| Frankenstein 1970/Die Monster Die/The Raven (1935) |
| FRANKENSTEIN 1970 I have a little fondness for this movie. It was on TV quite often when I was a little skippy. It was always on The Ghoul who was a horror host in the Detroit area. Most of the time we were watching to see him but the movies weren't always bad. This one was a little above the rest. To finance his experiments the last of the Frankensteins (Karloff) allows a film crew to shoot a movie/TV show on the grounds of his estate. Of course the Doc is building a creature down in his secret laboratory. Not only does Frankenstein need cash to buy an atomic reactor, he needs a few spare parts for his project as well. The film crew and servants provide him with these - unwillingly of course. The film crew is really annoying. Seeing them getting bumped off by the bandage-swathed monster is quite fun. Many have complained that Karloff was hamming it up. I disagree as he was dealing with a one-dimensional character.Maimed & possibly castrated by the Nazis, Frankenstein is a rather twisted fellow.Oddly this is the only time Karloff played an actual Frankenstein. Some of the sound effects are quite cheesy.When disposing of unwanted body parts it sounds more like a big toilet than a grinder.The ending is kind of predictable. But there are worse Karloff movies than this. DIE MONSTER DIE AIP decided to try cashing in on Lovecraft rather than Poe this time around.What we get is an above average movie that is hampered by its budget. Nick Adams plays Stephen Reinhart who arrives in the small english town of Arkham.When he tries various means to travel to the Witley estate he is rebuffed by the townsfolk and has to walk. We're treated to some decent matte shots of a desolate countryside. Arriving at the estate the young man is met by Nahum Witley (Boris Karloff).He is pointedly told to leave.Sticking to his guns Steve informs the man that he was invited by Mrs Witley.Of course Susan (Witley's daughter) rushes down to clear up some confusion.Here we learn that there are some weird goings on involving everyone at the house. A maid has disappeared,weird screams are heard at night and Mrs Witley hides behind curtains.(Sounds like saturday night at evilskip's joint).A real miasma lurks in this house. Nahum has a strange secret in the basement that seems to be killing everyone who comes in contact with it. Rather than go further into the plot which is really basic there are a few things that lift this above your standard haunted (for lack of a better word) house story.This movie just reeks with atmosphere.It is very opressive and claustrophobic.The sets are wonderful and nicely done on the cheap.Boris Karloff gives his usual wonderful performance. Nick Adams actually holds his own here. On the downside the special effects are very limited due to the budget. A minor quibble.Patrick Magee shows up for a role that will leave you scratching your head wondering what that was all about. |
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| THE RAVEN (1935) When Judge Thatcher's daughter Jean is terribly injured in an auto accident even her fiance Dr Hardin is helpless.Her only hope is the brilliant but eccentric Dr Richard Vollin(Lugosi).We meet Vollin browbeating a mousy museum official.Dr Vollin is a fanatical admirer of Poe and a retired surgeon.He has even built a few torture devices based on the works of Poe.So you know he is just a little on the loony side.He refuses to help Jean Thatcher until the Judge begs him. Vollin saves Jean and falls in love with her. Jean has strong feeling for Vollin but her father interferes and really p----s Vollin off. They have strong words and Vollin snaps. Edmond Bateman (Karloff) shows up at Vollin's door. The mad dog killer wants a new face.Vollin will do it only if Bateman does a "job" for him.Vollin disfigures the killer and promises to restore his face after he does the job for him. After arranging for Jean, Jerry and the Judge (and a few other people out of nowhere) to spend a weekend at Vollin's home the "thrills" begin. The Judge is strapped to a pendulum and Jerry & Jean are put in a room with the walls sliding together.Will they survive? WHO CARES?The only sympathetic character is Bateman and he's a killer.You don't feel for the Thatchers as Jean is a lame brain and her Dad is a snob. Jerry is about as interesting as patio furniture.The comic relief and other cast members are incidental to the plot. While critics trumpet this as Lugosi's greatest role other than Dracula I beg to differ.Check out Black Cat or his performances as Ygor.In this movie he overacts and chews up the scenery.Yes he is supposed to be mad but you either wince or giggle when he is onscreen.The dialogue is horrible."Poe! You are avenged!"From what?This screenplay? Boris doesn't have a lot of emoting to do in this flick and takes a back seat to Lugosi.Maybe he was afraid of being eaten along with the rest of the scenery? Some more irritating dialogue as Vollin has Thatcher strapped to a table under the pendulum blade: Thatcher:"What is that?" Vollin:"A knife". Thatcher:"What is it doing?" Vollin:"Descending". Thatcher:"Oh try to be sane Vollin!". Oh evilskip just tries to keep his breakfast down watching this... |