Medical Nightmares Month Quick Picks and Pans

Horror Hospital (1973) Michael Gough stars as the unscrupulous Dr. Christian Storm, who runs a sanitorium for young adults. The sanitorium is only a ruse, however, to provide a steady supply of unwilling test subjects for his experimental brain surgery (as a deterrent for potential escapees, the doctor’s limousine is equipped with a blade for quick and easy decapitations). The operation results in zombies who obey his every command. Robin Askwith and Vanessa Shaw play two 20-something patients who attempt to foil his plans, while trying to make it out alive. Gough is in top form playing another warped character you love to hate. Good, darkly comic fun. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

 

Infection (2004) In director/co-writer Masayuki Ochiai’s unsettling, claustrophobic medical horror thriller, tensions run high at a small, financially strapped hospital. Already understaffed, overworked, and underpaid, the doctors and nurses are stretched beyond the breaking point when an infection of unknown origin runs through the patients and staff. The disease exerts a psychological and physiological effect on its victims, twisting perceptions while it transforms them into puddles of green goo. While the plot gets a bit muddy, it’s worth seeing for the strong performances and creepy atmosphere. 

Rating: ***½. Available on DVD and Tubi.

The Dentist (1996) When a high-strung dentist, Dr. Feinstone (Corbin Bernsen) discovers that his wife Brooke (Linda Hoffman) has been cheating on him with the pool man, his sanity goes off the deep end. Starting with Brooke, he takes his revenge on anyone else who crosses him. Although the makeup effects are suitably icky, the film overall is surprisingly restrained, with much more implied than shown. If you had an aversion to visiting the dentist before seeing this movie, it’s not likely to change your opinion. Look for a young Mark Ruffalo as a sleazy agent, Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead) as a police detective, and Earl Boen (Terminator, T2: Judgement Day) as a crooked IRS auditor. Directed by Brian Yuzna and co-written by Dennis Paoli, Stuart Gordon, and Charles Finch, The Dentist doesn’t break new genre ground, but it achieves its modest goals. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD and Tubi 

Scalpel (1977) Dr. Phillip Reynolds (Robert Lansing), a morally bankrupt plastic surgeon, concocts an elaborate scheme to seize his runaway daughter’s (Judith Chapman) $5 million inheritance. An opportunity falls in his lap when he discovers a stripper who has been left for dead on the streets, with her face destroyed. He takes her under his wing, reconstructing her face in his daughter’s image. He grooms the ersatz daughter (also played by Chapman) to convince his lawyer and the rest of his family that she’s the real deal. Complications ensue, however, when the real daughter returns, only to find her doppelganger in her place. While far from perfect, it’s a decent thriller with a good twist ending.  

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray and Tubi

12 Hour Shift (2020) Set in a rural Arkansas hospital over the course of one night, anything can and often does happen. Mandy (Angela Bettis), a nurse at the end of her rope, keeps herself going by pilfering various drugs from the hospital, and taking part in a black-market organ transplant ring. When her dimwitted cousin (Chloe Farnworth) misplaces a kidney, it becomes just one of a cascade of unfortunate events, including bad weather, power outages, and a dangerous convict (David Arquette) on the loose. Matters are made worse by some inept cops and a less-than-helpful nursing staff. Writer/director Brea Grant’s black comedy keeps a lot of plates spinning, sometimes stretching credulity to its breaking point, but the colorful characters, amusing dialogue, and outrageous situations make this a diverting watch.   

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

Night of the Bloody Apes (1969) In this Mexican exploitation film from director/co-writer René Cardona, a “gorilla” (although in the establishing shots, it’s clearly an orangutan) is taken from the local zoo by Dr. Krallman (José Elías Moreno), desperate to save his terminally ill son Julio (Agustín Martínez Solares). He successfully transplants the gorilla’s heart into his son (including some real open-heart surgery footage), but there’s an unexpected side-effect: Julio transforms into a murderous, hulking ape creature that kills men and rips the clothes off unsuspecting women. There’s also a women’s wrestling subplot that somehow figures into the story, prompting me to wonder if this started as another Santo movie (sadly, there’s no match with the monster). Stupid, silly and exploitive, but never dull. 

