Monday, August 26, 2024

"The Computer Doesn't Know Everything, and Neither Do You" - Specters (1987)

It is time to return to Italy for the 1987 supernatural horror film starring (in a sense) Donald Pleasence. In the tradition of Lamberto Bava's Demons (1985), though showcasing only one monster, Specters is a frightening tale of pure evil invading the real world.

Of course, some of your universe's critics fail to understand Specters. For example, reviewer Whovian says "this film makes absolutely no sense whatsoever." Reviewer The_Void writes, "The plot is a complete mess and I found it very easy to get bored." And reviewer Coventry writes, "it's a silly and lackluster film."

Read on for a more realistic appreciation of director Marcello Avallone's Specters...

Monday, August 12, 2024

“An Exchange of Body Fluids with the Mummy” - Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1964)

Let us return to the 1960s for a "monster rally" that incorporates mummies, werewolves, hypnosis, past lives regression, science, and Lon Chaney Jr. The film is Jerry Warren's Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1964), based (seamlessly) on the Mexican film The Aztec Mummy (1957) with additional footage shot in the U.S. 

Shockingly, some of your universe's critics were harsh to this film. For example, reviewer BA_Harrison writes, "In addition to the terrible editing, nonsensical story and poor acting, Face Of The Screaming Werewolf also suffers from plenty of padding, most notably the native ritual at the beginning of the film that seems to go on forever." Reviewer planktonrules writes, "The film is just as awful as you'd expect given the circumstances under which it was made! And, as a result it's rather random and incomprehensible at times." And reviewer captnemo dismisses the film as "A real mess."