I love Lenzi's gialli offerings, or at least the one's I have experiences! I still need to see KNIFE OF ICE and A QUIET PLACE TO KILL. SPASMO and EYEBALL are some of my more favorite gialli viewings. Two very stylish yet, odd in nature but still very effective in the payoff!
It's been a long time since I first seen his SO SWEET... SO PERVERSE (1969), was that not just recently issued on DVD again??
I absolutely loved Freda's brilliant I VAMPRI! Now, what was the deal with Bava being uncredited for with this again? I know he had something to do with the overall direction, but what's the full story on that again?
Any opinions about this more recent giallo? I've heard some bad things but when I found it dirt cheap on eBay, I couldn't resist the temptation of picking it up. Figured I need to give some of the more recent horrer/thriller stuff a chance too. Still waiting for it to arrive and I'm not quite sure what to expect of it but at least it has a pretty good cast that includes famous transsexual Eva Robins from TENEBRAE (1982) and the good-looking Elisabetta Rocchietti, who has been cropping up in a lot of horror stuff like THE THREE FACES OF TERROR (2004), DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK? (2005) and THE LAST HOUSE IN THE WOODS (2006). Not to mention supporting roles by Florinda Bolkan and Franco Nero! Anyone here seen it?
Interesting looking film out of Italy with Irish/Spanish co-financiers. Directed by Italian SFX man Stefano Bessoni.
In the 1600s, long before the invention of photography, a scientist named Girolamo Fumagalli was obsessed with the idea of reproducing images. He discovered that by killing a victim and removing the victim's eyeballs, it was possible to reproduce on paper the last image imprinted on that person's retinas. He named this technique 'thanatography'. Today, the same kind of gruesome ritual and abominable crime recurs within the walls of an international school of cinema. -imdb.com
Also stars the daughter of Charlie Chapman, Geraldine Chaplin as well as her daughter Oona.
Well, it seems this is yet another Argento flick that is taking a beating in the review department. Even die hard fans are not too pleased with this outing. Anyhow, the PAL R2 DVD is now out via a Polish company that found it important to force the Polish subs!
Looks like this will be getting a UK release first via Arrow Films! I still haven't seen this, it was on my radar during last year's Midnight Madness during the Toronto Film Fest. The disc will be released March 15th..
I'd love to grab this, but for now I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray player for now, too unstable industry right now. Plus, the multi-region player are way too expensive!
(1968/UK)DIRECTED BY-VERNON SEWELL/CAST-BORIS KARLOFF, CHRISTOPHER LEE, BARBARA STEELE, MARK EDEN, MICHAEL GOUGH and VIRGINA WETHERELL/SOURCE-E-M-S DVD (GERMANY) 84MINS / PAL REGION 2 / 2008
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(1968/UK) REVIEW BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-VERNON SEWELL CAST-BORIS KARLOFF, CHRISTOPHER LEE, BARBARA STEELE, MARK EDEN, MICHAEL GOUGH and VIRGINA WETHERELL. SOURCE-E-M-S DVD (GERMANY) 84MINS / PAL REGION 2 / 2008
One of the first films produced by Tigon Productions, the lesser of the productions studios in the UK at the time, that being Hammer and Amicus. None the less pumping out some rather calssic titles like WITCHFINDER GENERAL and BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW. This rather interesting entry directed by Vernon Sewell tells the story of an art's and antiquities dealer, Robert (Mark Eden), who's brother has gone missing after taking a trip to the countryside. Finally giving into the worry, he goes in search of him. All roads lead to a mansion in the middle of the countryside owned by the wealthy Morley (Christopher Lee), where at first nobody has heard of his borther let alone see him. Still, he investigates the oddities surrounding the whole disappearence of his brother and starts finding answers. Steeped in the darkess of the occult, it's drugs and sexual draw Robert into it's web of inpending doom where lays the legend of the Greymarsh Witch (Barbara Steele) and her secrets.
