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.

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The Blancheville Monster

"The Blancheville Monster" is a 1963 black and white mystery horror. Directed by Alberto De Martino and stars include, Gerard Tichy, Leo Anchoriz and Ombretta Colli. 

The film begins on a dark stormy night with the scene of a looming castle on a hill. The daughter of a deceased count returns home after being far away from home, bringing with her two friends, a brother and sister. She learns that the castle is under a strange curse, and that she's selected as a sacrificial victim. Meanwhile there's unusual screams heard throughout the castle and a secret behind a tower door. 

This was filmed in very cold conditions and the breathe from the actors are visible. This was once said to be a film "of no importance" by the actual director, Alberto De Martino, even though his own father made the mask used as a prop. The same director made other films I've watched before including "Minotaur, the Wild Beast of Crete," "The Triumph of Hercules" and "The Spy with Ten Faces" all of which I shall review on this blog soon.

I rate this Italian gothic screamer 7/10

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Heartland of Darkness

An evil place between heaven and hell - the sanctuary of death! 

"Heartland of Darkness" is a 1992 horror film directed by Eric Swelstad, and it goes by another name "Fallen Angels". The stars includes Dino Tripodis, Nick Baldasare and Linnea Quigley. 

A single father moves to a small town with his teenaged daughter. There are many gruesome killings and a weird conspiracy that points to a local Satanic cult led by an evil reverend. It gets to the point where nobody can be trusted as everyone seems to be involved with the cult. Parts of this seems ridiculous and others is very dark. Plenty of gore and some entertainment with a decent back story. 

It's also been called "Blood Church". A very gory film with some nudity. It has some grim humour, and it was actually quite funny but scary at the same time! 

Now I rate this film a macabre 6/10.

Blood Strawberry