Video Nasty - Unhinged

Unhinged

1982

Anavisio Productions

Megastar Films / 88 Films / CBS-Fox Home Video

7 / 10

It's the story which makes this a little gem of a film.  Three college students are on their way to a concert when they take a wrong turn and crash the car due to bad weather.  Luckily for them, a handyman finds them and takes them to a nearby house where he does odd jobs.  The doctor authorises them to stay in the house for a few days to rest, especially since one of them has a suspected concussion.  However, things are not so black and white in the house.  The relationship between Mother and Daughter is strained, due to the Mother's opinion on men.  Is there someone else in the house?  Are they watching the girls?

The writers Reagan Ramsey and Don Gronquist (who also directed) do a great job in building the story slowly creating an uneasiness and unsureness about the house and its occupants.  You're never quite sure what is really going on or who is behind it.  Gronquist does an okay job when he dons his directorial hat, though the pace is a little slow, even in exciting moments, and there are times when more action or drama is required so as not to bore the viewers.  It would have been a little better if Gronquist could have injected a bit more tension and eeriness into the film and the surroundings.

The lead role, Terry Morgan (played by Laural Munson), is a little wooden and sometimes the pauses in her conversations is a little too long so that you think she could be reading off of cards.  The best actress by far is Virginia Settle who portrays the bitter and twisted matriarch, Mrs Penrose; she gives a strong and believable depiction and helps to make this film better.

The other thing which makes this movie one to watch is the twist at the climax, you know roughly what's coming though Ramsey and Gronquist add an extra twist to throw the viewer slightly off the mark.  This is a film worth watching at least once, especially if you like mysteries and thrillers as this ticks the boxes, though you will need to like the slow and less action-packed style.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Unhinged

Movie Review - Tenebre

Tenebre

(1982)

Sigma Cinematografica Roma : Arrow Films / Anchor Bay Entertainment

7.75 / 10

I can never resist an opportunity to watch a Dario Argento film so I was happy when I had the chance to view Tenebre once again; it's been too long.

Argento is not only a master of horror but a true master of death and murder, which he proves in this little mystery tale.

When American author Peter Neal (played by Anthony Franciosa) arrives in Rome on his book tour for his latest novel "Tenebre" he is shocked when people linked to his book begin to be murdered, and in some instances in the same manner as the book.

One of my favourite scenes in the movie is when the hotel owners daughter is dropped off after a night out and is then pursued by a very tenacious Doberman Pincher.  Argento does a brilliant job of building the tension and keeping it up through to her demise.  His use of lighting, colour, and music build a tautness that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats.  It's nice that he tones down his visual style a little for this film otherwise it could have been too overpowering and distract from the story.

Argento's story is strong and filled with believable and relatable characters, which all the actors portray brilliantly adding to the strength of both the story and film.  It is also one of first of his stories that aren't ambiguous and confusing.

I would always recommend Dario Argento films as he has a style all of his own with a visual style which works perfectly with his movies.  This one, more so, as most lovers of mysteries and thrillers should find something to enjoy in it.

Video Nasty - Night Warning

Night Warning

(1982)

S2D Associates / Royal American Pictures : HBO Video / Thorn EMI Video

7.25 / 10

This is a truly bad film though it had a hypnotic effect on me...  I just couldn't stop watching.  This is an awesome film in its alarming subject matter.  As a youngster, Billy Lynch is left with his Aunty Cheryl as his parents take a trip into the city.  There's an accident and Billy's parents are killed so for the next fourteen years his Aunt takes care of him and brings him up.  Then one day his Aunt kills a handyman who she claims tried to rape her.  Billy affirms her story, though Detective Joe Carlson doesn't believe them.  It's in the course of his investigation that things begin to unravel for Billy and Aunt Cheryl.

There are plenty of twists and turns in the story which keeps the viewer entertained and interested.  Though it's the earnestness of the acting from Bo Svenson's portrayal of the over-the-top testosteroned bullish boor of a man in Detective Carlson that makes this unintentionally humorous and enthralling.  I have known people who are homophobic, to the point of brutishness, but this character could be the archetype.

Then there's the wonderful Susan Tyrell who's maniacal and lunatic portrayal of Aunty Cheryl is skin-crawlingly bizarre and creepy.

As the film progressed and grew more florid I was surprised to see Julia Duffy and, one of my favourite actors, Bill Paxton appear.  Julia Duffy does a good job as Billy's love interest Julia and is one of the main characters that aren't too unnatural.  One of the strongest and realistic characters in the movie is that of the homosexual Coach Tom Landers.  When viewed in respect to the homophobic actions of Carlson I thought we'd get to see more of Landers.  It is actually a shame that we don't

This film is bad enough, weird enough, crazy enough, and strangely entertaining enough to be a cult film.  If you have time to spare and like a film to fascinate and delight then this is one worth a watch.  I loved it...

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - The Evil Protoge

Video Nasty - Visiting Hours

Visiting Hours

(1982)

Canadian Film Development Corporation / Filmplan / Victor Solnicki Productions :  20th Century Fox / Anchor Bay Entertainment / Shout Factory

8 / 10

I was surprised as I sat viewing this film to realise I had seen it before...  Evidently, back in 1989, ITV had shown the uncut version of the movie.  I find it amazing that I could remember the film so clearly after twenty-eight years.

Though I remembered the movie it never lessened the enjoyment of watching it again.  Notwithstanding the passage of years, this film is still strong and relevant today.

Lee Grant plays Deborah Ballin a news reporter who is campaigning for better rights for abused women.  While on her television show, Colt Hawker, played menacingly and darkly by Michael Ironside, watches with growing disdain for in his world women should know their place.  He takes it upon himself to send Ballin a message by killing her.  He fails dismally, leaving her wounded.  Her death now becomes his mission.  He starts to stalk the hospital where she's receiving medical attention and the bodies start to stack up - and not due to natural causes.

What the director, Jean-Claude Lord (Second Chances - reviewed on this blog & Secrets of the Summer House - to be reviewed), gives the audience is an above par slasher film, with a nice psychological thriller twist.  It's superior to others in the genre as it gives a credible back story to the psychopathic killer, which in turn adds a chill because it shows he's not a monster, just a man.

Lord gives the audience a roller coaster ride as he speeds up the action and slows down for tension and suspense.  The use of a more natural light is a bonus for the viewers when most of these films hide everything in the darkness of shadows, Lord shows you the menace at all times.  This is a good thing as Ironside does a wonderful portrayal of Hawker, who is a chameleon... a man of many differing faces, though a madman under the skin.

I really liked the fact that Nurse Sheila Munroe, veritably portrayed by Linda Purl, doesn't let too much get to her.  As a nurse, she's used to seeing death and dead people, though not murder victims.  This is shown through her reactions, she doesn't scream uncontrollably, she is shocked but remains in control of herself.  She is a good strong female character.

It's Ballin that loves to scream and flail about and this is the only downside to the movie.  I know it's strange, I love slasher films but cannot abide screaming.  What I cannot abide is unnecessary screaming.  For the most part, when faced with something indescribably terrible most people will utter expletives rather than scream, come on directors lets keep it real.

If you like slasher psychopaths on a rampage then this is a movie for your delectation.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Visiting Hours