Trilogy of Terror

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Dan Curtis, the creator and producer of such out-of-the-ordinary TV classics as the willfully offbeat gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the proto-X-Files series The Night Stalker, remains best known for the Zuni fetish doll that terrorizes Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror. The wild-eyed doll, with its snapping jaws and screeching yells, borders on camp, yet its relentless attacks and single-minded, homicidal drive make it an absolutely terrifying figure in the climactic chapter of this trilogy of short films based on stories by Richard Matheson. In the first story, "Julie," Karen Black plays a mousy college professor blackmailed by an obsessed student, and in "Millicent and Therese" she plays sisters consumed with an intense hatred of one another that comes to a head when their father dies. Both of these films conclude with Twilight Zone-ish twists and are more clever than gripping, kept alive mostly by Black's gleefully theatrical performances. With "Amelia," however, Black delivers an almost solo show, playing against the famous Zuni fetish doll, a wooden statue that comes to life when the a protective chain slips off the figure and releases the evil spirit. Curtis turns her apartment into a claustrophobic cage trapping the increasingly hysterical woman as the unstoppable figure hacks at her legs with a kitchen knife and chomps down on her arms and neck with the relentless intensity of a bulldog. It's still a classic of small-screen horror. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Legendary producer / director Dan Curtis (DARK SHADOWS, THE NIGHT STALKER) teams up with writers Richard Matheson (I AM LEGEND, THE TWILIGHT ZONE) and William F. Nolan (LOGAN'S RUN, BURNT OFFERINGS) to present three tales of horrific suspense in this made-for-television anthology that also showcases the tremendous acting talent of Karen Black (FIVE EASY PIECES, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST), who plays no less than four distinct roles. In "Julie," an aggressive college student seduces and ultimately blackmails his seemingly shy English professor. In "Millicent and Therese," two polar-opposite sisters become increasingly hell-bent on the undoing of one another. And in "Amelia," a woman falls prey to a murderous Zuni fetish doll.

Customer Reviews:

trilogy of terror.......2007-08-31

one of the best 70s made for tv movies you will ever see what a scary treat

Unforgettable Terror.......2007-08-30

As long as I live I will not forget the image of the Zuni doll that came to life and attacked Karen Black in this series of short stories. The other episodes in this set are certainly worth watching and show Black's range of talent. But the images of the doll and what transpires in the final moments of the movie will haunt you forever. I highly recommend this DVD if you enjoy classic horror movies.

Great classic movie.......2007-07-12

This movie was great when I saw it decades ago and it's still great. There's now a sequel but I don't think that one's on DVD yet. It's a horror trilogy using the same actress in each but playing a different character in different stories in each so don't expect a connection between any of them, there isn't supposed to be one, just three horror stories. The remake is similar but I don't recall if all 3 stories are the sequels to the ones on the original DVD (since I only cared about my favorite movie, which happens to be depicted on the cover). That particular story is about a voodoo type doll that comes to life if it's chain/belt falls off. The sequel DOES continue THAT story line.

Tour-de-force for Karen Black........2007-06-23

A fondly remembered cult classic televison movie produced in 1975. A must have for fans of good story telling and of course admirers of the excellent Karen Black. The audio commentary is both informative and entertaining and the featurettes with Karen and Richard Matheson are top-knotch. Fantastic print.

Trilogy of Terror is classic stuff.......2007-06-01

I watched this growing up as a kid.Channel 9 and 11 played this late at night.That Fetish doll was a hoot!All three storie were good but the last one was the best.If you want to see more of the dolls check out Attack of the Beast Creatures.This one,there's an entire island full of them.

The Gravedancers - After Dark Horrorfest

Average customer rating:

SOLID GHOST STORY - DECENT PERFORMANCES
This Gravedancers is worth it
CGI can really mess things up!
Retardorific
Wasted potential

The Gravedancers - After Dark Horrorfest
Starring: Dominic Purcell , Josie Maran , Clare Kramer , Marcus Thomas , and Tchéky Karyo
Director: Mike Mendez
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MEYKDW
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Description

A group of friends' lives are invaded by a trio of hostile ghosts after they engage in a drunken bout of gravedancing during a wake for an old chum.

Customer Reviews:

SOLID GHOST STORY - DECENT PERFORMANCES.......2007-09-14

The Gravedancers is part of the After Dark Horrorfest, One of the "8 Films to Die For" as the tag line boasts. Three friends come together for the funeral of another friend who died in a car accident. In "Big Chill" fashion, the characters have unresolved feelings for each other. Kira (Josie Maran) is still in love with Harris (Dominic Purcell of TV's Prison Break) and his wife Allison (Clare Kramer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is none to happy about it. Meanwhile, loser friend Sid (Marcus Thomas) has loved Kira in secret for years, fearing being rejected.

The trio gathers at night in the cemetery to toast their friend one last time and it soon turns to drunken revelry with music and dancing...dancing on graves. Days after, they all begin to experience strange phenomena: strange sounds, doors opening and closing, a piano playing by itself, etc...Some get it worse than others as Harris and Allison find Kara curled up into a fetal position in her home, apparently the victim of a beating and sexual assault. But this was no human predator. Their ill-advised grave dancing has unleashed a trio of vengeful spirits who want no less than to kill the ones who desecrated their graves. They seek aid from a pair of university paranormal investigators Vincent (Tcheky Karyo) and his assistant Culpepper (Meghan Perry). It seems the area of the cemetery they danced in was reserved for criminals. The graves belonged to a sadistic sexual predator, and axe murderess, and a young pyromaniac. They discover the incantation of the Gravedancer that says the spirits have from full moon to full moon to kill them. But as the end of the cycle draws near, the ghosts become more and more powerful.

