Monthly archive May, 2012
The Woman in the Dunes (1964)

The Woman in the Dunes (1964)

At times like this, I regret my decision to call this series ‘The Sound of Trash’. It’s pragmatically myopic but, on occasions where the film in question is a good as ‘Women in the Dunes’, a certain level of guilt is attached. Hiroshi Teshigahara’s 1964 masterpiece, ‘The Woman in the Dunes’, even after all these...
Screwballs (1983)

Screwballs (1983)

SCREWBALLS 1983, Rafal Zielinski Let me begin by saying that Screwballs is probably my all time favourite teen comedy. Since seeing it as a teenager, however many decades ago that was, it retains its status as the most immature and absurdly watchable guilty treats going around. If movies were junk food, this would be the...
Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972)

Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972)

With the Blind Dead series, Amando de Ossorio created one of the most talked about horror franchises to come out of Spain. Tombs of the Blind Dead, the first entry, stands among the best that 1970s horror had to offer – and I’m not limiting that to Europe. Tombs of the Blind Dead is also...
Seconds - unused poster

Seconds – unused poster

The following, beautiful poster for John Frankenheimer’s chilling 1966 film, ‘Seconds’ was unused. This just goes to show you how unfair life can be. Movie: Seconds Director: John Frankenheimer Country of movie: USA Year of movie: 1966 Country of poster: USA Designer: Saul Bass Size: 25″ x 36″
The exploding hookers of Frank Henenlotter's Frankenhooker

The exploding hookers of Frank Henenlotter’s Frankenhooker

The following scene from Frank Henenlotter’s underrated 1990 gem, ‘Frankenhooker’ has been a favourite of mine since my teenage years. ‘Frankenhooker’ concerns the plight of a Frankensteinian medical student, Jeffrey, whose girlfriend is decapitated in a horrific accident. Being the medical whiz he is, Jeffrey sets out to rebuild his girlfriend’s body using parts from...
Concrete (2004)

Concrete (2004)

Watching a film you know nothing about can be an interesting experience. More often than not the film will turn out to be average; a film that’s not offensively bad, nor particularly good. If you’re lucky, a film you know nothing about can completely blow you away. It’s a rare experience for me – perhaps...
The theme from Carrie

The theme from Carrie

A short post from this week. I’m busier than dissolving alka-seltzer at the moment. I thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight a single, famous theme in the annals of horror history. Pino Donaggio’s subtly disquieting theme from ‘Carrie’ has burned itself into the aural pathways of many a horror fan since ‘Carrie’ was released in 1976. The theme itself deceives...
Sentenced to Hang (1989)

Sentenced to Hang (1989)

This week in Show Me Face, I have decided to share one of my favourite Hong Kong movie posters of all time. Below is the poster for Sentenced to Hang. While far from one of my favourite HK films, I was inspired to take a punt on buying the DVD of this after witnessing the...
Ralph Bakshi

Ralph Bakshi

On the weekend I was at Polyester, a local oddball bookshop, looking at the comics and art magazines when I happened across a familiar sight. Well, several familiar sights. All of them on the cover of one book. Holly Wouldifshecould, Fritz the Cat and Mighty Mouse amongst other loved characters adorned the front of the...
Planet of the Apes - Romanian poster

Planet of the Apes – Romanian poster

What is it about Eastern Europe that saw posters for big budget Hollywood blockbusters turned into abstract art? Take this 1968 Romanian poster for ‘Planet of the Apes’ as the perfect example. Movie: Planet of the Apes (Planeta Maimutelor) Director: Franklin J. Schaffner Country of movie: USA Year of movie: 1968 Country of poster: Romania...
Mac and Me's brainwashing McDonald's dance scene

Mac and Me’s brainwashing McDonald’s dance scene

In the annals of movie history, few films have tried so callously to brainwash youngsters into mindless brand worship as the 1988 film, ‘Mac and Me’. Not only is it a very very poor E.T. ripoff, but it is a ripoff clearly financed by Coca Cola and McDonald’s. For one, the alien needs to consume...
Jirass (ジラース Jirāsu)

Jirass (ジラース Jirāsu)

NAME: Jirass (ジラース Jirāsu) APPEARS IN: Ultraman, Episode 10: The Mysterious Dinosaur Base DESIGN FEATURES: – an uncanny likeness to a far more famous monster – a beautiful frilled neck – dodgy splashes of yellow paint SKILLS: – an eerily familiar blue energy beam – smashing rocks – being humiliated MONSTER SOUNDS: I’ve been counting...