DVD Collectors Online

Haunts, a review by Jimmy

Title : Haunts (1977)

Overview
A small town is stalked by a deranged killer who uses scissors as his weapon and a very religious young woman begins to suspect that her uncle may be the killer. As more murders take place, the young woman fears that she too will become a victim of the killer. Shocking twists and turns bring you to a surprise ending as well as the identity of the killer.

My Impression
The synopsis (I don't write them) and the general marketing for this film is the biggest problem with it. This film is sold as a serial killer movie and this fact hurts the movie a lot. Knowing absolutly nothing about it I was waiting for something to happen, the film start with a murder and this the only one that happen (unless I've fallen asleep). The end explain a lot of thing and the title become clearer. So don't expect a SK movie and this movie will be a much pleasant experience. On the positive side Aldo Ray is too good to be in this genre of movie, if you don't know the end of his career was quite sad because of the Screen Actor Guild. His card was revoken because he had used his real name in a non-SAG production (Sweet Savage) and without a SAG card it's impossible to work in Hollywood. That's why he was only in C-movies untill his death in 1991. Cameron Mitchell give an honest performance, but he is really underuse.

I've not really like this film because I was hoping something else, but if you know that it's not a SK film I think that you could appreciate it.

Rating :

(From Chilling Classics (50 Movie Pack) - films review on October 21st, 2008)

How Green Was My Valley, a review by Antares

How Green Was My Valley





Year: 1941
Film Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox
Genre: Drama, Classic
Length: 118 Min.

Director
John Ford (1894)

Writing
Philip Dunne (1908)...Screenwriter
Richard Llewellyn (1906)...Original Material By

Producer
Darryl F. Zanuck (1902)

Cinematographer
Arthur C. Miller (1895)

Music
Alfred Newman (1901)...Composer

Stars
Walter Pidgeon (1897) as Mr. Gruffydd
Maureen O'Hara (1920) as Angharad
Anna Lee (1913) as Bronwyn
Donald Crisp (1882) as Mr. Morgan
Roddy McDowall (1928) as Huw
John Loder (1898) as Ianto
Sara Allgood (1879) as Mrs. Morgan
Barry Fitzgerald (1888) as Cyfartha

ReviewThe Grapes of WrathHow Green Was My Valley. When making films that told of the plights and struggles of the common man, Ford would ascend above his usual penchant for corny storytelling and create works of divine inspiration.

       Huw Morgan (Narrator)

       In How Green Was My ValleyCitizen Kane for the coveted statuette. Was it the best film of the year? Hell no, but it is an excellent portrayal of the times and society's class tier prejudices in which the story takes place.


Review Criterion4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.

(From How Green Was My Valley (1941) on May 18th, 2010)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: "Angel" skips about the same time as "Buffy" did. Buffy has been dead for three months and Angel has been mourning in a monastery in Sri Lanka for about the same time. Now he's back and on his first hunt he kills an acquainted vampire before he recognizes her. But he also knows her boyfriend James and he wants vengeance.

My Opinion: On one hand I find it a pity that they jumped over these three months, on the other hand we would have only seen a broody and solitary Angel. The episode itself wasn't that interesting and a bit weak for a season opener.

Synopsis: Cordelia now gets visions that physically hurt her and several of it in a very short span of time. It is unclear why the "Powers That Be" would suddenly hurt Cordelia but Angel does anything in his powers to quickly finish the assignments.

My Opinion: I am quite interested in that prisoner. He could be a formidable enemy or we could never see him again, both is possible in "Angel". If it was not settled until now, now it's clear that it is a bad idea to try to blackmail Angel.

Synopsis: A number of demons are arbitrarily killed and there is no pattern to be seen. Some of them are dangerous, some of them are totally harmless. As it turns out, Gunn's old gang is somehow involved in this.

My Opinion: I think it's historic irony that a group of black people tells other living beings that they don't belong here, that they have no right to live. Granted, demons are indeed no humans but blacks also were told that they were less worthy. The world is grey, it's not black/white and neither is it separable into good/evil.

Synopsis: Angel and the gang investigate in a case were a number of men mysteriously died. Everything points to a certain gym  - or to the building opposite of it.

My Opinion: I love body-switch episodes. They are always fun because the actors can behave in a way which their usual role doesn't allow. It's also nice to see the confusion that comes out of such switches. The best body-switch episode I've ever seen was a "Farscape" episode.

(From Angel Marathon on February 17th, 2008)