Gravedancers is an old-style ghost film that relies on building suspense and atmosphere as opposed to relying on high-end CGI graphics. In many ways it reminds me of he 80's film "Ghost Story" although the pace isn't quite as slow. Director Mike Mendez doesn't give in by trying to show the ghosts too soon. He lets the tension build up to what is a frantic pace in the film's final 15 minutes. There are a handful of genuine leap out of your seat moments in the film, particularly when Harris wakes up to a surprise in bed.

The performances in Gravedancers is a bit uneven. Purcell, Kramer (who played the Goddess Glory in Buffy) and Karyo all do a good job and obviously show their experience as seasoned performers. The same can't be said for Marcus Thomas who delivers his lines with all the zeal of a chicken salad sandwich. He's stiff and lifeless and his performance alone drags the picture down a notch or two.

Gravedancers is an effective ghost story, subtle, and often suspenseful. A solid film and a great DVD package with lots of extras.

The DVD is presented in widescreen format and runs 96 minutes. The package is loaded with some very good extras including a commentary by Mendez, a Making-of Featurette, a Making the Ghosts featurette, deleted scenes, storyboard galleries, and trailers

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

This Gravedancers is worth it.......2007-09-01

I stumbled upon this one and found myself enjoying it.Sure its acting was painful to a lesser degree but its campy.I thought the special effects were cool and interesting.Three friends decide to party on a grave site where one of their friends was just buried.This is where the fun begins! They are tormented every waking hour with ghouly faces and loud noises.This kept my interest throughout exspecially when they learned who the dead were.Its just the kind of movie to watch in the dark!

CGI can really mess things up!.......2007-08-31

Simply put "Gravedancers" was excellent up until the last 5 minutes and while the ridiculous CGI didn't completely destroy the film it definitely hindered it by betraying the atmosphere that shouldered the film throughout. When the ghosts were shown in there physical form towards the end, they were simply spine tingling scary and if they left it that way it would have in my opinion been one of the best supernatural thrillers to come in a long time. They just had to throw in that dang CGI didn't they!

Retardorific.......2007-08-22

I like B movies as much as the next guy, but this is unwatchable garabage. Fast forward about a hour and twenty five minutes into the movie and you will see a scene where a guy is wrestling with a ghost, his wife, who has no idea where in the house her husband is located, busts through the wall driving a Hummer and runs over the ghost. Yeah I just typed that a ghost got run over by a Hummer. Oh wait it gets better. The ghost then transforms into a huge head and head-butts (I don't know what else you would call it) the Hummer as they drive stupidly away from it. No real violence to offset the retarded, and childish effects, which could have been made 15 years ago. The ghost by the way are Bug - Eyed (and incapable of blinking, as if the actors where wearing really, really cheap masks) wrinkly people with huge teeth. If I were dumb, drunk, stoned and mentally challenged, I would enjoy this movie almost as much as a jog through traffic.
What kink of 30+ year olds get drunk off of 1 bottle of wine, then go dancing on graves any way? Isn't that the kind of experiences that people had before they turn 15? I don't know what is more pathetic, the people that get drunk that easily or the A-$ clowns that think that is a 1/2 way decent premise for a movie. Wow, Wow, it is just that bad.

Wasted potential.......2007-08-11

The series of films carried under the After Dark Horrorfest all appear to be loaded with serious potential, and The Gravedancers is no different. Prison Break's Dominic Purcell and hottie Josie Maran play old friends who fall under a curse after a night of drinking and dancing in a cemetery following a friend's funeral. Soon enough, Purcell and his wife (Clare Kramer, better known as the villainous Glory from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), along with others, are violently haunted and stalked; all of which appears to be leading somewhere good, but finishing up with a non-sensical story, and an incredibly underwhelming ending that betrays everything that was set up before it. There's isn't a whole lot of blood and gore to be found here, but the moody atmosphere and creepy, suspenseful direction works well for the first third of the film, but sadly, everything ends up falling apart. It's sad because The Gravedancers starts out so good and it ultimately fails as it goes nowhere. It's worth checking out though for horror fans to be sure (you could always certainly do much, much worse), but all in all, The Gravedancers is one of the more disappointing films in the After Dark Horrorfest series.

Average customer rating:

Funny, spooky, and delightful
There's a light, over at the Franken... er Femm ... place
The Old Dark House
It really was a dark and stormy night...
Great Classic

The Old Dark House
Starring: Boris Karloff , Melvyn Douglas , Charles Laughton , Lilian Bond , and Ernest Thesiger
Director: James Whale
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000ILEU
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Description

A dark, gothic, one-of-a-kind macabre comedy. Directed by James Whale, subject of the acclaimed "Gods and Monsters," "The Old Dark House" tells the story of three weary travelers who find shelter in a mysterious Welsh manor, soon find themselves in the unwelcoming company of the psychotic Femm family--and never will they be the same!