Rating: **½ stars. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Prime Video and Midnight Pulp 

The Immortalizer (1989) This film features a B-movie premise that could have been a fun throwback to cheapo ‘40s and ‘50s productions if it hadn’t been so clumsily executed. Dr. Divine (Ron Ray) runs an underground clinic that transplants the brains of old, rich people into young, healthy bodies. A young man escapes the clinic, but returns to investigate the disappearance of his brother and their dates who have become subjects for the doctor’s experiments. Much like 1957’s The Unearthly, which the film seems to take its inspiration from, the action mostly takes place in one house, with interminable scenes of the characters running around. Even at 96 minutes, it seems at least 20 minutes too long. 

Rating: **. Available on Blu-ray and Prime Video 

Hellhole (1985) In this would-be thriller, Judy Landers stars as Susan Walker, an amnesiac in a mental hospital. The facility is lorded over by the sadistic Dr. Fletcher (Mary Woronov), who conducts experimental chemical lobotomies on patients in a clinic affectionately known as “Hellhole.” Meanwhile, she’s relentlessly pursued by the same hired killer (Ray Sharkey) who killed her mother. Susan’s memory holds the key to the whereabout of some “papers,” although their significance is never made clear. The movie features lots of gratuitous nudity to distract you from the fact that the story is so underbaked (including former Russ Meyer starlet Edy Williams as a fellow patient, whose sole purpose seems to be appearing in various states of undress). By the time the film sputters to an end, you’ll probably cease to care. 

Rating: **. Available on Blu-ray and Tubi 

X-Ray (aka: Hospital Massacre) (1981) Barbi Benton stars as Susan, a divorced businesswoman visiting the hospital for a routine exam. What was supposed to be a brief consultation with her doctor turns into an indefinite hospital stay when someone tampers with her X-rays, making it seem as if she’s suffering from a serious illness. As the body count piles up, it becomes evident that she’s the killer’s real target. An interesting premise is squandered by standard slasher trappings, and a comically incompetent hospital staff (who somehow fail to notice all the deaths). 

Rating: **. Available on Blu-ray, Prime Video and Tubi 

Surgikill (1989) Andy Milligan’s final film, this aggressively unfunny slasher comedy, ensured that his career went out with a whimper. Chaos is the rule at Goode Hospital, a struggling community hospital (which appears to be comprised of three rooms). A killer roams the halls, dispatching the clueless hospital staff. With its haphazard editing, cringe-worthy acting, and gags that consistently fall flat, Surgikill falters, even by Milligan’s questionable standards. 

Rating: *½. Available on DVD, Midnight Pulp, Prime Video and Tubi 

 

 

 

March Quick Picks and Pans

Bone (1972) The lives of well-to-do white middle-aged couple Bill and Bernadette (Andrew Duggan and Joyce Van Patten) are turned topsy turvy when a mysterious black man called Bone (Yaphet Kotto) suddenly enters their lives. Writer/director Larry Cohen’s (in his directing debut) intriguing film defies easy categorization, while it lays bare the hypocrisies of upper-class life. Bone perpetuates an atmosphere of unease, keeping you guessing where it’s going from beginning to end, thanks to Kotto’s great performance as the enigmatic title character. 

Rating: ***½. Available on DVD and Tubi

Dr. Caligari (1989) Loosely based on The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) director/co-writer Stephen Sayadian’s hallucinogenic experience looks more like a filmed performance art piece than a traditional movie. Madeleine Reynal stars as the latest iteration of Dr. Caligari, who uses her patients as guinea pigs. Short on plot but big on atmosphere, Dr. Caligari’s fly-on-the-wall perspective flits from one weird set piece to another, like your own private sideshow. Filled with trippy scenarios and disturbing body horror, you might wonder if someone slipped something in your drink. Aside from the bizarre makeup effects and absurdist dialogue is a fun comic performance by Fox Harris (in his final role) as Caligari’s assistant, the warped Dr. Avol. What does it add up to? Beats me, but I enjoyed the trip. It’s safe to say Dr. Caligari won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re tired of the same thing, this might just be what you’re seeking. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and Shudder 

 

