A WORLD OF COVID-19

 

You may be asking yourself whey there was such a delay in posting new reviews here at Digital Views. I can only apologize and let you know the reason is the same that many have had for things over the last year: Covid-19.

I try and stay home as much as possible but being involved with a church program at Christmas time is something I’ve done for the past 8 years and this year was no different. The show was on December 3^rd with rehearsals the week prior. On December 5^th I began feeling sick. On December 8^th I was tested. And on December 10^th my diagnosis came back positive for Covid. I had the two Pfizer vaccines and I’m thankful I did since they say it lessens the symptoms. With my wife passing earlier this year I face the issues alone.

It’s not something I would wish on anyone but I was fortunate. I didn’t lose my senses of taste of smell but I did lose my appetite. I had headaches off and on. The two worst symptoms bother me to this day 2 months later: fatigue and labored breathing. After that I think I came down with a normal cold a few weeks later.

So that’s why things are popping up late here. While there are 29 new reviews posted as of today there are plenty more on the way. I’m planning on having a number of them posted by this coming Sunday. So stick with us here at Digital Views. And leave a comment every now and then, they are always appreciated. Coming up are reviews for CLOSE RANGE, SAVAGAE DOGS, RETRIBUTION, VERA CRUZ, THE EMPEROR'S SWORD, PHANTOM OF THE MALL, RAGING FIRE, FREUD, BEDTIME STORY, SHOCK, SURF NAZIS MUST DIE and THE SHERLOCK HOLMES VAULT COLLECTION. 

My thanks to all the distributors and PR people who have been so understanding and helpful through this time. Each day I find something new has arrived it keeps me perked up and ready to tackle the next movie review. Thank all of you once again. 

Stay healthy out there. Get the vaccine if you have no issues not to. Mask up if for no other reason than to just staying clear of arguments. And make sure you pay attention to your health. Thoughts and prayers to all the readers of Digital Views.

F/X & F/X 2: EFFECTS IN AND OUT

 

  

In 1979 Orion was a film company making some decent films ROBOCOP, ARTHUR, PLATOON, AMADEUS, HOOSIERS, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and DANCES WITH WOLVES among them. Then problems kicked in, the studio had problems and was eventually bought out by MGM. In 1986 a small low budget film was made by the company that became a hit for them, enough so that there was not only a sequel but a TV series that spun off from the film. That movie was F/X. That film and the sequel are being released by Kino Lorber this week on Blu-ray. 

F/X tells the story of special effects artist Rollie Tyler (Bryan Brown) whose abilities we see demonstrated in the film’s opening sequence, one where a gangster shows up and mows down a group of patrons in a restaurant. On the set that night he is approached by a producer named Lipton (Cliff De Young) who he agrees to meet with the following day. 

Lipton turns out not to be a producer but a DOJ agent. The DOJ wants to hire Rollie to fake the assassination of a top mafia witness named Nicholas DeFranco (Jerry Orbach). Rollie finally agrees but things go wrong. Lipton has changed out the blanks with real bullets and attempts to kill Rollie who escapes. 

He makes his way to his girlfriend’s apartment but then see her killed by a sniper who comes to the apartment to make sure his work is down. They fight and Rollie kills him before heading out to clear his name. The detective assigned to the murder is Leo McCarthy (Brian Dennehy). McCarthy was the man who brought in DeFranco. He wonders if there is a connection and being following his lead, leads that will find their way into the DOJ. 

The movie was great, offering plenty of action and more plot than most low budget films are willing to spend time with. Brown, who at this time was only known to US audience for his role in THE THORN BIRDS, does a fantastic job as the everyman with a skill trying to clear his name, enough so that he began to see better roles come his way. Dennehy had an up and down career but this movie shows why he was so good at what he did on screen. But if you’re going to make a movie about a special effects man and what he does the effects had better be good. That they are with Carl Fullerton on makeup effects and Connie Brink on special effects. 

I won’t reveal the end of the first film but time does pass between that and F/X 2. Six years in real time and it seems almost the same in the film. Rollie has moved on from being in special effects and now owns a company creating high end toys for sale. He’s living with his girlfriend Kim Brandon (Rachel Ticotin) and her son Chris (Dominic Zamprogna). Rachel shares custody with her ex-husband Mike (Tom Mason) who has to cancel his weekend due to work. 

Mike is a detective with the NYPD. Working on a stalker case with murderous intent, he asks Rollie to help him create the illusion that the prey for this stalker is home when he will actually be in her apartment. Rollie turns him down but then takes the case. With a camera hidden so he can see and a fake fog induced bathroom Rollie watches as things go bad. Another killer is in the apartment and he cuts Mike’s throat. Mike’s supervisor Ray Silak (Philp Bosco) breaks in with his men and shoots the stalker. At the same time Rollie chases the real killer but loses him in the street. 

Returning home Rollie watches the footage again. As he watches he sees Silak take the killer’s knife when the other officers go down to wait for the coroner and dip it into Mike’s blood. Something is going on involving corrupt officers and Silak is in on it. Toss in some long lost medallions from the Vatican and heaps of money and you have a conspiracy. With no one to turn to, especially the NYPD, Rollie turns to the only person he trust to help him, Leo McCarthy. 

The film is a fantastic sequel, not resting too much on the previous film but moving the story of these two characters forward. Once more each actor turns in a fantastic performance making both believable and interesting. As viewer we care about what happens to each and by the end both have reasons for this to be personal. 

Kino Lorber is releasing the film on Blu-ray with no real extras worth mentioning. It doesn’t matter. Both films look great and offer a tremendous amount of entertainment value. While the two films may have been forgotten by the masses this is a great opportunity to pick them up and enjoy them all over again.

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GHOSTBUSTERS – AFTERLIFE: THE SEQUEL FANS DESERVE

 

 

In 2016 a reboot of GHOSTBUSTERS was attempted, replacing the entire cast with women. With the lineup they had it should have been funny. It was anything but. Not only was it bad it was one of the worst sequels/reboots ever made. Now we have GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE. After seeing this I believe that all copies of the 2016 film should be burned. In every possible format, burned. Forgotten. This is the movie that fans deserved.

Kicking off in Summerville, Oklahoma we see a solitary figure fighting some evil force. It is captured in a Ghostbusters trap and hidden after which the figure is killed. Moving to a different location we see a woman with two children trying to cope with life. She inherits the old home the solitary figure was in just as they are evicted from their apartment. Off to Oklahoma they go. 

A slight spoiler. Callie (Carrie Coon) is the daughter of Egon Spengler. Her children are Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), a 15 year old boy unhappy with the move and Phoebe (McKenna Grace), a hyper intelligent young girl with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. They arrive in town and find the home they were left, a dilapidated old house in the country surrounded by fields and in terrible shape. 

Going into town that night for something to eat they stop at an old diner with roller skating carhops. One of them, Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) catches Trevor’s eye and he applies for a job there while flirting with her. Shot down he still sees a chance. 

Back home Phoebe comes across a piece of equipment of Egon’s, a P.K.E. Meter. She doesn’t know what it does yet but it starts itself and leaves her to wonder. That night she puts the pieces of a chess board in place before going to bed. When she wakes, one piece is moved. 

At school Phoebe meets and makes a friend, a young geeky boy named Podcast (Logan Kim), so named because he records everything for his podcast that has one subscriber. She also finds herself in a summer school class taught by Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd), a teacher who spends his time putting in old horror films for the kids to watch while he investigates some strange things happening in the area. Phoebe recognizes him as a seismologist and begins helping him. 

