VIDEO REVIEW: The Pirates of Blood River

VIDEO REVIEW: The House That Dripped Blood

VIDEO REVIEW: Hercules in the Haunted World

REVIEW: The City of the Dead

The City of the Dead
Director: John Llewellyn Moxey
Year 1960
 
The City of the Dead, AKA Horror Hotel, is a haunting little underrated gem which focuses on the storied myths of New England’s past to tell a new sordid tale filled with cults, conspiracies and witchcraft. Displayed in tension filled style and embraced by black & white cinematography that just oozes with ambience, this twisted story revels in poignant imagery that really sets the mood for the season. With an abundance of atmosphere and a solid cast, The City of the Dead primes the viewer with its unsettling subject matter and its dream-like sets and locations, which really pack a solid horror punch. If you’re looking for a classy horror entry that mirrors the quality that British powerhouse Hammer Films used to produce, then this little known witchcraft entry may be just up your alley.
 
The film begins in the year 1692 with a witch burning, as the villagers of Whitewood, a small New England town, condemn a local heretic named Elizabeth Selwyn. As she burns at the stake, she curses the town and threatens to return again. Flash forward 300 years later and college student Nan Barlow, at the suggestion of her professor, Alan Driscoll, heads to Whitewood in order to do some research on witchcraft. Once she arrives she finds a fog shrouded village that is anything but inviting. It seems the town is inhabited by a strange group of denizens who in their mysterious nature seem fixated on Nan’s arrival. As her stay becomes more and more bizarre, Nan comes to find that the town is under the control of a coven of witches who are looking to her to be one of two yearly sacrifices that take place during the Witch’s Sabbath. With Nan’s brother Richard Barlow and her boyfriend Bill Maitland setting out to search for her, can they defeat this evil coven of witches or will they succumb to the terror that has plagued the town of Whitewood for the past 300 years?

Venetia Stevenson plays the role of Nan Barlow, the innocent and curious youth who stumbles onto a scenario that she can neither fathom nor predict. Stevenson is a vision and even though she disappears almost halfway through the movie, her performance and initial set up of the creepy world of The City of the Dead is enough to instill in our minds the ambient wonder and dangerous nature of the film. Though I have to admit, her absence in the second half of the movie is quite jarring, leaving me wanting more of her subtle presence. Be that as it may, we are soon introduced to a new vixen. Taking the torch from Venetia Stevenson is Betta St. John, who takes on the role of Patricia Russell the new female lead of the movie. Though not as mesmerizing as Stevenson, St. John does a wonderful job in progressing the story along. Her character actually resides in Whitewood, so her normalcy among such strange surroundings is actually rather intriguing which lends to the overall mystery of the film. When it comes to both actresses, they do a commendable job with the atmosphere of the movie and each one makes a lasting impression on the audience, though in their own special way.
 
Rounding out the rest of the cast is Dennis Lotis as Richard Barlow, Tom Naylor as Bill Maitland, Patricia Jessel as both Elizabeth Selwyn and Mrs. Newless, and last but not least the legendary Christopher Lee as Alan Driscoll. Though Christopher Lee’s appearance in the film is reduced to an extended cameo, he still makes his fleeting moments shine as he brings enough feeling and credibility to his role to affect the entire production. Out of all the actors above, Patricia Jessel gets the most screen time as she plays the role of the evil witch Elizabeth Selwyn and the character of Mrs. Newless the mysterious innkeeper with a secret past. I liked the maniacal way in which she carried herself and her witchlike features allow her to seamlessly morph into the character without even a hint of burden cast onto the audience in trying to imagine her wicked ways. All in all, the cast of The City of the Dead is a rather solid one.

The atmosphere of the film is also a potent one, relying a great deal on its nightmarish quality and outstanding setting to cast fear into its audience. The town of Whitewood is a picturesque view filled with haunting rustic buildings, fog covered landscapes, and an unsettling stillness that permeates every inch of the production, and the set up to all of this otherworldly style is introduced perfectly by the opening sequence of a witch being put to death. Adding to the ambiance of the picture is a cast of villagers that appear more as ghosts than of real people. There are numerous times when one of our featured cast are traversing through the village only to be quietly gawked at by silent watchers composed of various apparition-like denizens. These unsettling moments are genuinely creepy and aid in the overall tone of the story.
 
