yam, a mob boss who’s frequently shot at. He has a wife (Sandra Ng) and mistress (San-san Lee) and most of the situations are played for laughs despite the violence. Things take a weird turn though when Anthony Wong shows up playing Master Kwan, an ancient god who saves Jim’s life! Though at times the story becomes very serious it always returns to comedy. Eric Tsang plays Jim’s jailed ex-bodyguard in a poignant scene. Director Dante Lam somehow makes it work and provides a very good shoot-out in a flower shop.

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Another Quickie

TARNATION-2003-This is the true story of Jonathan Caouette. and his childhood ordeal of growing up with his schizophrenic mother Renee.

He uses films he shot, pictures, TV images and music to tell his story, however some parts especially of him emoting as an adult seem staged. Fascinating at times but gets lost in it’s own shelf indulgence.

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A Puzzle

MARATHON-2002-This arty filmed in black and white story concerns a young woman (Sara Paul) as she tries to solve over 70 crossword puzzles in 24 hours. The burning question is: why??

Most of it takes place on various NYC subway lines but later she returns to her apartment and seems to lose it big time! It’s fairly interesting at first but loses steam, as the story has nowhere to go.

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J-Horror

DARK WATER-1999-Excellent Japanese ghost story by the makers of RINGU. A mother and daughter move into a rundown apartment while the mother goes through a divorce and hunts for a job. Water dripping from the ceiling of her apartment sets things in motion in this subtle but eerie film. A US remake followed a few years later.

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Quick Hound

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES-1972-Many people seem to have forgotten this TV movie version of the famous A. Conan Doyle story was ever made. 

It features Stewart Granger as Sherlock Holmes and Bernard Fox as Dr. Watson. They are not the best actors to play the team but for a TV movie they aren’t bad. Capt. Kirk himself William “Canadian Ham” Shatner is the suspicious and smirk George Stapleton and also plays the doomed Richard Baskerville in a pre-credit flashback. Also with Anthony Zerbe, Sally Ann Howes and Allan Caillou as Inspector Lestrade. Director Barry Crane was a busy TV director at the the time.

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Seems Like Hammer But It Isn't-Part 2

MADHOUSE-1974-Entertaining Amicus/AIP production features Vincent Price as Paul Toombes a famous horror actor who may have taken his most famous role of Dr. Death too far and killed his fiancé (after learning she was once a porno actress). Scenes from real Price horror films (HOUSE OF USHER THE RAVEN TALES OF TERROR PIT AND THE PENDULUM) are shown to depict the fictional Toombs’ career. Fellow actor Peter Cushing brings him out of retirement for a stupid TV producer (Robert Quarry) and people start getting killed. Also with Adrienne Corri. Natasha Pyne Linda Hayden and Barry Dennen.

It’s ok but a little reminiscent of THEATER OF BLOOD though it’s based on the novel “Devilday” by horror writer Angus Hall. After this Price would make only two films (but do voiceovers and make TV appearances) until 1980. It was the last of 7 films by usual film editor Jim Clark. 

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