Dinocroc vs Supergator

This is a 2010 fantasy adventure horror monster flick by New Horizons Picture made for television. Also goes by the name "Volcanic". A USA and Japan joint film and location is Pasedena in California. It was directed by Jim Wynorski, and stars David Carradine, Rib Hillis and Amy Holt. 

An illegal experiment resulted in huge mushrooms and two incredibly big reptiles, combined with science lab mutated creatures, such as a large spiked alligator, and a big bipedal crocodile. The secret went out of control and the two giants broke free, killing everyone in sight. Even a few tourists that don't know what's going on because a tasty meal. 

Three people are sent to find and stop the chaos, including a hunter, a government spy and a wildlife officer. There are some pretty scenes of waterfalls and misty forests. It doesn't quite go with the ridiculously scary monsters running amok, but the special effects were quite good. I rate this a fun packed 7/10 for entertainment and amusement!!

What I liked about it was the chase scenes!

What I disliked was the storyline.

Blood Strawberry

Black Sabbath (1963)

 This is an Italian horror film from 1963, directed by Mario Bava, and stars Boris Karloff. In three segments, the first is "A Drop of Water", then "The Telephone" and "The Wurdulak."

Depending on the version, some have rearranged segments. "A Drop of Water" is about a nurse taken to see the dead body of her former employer, who died of natural causes in her sleep. The corpse doesn't stop her greediness. After getting home, she experiences creepy goings on. "The Telephone" was a nuisance caller that the victim knows and supernatural forces allow the creep to torment her. "The Wurdulak" is about a vampire.

I only watched it a few nights ago and can barely remember most of it apart from the gothic gentleman presence of Boris Karloff introducing each film segment. The only segment I can most fully remember was "A Drop of Water", a ghost story, which to me was scary. I rate this a 5/10 for sending me to sleep halfway. 

What I liked was all the the cute cats in "Drop of Water." 

What I didn't like was "The Telephone" story being cut up and edited all because of the sixties not liking the lesbian storyline. What was left of it was ribbons. That chopped story confused me and I nodded off! HISSSSSSSSSSSS!

Blood Strawberry

Wait Till Helen Comes

 This 2016 Canadian TV supernatural thriller was directed by Dominic James, starring Maria Bello and sisters Sophie Nelisse and Isabelle Nelisse. Other cast members including Liam Dickinson. Its based on the novel of the same name by Mary Downing Hahn. The film is also known as "Little Girl's Secret." 

A teenager named Molly has had her life turned upside down when her widowed mother takes her and her younger brother Michael to move into a new place with stepfather. The location is rural and pretty isolated beside the woods, and the house used to be a church. They pick up their younger stepsister Heather from a psychiatric hospital where she was living after suffering trauma. 

Molly is unnerved by Heather's strange behaviour such as talking to someone who isn't there. It gets freakier when she can see a ghost of a girl forming near Heather. No one believes her, and Heather says the ghost is "Helen" and "doesn't like it" that Molly can see her. Helen wants something from Heather and Molly is trying to find out if it's connected by missing children in the area.

This is a good, creepy and sad story with interesting photography. A theme of moths and flames appear a lot as symbolism. This is set in the year 1982 just in case you wondered why nobody is using a mobile phone. The author of the original story this film is based on appears briefly as the town librarian. The stepsister Molly and Heather are played by actresses who are real sisters. The actresses playing ghost Helen and one of the missing girls are sisters in real life. The stepfather's job is an author in the film, but in the book he works in pottery. I rate this a decent 10/10 for an awesome haunting story and good film to watch on a rainy night.

What I liked about this film is the nice bedroom of the girls with unique windows.

What I didn't like about it was how the parents didn't believe Molly.

Blood Strawberry

V. C. Andrews "Dawn" (episode four)

 

This is a 2023 drama TV series based on the "Cutler" books by Virginia Andrews. There are four episodes in total, named "Dawn," "Secrets of the Morning," "Twilight's Child" and "Midnight Whispers". This episode was directed by Jacquie Gould and it stars Brec Bassinger, Megan Best and Khobe Clarke. 

Some years have passed and tragedy happens. Both Dawn and James die together in a fire, caused by evil uncle Phillip and his wife "aunt Bet". They take custody of children Christie and Jefferson whose lives become very miserable. Christie has had enough of her vile uncle so she takes her brother and they run away to New York. I'm not going to spoil the rest!

I rate this episode 9/10. I've never read the books although I feel inspired to now. The books will include a lot more details that the tv series didn't.

Blood Strawberry