DVD Collectors Online

Ordeal in the Arctic, a review by Danae Cassandra

Ordeal in the Arctic
Year of Release: 1993
Directed By: Mark Sobel
Starring: Richard Chamberlain, Catherine Mary Stewart, Melanie Mayron, Scott Hylands, Page Fletcher
Genre: Drama, Disaster

Overview:
October 30th, 1991, a Canadian Airforce CC-130 Herc, Box Top 22 tail number 322, left Edmondton, via Greenland, on its way to Alert a top-secret military listening post on Ellesmere Island. The captain John Couch, could see the lights of the airstrip at Alert, so he decided to go by his eyes instead of his instruments. Eighteen passengers and only 5 were killed by the crash. Roland Pitre was the first to hit the ground, he was the loadmaster. Although they were only a few miles from the base of Alert, a blizzard and the terrain, made it impossible for help to be sent at once, although every effort was made to get to them.

My Thoughts:
The story is harrowing to think about, being trapped at the site of the crash in the Arctic for 32 hours, slowly freezing to death, and you can really feel that bitter cold just sitting on the couch, watching this film.  There is a lot of attention to keeping the film as realistic as possible, and to keep to the truth of the events.  For all its obvious low budget, I found the film to be quite well done.  Richard Chamberlain has long been a favorite of mine, and he does not disappoint me here.  His portrayal of the guilt-ridden pilot is the finest in the cast, though I thought they all did a good job.  Recommended if you like disaster films and/or true stories.

Bechdel Test:  Pass

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on March 28th, 2015)

Horror High, a review by Jimmy

Title: Horror High (1974)

Genre: Horror
Director: Larry N. Stouffer
Rating: R
Length: 1h24
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1:85.1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Pat Cardi
Austin Stoker
Rosie Holotik
John Niland
Joye Hash

Plot:
A series of grisly murders wreaks havoc at a small Texas high school! A no-nonsense cop (Austin Stoker - ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, ABBY, ZEBRA KILLER) is assigned to find out the identity of the mad devious killer who roams the corridors of the high school. A mild mannered student (Pat Cardi) has been drinking a mysterious potion that turns himself into Vernon, a genetic freak. Terrorizing students and teachers alike, Vernon spreads his web of violence and terror to all who have mocked or laughed at him. Vernon also plays a deadly game of cat & mouse with the cop who is trying to stop him. Can the cop beat the killer at his own game, or will he become the final victim at HORROR HIGH? Rosie Holotik (ENCOUNTERS WITH THE UNKNOWN), John Niland (NFL Dallas Cowboys), and NFL Great "Mean" Joe Greene co-star in this violent and demented 70's horror film that has attained a devoted cult following! First time available in its UNCUT "R" rated version - unseen for decades!!!

This is one of those I wanted to see since I've seen its trailer many years ago on one of the First Something Weird Video DVD I got in 2005. Flash forward at the middle of 2010 and finally it was released by Code Red DVD... yes it was a long wait but I'm a patient guy

This is more or less a Jeckyl and Hyde story, but set in a high school. At least in part it is, since Vernon find the formula while working on his biology class works but he goes only after the people who treat him badly. That doesn't sound that exciting but it is indeed a nice chiller well writen by J.D. Feigelson under a pseudonym (he is of course more known for Dark Night of the Scarecrow that he wrote seven years later), with some nice effects considering the budget (this is if you watch the R rated cut and not the TV version of course) and with a good cast. Pat Cardi is a veteran child actor, Austin Stoker two years before his big break with Assault on Precinct 13 and of course the lovely Rosie Holotik (in case you didn't notice, today she is part of every movies I've choose to watch). Also if you were a football fan in the early seventies John Niland, Abner Haynes, Calvin Hill, D.D. Lewis and Joe Greene are in this film.

Another recommandation, BTW don't trust imdb Return to Horror High isn't a sequel of this film and have nothing to do with it.
   
Rating :

(From Jimmy's - 2013 Ooctober Horror Marathon on October 17th, 2013)

Doctor Who Marathon, a review by Tom

Doctor Who
Series 1.08 Father's Day
Writer: Paul Cornell (Writer)
Director: Joe Ahearne
Cast: Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Shaun Dingwall (Pete Tyler), Robert Barton (Registrar), Julia Joyce (Young Rose), Christopher Llewellyn (Stuart), Frank Rozelaar-Green (Sonny), Natalie Jones (Sarah), Eirlys Bellin (Bev), Rhian James (Suzie), Casey Dyer (Young Mickey)

This episode deals with what happens if the doctor (or in this case Rose) tries to change something in their personal history). I liked the scenes with Rose and her Dad. I didn't care so much about the creatures which appear to destroy them because of the changed history. It reminded me a little of the "The Langoliers" TV movie. Though the CGI is better than in that movie.




(From Doctor Who Marathon on February 8th, 2014)