1976’s The House with Laughing Windows (aka La casa dalle finestre che ridono), aside from its completely rad title, is considered a classic of the giallo subgenre, even though many of the more lurid, baroque elements present in the better-known giallo films of Dario Argento and others are notably absent. Directed by Pupi Avati, the movie actually bears … More Movies: The House with Laughing Windows (1976)
I’m not sure how exactly I first heard about the Japanese film House (or Hausu) from 1977; it was probably on one of those lists of “crazy horror movies you need to see once in your lifetime,” I’m imagining. It also, I should note, began garnering a much larger cult following around 2009 or so, … More Movies: House (Hausu) (1977)
Allow me to briefly expound upon my love of haunted house movies (and books). They are, bar none, my go-to genre of horror, and my list of favorites includes many stellar examples: The Haunting, The Others, The Changeling, The Innocents, The Shining, The Legend of Hell House. There is just something so inherently nasty about … More Book vs. Movie: Burnt Offerings
On the second installment of this potentially very long-running series (the first installment is here), I’m discussing 1973, which was an absolutely cracking year for iconic horror movies. There was a treasure trove of amazing stuff to choose from, but honestly, my five favorite ones were a no-brainer, and took me literally less than two … More My Favorite Horror Movies from Every Year Since I Was Born: 1973
Directed by Peter Newbrook and released in 1972, The Asphyx was also known under the titles Spirit of the Dead and The Horror of Death. Set in 1875, it explores many of the same themes as Frankenstein, what with all the hubris about scientists tampering in God’s romaine and suchlike. Sir Hugo Cunningham (Robert Stephens) is a widower, a gentleman scientist, and a … More Movies: The Asphyx (1972)
Bob Clark was in interesting filmmaker; though he was born in the United States, he did most of his iconic work in Canada, and his directorial resume is all over the map, comprising horror cult classics like Black Christmas and Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, beloved 1980s comedies like Porky’s and A Christmas Story, … More Movies: Deathdream (1974)
I decided to return today not only to my favorite decade for horror movies, but also to my favorite horror subgenre for this post. In short, I’m reviewing two haunted house films from the 1970s, both of which have made numerous appearances on various “underrated” lists around the internet, and both of which happen to … More Double Feature: Something Evil (1972) and The Stone Tape (1973)
Any informed discussion of the best giallo films of the 1970s would inevitably name-check producer/director Sergio Martino, who was responsible for a significant number of great giallo movies during the era: The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, … More Movies: The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975)
The small film subgenre of British folk horror is easily overlooked, with most casual fans only being able to point to a single example, the excellent and well-regarded cult classic The Wicker Man. But there were a few other sterling examples that deserve their place in the earthwork circle, as it were, such as The Devil Rides … More Movies: The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1970)
Director Umberto Lenzi should be no stranger to fans of Italian gore films, as he was the man responsible for such infamous cannibal outings as Man from Deep River, Eaten Alive!, and Cannibal Ferox. But he directed a number of giallo films as well, including Eyeball, So Sweet…So Perverse, Seven Bloodstained Orchids, and the film … More Movies: Knife Of Ice (1972)
The Scare Salon 