FilmFanatic.org

Synopsis:
A group of children born with immunity to radioactivity are held captive by British officials (led by Alexander Knox), who believe they are the only hope for humanity after an imminent nuclear holocaust. When three young adults — Simon (Macdonald Carey), Joan (Shirley Anne Field), and Joan’s brother King (Oliver Reed) — stumble upon the children in their cave, they attempt to rescue them.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Escape
• Joseph Losey Films
• Nuclear Holocaust
• Oliver Reed Films
• Science Fiction
• Shirley Anne Field Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
This highly controversial, “sobering science fiction film” by director Joseph Losey (which wasn’t released in the United States until 1965, in a shortened version) is noteworthy for “combining social criticism with sci-fi” and “suggesting that the British government was capable of insidious plots.” While the film isn’t entirely successful — it’s burdened by distracting subplots, and only becomes truly interesting once the children appear on-screen — it nonetheless makes for highly provocative viewing. It bears striking similarities to Kazuo Ishiguro’s poignant novel Never Let Me Go (2005), about clones who are raised in isolation for a grim future as organ donors; both stories invoke the ethical dilemmas of raising children apart from mainstream society for questionable purposes.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Shirley Anne Field as Joan
  
• A fascinating, controversial sci-fi premise
  

Must See?
Yes. The controversy surrounding the release of this unusual little film makes it must-see watching.

Categories

• Controversial Film

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Moria Film Review

Synopsis:
A director (Bruce Kimmel), producer (Stephen Nathan), and secretary (Cindy Williams) try to save their film studio from bankruptcy by making an adult musical within two weeks.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Let’s-Put-On-a-Show
• Musicals
• Satires and Spoofs
• Sexuality

Response to Peary’s Review:
This “minor but amusing parody of both porno films and ‘let’s-put-on-a-show’ musicals” was a box-office flop at first, but eventually became a cult hit (a process which Peary describes in great detail in his second Cult Movies book). Cindy Williams shows great promise as a comedienne — a talent borne out in 1981’s quirky UFOria — and she’s surrounded by a cast of “spirited and brave” co-stars. While I agree with Peary that highlights most definitely include the auditions and the “Dancing Dildoes” number:

… I disagree that the film’s visuals “aren’t erotic enough”; this movie intends to satirize porn, not aspire towards it.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Cindy Williams’ dead-pan performance as Rosie
  
• The hilarious auditions
  
• The amusing songs (including “Lesbian Butch Dyke” and “Let Me Eat You”)
  

Must See?
No, but it’s worth a look as one of the few attempts to explicitly bridge the worlds of adult films and mainstream movie-making. Discussed at length in Peary’s Cult Movies 2 (1983).

Links:

• IMDb entry
• DVD Talk Review

Synopsis:
When Count Mitterhaus (Robert Tayman) is killed by the villagers of Stetel, he vows to seek revenge. Fifteen years later, a circus of vampires arrives in town and starts killing off the villagers one by one, in an attempt to raise Mitterhaus from the dead.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Carnivals and Circuses
• Horror
• Revenge
• Vampires

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, the storyline of this “very unusual Hammer horror film set in 19-century Serbia” is hard to follow at times (the “story gets confusing”), but contains countless “artistic flourishes” by director Robert Young, some nifty special effects, and an effective portrayal of small-town life threatened by “outsiders”. Because the transient, freak-filled nature of circuses makes them inherently creepy, the idea of a circus composed of vengeful vampires makes sense in a weird way — indeed, Richard Scheib’s reference to the equally supernatural Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) is an apt one. As Peary writes, the “great use of religious symbolism and visuals… make us question whether we’re witnessing reality or have entered a dream state.”

Note: Fans of Jerzy Skolimowski’s Deep End will no doubt enjoy seeing the film’s teenage star (John Moulder-Brown) in a radically different role as the town’s young hero.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Nifty make-up and special effects
  

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Moria Review

Synopsis:
A man (James Gordon) dreams of building a transcontinental railroad across America, but is brutally murdered by the villainous Bauman (Fred Kohler). Gordon’s son (George O’Brien) carries out his late father’s wishes, while simultaneously trying to avenge his death.

Genres:

• Historical Drama
• John Ford Films
• Revenge
• Silent Films
• Trains and Subways

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary argues that while this “John Ford classic holds up better than James Cruze’s The Covered Wagon, the other major western epic of the silent era,” it “too seems very slow… and not particularly original.” He notes that it’s a “tribute to the visionaries who realized that such a crazy project” as building a transcontinental railroad “was essential to our country’s expansion west”, and that “like many future, better Ford westerns,” it’s about “the men who sacrificed their lives so those who followed in their paths could have an easier time.” Ultimately, the historical elements of this silent epic are far more compelling than its sappy central saga of romance and revenge. Indeed, the film’s greatest strength lies in its powerful imagery of laborers hard at work; shanty towns cropping up along the tracks; and the “final railroad spike [being] driven home.”

Redeeming Qualities:

• A powerful reenactment of the building of America’s transcontinental railroad
  

Must See?
No, though it’s worth a look for its historical relevance.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TCM Article
• Silent Volume Review

Synopsis:
A single man (Bill Schoppert) places an ad in the personals, and meets the woman of his dreams (Karen Landry) — only to find out that she’s already married.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Dating
• Looking for Ms/Mr. Right
• Romantic Comedy

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this slice-of-life romantic comedy has “moments of undeniable charm, as well as believable performances from leads who are [a] welcome change from Hollywood types.” But I disagree with Peary that the film is “almost ruined” by its “self-conscious direction” — nor do I necessarily think, as Peary does, that there’s “too much roller-skating!”

