Tag Archives: Christopher Lee

(little movie secrets) Dark Places(1974) – odlična misterija i priča

Negdje stoji podataka da je ovaj film iz 1973., a na IMDB-u da je iz 1974., no nije ni bitno, jedino što je bitno je da je dobar film. Ovaj film ima odličnu glumačku postavu, ali u sporednim ulogama, kao što su Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Herbert Lom i Jane Birkin, no zapravo je glavni glumac Robert Hardy koji igra Edwarda Fostera, čovjeka koji je naslijedio imanje od kolege, prijatelja koji je preminuo u psihijatrijskoj ustanovi praktički Edwardu na rukama. On dolazi na imanje, počinje živjeti u velikoj samotnoj kući i priviđaju mu se životi, odnosno likovi zbog kojih je pokojni vlasnik poludio, ubojstva i vriskovi. Za to vrijeme brat i sestra Mandeville, igraju ih Lee i Collins, pokušavaju plesti zavjeru i isprepadati toliko Edwarda da naslijede imanje, pošto je negdje u zidovima skrivena basnoslovna svota keša u tisućama funti. Kako to biva, umiješaju se nadnaravne sile i događaji se zakoturaju nepovratno. Ovaj film je ustvari gotički ghost story sa nekoliko twisteva u radnji koji su neočekivani, moram priznati da me kraj filma poprilično iznenadio, a nagledao sam se horror trilera dovoljno da sam oguglao i mogu predvidjeti neke twisteve u radnji, no ovaj me zatekao. Uglavnom, ovaj film spada u slatke male filmske tajne i super ga je pogledati, zato moja preporuka svima.

(Vaults of Hammer Horror) The Devil Rides Out(1968) – one of the best Hammer´s movies!

I love Hammer Horror movies! They are my guilty pleasure, my best horror subgenre besides eighties golden era slashers and found footage movies. This is one of the best Hammer´s movies that this company made in its existence. Screenplay was written by Richard Matheson(I Am Legend), based on the novel by Dennis Wheatley and the movie was directed by Hammer alumni Terence Fisher. Christopher Lee stars as Duc de Richleau who tries to save his friend Simon and a girl Tanith from being sacrificed and turn into evil Satan´s servant, by cult led by Mocata played by Charles Gray. This is action packed intense horror with excellent car chase, infamous Goat of Mendes appearance, those who know their horror will remember exactly what I mean. Cast is excellent, story is quality horror, kind of Satanic panic movies that were made later in the seventies, so we can safely say this one was ahead of its time. If you are into exploring Hammer Horror movies, this is for sure gem from that house. Go check this one out.

(Vaults of Hammer Horror) The Curse of Frankenstein(1957)

Everybody who knows me can testify that Hammer Horror movies are my personal favorite horror subgenre, besides found footage(yes, I am a sucker for them) and eighties golden era slasher movies. Hammer is British movie company which delivered many legendary horror movies and legends like Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing starred in many of their movies and delivered some of the unforgettable roles like Dracula, Van Helsing or Dr Frankenstein. The latter is main character in this, first of Hammer Frankenstein series movies.

The movie is loosely based on Mary Shelley´s legendary novel, screenplay by Jimmy Sangster is not so based on the novel, the movie starting with imprisoned Victor Frankenstein who recalls and tells his tale to the priest which visits him in his prison cell.

Frankenstein was always interested in medical experiments and had no real morality values, cheating his fiancee Elizabeth(lovely Hammer alumni Hazel Court) with servant maid Justine(Valerie Gaunt) and conducting various animal experiments with his friend Paul Krempe (Robert Urquhart) starting with animals and later evolving into experimenting with corpses of hanged killer and brain of distinguished scientist. They revive an evil creature(Christopher Lee) which wreaks havoc and will change lives of all protagonists forever.

This is one of the top ten Hammer movies I have watched. Everything is done perfect, from character of Victor Frankenstein portrayed by Peter Cushing to evil and chaotic creature portrayed by Christopher Lee, which is so much different than Karloff and the creature which we were used to watch in Frankenstein movies. Maybe movies such as this don´t have much action and carnage, but there is drama, there is good story, great acting and poetic ending which leaves open window for sequels. If you are watching Hammer movies and want to become fan, I recommend this one for a Hammer starter package.

9/10