VIDEO REVIEW: I Drink Your Blood

VIDEO REVIEW: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

VIDEO REVIEW: Equinox

VIDEO REVIEW: Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion

REVIEW: Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion

Director: Luciano Ercoli

Year 1970

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is a devilishly good Giallo film featuring a healthy dose of love, sex, murder, and mystery, all jam-packed into its 93 minute runtime. Lensed in a sleek, stylish fashion, this overlooked genre classic is a real treat for the eyes thanks to the impeccable vision of director Luciano Ercoli. With a narrative that is laced with tension and overflowing with red herrings, Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is a delectable Giallo production that definitely stands out from the rest of its sadistic peers.

The film follows a newly married housewife named Minou, who begins to have suspicions that her businessman husband, Peter, has committed a murder in order to clear his overwhelming debt. One night a mysterious and nameless man accosts Minou, threatening to go to the police and expose her husband unless she sleeps with him. Giving into fear, Minou placates to his demands, but finds out that things quickly begin to escalate once the stranger wants more than he first demanded. To make matters worse, the plot begins to become more intertwined when Minou's best friend is found possessing pornographic photos of the blackmailer. As her guilt and shame slowly turn into madness, can Minou reclaim her life and save her marriage, or will she meet a untimely and sinister end?

Dagmar Lassander takes on the role of Minou, the beautiful newly married woman who has had her life suddenly turned upside down by a malevolent and persistent outside force. Lassander does an excellent job with the demanding role, as we witness her slowly slip into a madness that is rather excruciating to see unfold. Her innocence and sanity is violated more than a few times and you can see the costly effects that they have on her character's mind and body. Distraught and wildly detached from the rest of the world, Lassander gives her oppressed character a maddened feverish personality as the film delves deeper and deeper into some unsettling territory. The result of this ill-fated persona gives the movie a dream-like quality which resembles a living, breathing nightmare, brought to cinematic life.

While Lassander carries a great deal of the weight of this production, there are a handful of amazing actors present to poke and prod her character through this wild roller-coaster thrill-ride. Pier Paolo Capponi plays the role of Peter, Minou's husband and the suspect of a mysterious murder that could possibly be of his making. Capponi fits the role with class, as he straddles the line between loving husband and suspicious suspect to perfection. Simon Andreu takes on the role of the blackmailer and damn does he not make a convincing scumbag. Vicious and absolutely heartless, Andreu's blackmailer character is a thing of unsettling beauty and he milks the vile role for all it's worth. Speaking of unsettling beauty, though on a more positive note, Nieves Navarro plays the role of Dominique, Minou's closest friend. Navarro is no stranger to the Giallo world, including Simon Andreu, and she has appeared in some of the most interesting efforts of the genre like Death Walks on High Heels, Death Walks at Midnight, and Death Carries a Cane. In expected form, Navarro knocks the role of Dominique out of the park playing one of the most ambiguously intentioned characters of the bunch. You never really know if she is being earnest in her concerns for her friend or if she has an ulterior motive for what she is doing. The unknown intent of her character is phenomenal and damn does Navarro look absolutely fabulous to boot.

When it comes to tension and mystery, Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion has it down packed. Every character in this film seems to be involved in some way, shape, or form, with what is going on with poor Minou, and you can't help but be swept up in all the red herrings the film throws at you. There's a sly, seedy nature to it all, and director Luciano Ercoli just languishes the film in this unnerving atmosphere, keeping you on your toes for the inevitable reveal. With Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion being his first foray into the Giallo world, it's safe to say that he did an amazing job on his initial effort in the genre. Of course he would go on to make Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight, two great Giallo entries which pull religiously from all of the elements that make Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion so enjoyable and provocative.

The film's visual palette is one of great metaphorical and thematic presence, allowing the imagery to tell the story in its own personal way. It's interesting to see such poetic imagery exist beside such sleazy and violent-infused visuals, but Ercoli manages to fuse the contrasting styles to tell a most intriguing story. One moment in particular shows Pier Paolo Capponi's character of Peter as he peers through a broken glass window at his wife as she sits in a bar waiting for him. The way the camera is positioned on the other side of the glass as it holds on Peter, transposing his face across the shattered portion of the window frame, gives a great metaphorical impression of his character's own personality and intent. Eroli also manages to use a wild array of colors to represent the steady descent of Minou as she is spiraling into madness and literally losing her mind. The harsh reddish hues, used sparingly, and the outlandish production designs of the blackmailer's apartment, are all wonderfully executed to give off that off-kilter and foreboding atmosphere that this film so loves to flourish in. As a Giallo film goes, Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is a wonderfully crafted thriller that really gets inside the main actresses head in portraying what it's like when the world seems against you and you have no where to turn.

