Vultural

The Shawl - 1989 - 6/10

An exploratory interview. Miss A consults psychic John for advice.
She is careful, knowing that there is a strong chance he is a charlatan.
Next scene, glibly boasting to his protégé / lover, Charles, we realize he is a money seeking fraud.
Female intuition notwithstanding, the séance is arranged.

David Mamet chamber play of mystery and deception.
Multiple deceptions, since, human nature being as it is, lies are common.
Unlike many Mamet plays, the language is fairly clean.

Various (Editor: Black, Andy) - Necronomicon Book Two

This set rectifies an omission from the first book straightaway. Jess Franco. The first section details how heavily influenced Franco was by de Sade, referencing several films. Following is a lively interview with Franco.

“Abnormal Ward” explores earlier films of Hisayasu Sato, often voyeuristic prowls by damaged observers amidst indifferent back alley cruelty.

“Strange Images Of Death” is a real high point in this collection. Paralleling the Polanski version of Macbeth with the Tate murders. Of further reading for the Manson events, find Ed Sanders’ “The Family” followed with “Helter Skelter” by Vince Bugliosi.

“Tits, Ass and Swastikas” serves as an introduction to Nazispliotation. For my money, it would be easier and more efficient to watch the breezy, sleazy documentary, Fascism On A Thread.

Less popular than his more celebrated works, Russ Meyer’s Mudhoney is presented as an early take on the demise of the American Dream in “Rope Of Flesh”.

Final section, “Female Vampires”, checklists the earliest with Gloria Holden, onto Hammer, then Franco and Rollin. Le Fanu’s “Carmilla” is pretty much the inspiration for many of the early films. With Franco and Rollin, one offers blood and carnality, the other dreamlike sensuality.

A good followup to Volume One, used copies usually affordable.

Street Law - 1974 - 6/10
AKA - Il Cittadino si Ribella

Wrong place, wrong time. Carlo is in a bank during an armed holdup.
He tires to retain his own money, but is kidnapped and beaten for interfering.
Manly pride wounded, he vows revenge. Murder.
Trying to infiltrate the Underworld gives him nothing but more danger.
Euro-Crime is bookended with adrenaline and violence.
Mid-section more leisurely as Carlo plans, fails, inches closer to retribution.
Franco Nero connects as the highly strung vigilante, Barbara Bach underutilized.

Soapdish - 1991 - 6/10

Ratings are bad, the “star” suffers a relationship crisis, supporting players joust for the throne.
Hit and miss comedy set in the realm of soap opera.
Very much a parody of the genre, with particularly good comic casting.
Downey, droll and wry, Field with emotional outbursts, Kline a master of timing, Moriarty the caustic femme.
Their strengths, however, don’t always mesh.
Earlier sections play like theatre, gears sometimes slipping until the final act, sheer farce.
Nostalgia for some, as soaps have declined in viewership.

The Last Ten Days - 1955 - 6/10
AKA - Der Letzte Akt

Berlin is encircled by the Soviets and Americans.
Hitler berates generals, studies maps that he thinks hold hundreds of thousands of fresh troops.
For most down in his bunker, carpe diem. Drink, sing, boff, await annihilation.
Based on diaries and interviews, this may or may not accurately portray events.
Albin Skoda memorable as a conflicted Hitler, half mad, scarred after the 20 July Plot.
A late Pabst film, shot as an elevated docu-drama, worthwhile for fans of this director.

Murdercise - 2023 - 3/10

Pretty poor, even for my taste for bad cinema.
Masquerading as cops, the Skid Row Strangler targets high end hotties.
Meanwhile, a bevy of lovelies films an exercise workout video.
Stripper, dancer, wrestler, Goth, and others squat, spread, and flex their plex.
All vie to be the cover girl – and one by one, killings commence.
Spoof of 1980’s Slasher flicks has atrocious directing, and some whoopsie acting.
Not as funny as it aspires.
Bored, I examined complexions. Several of the ladies need a dermatologist.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358738

Rick Derringer “Hang On Sloopy” @ 77

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR4u1xOjCX8

Crime Story - 1993 - 6/10
AKA - Zhōng Àn Zǔ // 重案組

If you can’t beat ’em – then kidnap and ransom them.
So, a crooked cabal decides, before snatching an unscrupulous property developer.
Midway investigations, Detective Chan suspects his partner might be crooked.

Blistering Jackie Chan actioner dispenses completely with comedy.
This is bullets and bare bones, wild stunts across Hong Kong and Taipei.
The influence of John Woo can be seen, although lacking the bloodshed.
For Jackie fans, still one for your to-view list, and edge-of-the-seat good.

The Decline Of The American Empire - 1986 - 6/10

“The concept of personal happiness permeates the literature of a nation or civilization as its influence wanes.
"Personal happiness means the expectation of receiving instant gratification in daily life.”
Thus begins a witty, philosophical opening act.
Followed by a quartet of women at the exercise arena, while at home menfolk prepare dinner.
The ladies gossip, confess affairs, analyze male insecurities, while the males boast of prowess.
This whole section is terribly funny, yet once the dinner party commences, the easy cheer evaporates.
As in life situations, innuendo and snarky competitiveness burdens the table.
A Canadian film, this should appeal to fans of dialogue driven French fare.