While helping him Phoebe pulls out the ghost trap she found and Grooberson realizes what it is. She’d never heard about her grandfather’s famous exploits and he shows them on YouTube. Curiosity gets the better of them and they open the trap releasing whatever was contained inside. That ghost heads for an old mining camp located in the mountain nearby.

Back home Trevor finds a dilapidated old car in the shed and begins working to repair it and get it running. What he doesn’t realize is that this is the Ecto-1, the car the original Ghostbusters drove. Once he gets it running he takes it out only to find it may be more than he can handle at first. He eventually picks up Phoebe and Podcast but not before the two of them have found a ghost on the loose.

Trust me when I say all of this is doing nothing more than setting the players in place for what is to come. Yes, Gozer is on the way back along with her two giant monster dogs. But so much more will take place getting that into position. The nostalgic feeling of this film is overpowering and rather than being made in 2021 it feels like it was made in the eighties. Sure we have kids involved now, the newest trope for a movie from Hollywood. But it works here, better than most. 

There is no single performance in this film that is not perfect. The casting is amazing. The look of the film, setting the cast in a country location rather than the streets of NYC works. The effects work here is amazing matching things from the original film perfectly. This includes an appearance by the Sta Puff Marshmallow man as you’ve never seen him. One more MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: I knew this going in. There is a reunion and it will melt your heart. 

Fans of the original films will fall in love with this one. There are two post credit sequences so don’t turn it off, let it run. And if you don’t find yourself with a tear in your eye when this one is over I would be surprised. This is the most fun I’ve had watching a movie in a long time. Trust me, you and your family will as well.

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SHAWSCOPE VOLUME ONE: AN AMAZING COLLECTION

 

 

Martial arts have been in movies for some time. You might recall the karate chops in spy films, most notably James Bond in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. But movies with a basis in martial arts were rarely found until 173 when Bruce Lee came out with ENTER THE DRAGON. Sure his other films had been released her as well as a few others. But this was the film that ignited a craze that took over the world.

Following the release of that film more movies made their way here and were successful and not just in the grindhouses of 42^nd Street in NYC. Across the country those older films found their way to television. Saturday or Sunday afternoons found Black Belt Theater and Kung Fu Theater programs airing the older films from China, more often than not poor copies of them being used. 

The biggest company behind most of those films was the Shaw Brothers Studio. The studio had been releasing films since the early fifties. Many were historical dramas and some of those involve intense action sequences with martial arts and swordplay. But with the passing of Bruce Lee shortly after ENTER THE DRAGON was released, their product attempted to fill the void left by his death.

Many of the Show Brothers films have been released to disc in the past but those were the washed out looking features we saw on TV. Now all of this has changed and several companies are making up for it. Perhaps most notably among them is Arrow Video with their new release SHAWSCOPE VOLUME ONE. It might be a little pricey but if you are a fan of these films this will be a must have for your collection. 

This box set features 12 full length features from the Shaw Brothers Studio. Each has been cleaned up and restored to the best quality you will find. In addition to that they’re including a number of extras that make this an amazing box set, one of the best released in the last few months.

The movies include KING BOXER aka FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH. This was one of the first major Chinese films to make it big here in the states. The story revolved around two rival martial arts schools vying for the recognition of being the best there is and starred Lieh Lo, one of the major stars of the genre. THE BOXER FROM SHANTUNG tells a different type of story as a young man makes his way through Shanghai changing from good guy to bad and then back again. FIVE SHOALIN MASTERS finds five Shaolin students escaping the burning of their temple, the last of the Shaolin disciples with each mastering their own special technique. This film featured two of the biggest stars in the genre, Ti Lung and David Chiang. 

If that film wasn’t enough it was followed by SHAOLIN TEMPLE, also included in this box set. This one revolves around a Shaolin temple that martial arts students are lining up to become trained at. But only those who pass all tests are allowed to enter. Once more the temple is doomed from inside as well as out. Ti Lung and David Chiang also star in this one along with along with rising star Sheng Fu, who sadly passed away at age 28 in a car crash. 

As a change of pace there is MIGHTY PEKING MAN, perhaps the weakest entry in the box set. This obvious take off on King Kong will inspire more laughs than scares. Back to more martial arts. While most of the earlier films were directed by the legendary Cheh Change, his stunt coordinator Lau Kar-leung began directing as well and CHALENGE OF THE MASTERS and EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN are included here. The first is based on real life martial arts master and physician Wong Fei-hung. Many films have been based on this character starring everyone from Jackie Chan to Jet Li.

Also included in the set are CHINATOWN KID, THE FIVE VENOMS one of the most memorable films that fans adore, CRIPPLED AVENGERS, HEROES OF THE EAST and DIRTY HO which features another of the more famous stars of the genre Gordon Liu. 

The films are beautiful to watch with stunning sets and decorations, amazing martial arts and acrobatic skills and some of the best fighting sequences ever filmed. You may remember these as those chop socky action films you saw as a kid but watching them through adult eyes you can appreciate the work that went into them and why there were so popular around the world. With 2K masters from the original film negatives they have never looked better. If you’re a fan then by all means pick this one up as soon as possible. If not a fan find someone who is and give these a look. Some amazing films are on display in this set. Chances are you be as anxious as I am for volume two.

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MR. MAJESTYK: DON’T MESS WITH A MAN’S CROP

 

I was always a Charles Bronson fan. If he had a movie come out, I wanted to see it. Lucky for me the local drive-in where I grew up seemed to show them all. Now I think about it and realize that there is a whole generation who most likely have no idea who he was. I find that sad. Hopefully with his movies being released on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber that will change. One of those, and one of my favorites, is MR. MAJESTYK.

MR. MAJESTYK was released in 1974. It was written by famed action author Elmore Leonard whose books were often turned into films like GET SHORTY, JACKIE BROWN and 3:10 TO YUMA among them. At the directed helm was Richard Fleischer, known for directing films like 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, THE VIKINGS, FANTASTIC VOYAGE, THE NEW CENTURIONS and SOYLENT GREEN as well as countless others. Combined with Bronson in one of his best roles and the movie was a hit. 

Bronson stars as Vince Majestyk, a simple watermelon farmer just trying to earn a living from the land in Colorado. Vince is an ex-con, former U.S. Army Ranger and Vietnam Vet and his current crop is needed to keep his farm running. One morning he shows up to find his workers replaced by a group of drunks hired by local hood Bobby Kopas (Paul Koslo). Bobby is running a protection racket and makes the mistake of springing this one on Vince. Instead Vince runs Bobby off with his own shotgun and brings in experienced Mexican migrant workers led by union organizer Nancy Chavez (Linda Crystal).

Kopas files assault charges against Vince which lands him in jail where he shares a cell with mob hitman Frank Renda (Al Lettieri). As the two are being transferred via bus Renda’s men attempt and escape. Vince takes control of the bus and heads to his cabin in the woods. Still handcuffed Renda offers Vince $25,000 to turn him lose. Vince turns him down, intending to turn him over to the police in return for his freedom so he can finish harvesting his crop. 

Both the police and Renda’s men are contacted to pick him up but Renda eventually escapes. He learns that the charges against him have been dropped and he’s free to go. His friend tells him that he should head out of the US and just relax. But Renda has been angered and all that he worries about is revenge on Vince. He brings in Kopas and tells him to drop the assault charges. With Vince free he can go about taking him out. 

One of the most famous scenes in the film is when Renda and his men show up at Vince’s farm ready to kill him only to discover he’s in town. They beat up his crew and take machine guns to the watermelons blowing them all apart. This leads to the climax of the film, a battle between a man who just wanted to harvest his watermelons and a ruthless killer seeking revenge. 