Customer Reviews:

Funny, spooky, and delightful.......2007-08-12

This is such a great old fashioned dark house mystery. The characters alone are worth watching the movie. Movie greats Raymond Massey, Charles Laughton,Boris Karloff, and Melvin Douglas were so young way back then! The really corny old characters make the movie eerie enough to watch it to the end. What great fun!

There's a light, over at the Franken... er Femm ... place.......2007-06-23

I only noticed it mentioned by one of the earlier reviews but it immediately struck me that this must have had a strong influence on Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even some of the dialog had me finishing it in my head with the Rocky Horror version. ("There's a light ...", "Madness ... takes its toll"). You can almost hear the RHPS music (over the storm). It even has a little bit of "gender bending" -- not to be confused with homosexuality as one reviewer does. But the film soon casts its own spell and you're hooked on its terms. Have a potato! And some gin! Enjoy the ride.

In any case -- this is a minor masterpiece with some great performances. The Femm family are especially good and Charles Laughton is notable for what I think is his first Hollywood role.

Like many of the "strangers stranded in a spooky house" movies (of which this must have been one of the first) it is filmed almost as if it were a stage play, giving it much of its considerable charm. The cinematography and lighting are pure "Universal Horror". This film was a trend-setter. Anything it didn't actually originate it certainly made its own.

And the title of the film is perfect!

P.S. Why not five stars? Need to leave a little room for Bride of Frankenstein!

The Old Dark House.......2007-06-21

One of Whale's most indispensable horror films, "House" marries dark wit with bizarre, wonderfully eerie scenarios involving the three Femm children: addled atheist Horace Femm (Ernest Thesiger), his fanatically Christian sister Rebecca (Eva Moore), and older brother Saul (Brember Wills), a pyromaniac kept under lock and key--usually. Karloff, in his first big role, is memorably ghoulish as a gin-swilling servant, but Thesiger and Moore play the demented siblings to sinister effect. Inspired camerawork, spooky lighting, and brilliant ensemble acting from the whole cast put a sardonic twist on this sublime tale of gothic lunacy.

It really was a dark and stormy night..........2007-02-05

Any film that starts with the visual version of "It was a dark and stormy night" might otherwise be regarded with suspicion but not in the hands of director James Whale. Is it worth checking out? Absolutely as this is one of Whale's masterpieces using humor, some creepy imagery and a great cast (Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Massey, Gloria Stuart, Charles Laughton, Ernest Thesinger and other notable stage vets) to create a moody chiller with humor.

The extras include a thoughtful trivia filled commentary Gloria Stuart and a second commentary by Whale bigorapher and film historian James Curtis. Curtis Harrington provides a detailed introduction of how he became involved in saving the film, meeting Whale, etc. The video quality of this portion is so-so. The transfer of the film looks solid although it could use more digital cleaning up (like the recently reissued editions of "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"). Although the film appears a bit unsteady in the beginning, it improves. I personally thought the contrast could have been improved a bit as well. Audio sounds good but the volume is a bit low and probably could stand a bit cleaning up to get rid of some hiss and popping.

The follow up to Whale and his star Boris Karloff's "Frankenstein", this witty, cynical horror film is well adapted by writer Ben Levy. Thought lost for years (the original film has been out of circulation for at least 44 years when William Castle made his weak remake), director Curtis Harrington found a copy of the film from which this version is drawn.
The film was almost lost when Universal sold the rights to Columbia in 1963. Luckily director Curtis Harrington (who befriended director Whale late in life)while working at Universal asked to have the negative pulled and duplicated. Otherwise the film would be lost as the firs reel of this classic was in pretty bad shape.

Overall this is a pretty good reissue of a classic Whale film that has been out of circulation for too long. It's a classic right up there with Whale's "Waterloo Bridge", "The Bride of Frankenstein", The Invisible Man" and "Frankenstein" although closer in tone to "Bride" and "Invisible" than his straight horror films.

Great Classic.......2006-11-10

A great classic worth every penny. A bit dated but that makes it even better. From the director who brought you such classics as Frankenstein with Karloff and The Invisible Man with Claude Rains. They just don't make movies like this anymore. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Falls Way Short !
Impressive debut for Ipson
Unrest wont leave you restless
They could have done so much more with this idea.
can I give it zero stars please????????

Unrest - After Dark Horror Fest
Starring: Corri English , Scot Davis , Joshua Alba , Jay Jablonski , and Derrick O'Connor
Director: Jason Todd Ipson
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MEYKDM
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Description

Alison Blanchard begins her journey to become a physician in her Gross Anatomy class, where she must confront rows of cadavers and her own fear of mortality. When the sheets are drawn back revealing her cadaver, Alison senses a presence in the lab. Her jaded professor chalks it up to first year "jitters" but her worries increase when a friend is found dead in the basement. Alison must find out the truth behind her cadaver before its angered spirit can wreak further vengeance on those who dared to disturb the body.

Customer Reviews:

Falls Way Short !.......2007-08-31

In the very beginning of "UNREST" you can almost feel the potential creeping it's way up your spine, but as the movie progresses to the halfway mark the plot regresses and just plain old falls short and takes a detour into the "already been done before" catagory. To me the only sub-genre of horror that can get away with that is the SLASHER flick. Supernatural films must stay fresh to stay alive. With that said, there are a handful of creepy moments as well as natural gross-out's but not even close to enough to save this flop. I myself was not fulfilled.