The film also takes a good bit of time to show us the interiors of the buildings from the quaint little bookshop to the rustic and shadow-filled inn. It’s the moments inside the inn that are especially eerie, as it is crammed with dark low lit rooms, secret passageways, and underground tunnels. The structure of the inn leads to some very memorable moments, like when Nan first discovers that the throw rug in her room covers a trap door that opens up to the sadistic cult’s underground chambers. Another visual quality of the film is in the antagonists of the story. Draped in dark hooded cloaks and armed with daggers, this coven of witches are as maleficent as they are stylishly creepy. These devilishly dressed cult followers and their iconic attire give way to an amazingly somber moment in the waning hours of this film, when we are treated to an entertaining showdown between the cult and the last remaining good guys of the film. This is all played out among the silhouetted landscape of a fog covered graveyard and it looks absolutely exquisite. There are some unbelievably beautifully shot scenes in this sequence and the epic conclusion will absolutely rock your socks off in its presentation and execution. This is pure Hammer Horror imagery here!

The City of the Dead is a sadly overlooked horror film that mixes the imagery of Krimi films with the classic presentation of the Hammer Horror greats. Basking in a world of fanciful and frightening sights, this horror entry really knows how to delivery on the visual front. The movie plays out like a cinematic tapestry of gothic infused delights, gifting each return to this eerily created Whitewood with a spine-tingling greeting. The imagery perfectly captures the witchcraft hysteria that ravaged the lands of New England during the Salem Witch Trials, and that tempered atmosphere hangs low in the air.
 
Saturated with class and knee deep in surreal setting, The City of the Dead is a UK production that gives its all in generating a genuinely creepy tale that features enough twists and turns, and unexpected character demises, to warrant it as one intriguing horror gem. With a more than competent cast and an endless supply of atmosphere on tap, this film is a lost treasure that I always find myself getting lost in. If you’re looking for a good witchcraft yarn and you are in need of a Halloween atmospheric boost, then give John Llewellyn Moxey’s The City of the Dead a try. The visuals alone pack quite a punch. This film is an…..

Anyone want a Witch Shish Kabob?

What do you wanna do with your life?!?!?   I WANNA ROCK!!!!!

I think you've had enough you Milk Shake-a-holic.

What are you looking at weirdo?

So it's romantic as shit in here..... wanna do it?

Christopher Lee.... you're such an enabler.

It was an interesting Children's book.

There is nothing worse than a Peeping Christopher.

Get off the road you stupid shit!

What were you born in a barn? Shut the door old man!

How romantic!

Thanksgiving is a little bit different in Whitewood.

Christopher Lee you little sneak.

Tell me my sweater is out of fashion again you son of a bitch!

What do the viewers at home think? Should we kill her?

Break it up you cross hugging pervert!

My god! Look at the size of that booger!

This movie is a real scream.

REVIEW: Hercules in the Haunted World

Hercules in the Haunted World
Director: Mario Bava
Year 1961

Hercules in the Haunted World is a visually intense Peplum that relishes in the vibrant and fantasy infused colors, concocted by the one and only Mario Bava. The film centers around two muscle bound characters, Hercules and Theseus, as they venture into the underworld in order to awaken Hercules' love Princess Deianira from a hypnotic trance that threatens to claim her life and strip her of the throne. Can Hercules and Theseus survive the horrors of the underworld, or will their good intentions unleash something far more disastrous unto the world? Either way be prepared for a wild ride.

See they're laughing, they're having a good time.

Fantastically directed by Mario Bava, the legendary italian director most known for his iconic horror films like Black Sunday, The Whip and the Body, Black Sabbath, Kill Baby, Kill, and Blood and Black Lace, Hercules in the Haunted World showcases a plethora of mythological elements all fabricated and bathed under a kaleidoscope of colors. Filmed to perfection by the accomplished italian filmmaker, it's hard to imagine what the film would have looked like in any other directors hands. It's safe to say that Bava had a style all of his own and he let that splendid eye for imagery dictate the atmosphere of Hercules world, both in the realm of the living and the world of the dead.

The striking distinction between the two habitats is like night and day, but he still manages to balance both locations enabling the cast of characters to feel at home in both worlds no matter how diverse the living situations. It's classically done and even though we are bombarded with some rather supernatural and fanciful things, we never feel out of place in this euphoric plain, making it all the more clearer that Bava is what makes this film truly unique and a beast of its own.

Christopher Lee, you naughty little monkey.