First of all, one must basket in the glory of the casting for CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR, not only is there two of horror's finest acting examples as well as legends, but a pretty respectable supporting cast as well. One of the Boris Karloff's last roles before passing away, there was simply no doubt that to the bitter end and with the help of a walking cane and wheelchair there was no stopping him. Of course, not one of Karloff's finest roles, it none the less exhibited he's love for the genre. Playing an occult specialist or expert in other terms by the name of Professor Marsh. Teaming up with yet another heavy weight, Christopher Lee, who like many times before plays the dark muniplator who will stop at nothing for the simple pleasure of gaining. Both enjoyed shared screen appearences throughout this film, some of which are very memoriable even if it only in smallest of aspects. These two simply generate some classic trade offs, which in the case of this slow moving film, spice things up a bit. The two of them square off and head first into the new onslaught of occultism and it's heightened glory during the late 60's early 70's.
One must not forget that actor Mark Eden held his own, being in between such heavy weights as well. The other main role, Eden feverishly works out the kinks in finding out the truth into the disappearence of his brother Peter Manning (Denys Peek) . At the sametime making it good with the ultra sexy Virginia Wetherell who plays Eve, the daughter of Morley. Both actors are equally as good in each of their respectful roles. Supporting roles come in the shape of Karloff, Barbara Steele and the very sinster Michael Gough. Sadly, both Steele and Gough are heavily under used. Steele is the occult pinnacle of the film, the icon of evil if you will, the Greymarsh Witch, Lavinia. The scenes which are surrounding her, are very dark and satanic in nature. Ceremonies which include blood sarcafices, torcher and the heads of several occult figures in myth including the goat etc.
Still with all the positives with the casting, the source material of the occult and very atmospheric set pieces, CURSE OF THE CRIMSOM ALTAR falls well sort of being an average run of the mill horror flick. No real climax, slow story line, often falling victim to boring moments. Even the star power tandem of Lee and Karloff can't save the yawns from happening. Trust me, I really wanted to like this film, the thought of classic period UK horror from above par Tagon, eerie countrside settings and most of all my favorite subject, the occult. Still, director Sewell only treads lightly with everything at his finger tips. Never being able to truly diving into the darkest moments that are often associated with the symbolizes present in not only the occult, but horror cinema as well.
The EMS release out of Germany is presented in an anamorphic widenscreen ratio which is actually quite good. Though I can't really compare it to the two previous UK DVD releases. The audio is in regular Dobly Digital with both the English and German tracks. The discs extras include the alternative Uncut opening which really isn't much of a difference. Some super-8 versions on audio, trailers, photo galleries and radio spots. I would really like to look into the DD Home Entertinament DVD release out of the UK as it has a interview with Christopher Lee tallking about not only the film, but working with Boris Karloff as well. So, two editions with each having their own redeeming factors I guess. All in all, it's still interesting enough to see at least once, especially for those who are Tagon fans as well as we Lee or Karloff fans...
CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR
One of the first films produced by Tigon Productions, the lesser of the productions studios in the UK at the time, that being Hammer and Amicus. 
None the less pumping out some rather calssic titles like WITCHFINDER GENERAL and BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW. This rather interesting entry directed by Vernon Sewell tells the story of an art's and antiquities dealer, Robert (Mark Eden), who's brother has gone missing after taking a trip to the countryside. Finally giving into the worry, he goes in search of him. All roads lead to a mansion in the middle of the countryside owned by the wealthy Morley (Christopher Lee), where at first nobody has heard of his borther let alone see him. Still, he investigates the oddities surrounding the whole disappearence of his brother and starts finding answers. Steeped in the darkess of the occult, it's drugs and sexual draw Robert into it's web of inpending doom where lays the legend of the Greymarsh Witch (Barbara Steele) and her secrets. 
respectful roles. Supporting roles come in the shape of Karloff, Barbara Steele and the very sinster Michael Gough. Sadly, both Steele and Gough are heavily under used. Steele is the occult pinnacle of the film, the icon of evil if you will, the Greymarsh Witch, Lavinia. The scenes which are 
surrounding her, are very dark and satanic in nature. Ceremonies which include blood sarcafices, torcher and the heads of several occult figures in myth including the goat etc. 