Human Centipede - 2009 - 5/10

Straight off, the doctor is deranged. Even his premise is pointless.
Explain that to his drugged and imprisoned guinea pigs.
Three sections: front, middle, caboose. Head to rear.
All dining on unhappy meals. Dog food, or leftovers.
The Horror is offset by the grotesque repulsiveness of the premise.
The comedy, and yes, that is pitch black, is again overwhelmed.
Body horror buffs will have no trouble watching with popcorn.
Although you might eye others around you, wondering what part of the chain you would be in.

Non-Stop New York - 1937 - 6/10

Jennie is partial witness to a New York murder.
She did not see who did it, but she did see the convicted man depart before the homicide.
Yet, she is now back in London, penniless chorus girl.
How to return to the States to save the fall guy from the noose.
Wait! The sky clipper! A wet dream of an aeroplane, and where the film gets fun.
Passenger rooms as big as your bedroom. Gourmet dining. A stocked bar. An outside observation deck!
The dialogue is witty, carried by several smooth rogues, along with the absurdity of the airship.

Draug - 2018 - 6/10

The missionary had ridden into the far north wilderness of Sweden.
Bringing Christianity to the pagans, Circa 1000 AD.
After he and his party disappear, a team of warriors hit the search trail.
Into the woods of superstition and curses, blood feuds and possession.
Along with slumbering memory, and buried atrocities reawakening.
The narrative is too opaque for its own good.
We are thrown into a brightly lit landscape, seething with resentment.
A few reviews categorize this into a zombie film – it is not.
Nonetheless, I needed a review to clarify the ending for me.

The Secret Glory - 2001 - 5/10

During the battle in Heaven, Lucifer lost the war and his crown.
The latter was recast into a cup, The Grail. Last custodians of which were the Cathars.
The Grail vanished when they were slaughtered.
In the 1920’s, secret agencies sought for it: White Eagle, Polaires Brotherhood, Thule Society.
Among them, one Otto Rahn, German fantasist, dreamer, who would soon catch the eye of Heinrich Himmler.

Documentary about the history of the Grail is absorbing, although film fans will be distracted trying to identity all the Silent film clips used in this section.
This is a biography Of Otto Rahn, however, and his story is simply not compelling.
He was, at best, a tiny historical footnote. His niece dominates talking heads.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358739

Medusa Deluxe - 2022 - 6/10

Eve of the competition, one of the stylists, predicted to win, is murdered.
Backstage, contestants and models begin to speculate.
Muddying theories is the fact that the victim, a male, had his hair scalped off.
Dialogue driven mystery, listen and keep up! Broadly drawn characters ease identifying.
Tour de force camerawork appears to be one-take.
Engaging while underway (although I could have dispensed with the final dance video).
Might pair pretty well with Blow Dry (2001).
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358740

Leap Of Faith - 1992 - 6/10

Religious hucksters, suffering a breakdown in Kansas, set up the tents.
Well, have to pay for the repairs and parts somehow,
The region is in the midst of drought and eagerly donates money for a miracle.
Even when the town sheriff exposes chicanery, townsfolk don’t care.
Last third sees a slow shift in direction, with the cynical edge being glossed.
No unswerving Elmer Gantry tone here.
Steve Martin good as heel (always enjoyed his dramatic turns over his comedy schtick).

The Man Who Changed His Mind - 1936 - 6/10

“I can take the thought content from the brain and store it.”
Perhaps that is when young Doctor Wyatt goes on alert.
True, the scientist she came to study under, Dr. Laurience (Karloff), is a genius.
Yet, dabbling in matters such as mind transfer could have dire consequences.
And – this wouldn’t be a mad scientist movie if he did not perform unethical experiments.
Karloff, eccentric, stymied, resentful, vengeful, is the driving power in this.
Everyone else is support, other scientists, journalists, chimps.
Loder as lovestruck boyish stalker has the charm of a dented bucket.
Fans of classic Universal, this could pass muster.

The Au Pair - 2025 - 5/10

Fashion designer Zoe and husband Dr. Chris hire an au pair for their too-old-to-need-one kids.
The French arrival, smiles on the surface, malice beneath, launches quiet sabotage from the onset.
Wily Sandrine holds your interest, wondering what drives her, and who or what she will destroy next.
To my annoyance and frustration, the narrative pivots midway into family angst.
This becomes a completely different story, and I start barking at characters with short term memories.
My suspicion is the writing room boxed itself into a corner, then shrugged.

