DVD Collectors Online

The Witchmaker (1969), a review by Jimmy

Title: The Witchmaker (1969)

Genre: Horror
Director: William O. Brown
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 1h39
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Anthony Eisley
Thordis Brandt
Alvy Moore
Shelby Grant
Tony Benson

Plot:
Dr. Ralph Hayes (Alvy Moore) is a professor of paranormal studies who leads a group into the Louisiana swamp to investigate a string of murders. His student Tasha (Thordis Brandt) is the psychic whose powers have been inherited from her witch ancestors. Hayes believes that witchcraft is the reason behind the murders of the young women, and reporter Victor Gordon (Anthony Eisley) is out to cover the story. The trail eventually leads to Luther the Berserk (John Lodge) a sorcerer of incredible powers who, after drinking the blood of his victims, has the ability to raise the dead as his unholy army of the night. The efforts of the human researchers collide with the supernatural forces of evil in this terrifying feature.

Back to better film
This one is one I already know well before buying the Code Red release in april, so I known already what to expect before starting it. What I didn't expect is how it will look great!!! This is probably one of the best use of the shadow I've ever seen in a movie, great lightning works by John Arthur Morrill the DP of this film. This film is the genre of film that make you think and don't throw everything in your face (sometimes it's a good thing sometimes not, depend of what you watch). Of course some could say that it moves slowly but not me, I like how the story is developped. John Lodge who play the berseker (some kind of Devil servant) do a really good job and he sure looks creepy. The cast isn't filled with big names, but everybody act well. Also it was interesting, at least for me it was, to see Patricia Wymer (The Babysitter), Sue Bernard (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), Nancy Crawford (The Thrill Killers) and Diane Webber (the most popular pin-up girl of the fifties and the sixties) showing in small role. Also be prepare for a nice ending...

This film was produce by L.Q. Jones (you can see him in many Sam Peckinpah's movies) who will produce and direct six years later one of the greatest cult movie ever made. This film being of course A Boy and His Dog
L.Q. Jones is present on this release for an interview and a great commentary track with John Arthur Morrill.


 
Rating :

(From Jimmy's - 2011 Ooctober Horror Marathon on October 2nd, 2011)

September Dawn, a review by Rich

September Dawn





Staggeringly based on a true story, it is hard to imagine how any man, in any moment of history, could have partaken in such a slaughter. Having read a bit more on the subject it is a bit biased, but if you can ignore a sloppy and fictitious love angle in the movie it is highly enjoyable.
A film with substance and some solid acting performances, notably Voight and Shaun Johnston, this is a skilful portrayal of a delicate subject. You are compelled to watch as the story unravels, culminating in a heinous crime supposedly ordained by gods will.
Fascinating viewing and given the cheap prices this can be picked up for, a true bargain.
 



(From Riches Random Reviews on May 17th, 2009)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: The cargo of a wrecked ship is auctioned at Quark's and Jake discovers a mid-20th-century Willie Mays baseball card and tries to bid for it. But he loses against a very weird guy. Jake and Nog try to negotiate for the card and have to acquire some items in exchange for the card. And for that they have to deal with both Kai Winn and Weyoun.

My Opinion: This episode was virtually the calm before the storm and they wrote it as such. And the episode reminded me of former days when Nog and Jake turned a lot of useless Yamok sauce into 5 bars of gold-pressed Latinum back in the first season (Progress). I also liked how Weyoun was portrayed. From now on they will give the character more depth which he will need as a major player in this war.

Synopsis: For weeks the Dominion has send ships and troops through the wormhole to Cardassia. The Federation can't allow this anymore or the war is lost before it even begins. They decide to mine the wormhole and stop all traffic through it. But the Dominion won't allow this and as soon as they learn of the mining process they dispatch a fleet to take DS9.

My Opinion: While the mines are a bit of an "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (a self-sustaining, self-replicating & cloaked minefield) I liked the decisions of this episode, such as retreating from DS9 to bring another perspective to the show or the deciscion to let Bajor remaining neutral or Jake staying behind. It will make for an interesting start of the sixth season.

The Season - My Opinion: This was a good season with a lot of interesting episodes of all kinds. Along with the fourth and sixth season these are my favourite years of DS9. This show took a long time to get into motion, I'd say way more time that any show would get if it were produced in this decade. But these three years (and parts of the seventh and third season) make totally up for it, especially the episodes that will come now.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on February 20th, 2009)