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is an accomplished genre effort created by a budding filmmaker who fused art and horror into one comprehensive and exceptionally crafted package. For a first effort in the world of Giallo, Luciano Ercoli does an excellent job with balancing all of the aspects of this production, while at the same time maintaining a morbid sense of perversion that blankets this gem of a flick. Lost in a sea of mistrust, the film thrives on the unexpected and the unknown, making you second guess every single characters intentions and aspirations for Minou's character.

Each and every role in this film is performed phenomenally, allowing for the strength of the story to really take hold. Dagmar Lassander is wonderful as the helpless Minou and Pier Paola Capponi gives an astoundingly obscure performance as Peter, while Simon Andreu and Nieves Navarro pull no punches in delivering genuinely memorable characters, with the later of the two looking absolutely delicious in the process. With the multitude of twists and turns to be found within this wonderful Giallo film, I think it's safe to say that if you're a fan of the genre you should really get a kick out of this one. Luciano Ercoli is an under-appreciated director of the genre and he really does deserve a wider audience for his three beautifully crafted Giallo films. Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is one.....

Hi.... Want to be my snuggle buddy?

I can't believe you drank the last of the apple juice. You bitch!

Damn kids and their baseball!

Dagmar Lassander wasn't too keen on Nieves Navarro's cleavage.

Let the meeting of the Stupid Hats Club begin!

Did I forget to turn off the oven?

It's Movie Night with the girls!

I don't remember scheduling an appointment with a pair of legs.

Can I pet your fur?

This lady looks above suspicion.

Looks like Peter got caught in Dominique's cleavage. Bad boy!

Stop acting so damn suspicious!

What did you just say about my weird mustache?

Smell my five dollar bill. SMELL IT!

Looks like someone is having a good time.

Looking good!

We're going to draw a happy little tree right across the chest.

And so begins the second meeting of the Stupid Hats Club. Hooray!

REVIEW: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth
Director: Val Guest
Year 1970
 
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth is a fantastic prehistoric adventure film that continues the grand tradition started by Hammer Films in 1966 with One Million Years B.C., and that’s showcasing cleavage and clashing dinosaurs. This combination is as exciting as you would imagine and no one did it quite like Hammer when it came to the blending of fantasy and horror elements with the breathtaking beauty of some of the most mesmerizing starlets.
 
The film follows the misadventures of the young and beautiful Sanna, a woman who is marked by her tribe for sacrifice but through a series of unexpected and cataclysmic events is saved and brought into the arms of Tara, a man from a neighboring tribe. Being blamed for the unfortunate events that followed her escape, Sanna must survive the brutal world of this fictitious prehistoric landscape while at the same time staying out of the vengeful path of her former tribe, who would like nothing more then to see her sacrifice fulfilled. Run Sanna, Run!

This film is a blast as it combines two thing that never in a million years ever existed in the same place and time, but melds them together so believably that you can’t help but wonder, why the hell not. The role of Sanna, the young blonde outcast, is played by the fit and well equipped Victoria Vetri. Having never seen her act before, I didn’t know what to expect, but she did a great job with the material and lack of dialogue. In this movie, the actors were forced to find a more primal sense of conveying their actions and Victoria did a stupendous job through mannerisms and facial expression, allowing us to see her innocent and brave character come to life. For the most part, you don’t even acknowledge the lack of dialogue because the actors are set in that Neanderthal style of thinking and follow through with this technique with commendable effort.
 
The other main character of When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth is that of Tara, a young man with a sensible head on his shoulders, played by Robin Hawdon. Hawdon was another actor that I hadn’t been familiar with before viewing this film, but he does his heroic character justice and is able to have some rather inspiring moments that show off his noble sensibility as an actor and of course his athletic ability. It’s great to see him take on giant lizards, terrifying sea creatures, and everything in between in order to save Sanna from the constant dangers she encounters throughout this film.
 