The thing that makes this film work so well is that the story is simple. There are no convoluted plot devices put in place here. It is one man trying to do the right thing versus a killer who has no compunction about killing another man for the most minor of slights. Today there would be all sorts of subplots to complicate things rather than sticking to a simple story. 

Bronson is on top of his game here. This is the type of role that made him a much sought after action star. No ranting and raving, just a subtle touch of annoyance in the character. And he has the skills to back up his beliefs and uses them to full advantage when his patience finally breaks. Lettieri always played mob connected characters and he plays this one to the hilt. Crystal come through as a caring character ready to help Bronson who treats her friends right.

The movie was a box office success and was followed by Bronson’s breakout role in DEATH WISH. It remains a favorite among fans and once you see it you can understand why. For me this was one I wanted in my collection and I’m happy that Kino Lorber has made that happen. If you love Bronson or just a solid action film you need to add it to your collection as well.

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BREAKHEART PASS: FORGET THE ORIENT EXPRESS

 

 

Kino Lorber is releasing a number of classic Charles Bronson films and I for one am excited. Some of these have only been released by boutique labels that were charging and arm and a leg for them before removing them from the market completely. Now fans of Bronson, myself among them, can watch them over and over again and can afford to add them to our collection. Like BREAKHEART PASS.

BREAKHEART PASS was a box office failure but it wasn’t because of the content of the film or those behind it. It was based on a novel by Alistair MacLean who had written the novels THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, ICE STATION ZEBRA and WHERE EAGLES DARE, all of which had been turned into successful films. Director Tom Gries after a long time run directing TV series had done WILL PENNY, 100 RIFLES and before this film the successful Bronson picture BREAKOUT. For some reason though fans didn’t flock to this film and it was their loss. 

A special train is heading to Fort Humboldt taking medical supplies after and outbreak of diphtheria hits. The train is also taking Nevada Governor Fairchild (Richard Crenna) and his fiancé Marica (Jill Ireland) who also happens to be the daughter of the Fort’s commander. On their journey they make a stop and pick up U.S. Marshall Pearce (Ben Johnson) who is escorting his prisoner John Deakin (Bronson). 

But all isn’t as it appears. As the soldiers on the train begin missing or are found killed some of the truth comes out. Deakin’s is actually a U.S. Secret Service agent. And instead of medical supplies the train is carrying weapons intended for a notorious outlaw who sells them to the Indians in return for them allowing to mine on their land. But for this to have taken place someone had to have been in on the conspiracy and switched out the supplies. But who among them is the one responsible?

What makes this movie so enjoyable is that it combines the western with the classic mystery format and combines the two into an incredibly entertaining movies. You’re never quite sure who the good guy is and who is bad. Even the small spoiler I mentioned about Bronson is held back for a while. Some will figure it out, those die-hard mystery fans. But for most this will be an interesting movie that leaves a lot to be deciphered.

By the time this movie was made Bronson was starring in most of his films with his real life wife Ireland. The two of them not only had good chemistry off screen but on as well. All of the movies they did together turned out to be solid films and this one is no exception. There is also a touch of joy to think that by making these movies together they were able to spend time together, time that was cut short by Ireland’s from cancer in 1990 at the age of only 54. 

While the movie didn’t do well when released fans still find this film to be yet another great example of why Bronson was such a great movie star. So often critics will slam an actor for not taking chances. Here Bronson stepped away from the shoot ‘em first type action hero for something else. But the critics still didn’t give him the credit he was due. When you look at the career of Bronson you discover that he was indeed a solid actor. Check out his roles in films like MASTER OF THE WORLD, THE DIRTY DOZEN or ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and you’ll see a craftsman at work. 

For now take it upon yourself to pick up any and all of the Bronson titles being released by Kino Lorber. The quality of the prints they are releasing is top notch and they deserve credit for that. If for no other reason the fact that you can now own these movies in such a great format means you should be adding them to your collection now.

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CHATO’S LAND: REVISIONIST WESTERN

 

 

Kino Lorber continues their releasing of a number of Charles Bronson films with CHATO’S LAND. This film was the movie that began to see Bronson begin to become a leading man and box office draw. It was also the first he had done with director Michael Winner. The two would continue to collaborate with THE MECHANIC, THE STONE KILLER and DEATH WISH 1-3.

CHATO’S LAND kicks off with a bang, literally. Bronson stars as Pardon Chato, a half Apache man who enters the saloon as the film begins. A racist sheriff tells him to leave and Chato shoots him in self-defense, walking out of the saloon and leaving town after he finishes his drink. 

It isn’t long before word spreads through town with the story changing to claim Chato shot the sheriff just to kill him. The first person sought out to rectify this wrong is Captain Quincy Whitmore (Jack Palance), and ex-Confederacy officer and well respected member of the community. Donning his uniform he begins rounding up a posse to go after Chato. Among the rag tag group in the posse are good and bad men. The worst of the bunch are the Hooker brothers: Jubal (Simon Oakland), Elias (Ralph Waite) and Earl (Richard Jordan).  

The posse hits the trail in search of Chato even though he has an hour or so lead on them. He stays one step ahead of them throughout the film. During the first evening when they camp, he sneaks in and scatters their horses. He leads them one direction while traveling another. All of this frays on the nerves of those who think they are the ones stalking him. 

With enough lead on the posse Chato stops to see his wife and son. He does things that need done there in their small home and then heads out once more. The posse come upon his home and their bad side comes out. Elias, Earl and two other members of the posse rape Chato’s wife and then tie her up outside the home they shared using her as bait to capture Chato. But he creates a distraction and rescues his wife instead. 

Chato sets traps for the men and one by one they are finding themselves in more danger than they bargained for. But for some of them this is a matter of price now. It is also their deep rooted hatred of the Indian that some feel they are justified in doing whatever they want. From here forward the movie becomes less about the pursuit of Chato and more about the men who are chasing him. Egos are frayed as are the patience of each man. More arguments than agreements take place between them. Threats are tossed back and forth and some are carried out. And in the end each of them poses as much a threat to the other as does Chato. 

Bronson plays this role with little to no dialogue. Chato is a presence as well as an individual. To the posse represents all that they hate about the west. His ability to work with the world around him infuriates these men who have come to tame that same country with little success. For the viewers he is an innocent man driven to revenge the brutality directed towards him for no reason other than being who he is.

When made in 1972 there were numerous revisionist westerns being made, films that portrayed the Indian as a noble group and white men as the most vile of invaders as could be imagined. The reality is more likely that both sides were well represented in those days with good and bad on both sides. But this is storytelling and it needs a protagonist. With the decades of Indians being put down by the white man it was a time when things were changing on film and this was only a natural progression of things. 

There isn’t a bad performance at all in this film. Each actor on screen brings something to the character they are playing. Palance is a bit different here than usual, a man with a past and a conscience. Bronson is stoic and determined. Oakes, Waite and Jordan are despicable.

Winner does a great job of capturing a more realistic old west than most. It looks dirty and dusty and little else. The land is hot and dry, the sun a demon in the sky bringing nothing but heat and bad weather for farming. You can feel it in every pore of your being while watching. He also handles his cast well, bringing out solid performances. 

Bronson fans will want this version of the film in their collection. Kino Lorber is releasing it on Blu-ray and it’s never looked better. Add this one to your collection today.

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HOMEBODIES: ELDERLY DARK COMEDY

 

 

Back when HBO was new for most I was watching one night when a movie came on I’d heard of but never seen. I decided to give it a watch and was glad I did after. I found the movie thought provoking and hilarious. After that I never saw the movie again though I remembered it. If it was released on VHS I never saw it though it looks like Sony released it in 1994. So when I saw Kino Lorber was releasing it to disc I was excited to see it once more.

