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Monday, 13 January 2025

The Fearless Vampire Killers


"The Fearless Vampire Killers" is a 1967 horror comedy film. It's original name is "Dance of the Vampires". It was directed by Roman Polanski who also starred in it with Jack MacGowran, Alfie Bass, Sharon Tate and Ferdy Mayne. Polanski wrote it along with Gerard Brach. 

A strange pair investigate vampires in remotest Europe and arrive at a village almost frozen to death. The professor and his clownish apprentice stay at an inn full of garlic protection. When Sarah, the daughter of the innkeeper, is kidnapped by a vampire, both professor and his apprentice go to the rescue. They follow a trail of grimness, until they reach the sinister castle of Count von Krolock.

Eerie and atmospheric, this is a very gothic horror with amazing scenes. It's got some humour but it's silly and most of all the film is rather creepy. There are elements of this film that makes it even quite sad. In the making of the film, dozens of coffins were used as props, scaring people enough that a sign was soon put up notifying everyone that there had been an outbreak of plague! There are some many cool surprises including bizarre looking family portraits in the castle!  

Do I have complaints about this film? No.

My rating for this dark comedy is 7/10. Spoiler below!

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER: The dress worn by Sarah at the vampire ball is beautiful!

Saturday, 4 January 2025

King Dinosaur


"King Dinosaur" is a 1955 science fiction B movie in black and white. A planet has just appeared near the Earth and many are excited to go up and have a look! Four professionals, two men and two women, are selected for the mission. A lot of experiments of rockets finally succeed with the journey to the strange world. It's name is Nova and the four heroes discover many interesting surprises. They even find out it's very similar to Earth! 

Directed and written by Bert I Gordon with co writers Al Zimbalist and Tom Gries. The stars include William Bryant, Wanda Curtis, Douglas Henderson and Patti Gallagher. The film's production company is named Zimgor Productions. 

This was filmed at Bronson Canyon in Los Angeles. The scenery is wild and gorgeous with amazing views. Some of the scenes are real stock images and also used in other films, but the rest is hard to watch for animal lovers. In the film the team of scientists abandon their space rocket for some camping in the monster woods before heading off to a dangerous island. Thunderous roars and an active volcano doesn't put them off. The film is quite cheesy fun to watch for a rainy day. Among the cast is an iguana who was given the biggest starring role playing Tyrannosaurus rex! 

Do I have complaints about the film? Yes.

My rating for this awful masterpiece is 2/10. Read spoiler below maybe.

Blood Strawberry

SPOILER : There is a cute alien fluffball called Joe played by a kinkajou actor.