Macbeth - 2025 - 7/10

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
Macbeth the Thane, aspires to the throne via blood, urged by his dominating wife.
Austere version of Shakespeare’s darkest play may not appeal to all tastes.
Minimal set design, however, serves to enhance the words.
Language, dialogue and monologue, is paramount, forcing viewers to flesh proceedings themselves.
Powerful play of ambition and treachery, of deceptive promises and muddled prophecy.
Inspired use of small folk ensemble offering sparse music.
“Cruel are the times when we are traitors and do not know ourselves.”
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358197

Bon Voyage - 1944 - 6/10

During WWII, RAF gunner Dougall escapes from a German prison camp, back to England.
Of course, he had help through France, and a French officer wants details.
So, Dougall relates how he and his comrade navigated from one safe house to another.
Terribly obscure Hitchcock wartime short is absolutely worth tracking down.
Everything is first-rate: camera work, story, the murky undercurrent.
A Hitchcock vehicle, this does not shy away from unpleasantness.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358198

Grant, Helen - Atmospheric Disturbances

Nicely chosen group of Grant’s supernatural stories, leaning toward the unexplained.

“Mrs. Velderkraust’s Lease” opens and provides one of the darkest tales in this. The house is goodly sized, and the rate more than reasonable. One stipulation, that the house be vacated for two days in December, is irksome. No excuses, no exceptions. She agrees, since December is months away. Time creeps ahead, however, as the weather gets colder.

Simon is a cautious opportunist. A thief, to be blunt. Scours the obituaries for estates, empty manors, than has a look-see before the arrival of agents or relatives. “50” is the vintage year of the dust covered bottle. 1950? 1850? Earlier? How would it taste? Curiosity can be so cruel.

She spots the private investigator straight away. Young, inexperienced, careless. Mélisande invites him into her apartment, permits him to search thoroughly. As she insists, her husband abandoned her. “Friday” is a satisfying read for those caught in an unhappy union.

An enchanting smile and a sheer garment that reveals hidden mysteries underneath. Nick, new homeowner, is agog. To the point he begins traipsing after her the lissom creature, even into what he soon realizes is “The Lost Maze.” Another of the darker tales, and, for asthmatic readers, you will enjoy an open car journey in bitter winter more than this. Not so? You’ll see.

Seven Days In May - 1964 - 7/10

During nuclear disarmament talks with the Soviets, the US President’s approval ratings plunge.
The man is ailing, out of step with the people, and stubborn.
While behind his back, a clique of Pentagon brass plot a military coup.
Far-fetched? The premise swings in and out of relevancy all the time.
Just as it’s hard for viewers to choose a side, depending on what team is in power.
Burt Lancaster plays the calculating general with chilling effectiveness.
The Cold War was ongoing when this premiered, and audiences probably gasped at coincidences.
As mentioned, the theme of takeover, or ignoring the Constitution never seems to go away.

I Walk Alone - 1947 - 6/10

Successful bootleg partners Frank and Dink have a gentleman’s agreement.
Should one of them go to the slammer, his 50% share of the business will be intact upon release.
Honor among thieves, hey? Make a prediction.
Yes, once Frank serves 14 years, his buddy is all smiles and excuses.
“Agreement? What agreement? I don’t know nothing about no agreement?”
Swanky nightclub, femme fatale singer, crooked accounting, a frame job.
Typical elements for a Noir, yet this is slow and rather boring.
Best is Kirk Douglas as the swindling, duplicitous partner.

A Time Out Of War - 1954 - 6/10

Late in the US Civil War, three soldiers guard a meaningless stream crossing.
A Johnny Reb and two Yanks exchange potshots, insults, jibes, pleasantries.
The war is almost finished, they know that and just want to return home.
After awhile, they decide to an hour ceasefire to go fishing.
Poignant short of the banality of war, along with the similarities that tie us.

Cesium Fallout - 2024 - 6/10
AKA - Fen Cheng // 焚城

Scavengers rake the industrial landfill looking for salvage, especially precious metals.
Oops, they stumble across highly radioactive material. Oops, oops, they start a fire.
Whoa! Deadly wastes explode, turning the junkyard into an inferno.
Worse, there is now radioactivity in the air, soon to turn Hong Kong into a wasteland!
Throwback to disaster films of the 1990’s is entertaining, preachy, predictable.
Heroic firefighters, bickering politicians, self-serving business elites.
Stemming the annihilation, a rogue scientist / activist.

The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed Up Zombies - 1964 - 5/10

Rather than dinner and dancing, low-rent Jerry takes Angela to the carnival.
A sashay into Madam Estrella’s for palm reading only incenses him.
Then, near the sideshow, Jerry abandons milk fed Angela for gypsy Carmelita.
Strippers and cooch girls, yeah.

The plot, already crazy, now hits overload.
Fred Astaire dancing duo act as interludes, as does the burlesque revue.
The strolling guitarist, nightclub comedian, hypnosis, psychosis, the sinister knife.
At the core of evil lurks Madam Estrella.
A thoroughly slagged film, that I watched in an amused haze.
Good photography, slick editing, miserable acting, a cast who seem too old for every role.
Must for aficionados of trash cinema.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358196