Crucible of Terror

 

Crucible of Terror is a 1971 horror, directed by Ted Hooker and starring Mike Raven and James Bolam. The story is about an artist who murdered a model for his creation and then turned her into a bronze statue. While people visit the artist years later, a young woman is afraid and stalked, as she's the object of the crazed artists' sick ideas for making another statue. A bizarre bunch of things going on, such as screaming for no reason, a cave full of toys, an old woman pretending to be a child and just weird people. A mine tunnel leading straight up into the artists' house could've been creepier.

Fun facts - Actress Me Me Lai was uncomfortable and stressed during filming so she went onto have six baths afterwards. The film's scenic beach location is at St Agnes in Cornwall. 

Scary climax - What the eye sees!

My Rating - A blah 2/10

Warning - Flashing lights. 

Blood Strawberry

The Nesting Dolls

 

The Nesting Dolls is a 2019 psychological thriller, directed by Robbie Snow. The main cast includes Jenna Krasowski, Sydney Amanuel and Ali Breneman. 

Three sorority sisters take a short break to a lakeside cabin, all on their own. They have some fun and soon play a trick. Out of panic their friendship becomes highly disturbing and the film gets darker. There are some weird symbolism, the water for instance. The students play a dangerous game and locate their inner evil! 

 

Fun facts - The title of the film sounds like Russian matryoshka dolls. It was filmed at picturesque Gloucester Island, Massachusetts.

Scary climax - This!!!

Warning - Violence. 

Rating - A decent 5/10 

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The Norliss Tapes

This is a 1973 horror made for television. It was directed by Dan Curtis and the stars include Roy Thinnes and Angie Dickenson. A yarn about an author that disappears, and his recording on tape reveals his activities. He was assigned to do a book on exposing the subject of spirit mediums as frauds, but the tape reveals more to his investigations. There was a connection with a deceased artist, an Egyptian scarab ring and a strange death.

Scary climax - A creepy zombie.

Fun facts - This was supposed to be a pilot for a series that never took off. The film has a link with the TV series "Kolchak the Night Stalker." 

Warning - A bit gooey.

Rating - 5/10 for taking too long.

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Haunting of Borley Rectory

This 2019 horror film by Greenway Entertainment. Directed by Steven M Smith, and stars Zach Clifford, Rad Brown and Sonera Angel. The film is based on the most haunted house in England, until it was destroyed by fire and then demolished in 1944. I anticipated a film about the building's heyday during the infamous haunts but it was set in a cottage somewhere close by the ruins of the haunted house. A wounded soldier stays in the cottage and is bothered by a ghost. There was the appearance of Harry Price, a paranormal investigator, who knew about the ghost of a nun. Sometimes the flick was too baffling with the constant dreaming and waking. 

Scary climax - The nun was quite good.

Fun facts - Elements of the film is based on true events.

Warning - Slow.

Rating - 3/10 is all it gets.

Posted by Blood Strawberry!