Impressive debut for Ipson.......2007-08-09

"Unrest" is a very good movie. Kind of creepy and a bit on the scary side, but it is well paced and has plenty of tension and suspense without resorting to the clichéd horror staples that have become all too common.
The plot is refreshingly original and deeper than most films in this genre attempt to achieve, as its complexity is deceiving simply. The film can be taken as a simple scare fest, but for those willing to look beneath the surface, there are deeper layers to the film that tackle areas such as the afterlife, intuition, possession, second sight, and the supernatural.

Unrest wont leave you restless.......2007-08-06

Can't understand why Unrest is too gruesome 4 the general public? I think Black Christmas was much more gruesome!! This is only the 2nd movie I've seen in this series, reminds me of Masters of Horror...I often found myself drifting away. I love a good horror flict, but this didn't quite do it for me....looking forward to watching the others

They could have done so much more with this idea. .......2007-07-30

This movie could have been way freakier if they changed the story a little.

First of all, when you first see the "HELP" in blood drenched on the towel that Alison finds, you know right then that the antagonist is not dangerous, but is looking for help instead?

Lame.

The illusion collapses right here folks.

The blood message on the towel should have said "You're all dead", and the cadaver should come to life and run around killing people.

Instead, the "spirit" that possessed the cadaver just goes around possessing everyone else, and everyone commits suicide.

Not fready at all.

A psychotic zombie cadaver would have been so much scarier.

can I give it zero stars please????????.......2007-07-29

This was horrible. My God, this movie is so slow, it's like waiting for water to come to a boil. The idea of using real bodies sounded so cool. But this was a REAL stinker. Please, please, stay away from this bore. I want the 90 minutes of my life that I wasted back!!!

Wicked Little Things - After Dark Horror Fest

Average customer rating:

ONE OF THE WEAKER AFTER DARK OFFERINGS
A Perfect Movie For Halloween
Classic horror film for people who like horror films
As far as these Horrofest flicks go this one wasn't too bad
THIS MOVIE IZ FABTASTIC

Wicked Little Things - After Dark Horror Fest
Starring: Lori Heuring , Scout Taylor-Compton , Chloe Moretz , Geoffrey Lewis , and Julie Rogers (IV)
Director: J.S. Cardone
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MEYKDC
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Description

Recently widowed Karen Tunny and her two daughters, Sarah and Emma, move to a remote mountain home which Karen has inherited from the family of her late husband. However, she is unaware that the home is situated near an old mine, the site of an early 20th century tragedy in which many children where buried alive..

Customer Reviews:

ONE OF THE WEAKER AFTER DARK OFFERINGS.......2007-09-14

Part of the After Dark Horrorfest, "Wicked Little Things" is a haunting tale of the rural Pennsylvania hill country that has always been rife with legends and tales of ghosts and hauntings. A brief prologue set in 1913 finds a group of very young children forced to work deep in a coal mine. When the owner of the mind demands that a new shaft be blown up, the children are left inside to be buried alive.

Now in the present day, recently widowed Karen Tunny moves to this rural area of Carrolton with her daughters, teenager Sarah, and young Emma. She inherited the house when she found the deed in her husband's personal belongings after his death. The house was owned by his family and has been empty for many years. The Tunnys move there sight unseen, perhaps a bit of a stretch, but there are strong hints that there were serious financial issues and that they had nowhere else to go.

Wicked Little Things is filled with a load of horror film trappings and clichés. There's the weird storeowner who warns them to stay inside after dark, and the crazy neighbor who warns them of the same thing. The plumber assuredly states he wants to be done fixing her pipes before the sun sets...and then does just the opposite and I suppose you can guess his fate. And of course the young daughter seems to have a bit of a rapport with the spirits who haunt the area. It turns out the ghosts of those children buried in the mines prey on whatever they find after dark. Actually ghosts might not be the best word as they feed on their victims, making them more zombies I suppose but not the George Romero type...

The Crazy neighbor, Hanks, is actually protecting the Tunnys by smearing his blood on their front door at night as it seems they won't attack their own blood and Hanks is one of the children's ancestors. The area is suitably creepy, an old, almost primeval forest, protecting its deep, dark secrets. The ghosts/zombies are also fairly creepy with their pale complexions and dark eyes and lips, often smeared with blood.

The plot is fairly straightforward and predictable but then again, most horror films are predictable and part of the fun is the ride towards the end. The main weakness for me were the performances which were all stock horror film specials...vulnerable widow, rebellious teenage daughter, over curious young daughter, etc...Lori Heuring as the Mom just wasn't believable enough nor a strong enough lead to carry the film. She simply looks too young to have a teenaged daughter and just to pretty to play a beaten down widow. Ben Cross plays Hanks and again, he's playing the "Dr. Loomis" role and offers little in any way of an original performance. Interestingly, Scout Taylor-Compton who plays teenaged Sarah has been selected to play the role of Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie's remake of "Halloween."

The DVD extras are very slight. You get only a commentary with the Director J.S. Cardone and Lori Heuring. While the acting is mundane the overall atmosphere of the haunted woods and the creepiness of the ghostly kids lifts "Wicked Little Things" above the ordinary. Not a great film but definitely worth a view on a dark night.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

A Perfect Movie For Halloween.......2007-09-11

I expected this to be a typical b-horror flick. You know, bad acting, cardboard characters and replete with gore, insects and things jumping out and startling you in place of any real scariness/spookiness. I was surprised to find that not only were the principal actors good but the overall film was as well. The filmmakers focused more on creating a spooky atmosphere and working from there instead of taking the cheap way out and creating another trite splatter flick(think John Carpenter's "Halloween", which also had minimal gore, maximum atmosphere).