What is really great about the two main characters of Sanna and Tara is that they have a special chemistry between them and we root for them to stay together throughout the story. Both Victoria and Hawdon sell this notion and give us hope that they can weather the storm and push back any adversity this prehistoric world throws at them. The central theme of the film is the connection that these two characters have and the relationship that they share, and the actors do a tremendous job in selling this fact.

Another aspect of this film that really works is the fantastic world that the filmmakers have created. The notion that man and dinosaurs coexisted in some long distant forgotten past, is a crazy thought and downright ludicrous, but Val Guest sells this topsy-turvy concept through the use of some expansive, on location, locales that showcase a tremendous scope and an epic ambition for the production. The deep valleys and extensive coast lines are glorious to behold and even the matte painting work is quite impressive and awe inspiring.

The effects work is equally extraordinary, with some convincing stop motion animated creatures that interact with their human counterparts amazingly well. The film has a great variety of dinosaurs that grace the screen in the most impactful of ways, including a triceratops, a pterodactyl, a plesiosaur, and even some other iterations of prehistoric beasts to spice up the action. To note, there are a few scenes where dinosaurs are represented by live action alligators with horns on their head, but they are so far and few between that they really don’t take away from the film that much. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, stop motion works in these types of film so keep with the animated monsters. This film is a good example of that mantra, showcasing some of the most accomplished animated characters that the genre has introduced over the years.

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth is a remarkable and accomplished fantasy picture that just so happens to be a ton of fun. Hammer Films managed to make a classy prehistoric romp, filled with camp flavor and cleavage filled elements. The mixture is somewhat reminiscent of their horror efforts of the 70’s. There’s an aura of class and atmosphere, but they manage to wedge in these guilty pleasures that genre fans just love.
 
The acting, which comprised of limited words and grunting, was admirable across the board, forcing the actors to rely on their mannerisms to convey the intended effect or emotion of the moment. The technique worked for this movie and established the savage world in which the characters lived in. The effects work was also vital in establishing the validity of the fantasy world on screen. The creatures and beasts leap to life in vivid conceptualized glory, showcasing some outstanding stop motion animation that must have made Ray Harryhausen proud. Put all of these elements together and you have yourself one hell of an entertaining flick. When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth is a prehistoric film that…..

Those crazy cavemen are up to their wacky antics again. 

Take it easy! It's just a mask lady.

This can't be good.

Westside! Represent!

Ahoy there! We come bearing a hot chick!

Now that we trapped it, what the hell are we going to do with it?

How cute. A pet dinosaur.

Uncle grumpy Sam wants you!

Hubba hubba.

It's not fair! She's hotter than me!

This dude fell head over heals for this dino.

Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me I'm the neanderthal man.

Can we keep it?

What the shit are you doing near my eggs?

You're such a man's man Tara.

Wipe that smug look off your face.

SURPRISE!

Welcome to the prehistoric jungle baby! Your ass is gonna die!

Maybe if we stand perfectly still, it won't see us. Screw that! RUN!

REVIEW: Equinox

Equinox

Director: Jack Woods

Year 1970

Equinox is a fantastically weird and atmospheric little gem that achieves a great deal, considering its meager budget and limited cast. Originally made in 1967, but then updated three years later, the film is something of an enigma. The story is told in flashback form by the sole survivor of an afternoon picnic that was anything but ordinary. The young man describes the horrific and unusual experiences of that day, filled with encounters with demonic and gargantuan creatures, bizarre possessions, ancient castles, and malevolent beings. The film may be low budget and widely accepted as amateurish, but in my opinion, this strange combination results in a highly entertaining film that captures a certain atmosphere that is sorely lacking in modern day productions. Bring on the weird, wild world of Equinox.

What a shitty one room apartment.

What a shitty place for a picnic.

When I say weird, I mean weird. There's tons of crazy, off the wall moments that kind of catch you by surprise and throw your mind for a loop. It's not exactly the filmmaker's masterful approach to the narrative that accomplishes this feat, but more of a collection of random moments that project an unexpected rash of unworldly wonders and unforgettable moments onto the viewer.

Take this for consideration. In the film, an acquaintance of the group of teenagers, an elderly professor, lives in a cabin in the woods where he studies and protects an ancient book called the Necronomicon. Now this isn't the strangest part of the story, but it's a nice start. When the group of kids arrive at the old man's cabin, they find that it has been crushed by some unseen force. The devastation is remarkable, leaving the group to wonder what could have caused its demise. Well the answer is anything but expected, when later in the film we come face to face with a giant squid. A GIANT SQUID! What the hell is happening?

