Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods

The Stuff: Hänsel and Gretal have grown up and now live in the Black Forest at the close of The Thirty Years War. Rumors abound of Greta’s childhood doings with the old crone in the woods—did she really push that old woman into the oven?—but, for the most part, the villagers accept her. She bakesContinue reading “Review of “After the Forest” by Kell Woods”

Review of “Gabriel-Ernest” by Saki Halloween Countdown

14) “Gabriel-Ernest” by Saki Plot:On their way to the train station, the artist Cunninghan warns Van Cheele there is a wild beast in his woods. It’s the only thing he’s been able to say on the drive. Van Cheele has chattered the whole time. “A stray fox or two and some resident weasels. Nothing moreContinue reading “Review of “Gabriel-Ernest” by Saki Halloween Countdown”

Review of “House of Frankenstein” (1944)

This is this week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie offering. We watched it with Svengoolie and just about every frigging Universal monster. Plot: From the slot in his jail cell in Neustadt Prison, Doctor Gustav Niemann (Boris Karloff) grabs the throat of a jailer (an uncredited Charles Wagenheim) and demands chalk. From inside, the viewerContinue reading “Review of “House of Frankenstein” (1944)”

Review of “She-Wolf of London” (1946)

This is the latest Saturday night pizza selection. Both the pizza and the wine were enjoyable. As we often do, we watched this with Svengoolie. Plot:In London, near the turn of the 20th century, Scotland Yard is investigating reports of a man attacked and seriously injured in a park. The victim says it was aContinue reading “Review of “She-Wolf of London” (1946)”

Review of “How to Make a Monster” (1958)

This was this week’s Saturday pizza and bad movie offering. We watched this with Svengoolie and polished off the good chardonnay. Plot:Pete Dumond (Robert H. Harris) and his assistant Rivero (Paul Brinegar) have been creating monster make-up for the movies for twenty-five years. He has just finished an excellent (…it’s in the eye of theContinue reading “Review of “How to Make a Monster” (1958)”

Review of “The Beast Must Die” (1974)

This is this week’s Saturday night pizza and bad movie installment. Had some yummy prosecco I bought for our anniversary. Might have to get some more before the next anniversary. We saw this with Svengoolie. Plot:The movie opens with a lone black man (Calvin Lockhart) running through the woods, pursued by several white men deckedContinue reading “Review of “The Beast Must Die” (1974)”

Review of “Werewolf of London” (1935)

Saturday pizza and bad movie night with Svengoolie. Is it too much to say it was a howl? Plot: Respected London botanist Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) has found a rare plant in Tibet, Mariphasa lupino lumino (or maybe Mariphasa lumina lupine, as it’s referred to later), which only blooms in the moonlight. A camel-ridingContinue reading “Review of “Werewolf of London” (1935)”

Review of “The Wolf Man” (1941)

Saturday pizza and bad movie night. And Svengoolie! A classic. A howler. And the pizza wasn’t too bad, either. Plot: After the death of his older brother, Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) returns from America to Wales to see his estranged father, Sir John Talbot (Claude Rains). While helping his father install parts of a telescope—LarryContinue reading “Review of “The Wolf Man” (1941)”

Review of “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961)

A delayed Saturday night pizza and bad movie entry. The pizza was good. The movie was about as cheery as a sharing a bottle of absinthe with a French existentialist. (That is, the place is furnished in the style of the Second Empire, and the bell for the waiter doesn’t work. You just ‘fess upContinue reading “Review of “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961)”