The Mad Bomber (aka: The Police Connection) (1973) Bert I. Gordon’s (yes, that Bert I. Gordon) seedy B-exploitation thriller set on the mean streets of Los Angeles might be this month’s biggest surprise. While writer/director Gordon doesn’t bring us giant spiders or enormous go-go dancing teens this go-round, he still manages to make everything seem larger than life with exaggerated situations and over-the-top performances. Chuck Connors stars as William Dorn, the eponymous “Mad Bomber,” who wants to make society pay for its transgressions after the drug overdose death of his daughter. With his comically strict adherence to decorum and social etiquette (think Serial Mom), Dorn almost could have been a character in a John Waters movie. Meanwhile a serial rapist (Neville Brand) is roaming the streets, and one police detective (Vince Edwards) thinks he may be the only person who can identify the bomber. Filled with nutty dialogue, gratuitous nudity, and a shaky moral compass, The Mad Bomber may not be anyone’s definition of “quality” cinema, but it’s damned entertaining – a career best for Gordon. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Midnight Pulp

Hidden (2015) Before they hit the big time with Stranger Things (2016), writing/directing duo the Duffer Brothers made this gripping sci-fi/horror film set in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Ray and Claire (Alexander Skarsgård and Andrea Riseborough) live with their young daughter Zoe (Emily Alyn Lind) in a dingy underground shelter, below the charred ruins of a town. They live in a constant state of vigilance, avoiding the roaming “Breathers” who live above ground. With shades of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, and pre-figuring the thematically similar A Quiet Place (2018), Hidden is a taut, claustrophobic thriller with an interesting twist. 

Rating: ***½. Available on DVD

Bury Me an Angel (1971) Writer/director Barbara Peeters’ (Humanoids from the Deep) biker revenge flick is almost worthy of its own sub-genre, due to its unconventional protagonist. When her brother is shot and killed for stealing a chopper, Dag (Dixie Peabody) embarks on a quest to find the killer, and exact her own brand of justice. As she roam’s the dusty landscape of the American Southwest, accompanied by fellow biker friends Jonsie and Bernie, they cross paths with a self-important cop (“What in the cornbread hell is going on?”), an officious high school principal, and a self-proclaimed witch. The standard revenge plot is nothing new, but Peabody keeps it fresh as the anti-authority lead character. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray and Prime Video

The Ghastly Ones (1968) This head-scratcher from writer/director Andy Milligan is another bargain-basement Victorian-period drama with costumes (courtesy of Milligan) that look like they were hastily assembled from old curtains and carpet scraps (which probably isn’t far from the truth). Three sisters and their husbands are invited to a weekend at their deceased father’s estate, where they soon discover someone wants them dead. Milligan regular Hal Borske plays a hunchbacked servant with a surprising past, while one of the few bright spots is Milligan muse Neil Flanagan, who’s underused as an elderly lawyer. 

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray (in The Dungeon of Andy Milligan Collection), DVD and Tubi

 

Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964) Director/co-writer Tommy Noonan also stars as himself as a nebbish-y out-of-work actor. His luck changes when he’s hired by three individuals: unlucky-in-love stripper Saxie Symbol (Mamie Van Doren), a narcissist, and an alcoholic misanthrope. They can’t afford therapy individually, so they have Noonan stand in their place, as a patient with dissociative identity disorder. Psychiatrist Dr. Myra Von (Ziva Rodann) sees him as her cash cow, while Noonan struggles to keep up the charade. This “adults only” movie (filmed in black and white with color fantasy sequences) might have been risqué stuff by early ‘60s standards, but seems positively tame now, and what passes for “comedy” doesn’t translate well to modern audiences, starting with Noonan’s unfunny performance. 

Rating: **. Available on DVD and Tubi 

 

 

December Quick Picks and Pans

 

The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians (1981) This imaginative, quirky fantasy/ comedy by director/writer Oldrich Lipský (based on a novel by Jules Verne) recalls the work of fellow Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman (with a heaping helping of Terry Gilliam). The opera-singing Count Teleke (Michal Docolomanský) embarks on a quest to find his lost love, Salsa Verde (Evelyna Steimarová), who was abducted by the shadowy Baron Gorc z Gorcu (Milos Kopecký). Teleke’s journey leads him to the Baron’s castle, filled with a host of fanciful inventions (brought to life by animator/prop-maker Jan Svankmajer) by the mad scientist Orfanik (Rudolf Hrusínský). If you’ve had your fill of Hollywood’s cookie-cutter approach to fantasy films, this movie might be just what the doctor ordered. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, Tubi and Kanopy

 

