100 Monsters

There is a curse made on ruthless officials because they destroyed an old village shrine. The people living there threatened with eviction got themselves brutally punished by thugs. It seems everything is lost but hope comes in the form of a handsome young hero, a former samurai, and a variety of paranormal entities. 

A Japanese horror film made in 1968 fully titled "Yokai Monsters:100 Monsters" or "The Hundred Ghost Stories" and was originally called "Yokai Hyaku Monogatari". Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and written by Tetsuro Yoshida. The stars  includes Jun Fujimaki, Miwa Takada and Sei Hiraizumi. 

Based on Japanese folklore of the Yokai spirits, with exceptional costumes and marionettes. There are many yokai types including the fireball, mountain hag giantess and a long-neck woman. The film is entertaining and is full of surprises. I didn't count all the monsters in the film but it seems the 100 includes the multitude of yokai in a dancing parade and objects flying around. This can be light hearted as it's quite funny with some spooky atmosphere. There's some violence but no gore. This is the first film of a trilogy.

Any issues with the film? No.

My rating is 7/10. Read my spoiler below if you will.

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER: Don't draw umbrellas on your wall!

The Children of Green Knowe

There is a boy who lived in a boarding school during WW2. He was sent to live with his great grandmother in a castle with a moat. Due to flooding and bad weather, he was given a taxi ride on a boat, at night during darkness with a flood. All is set for an atmospheric ghost story.

This is a 1986 TV mini series made by the BBC and it stars Alec Christie, Daphne Oxenford and George Malpas. It's based on the novel "The Children of Green Knowe" by author Lucy M Boston. 

This is a Christmas ghost story with dark elements, such as the creepy outdoor stone heads and the giant statue called the "Green Knowe". The castle is haunted by children from the 16th century who died of the bubonic plague. While the boy listens to his great gran tell him interesting stories, he learns more about the history of the place. This is what I used to watch as a kid, but after seeing it again I felt it deserves a place here for a review. Not in any way violent as its made for children and it's a spooky ghost series with a nice Christmas feel. 

Any issues with the series? No.

My rating is 8/10. Read my spoiler below for fun.

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER: There is an epic dolls house which is a copy of the castle interior and there's even a rocking horse figurine that matches the one in the boy's room, which also resembles the horse that belonged to one of the ghost children

Day the World Ended

"Day the World Ended" is a 1955 sci-fi in black and white. After major cities have been destroyed in a global nuclear war, a few escape and meet up in a house that acts as shelter. The owner of the house lives there with his daughter and they often scan everything for radiation. Just the two of them have only enough provisions to feed three people but many more come to stay.  

Directed by Roger Corman and written by Lou Rusoff. The stars includes Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens and Paul Birch. The production companies are Golden State Productions and Selma Enterprises.   

The house is isolated and protected by hills rich in lead. There is very little food left and not much drinkable water either. The film is 1 hour and 20 minutes long roughly. The characters are Jim a former sea captain and Louise his compassionate daughter, Rick the handsome geologist, Tony a villainous gangster and Ruby his tough girlfriend, Pete a gentle old farmer and Radek a poorly nuclear survivor. While they struggle to get through existing, something creepy lurks outside leaving bones. 

Any issues with the film? No.

My rating is 9/10. Read my spoiler below if you dare.

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER: Ruby is statuesque and is able to wear the same clothes borrowed from the smaller woman Louise. Incredible really.

The Vampire's Ghost

"The Vampire's Ghost" is a 1945 horror film in black and white. A small African village with a bar run by a strange character named Webb Fallon is the centre of the film story. Mysterious murders have scared the local people, and this Fallon doesn't even have a reflection! 

Directed by Lesley Selander, and written by the following: John K. Butler, Leigh Brackett and Bram Stoker. The stars includes John Abbott, Charles Gordon, Peggy Stewart and Grant Withers. The production company is Republic Pictures. 

The story itself is quite scary and has an element of magic and witchcraft. A short and (blood) sweet 59 minutes long, it's got punchy lines and sassy female characters from the heroine Julie played by Peggy Stewart, and the villain Lisa played by Adele Mara. The vampire himself is centuries old and manages to go out in broad daylight! Also the hero Roy, played by Charles Gordon, gets ill very quickly.   

Do I have any complaints about this film? Yes.

My rating for this is 7/10. Read spoilers below if you dare too.

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER: Lisa's dancing and style is pretty enchanting!