One of Best (and Least Known) Versions of a Classic

When most people think of all the great actors who've played Dracula over the years, names like Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, John Carradine, Gary Oldman, and maybe Frank Langella will come to mind. However, very people are likely to think of Jack Palance as a suitable Dracula since most are more likely to think of his roles in "Shane" and "City Slickers". But there was a lot more to Jack than just playing cowboys and he proves it here in 1974's "Bram Stoker's Dracula". This little seen TV version, produced by Dan Curtis ("Dark Shadows") and written by the late, legendary Richard Matheson, portrays Dracula as centuries old warrior Vlad Tepes who journeys to London after he comes to believe that the fiancé of Arthur Holmwood ,Lucy, is the reincarnation of his lost love.

 If it sounds like you've heard this version before, you probably have since Francis Ford Coppola pretty much used the same storyline for his 1992 version. While I like the '92 version, I find this movie to be more straightforward and less bogged down by the romantic aspect that the Coppola version had, instead choosing to focus more on the horror aspect. Jack Palance makes an excellent Dracula by being able to use his tough guy persona to project the lord of the vampires as a figure of great strength and power, especially physically, while at the same time giving just a little hint of sympathy. In other words, he's everything you'd expect in the blood prince.


You thought you could beat me mere mortal?






 Another bonus is the grand atmosphere that is created in the movie by the filming locations in England and Yugoslavia. The overall grand look and cinematography was so good in this film, at times I couldn't believe it was made for television. Rounding out the cast is Simon Ward as Arthur Holmwood and Nigel Davenport as Prof. Van Helsing, both of whom are excellent in their roles. As proof for the power of this movie, I remember seeing it when I was very young in the 90s on some cable channel and while I couldn't remember the faces very well (memory is a funny thing) I never forgot this movie, particularly the the final scene where Dracula meets his end, which I won't spoil. This is a real gem of a movie that if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it, either on you tube (which is how I found it) or on DVD. 9 out of 10

"Stir of Echoes": Smart, Spooky, and Criminally Underrated

"Stir of Echoes" is more than just your average ghost story; it's a thriller that weaves together mystery, intrigue, murder, and love of family into a very memorable film. Adapted from the novel by the late, great Richard Matheson, the story centers around everyday man Tom Witzky (Kevin Bacon), his wife Maggie (Kathryn Erbe) and their young son, Jake (Zachary David Cope).












Always a skeptic, Tom must confront things he never dreamed possible

 They seem to have the perfect life in their Chicago suburban home until one night at a neighborhood block party Tom, ever the supernatural/otherworldly skeptic, agrees to be hypnotized by his mystic-minded sister-in-law.


Let's get hypnotized!




 He doesn't remember much about what happens during the hypnosis, but what follows next is anything but child's play as strange images involving a ghostly, teenage girl and past events of the house they live in start appearing in his mind. It turns out Tom has become a receiver, someone whose mind is open to visions of the future and communication with the dead, and that's not all. Tom's son, Jake, already has this sixth sense, if you will, and he too has visions of the girl he calls Samantha. It doesn't take long for Tom to discover that Samantha was a real person who disappeared from the neighborhood but no one in the community knows why or seems to care. From there, it's a race for the truth as Tom tries to uncover what really happened to the young girl who haunts his mind before it tears him apart.

I had heard of "Stir of Echoes" long before I saw it but it was not until recently I finally got my chance to see it and needless to say I was not disappointed. The story is beautifully crafted right from the beginning, where we first meet Jake taking a bath and seemly talking to his father in the next room.


