DVD Collectors Online

The Golem, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: The Golem
Movie Count: 69
TV Ep Count: 35
Other  Count: 2
Time Started: 6am
Plot:My Thoughts:
This... for me... was more of an interesting piece then something scary. Was enjoyable to see this early start to horror. But this is not something I would see myself watching often. More of a thing to watch on special occasions such as this marathon. A friend gave me this DVD out of his collection. So I want to say once again... Thanks Roger!



(From My Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon: 2008 on October 20th, 2008)

House of the Long Shadows, a review by Danae Cassandra

House of the Long Shadows
Year of Release: 1983
Directed By: Pete Waller
Starring: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Desi Arnaz Jr.
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Newly Re-mastered in HD! Horror legends Vincent Price (The Oblong Box), Christopher Lee (The Crimson Cult), Peter Cushing (Madhouse) and John Carradine (The Sentinel) star as the screen's greatest gruesome foursome! When a young novelist, Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr., Billy Two Hats) spends a night at Baldpate Manor to win a bet that he can turn a best-selling novel in 24 hours, he gets more than he bargained for. The grizzly Grisbane clan arrives to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a ghoulish family secret. And their dinner party has murder on the menu. Lightning! Thunder! Torrential rain! Clattering shutters! Creaking doors! A locked attic! A sinister secret! Murder! All the ingredients of the classic "Old Dark House" tale come together in this top-notch horror film by cult film-maker Pete Walker (House of Whipcord). Co-starring Richard Todd (The Assassin) and Sheila Keith (Frightmare).

My Thoughts:
Price, Lee, Cushing, Carradine.  These are the reasons to watch this film.  They're all the elder statesmen of horror by the time this film gets made (Lee is the youngest at 61), and this is the only film that all four appear in together.  If you're a fan of any of these actors, and most especially if you're a fan of all of them, their performances make this film worth watching.  All of them are superb.  Arnaz Jr. is also competent enough in his role.

On the other hand, the neat little twist at the end is completely overshadowed by the lame second twist and the lamer third twist.  Though it's true to the novel that inspired it (Seven Keys to Baldpate), I really think the film would have been better leaving those off and ending the film before the second twist.  The repeat twists were very much a let down after the rest of the film.  I was also really annoyed by Julie Peasgood's character.  Every time she would scream and cower all I kept thinking was "what a useless person!"

Recommended if you're a fan of the four lead actors.  These men are always a treat to watch, and this film is no different.  Not necessarily for the more casual, or modern, horror fan - I'd recommend a number of their earlier films first, simply because of the let down in the ending here.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

2015 Horror Movie Count: 10

(From Horror/Halloween Marathon 2015 on October 17th, 2015)

Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon, a review by Tom

13. The I in Team (2000-02-08)
Writer: David Fury (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), James Marsters (Spike), Amber Benson (Tara), George Hertzberg (Adam), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), Bailey Chase (Graham Miller), Jack Stehlin (Dr. Angleman), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Lindsay Crouse (Maggie Walsh), Neil Daly (Mason)

It is fun how Buffy gets to see the Initiative. Otherwise an average episode.

Rating:



14. Goodbye Iowa (2000-02-15)
Writer: Marti Noxon (Writer)
Director: David Solomon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), James Marsters (Spike), Amber Benson (Tara), George Hertzberg (Adam), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), Bailey Chase (Graham Miller), Jack Stehlin (Dr. Angelman), JB Gaynor (Young Boy), Saverio Guerra (Willy), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Amy Powell (Reporter), Andy Marshall (Scientist #1), Paul Leighton (Rough-Looking Demon), Karen Charnell (Shady Lady)

Too much focus on Riley to be enjoyable.

Rating:



15. This Year's Girl (2000-02-22)
Writer: Douglas Petrie (Writer)
Director: Michael Gershman
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Amber Benson (Tara), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), Bailey Chase (Graham Miller), Chet Grissom (Detective), Alastair Duncan (Collins), Harry Groener (Mayor Richard Wilkins), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Jeff Ricketts (Weatherby), Kevin Owers (Smith), Mark Gantt (Demon), Kimberly McRae (Visitor), Sara Van Horn (Older Nurse), Brian Hawley (Orderly), Jack Esformes (Doctor)

The start of a great two-parter, though this first half is not that great as there is so little Faith and too much Riley.

Rating:



16. Who Are You? (2000-02-29)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), James Marsters (Spike), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Amber Benson (Tara), Leonard Roberts (Forrest Gates), George Hertzberg (Adam), Chet Grissom (Detective), Alastair Duncan (Collins), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Eliza Dushku (Buffy), Rick Stear (Boone), Jeff Ricketts (Weatherby), Kevin Owers (Smith), Amy Powell (Reporter), Rick Scarry (Sergeant), Jennifer S. Albright (Date)

Faith's role is now much bigger and it is fun how Buffy and Faith are switching bodies.

Rating:



17. Superstar (2000-04-04)
Writer: Jane Espenson (Writer)
Director: David Grossman
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), James Marsters (Spike), Danny Strong (Jonathan Levinson), Amber Benson (Tara), Bailey Chase (Graham Miller), Robert Patrick Benedict (Jape), John Saint Ryan (Col. George Haviland), George Hertzberg (Adam), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Erica Luttrell (Karen), Adam Clark (Cop), Chanie Costello (Inga), Julie Costello (Ilsa)

I always found this episode fun. An alternate reality where Jonathan is the center of everything. But even though it is a nice idea, it was dragged out too long without any additional fun ideas.

Rating:

(From Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon on September 7th, 2009)