Welcome to the 905th edition of my series. Today starts week one of the Madness which is really my favorite part of the year. In the next few weeks in addition to these selections, I will be posting the results of our contest. Today is also the last day for SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS which is at 4 pm at Pulse Opera House. I will now get to my selections for the week.
Underwater (2020): William Eubank directed this underwater horror film. Kristen Stewart stars as Norah Price who is part of a crew of oceanic researchers that work for a deep sea drilling company. They look to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake and find there is a lot more to it than just an earthquake. Vincent Cassel, Mamoudou Athie, T.J. Miller, John Gallagher Jr., Jessica Henwick, Gunner Wright, Fiona Rene, and many others co-star in this horror film. This is a pretty decent and fun horror film that takes us pretty deep under the water where lots of secrets are buried. This goes along well with the season. This is available to watch on FXNOW.
Witching and Bitching (2013): Alex de la Iglesia directed this Spanish horror comedy. Hugo Silva stars as Jose who leads a robbery of a gold exchange pawn shop and even brings his song along letting him participate so he likely won't be getting father of the year anytime soon. They are now on the run and take refuge in a village that turns out to be a coven of cannibalistic witches. Mario Casas, Pepon Nieto, Carolina Bang, Terele Pavez, Jaime Ordonez, Santiago Segura, Macarena Gomez, Javier Botet, Enrique Villen, Carlos Areces, Maria Barranco, Carmen Maura, Alexandra Jimenez, and many others co-star in this horror comedy. This is full of laughs and violence. I truly believe the heist scene ranks up high in the most clever heist scenes of all time. This is a rather underrated comedy that really deserves a look. This goes along well with the season. This is available to watch on Tubi, IFC Films Unlimited and AMC +.
28 Days Later (2002): Danny Boyle directed this zombie film. A mysterious and seemingly virus has spread through the United Kingdom which turns people into zombie like people. A group of survivors band together to find sanctuary. Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer, Bindu De Stoppani, David Schneider, Toby Sedgwick, Noah Huntley, Christopher Dunne, Kim McGarrity, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, Luke Mably, Stuart McQuarrie, and many others co-star in this zombie film. This is a pretty simple zombie film but is still very effective. The zombies are also well done and quite believable in my opinion. This is a must see for the horror fans out there.
And When the Sky Was Opened (1959): This is my short film for the week which is really an episode of the TWILIGHT ZONE from the first season. Douglas Heyes directed this episode of the series which was based on a short story by Richard Matheson. Rod Taylor, Jim Hutton, and Charles Aidman star as three astronauts who have just landed. As time goes on, they appear to be disappearing but have no idea what is happening. Maxine Cooper, Paul Bryar, and Sue Randall co-star in this episode and as always Rod Serling is our narrator. This is one of the more spookier episodes of the series in my opinion. This is available to watch on Paramount Plus, Freevee, and many other streaming apps.
Dracula (1931): George Melford directed this film that is based on the novel by Bram Stoker. Carlos Villarias stars the title character who I think just about all of us know by now is a vampire. As Dracula puts solicitor Renfield, played by Pablo Alvarez Rubio, under his spell, he sets out from Transylvania to England where he wreaks havoc and preys upon Eva, played by Lupita Tovar. Eduardo Arozamena co-stars as Van Helsing who must convince others that Dracula is a vampire. Barry Norton, Carmen Guerrero, Manuel Arbo, and many others co-star in this Spanish version of the film. This was filmed through Universal under the same set as the other version of DRACULA that starred Bela Lugosi. While these were similar, this was is actually longer and I even thought was a little creepier than the English speaking version. I also thought this one had a better climax than its predecessor.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974): Tobe Hooper directed this slasher film that was the start of a long-term franchise. A group of five friends set out to visit the grave of a grandfather in Texas. They end up at a home of a cannibalistic family that includes Leatherface, played by Gunner Hansen, where they all fight for their lives. Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail, Teri McMinn, John Larroquette, and many others co-star in this horror film. Larroquette does the opening narration in this film. This is some very effective low-budget horror and is violent to the core. This is obviously not for everyone but has its audience. I don't think much else needs to be explained for this one. This is available to watch on AMC +, Peacock, and many other streaming apps.
Cocaine Bear (2023): Elizabeth Banks directed this movie that is based on true events. Some cocaine was lost in a Georgia forest and a black bear ingests this cocaine and becomes extremely violent. A group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens must band together for survival. Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery, Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kristofer Hivju, Hannah Hoekstra, Ayoola Smart, Aaron Holliday, J.B. Moore, Leo Hanna, Kahyun Kim, Scott Seiss, Matthew Rhys, and many others co-star in this comedy. This is Liotta's final completed film before his death. This is very loosely based on a true story and the bear's actions are extremely exaggerated. This is available to watch on Prime.
The Three Musketeers (1973): Richard Lester directed this adaptation of the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. Michael York stars as the young swordsman D'Artagan who sets out for Paris hoping to join the elite Musketeers that consist of Athos, played by Oliver Reed, Aramis, played by Richard Chaimberlain, and Porthos, played by Frank Finlay. He is also drawn into a scheme by Cardinal Richelieu, played by Charlton Heston, who looks to undermine the Queen of France. Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Geraldine Chaplin, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Spike Milligan, Roy Kinnear, Georges Wilson, Simon Ward, Faye Dunaway, Joss Ackland, Nicole Calfan, Michael Gothard, Sybil Danning, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very fun adaptation where we slowly see D'Artagan grow as he slowly becomes a better fighter showing he belongs in part of the Musketeers. This is available to watch on Prime.
The Black Scorpion (1957): This is my B-movie for the week which was directed by Edward Ludwig. Vocanic activity manages to free giant scorpions that wreak havoc on the town. I don't think I need to explain much else. Richard Denning, Mara Corday, Carlos Rivas, and many others co-star in this B-movie. This is good for the bad movie lovers. It is likely best watched with MST3K which was the second season finale when they still had Joel Hodgson. This is available to watch on Tubi and many others streaming apps.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994): Kenneth Branaugh directed this adaptation of the classic novel by Mary Shelley. Branaugh also stars as Victor Frankenstein who is a very brilliant scientist but also obsessive. When his mother dies at a pretty early age, he becomes obsessed with creating life. He creates a creature out of various body parts of the deceased. Robert De Niro co-stars as the Creature who is rejected by Frankenstein and as he learns more of who he is, he sets out to take revenge on his creator by targeting those he loves. Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Hulce, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, Richard Briers, John Cleese, Robert Hardy, Cherie Lunghi, and many others co-star in this film. Cleese co-stars in this film as Victor's professor and was the most different I have ever seen him look. This is an adaptation that follows the novel very quickly and is the ultimate story of fearing the unknown in my opinion. I thought Branaugh did a great job in his own adaptation and De Niro pulled off a good performance as the Creature.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Nicolas Cage, Rachel Weisz, Steve Martin, Bela Legosi, Peter Cushing, Lon Chaney Jr., and many others..
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