The young Mr. Cope giving one of the best performances of any actor






It's only after his father leaves the room and he's drying off that we find out (I won't reveal exactly how we know as to not spoil it) he's talking to someone else. The scene gives me chills just thinking of it and there are plenty more to come. Writer and director David Koepp should be congratulated for being to combine scenes that scare and disturb with a good, strong story. There were several scenes in this film that made me jump and trust me, I've seen more than my fair share of horror films. As for as characters, each of the actors give solid performances, be it Kevin Bacon as skeptic turned (almost dangerously) obsessed believer, Kathryn Erbe as Tom's devoted wife, Illeana Douglas as the sister-in-law, Kevin Dunn as Tom's friend and neighbor Frank, or Zachary David Cope as young Jake Witzky. Mr. Cope's performance has to be one of the most brilliant I've ever seen from a child actor or in general due to his ability to be sweet but also a bit other worldly due to his ability to see things we can't. Plus there's a whole lot of amazing supporting actors and actresses, such as Jennifer Morrison as young Samantha, that should be congratulated for their work. I'm not sure what Mr. Matheson thought of this film but as for me, I can't praise it enough. "Stir of Echoes" is a film that works, not only for the reasons above but in addition, it will make you wonder how well do you really know your neighborhood or the house you live in? And on that note, don't let this gem of a film pass you by. Watch and be prepared for some unsettling truths.

"Mysteries From Beyond Earth" An Excellent Exploration Into the Unknown

Once upon a time, my sister used to work at a mom and pop video rental store (remember those? LOL) and every so often, she'd bring home some old tapes that the store no longer wished to carry. One of these tapes was a little documentary, maybe made for television, called "Mysteries From Beyond Earth". Having always had an interest in the unknown, I took a look at it and since then, it has become one of my favorite productions on the subject of strange. Hosted by Lawrence Dobkin, this lovely documentary gives you a basic look at such subjects like UFOs, Bigfoot, psychic energy, ghosts, ancient aliens, black holes, lost civilizations, even the morals of cloning before it was scientifically possible. Through interviews, you will meet the people who have experienced such things as alien abduction, hauntings, UFO encounters, and even a woman who claims to be a witch. While the movie might be a little dated, it is no less interesting, especially for those who wonder whether or not aliens have visited this planet or whether ghosts and physic energies are real. After all, although its been over thirty years since this movie was made, people are still encountering things that cannot be explained. So, if you're one of those folks who has a passion for the unknown and you like to see old, vintage docs on the subject, check this out. I believe it may even be on you tube.

"Nightlife" One of the Best Vampire Flicks You've Never Heard Of

As any movie buff knows, very few monsters have been featured in as many films over the years as vampires have. As someone who has loved tales of the undead since childhood, I've seen quite a few flicks in my time that deal with the subject, from Bela Lugosi's "Dracula" to 1987's "Lost Boys". So imagine my surprise when I came across one that I had never heard of. It's a little horror, comedy called "Nightlife" (Not to be confused with a "Night Life", a teenage zombie flick released the same year!) and it's one that very few others have probably heard of as well. That's a shame because unlike many low budget horror pictures, this one is widely entertaining!

The film starts in beautiful Mexico City, where a group of grave diggers are digging up old remains for one reason or another and they come across the perfectly preserved body of a beautiful woman. Their awe of her turns to horror, however, when she opens her eyes and as a result, they run away in typically fashion. Her name is Angelique (played by the charming and former Bond girl Maryam d'Abo) and of course she is a vampire.

The charming Ms. d'Abo.










 But as it turns out she is one with a conscious, since she allowed herself to be buried in order to avoid her evil boyfriend, vampire lord Vlad (the always enjoyable Ben Cross). Needless to say, a lot has changed since she went into the ground and it doesn't take long before hilarious situations ensue, such as the scene where she thinks a blood bank is a place to pick up blood rather than giving it! Luckily she ends up meeting a young, American doctor named David (Keith Szarabajka, in an especially effective performance) who quickly takes a liking to her.







 But Angelique has a lot more to worry about than trying to explain her condition to her human lover. Vlad turns up in town and he's dead set on reuniting with his lost love and turning her into a killer. Can Angelique and David defeat Vlad or are they doomed to fail?