5 stars are reserved only for the classics. This isn't a classic, but it was a refreshing, enjoyable and welcome effort that hopefully encourages other filmmakers to go for spooky substance over splatter-and-startle cliche'. A very strong 4 star job. I recommend this film and look forward to further work from these filmmakers.

Classic horror film for people who like horror films.......2007-09-02

Pull up a chair, horror fans, and lend an ear (you won't get it back). This film is actually quite good, much better than I expected. It's a movie that hearkens back to those classic horror films of the 70's when movies were about ghosts and mood and awesome scenery, not today's torture/butcher fests by heavy metal wackos posing as directors. Don't listen to the naysayers who are jaded by today's over the top garbage. This film is low-key at just the right times, but also goes for the gross-out when needed. And there's a Classic old-guy-who-knows-too-much performance by Ben (don't call me Barnabas) Cross. It's not a perfect film, but for a dark lonely night on the couch, it's a great little story with creepy little kid/zombie ghosts that now, I swear, I look for in the woods at night, just in case...

As far as these Horrofest flicks go this one wasn't too bad.......2007-08-31

I have definately been very let down by all the horrorfest films up until I checked out this one. It really didn't provide much in the scare department but did have an interesting storyline coupled with some decent acting. Something I couldn't say that about any of the other horrfest films I've seen.

Now I am not saying that this is a great film by any stretch, but I would say it may be worth checking out if you are seeking anything decent from this horrorfest mess.

THIS MOVIE IZ FABTASTIC.......2007-08-11

FOR ANY HORROR MOVIE FAN SATIFY YOUR CRAVING WITH WICKED LITTLE THINGS.ITS DEF A NEED TO SEE/BUY MOVIE.I COULD WATCH THIS MOVIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IM GOING TO ADD THIS TO MY HORROR MOVIE COLLECTION. I GIVE THIS 10 STARTS!!!

Average customer rating:

Lesson 1 : An old guy and his whip=Death to Zombies
Lash La Rue Whips Toltec Zombies

The Dark Power
Starring: Lash LaRue , and Anna Lane Tatum
Director: Phil Smoot
Manufacturer: Vci Video
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ASIN: B0002ZDWLM
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Description

A group of unsuspecting college coeds move into the house on Totem Hill, a cursed place where four Toltec Sorcerers buried themselves hundreds of years ago - Alive! On the coming of the Evil Days, the ancient demons arise to feed on the living. Now only one old Ranger with a whip -- fashioned out of materials from the four quarters of the world -- stands between the girls and the mystical zombies from the past. In the first of his two films for Writer/Director Phil Smoot, legendary B-Western film star Lash La Rue (The "King of the Bullwhip" and the role model for Indiana Jones) returned to the screen after nearly 30 years to portray the whip wielding Ranger Girard. Perfectly cast for the role, La Rue once again proved that no one could best him with his trademark weapon. Bonus Features: New Widescreen (1.66:1 Anamorphic Enhanced for 16x9) film transfer taken from an interpositive that was made from the original camera negative| Soundtrack mastered from the original three stripe master| Commentary track with Writer/Director (Phil Smoot) and Editor (Sherwood Jones)| Remembering Lash La Rue: A narrated video collection of stills, art and press from the Producer's personal library featuring The Dark Power and Alien Outlaw, both starring "B" Western legend Lash La Rue. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Mono; 81 minutes; Color; 1.66:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1987; SRP - $5.99.

Customer Reviews:

Lesson 1 : An old guy and his whip=Death to Zombies.......2007-09-12

I bought this movie for 3 dollars and I was more than satified. You have a big fat guy with a gastrointestinal problem, a fat kid who steals trucks, an old guy using a whip to kill zombies, and a couple of inadvertant crotch shots of a hot chick. What more do you want? oh yeah, and the zombies look pretty damn funny. If you looked up B movie in the dictionary you would see: The Dark Power.

Lash La Rue Whips Toltec Zombies.......2005-07-14

This is a cool, hilarious and campy movie. Camera angles, and filming techniques are a little off. Lash La Rue "King of the Bullwhip" is about 63 years old and still commands the bullwhip. Some beautiful collegiate women rent a house in southern USA which belonged to an old Indian Shaman who had aquired the land of his people form the government prior to his passing. The land is haunted by spiriits of Toltec warriors who surface to taunt and torture the present occupants of this house. Lash La Rue comes to their rescue in classic Lash fashion. It is filled with unknown actors and relatively poor dialogue, but I enjoyed it and recommend it to any Lash La Rue fans. I plan to view it many more times.