Invisible Ghost (1942) Bela Lugosi stars as respected citizen Charles Kessler in this Poverty Row production. Despite the promising title, the film harkens back to the whodunits of the silent era, bereft of any supernatural occurrences. Set entirely in Kessler’s house, where a series of murders have occurred (Guess who’s responsible?). If you’re looking for a taut, suspenseful psychological thriller about a man with a tormented mind, you might want to look elsewhere, but it's an entertaining enough potboiler if you don’t dig too deep (Spoiler: The butler didn’t do it). 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Prime Video

 

The Guyver (1991) What if a makeup effects team directed a movie? It might look something like The Guyver (based on the manga by Yoshiki Takaya). Directed by Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang, it’s essentially a movie built around their freaky/fun creations (although a jive-talking monster voiced by Jimmie ‘JJ’ Walker is a bit much). Sean Barker (Jack Armstrong) is an aspiring karate master with impulse control issues (and the personality of a turnip). He unwittingly becomes fused with an ancient alien biomechanical device, transforming him into a powerful cyborg. He’s caught in a tug-o-war between CIA investigator Max Reed (Mark Hamill) and power-hungry CEO Fulton Balcus David Gale (along with his mutant sidekicks). If you’re in the right mood for some good practical effects and not much else, it’s diverting enough. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

The Undertaker and His Pals (1966) This would-be horror/comedy from director/writer T.L.P. Swicegood (who was obviously taking notes from H.G. Lewis’ Blood Feast) wears out its welcome in a hurry. The owners of a ramshackle diner (that appears to only have one menu item at any given time) are in cahoots with a shady mortician. Their establishments mutually benefit from a fresh supply of bodies, although it hardly seems to be a sustainable business model. The acting is lackluster at best, the effects are sketchy, and worst of all, the film thinks it’s funnier than it is (including sad trombone sounds for extra “hilarity”). Life is short…there are better choices on Tubi. 

Rating: **. Available on DVD and Tubi

 

Psyched by the 4D Witch (1973) Mercifully, this is the only film from writer/director Victor Luminera. Cindy (Margo), a naïve young college student, becomes possessed by the evil spirit of a 17^th-century witch (Esoterica), who takes her on a string of sexual escapades, one more depraved than the other. The washed out, scratchy print on Tubi suits the seedy subject matter, and the theme song plays over and over throughout the film, in case you forgot what the movie was about (spoiler: You’ll wish you did). Lacking any dialogue, the flick is narrated by Cindy and others who succumb to the witch’s control. In the many hallucinatory sequences, “demons,” represented by dollar-store masks and cheap rubber toys, prance about (you don’t need to be a scholar of Sigmund Freud to know what the toy serpent represents). The whole thing looks like it was shot and edited by kindergartners, but if you’re curious, any random five-minute sequence will probably tell you everything you need to know. 

Rating: *½. Available on DVD and Tubi

 

 

The John Saxon Blogathon Is Here – Day 3 Recap

 

Whew! It’s already Day 3 of the John Saxon Blogathon, hosted by Yours Truly and Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews. I don’t know about you, but these past three days have flown by too quickly. Today’s batch is the biggest yet, with seven new posts!

Note: Since Gill and I are posting our Wrap-Up post on Tuesday, please send any late posts to both of us. If your post isn’t quite ready, we’ll post your link on Tuesday’s Wrap Up post. Post a comment below, email me at barry_cinematic@yahoo.com, or reach me on Bluesky (@barrycinematic.bsky.social), Instagram (@barry_cinematic), or Twitter (@barry_cinematic). You may also contact Gill by commenting on her post, through her blog’s Contact Me page, or on Bluesky (@realweegiemidge.bsky.social).

 

Be sure to visit the recaps from days One and Two: 

Day 1 

Day 2  

… And now, on with Day 3’s submissions (and stay tuned for Tuesday’s wrap up):

Terence from A Shroud of Thoughts reviews A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Sweet dreams!

 

 

Catch Dubsism’s look at The Rockford Files episode, “Portrait of Elizabeth” (1976). 

Kristina brings us our third double-feature of the blogathon, The Swiss Conspiracy (1976) and Cross Shot (1976). 

 

 

Hey, what’s eating you? Don’t forget to check out John’s (at Tales from the Freakboy Zone) review of Cannibals in the Streets (1980). 

