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General Zombie's Movies Watched in 10/07 (minus '06 repeats)
By an Amazon.com customer
The MummyThe Mummy
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $5.99
(B-) A tad on the uneventful side, but this is a fairly stylish film for the era, and Karloff is very good in it.
Bug (Special Edition)Bug (Special Edition)
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $0.01
(B) A truly bizarre, sometimes overwrought but always well-done and entertaining psychological thriller.
From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut)From Beyond (Unrated Director's Cut)
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $2.55
(B) Stuart's follow up to Re-Animator is actually a tad superior to it, I think. It's a bit more serious, but still in a similar vein. Also, it's always nice to see Ken Foree in a genre effort.
Tales From the Crypt / Vault of Horror (Double Feature)Tales From the Crypt / Vault of Horror (Double Feature)
Buy new: $14.49 / Used from: $5.64
(B for Tales, B- for Vault) Two horror anthologies, very typical of the era. "Tales" is the better of the two, but "Vault" is not w/o its charm.
Die! Die! My Darling!Die! Die! My Darling!
Buy used from: $19.45
(B) A fun psychological thriller from Hammer which manages to be somewhat campy but still dramatically effective at the same time. It's well-scripted by Richard Matheson, apart from some unnecessary subplots.
The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)
Buy new: $21.99 / Used from: $10.99
(B- for Murders and Black Cat, C for the Raven. Ain't seen the others) Some fairly typical 30's horror films, but entertaining as such. Lugosi and Karloff are generally good. "The Raven" is a bit weaker, though it still passes the time.
DollsDolls
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.19
(B-) Takes a while to get going considering it's brief length, but this is another fairly charming horror comedy from Stuart and company.
Chosen Survivors / The Earth Dies ScreamingChosen Survivors / The Earth Dies Screaming
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $5.64
(B- for just "Earth") Very succinct and reasonably effective alien invasion film, though it certainly lacks any distinctive traits.
Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 7 - Zatoichi's Flashing SwordZatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 7 - Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $9.99
(B-) Another Zatoichi film which is, once again, virtually identical to all the others. As usual, Zatoichi is a great character, and the final fight is particularly cool this time around.
13 Ghosts13 Ghosts
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $2.74
(B-) Another fun, gimmicky Castle production. It's perhaps a bit formless even by his standards, but it's an enjoyable watch.
An American Haunting (Unrated Edition)An American Haunting (Unrated Edition)
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $0.01
(C) It's a bit more professional and classy than lotsa contemporary horror, but it's still of the "loud crashing sound" school of horror, and not especially effective even as such.
From a Whisper to a ScreamFrom a Whisper to a Scream
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $3.50
(B-) Another early 70s anthology, but a bit more creative and gruesome than most. Too bad Price is mostly wasted.
Ghost StoryGhost Story
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $5.64
(B) A sleek, professional ghost film which nicely mixes the old and the new. The pacing is a tad off, though.
BlaculaBlacula
Buy used from: $3.95
(B) You'd think this would be pretty goofy, but it actually proves to be a rather effective horror film. This time around they actually make the "vampire as tragic, sympathetic figure" angle work, largely due to Marshall's appealing performance.
FidoFido
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $5.95
(C+) Moderately diverting high-concept film about domesticated zombies living in an idealized, 50s-sitcom world. It never really comes alive, but it passes the time.
Hostel - Part II (Unrated Widescreen Edition)Hostel - Part II (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $0.98
(B-) Effective once it gets going and I like the more serious tone, but damn has this got a lot of needless exposition, especially since it's no different from the first. Also, it's not nearly as gruesome as some will tell you, though it does have something I'd not thought I'd see in a mainstream release...
Mr. BrooksMr. Brooks
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $1.44
(B) Sleek, entertaining serial killer film which isn't nearly as self-important as most. (It's actually fun.) Lotsa people mock Costner, but I've always liked him, and William Hurt is fun. I don't buy Demi Moore as a hardnosed homicide detective, though.
The Man Who Knew Too MuchThe Man Who Knew Too Much
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $8.92
(B) Hardly one of Hitchcock's best films, but this is still a solid entry in his filmography.
Black CaesarBlack Caesar
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $4.85
(B) Blaxploitation pic from low-budget horror director Larry Cohen. As with Cohen's horror films, the acting is better than you'd anticipate for such a film, and it's all surprisingly slick and involving.
Taste the Blood of DraculaTaste the Blood of Dracula
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $2.67
(C+) As with pretty much all Hammer Horror, this is professionally done, but it's even slower this time around. Also, there's no Cushing, which is always too bad for this series.
Man with the Screaming BrainMan with the Screaming Brain
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $2.98
(C) Written/Directed/Starring B-film legend Bruce Campbell, "Man..." proves to be stupid, but fairly harmless.
It Came From Outer SpaceIt Came From Outer Space
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $7.98
(B-) Fairly standard 50's Sci-Fi stuff, though since it's from Arnold it's a bit sharper and lacks some of the cheese. Sufficiently enjoyable.