Average customer rating:

STRANGE YET HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL
A creepy and tragic story
Hideo Nakata is amazing!!!
Curse of the Backpack
Dark Water (Japanese Version)

Dark Water
Starring: Hitomi Kuroki , Rio Kanno , Mirei Oguchi , Asami Mizukawa , and Fumiyo Kohinata
Director: Hideo Nakata
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009KA2UO
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Amazon.com

Dark Water is Japanese horror auteur Hideo Nakata's return to the genre after his Ring cycle made you too scared to watch television ever again. Where Ringu dealt with a supernatural force wreaking revenge via technology, this film is a much more traditional ghost story. After winning a custody battle for her daughter, single mother Yoshimi moves into what she thinks is the perfect apartment with her daughter Hitomi. No sooner have they unpacked than strange things begin to disturb their new life. A water leak from the supposedly abandoned apartment above gets bigger and bigger, a child's satchel reappears even though Yoshimi throws it away several times, and she is haunted by the image of a child wearing a yellow mackintosh who bears a striking resemblance to a young girl who disappeared several years before. The conventional narrative follows Yoshimi's increasingly desperate attempts to discover who or what force is haunting her daughter, but the story's execution is far from predictable. Nakata is the master of understated suspense: there's always a feeling of motiveless malignancy that runs like an undercurrent through his films--far more frightening than out and out shocks--and here he also practically drowns his audience in water imagery. The film is saturated; the relentless dripping in the apartment, the constant rain outside and the deliberately washed-out photography make any color, such as the yellow coat, seem incongruous and unsettling. Nakata also clears the film of unnecessary characters--this is an almost deserted Tokyo--preferring to concentrate the action on Yoshimi's rising hysteria as she struggles to understand what is happening and how to save her daughter. Granted, the special effects are somewhat unconvincing and the ending confused, but even so the result is a stylish and disquieting chiller that will do for bathtubs what his Ring films did for video recorders. --Kristen Bowditch

Description

No one loses their mind instantly - Sanity seeps away one drop at a time. Yoshimi simply wanted a better life - for both herself and her daughter Ikuko. Unfortunately, such wishes may sometimes be hard to come by. The custody battle has grown embittered and hurtful, her new job is less than desirable, and Ikuko's schoolwork has taken a turn for the worse. But, Yoshimi has something bigger to worry about. Something upstairs. Something cold and dank. Something that should have never been.

Customer Reviews:

STRANGE YET HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.......2007-06-26

I loved this movie. The mother's devotion toward her child was so strong and intense that I found myself crying at the end. The plot is this: Ghost wants Yoshimi (mother) to be her mother and is jealous of Ikuko (the daughter). Yoshimi is paranoid about what ghost is going to do to Ikuko. However, it's really not that simple afterall. It's riveting to watch as the story unfolds and you find out the history behind the ghost. In fact it's sad. Horribly sad. The cinematography is effective in that it's rather monochromatic -- lending a somber tone to the film.

Yoshimi is over-stressed. She is recently divorced, going through an ugly custody battle, she has to find a job and a new place to live. And then there's the ghost to deal with.

The ghost to me was more of a sad little creature than a menacing threat. But Yoshimi does not see things that way and ultimately sacrifices herself to save her daughter.

I owned this DVD long before the American version came out and I am happy that was the case. As usual, American film-makers bastardize incredible Asian movies, simplifying them to the point they are not even interesting. Such is the case with America's Dark Water.

If you want to truly enjoy this movie, buy the Asian version and watch it in the original language with English subtitles.

A creepy and tragic story.......2007-06-04

Having watched both the Japanese and Hollywood remake of Dark Water, I prefer the Japanese version [though the remake is watchable]. The Japanese version just seemed more creepy, and the acting was a whole lot better. The story centers around Yoshimi [Hitomo Kuroki], who is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and heated custody battle with her soon-to-be ex-husband over their 5 yr old daughter, Ikuko [Rio Kanno]. Having no stable income of her own, Yoshimi is forced to lease an apartment in a run-down apartment complex. Almost immediately, they experience strange things like a dark, wet stain on the bedroom's ceiling that never seems to dry up. Complaints to the management elicits no follow-up action and so Yoshimi tries to solve the mystery on her own. By this time, she has also found a job in a publishing firm and is trying to get her life on track, but the sinister goings-on at her apartment cause Yoshimi to question her sanity. Her daughter Ikuko keeps finding a red backpack that Yoshimi comes to fear for she instinctively realises its menace. At heart, this is not so much just a horror story but that of a mother-child relationship, played out both in the real world inhabited by Yoshimi and Ikuko, and also the world of the ghostly entity that has focussed its attention on Yoshimi. The struggles of a single parent are very well-explored here, and both the actresses who portray Yoshimi and Ikuko do a great job of portraying the mother-daughter dynamics. Yoshimi feels she is not a good mom for not being able to better provide for her daughter and another instance when she is late picking her daughter up from school. This is resolved in an ironic manner at the end...how far would a mother go to show her love for her child and protect her? A beautifully made movie, with an element of horror that not so much as startles you, but slowly and insidiously creeps up on you. A great addition to the J-horror genre.

Hideo Nakata is amazing!!!.......2007-05-17

He did it again! Hideo Nakata makes some of the best movies. No other director can set the mood like he can. He makes you feel so cut off from the rest of the world and that loneliness mkaes the movie that much more intense. The story is about a single mother going through an ugly divorce. To keep her daughter she must get a job and find a place to live. She settles for a somewhat run down apartment and from their strange things start to happen to the point where she questions her own sanity.

Great movie, great ending, just great you will not be let down

Curse of the Backpack.......2007-05-16

If Japan has their own version of Lifetime: Television for Women, this movie would run on there. The story was so dragged out, predictable and tired. I knew she fell into the water tank. I just knew it. Not scary. Red backpacks with bunnies are not frightening.

