Beyond Atlantis

This is a 1973 fantasy adventure film by Dimension Pictures. It was directed by Eddie Romero. It stars Patrick Wayne, John Ashley, Leigh Christian and Sig Haig. It was mostly filmed in the Philippines. It's also called "Sea Creatures". 

A strange woman able to breathe underwater gives precious pearls to a regular visitor to her sacred island, which is cut away from the rest of the world and is uncharted. He becomes greedy and invites a bunch of friends of criminal intentions to the island. Meanwhile, the island itself has a sacred statue, a number of treasures and a curious race of fish people with large eyes. All of them can breathe underwater. A possible romance could happen, although things become darker.

Often scenic and an interesting story, it's my view that there's elements of the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" here. There were plans to make this film feature topless women but actor Patrick Wayne wanted this to be a PG rated film. While somewhat weird, that might've been an even scarier film if they had gone ahead with making something with nude fish people. The Atlantis princess Syrene is roughly treated by the islanders and her father the king allows it. I rate this a watchable 5/10 but the music score is awful, as it's the same theme tune to the British "News at ten" show. If you want to see a spoiler then look below if you dare.

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Spoiler: In the traditional story "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen, the mermaid is spurned by her prince who falls in love with a human woman. In this film, magical Syrene is spurned by the handsome Vic played by Patrick Wayne, as he falls for the scientist woman instead. 

The Boy who Cried Werewolf

 

This is a 1973 horror film directed by Nathan Juran. The stars includes Kerwin Matthews, Elaine Devry and Scott Sealey.

A man with his son drive out into an isolated mountain cabin near the forest. They both decide to go out fishing until a werewolf appears and bites the father. Afterwards, the man experiences a horrible transformation every full moon and kills innocent people travelling by. Only his son is aware of what's truly going on although nobody believes him, not even his own mother. 

This film should be called "My dad is a werewolf" instead but it's other name is "Varulvens Son". Located in Redwood City, California, a small budget film that is the last Nathan Juran, also called Nathan Hertz,  ever directed. The film is quite silly in places with a few laughs. I couldn't resist mentioning that! The hippie commune camped nearby the boy's dad's cabin was a nail in the coffin for this. I rate this a mediocre 3/10. Spoiler below if you want to risk it!

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Spoiler: Really big hairstyle werewolf dad!

The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism

This is a 1967 German horror film made by Constantin Production. It was directed by Harald Reinl and stars Christopher Lee, Lex Barker and Karin Dor. 

A strange gruesome story that begins with the execution of an evil Count Regula who murdered twelve virgins in order to become an immortal. His thirteenth victim survived and many years later her pretty daughter grew up and then travelled with her friend through a dark sinister landscape of highwaymen and ghouls. The son of the judge who sentenced the count to death finds himself caught in a dark curse and becomes the blonde hero. The coach driver is terrified but has to ride them all through a sinister forest with distant howling wolves and creepiness.

This film is also called "The Snakepit and the Pendulum." Released in the USA under the title "Blood Demon" that was dubbed in English in 1969. In this film are the well known mystical Teutoburg Forest and Extern Stones. Located in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. One notices the castle paintings in the film look similar to "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch. A slight wink to Edgar Alan Poe's "Pit and the Pendulum". This is a well made spooky film, heavily atmospheric and fairy-tale-ish.

I rate this an awesome scary 8/10. Spoiler below my signature if you dare to read it!

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The two ruins along the same path should've been a warning

The Killer that Stalked New York

This is a 1950 thriller film noir directed by Earl McEvoy. The stars includes Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin, Dorothy Malone and William Bishop. 

A couple return to New York from a trip although with dodgy dealings there. The girlfriend meets her boyfriend back home on a separate return, and she travels through the city meeting people and hoping to reunite with her friend. However, an old disease is spread throughout the city and police are looking for the main carrier, who they suspect might be the woman. Whoever she came into contact with, fell ill.

This is a really good drama with an eerie foreshadowing of the actual real life pandemic we experienced in the 21st century during Covid. They feature everything in the film from there being a lockdown, anti-vaxxers and mass hysteria. This was made in 1947 although released later. Loosely based on a smallpox outbreak in the 1940's but vaccinated very quickly. The main lead played by Evelyn Keyes was given this role as punishment by Harry Cohn out of malice really. Despite that this is a really underrated hidden masterpiece of a film. I give it 8/10. (Spoiler below if you want to look).

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Spoiler - This film is dark 

An Angel for Satan

This is a 1966 Italian horror thriller film in monolog. It was directed by Camillo Mastrocinque and it stars Barbara Steele, Anthony Steffen and Claudio Gora. 

Set during the 19th century on a remote fishing village, a statue is discovered from the bottom of the lake and an artist is hired to restore it. Once the artist arrives in the village, he's aware of local gossip about the statue making everyone superstitious with fear that it's cursed. Mysterious deaths happen and a woman becomes obsessed with the statue.

The English actress Barbara Steele made a number of Italian gothic films but this was the last one she made before working on other genres. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Luigi Emmanuele, a writer who worked in films including "The Last Days of Pompeii" 1959. The film "An Angel for Satan" is both chilling and full of twists. I give this haunting piece of gothic supernatural drama a worthy 8/10.

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