I found this low-budget sleeper (filmed in Minneapolis) particularly appealing because — like more and more people lately — I met my husband on the internet (after a series of bad blind dates), and thus can relate to both the humor and the agony of Bill’s situation.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Bill’s painfully hilarious first blind date

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
With support from a female doctor (Susan Saint James), a young medic (Dennis Christopher) during the Vietnam War becomes becomes involved with a home for Vietnamese orphans.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Character Arc
• Dennis Christopher Films
• Do-Gooders
• Orphans
• Vietnam War

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this film about “an undisciplined young medic stationed in Saigon” who “learns responsibility when he finds himself helping two Vietnamese nuns run a non-sanctioned, off-base home for war orphans” is “a bit sticky” at times, but “its treatment of the war and its effect on children is unsentimental”, and it possesses an admirable theme: “Real heroes are those who make commitments to help people whose problems make their own seem insignificant.” While Christopher’s character arc is somewhat predictable, this remains a worthy and “sensitive look at a different side of the Vietnam War.”

Redeeming Qualities:

• A refreshing glimpse of Americans and Vietnamese interacting humanely during the war
  
  

Must See?
No, though it’s worth checking out if you can find a copy.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
A deranged tattoo artist (Bruce Dern) becomes obsessed with a model (Maud Adams), eventually kidnapping her and tattooing her entire body.

Genres:

• Bruce Dern Films
• Kidnapping
• Models
• Obsessive Love
• Psychopaths

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary refers to this notorious psycho-flick (written by Joyce Bunuel) as “sick” and “repulsive”, but I find it to be a reasonably compelling psychological thriller, thanks to the perverse lead performance by Dern (who’s perfectly cast). Adams is just annoying enough that you tend to (guiltily) root for the disturbed Dern instead — though naturally (and fortunately), he “gets his” in the end. The tattoo work throughout is stunning.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Bruce Dern as the love-torn psychotic
  
• Stunning tattoo work
  

Must See?
No, but it’s worth watching for Dern’s performance.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
Archaeologists investigating ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico discover a blob-like monster, and try to link its appearance with an impending comet.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Horror
• Mario Bava Films
• Mutant Monsters
• Science Fiction

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary admits that this “undeniably silly”, horribly dubbed movie is one of his “favorite low-budget horror films”. Despite its confusing, ridiculous plot — in which “the members of a Mexican expedition discover a flesh-devouring, ever growing blob that makes the one Steve McQueen found seem affectionate”:

— the “eerie photography from Mario Bava” makes it strangely compelling. Especially notable is the “genuinely spooky” diving sequence, which, Peary notes, “will remind some of the scene in Alien in which John Hurt comes across the alien hatchery.” Not essential viewing, but guaranteed to appeal to fans of the genre.

Redeeming Qualities:

• The truly chilling underwater diving scene
  
• Atmospheric cinematography
  

Must See?
No, but it’s worth a look.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• SciFilm Review

Synopsis:
A timid bank clerk (Elliott Gould) engages in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a thief (Christopher Plummer) disguised as a department store Santa.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Canadian Films
• Cat-and-Mouse
• Christopher Plummer Films
• Elliott Gould Films
• Heists
• Susannah York Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary refers to this independent Canadian film as a “terrific sleeper”, noting that it possesses some “offbeat characters, [interesting] plot twists, [and] delicious surprises.” However, while Gould gives a good performance — Peary argues it’s “his best… since The Long Goodbye” — his character is too stupid to root for: why would he take such unnecessary chances with a psychopathic thief, when it’s not even his money at stake?

The most satisfying aspect of the film is seeing Christopher Plummer as an evil, cross-dressing Santa Claus.

Redeeming Qualities:

• Christopher Plummer as the thief
  
  
• Fine location shooting
  

Must See?
No. While this is a nifty little thriller in its own way, it’s not essential viewing.

Links:

• IMDb entry

Synopsis:
Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) goes to Japan to help rescue his friend’s kidnapped daughter from the Yakuza. While there, he rekindles an old romance with Eiko (Keiko Kishi), and must deal with the disapproval of her brother Ken (Takakura Ken).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Brian Keith Films
• Friendship
• Gangsters
• Kidnapping
• Paul Schrader Films
• Robert Mitchum Films
• Sydney Pollack Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this “interesting, intricately plotted thriller set in Japan” — with “much bloody action counterpoint[ing] the film’s solemn tone” — is more about friendship, loyalty, and cultural differences than gangs and revenge. It remains an unusually perceptive thriller with excellent acting all around (especially by Mitchum and Ken):

… and keeps getting better as it goes along; by the end, I was nearly weeping. A particularly poignant and unexpected plot twist places the rest of the movie in a different light, and makes one tempted to watch the film again from the beginning.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Exciting fight sequences as Mitchum and Ken take on countless Yakuza
  
• Ken and Harry’s touching final scene together
  

Must See?
Yes. This unusual gangster flick is an all around “good show”, and shouldn’t be missed.

Categories

• Good Show

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• DVD Savant Review (scroll down)