There is nothing unnerving about a puddle unless you have a sick dog in the house. Ok, you are a single mom who loves your kid so much you'll do anything for her-- including taking the place of a drowned girl's mother and care for her ghost forever to spare your child! Bravo! Mom of the year. I am not that in tune with Japanese ghost lore but I imagine little drowned girls with stringy hair play a big part of it because so many movies center around that theme.

I don't believe all horror needs gore to be scary, mind you but it would have helped this turkey fly. I really appreciate a good ghost story like the original version of The Haunting but haven't seen a Japanese film of that ilk to compare it to. If you want to see a cool Japanese horror movie try Ichi the Killer or Infection. Ichi for the gore if you like that sort of thing and Infection for a truly spooky mindbending experience.

I gave it two stars for being Asian horror because lord only knows how terrible the American version could possibly be. (I shudder to think)

Dark Water (Japanese Version).......2007-04-12

I had seen the film a couple of times before but never got the chance to see it beginning to end. I did very much enjoy this version. It tends to have a more dark and gloomy feeling to it. You're able to watch the movie in Japanese language with english subtitles, or if you prefer you may select to watch it in english dubbed. Either way, you'll enjoy the flick. I recommend this if you're into any of the Japanese horror, suspense, and mystery films.Ringu Anthology of Terror (Rasen/Ringu/Ringu 2/Ringu 0)

Average customer rating:

Great directing, very good movie, average adaptation. Blu Ray: less than average

Dark Water [Blu-ray]
Starring: Bill Buell , Jennifer Connelly , Shelley Duvall , Elina Löwensohn , and Camryn Manheim
Director: Walter Salles, Jr.
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000H7J9R6
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Description

The terror of DARK WATER reaches new heights on Blu-ray disc. Starring acclaimed actress Jennifer Connelly, the film "Rolling Stone" calls "a torrent of suspense" is a visual and auditory wonder in this revolutionary high-definition format. Life becomes a living nightmare for Dahlia Williams and her daughter when their new apartment begins to take on a life of its own. Experience every heart-stopping moment in razor-sharp 1080p, and feel the grip of every blood-curdling scream delivered in 5.1 48 kHz, 16-bit uncompressed audio. See, hear, and feel the excitement with Blu-ray high definition.

Customer Reviews:

Great directing, very good movie, average adaptation. Blu Ray: less than average.......2006-11-25

Mr. Salles show his growth in this movie. He and the brilliant Mrs. Connely lead the movie to a high place. There's grat actors but the movie is in the Connelly's shoulders, and she didn't dissappointed us. Beside her beautiness, she is one of the best actress around.
Blu Ray tech is a promise yet. The image is not better than the DVD through HDMI. If you are a very good DVD player you didn't notice wich tech is better. I watched "The Last Samurai" HD-DVD edition and it seems to be better. Much better. Let's see what happens in the future.

Average customer rating:

Watch What You Say ...
This is not a historical drama!
entertaining movie about Vlad Tepes
The Voevod returns...
Bravo

Dracula - The Dark Prince
Starring: Rudolf Martin , Jane March , Christopher Brand , Peter Weller , and Roger Daltrey
Director: Joe Chappelle
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000633QU
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Customer Reviews:

Watch What You Say ..........2007-08-30

I'm writting this after reading the other reviews. You have to remember when watching this that it is a Movie not a Documentary. It's a great Dracula story based loosely on facts. If anyone is trying to convince you otherwise they're out of their mind. (And if anyone actually portrayed the true figure of Dracula it would not only be an ugly character, but also an ugly actor ...)

This is a great, slightly dramatic movie; with a great looking actor; and a lose ending. It's fun and a great movie if you like vampire movies, or historical fiction.

This is not a historical drama!.......2007-07-23

It's a drama, and it does follow, VERY roughly, the events of Vlad's life. I realize you can't put a whole life into the time frame of a movie. But this is full of major inconsistencies. I would recommend this movie, WITH RESERVATIONS, to somebody who already knows the truth about Vlad's life from an imartial source and who also enjoys beautiful settings and passable to good acting. Most of it was pleasant to watch.

And WHY did they depict this man without a moustache? It's his most distinguishing feature. They should have had the moustache even if it meant giving up the high cheekbones.

I think the Immortal Life ending was a mistake, and the cover is misleading in the extreme. And it's not even a spoiler for me to say this, because the cover would otherwise lead one to believe it was a vampire flick. There is no hint of vampirism in the final scene.

entertaining movie about Vlad Tepes.......2007-01-29

While not as "real" as the film would have you believe, "Dark Prince" is an entertaining movie about Vlad the Impaler. While his connection to Stoker's Dracula has been exagerrated over the years, Vlad Tepes is a controversial and fascinating figure, and it is about time somone made a film about him.
Don't expect vampires. The cover art and trailer are very misleading. However, this is still a solid little film. If you like medieval action films, or just want to get a vague idea as to what the historic Vlad was like, this film comes recommended.

The Voevod returns..........2007-01-25

This film attempts to portray Vlad Dracul in a more realistic manner, as far as specific events are concerned, such as:

1. Rounding up traitors with the pretext of a drunken celebration, and then when all are pretty well enebriated, lighting the entire edifice aflame, thus ridding himself of possible antagonists to his reign.