 

Frank from Smoke in the Library tries The Glove (1979) on for size.

Eric Binford from Diary of a Movie Maniac is back for a review of The Cardinal (1963). 

… And Yours Truly presents a look at Dario Argento’s stylish giallo, Tenebrae (1982).

See you Tuesday!

Tenebrae

(1982) Written and directed by Dario Argento; Starring: Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma, John Saxon, Christian Borromeo, Mirella D’Angelo and Daria Nicolodi; Available on Blu-ray and DVD

Rating: ***½

This post is part of the John Saxon Blogathon, hosted by Gill Jacob from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Yours Truly, shining the spotlight on one of cinema’s most versatile and recognizable character actors. Be sure to check out all the great posts about this singular talent.

Peter Neal: “Well, I’ve made charts. I tried building a plot the same way you have, tried to figure it out, but I just have this hunch that something is missing, a tiny piece of the jigsaw. Somebody who should be dead is alive, or somebody who should be alive is already dead.” 

Captain Germani: “Explain that.” 

Peter Neal: “You know, there’s a sentence in a Conan Doyle book: ‘When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.’”

Giallo (or the plural, Gialli) films, named after a popular type of Italian pulp novel, are curious murder mysteries, famous for their labyrinthine plots, spectacular death scenes and wild titles. There are several giants of the genre, but few have earned the praise that Dario Argento has garnered. Argento didn’t invent the giallo movie, but considering some of the classics he’s created, including The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Four Flies on Gray Velvet, and Deep Red (no, Suspiria isn’t a giallo), it would be easy to make that oversight. Argento returned in top form with Tenebrae (Italian for “darkness”),*  displaying his usual panache for creating suitably over-the-top imagery to match the grand themes of his stories. 

* Fun Fact #1: The film’s title was changed to Unsane in the U.S.

Successful American mystery writer Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa)* arrives in Rome to a controversy. Someone** seems to be emulating his latest novel, Tenebrae, perpetrating a series of violent murders based on his work (one victim is found slashed to death, with pages of the book stuffed in her mouth). He’s immediately questioned by police detective Germani (Giuliano Gemma), who’s a big fan of his books, and familiar with the various modus operandi he employs. His dedicated secretary Anne (played by Argento’s frequent collaborator and former partner, Daria Nicolodi)*** tries her best to make him comfortable throughout the ordeal, while his agent Bullmer (John Saxon) endeavors to keep the police and press at bay. He’s grilled by Tilde (Mirella D'Angelo), a critic, about the alleged misogyny in his books (a little self-reflexive moment for Argento, regarding criticisms of his own movies). Little does she suspect, however, that she and her lesbian lover Marion (Mirella Banti) will be the next victims. As bodies continue stacking up, Neal initiates his own amateur investigation, while confronting repressed memories of an incident in his younger years. The film flashes back to Rhode Island, where he witnessed the murder of a mysterious woman in white with red shoes (Eva Robins). By becoming entwined in the case, he discovers the truth could be fatal. 

* Fun Fact #2: Argento’s first choice for Peter Neal was Christopher Walken. 

** Fun Fact #3: The killer’s black-gloved hands belong to none other than Dario Argento, who often stood in for the murderer in his movies. 

*** Fun Fact #4: For the English version, Nicolodi’s voice was dubbed by American actress Theresa Russell.

Of course, Tenebrae wouldn’t be a self-respecting giallo without ample splashes of blood and flashes of skin. One of the most memorable murder scenes involves Marion as she relentlessly pursued by the crazed killer while clad in only a towel that seems in danger of flying off at any moment.* One of Argento’s hallmarks is the almost fetishistic presentation of broken glass, with shards flying everywhere in slow motion – all the better to cut the unfortunate victims to ribbons. Another component that makes an Argento movie special is the unmistakable, synth-heavy music of Goblin. While not officially credited to the band, for all intents and purposes it’s a Goblin score, featuring band members Massimo Morante, Fabio Pignatelli and Claudio Simonetti (who are credited separately). 

* In the preceding scene, when Marion seduces a young man in front of Tilde, she wears an ensemble that leaves little to the imagination, bringing to mind something my mother would often say: “That’s a nice outfit she’s almost wearing.”

