The Screaming Skull

The Screaming Skull is a 1958 horror film directed by Alex Nicol. The cast includes John Hudson, Peggy Webber and Russ Conway. 

A newlywed couple, Eric and Jenny Whitlock, move into a fancy big house. The nice garden with peacocks is maintained by a gardener, a troubled young man with learning difficulties. While the couple settle in and meet their neighbours, there are eerie screams at night and a ghostly skull. Within the garden is a grave of a woman who died tragically and her portrait unsettles Jenny. 

There are some scary and ghastly scenes. The film is based on a 1906 supernatural story of the same title by Francis Marion Crawford although it wasn't credited. The author was inspired by the legendary screaming skull in Bettiscomb Manor, Dorset, England. During the filming, actress Peggy Webber, who played Jenny, was pregnant and couldn't do a scene of her falling down the stairs. The director of the film played the gardener. The carving on the gravestone is a reproduction of L'Inconnue de la Seine, a death mask of an unknown woman who drowned. 

I rate this ghostly thriller a 8/10.

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Mansion of the Doomed

This is a 1976 horror thriller film directed by Michael Pataki. The cast includes Richard Basehart, Gloria Grahame and Trish Stewart. The company behind it is Charles Band Productions. 

A mad scientist wants to help restore his daughter's eyesight after she was involved in a car accident. He changed the eyes of animals, but would have no trouble with doing the same for humans. In order to do this, he removes the eyes from his daughter's boyfriend. Even though he succeeded in giving his daughter back her eyesight, it didn't last long so more victims were needed for another set of eyes! 

It's an eye cringe gore film that was considered to be a video nasty. The story doesn't just focus on the daughter but with the dungeon. The bars around it gives an electric shock while the prisoners keep growing. Many eyeballs are not enough for the ruthless doctor. Some scenes are actually very disturbing. Watching this will make your eyes sore. I rate this weird film 3/10.

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Door in the Woods

 

This is a 2019 thriller called "Door in the Woods." It was directed by Billy Chase Goforth, the cast includes David Rees Snell, Jennifer Pierce Mathus and CJ Jones. 

A family move to a quiet rural town so that their son could attend a specialised school that suits his needs, although he experienced bullying. Meanwhile they all go out for a stroll in the local woods and discover a strange door stood alone covered in a chain. Thinking it just an antique left there, the family decide to take the door home. Soon afterwards, weird spooky things happen in the home.

This is a production by Rockhill Studios and Picture Movers Anonymous. Also called "Paranormal Orman." This film is a B movie although very well made, with a magical feel and interesting plot. It doesn't have any special effects or any gruesome scenes, but this doesn't need it, as it's an atmospheric supernatural film with tension. Many have picked on this film for not being filled with CGI or make-up but this isn't that type of film. I was impressed and give this a good 9/10.

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Hideous Sun Demon

 

This is a 1958 horror sci-fi film directed by Robert Clarke and Tom Boutross. The stars includes Robert Clarke, Patricia Manning and Patrick Whyte. 

A scientist was exposed to radiation and all seemed well, until he became exposed to sunlight. Then he turned into a reptile monster, which made him aggressive. The change wears off in darkness even indoors, and artificial light doesn't harm him. He's told by the doctor to keep indoors until they treat him but the main character is stubborn, and wants to go out at night to enjoy himself. While he visits a nightclub, he becomes fixated on a pretty musician but her nasty boyfriend is angry.

A number of films have done radiation causing shape shifting, as well as mutations. This film explores the reversal of human evolution back to pre-mammal stage during the reptilian phase. A strange but interesting story but it can also feel gloomy, frustrating and even a bit shocking with a jump scare. The original title of this film was called "Hideous Sun Demon" but it changed to "Blood On His Lips"! 

I rate it a grotesque 3/10.

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Grimm's Snow White

 This is a 2012 fantasy based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, and the stars include Eliza Bennett, Jane March and Jamie Thomas King. 

A kingdom is overrun by dinosaur creatures, which was due to a magical curse involving gemstones. A king was killed while out hunting in the woods, and his grieving widow, the queen Gwendolyn, is into sorcery and uses a magic mirror. She wants to have her beautiful stepdaughter Snow killed, and have her heart brought to her. Nothing is quite going to plan, but the story diverts from the traditional story. 

Here, there are monsters in this Snow White version, making it very enchanting and even scary. The world isn't safe. Besides many details, elves replaced the dwarves, and there is an ongoing war between humans and elves anyway. Snow White is the fairest in the land (even though she was sent to a convent as a child) and she's gentle but she knows how to use weapons. There are some very magical elements to this film that makes it good. This film isn't very popular although it was full of fantastic fun and really enjoyable. A production by The Asylum who are the tops in making decent modern fantasy films.

My rating for "Grimm's Snow White" is a charming 9/10. 

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