Japanese movie, whose title Google Translate assures me means “rare”. Masuoka (Shin’ya Tsukamoto) is a cameraman who feels disconnected from daily life. After filming a stranger committing suicide by stabbing himself in the eye, Masuoka longs to see what the man saw, thinking that his terror opened him up to seeing “things both strange andContinue reading “Takashi Shimizu’s ‘Marebito’: Vampires, Kinda, and also Social Commentary”
Author Archives: GhoulieJoe
‘The Mangler’: Tobe Hooper, Ted Levine, and Robert Englund–’nuff Said
John (Ted Levine) is a gruff but lovable detective investigating a death at the Blue Ribbon Laundry: a woman was sucked into a steam ironer and flattened. His brother-in-law Mark (Daniel Matmor) immediately suspects the machine is possessed by a demon, and he’s right. John and Mark discover that the owner, Gartley (Robert Englund), deliberatelyContinue reading “‘The Mangler’: Tobe Hooper, Ted Levine, and Robert Englund–’nuff Said”
‘The Man with Two Brains’: Comedy Genius
This is a comedy inspired by old sci-fi movies, co-written by Steve Martin and Carl Reiner. Martin is Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr, (pronounced hu-furrrr) a brilliant but lonely brain surgeon. He meets and soon marries Dolores (Kathleen Turner), who turns out to be a conniving gold digger. While at a medical conference in Austria, he isContinue reading “‘The Man with Two Brains’: Comedy Genius”
1978’s ‘Magic’: Nightmare Fuel!
“A terrifying love story” about the romantic relationship between ventriloquist/magician Corky (Anthony Hopkins) and his ventriloquist dummy Fats—er, I mean with former high school friend Peggy Ann (Ann-Margret). Corky, poised on the verge of his own variety show and thus instant fame, flips out over the requirement of taking a medical exam (probably because itContinue reading “1978’s ‘Magic’: Nightmare Fuel!”
‘Mad Monster Party?’: Primitive Graphics and Simple Jokes, but Still Amusing
1967 movie made by Rankin and Bass, the guys behind those old claymation Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer movies. Baron von Frankenstein (Boris Karloff) has just invented “the means to destroy matter.” He wants to hold a conference to tell his monster buddies about his discovery and also that he’s retiring and leaving his secrets toContinue reading “‘Mad Monster Party?’: Primitive Graphics and Simple Jokes, but Still Amusing”
‘Mad Love’: Pleasantly Not Racist for the 1930s
Not to be confused with the 1995 film of the same name. Yvonne (Frances Drake) is a Grand Guignol-type actress; her adoring husband Stephen (Colin Clive) is a famous pianist. She is also admired by Dr. Gogol (Peter Lorre), a surgeon famous for performing difficult transplants, who is desperate to have her to himself. SheContinue reading “‘Mad Love’: Pleasantly Not Racist for the 1930s”
Roger Corman’s ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’: Needs More Homoeroticism and Less Whininess
Not to be confused with the 1986 remake—this is the 1960 original. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) works in a Skid Row flower shop, trying to make ends meet. Among his other problems, he lives with his hypochondriac mother (Myrtle Vail), his boss Mr. Mushnick (Mel Welles) is mean, and his crush Audrey (Jackie Joseph) doesn’t noticeContinue reading “Roger Corman’s ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’: Needs More Homoeroticism and Less Whininess”
1989’s ‘Little Monsters’ is Pretty Creepy for PG
Brian (Fred Savage) is a young boy with a peculiar problem; he’s getting in trouble with his parents because Maurice (Howie Mandel), a monster, is stealing things and making messes, and Brian is getting blamed for it. Brian traps him, looking for an explanation, and they become friends. Maurice brings Brian to his world, whereContinue reading “1989’s ‘Little Monsters’ is Pretty Creepy for PG”
‘The Legend of Bloody Mary’ is Somewhat Unremarkable
Ryan (Paul Preiss) is having nightmares about a monster coming to get him; he’s been having them since his sister Amy (Rachel Taylor) disappeared six years before. Seems she was playing the game Bloody Mary (writing her name on a mirror and calling the ghost of Mary Worth) and apparently lost. Meanwhile, Ryan’s acquaintance FatherContinue reading “‘The Legend of Bloody Mary’ is Somewhat Unremarkable”
Ridley Scott’s ‘Legend’ is Dazzling and Gosh-Darn Unsettling
In a fairy tale land of yore, the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) plans to rid the mortal world of light so he can rule. Standing in his way are the unicorns, whose purity can withstand his evil. He fetches himself a unicorn horn, thus bringing darkness and turning the mortal world to ice. HeContinue reading “Ridley Scott’s ‘Legend’ is Dazzling and Gosh-Darn Unsettling”
