On Vampyres and Other Symptoms (2011)

ON VAMPYRES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS (2011) is the clever title of a new documentary directed by Celia Novis focusing on the reclusive Spanish filmmaker, writer, and artist José Ramón Larraz. If Larraz’s name doesn’t ring any bells don’t be alarmed. Despite the fact that the 83-year-old director is well regarded by his peers which include Quentin …

THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED… “MURDER!”

Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (1969) is often cited as one of Spain’s most important and influential horror films but its audience is typically restricted to genre fanatics. The highly sexualized content and graphic murders depicted in this gothic thriller limit its appeal. But the commercial success of THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED during the late 1960s …

Celebrating Gay Pride

As a film journalist I have often tried to focus my attention on underappreciated films, actors and directors. Unsurprisingly, this has led me to write about a number of gay/LGBT films as well as gay/LGBT filmmakers and actors. So in celebration of Gay Pride weekend and the Supreme Court decision that now makes gay-marriage a …

On Vampyres and Other Symptoms

I recently had the opportunity to view Celia Novis' new documentary, ON VAMPYRES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS (2011), about the life and work of director José Ramón Larraz. Larraz is one of Spain's most fascinating horror filmmakers but his work is hard to get a hold of and I've only managed to see a handful of …

All Aboard the HORROR EXPRESS!

At the Movie Morlocks this week I took a sneak peek at Severin Films upcoming DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Package for HORROR EXPRESS (1972). This entertaining Spanish/British production directed by Eugino 'Gene' Martino is finally getting the red carpet treatment from Severin that it's long deserved and if you're a fan of the film you're going to …

The House That Screamed… “Murder!”

Mod Macabre continues over at The Movie Morlocks today where I take a look at Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s horrific thriller The House That Screamed (1969) featuring a great cast that includes Lilli Palmer, Cristina Galbo, Mary Maude and mod wonder boy, John-Moulder Brown. Here's a brief description of The House That Screamed from my post: …

Paul Naschy 1934-2009

I was gutted by the news of Paul Naschy's death today due to complications from cancer. He was 75 years old and had a very full and productive life but I didn't realize he was so ill. Naschy directed and appeared in some of my favorite Spanish horror films and as I've mentioned before, I …

Modern Mondays: Before the Fall (2008)

Before the Fall (aka Tres días) is a terrific Spanish thriller with an end-of-the-world setting. This thoughtful genre-mixing film takes place in a small Spanish village as the news breaks that a giant meteor has begun rapidly descending towards earth. The meteor is expected to hit the planet in just three days and scientists predict …

20 Favorite DVD Releases of 2008: Part I.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but overall 2008 was somewhat of a lackluster year for new Region 1 DVD releases of 1960s and 1970s era films when compared to the previous two years (See: 2006 and 2007). Some of my favorite DVD companies such as BCI Eclipse and most recently New …

Jess Franco’s Rites of Frankenstein (1972)

My love for Jess Franco definitely clouds any objective opinion I have about his work, but I truly believe that The Rites of Frankenstein (aka Les Experiences erotiques de Frankenstein, 1972) is one of the director's most surreal and interesting efforts. Unfortunately this erotic horror film doesn't really live up to what it could have …

Scream… and Die! (1973)

Despite its somewhat misleading title, Scream... and Die! aka TheHouse That Vanished (1973) is a fascinating film directed by José Ramón Larraz that's well worth a look if you enjoy unusual European thrillers. Larraz is a talented Spanish director who is mostly known by American film audiences as the man behind the erotic horror film …

Ode to Marcel

Pierre Clementi in Belle de Jour (1967) "He had a legend, the aura of genius, a friend to the mysterious and the strange. I arrived full of holy terror and mad hope all at the same time. I was struck immediately by one thing, only one: he's a man of whom you only see the …

What’s In the Box?

Critics and film scholars have spent countless hours analyzing Luis Buñuel's film Belle de Jour (1967) and the mysterious Asian box that appears in one of the movies most memorable and erotic scenes. As someone who has read a lot of Marquis de Sade's work, I've personally never seen the box as being very mysterious …

The Night of the Sorcerers (1973)

I neglected to mention that I reviewed Amando de Ossorio's The Night of the Sorcerers (a.k.a. La Noche de los brujos, 1973) last month for Cinedelica. Out of the five or six Amando de Ossorio films I've seen The Night of the Sorcerers is my least favorite, but it's still mildly entertaining and it might …

Birthday Wishes for Jess Franco

I never made a film thinking that I'd win the Grand Prize in Cannes. Never. I always thought it would be so beautiful for my films to be shown in theaters in the suburbs and the theater is packed with people who are enjoying my films. There it is, That's more than enough. There's nothing …