2. Dining at The Field of The Impaled, while dipping his bread in a goblet filled with blood and wine. Enemies turning back to their countries fearing the man who is capable of such a fearsome spectacle.

3. The oft-times neglected fact that he also impaled women and children at times, depending upon their offense, in this case, for being "adulterous". In this sense, he was influenced by Judeo-christian moralism.

4. Another truism related that one could veritable leave gold on the streets, and it would not be stolen, for fear of the punishment. Criminals were often seen impaled and immolated on the streets, which acted as a perfect deterrent. He actually displayed elements of Lex Talionis - as a result, crime was just about nil.

5. Driving spikes into the skulls of Muslims who refused to remove their turbans. They should "keep their traditions in their own country".

As far as the characterization is concerned, the mane-haired Vlad Tepesh {Rudolf Martin} is presented herein in a more or less romantic manner, sans moustache, and often wearing leather. 'Mina' as "Lidia" {Jane March} remains sheltered, and goes insane upon her realization of the actual events occurring in the kingdom, who then begins to superstitiously adorn herself with a rosary and calls Vlad a "monster" {"Voevod"}. Upon her suicide, he has all the mirrors in the castle covered, thus the mythological connection with the vampire "unable" to view his own reflection. She is survived by Vlad Jr., who displays great potential for leadership through his own ruthlessness.

He encounters his traitorous younger brother on the battle field, and graciously spares his life instead of dispatching him, which he should have done, as well as his step-father, both of whom eventually prove to be major obstacles, from framing him, which lands him in prison for awhile, to attempts at assassination. Upon regaining the throne, he strikes a deal with Catholic King Janos {Roger Daltrey}, proclaiming that it does not matter to him under what banner he fights, so long as his rule continues, and thus, his own interests prevail.

He seemingly resurrects on a couple of occasions, which lends to the legend of physical Vampiric immortality, whose "soul" is unable to enter heaven or Hell, and is "condemned" to roam the earth in a state of the 'undead'; to which he remains thankful to the murderous priest, who himself meets his end via a heart attack - veritably scared to death. Quite a pleasing concluding scene, instead of the typical stake in the heart.

Because of his indestructability and military genius, he is accused of being an antichrist by the Orthodox clergy, which seems to amuse him, when all he wanted to accomplish was the glorification of his country and the preservation of his kingdom, both at which he succeeds.

I rather enjoyed this presentaion, where Vlad The Impaler relishes in his role as tyrant to his enemies, and savior to his people, who still hail him as a national hero, and expect his symbolic return in some form.

Overall, Dracula: The Dark Prince is an aesthetically-impressive film, as Dracula / Vampiric presentations tend to be quite elegant from environment to accoutrement to deportment, and is probably the closest adaptation to actual events in the life of this remarkable historical figure, certainly an unforgettably mighty warrior. who remains an inspiration.

Bravo.......2005-11-16

In high school I did a report on the life of Vlad. The documentary book ended up being more of a comparing between Brahm's book and the true man behind the legends. Tidbits barely mentioned in the biographies I've read were openly shown in this movie about a man who lived and died while trapped between his beliefs, the dominate churches, warring lands, his own people and his prenotioned fate. A warrior in every way, it shows Tephesh at his best and his worst. I have rented it five times and intend to sit it in my collection soon beside Interview, To End All Wars and Contantine.
Like historical cinema? Gorge yourself with this time after time after time...

Average customer rating:

I Wanted To Enjoy It More!

A Whisper in the Dark
Starring: John Phillip Law , Nathalie Delon , Olga Bisera , Alessandro Poggi , and Joseph Cotten
Director: Marcello Aliprandi
Manufacturer: NoShame Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AQKUTK
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

Strange things are going on in a beautiful and decadent Venetian villa. A young mother (BLUEBEARD's Nathalie Delon) is horrified to discover that the imaginary friend of her son (Alessandro Poggi) is the second child she lost during her last pregnancy. Haunted by guilt, plagued by freak accidents and disbelieved by her husband (DANGER DIABOLIK'S John Phillip Law), she turns for help to a famous psychiatrist (BARON BLOOD's Joseph Cotten)… only to learn that the ghost of her dead child is a very naughty boy.

Based on Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW and in the tradition of Nicolas Roeg's DON'T LOOK NOW and Mario Bava's SHOCK, this long-lost Italo-Gothic classic was directed by the late Marcello Aliprandi and shot in the breathtaking Villa Condulmer in Mogliano, Veneto. Painstakingly restored from the original vault negatives and available uncut for the first time in the USA, this subtle, disturbing scarefeast is driven by a sensual score from maestro Pino Donaggio (DRESSED TO KILL, THE HOWLING). And for the first time ever, cinematographer Claudio Cirillo (Ettore Scola's WE ALL LOVED EACH OTHER SO MUCH) has granted an exclusive interview, discussing the making of this ghostly gem.

Customer Reviews:

I Wanted To Enjoy It More!.......2007-01-28

Italian gothics, though slow, are usually rewarding. Not so in this case. While Whisper... has the right look, cast, and even a Pino Dinaggio score, it just doesn't add up. I wasn't scared! Sure, there were a few scenes with some decent tension, but never any real shocks. I'd recommend watching Mario Bava's "Shock" or Massimo Dallamano's "The Night Child" to see whether this is a film for you.

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