Looking at the film, you can tell it was probably made on a low budget, although I must say the overall production looks good. With that said, what makes the film stand out is the quality of acting. Maryam d'Abo is nothing short of lovely as the innocent Angelique and you just can't help but fall in love with her. Her co-star, Keith Szarabajka, is equally likable in his role of David and together, he and Maryam have wonderful chemistry together throughout the film. And of course, what good would a vampire movie be if it didn't have a villain. Ben Cross shines in the role of Vlad, as he manages to be both menacing and yet comedic when the occasion calls for it (Not long after this, Ben Cross would go on to play the immortal Barnabas Collins in the splendid but sadly short lived 1990 revival of "Dark Shadows". Curiously, as any "Shadows" fan may know, that series also featured a character named Angelique). All the actors here demonstrate great comedic timing, whether it's Angelique's extreme fear of bugs, David's zany behavior whenever he makes a scientific breakthrough, or Vlad's punch line at the end: "Angelique, you broke my heart". There were a number of instances where I simply couldn't help but burst out laughing because the comedic timing was just so spot on. But the film also has a well crafted story that you can just tell someone put a lot into to it. Also it's worthy to note that Mexico City is filmed beautifully, particularly in regards to the ancient Cathedrals that dominate the city. Yet despite all this though, as I mentioned earlier, the film is virtually unknown ( I only learned about the existence of the movie when looking at Ben Cross's bio). As to why that is, I haven't the slightest idea. There's absolutely no info about this film on IMDb or anywhere else (the film doesn't even have a Wikipedia page). I can't even tell for sure if the film was made for TV or a studio. Whatever the case is, it has seemed to slipped through the cracks for God knows why. The good news is that movie is available on you tube and it's probably the only place you can view it. So until this film is released on DVD, which I desperately hope it will be one day, I recommend "Nightlife" to those who enjoy a smart, funny, and entertaining film of any type.

"The Howling": One of the All Time Werewolf Greats

Anyone who's ever heard the howl of an animal in the dead of night has probably asked themselves, 'what was that?' and perhaps more importantly, is it outside my window! If this has indeed happened to you, then 1981's "The Howling" won't put you at ease! It all begins on the mean streets of Los Angles with local TV reporter Karen White on her way to meet a vicious serial killer named Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo) who's reached out to her. After a terrifying encounter with Eddie in a darkened room and a police shoot, you can probably see why Karen's a little strung out. So on the advice of renowned psychologist Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Macnee) she and her husband, Bill(Christopher Stone) head up to a secluded, counseling sanctuary known as "the colony". All seems well at first; the people are friendly if not slightly odd to some degree, but still friendly enough. However just when she's settling in for the night is when the howling begins. Soon enough, we discover that the colony is actually a place for werewolves to get away from the civilized world and these aren't your Lon Chaney type wolves that have to wait for the moon to be full. They are the primal beasts within all of us, waiting to be unleashed onto the world. Will Karen and Bill make it out or are they destined to be victims of the howling?



Did you hear that honey?







Directed by Joe Dante ("Gremlins", "Pirana") "The Howling" came out at a time when werewolf films were all but dead. There hadn't really been any real hits like 1941's "The Wolf Man" in decades and most studio heads considered the werewolf premise corny and outdated. Needless to say, "The Howling" forever destroyed that idea. Based off of the novel by Gary Brandner, the story strips away all talk of the full moon belief (Which was never part of the original werewolf lore to begin with. The whole notion of the full moon was created by Curt Siodmak when he wrote the screenplay to 1941's "The Wolf Man") and instead presents the werewolves as simply shape shifters who have a craving for blood every now and then. This makes them more evil and powerful since there are no limitations to where and when they can transform. All of this is directed masterfully by Dante, who is able to create a spooky and foreboding atmosphere and for a second make you believe that all talk of beasts in the night may not sound so ridiculous after all. I would even go as far as to say this is his best work ever. The script is cleverly written to include not only horror but a few inside jokes for those who know a thing or two about werewolf flicks.

