The Beast of Bray Road

 This is a 2005 Asylum horror film directed by Leigh Scott, and starring Jeff Denton, Thomas, Downey and Sarah Lieving. 

A small town has experienced a number of grisly deaths of local people and animals. A missing person abandoned their car that was found covered in blood. Certain people are convinced the killer is a werewolf, who haunted the area for a long time. Life is centred around a bar, where many of the victims visited before they were killed. A sheriff is determined to find out why, with the help of a cryptozoologist.  

The film is loosely based on reports that happened in Walworth County in Wisconsin, although the setting of the film is fictional. It seemed to be entirely made in California. To be honest, the "werewolf" appears like someone in a Halloween costume. It lacked any traits associated with the cryptid "Beast of Bray Road" as described by real witnesses. The characters were good and a shame this never became a TV series, because the sheriff and cryptozoologist made a good team. 

No atmosphere but comes across as a crime drama instead of a horror. I rate this a disappointing 3/10.

Blood Strawberry 

Hercules in the Haunted World

This is an Italian 1961 fantasy adventure film, directed by Mario Bava, and starring Reg Clark, Christopher Lee and George Ardisson. 

The Greek myth hero named Hercules has to save the life of his beloved Princess Deianira of Icaria. She's caught under a spell of darkness that is fatal and weakening her. In order to help her get well, Hercules has to go on a very dangerous journey to the Underworld and find a healing crystal. He embarks on this mission with two friends, Theseus and Telemachus. Both Theseus and Telemachus are individual characters, as Theseus is a lovesick younger man, while Telemachus is funny and provides comic relief in this very serious film.

An epic swords and sandals fantasy, with magic, zombies, bleeding vines, ghosts, evil sorcerer, a stone monster,  and a very dark setting despite being in ancient Greece, which is supposed to be sunshine. The character goddess Persephone is the daughter of Pluto, god of the Underworld in this film, but in ancient Greek myth that isn't so. Just mentioning that in case anyone is confused. Apart from artistic license changes and some awkward moments, with Theseus and his selfish flitting from one woman to another, it's a brilliant film and ahead of its time. 

Trivial info: The powerfully built actor who plays Hercules, is named Reg Clark, who has been playing Hercules in other films. He also trained a young Arnold Schwarzenegger into becoming a muscled body builder. 

I rate this magnificent beautiful film a 10/10.

Blood Strawberry      

The Triumph of Hercules

This is a 1964 Italian fantasy film directed by Alberto De Martino. The stars includes Dan Vadis, Marilo Tolu and Pierre Cressoy. 

Set in ancient Greek time of legends, Hercules is summoned to stand up for downtrodden people against tyranny. A princess is in trouble and yet dark magical powers are working to ensure that he can't help her. Hercules is up against an army of gold men, an evil ruler and a sorceress. 

The actor Dan Vadis playing Hercules did his own stunts for this. There are some funny scenes offering quite a few laughs. There is a cheeky monkey, thieves and comical fights between Hercules and the golden men.  This film is also called "Hercules vs the Giant Warriors" and "Hercules and the Ten Avengers." I rate this entertaining brew 6/10. 

Blood Strawberry

Minotaur, Wild Beast of Crete

This is also called "Warlord of Crete" and originally "Teseo Contro il Minotauro", a 1960 fantasy film. Directed by Silvio Amadio ("The Blacheville Monster"), and stars includes Bob Mathias, Rosanna Schiaffino and Alberto Lupo. 

A king of Crete learns from his dying wife that they had twin daughters, but one was raised in the palace and the other given to villagers. The reason is to avoid sacrificing one of the girls to the monster called a minotaur that consumes human flesh, and is a curse on the city. The princess Phaedra isn't too pleased to find out she's got a long lost sister and plots to have her killed. Meanwhile, Prince Theseus of Athens locates an injured woman from a village under attack. 

The actor Bob Mathias, who plays Theseus is an Olympian gold medalist of the decathlon. He was also in the Marines and a Californian Republican congressman. The film has a lot of nice glittering costumes and remarkable scenes. The plot itself diverts from the Greek myth about Theseus and the Minotaur a lot but this is a nice story. There are also mermaids and a sea goddess. The minotaur is the climax! 

Yes this film has been reviewed by Blood Strawberry before (2 years ago) but I can appreciate the whole story much more instead of simply waiting for the monster to show up. I now rate this a 7/10.

Blood Strawberry