Released in 1974 the film takes place in New York City, a time when developers were tearing down parts of the city that had crumbled with no one taking care of the buildings and replacing them with high rise apartment complexes and buildings. Many didn’t want to move but had no choice when the city would condemn their buildings or the owners would sell for top dollar. HOMEBODIES is set during this time. 

An old building houses a number of elderly people who love their home. But a developer has been buying the houses up and down the street intending to demolish them and rebuild a new set of more expensive apartments there. One of the tenants, Mattie (Paula Trueman) decides that maybe she should take matters into her own hands. She sabotages the worksite where the first buildings are going up, resulting in the deaths of some of the workers there which stops the building from going up. But this can’t go on forever. 

A welfare worker continues to inform the tenants that they must move and if they don’t do so on their own they will be forcibly removed. Making a visit to ensure that they obey, she is stabbed by one of the tenants. As they all stand around her watching her die, they have to decide what to do next. They decide to hide her death and load her into her car which Mattie will dispose of. Except Mattie doesn’t know how to drive which leads to a slapstick style moment as she makes her way to dispose of the car and body. 

This continues as the group of tenants are now bound to one another keeping the secret and making sure no one finds out. But one among them is troubled by this and it remains to be seen what the rest will do about her sense of decency. In the meantime they continue to refuse to move while at the same time trying to figure out just what to do. Will they relocate? Or will they just continue to deal with those trying to force them to move? And if so how high will the body count go before someone notices? 

The movie works on so many different levels and is both funny, touching and troubling at the same time. The humor here is definitely dark and involves a number of aging character actors at the time who were quite recognizable which made the film work. It was touching in that these characters cared so much about one another, knew everything about and were willing to stick by one another. And it was troubling because all of us reach that age at some point and you begin to wonder, how will I be treated when I find myself in this stage of life? 

When the final credits roll on this film you find yourself thinking about what you’ve just watched. You chuckle at those funny moments and the characters and their behaviors. At the same time you begin to think about your treatment of the elderly in your life. And as I said, you wonder how you will be treated. The movie sticks with you long after watching it. 

I whole heartedly encourage you to seek this one out. It will take your emotions from one extreme to the other. You will laugh, you will worry about the characters and you may cry a little. And hopefully you’ll walk away thinking a little bit about how to treat those older people in your life.

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ADDAMS FAMILY 2: TOO COLORFUL

 

 

I grew up with the Addams Family. Not just the TV series starring John Astin and Carolyn Jones but the actual cartoons that appeared in The New Yorker magazine starting in 1938 that were later collected into book format. I had one of those paperbacks and would laugh at the antics of this gruesome, odd family. The TV series in the 60s just added to that. Both were black and white and that suited the material. But times change and so do formats 

I didn’t see the first animated ADDAMS FAMILY movie. Thankfully for me it didn’t matter because I knew the characters and this one plays on its own. The movie opens with Wednesday Addams presenting her project for the third grade science fair. She’s chosen combining the DNA of an octopus with her Uncle Fester which helps his brain function better. The only other student featured has an erupting volcano that blows out a puff of smoke. 

The science fair is named after famed scientist Cyrus Strange. Once the judging is finished the award for top prize goes to…everyone. A nice take on the concept popular of presenting all entrants with an identical prize so they can all feel like winners. Of course Wednesday points out that with no losers there are no winners. When all is said and done a hologram of Strange appears to Wednesday asking her to reveal her secrets which she rejects.

Back home Wednesday is out of sorts. She shies away from her family. Her parents Gomez and Morticia are worried are concerned about losing her. While she ask for her space Gomez decides instead that the family needs a vacation to bring them all back together. The Addams RV is brought around and loaded but before they can leave a lawyer named Mr. Mustela arrives claiming that there was a mix up at the hospital when Wednesday was born demanding a DNA test. Gomez ignores him and the family is off and running. 

The plans were to start in Salem, Massachusetts but Uncle Fester redirects them to Niagara Falls. It seems that the experiment Wednesday performed on him is actually altering him into a large octopus but he’s not even aware of it. The water there attracted him though. The family continues to travel across country including a trip to Miami where Gomez thinks Cousin It can help him with his problem.

Of course Mr. Mustela actually works for Cyrus Strange. If you didn’t see that coming you’ve never been to the movies. Strange is seeking the secret that Wednesday has and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means convincing her that he’s actually her father. But that’s save for the last part of the movie.

There are plenty of jokes that kids will get a laugh at and the visuals are bright and stimulating to the eye. That’s all well and good for a new generation, the one that has no appreciation for the source material and will never dig deeper than what is in front of them. To me that’s kind of sad, especially when the source material is so much better. But Hollywood constantly thinks they can improve on the original and fails all the time. 

While watching there were two other things I wondered about. I wondered about the classic cartoons we all grew up with, the 2D drawings the people like Walt Disney and Tex Avery created so long ago. Those movies remain classics to this day and yet seem to be ignored. I seriously doubt that with a few exceptions these computer generated features will not do the same. 

The other thing I noticed was that this movie seemed more inclined to cater towards parents than it did children. There are numerous jokes and sequences that a child won’t understand but parents will get. But not so much that they’ll find them hilarious. The writers and directors of those short cartoons of the past like the Looney Tunes inserted jokes that parents would only get too. The thing is they were subtle about it, this isn’t. Parents aren’t likely to want to re-watch this one either. 

In the end this movie is one that your kids might enjoy and you might get a laugh or two out of as well but it won’t be a long lasting laugh. And the film won’t be one that your kids will be clamoring for to watch over and over again. But it isn’t bad for a night’s viewing.

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CREEPSHOW SEASON 2: MORE SCARES

 

 

In 1982 horror fans were frothing at the mouth, not from some zombie bite but because they heard about a new movie being released called CREEPSHOW. Directed by George Romero of NIGHT OF THE LICING DEAD fame, written by horror author Stephen King and with effects supplied by Ton Savini who had worked with Romero on DAWN OF THE DEAD, there was little doubt the movie would be great. It delivered on all levels. A tribute to the old EC comics the trio had grown up with it spawned a sequel that didn’t quite do as well as the first film.

Then the streaming service Shudder decided to take the title to a series on their service. Produced by special effects genius Greg Nicotero the series followed the same format as the film, offering the Creep presenting a tale or two each episode. The series was popular enough that several specials followed and a second season was released. That season is now available on disc. 

Following the same pattern as season one the Creep introduces a new story each episode. Some are great and some are mediocre but that will happen with series like this. Teen angst is covered as a girl tells her counselor she believes her brother is trying to kill her. The end result is more upsetting than one would believe. An installation in Antarctica unleashes a bounty of demons on the world. 

One of the most creative episodes involves an inventor who creates an immersive virtual reality pod. What makes this so creative is that he uses the horror film HORROR EXPRESS as his world. Combining footage from the film with newly shot material is fascinating to watch and works well. 

Everything from legendary creatures found in the outdoors to a science fiction story of astronauts coming into contact with aliens for the first time are used for stories here. And most of them use the tried and true blueprint formed in those classic old comics. If you do something or someone wrong, justice will eventually find you and flip the scales. Like in an episode where a ruthless landlord discovers there is something more inside her pipes than she realized. 

