It's Alive (1974)

It's Alive (1974)

Another movie on the remake fast track is the classic seventies creepfest It's Alive about a killer ... baby. Heh, yeah ... but the movie is actually alot of fun.

Directed and written by Larry Cohen (God Told Me To, Q, The Stuff) and starring John P. Ryan, Sharon Farrell, James Dixon, William Wellman Jr., Shamus Locke, Andrew Duggan, Guy Stockwell. Early special effects by Rick Baker!

So here it is It's Alive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUGQ32I03Y

Madhouse (1974)

Madhouse (1974)


As we wrap up Vincent Price in the 70's week at the the rant we come to Madhouse where Price plays horror actor Paul Toombs famous for playing "Dr Death," where Peter Cushing is his scriptwriter and Robert Quarry is his producer. This is the last of Price's starring horror roles and the last film he made for AIP. Soon the horror market would have little to do with its horror icon stars due to blockbuster horror flicks like Exorcist, Jaws and The Omen.

My first memory of this film was the painted cover of Famous Monsters of Filmland by Basil Gogos. This image would facinate me as much as Dr. Phibes or Theater of Blood. Along with catching The Tingler and The House on Haunted Hill on TV, the image alone would catapult Vincent Price to the top of my favorite actor's list (right next the Peter Cushing).


The movie itself would illude me for quite some time and I would see it for almost two decades. When finally seen, the movie would disappoint slightly while still retaining a sentimental quality. While the movie is entertaining, it doesn't deliver real scares or tension and feels like a swan song. The stars make this movie work. Vincent Price would only make a few movies with Peter Cushing and this would be where they would share the most screen time together. In Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Scream and Scream Again, they wouldn't even share a scene. Robert Quarry, also in Dr. Phibes Rises Again, would again share screen time with Price.

The movie was directed by Jim Clark and written by Angus Hall and Ken Levinson. The film also stars Adrienne Corri, Linda Hayden, Natasha Pyne and Barry Dennen.

So here it is ... Madhouse

Trailer of the Day: Sugar Hill (1974)

Sugar Hill (1974)

Every now and then a movie will come along that I completely overlooked or didn't even know about. Being a fan of horror films for over 30 years, finding these undiscovered gems is a rare and delightful event. Sugar Hill was one of those such films.

Caught in the past few years, Sugar Hill is a fun if slightly silly Voodoo/Zombie film from 1974. The zombies in this film are not the flesh eating George Romero variety, but more a call back to the White Zombie or Plague of the Zombies films.

This film succeeds because of its stars: Marki Bell, Robert Quarry (Count Yorga Vampire), Don Pedro Colley and Richard Lawson (Scream Blacula Scream). They basically execute a revenge film fueled by voodoo wielding zombies are their weapons. Fun stuff.

So here it is ... Sugar Hill (1974)

Trailer of the Day: House on Skull Mountain (1974)

House on Skull Mountain (1974)

The heirs to a rich man's fortune are called together for the reading of the will at a creepy mansion outside of Atlanta. Soon they are being killed off one by one. The survivors try to find the killer before he finishes them all off.

Directed by Ron Honthaner. Written by Mildred Pares. Starring Victor French, Janee Michelle, Jean Durand, Mike Evans, Xernona Clayton.

After having watched and enjoyed such classics as Blacula, Scream Blacula Scream, Sugar Hill and more, I ran across this title. I've yet to see this flick, but I look forward to catching this someday soon. I've set my TiVo to look for it. If you've seen it, share your thoughts.