And as for makeup, this isn't your grandfather's werewolf flick. For the longest time, Hollywood werewolves looked like a guy with a hairy football glued to his head (No offense to Lon Chaney and the guys at Universal). Here, the werewolves look exactly as they should; big, hairy, mean beasts from the pits of hell.


The beast rears its ugly head!









 Rob Bottin must be congratulated all the way for his work here, especially when it comes to Eddie's transformation sequence. Even in this day and age of CGI and digital cameras, that scene still is nothing short of incredible and has to rank as one of the best transformation sequences ever. In fact to really put things in perspective, the only transformation scene that might beat it would be the one from "An American Werewolf in London" which was also made in the same year as this. All of the actors and actresses play their parts well, which goes a long way to making films of this type into something special. Dee Wallace proves she is by far one of the actresses when it comes to getting into character and being scared out of her mind when playing Karen. Christopher Stone should be congratulated for his role as Bill, who badly wants to help his wife but is unsure just how. Patrick Macnee of "The Avengers" fame is delightful to watch here as the good if not slightly unconventional doctor (You'll see!), as is Robert Picardo as the disturbing Eddie Quist. Rounding out the cast is the beautiful but sadly deceased Elizabeth Brooks as wolf-siren Marsha Quist (below),









 John Carradine, Slim Pickens, Dennis Dugan, Belinda Balaski, Noble Willingham, James Murtaugh, and many more who I just don't have space for. In the end, "The Howling" is a everything a horror film should be: Spooky, scary, unsettling, and able to stand the test of time. This film, along with "An American Werewolf in London" of the same year, probably saved the werewolf genre from extinction and still is one of the all time greats of its kind. There were a bunch of sequels after this, but none of the ones I saw could hold a candle to it. It's a real testament to the quality of work Dante and Co. did on this. So without further adieu, lock all the doors, shutter all windows, and settle in to watch a modern horror classic. P.S. Might not be a bad idea to keep some sliver at hand in case you should hear the howling outside your bedroom window!

"Dark Shadows: The Revival" (1991) Dark, Beautiful, and Gone Too Soon. Oh If Only!

Every now and then there comes a series that is so well done and so beautiful, it's abrupt cancellation causes me unending grief no matter how much time has passed. 1991's revival of "Dark Shadows" is one such case. Airing on NBC, it was produced and written by the late, great Dan Curtis, creator of the original "Dark Shadows". It all begins with the opening monologue of Ms. Victoria Winters (The exceptionally lovely Joanna Going), who is on her way to Collin's Port, Maine to be the school mistress to young Daniel Collins (A very young Joseph Gordon-Levitt!).

 Little does she know, however, that her life is about to take a very unexpected turn. Not long after she arrives, kind hearted but not so bright Willie Loomis (The gifted Jim Fyfe, below)

 opens the old crypt of one Barnabas Collins, thinking that there are jewels and riches secretly buried in it. Well he does find something, but it isn't lost treasure! Instead he ends up releasing long trapped vampire Barnabas Collins (The always impressive Ben Cross) onto the world, who claims to be a long lost cousin from England as his cover.

                                                     Victoria Winters, sweet, innocent and beautiful

However, when he sees Ms. Winters, he is instantly captivated by her, for she is the reincarnation of his long lost love, Josette. It isn't long, though, before mysterious murders on the part of Barnabas's bloodlust begin happening in town and that's when Dr. Julia Hoffman, played to the hilt by horror legend and (even at the age of 53 or4) stunning Barbara Steele, enters the picture. Things only get more complicated when the doctor discovers Barnabas's vampirism but ends up falling in love with him! But there are other supernatural forces at work in town besides Barnabas, such as vengeful and powerful spirit Angelique (The beautiful Lysette Anthony) who will do anything in her power to destroy Barnabas's chance of a better life. All of this means Victoria must discover the secrets of Collin's Port more than ever, for her life depends on it!




