The Curse of Frankenstein is one of two films, the other being Horror of Dracula, that cemented Hammer Films horror reputation. Horror of Dracula might be the more iconic of the two films. When people think of Hammer they think of Christopher Lee prowling the frame and look imposing. They they think of him in... Continue Reading →
Being Film #8 for Hooptober 2022 A quick rundown of The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Hammer's take on the Robert Louis Stevenson tale. As enjoyable as it may be, there are distracting elements that kept me from the velvety praise I typically heap on a Hammer production. One, it features Oliver Reed in a... Continue Reading →
Let me start with the following declaration; if you watch a Hammer horror film, you’ll want to watch ten of them. After watching The Satanic Rites of Dracula, I had to watch another Hammer produced horror film. Since that was Christopher Lee’s last Dracula movie, why not revisit his first? Rewatching Horror of Dracula, or... Continue Reading →
Being Film #6 for Hooptober 2022 In my time doing this marathon over the course of nine years I have learned a lot about how horror is constructed: what works, what doesn't, how fears transcend (or not) across cultures. But I've also learned more that a few things about myself as well. And one of... Continue Reading →
Being Film #30 for Hooptober 2021 As we start to wind down the marathon, I decided to call another audible on my list. I had been on a kick with Hammer's films, so why hit that particular well again? Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell was Peter Cushing's last go-round as Victor Frankenstein, and Terence... Continue Reading →
Being Film #28 for Hooptober 2021 A real quick summary/review of the classic (I guess?) Indonesian horror film Queen of Black Magic goes something like this: Evil Dead and Hausu vibes mark this horror revenge flick as a young woman seeks revenge after being left for dead at the hands of her ex-lover and the... Continue Reading →
Being Film #27 for Hooptober 2021 Featuring Christopher Lee in a rare (if slightly excitable) heroic role, The Devil Rides Out is a great slice of near-cosmic horror. It may get more than a little heavy-handed with its pro-Christian themes trouncing the evil satanic cult (a touchstone of many of director terence Fisher's films) but... Continue Reading →
Cinema Dual 