The role of Bullmer is a nice change of pace for John Saxon, who’s often relegated to detective roles (or similar), in movies such as this. As Neal’s upbeat literary agent, it’s a relatively minor role, but Saxon milks it for all its worth. If nothing else, it illustrates how Saxon had a comic side, something rarely displayed on screen. When Neal questions Bullmer whether his favorite hat would stay on, he bobs his head in exaggerated movements, resembling a pigeon on acid. I don’t normally associate Saxon with “silly,” but this is a fun exception. Bullmer deflects the police and snooping reporters, but still has time for a little sugar on the side, having an affair with Neal’s mentally unstable fiancée Jane (Veronica Lario). Sadly, this plot thread is never quite fleshed out, but it adds another wrinkle to the list of suspects.

Although a slight step beneath his very best, only because the novelty of the genre’s conventions had worn a bit thin by the ‘80s, Tenebrae has a lot going for it. It’s artfully shot (thanks to cinematographer Luciano Tovoli), and the story keeps you guessing until the end. In her insightful commentary, critic/film scholar Maitland McDonagh observed that Tenebrae isn’t like an Agatha Christie story, where the plot is meticulously constructed in a way that you can logically deduce who the killer is. Instead, Tenebrae, like many of Argento’s films, relies on imagery and actions that frequently defy logic, colorful characters, and a cockamamie explanation for the killer’s motive. Considering the identity of the killer is a bit of a cheat, don’t strain your brain trying to figure it out. Like many giallo films (especially one by Argento), it’s best to sit back and enjoy the wild ride. 

 

Sources for this article: Blu-ray commentary by Maitland McDonagh

 

 

  

December Quick Picks and Pans

 

Next of Kin (1982) Director/co-writer Tony Williams’ engrossing Australian gothic tale is full of surprises. Linda (Jacki Kerin) inherits her aunt’s retirement home (replete with the residents), an old gothic mansion (filmed at Overnewton Castle in Keilor, Victoria). She rekindles her romance with Barney (John Jarratt), an old flame, but soon discovers that all isn’t what it seems within the dusty recesses of the house. As the residents start mysteriously dying off, she begins to suspect that someone is gaslighting her – but for what purpose? This slow-burn thriller features excellent cinematography, strong performances by the cast, and a literally (and figuratively) explosive finale. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and Tubi 

The Shadow of the Cat (1961) This John Gilling-directed film fits in nicely with the black-and-white Hammer thrillers of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. With the help of his loyal servants, scheming husband Walter Venable (André Morell) perpetrates the death of his wealthy, elderly wife to secure her estate. The only witness to the murder is her beloved cat, who continually evades the tormented co-conspirators. When his niece Beth (Barbara Shelley) comes to stay with them, she quickly suspects something is terribly wrong, starting with their irrational fear of the cat. While The Shadow of the Cat might not be the best-remembered Hammer thriller of its era, it has enough atmosphere and twists to merit a watch (or two). 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

 

Looker (1981) Albert Finney stars as Dr. Larry Roberts, a Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon who fixes imperfections (perceived and otherwise) in fashion models, bestowing them with more desirable attributes. After the sudden deaths of some of his clients are chalked off to suicide, he attempts to prevent the same thing from happening to another model, Cindy Fairmont (Susan Dey). He stumbles upon a sinister plot, with signs pointing to unscrupulous Digital Matrix CEO John Reston (James Coburn). Writer/director Michael Chrichton’s tech-thriller is surprisingly prescient, with its concept of using virtual, computer-generated personalities to replace flesh-and-blood actors. The execution is sloppy, with plot holes galore, but the ahead-of-its-time premise makes this well worth a look. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

 

Idaho Transfer (1973) Peter Fonda directed this bleak, low-key science fiction film, which raises more questions than it answers. As part of a top-secret experiment (hidden from the scrutiny of the feds), a small group of young people travel 50+ years into the future. Due to an environmental cataclysm, most of the Earth’s population has been wiped out, so their mission is to repopulate the planet. Unfortunately for the intrepid bunch, things don’t go quite as planned. The movie suffers from lackluster performances by the young (mostly unknown) leads, and pacing borders on tedious. It’s almost redeemed, however, by its unique, lo-fi approach to time travel (travel by anyone over age 28 results in fatal kidney damage), and an ending that will make you wonder what you just watched. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD and Tubi

