ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS *** USA 1957 Dir: Roger Corman. 62 mins No this is not a film on sexual diseases or etiquette at a seafood restaurant. This is a Roger Corman opus as only he could produce in those halcyon days of the late fifties. The Drive-in culture flourished in North America, rock and roll was unruly and people just wanted to get out and find their ‘thrill on Blueberry Hill”. Atomic testing and experiments gave birth to new monsters and mayhem on the silver screen. Why not a bunch of psychic giant crabs that kill a research…
Author: Terry Sherwood
Terry Sherwood
Terry Sherwood Born in Ottawa Ontario, Canada; Terry is a "Monster kid ', film fan and popular culture person. Once worked in television as a commercial writer/ Director. Writer of the SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET site covering aspects of the Horror Genre from Books, Comics, to Film old and new. He has previously written for WE BELONG DEAD and MONSTERMANIA magazines, The Spooky Isle UK website, Horror hound and Turner Classic Movies. Published Book of own writings titled SCREEN AND SCREEN AGAIN: ESSAYS ON THE HORROR FILM on amazon world wide plus contributed to other genre books. Chaired numerous convention panel discussions on Horror and Comics Terry is member of The Horror Writers Association and Dracula Society in U.K.
THE CREEPING FLESH *** UK 1973 Dir: Freddie Francis. 92 mins Those days of yore when the evil practices came from ‘Pagan’ continents. The hideous practices of the voodoo, ancient curses, potions, and deadly artifacts. In these times of demonic children and houses, possessed toys, killers that lurk next door etc, the horror of the deemed uncivilized world seems tame yet comforting. THE CREEPING FLESH (1973) directed by Freddie Francis and written by Peter Spenceley and Jonathan Rumbold, with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing is like a comfortable chair and cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. The feeling…
BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER *** UK 2021 Dir: Thomas Hamilton. 99 mins Boris Karloff as a “Horror Icon’ that gets remembered for being the Grinch or Frankenstein is already well in society’s lexicon. The life of Hollywood stars is often filled with myth, legend, and hearsay often invented by studios propagated by fans, or to cover up real problems. Problems are often deemed undesirable from the studio’s point of view or the times. This year Voltage Films produced a documentary attempt to put the life of Boris Karloff into a film form for all to see. This…
THE UNWELCOME *** UK 2010 Dir: Keith R. Robinson. 81 mins I am not a fan of the ‘found footage’ genre or many of the Paranormal investigative films that spring up usually when one gets the notion to make a repeat of the success of the original The Blair Witch Project (1999). However, that doesn’t mean one cannot enjoy THE UNWELCOME (2010) for what it is that being a well-acted, well-directed film shot on the budget of train fare. Advances in technology such as better, more compact cameras, better lighting, less expensive ways to edit, and post-production will never compensate…
REPRESSION (a.k.a. Marionette) *** Netherlands / Luxembourg / UK 2020 Dir: Elbert van Strien. 112 mins Start with generous portions of raw “Evil children controlling the adults as Billy Mumy did in THE TWILIGHT ZONE episode IT’S A GOOD LIFE. Then you add a dash of FIGHT CLUB (1999), a sprinkle of outdoor Gothic Thriller of your choice with rain, and lovely villages, simmer for 112 minutes over a slow heat, attempt to bring to boil and you get REPRESSION a.k.a Marionette (2020). Serves as many as you want, with heat-dissipating satisfaction. The picture or this recipe starts off with…