Prime Cut (1972)

At under 90 minutes running time, Prime Cut (1972) is efficient and taut like its mob enforcer protagonist Nick (Lee Marvin, another great role as a measured tough). Yet there’s also an original streak of perverse humour throughout, more than likely helped by director Michael Ritchie (who’d go on to specialise further in comedy with classics like The […]

Tourist Trap (1979)

Another scary movie for Halloween! I’d only heard of Tourist Trap (1979) due to Waxwork Records reissuing the Pino Donaggio score on vinyl. The film itself is like a cross between Texas Chainsaw Massacre and House Of Wax as a group of young friends (including Jocelyn Jones, Robin Sherwood and Tanya Roberts) blow a tire and […]

The Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh (1971)

One can also giallo for Halloween! The Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh (1971; also titled Blade Of The Ripper) has all the prototypical elements of the Italian giallo genre: a leather gloved killer, bloody violence, writhing sex, a convoluted plot, chic 70s style in the outfits and interior design, a gorgeous score and an iconic, […]

Vampyros Lesbos (1971)

After Jessica Grace’s terrific cover art and review about it for VHS Tracking Issue 5, I finally watched Vampyros Lesbos (1971; Las Vampiras). Directed by Jesus Franco (aka Jess Franco who turns up in the movie playing a creep), the story follows Linda (Ewa Stromberg) who becomes obsessed with nightclub dancer/undead Countess Nadine (Soledad Miranda). […]

Spasmo (1974)

Another movie I tracked down to watch basically because of the Ennio Morricone score, particularly the mellow, haunting title piece, Spasmo (1974) is a giallo mystery that was quite unusual. Starting off with a man (Robert Hoffmann) finding a woman knocked out on the beach (Suzy Kendall), the film’s tone is very over the top […]