Dracula's Dog (1977)

 

Stark Fear (1962)

 

A sadistic husband mentally tortures his wife, while eventually planning to murder her. 

Unusual Noir psychological thriller captures domestic violence in some drastic scenes and strong black-and-white images to an almost frenetic level. 

 

Tetsuo (1989)

 

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

 

A former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.

Delightfully over-the-top psychological horror thriller gives Davis and Crawford the opportunity to go into full throttle competition with their performances; full of memorable moments - and some shock along the way.

Halliwell*: "Famous for marking the first time Hollywood's ageing first ladies stooped to horror, and followed by Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte and the other Whatevers, this dreary looking melodrama only occasionally grabs the attention and has enough plot for about half its length. The performances, however, are striking."

Maltin***1/2: "Far-fetched, thoroughly engaging black comedy...Bette has a field day in her macabre characterization, with Buono a perfect match." 

 

Kate Winslet

New Acquisition: Double Indemnity (1944)

 

Groucho Marx

(ph: Herb Ball)

More Than Honey (2012)

 

An in-depth look at honeybee colonies in California, Switzerland, China and Australia.

Beautifully photographed documentary presents its insights in a strangely impassive and unexcited tone, besides the global challenges facing bee cultures.

Theda Bara

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theda_Bara

New acquisition: L.A. Confidential (1997)

 

Twins of Evil (1971)

 

Shikoku (1999)

 

Years after moving to Tokyo with her parents, Hinako returns to her hometown in rural Shikoku. She soon learns that her childhood friend, Sayuri, died several years ago and that Sayuri's mother, who used to perform seances and exorcisms, has gone almost insane with grief.

Although this movie offers some visually good settings, it does disappoint as a rather formulaic horror flick with hardly any genuine scares.

 

 

Emily Kinney

Big Night (1996)

 

New Jersey, 1950s. Two brothers run an Italian restaurant. Business is not going well as a rival Italian restaurant is out-competing them. In a final effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on an evening of incredible food.

Wonderfully light-hearted comedy with an excellent ensemble and good period detail is not just great entertainment, but also a culinary experience.

Halliwell**: "Charming small-scale comedy of brotherly rivalry and love, immaculately done." 

Maltin**1/2: "Endearing story...Finely tuned performances, amusing vignettes and observations make this small endeavor worthwhile, but it's too slow and quiet for its own good...The feast on-screen is mouthwatering."

Black Sea (2014)

Point Blank (1967)

 

After being double-crossed and left for dead, a mysterious man named Walker single-mindedly tries to retrieve the money that was stolen from him.

Innovativingly leftfield thriller enhances its Noir plot with great style and imaginative non-linear story-telling; you may easily call it: cool."

Halliwell*: "Extremely violent gangster thriller, well shot on location and something of a cult, but with irritating pretentiousness and obscure plot points."

Maltin***1/2: "Taut thriller, ignored in 1967, but now regarded as a top film of the decade." 

Shichinin no samurai (1954)

 

Rio Grande (1950)

 

A cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande is confronted with murderous raiding Apaches, a son who's a risk-taking recruit and his wife from whom he has been separated for many years.

Classic John Ford western Features in best manner many its director's hallmark features: a meandering plot, rollicking scenes alternating with solemn songs and lively action and all in beautiful blacl-and-white cinematography.

Halliwell*: "Thin Ford Western on his favourite theme, with too many pauses for song, too many studio sets, and too little plot. Aficiandos, however, will find much to admire."

Maltin***: "The last of  director Ford's Cavalry trilogy..., and the most underrated: a vivid look at the gentlemanly spirit of the Cavalry during post-Civil Ward days...Beautifully shot by Bert Glennon and Archie Stout..." 

House of Frankenstein (1944)

Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

 

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Typical for Werner Herzog, this exploration of a forbiddingly uninhabitable and strange continent is idiosyncratic and intense and offers insights no other director would achieve.

On re-watching: Always a fascinating watch, among Herzog's best documentaries.

Maltin***1/2: "This right-brain travelogue feeds the mind, the eye, and the mind's eye. Wryly, sometimes impatiently, narrated by the director, who dedicates the film to Roger Ebert."

 

Anna Karina

New acquisition: Film Noir

 

Quentin Tarantino

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Tarantino