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The Bodysnatcher, a review by Jon

THE BODYSNATCHER
5 out of 5

The first of Lewton's films I've seen that could be described as a full on proper horror. Still has the atmosphere, but now with a story that Hammer could have made, wearing it's bloody evil heart on its sleeve! Edinburgh 1831 (though you wouldn't know from the accents) and a doctor employs a grave robber. They have a long history and the robber is using it as a hold over the doctor and his wife (he's over familiar, calling her "crony"). It is perfect horror, but still has the subtleties Lewton has brought to his others to produce another challenging story. Boris Karloff gives a fantastic performance as the grinning graverobber, a part not unlike the Joker in that he teases and manipulates the characters into place.

Boris Karloff is an absolute legend. You should see this film if only for his wonderful performance. He is superb. Film education is sorely lacking that this particular bastard never has a rightful place in classic villains (or even Lewton and his films in general). He even has a creepy laugh! What else do you need to make this a true horror classic? How about Bela Lugosi scrapping with Karloff. That's right, Dracula and Frankenstein slugging it out. Great stuff!

The story cleverly weaves into Scottish tradition with strong links to classic Resurrection Men Burke and Hare (the Dr was supposedly an assistant of Dr Knox), and more shockingly, a cheeky swipe at poor old Greyfriars Bobby. This is the equivalent of kicking Santa in the nuts! It's sacred. You just don't. Bloody great though.

By the way, if you don't know Burke and Hare, or Greyfriars, it's worth Googling. Both are fascinating stories and really adds to this story. It is rare that someone creates fiction to follow on from fact and it should be done more.

(From Val Lewton Horror Marathon on October 4th, 2008)

Apt Pupil, a review by Tom

Title: Apt Pupil
Year: 1998
Director: Bryan Singer
Rating: 15
Length: 107 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish

Stars:
Brad Renfro
Ian McKellen
Joshua Jackson
David Schwimmer
Bruce Davison

Plot:
16-year-old high school student Todd Bowden (Brad Renfro - Sleepers, The Client) has uncovered a deadly secret. Far from suspicion, Nazi war criminal Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellon - Gods and Monsters) has been quietly living in Todd's hometown. Fascinated by the atrocities Dussander committed during the war, Todd begins to blackmail him. In exchange for the teenager's silence, Dussander must reveal his evil past. The two begin a relationship that spirals out of control, producing terrifying results.

Awards:

Saturn	1998	Nominated	Best Director	Bryan Singer
Saturn	1998	Won	Best Horror Film
Saturn	1998	Won	Best Supporting Actor	Ian McKellen
Saturn	1998	Nominated	Best Writing	Brandon Boyce
Saturn	1998	Nominated	Best Younger Actor	Brad Renfro

Extras:
Featurettes
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailers

This movie does not follow the book but captures the essentials. Towards the end it even deviates far from its source. The books spans multiple years and is much more violent. In the film everything happens in the span of one year.
Overall I enjoyed this film adaption, though in the end I prefer the book.

Rating:

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 4th, 2009)

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

Synopsis: The war has been going on for three months and the Federation had to take heavy losses. But the minefield is still in place and seemingly unbreachable. Starfleet developes a plan to destroy the Ketracel-White supplies of the Dominion. Without the drug the Jem'Hadar won't be able to fight anymore. Sisko takes a commandeered Jem'Hadar ship behind enemy lines to accomplish the task.

My Opinion: This is the beginning of a six-part arc, it's the first time on Star Trek that they did something longer than a two-parter. While Sisko's mission was interesting it also was "just another mission". I found it more interesting to observe how the different characters on the station behaved. And I liked how Jake tried to be a reporter and how he and Weyoun discussed the "freedom of the press" in times like these.

Synopsis: Sisko's heavily damaged ship crashes on a planet in an uncharted nebula. Most of the crew survives but now they are stranded with no means of communication. And they have another problem: They are not the first to crash there. A group of Jem'Hadar and their Vorta leader are also there and the Jem'Hadar are running low on White which makes them all the more dangerous. On DS9 Terok Nor life goes on. Kira works within the military hierarchy of the Dominion (Dukat has taken command of the station again) and Odo is a member of the ruling council. But that all changes when some Bajorans begin to demonstrate against (what they feel is) the occupation.

My Opinion: It's seems that you can't genetically engineer certain attributes together in the same DNA. The Vorta are cunning and shifty and good negotiators but at the same time they aren't as nearly as loyal to the Dominion as the Jem'Hadar. I liked it how Sisko tried to prevent the bloodshed and although they are the enemy it was a bit sad that the Jem'Hadar had to be slaughtered. But Keevan (the Vorta) will get was he deserves in a later episode.

Synopsis: Alexander Rozhenko - Worf's son - starts as crew member abourd the IKS Rotarran and Worf has to deal with him, since he is the XO of that ship. But Alexander and Worf have never been close and until now Alexander denied his heritage as a klingon warrior. So why is he there? Meanwhile Dukat has brought Ziyal back from Bajor and to the station.

My Opinion: It was nice to see Alexander again whom we haven't seen in nearly four years. And I also liked that they didn't make him suddenly into the perfect warrior. I also liked how Ziyal tried to re-create the triangle relation between her, her father and Kira. But this time it had to fail and it was good that Kira didn't continue this absurd charade.

This was the second episode that was cut due to the BBFC. About 20 seconds are missing at the end where the three Klingons conducted their hand cutting ritual.

Synopsis: Quark learns that Damar (Dukat's second) has found a way to disable the minefield and Rom (who designed it) confirms that this could work. The resistance cell (consisting of Kira, Odo, Rom, Leeta & Jake) plans to sabotage the station. But then the female founder comes to the station and that changes everything. Meanwhile Sisko was promoted to Admiral Ross's assistant and Dax takes over the command of the Defiant and she takes it to a very dangerous mission.

My Opinion: This episode was an average one until short before the end. When I first watched it I expected that maybe not everything was going as planned but that they would succeed eventually. It really surprised me that Odo let them down just to get into a link with the other shapeshifter. But that makes the situation aboard the station all the more interesting.

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on February 21st, 2009)