For me my favorite episode of the season was one called “Public Television of the Dead”. Set in the fictional public broadcasting station WQPS the program director is forced to tell Norm Roberts that his program “The Love of Painting with Norm Roberts” has been canceled to be replaced by “Mrs. Bookberry’s Magical Library”. In reality Mrs. Bookberry is an arrogant self-absorbed racist who could care less who this affects. On another set they are shooting an episode of “The Appraiser’s Road Trip” (an obvious parody of “Antiques Roadshow”). Host Goodman Tapert has as his guest actor Ted Raimi. Yes the real Ted Raimi and brother of director Sam Raimi of THE EVIL DEAD fame. Ted has brought along a book held in his family for years, the Necronomicon. Tapert opens the book and begins to read for it releasing demons into the studio with dire consequences. The reason this episode is so special is all the ties into the whole EVIL DEAD mythology and actors etc. If you know those items you can’t help but laugh through this one. 

The series brings in a number of directors of horror films with most being directed by Nicotero himself. The production values are far above what many series like this offer. Each story is fully formed and doesn’t feel like you walked into the middle of something. All involved deserve kudos. 

Having grown up with series like THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THRILLER, THE OUTER LIMITS, NIGHT GALLERY and last TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE and TALES FROM THE CRYPT I am a huge fan of anthology series. You can tell from watching this series that those involved were fans of those shows as well. Now a new generation has their own anthology show to remember when they grow older. Thank goodness it’s one as good as this one is. Time to look forward to season 3.

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DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID: COMBINED FOR COMEDY

 

 

I can remember when DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID was released. The concept was interesting, a film noire mystery combining footage from old movies with current footage filmed in black and white. The technology at the time was new but effective. The end result was hilarious.

Directed by Carl Reiner, written by Reiner, George Gipe and Steve Martin and starring Martin in the lead role offers up some laughs that are as timeless as the movies included in the mix. Martin plays hard boiled private detective Rigby Reardon, a Raymond Chandler style PI who smokes and drinks too much and looks at all women as dames. 

Into his office walks the beautiful Juliet Forest (Rachel Ward), the daughter or a famous scientist and cheesemaker, wanting to hire Reardon. She wants him to investigate her father’s death which she thinks was murder. Rigby agrees to take on the case, as much to help her find the guilty party as well as to keep an eye on Juliet.

Various clues lead Rigby to different locations throughout town. He come across two list, one with the heading “Friends of Carlotta” and the other “Enemies of Carlotta”. With these clues he continues on the case until he is shot and wounded by a man who steals the two lists. Rigby makes his way to Juliet’s place where she sucks the bullet out of his wound. That will be the only spoiler of the type of humor I will give you here. 

Now angered at what’s transpiring Rigby has a personal beef with the protagonists. As with all detective films this is never a good sign and means that no matter what he will follow through to the end as he unravels more clues in search of who it was that killed Juliet’s father. The trail is long and convoluted but each step of the way provides so many laughs it’s worth sticking through to the very end.

Writing about this movie is difficult because the number of verbal and sight gags included here are numerous and run throughout almost every line of dialogue and shot seen. How does one describe something without ruining the first time viewing enjoying for someone who’s never seen it? So let me just give that much description of the plot and move on. 

Steve Martin is a better actor than many give him credit for. He’s been an actor that could handle more serious roles if they were provided but has mainly stayed in the comedy genre. His comedic timing here is perfect. Not only that you can tell that there is a certain amount of fondness for the film noire/detective genres that Martin and his co-writers had for these old films. So many were forgotten but glimpsing them here in bits and pieces makes you want to go back and watch them all again. 

Which ones? Clips from THE LOST WEEKEND, THIS GUN FOR HIRE, SORRY WRONG NUMBER, THE KILLER, THE BRIBE, THE BIG SLEEP, IN A LONELY PLACE, DARK PASSAGE, SUSPICION, NOTORIOUS, THE GLASS KEY, DECEPTOIN, JOHNNY EAGER, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, I WALK ALONE, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, WHITE HEAT and HUMORESQUE are all seen here. But it’s how they are seen that makes this whole process remarkable. 

For example Rigby boards a train and sits down in a private car with…Cary Grant. It doesn’t stop there. They have a back and forth conversation between them with questions and answers flowing as if they were both there on the set having a chat in character. This involves both writing using the scenes and dialogue from the old film and placing it into the story being told. This happens throughout the movie and makes it exceptionally interesting. 

The pacing is not rampant here but the story unfolding before our eyes combined with this writing/editing achievement will keep you watching from start to finish. Just keep the remote handy because you’ll want to pause on occasion. One to see who these old stars are and two because you’ll be laughing so hard. 

Kino Lorber is releasing this on Blu-ray and it’s one that fans of comedy will want in their collection.

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FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER: SURPRISINGLY GOOD

 

 

When you hear about a low budget film using a public domain source for its inspiration you immediately begin to wonder if it could possibly be any good whatsoever. Toss in the name of a relative like son, cousin, uncle, whatever and you begin to think that the odds are against you. So my surprise at how good FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER was is legitimate.

The black and white film made in 1958 for Astor Pictures, a company known mostly for re-releasing old movies, and originally released on a double bill with MISSILE TO THE MOON, the film was directed by Richard E. Cunha. If the name sounds familiar it isn’t due to the number of movies he made but because his film GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN has also recently been restored and released by The Film Detective who is responsible for this restored release. Let’s hope they can also get his other two most famous films the aforementioned MISSILE TO THE MOON and SHE DEMONS. 

The story takes place in today’s times (well at least in 1958). Carter Morton (Felix Maurice Locher) is an elderly scientists working out of a lab in his basement with his assistant Oliver Frank (Donald Murphy), a younger man who seems rather belligerent about his methods. His goal is to create a formula that will eliminate disease forever. Living in the same house is Trudy (Sandra Knight), Morton’s niece. 

Lately Trudy has been having nightmares thinking she is some sort of beast roaming the neighborhood. She feels that these dreams are real even though her boyfriend Johnny (John Ashely) and her friends assure her it’s only a dream. But we the viewer know different.

It seems that Oliver isn’t who he claims to be. And he’s conducting experiments of his own on the side, spiking Judy’s punch with his own formula, one that has indeed been changing her at night as she sleeps. With the help of Elsu the gardener he’s been trying to create the perfect being. Just like his grandfather and Elsu’s past employer Dr. Frankenstein. 

In addition to working on the side Oliver is also attracted to Judy who rebuffs him every time he approaches her. He takes out one of her girlfriends instead but when the date goes badly he kills her. Not one to waste fresh material he takes her body back to the lab and places her brain inside the body he has been constructing. A female brain in a man’s body? Of course this is now Frankenstein’s daughter! 

Toss in some teens having a pool party at the house, a song or two to keep the drive-in crowd seeing the movie happy and you have what could have been a schlock fest. The thing is the movie is actually good. There are no more plot holes here than you’ll find in half a dozen big budget name titles. The acting is good. The cinematography standard for the time and the make-up decent for a film this small.

In other words the movie is quite enjoyable. I found myself watching without dozing off or reaching for the fast forward button on my remote. No scenes or time is wasted here and everything helps to progress the story forward. 

The Film Detective is one of the smaller boutique companies rediscovering old movies like this and giving them new life. I find them to be one of the better companies doing so because they not only clean up and offer the films in their catalog with pristine prints and extras, they do so at a reasonable price. A company like Shout Factory would have done this title and charged you twice as much. The Film Detective doesn’t do that. 

The extras included with this title include a full commentary track with author/historian Tom Weaver, a full color booklet with original essay by Weaver, “Richard E. Cunha: Filmmaker of the Unknown” a career retrospective from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures featuring an archival interview with Cunha and “John Ashley: Man from the B’s” a new career retrospective featuring film historian C. Courtney Joyner.

