The Devil's Messenger

 

The Devil's Messenger is a 1961 black and white horror film, directed by Herbert L. Strock and Curt Siodmak. The stars include Lon Chaney Junior, Karen Kadler and John Crawford. 

A woman named Satanya commits suicide and ends up in Hell. Satan himself gives Satanya's soul a task and so she returns back to earth. Three eerie stories unfold, as the woman carries out her three missions. There is a photographer who goes mad, a scientist who falls in love with a prehistoric woman covered in ice, and Satanya's former boyfriend visits a fortune teller. This is an anthology of the Swedish TV series "13 Demon Street".

I rate this a modest 6/10.

Blood Strawberry 

        

Donovon's Brain

 

A 1953 science fiction horror, directed by Felix X. Feist. The stars include Nancy Raegan, Lew Ayres and Gene Evans. Two scientists have some ambitious ideas, and remove the brain of a dead wealthy banker, with the purpose of trying to study why the brain is active after the man's body had died. They kept the brain in a tank, although it becomes aware of everything and uses telepathy to control people. Next the brain wants to control the world!

The film is based on a book of the same title "Donovon's Brain" by Curt Siodmak who also wrote other novels including "Skyport" and "The Third Ear". Orson Wells Played one of the scientists on the radio drama of the story "Donovon's Brain" in 1944. The actress Nancy Raegan became First Lady of the United States in 1981. 

I rate this clever intense film a 8/10

Blood Strawberry

Cat Women of the Moon

 

This is a 1953 science fiction film directed by Arthur Hilton. The stars include Marie Windsor, Carol Brewster, Sonny Tufts and Victor Jory.

A group of astronauts land their rocket on the moon with the intention of exploration, but their navigator, Helen, seems strangely connected to the moon. It's as if she's been there before, but she couldn't have been. That mystery deepens when Helen guides the astronauts to a cave in the hills. They find fresh air, giant spiders and a city ruled by women. 

While regarded as a B-movie, it was 3-D in the cinema during its time of release. There are connections with "Project Moon Base" film 1953 and "Destination Moon" 1950 as it borrowed much of the costumes and sets. The 90's girl group Shakespeare's Sister were inspired by the film to make their 1992 album "Hormonally Yours". Elmer Berstein the composer of the film had his name misspelt in the movie credits. 

My rating is a flower moon 7/10. 

Blood Strawberry          

Blithe Spirit (1945)

Blithe Spirit is a comedy horror made in 1945. It was directed by David Lean and the cast includes Rex Harrison, Margaret Rutherford and Kay Hammond. 

There is a seance gathering with a group of people including a psychic medium. Things don't really happen as they should when the medium passes out and a "green lady" ghost appears! Suddenly there's a chill felt in the room. Despite being a funny ghost movie, there's a couple of genuine creepy scenes. It's based on a play called Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward and it's been adapted in theatre many times.  

I rate this a spooky 6/10. 

Blood Strawberry

Alice in Wonderland (1933)

Alice in Wonderland is a 1933 fantasy film directed by Norman z. McLeod, Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising for animation. The stars include Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Charlotte Henry and Richard Arlen. 

Long before the beautiful "Wizard of Oz" arrived at the cinemas in 1939, there was this gem of a film, a black and white "Alice in Wonderland" dream feast. Todays' technicians are slowly making this old 30's film colourised and I can't wait to have the final version in full colour. 

The reason I've mentioned this on Blood Strawberry is because this film has given generations of children nightmares. Much of the creepiness are the characters themselves. We meet Humpty Dumpty, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Caterpillar and more. The costumes, make-up and special effects are impressive for the time. It's version of the story is a combination of stories "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. 

I shall rate this a curiouser and curiouser 7/10.

Blood Strawberry          

The Man With Two Lives

The Man With Two Lives is a 1942 (black & white) horror film. Directed by Phil Rosen and the stars include Edward Norris, Edward Keane and Hugh Sothern. 

It touches on weird and borders science-fiction because a mad scientist has been making experiments on animals that bring them back from death. He wants to focus the next big experiment on a human, and chose to do this on a dangerous criminal about to be executed. However, all goes wrong when his assistant's brother appears. A nice son of a banker who is about to marry his sweetheart, has a fatal road accident. The scientist has to decide if he wants to experiment on the criminal, or conduct his research on the good boy next door. What decision he makes has dire consequences.

A really entertaining, sometimes philosophical story with elements of surprise. So I rate this a 7/10. 

Blood Strawberry