The Shout (1978)

4 / 5 Jan '10
Tagline: A film of intense perversity - the madness of the mind.
Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski
Written by: Robert Graves, Michael Austin
Actors include: Alan Bates, Susannah York, John Hurt
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Drama
Length: 86 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Imagine if Robert Altman directed What About Bob?, only instead of a pesty Bill Murray insert some sort of intense demon like fellow who practices Aborigine magic. Like an Altman film this has absolutely beautiful scenery amidst the unusual psychological sort of horror. The evil fellow shows up in the lives of married couple Anthony (William Hurt) and Rachel (Susannah York) Fielding. Anthony plays the organ for church services and is obsessed with recording sound effects. Rachel is the devoted wife who seems drawn to this evil guy (or rather possessed by). When this new evil pest offers to show him a sound effect he'll never forget things are never the same. It really kept me guessing and the whole mood of the film is very uneasy, which I did like and the style was quite something too. I guess I wish it had a touch more clarity as id did leave several questions in my head anyhow. Still one of the more creative and strange thrillers one is likely to come across, definitely interesting. Thanks to cosmicnoiree for recommending it to me!

Availability:  On DVD in PAL format only

Solamente Nero (1978) aka The Bloodstained Shadow aka Only Blackness

3.5 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Antonio Bido
Written by: Marisa Andalò, Antonio Bido
Actors include: Lino Capolicchio, Stefania Casini, Craig Hill
Genre: Horror, Giallo, Thriller, Mystery
Length: 109 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well unfortunately this starts out very slow, the gloomy serious nature of the film does add to it, and the cinematography is quite nice. However the restraint wasn't appreciated by me (this is a giallo film, I want sleaze!) and the cast for the most part is very unfortunate looking (and what was wardrobe thinking?). If you can get through the dull first half the second half is definitely more what one would expect from this kind of film. The soundtrack is one of the highlights though thanks to Stelvio Cipriani who's work creates tension and definitely adds to the film big time. Since a schoolgirl was murdered in the past (or the opening credits for us) and the murderer is never caught a young man named Stefano returns to his home (where the murder happened). He wants to try to figure out what happened along with his help of his seriously older brother (uh more like Dad) the local Priest. When another young girl is killed in front of the Priest and some ominous things start happening it's a rush to find out who is doing the killings. It does seem to borrow from better films like Profondo rosso [Deep Red] and 4 mosche di velluto grigio [Four Flies on Grey Velvet] and it's definitely not one of the best core gialli, but it's still worth a viewing for fans I'd say.

Availability:  On DVD

The Driver (1978)

4.5 / 5
Tagline: He'll get you away faster than anyone else on wheels.
Directed by: Walter Hill
Written by: Walter Hill
Actors include: Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani
Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime
Length: 91 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Finally, a movie that is really exciting, full of cool '70s imagery, and not to mention some of the finest chase scenes and car maneuvers that I've ever seen. Hunky Ryan O'Neal plays "The Driver", a fellow who is the best getaway driver ever. He works for groups of bank robbers and the like for pay, he doesn't have friends and he lives in low places quietly so as to not get caught. He also comes off as being one of the coolest characters in film as he barely bats an eye at danger. Our opposition is the Police led by crusty detective Bruce Dern (who looks like a constipated Will Ferrell in this) who is hellbent on catching The Driver no matter what. Also for the fellas, Isabelle Adjani is in this, she assists The Driver on their scheme and of course is very elegant and lovely. When the Police confront a group of local robbers to hire The Driver for a job in order to trap him things really get heated. There is a little bit of chat in between many exciting chase scenes but it never drags. Sure it's not quite as awesome as The French Connection, but it's darned close! Oh and I should mention that I believe it's this film that influenced the video game Driver.