I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Damn crazy kids.

On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.

Let me explain a bit. The appearance of the giant squid is the result of old professor pants having unleashed an evil force unto the world by meddling within the texts of the Necronomicon. His innocent tampering basically gives an open invitation to all the creatures of the underworld to come and go as they please, entering and exiting through an invisible barrier that our main characters accidentally stumble upon after finding an invisible castle. Huh?

The film is as random as my ramblings on the subject, but what holds all the wackiness together is the overall feel of the movie. It's unusual and unusually put together, but in my opinion that's the charm of the film. Nothing is as it seems and the real world begins to blend with the world of the great beyond in more ways then one, mixing up the proceedings and giving the audience a feeling of insecurity and doubt on the survival of the main cast of characters. Nothing supports this anticipation of morbid events more then the appearance of the robust roll call of creatures that inhabit this upside down world contained within this barren valley.

Whoa ho ho it's magic..... you know.

King Kong's ugly step-brother.

For me the creature aspect of this film is what really shines. These unnatural abominations seemed ripped straight from Ray Harryhausen's mind, often mimicking some of his most classic works like King Kong and the various iterations of Sinbad's most vile beasts. The stop motion, for such a low budget production, is top notch and gets the job done as it gives off that creepy vibe of something both living a dead, thrust into the real world.

There's a winged demon that is especially creepy, which constantly dive bombs the group and even deals out a bit of death among their ranks. Another show stopper is a lumbering gorilla like beast that dwarfs the rest of the cast in size. I remember watching this film as a kid and being quite disturbed by its appearance and mannerisms. The filmmakers also chose an alternative method to the stop motion creations, with a much simpler depiction of a brooding ogre like menace, portrayed more or less as a guy painted in green, sporting a furry tunic and one hell of a nice blonde uni-brow. The approach for the ogre isn't as impressive as the winged demon, gorilla, and giant squid, but it gels well with the unexpected nature of the film, providing a diverse set of morbid obstacles for our main characters to run up against.

You're about to receive the mother of all bitch slaps.

This little devil will, "Swallow your soul!"

Aside from the creatures and the unexpected quality of the film, what drew me in most to the atmosphere and concepts of Equinox was its extremely eerie similarities to one of my most favorite of horror films, The Evil Dead. It's been said before that Sam Raimi, the director of The Evil Dead series, had not seen Equinox prior to the filming of his movies. It's also known that Tom Sullivan, the man behind the special makeup effects and overall design of the look of the films, including the ominous Book of the Dead, had said that he had brought the similarities up to Raimi and tweaked a few things in order to separate the two films from each other a bit, but for me Equinox just seems a precursor and inspiration for what The Evil Dead films would later become.

Truthfully, I really don't care if Raimi and company lifted their entire Evil Dead ideology from the concepts of Equinox, because their end result is one of the most interesting and atmospherically heavy cinema worlds to come across in some time, but the similarities between the two films is just uncanny. I think I'm actually going to do a piece on the comparisons of the films, provided by images and plot points, because it really is an intriguing idea that they both can share so many elements and exist in the same cinema space, yet have never admittedly crossed paths creatively.   

The power of Christ compels you! THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU!

They don't pick up hitchhikers in this neighborhood.

Equinox is an original film filled with so many conceptual curiosities and otherworldly elements, that it's easy to go a little lax on the judgement of the movie's incoherent nature. The creature creations and designs are unbelievably effective, especially when you consider the budget of the production and the inexperienced filmmakers behind it. I've always had a soft spot for this film, having viewed it as a child and then later recalling its fantastically envisioned world as an adult years after. The comparisons to the Evil Dead franchise also intrigued me when revisiting my first acknowledgments of this film, forcing me to appreciate it that much more in bringing about something that could have quite possibly inspired another filmmaker into creating one of his most heralded collection of films.

Equinox may be a bit of an odd ball and an underappreciated, not to mention peculiar, film, but I believe that the strangeness of the movie is its saving grace. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys occult cinema and the weird subject matter that rises up from those otherworldly and mysterious origins. Keep an open mind and check it out.

4 out of 5 stars        An Underappreciated Cult Classic!