Fright (1971) aka I'm Alone And I'm Scared

2 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: The scream you can hear is your own
Directed by: Peter Collinson
Written by: Tudor Gates
Actors include: Susan George, Honor Blackman, Ian Bannen
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 87 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
I haven't really liked anything I've seen from director Peter Collinson but I thought the plot on this sounded like I should give him another try. I hated this movie, sure it's going to "sound" interesting but it's dreadfully dull and pointless. See it's one of the first babysitter alone with a maniac sort of films, it predates Halloween and When a Stranger Calls by several years which is what makes it of interest. Susan George plays an attractive young babysitter, however I've liked Susan in other roles but here it's painfully obvious that her acting skills are limited. Her performance was actually obnoxious and I was begging for the maniac to kill her through the entire film. The "maniac" isn't really very cool either, be prepared for an unbloody film, and the "psycho" punches someone a bunch of times and barely does anything else. Even when the story gives opportunity to be intense, frightening or even violently it takes the worst way out possible in each instance. I really can't state how disappointed I was with this enough, sitting through it was a struggle and by the end I truly felt like it was a waste of time.

Availability:  On DVD

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974)

4 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: They don't call them that for nothing.
Directed by: John Hough
Written by: Leigh Chapman, Antonio Santean
Actors include: Peter Fonda, Vic Morrow, Susan George
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
A rather low brow take on the 'ole Bonnie and Clyde idea, but it's an entertaining action packed flick that was pretty fun to watch. Larry (Peter Fonda) is a cool dude who happens to have hooked up with an obnoxious pain in the ass girl named Mary (Susan George desperately trying to sound cheap and American). Larry's partner in crime Deke although not mentioned in the title is the mechanic and sort of the brains behind their crime operation I'd say. Deke and Larry rob a grocery store with one heck of an elaborate scheme and of course Mary comes along for the ride though they do try to ditch her several times (who wouldn't). The Cops are another element, they are continually in car chases and well let's just say a ton of cruisers get completely destroyed! This even has a car vs. helicopter chase, who wouldn't love that? Pretty exciting film with tons of memorable scenes, this should appeal to most drive-in '70s fans.

Availability:  On DVD

Sudden Terror (1970) aka Eyewitness

3 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: Pins you to the edge of your seat.
Directed by: John Hough
Written by: Ronald Harwood
Actors include: Mark Lester, Susan George, Lionel Jeffries
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well this is a rather clean thriller that hasn't many thrills but it has a few interesting ideas at least. Our story is about a boy named Ziggy (played by Mark Lester of Oliver! fame) who is a chronic liar, storyteller and brat. His sister takes him to go see the President drive by, only he takes off and ends up witnessing the assassination of this President. Of course he's seen, and he's chased and blah blah blah, boy who cries wolf story of course. Of course nobody believes him until it's almost too late, and Sister (Susan George) meets a stranger who is very resourceful and together with their Grandfather they all must try and stay alive. It's just not as action packed and violent as I'd have liked, and Ziggy was just such an obnoxious character I was rooting for the bad guys to get him. Oh well, I sat through it without too much struggle, I just expected a fair bit more out of this.

Availability:  On DVD