Search the Cinema Head Cheese Archives!

Showing posts with label Peter Cushing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Cushing. Show all posts

July 20, 2013

Movie Review: Corruption (1968, Columbia Pictures/Grindhouse Releasing)

...why exactly is Peter Cushing...or rather, why is the character he plays in the sleazy, tension-filled, slightly campy and unflinchingly visceral 1968 horror thriller "Corruption"...renowned surgeon Dr. John Rowan, so freakin' mad, huh?? I mean, we're not talking something as simple as 'just stubbed my big toe on the curb', 'dammit, someone took my last jello in the 'fridge' or 'yer' cheatin' at cards, pard'ner' mad, here. No sirree, Bob...we're talking something more like outright mad-as-a-hatter, complete mental breakdown, 'I'm gonna chase ya' down, and if I catch ya', I'm gonna slice ya' up with this scalpel', blood-lusting psycho killer mad. At least, for this viewer, that was the first impression, in first becoming privy of the 1968 film, "Corruption"...

...before eliciting a conclusive 'theory' to this query, given this opportunity to view "Corruption" for the first time, this viewer cannot help but kick things off by expressing an absolute love of movies trailers...especially those wrought from the guilded age of the drive-in and grindhouse cinema, from the mid '60's...say, to the mid '80's. As they are obviously intended to do, the movie trailers 'sell' the film, and the more viscerally descriptive and exploitatively in-your-face, the trailer is, the better to draw in the eager, albeit unsuspecting viewer...especially this viewer. In some cases 'exploitative' is almost synonymous to 'deceptive', and often, such deceptive exploitation can fool the hapless viewer into thinking that the film is something that it ultimately proves not to be. More than often enough, this strategy culminates into the trailer being something better than the movie itself; however, there's the occasion when a movie trailer, in being evasive, deceptive, and at the same time exploitative, hides the fact that the movie itself is a powderkeg, and the trailer...as shamelessly circus-barker impressive as it might be, or tries to be...is merely an anticipatory fuse...

May 19, 2013

Movie Review: The Vampire Lovers (Blu-ray, 1970)

The legendary Hammer Studios output is finally starting see some very well deserved life on glorious Blu-ray. Scream Factory has made a splash with several Blu-ray releases of some of the best of 80's slashers (Halloween II, Funhouse, Terror Train), and now have taken a stab at releasing one of the finer Hammer vampire films in Roy Ward Baker's The Vampire Lovers. This release of course is a filled to the brim HD special edition.

Based on J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla, The Vampire Lovers is the story about a family living in the English countryside who has taken upon themselves to invite a gorgeous stranger into their home by the name of Carmilla (Ingrid Pitt, Countess Dracula, and The Wicker Man). This lovely stranger isn't exactly the best guest you’d want to be around other nubile women, when in fact this buxom siren is actually a vampire, thirsting for their blood. Of course no great vampire film coming out of Hammer Studios is complete without the always professional, Peter Cushing (Twins of Evil, Dracula: Prince of Darkness). Cushing is hot on the tail of Carmilla, who even for this seasoned vampire hunter proves to be a tough catch.

December 2, 2012

Movie Review: Horror Express (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo)

There a have been many prolific duos in film history: Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, Pryor and Wilder, Freidman and Lewis,  are just a few that  come to mind when I think off total magic when the parties come together. In the horror realm, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are tops with their amazing camaraderie in some of the Hammer Productions (Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Horror of Dracula) they've teamed up in.

Severin Films has released the movie Horror Express from Spanish director Eugenio Martin in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack starring the legendary actors.  It may just be time to finally put away all those shitty public domain releases, use them as coasters and crack this baby open.

August 27, 2012

Movie Review: Twins of Evil (2012, Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Directed by John Hough

Starring Peter Cushing, Madeleine Collinson and Mary Collinson

Run Time: 87 minutes

Two beautiful orphaned identical twins, Maria and Frieda Gellhorn (both Playboy centerfold models in the 70‘s), move to the village of Karnstein to live with their uncle Gustav ( Hammer favorite & horror legend, Peter Cushing), a fanatical puritan and leader of the local witch-hunting “Brotherhood”.  In a castle overlooking the village lives the village Count (Damien Thomas), a blood-thirsty vampire who spends his time practicing black magic, worshiping Satan and defiling young peasant girls (As the old saying goes...its good to be the Count.) Protected by his social status, the Count goes about his heinous business with impunity.  Uncle Gustav and his Brotherhood, frustrated by this, take it out on innocent peasant girls, hunting them down and burning them at the stake, assuming everyone with a nice set of tits is a witch.

May 1, 2012

"Twins of Evil" Double Your Pleasure on Blu-ray and DVD July 10th From Synapse Films!

TWINS OF EVIL
from THE HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION



TWINS OF EVIL

 

 

 

Luscious Playboy centerfold twins, Mary and Madeleine Collinson, bring new blood to the legendary Hammer Films fold in this new transfer of a most elusive film in horror history, John Hough's TWINS OF EVIL, now on Blu-ray and DVD from Synapse Films!

 

Two beautiful orphaned identical twins, Maria and Frieda Gellhorn (Playboy centerfold models Mary and Madeleine Collinson), move to the village of Karnstein to live with their uncle Gustav Weil (played by Hammer horror favorite, Peter Cushing), a fanatical puritan and leader of the local witch-hunting “Brotherhood.”        
    The village Count (Damien Thomas, Never Let Me Go), is an evil man who secretly practices Satanism, uses black magic and transforms into a bloodthirsty vampire.  Unhappy with her new life, Frieda seeks escape and tragically falls under the spell of the Count. Now overcome with an insatiable delirious hunger for fresh human blood, Frieda has to hide her secret from her sister, and escape her uncle’s killing grasp!
    The wait is over! The Hammer horror classic TWINS OF EVIL is now available from Synapse Films in an all-new 1080p high-definition transfer and loaded with intoxicating exclusive special features. Also stars Kathleen Byron (Black Narcissus), David Warbeck (Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond) and Dennis Price (Jess Franco’s Vampyros Lesbos)!

 

Features

  • THE FLESH AND THE FURY: X-POSING TWINS OF EVIL (84 mins.) - An all-new, feature-length documentary exploring Hammer's infamous 'Karnstein' trilogy from the origin of Carmilla, to the making of TWINS OF EVIL! Featuring exclusive interviews with director John Hough, star Damien Thomas, cult film director Joe Dante, Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas, and more!
  • THE PROPS THAT HAMMER BUILT: THE KINSEY COLLECTION – Featurette (Blu-ray Exclusive)
  • Motion Still Gallery (Blu-ray Exclusive)
  • Deleted Scene (Blu-ray Exclusive)
  • Original Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots (Blu-ray Exclusive)
  • Isolated Music & E ffects Track (Blu-ray Exclusive)



Run Time: 87 minutes
Release Date:
July 10, 2012
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78:1
Format:
DVD/Blu-ray combo
Region:
All Regions
Price:
$29.95
UPC Code:
654930314098
Catalog No.: SFD0117



Synapse Films