“The Sorcerers” is the second of three films directed by Michael Reeves, who died shortly after making the third (“Witchfinder General”). This film stars Boris Karloff, Ian Ogilvy, and Catherine Lacey, and involves an elderly hypnotist who develops a device allowing remote control of another person’s mind, controlling that person’s actions even from a distance.…
“Seconds” is a thriller and science-fiction (of sorts), directed by John Frankenheimer (known for “The Manchurian Candidate”, “Birdman of Alcatraz”, and “Ronin”) and starring Rock Hudson. It tells the story of an older man in a life he doesn’t like, having a mid-life crisis. He is approached by a mysterious company that offers him a…
I have to say, I am rather fond of found footage movies. You need to go into these with the presumption that all characters you are about to see are going to die (there are exceptions to this rule, but they’re rare) but they can be fun and creepy to watch. There is always the…
“The Outrage” is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon”, as a western. It follows the original story reasonably closely, and while it is not as good as “Rashomon” it does have a lot to recommend it. The story involves a crime, where a woman is raped and her husband killed. Difficulties arise at the trial,…
“Jesus of Nazareth” is a four part miniseries directed by Franco Zeffirelli. It tells the gospels account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It boasts an impressive array of stars in both major and minor roles and is one of the best depictions of Jesus seen on screen. There are some parts of…
“Us” is written and directed by Jordan Peele, two years after his directorial debut in feature films, with “Get Out”. “Us” concerns the Wilson family, who go on holiday to California. They stay in the childhood home of the mother. Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), who remembers a childhood traumatic event at a seaside carnival. When the…
“In Bruges” is a crime thriller with dark comedy elements, and stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. It involves two hitmen arriving in Bruges, after a job that has gone wrong. They have been instructed by their boss to stay in Bruges until he contacts them. Ray (Farrell) is appalled by this, as…
Back in the day, television was broadcast live, and in 1954 the BBC aired a television adaptation of “1984”. The screenplay adaptation from Orwell’s novel was done by Nigel Kneale (best known for his creation of the Quatermass character and stories). You can find this version of “1984” on YouTube – the condition isn’t great…
Based on a short story by Robert Graves, “The Shout” tells the story of a man who (supposedly) has learned a mystical skill from Australian Aborigines, a shout that can kill. I am not familiar with the director (Jerzy Skolimowski) but it does have an excellent cast, headed by John Hurt, Alan Bates and Susannah…
“Overlord” is a war/horror movie based in World War Two. As part of the D Day invasion, paratroopers are sent in behind enemy lines. The group is given the job of destroying a radio tower in a French village. Only a few of them survive the landing, and they soon realise they have run into…
Eclectic Assemblage 