Of course Bava had a great deal of help from his cast, first and foremost Reg Park as Hercules. Not only did he have the physique for the role, but he also carried a great deal of charisma that helped mold him into a more sympathetic character. What could have been a hollow, muscle-bound, and wooden performance, is instead transformed into a conscious and selfless representation of Hercules by Mr. Park. I really enjoyed his interpretation of the larger then life character and I felt that he gave the role a certain amount of weight that might not have been present if someone else had taken the reigns. Watching as the goliath Hercules struggles with moral decisions while at the same time battle with such determination through the terrors of the underworld, made for a highly entertaining ride that was a whole hell of a lot of fun. Reg Park was able to tackles both sides of the coin and should be commended for such a feat.

Everyone loves Hercules.

God I hate this haunted world.

Also the role of Theseus, Hercules' companion, brought another yet different quality to the film. More of a womanizer and scoundrel, George Ardisson's Theseus provided more of a mischievous nature to the story. When we first meet Theseus, he is literally rolling in the hay with a recently unengaged woman without a care in the world, that is until he is ambushed by a group of men hired to take out both himself and Hercules. With a great deal of show Theseus thwarts the attack, sending his assailants crashing to the ground as he seems to thrive on the action of the moment. Ardisson almost plays him as an action junky, always looking for his next test of strength or conquest in both the battlefield and the bedroom. He makes for the perfect partner to Hercules, who is more of a focused warrior only looking for a resolution to the problem and never seeking it out for the sheer thrill of it.

The undeniable contrasts of Theseus' passion for the spontaneous and Hercules' sensible approach to both love and life, comes crashing to a head in the second half of the film, providing a very memorable moment between the two friends. Ardisson's role in portraying that other half of the friendship is key to making it believable to the audience. The energy he brought to the role matches the passion that flows through Theseus' veins and that's really all you can ask in such an important supporting character and actor.

Last one up is a monkey's uncle!

I'm getting to old for this shit.

The antagonist for this fearsome duo is a power hungry and deceptive man named King Lico, played by the one and only Christopher Lee. Blinded by his lust for power, Lico entraps his niece in a hypnotic stupor, thwarting her from taking the throne and ruling the kingdom. As usual Lee is wonderful, giving that subtle yet overpowering performance that has permeated throughout his career and created more memorable characters then one can count. His presence is always intense and he carries it beautifully, leaving the viewer with a foreboding notion that this man is a walking talking poison guided only by his quest for the throne. I loved every minute he was on the screen, including his final confrontation with Hercules as they battle on top of a mist covered and moonlit hilltop ruin. The sequence is mesmerizing and it beautifully caps off this wonderful film.

You want me to do what?!?!

Oh Hercules... I can't stay mad at you.

The real meat and potatoes of this film is in the exquisite set design and model work. Never has the world of the underworld been so haunting and vividly reconstructed, capturing that creepy atmosphere and archaic wonder that really propels this film above and beyond its fellow Peplum companions. It's such a vivid portrayal too that one can't help but get swept up in the fantasy of it all. From the gnarled and twisted tree that Hercules has to scale, to the blood vine forest, to the lava filled caverns of the underworld, this film really does pack a visual punch. Even outside of the haunted realm of the underworld, Bava manages to spruce up the color and make it visually pleasing.

This is most prevalent during the night time scenes where we are given a surreal color scheme of purples, greens, and blues, that light the corridors and pillars of the palace. It's the most unnatural look one could imagine, but placed within the context of Bava's already established world, it works and works wonders. If there's one thing you can say and come away with, it's that this film is one of the most visually striking Peplums to ever be created.

Where in the hell am I?

I have the POWER!!!!

Hercules in the Haunted World is an imaginative film full of wonderful sets, glorious imagery, and interesting characters. The world is alive and full of life, made in part by the awe-inspiring design of the production team and the always appreciated cinematography of Mario Bava. Reg Park incapsulates the heart and soul of Hercules, giving the character a larger range then most give the icon credit for, while George Ardisson thrives as Theseus. To top it off you have the always consistent and highly engaging Christopher Lee as the main villain, who absolutely elevates the severity of Hercules' quest. All in all this film showcases the epitome of Peplum films, giving us the familiar staples of the genre, but adding a little twist to the proceedings that breathes new life into the formula. I highly recommend this film to Peplum fans and any followers of the late great italian master Mario Bava. 

5 out of 5 stars       Mario Bava's Peplum Masterpiece!