If it sound like I really enjoyed this movie the fact is I did. I have no doubt that I’ll more likely than not watch it again and for a movie that’s not among the top films rated on any list that’s saying something. My guess is you’ll have a lot of fun with this one too. It’s worth adding to your shelf.

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THE AMAZING MR. X: BEST VERSION TO DATE

 

 

THE AMAZING MR. X is one of those movies that seemed to find its way into numerous box sets throughout the years. It could be a collection of supernatural or mystery films, one of those sets that are like $25 for 100 movies. Those sets were always nice to pick up because you finally got to see a number of movies you might have missed, but the reproduction quality was always lacking. The films might be scratched, jumpy or worse yet edited.

The Film Detective is not a huge company. They specialize in finding lost treasures and have lately gone to great lengths to make sure the best presentation possible is offered with those films. Now they are releasing THE AMAZING MR. X and I can tell you I’m glad they did. I think I saw bits and pieces of this long ago and due to the damaged version I was watching I didn’t stick with it. Now I’ve had the chance to watch the entire film and loved it. 

The story revolves around Christine Faber (Lynn Bari), a woman whose husband Paul (Donald Curtis) died two years earlier in a car explosion. She’s on the verge of remarrying Martin Abbott (Richard Carlson) when one night she thinks she hears her dead husband calling to her. She wanders out onto the veranda and then down to the beach. There she meets Alexis (Turhan Bey). He seems to know all about her as they walk and talk. She finds out that Alexis is a spiritualist. 

More ghostly encounters happen and eventually Christine’s younger sister Janet (Cathy O’Donnell) visits Alexis to find out what he’s all about. She begins to fall for Alexis and at the same time brings Christine around to see if he can help her with her problem. As he attempts to do so we, the viewer, are shown things from both sides. Alexis is a con artists posing as a spiritualist. But what does he hope to gain? 

Martin finds all of this disturbing. He doesn’t believe in spiritualism and thinks that Alexis is a phony. But he has no way of proving him to be a charlatan. He brings in a detective friend with him to investigate but by doing so upsets Catherine for his not believing. 

As the film progresses another wonderful twist takes place I won’t reveal. You may see it coming already. But it is not only a twist that will turn the direction of the story but of the lives involved as well. That makes this different than most of this type and provides a nice ending as well. 

The move relies so much on atmosphere you can almost feel the fog drifting into the room while watching it. This more than anything is what brings the story to life. Bey never became a huge star but he should have watching his performance here. The character of Alexis is one where you can’t quite decide if he’s a bad guy or if there is some redeeming quality to him. The entire cast makes this film one that is believable, more so than other films like this. 

The Film Detective has done a wonderful job with this presentation giving us a quality reproduction of the film that most others haven’t bothered with. In addition to that they’ve added extras which include a commentary track by professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney, a full color booklet with the essay “The Amazing Mr. Bey” by Don Stradley and a new documentary called “Mysteries Exposed: Inside the Cinematic World of Spiritualism” from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures featuring interviews with author Lisa Morton (CALLING ALL SPIRITS: A HISTORY OF SEANCES) and author and film historian C. Courtney Joyner. 

As I said I found this movie to be an enjoyable experience, a movie that offered more than I had anticipated going in. My guess is you’ll enjoy it too. I highly recommend this one.

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VENOM – LET THERE BE CARNAGE: SLICK ANTI-HERO STRIKES AGAIN

 

 

There are two types of comic book hero based movie fans. Those that are die hard comic book fans and those that come to the movies with no history or concept of what they are seeing save for film. The comic fan will complain about the most minute details of the film from the look of things to how the character is portrayed. The casual film goer will watch the movie based on how entertained they were. This battle between viewers has always been at the center of controversy when it’s come to the Sony version of Spider-man and his enemy Venom.

The comic versions have been more formed from comic tropes while the film versions have tried to bring them into technological means when it comes to Spider-man’s foes. Venom was seen in SPIDER-MAN 3 and no one liked him. With the advances in CGI and being a fan favorite in comics it finally happened that Venom got his own film. That one was successful enough that the sequel followed, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE and that makes its way to disc this week. 

The film opens in the past with Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) has his girlfriend Frances Barrison taken away (Naomie Harris) from St. Estes Home for Unwanted Children where they live to the Ravenscroft Institute. She’s been taken there because she’s displayed super powers involved her voice. At first escaping from her captors she is caught and taken there though Officer Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) thinks she was killed. 

Fast forward to now. Tom Hardy returns as world weary reporter Eddie Brock. Brock has accepted the symbiote, a creature from another world sent here to conquer Earth in the first film but instead helping save it. The creature is still prone to some of the funniest lines in the movie wanting to eat everyone in sight but subdued by chocolate. 

Mulligan contacts Brock because serial killer Kasady says he will only talk to Brock before he is executed. The two meet and Kasady taunts Brock until Brock rushes his cell where Kasady bites Brock, ingesting a small portion of the symbiote via Brock’s blood. With this small amount of symbiote in his blood Kasady realizes what is going on in Brock.

An argument between the symbiote and Brock results in them separating and Venom (the symbiote) going off on his own in search of brains to eat. Hopping from body to body he inserts himself into the San Francisco night life and begins to take on celebrity status as everyone thinks he’s in a costume. 

Meanwhile as his execution is about to begin Kasady transforms into a red symbiote and calls himself Carnage. His intent is to wreak havoc on the world and watch it all burn. But first he must save Frances when he learns she’s still alive. Once rescued the two set out to treat the world the way they were treated, first burning down the children’s home they were in long ago.

Mulligan warns Brock of Kasady’s escape but later takes him into custody. Brock contacts his ex-girlfriend Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) to represent him and when she gets there informs him that he and the symbiote have separated. Now the only way to stop Kasady is to find the symbiote and reunite with him to take on the terrible twosome. 

This movie and its predecessor could not have been made years ago. The technology just wasn’t there. The gooey shape shifting characters of Venom and Carnage would not have been possible. That has improved but at the same time the blob like shapes they take on sometimes are a bit too amorphous to know what you’re seeing. Still it makes for some amazing fight sequences between the characters. 

There isn’t a bad performance in the film. Hardy is perfect dealing with his moral compass when it comes to Venom as well as his fondness for the alien. Harrelson is perfect as Kasady with a perfect maniacal twist involved. The supporting cast is wonderful as well. 

The thing about the film version of Venom is that it’s been transposed from serious to comedic. Venom comes up with some truly hilarious moments and lines. The comics were not like this and thus the problem between comic and film fans. Taken as it is, without reference to the comics, the movie is enjoyable and fun. And yes there is a post credits scene as well. If you go in watching it that way you’ll enjoy this one as much as the first. I know I did.

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NO TIME TO DIE: WOKE DOESN’T WORK

 

 

I have been a longtime fan of James Bond films. One of my earliest memories of seeing a movie for the first time was GOLDFINGER when it was released. I didn’t always see the new films as they were released but if I could I was there ready to be thrilled at the latest exploit. I’ve enjoyed each of the actors who have played Bond for various reasons. I thought the latest incarnation by Daniel Craig was superb. Until NO TIME TO DIE.

The film starts in the past as a young Madeline Swann witnesses the murder of her mother by Lyutsifer Safin. In spite of the fact that she shoots him he rescues her after she falls through the ice of a nearby frozen lake. 

Fast forward to the present. After having captured Blofeld in the previous film Bond (Craig) and Madeline (Lea Seydoux) are in Matera. Bond leaves her in the hotel to visit the gravesite of Vesper Lynd where he is attacked by two assassins. Rushing back to the hotel he finds Madeline packed and ready to leave. Thinking she has betrayed him he leaves everything behind. 