Availability:  On DVD

Long Weekend (1978)

4.5 / 5 July '10
Tagline: Their crime was against nature...Nature found them guilty.
Directed by: Colin Eggleston
Written by: Everett De Roche
Actors include: John Hargreaves, Briony Behets, Mike McEwen
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one heck of a film and it most definitely makes it's point. It's an Australian film about a fella named Peter who wants to go camping in the wilderness...the only thing is that he's a menace to the outdoors. He's reluctantly dragging along his girlfriend Marcia who hates the outdoors. This sounds like a comedy and in a demented way it kind of is...I mean this couple does everything but burnt down the outdoors. Peter is particularly evil and cruel, even to Marcia who starts to realize something is terribly wrong. See nature isn't going to take this kind of abuse sitting down...it's going to take revenge! Strange things begin happening to the couple including animals attacking them, so Marcia takes the hint and wants to go home. Thing is Peter isn't about to let her leave, and nature isn't about to let them leave either... It's quite an interesting film, when I read the plot I knew I had to see this to see just exactly how this plays out. It's actually rather well made, nicely filmed and it more than makes it's point. Definitely recommended for those looking to see a different kind of horror film.

Availability:  On DVD

The Initiation Of Sarah (1978)

2.5 / 5 Sept '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Robert Day
Written by: Kenette Gfeller, Tom Holland
Actors include: Kay Lenz, Shelley Winters, Tisa Farrow
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 96 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this was really a combination of Carrie and Revenge of the Nerds only I really loved both of those films and I thought this one was dull and mundane. It was a made-for-tv (expect no violence and no killing...it's a horror movie, what were they thinking?) about a girl named Sarah with unexplained powers (that are usually used for dunking people in water who piss her off), she belongs to an adoptive family that have a daughter her age called Patty. The sisters go off to college, Patty is beautiful and has a great personality to match, so she gets in the "cool" fraternity. Sarah is an introvert and a brain and frankly a bit strange so she gets into the lamer fraternity that doesn't seem to care about much of anything. Sarah's "den mother" (Shelley Winters) is into witchcraft and wants Sarah for some sort of old initiation (which had someone die in it last time it was performed). See not much is explained, and the payoff is very weak to say the least. Despite the fact that it's tolerable schlock and well acted it's still not really worth bothering with, I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it never really reached that point. It certainly could have been worse but considering the premise it should have been so much better.

Availability:  Not on DVD

Absolution (1978) aka Death By Confession

4 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Anthony Page
Written by: Anthony Shaffer
Actors include: Richard Burton, Dominic Guard, David Bradley
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although this starts out like a rather stuffy drama at an English Catholic School, it works into one heck of a wicked mystery if you are patient. Richard Burton plays Father Goddard, a stodgy leader whom the boys seem to quite dislike. They devise a plan to trick the Priest using the rules of confession, see Priests cannot tell anyone what they hear during confession. A boy tells the Priest that he killed a hobo and where for him to find the body. It turns out that it's a scarecrow, but later in confession he claims he's actually killed the hobo this time for real and to look in the same place. This time of course there is a body. It's really rather intense and I love how our perceptions change as this goes on, or maybe that was just me. It is a bit dry but the story was more than enough to keep me hanging on, also Burton's portrayal is really impressive. Watch it if you like a good thriller but be prepared to be patient for the first while, it will pay off.

Availability:  Not on DVD

Enigma Rosso (1978) aka Virgin Killer aka Red Rings Of Fear aka Rings Of Fear

2.5 / 5 Feb '11
Tagline: Sweet sixteen ... they'll lose more than just their lives.
Directed by: Alberto Negrin
Written by: Peter Berling, Marcello Coscia
Actors include: Fabio Testi, Christine Kaufmann, Ivan Desny
Genre: Giallo, Horror, Thriler
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Apparently this is the third part of the "schoolgirls" trilogy, the first two parts being Cosa avete fatto a Solange? [What Have They Done to Solange?], and La polizia chiede aiuto [The Police Want Help] both had the same director, and this one has a different fellow in charge. That may be why this film is way inferior to the other two. The muddy giallo plot involves the murder of a young girl (killed by a big dick). They start questioning her friends (they were quite a clique) and of course anyone else who might have done something so terrible. There are red herrings, and unnecessary nudity left right and center. What it is missing is violence, and gratuity and satisfying plot conclusion. By the time they actually got to the ending I couldn't have cared less (though I suppose they tried a little bit). It just lacked whatever character the first two had, it's very bland and forgettable really, heck I only saw this two days ago and I'm having trouble remembering it. Not a must see but it's okay I guess if you are a gialli addict.

Availability:  On DVD