Welcome to my blog "Blood Strawberry." This is where I post reviews on films, mainly horror but also other genres too. There are few reviews on TV shows, games and books here although I focus on reviewing films more. I won't mention spoilers or give away too many details in my film reviews. ^^
Quite a different post to the reviews this time. I want to share a watchable exploration video for Halloween. This is a very scary video that takes place in a haunted cemetery. It was made by the talented Rain Rider Ambience. I found myself fully drawn in.
Blood Strawberry
"The House on Pine Street" is a 2015 supernatural horror film. It was directed by brothers Aaron Keeling and Austin Keeling, who were inspired by their own experiences growing up in a haunted house. The actors include Emily Goss, Taylor Bottles and Cathy Barnett.
This is a chilling ghost film about a haunted house that only Jennifer experiences. A newlywed couple, Luke and Jennifer, move into a beautiful old house, and the place seems quite rundown but can be fixed. Jennifer is pregnant, and feels wary of the house. Strange things start going on but when she confides in her husband, he doesn't believe her. There are some other odd characters too.
Scary climax: The ghost turns violent.
Fun facts: The house was built in Victorian times, in Independence, Kansas. When the entire cast spent time in the house during filming, they experienced unusual goings on. "The House on Pine Street" premiered as a lot of film festivals and won many awards.
Warning: Watch with the lights on because it's very scary.
Rating: An exceptional 8/10
Review by Blood Strawberry 👿
This is a 1973 Mexican horror called "The Mansion of Madness". It goes by other names such as "House of Madness," "La mansión de la locura", and "Dr. Tarr's Torture Dungeon." It was directed by Juan Lopez Moctezuma and the stars include Claudio Brook, Arthur Hansel and Ellen Sherman.
Set in 19th Century France, the protagonist Gaston Le Blank, a reporter, visits Doctor Maillard at an asylum. When he arrives there it becomes obvious the place is mad. There is a torture dungeon, a strange sect, prisoners in glass cages, armed guards and creepy people populating the fortress/asylum all dedicated to the doctor.
Scary climax: Nightmarish chicken dancers.
Fun facts: This was based on the story called "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Warning: Some violence and nudity.
Rating: 1/10
Howls ^^ Blood Strawberry
This is a moody horror film sequel to the 1931 "Dracula" film. "Dracula's Daughter" was made in 1936 and was directed by Lambert Hillyer. The stars include Otto Kruger and Gloria Holden.
Set in both London and Transylvania, this film is about the beautiful daughter of Count Dracula. At the beginning of the film, Dracula has been killed by the vampire hunter, the Doctor Von Helsing. Watching over Dracula's burning body is his daughter named Countess Marya Zaleska. She visits Chelsea in London, England, searching for victims. She romanticises about becoming a living woman enjoying daylight, instead of a vampire at night. Despite her pleas for help, she's unable to control her bloodthirsty nature and look for more victims. It's one of those films that should last for several more hours!
Fun facts: The body of Dracula is a waxwork figure of Bela Lugosi. This film might've had a curse, when director Lambert Hillyer had an accident during filming on Friday the 13th. While "Dracula's Daughter" is loosely based on the story "Dracula's Guest" by Bram Stoker, other parts of the film was loosely based on "Carmilla" by Sheridan le Fanu.
Info: Many people have said there is subtle lesbianism in the film, when the countess insists that her female victim strip off. The countess was hoping to overcome her desire to drink blood.
Warning: Sandor is scarier than the vampire countess.
Rating: 7/10.
This is a 1972 horror/supernatural film directed by Rogelio A. Gonzales, and the stars include Wanda Hendrix, Barry Coe and Maray Ayres.
A very gothic manor house with a stormy setting, a stage coach arrives with an elderly woman Mrs Buckingham and her daughter, Lisa, who visit the estate since a relative died. They were to meet with a lawyer about a will left by the deceased owner, the brother of Mrs Buckingham. Due to the storm, the lawyer and other family members are delayed until the next day. It means that Lisa has to stay overnight even though she's already worried that it's haunted. In the house is a portrait painting of a mysterious woman named Rebecca, whose spirit remains in the house and can't rest.
Rating: A chill vote from me 2/10
Fun facts: This film is loosely based on a story called "The Oval Portrait" by Edgar Allan Poe. According to Internet Movie Database, this film is combined with another film, "One Minute Before Death" with the same actors. Other websites have said both "The Oval Portrait" and "One Minute Before Death" are the same. It's unclear if "The Oval Portrait" simply goes by another name or was blended with a second film (brain hurts thinking about it). I just haven't the foggiest.
Warning: There is a scene with necrophilia.
Howls ^^ Blood Strawberry
This is a 1977 horror TV film, based on the novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker. It was directed by Philip Saville and the cast list includes Louis Jourdan, Frank Finlay and Judi Bowker.
Dracula shows his fangs, in a very creepy story is set in both Transylvania and Whitby, as the film here is. There are some very creepy moments, and the vampires behave like phantoms. Dracula transforms into a bat, and a wolf. The damsels in distress, Lucy and Mina, are sisters in this version. It comes across as cold, dark and eerie, with some stormy atmosphere. The temperatures dropped when watching this awesome Dracula film.
Fun facts: This film was made by the BBC. It's been regarded by everyone as more faithful to the book although there are a lot of differences. The founder of the Dracula Society, Bruce Wightman, has a cameo in this film.
Warning: The vampire brides really don't care.
Rating: 7/10
Blood Strawberry.