Another time jump, this time 5 years in the future and Bond has retired from service, living in Jamaica. An old face pops up in the form of CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright). Leiter is asking for help in finding Valdo Orbuchev, an MI6 researcher. Bond declines but is later visited by Nomi (Lashana Lynch), his successor as the new 007. She explains to Bond that Orbuchev has created a bioweapon made of nanobots. These nanobots inject a virus but only intended for a singular DNA pattern. With this new knowledge, Bond agrees to help. 

Going to Cuba both Bond and Leiter work their way into a secret meeting of Spectre. Even though he’s in prison Blofeld is in touch with this gathering remotely. He orders the nanobots mist to be sprayed on Bond but instead of Bond falling all the members of Spectre begin to drop like flies. Blofeld has had Orbuchev reprogram the nanobots to do so. In an effort to stop the bad guys Leiter is killed and Bond sets out for revenge. 

A meeting between Blofeld and Bond is set up in prison. Also on hand is Madeline who has been coerced to have the nanobots placed in her system to kill Blofeld. She touches Bonds hand before he sees Blofeld passing the nanobots onto him. During their meeting Blofeld let’s Bond know that he was responsible for the attack at Vesper’s grave, not Madeline. Angered Bond grabs him and thus passes on the nanobots killing him. 

There is so much more story to go on from here involving Bond discovering he and Madeline had a daughter together to finding out the plan laid down by Safin. It is rather convoluted and better experienced than read about if you are a Bond fan. But it is also part of what makes this one of the worst Bond films made.

Don’t get me wrong, even a bad Bond film is a good movie. But in knowing that this was going to be the final film with Craig in the lead role they’ve pulled out all the stops. At 163 minutes the film is way too heavy on plot and less on action. Yes, the stunt work, car chases and fight sequences are there but more time is spent discussing Bond’s emotions and that is just not Bond. At least it hasn’t been in the 24 films prior to this one. He’s lost a wife in one film, another woman who would have married him and more and he’s never felt like a character you were going to sit down and wallow in self-pity crying. This is the new woke Bond and in making him this they may have killed the franchise. 

But there is one more major item that may have killed the franchise even more so. If you aren’t aware stop reading this column now. Seriously stop reading if you don’t know the end. Reader be warned. The end of this film has Bond killed. No last minute escape, no secret rendezvous, 100% killed dead. Which makes one wonder what happens now? Will we see the old Bond in earlier adventures with a new young actor? Or will they go full woke and have Nomi as the new 007? Only time will tell.

The acting is great, the stunts amazing and the photography stunning. But in the end the movie is far too long and feels more like a melodrama than an action flick. And that’s what Bond films have always been. Others have noted since the release of the film that it may have gone too woke and have killed off the franchise for good. Who knows?

Being a completist on the series I did buy it. I'll give it another watch. Maybe my feelings will calm a bit with a second viewing. I certainly hope so.

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MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN: FANTASTIC HORROR

 

 

I’ve often seen the title MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN for some time now. Various versions of the film have popped up on numerous collections and it’s been put out on disc as a single movie as well. For some reason I never got around to watching it. When I heard Arrow Video was releasing it I was glad I waited. They always take the time to offer films like this in the most pristine version possible. Here again they prove that statement a valid one.

Released in 1960 the film takes place in Holland where writer Hans van Arnhim (Pierre Brice) goes to do research on the much heralded Mill of the Stone Women. The attraction features to sculptures of renowned art professor and sculptor Gregorious Wahl (Herbert A.E. Boehme). Placed on a carousel the statues roll past viewers who marvel at how realistic they are. 

Arnhim begins doing his research when he is introduced to Wahl’s daughter Elfie (Scilla Gabel) and their live in doctor, Dr. Loren Bohlem (Wolfgang Preiss). It seems that Elfie suffers from a strange illness that requires round the clock care, an illness that took her mother’s life. It isn’t long before Arnhim falls in love with Elfie and is distracted from his work, in spite of having a girlfriend back home, Lisolette (Dany Carrel). 

Realizing he must end his attraction he tells Elfie who flies into a rage threatening to kill him if he does so before she collapses. Arnhim picks her up and carries her to her room but once there notices she has suspicious looking lesions on her neck. He returns to his room only to have a fitful night of sleep, dreaming nightmares that involve the entire house. But there is more going on than just an illness with Elfie and the mad nightmares of Arnhim. A nefarious plot that involves those who live in the Mill of Stone Women. 

The odds are that you may have already guessed what is going on behind the scenes. It doesn’t matter. The method and expertise of storytelling on view here will hold your attention as you watch and learn the truth. The mill itself will remind you of another horror film released in the US a few years earlier which I won’t mention. You’ll know it while watching if you hadn’t guessed already. 

Director Giorgio Ferroni who co-wrote the film along with Remigio Del Grosso and Ugo Liberatore has concocted a story that will delight mystery fans as well as horror fans. The locations and sets are marvelously done and create a believable atmosphere in which the story takes place. The characters are well thought out and their dialogue isn’t some inane piece of work but brings them to life. 

All of the actors involved give this movie another sense of realism. An actor should portray a role as if it were real with no sense of irony while talking about strange things. All the actors do this remarkably well. That’s a testament to their skills. 

Arrow Films has done an excellent job with this film and why wouldn’t they? It’s what they do. To begin with the film is a 2k scan from the original negative. The amount of extras on this limited release are astounding beginning with 4 different versions of the film in 1080p Blu-ray: the original 96 minute Italian cut and English export versions, the 90 minute French version and the 95 minute US version. But that’s not all. 

The limited edition packaging has a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais. There is an illustrated collector’s booklet with new writing on the film by Robert Curti, an in depth comparison of the different versions by Brad Stevens and a selection of contemporary reviews. There is a fold out double sided poster with the new and original artwork as well as six double sided postcard sized lobby card reproductions. On the Italian/English disc is a new audio commentary track by Tim Lucas, author of “Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark”, “Mill of the Stone woman & The Body Gothic” a new visual essay on the trope of the wax/statue woman in Gothic horror by author and critic Kat Ellinger, “Turned to Stone” a newly edited featurette containing archival interviews with actress Liama Orfei and film historian Fabio Melelli, “A Little Chat with Dr. Mabuse” and archival interview with actor Wolfgang Preiss, rare opening titles from the UK release re-titled “Drops of Blood”, German opening titles, the US and German theatrical trailers and image galleries. 

Arrow once again shows why they are one of the premiere companies when it comes to restorations and rediscovering lost classics. One can only sit and wait to see what comes next. This one is worth adding to your shelf before the limited editions are gone.

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NCIS SEASON 18: CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

 

Few series can lay claim to being on air successfully for 18 seasons. Even fewer can claim that the last season was as good as the first. NCIS is one of those series. Not only have the characters on this series become ingrained in our brains but fans have found themselves caring about them even when they leave the show. That’s a testament to how good the show and the actors are.

Each season ends with a cliffhanger and season 17 was no different. Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and ex-FBI agent Fornell (Joe Spano) are tracking down the drug dealer who supplied Fornell’s daughter with the drugs she overdosed on. Suffice to say with these two doggedly pursuing the guilty parties it won’t end well. It doesn’t end with this episode but carries on throughout the season making for dynamite viewing. 

But that’s just the kick off show. The next episode takes us back in time when Gibbs first met Ducky. Making it all the more special is the fact that young Gibbs is played by Sean Harmon, son of Mark Harmon. Family has always been an important part of the series but that was always the characters, now it’s behind the scenes as well. 