Barnabas, the perfect gentle-
-men at left. At right, Barnabas the blood-sucking monster!










The show was and is nothing short of captivating to watch through its twelve episodes because of its grand and Gothic look and its opening creepy music theme. The Collins' mansion in particular is both beautiful and imposing at the same time with its Gothic architecture and immense size. The Pilot (directed by Dan Curtis himself) has the look and feel of theatrical movie and is probably one of the best productions made for TV I've ever seen. But above all it is the caliber of the actors and characters that makes the show enjoyable to watch. Ben Cross more than fills the shoes of the late Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, being able to play him as a monster but one with a soul. Despite being a reprehensible creature at times, Cross is able to make you feel Barnabas' agony and anguish over being what he is and what made him that way. Joanna Going is stunning in her looks but more importantly her acting. She's able to convey a certain sense of innocence throughout the show, which only makes the viewer all the more wishing to jump in and protect her from the danger she has no idea she's in. But Barnabas and Victoria are not the only characters in town. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the young, arrogant and slightly disturbed Daniel perfectly, so much so you'll wonder how he turned out to be such a stud (It's implied that his mother is a witch locked up in a mental institution but due to the show's short life we never get to meet her). Jim Fyfe adds a little comical touch as Barnabas' servant and eventual friend Willie. Lysette Anthony adds tension in her role as the revenge seeking Angelique.

                                                       Stunning but treacherous Angelique

 And who can forget the stunning and talented Ms. Barbara Steele as Dr. Hoffman. Like I said, she may have been in her fifties by then but don't let that fool you; she still had it!

The good doctor herself, Julia Hoffman.











Then there are the supporting actors and characters, such as legendary leading lady Jean Simmons as matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Pictured below),

 "The Invaders" star Roy Thinnes as Roger Collins, Juliana McCarthy as housekeeper Mrs. Johnson, Ely Pouget as town psyche Maggie Evans, Barbara Blackburn as Carolyn Stoddard, a pre-"Highlander"(1992-98) Adrian Paul, and Michael Cavanaugh who, as town sheriff Patterson, does a particularly good job of playing someone who would probably never dream of believing in the things he now confronts! Yet despite all of this, the show was canceled by NBC after only twelve episodes. Why you ask? Well, in '91 the Gulf War happened and because the news wanted to cover it day and night, "Dark Shadows" kept getting pushed around to different nights, which meant people didn't know what night it would be on and as a result, ratings declined (Damn you Saddam!). NBC did receive something like 7,000 letters and had its headquarters picketed by fans, all to no avail. It's all very sad. Even a two hour special to properly end the series would be better than what we got. But that's unlikely now that everyone has aged and moved on and especially so with Curtis's death in 2006. Perhaps if Curtis and co. had focused more on the present setting of the story rather than having half the season devoted to the time traveling story arch the show wouldn't have had so many unresolved elements. Then again, they probably didn't realize that their time would be so short. For what it is though, if you can bear having your heart broken, I recommend "Dark Shadows" (1991) to anyone who wishes to see a beautiful, Gothic series done well. And while I'm at it, here's hoping that maybe, in another time, another place or some parallel universe, "Dark Shadows" (1991) became the hit it should have been. One can dream, can't he?
P.S. Thanks for the memories cast and crew, while it lasted.

                                                              

New "Star Wars" Triology Good Idea or Bad?

For those who may not be aware, in October of 2012, Disney Studios purchased Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion dollars and quickly announced afterwards that a new series of "Star Wars" films would be made in the coming years with the first of these, Episode VII, set to be released in December 2015. The exact plot and direction that the films will take are all tightly under wraps. Be that as it may, I wanted to pose a question to my fellow "Star Wars" fans out there: Do you think the new films will be/have the potential to be awesome or do you think the "Star Wars" image will be butchered by the whims and greed of a money grubbing studio? Let me know your thoughts!