La Cabina (1972)

La Cabina (1972) was... boring. Maybe more interesting if viewed as an allegory, but purely in terms of action... there was none. 😅

The Wicker Man (1973)

Wow, The Wicker Man (1973) was incredible! This is one of the great horror classics I had not seen, and it did not disappoint. I saw the much-hyped Midsommar last year and was sorely disappointed in it -- even more so now that it seems a tawdry rip-off of this film. I was however delighted to recognize strong echoes of this film in my fav American Werewolf in London. Clearly this is an influential film, and for good reason! 🙌🙌

One Cut of the Dead (2017)

Mark and I watched Kamera o Tomeru na! (lit., don't stop the camera!), English title "One Cut of the Dead." It was great! 😁 And fun meta take on zombie movie production. Altho solidly on the side of comedy, rather than horror.

Prom Night II (1987)

Nicole and Michael joined us for Prom Night II (1987), a campy supernatural slasher. The 80s is easily my favorite decade for horror, and although this movie was pretty goofy at times, there were some very neat effects, including a totally awesome classroom scene (who knew chalkboards could be so frightening?).

Frenzy (1972)

Frenzy (1972) was terrific. I love Hitchcock. It's been years and years since I've seen most of his work (though I don't think I'd ever seen this one), it's incredible how shocking it still feels, nearly 50 years later.

Penda's Fen (1974)

Penda's Fen is provocative, radical even, in its treatment of religion, sexuality, capitalism, and society. The production value was atrocious, however, and the copy I saw was probably even worse, looked like a VHS recording. (Ripe for a remake!!) I wouldn't really call this a horror film, although there were some creepy and shocking scenes. 

"What is it that is hidden beneath this shell of lovely earth? Some hideous angel of technocratic death?"

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

Enjoyed The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), Dario Argento's directorial debut, which I had never seen before. Gorgeous gallery scenes with fascinating sculptures, wish I knew who'd made them.

Phantasm (1979)

Wow, can't believe I'd never seen Phantasm (1979)! 🤣 There was a lot going on in this movie, to say the least. Lots of jump scares, which I normally find very tacky, but this was old school and effective. Loved the 70s aesthetic, and the fact that the 13-year-old kid is driving around town and using a shotgun. Some fun practical effects too. Awesome. Also, the soundtrack was crazy good! I thought it was Goblin (sounded so much like Suspiria), but it was apparently Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave.

Profondo Rosso, aka Deep Red (1975)

Suspiria (1977) is my favorite horror film, so it was LONG overdue for me to watch Argento's Profondo Rosso, aka Deep Red (1975), also scored by Goblin. This movie has excellent shots and some very memorable dialogue. One of my favorite exchanges, after a woman is brutally murdered in her home:

Prof Giordani: Who could have done this?

Old housekeeper: A maniac, of course! It's always a maniac, and they never catch them.

I enjoyed this film, although to me it felt kind of all-over-the-place.

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971) was super creepy and scary!! 😰 Reminded me of Rosemary's Baby. Seems to have inspired a variety of later horror films... from Friday the 13th to The Others.

Countess Dracula (1971)

Countess Dracula (1971) was soo good!! A cruel countess, longing for her lost beauty, discovers the fountain of eternal youth... is virgin's blood!

The Omen (1976)

 Watched with Terra.

Carrie (1976)

Still just as powerful 40 years later!!

Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga / Baron Blood (1972)

Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972): Beware of genealogy, you might just bring back your sadistic 16th-century ancestor! Not my favorite Bava flick but Baron Blood (English title) was still a fun, weird horror movie.