Speaking of family the season was full of it. We got to see more of Delilah (Margo Harshman), McGee’s (Sean Murray) wife. Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) comes into contact with the father that left him behind years ago. Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) is left dealing with his wife’s passing away from Covid-19 and being left behind to raise their daughter. Gibbs must deal with the mother of Phineas, the young boy he helped previously, who is set on revenge against him. Sloane (Maria Bello) answers a call for help in Afghanistan that ends in her leaving the series. And as the final episode rolls around the crew loses Agent Bishop (Emily Wickersham) as she moves on to a more spy centric career. 

The losses in this season were numerous and traumatic for fans. It’s one thing to lose a character but another to lose several. And the most devastating was the season cliffhanger in the last episode which saw Gibbs get the boat out of his basement and on a lake…only to watch it blow up with Gibbs floating face down in the water! With the new season airing odd are you know what happened but when this first aired it was stunning. 

One of the joys of capturing series like this is the ability to go back and watch them whenever you choose. Yes you can watch them streaming on Paramount+ but having them on disc means you don’t depend on your internet connection or the wait up time. And if the series gets pulled from their schedule you still have them as well. While some claim that physical media is dying I continue to purchase items I know I’ll watch over and over again. 

The NCIS series is one of those things I’ll watch again. It may show up on broadcast stations in the afternoon and it may stream but I’ll keep adding each season to my collection. I enjoy each and every episode enough to want to have them on hand. And not tucked away in storage in case I get the urge but right there up front. It’s that good a series. And season 18 is up there with all of them.

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NCIS LOS ANGELES SEASON 12: IS HETTY BACK?

 

One thing that has made each of the NCIS series unique is that while they are all part of the same organization each show has a different feel and a different focus. The original series focused mainly on murder investigations. NCIS: LOS ANGELES on the other hand has always tended to focus more on terrorist threats. This holds true for season 12.

The core group has whittled down and added new characters. Mainstays G. Callan (Chris O’Donnell) is still in charge and still dealing with issues from his past and with his longtime love Anna Kolchek (Bar Paly) whose life remains endangered by an ex-Russian agent. Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) has put his love life on hold and taken up residence on his boat, still concerned about his children. Kensi Blye (Daniella Ruah) and Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) are now happily married and working towards having a child. But Nell (Renee Felice Smith) has been offered a chance to leave and must decide between that and leading the team in Hetty’s place. Lastly Eric (Barret Foa) has moved to greener and more financially secure futures though he does appear now and then since his new venture is a program sold to the Defense Department. The past season saw the addition of two new members to the team. Special Agent Fatima Namazi (Medalion Rahimi) is the new agent handling ops but sometimes going out into the field. And the newest member is Devin Roundtree (Caleb Castille). 

What makes season 12 different than the last season is the addition of Admiral Hollace Kilbride (Gerald McCraney). Kilbride has been around in the past but mostly to bust the chops of everyone on the team as well as their boss Henrietta “Hetty” Lange (Linda Hunt). A few years ago Hunt was hit by a car in real life and her time on the series was limited. She was replaced once but this season her “temporary” replacement in the form of Kilbride adds something different to the mix. A stickler for protocol and one to forcefully let his opinions be known, a new side has been added to the character, one that show he does indeed possess some moments of compassion and feelings for the team.

A running thread through this season pops up in episode in the fifth episode. Kensi comes face to face with an imprisoned David Kessler (Frank Military), a psychopath she helped put away years ago who has become obsessed with her. She must do so to gain necessary intelligence but their meeting isn’t any less disturbing. It doesn’t get any less so when Kessler calls in a favor to the President of the United States himself and is released. Now a free man, a man who has told Kensi he will come looking for her, the team does all the can to protect her. Semi-spoiler alert: He isn’t caught and the search for Kessler extends into season 13. 

Traitors, people trying to sell military intelligence material, thieves and the usual cast of bad guys continue to be the main focus of the group. But plenty is thrown into the mix to keep you coming back for more. A Russian jet is found and taken in along with its pilots in the season opener. Then later in the season when G goes to question the pilot, he’s accused of being a double agent working for the Russians. Sam’s daughter is kidnapped and the team must rescue her. Hetty pops in now and then but doesn’t come back completely. And Anna plays into several episodes which show the danger she is in.

In spite of the fact that the show is in its twelfth season it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any. The action is still some of the most you’ll find on a TV series. The acting is superb with each character well defined and played by each of the stars. These are characters that are not just involved in adventures but are thought out enough for viewers to care about them as well. Their heartbreaks are ours. We want what’s best to happen for each of them. That makes for more dramatic viewing. And as long as they keep it up we’ll keep watching and caring.

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NCIS NEW ORLEANS COMPLETE SERIES: FAREWELL

 

NCIS remains one of the top rated and most watched shows on television today, even after 18 seasons. The spin off series were also among the top rated shows. Most. For some reason NCIS: NEW ORLEANS never quite clicked with viewers. With a respectable 7 season run the series was canceled due to low ratings. For fans of the show though you can now watch it over and over again. They have released the entire series on disc and that means repeat viewings are in your future.

I for one found the series as fresh and watchable as the other two series in the franchise. Each of the series has their own vibe, their own focus. NCIS is a weekly investigation more often than not a murder. NCIS: LOS ANGELES is usually focused on terrorism. NCIS: NEW ORLEANS seemed to move back and forth between the two, a murder that might be the result of terrorism or some local’s criminal activity. One long running plotline had them dealing with corruption in local politics that ventured into their field of investigation. 

Leading the team was Scott Bakula as Dwayne Pride. Bakula’s character was all things combined, an ex-sheriff who joined NCIS in his hometown of New Orleans. The character of Pride gave us a view unlike the other two series in that he had a personal tie to the location the show took place in. For him this was watching out for the city he loved as well as those in it. Several other characters were the same. 

First among them was CCH Pounder as Loretta Wade the medical examiner on the team. She too had ties to the community as became apparent in the final season when she took on the role of being part of a task force for the mayor. Wade’s character was the one that tried to keep the rest grounded. That is unless something affected her personally. 

Aiding Wade in the first season was Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich), a somewhat nerdy technical genius whose work in the lab helped her do her job. Sebastian changed as the series did though, going from working in the lab to becoming a full-fledged agent in the field. While his character was quirky he was good at his job and he became a character everyone loved. 

In the first few seasons Pride’s right hand man was Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black), another ex-NOPD officer who joined the team. Stubborn at times, head strong he was a solid member even when issues popped up concerning his brother Cade. When his character was killed in season six (spoiler but you probably knew anyway), it was devastating to fans of the series. 

These were the core people in the series that were there (with one exception) from beginning to end. It isn’t to short change the other actors involved like Zoe McLellan as Meredith Brody, Shalita Grant as Sonja Percy, Daryl “Chill” Mitchel as Patton Plame, Vanessa Ferlito as Tammy Gregorio, Necar Zadegan as Hannah Khoury or Charles Michael Davis as Quentin Carter that I don’t go deeper into their characters but rather a shortage of space here. The same holds true for Chelsea Field as Rita Deveraux as Pride’s main love interest in the series (note that Field and Bakula are married in real life). 

As with the other series this group bonded together to become more than just working associates. With each passing episode their fondness for one another grew to make them family. When something affected one it affected them all. They stuck by one another no matter what the accusations or problems they faced. It made them a more effective team. 

There is no one season, no one story to pull out of this series to say it was the best or most interesting. All of them were. It’s part of what makes having the complete series to watch start to finish more than one a joy. There was no bad thing about this show from the scripts to the filming to the sets to the acting. All were some of the best found on TV. So why did it leave? Maybe it was the placement in the schedule. Maybe people just weren’t interested in New Orleans. In any event perhaps it will be re-discovered on disc. I for one will keep watching.

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