I watched some doozies this week, but the best of the bunch has to be Candyman and a fun screening of Blood and Black Lace over at Cinemapolis, courtesy of the Ithaca Fantastik crew.
For the record- here's what I watched this week:
October 7: Creep (2005)
This isn't the one with the weird guy in the mask. This is about a woman (Franke Potente) who falls asleep on a subway platform, is trapped underground with a homeless couple and a mutant maniac named Craig. It seemed a lot like a movie that began as one thing, and then someone kept rewriting. I watched it so you don't have to.
October 8: Candyman (1992)
If you've never seen this masterpiece, I urge you to. Based on a Clive Barker short story, with a chilling score by Philip Glass, Candyman takes an urban legend known mainly in the projects, a dose of gentrification, and one "white savior" and twists them into something else. Its a much different experience watching this racially charged film in 2019 vs. 1992 when it was released, but it also shows how little has changed. The internet is abuzz with talks of the upcoming remake by Jordan Peele and I am enthusiastically anticipating his take on it, and how he intends to reshape the legacy of Candyman.
October 9: Dolls (1987)
The cover of this VHS box scared me as a kid, so I had never seen Dolls until now.
With fun, practical effects, some hammy acting, and horrible people you will really enjoy see getting attacked by dolls and other toys, Stuart Gordon's underappreciated film really is a fun little gem. Imagination is magic, and this film is a reminder of that.
October 10: Two Evil Eyes (1990)
This was intended to be a series, but 2 directors backed out, so George Romero and Dario Argento stepped up with their adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe tales. The Romero Segment (The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar) was fun and felt like a Creepshow segment. The Argento one, however, (The Black Cat) was hard to watch. Mostly due to Harvey Keitel in a beret. Seriously, its all about Harvey Keitel as a jerk reporter/photographer/artist (beret), who kills his girlfriends cat. But cat's have 9 lives so... watch out, jerk in a beret!
October 11: Gothic (1986)
Oh, Ken Russell, how I love you so. This movie is over the top and kind of silly, but a beautiful and weird and erotic version of the night at Lord Byron's when Mary Shelley and co. told ghost stories. Modern Prometheus, anyone?
October 12: Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Oh, Mario Bava and the film people say started the giallo genre! I have been meaning to watch this for some time, and was delighted that Ithaca Fantastik was able to bring it to Cinemapolis for a showing. Sure, its dated and dubbed (which adds to it, I think) but its a gorgeous film- and not just for the attractive cast! A gloved murderer in a trench coat and mask is murdering the women in the fashion House of Christia! But who could be doing it! Thrills! Chills! 60's couture. Big Hair, attractive people. a wild score. Best watched with a crowd I, I think, but aren't most horror movies?
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