The Man with Two Heads (1972) Writer/director/cinematographer Andy Milligan strikes again; this time, with his take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s enduring story, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Denis DeMarne stars as Dr. William Jekyll (inexplicably changed from Henry Jekyll in the original story) devises a serum to isolate the evil that dwells within all men, using himself as guinea pig. An eager assistant mucks up his formula, causing him to undergo a radical transformation, and bringing out suppressed violent urges. While Milligan’s film looks about as professional as your grandparents’ home movies, The Man with Two Heads manages to be more entertaining than Amicus’ more polished, albeit tepid, version, I, Monster, thanks to the main character’s vacillating moods and sadistic tendencies. Considering Milligan’s capricious nature, I suspect there were some autobiographical elements that came into play.   

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Tubi and Midnight Pulp

November Quick Picks and Pans

 

Murder, My Sweet (1944) Dick Powell plays Raymond Chandler’s enduring private detective, Philip Marlowe, in a plot that involves an ex-con (Mike Mazurki), his missing girlfriend, and some stolen jade. Marlowe becomes unwittingly embroiled in a triangle between a rich elderly magnate (Miles Mander), his trophy wife Helen (Claire Trevor) and his daughter Ann (Anne Shirley). Director Edward Dmytryk maintains a breakneck pace throughout, with smart dialogue and gobs of intrigue, cut with a healthy dash of humor. Being taken for a ride has seldom seemed so enjoyable. 

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

Too Late for Tears (1949) An unhappy married couple, Jane and Alan (played by Lizabeth Scott and Arthur Kennedy), bickering on a lonely highway find their lives turned around when a valise filled with $60,000 in cash ends up in their laps. After successfully evading the intended recipient, they debate about what to do with their new windfall – report it to the police or keep it. It soon becomes apparent that Jane has other plans for the money, until the owner of the money (Dan Duryea) tracks her down. Lizabeth Scott is at her icy best, as a woman who will stop at nothing to keep herself wrapped in luxury. 

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Prime Video and Kanopy

 

 

The Strange Woman (1946) This not-quite-noir by director Edgar Ulmer is set in early 1800s Bangor, Maine, when it teetered on the precipice of becoming a boomtown. The ever-radiant Hedy Lamarr stars as Jenny Hager, an enigmatic young woman haunted by her father’s poor reputation. She sets out to make a name for herself, manipulating men and women alike with her wiles, eventually assuming control of her deceased husband’s business empire. While she climbs the rungs of the social ladder, she remains a contradiction, ruthless, but with a strong philanthropic streak. Much like its main character, the film sends a mixed message, with its morally conflicted main character, demonized by judgmental and self-righteous townspeople. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD and Prime Video

 

The Crimson Cult (aka: Curse of the Crimson Altar) (1968) Despite a stellar cast (featuring Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele and Michael Gough), this meandering supernatural thriller never quite gets unstuck from neutral. Robert Manning (Mark Eden), an antiques dealer, investigates the whereabouts of his missing brother, which leads him to the Morely estate, presided over by the family patriarch (Christopher Lee). While staying at the mansion, he falls for Morley’s niece, Eve (Virginia Wetherell), who shares a direct lineage to her infamous ancestor Lavinia (Barbara Steele). Boris Karloff co-stars (and spends the movie looking physically uncomfortable) as Morley’s neighbor, Professor John Marsh. This Tigon production, directed by Vernon Sewell, displays a few moments of almost Hammer-level gothic atmosphere, but suffers from poor pacing, a weak story, and a painfully bland lead. 

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray (Out of print) and Tubi 

 

Terminus (1987) This French-German co-production, directed by Pierre-William Glenn, plays like a pastiche of other postapocalyptic movies, while struggling to say something new. Karen Allen appears as Gus, the driver of a computerized truck who participates in a dangerous game, traveling through a perilous route full of hostile inhabitants. Jürgen Prochnow co-stars in a triple role as a totalitarian leader with an orange wig (“Sir”), a mad scientist (“Doctor”), and a rival truck driver. The truck and its artificial intelligence brain was invented by lab-created child prodigy Mati (Gabriel Damon), who has an ulterior motive for his game. Allen, who’s featured prominently in the credits, has relatively little screen time, and Prochnow looks like he’d rather be in something else. It’s a disappointing mishmash of half-baked ideas with little focus.   

Rating: **. Available on DVD, Prime Video and Tubi