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Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
Very Creepy Very Fun
Spider Baby (1967) is a very darkly amusing horror about three "children" who are in the care of a loyal family chauffer named Bruno (Lon Chaney, Jr. - The Wolf Man). He cares for the children and the once grand (but now dilapidated) mansion that belonged to his employer. The children, Elizabeth (Beverly Washburn - Tales of Frankenstein), Virginia (Jill Banner - Weekend of Fear), and Ralph (Sid Haig - 3 From Hell) are all inflicted with the effects of inbreeding. The father's body is still lying in his bed and other inbred relatives live in the catacombed cellar. All is hunky-dory until distant relatives Emily (Carol Ohmart - House on Haunted Hill) and Peter (Quinn K. Redeker - The Andromeda Strain), along with a slimy lawyer Schlocker (Karl Schanzer - Dementia 13) come to take possession of the mansion. I really like the creepiness of this late 1960s film. Directed and written by Jack Hill (Fear Chamber, Alien Terror).
Peopletoys (1974)
Kids Who Kill...
I was looking to see what weirdness I could find on youtube and the movie surfaced... so I gave it a chance. Devil Times Five (1974) is mostly a slasher film about four mentally disturbed kids and a psychotic young nun who survive a terrible bus accident in California. After trudging endlessly through the snowy wilderness they find themselves at a lodge with three adult couples and a mentally challenged housekeeper/manservant named Ralph (John Durren). Soon the deadly little children, lead by David (Leif Garrett), Brian (Tierre Turner - Super 8), and the nun, Sister Hannah (Gail Smale) start killing off the adults one by one. Each death is violent, unique, and memorable. Once again I wasn't crazy about the quality of the film... but that could be because I watched on youtube. I need to figure out a better way to access films on my laptop. Also with Sorrell Booke, Gene Evans (A Knife for the Ladies), Taylor Lacher, Joan McCall (Grizzly), Shelly Morrison, Carolyne Steller (Paradise Lost), and Dawn Lyn.
Night Life of the Gods (1935)
From Explosions to Bringing Statues to life...
I read about Night Life of the Gods (1935) in the pages of Michael J Weldon's Psychotronic Video Guide (1996) (my other movie bible). I found the movie on youtube and watched... It's a very amusing fantasy comedy about a scientist named Hunter Hawk (Alan Mowbray) that likes to blow things up in his backyard laboratory in New York City. After a particularly powerful explosion he gets knocked out, comes to, and realizes that he has successfully created a ring that turns flesh into stone and vice-a-versa. He turns several members of his family to stone, meets a pretty female leprechaun (Florine McKinney), and together they go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and bring several statues of gods and goddesses to life. The group then goes out on the town, stops to buy clothes, they get drink, and get chased by police. It's very silly and there is cute innocence about the movie. Also with Peggy Shannon, Richard Carle, Theresa Maxwell Conover, Gilbert Emery, Ray Corrigan, George Hassell, Irene Ware, Geneva Mitchell, and Paul Keys.
Night of the Demon (1957)
A Demon not to be Cursed at!
So I finished watching Night of the Demon (1957)... it's definitely a cut above the usual schlockfest flicks of the time. An American psychology professor John Holden (Dana Andrews - A Satan Bug) arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of devil-worshiper Julian Karswell (Niall MacGinnis - Island of Terror). Karswell puts curses on people including Prof. Henry Harrington (Maurice Denham - Project M7) who's body is found mangled and mauled by some type of animal. Harrington's niece Joanna (Peggy Cummins) joins in on the investigation which leads them into the mysterious world of mediums, seances, and the paranormal. The movie, directed by Jacques Tourneur (I Walked with a Zombie, Cat People) is well done and fun to watch. Even though It's dated and in b/w there is suspense and an interesting plot line. Definitely recommended. The movie was also released as Curse of the Demon.
I lunghi capelli della morte (1964)
Barbara Steele Times Two!
I rewatched The Long Hair of Death (I Lunghi Capelli Della Morte) (1965)... It's 1499 in a feudal village in Italy and Adele Karnstein (Halina Zalewska - An Angel for Satan) is accused of witchcraft and condemned to be burned at the stake. Her beautiful older daughter Helen (Barbara Steele - Black Sunday) tries to get Count Franz (Giuliano Raffaelli - Blood & Black Lace) to spare her mother by offering him her body. He takes advantage but the execution takes place anyway. The count then pushes Helen off a cliff. Adele's younger daughter, Lisabeth (also Halina Zalewska), is taken to live in the Count's castle. When she grows up, she is forced to marry the count's nephew, Baron Kurt (George Ardisson - Challenge the Devil). Meanwhile, outside the castle, a deadly plague sweeps thru the land. A mysterious woman named Mary (also Barbara Steele), who strongly resembles Helen (see I told ya!), comes to the castle and causes marital issues between Lizabeth and Baron Kurt. And the fun commences... The movie has it's flaws but it also has some very gothy and atmospheric scenes. Directed by Antonio Margheriti (Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eyes).
Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)
The Alien Hand with Needles
So watched Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957)... I've not seen it since I was young and all I could remember about it was the alien hand with needles puncturing a tire. I didn't remember that it was a comedy. As soon as the opening credits start you know it's supposed to be funny... what it is, is silly. And the only thing that is sillier than the dialogue are the creatures. But all-in-all it's entertaining. So, it's a story about aliens told from the point of view of a newspaper photographer Artie (Lyn Osborn - The Amazing Colossal Man). His journalist friend Joe (Frank Gorshin - 12 Monkeys) sees a spaceship and goes to investigate. At about the same time, or so, two young people, Joan (Gloria Castillo - Teenage Monster) and Johnny (Steve Terrell - Thriller) are watching submarine races in the local farmer's field and while leaving lovers lane runs over one of the aliens. The alien is mangled and his detached hand uses needles from it fingers to puncture the kids tire. Well, after lots of misunderstandings, finger-pointings, accusations, military coverups, etc, etc, etc... the two youngins rally together all the other teens from lovers lane and together they discover the secret to destroying the aliens. Some of you may remember Frank Gorshin as the Riddler from the old Batman series.