HALLOWEEN ***** USA 1978 Dir: John Carpenter. 91 mins Those who got their knickers knotted by Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN remake duo have a short memory: John Carpenter’s original film is a scare machine precision-tooled from elements of earlier genre works. Its legendary opening alone (contrary to popular belief, the…
Browsing: Donald Pleasance
THE MONSTER (aka I Don’t Want To Be Born) *** UK 1975 Dir: Peter Sasdy. 90 mins Memorably titled SHARON’S BABY in the U.S. (there’s no one called Sharon in the movie) alongside THE DEVIL WITHIN HER, this bonkers British entry in THE EXORCIST possession movie cycle throws in parts…
TALES THAT WITNESS MADNESS **** U.K. 1973 Dir: Freddie Francis. 87 mins A long-derided, but highly enjoyable, facsimile of the Amicus horror anthology format, directed by the man who made their biggest hits. The framing story apes ASYLUM, as Jack Hawkins arrives at a hi-tech (for 1973) psychiatric facility and…