More international horror - late 50s in horror - 1958-59

Wow, I can't believe we finished the 50s finally. It was the largest decade so far, but not the hardest. I enjoyed a lot of films from this period, and it was great seeing more technicolor films and seeing blood start to appear on screen finally.

So here are our reviews of the films we watched in the last two years of the decade.

1958

The Blob: It was actually my first time seeing this one. I loved the politics for this one. Unlike the first half of the decade, the cops are idiots here. Who's affected by the blob? Blue collar. Who's the first to know? Blue collar. Who has power but thinks the blob is fake? The police. Who finds a way to stop the blob? Teens. Who breaks a way into the school? Not the police, though they're right there; the blue collar workers. I loved the class dynamics here. Revolutionary for its time in horror. But you can clearly see contemporary fears about trust in the government starting to emerge here.

Black Cat Mansion: A Japanese horror film that immediately made me think of Ringu and The Grudge. The furry aspect is very similar to the original musical Cats, and it had great atmosphere throughout. It's a fairly trite Japanese ghost story even for its time, but its first time on screen! Loved the ghost design.

Corridors of Blood: This was a Karloff and Lee horror film about live surgery, and Karloff's character's attempt at making an anesthetic gas that knocked the patient out. It was okay. You don't see much of anything, but it's a great psychological horror piece.

Dracula: This was the Hammer film. Surprisingly...I wasn't a fan. I thought Lee's performance was way overrated. He barely says anything the whole film, and, while I get he started some new tropes of the way Dracula is portrayed now, I just wasn't convinced what I was looking at was any kind of Dracula. Just an actor. That said, I think I have a new celebrity crush with Peter Cushing.

El Hombre y el Monstruo: A Mexican version of the ghostly piano's hand narrative from oooold horror films. Was unoriginal and not very exciting.

Monster on the Campus: This was cute and fun. The giant fly was a trip. But otherwise, the narrative isn't that original. Another Caveman/Monster story.

The Trollenburg Terror: Um...this was definitely an experience. The giant eye at the end was...something. Can't say I recommend, but...maybe just watch the last ten minutes?

The Fly: Wow, this was new for me. So, I had seen bits of the newer Fly movie. With the guy from Jurassic Park. I remember the fly burning a man's arm with acid. I remember the fly pulling a shotgun to his head. But I haven't even seen that whole film. So I came into this original Fly movie thinking it would have some of the gore of the later one. Boy was I surprised. This was so well done. I love the main actress. Of course I loved Vincent Price. And while the fly design was hokey, the communication barrier made for a great story. The ending spider kill was super grotesque and uncanny. I loved it. Would watch this one again.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space: A good text on contemporary domestic abuse. Otherwise, it was pretty hokey and pretty dull actually.

1959

House on Haunted Hill: Another weird story for me. So, I had seen the remake of House on Haunted Hill and the remake of The Haunting. But I've never seen the original film. Nor have I read the book they're based on. So I came into this with very clear expectations: everyone was gonna die. While this was easily my favorite of Vincent Price's roles so far, and I loved figuring out the chess game the main antagonists were playing, I didn't expect the ending. I thought real ghosts were going to come out and kill everyone. Loved it. Just had different expectations because of the other films.

Attack of the Giant Leeches: So...despite...the costumes...I loved it? I loved the tropes it started on "nefarious nature." The underwater cave. The dynamite to destroy the monsters under the water. The creepy music as they're coming to get you. The sexuality of it. I actually really liked this one.

Beast from Haunted Cave: Another interesting costume choice. Not worth a watch otherwise.

La Casa del Terror: Watch this. Here's why. It's a Mexican horror film...starring Lon Chaney...in a wax museum...as he is a mummy that is brought in...brought back to life by a mad scientist...and it's revealed the mummy was previously a werewolf. Let all of that sink in. Watch it.

Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan: Another Japanese horror film similar to Black Cat Mansion. Very similar plot. However, the ghosts are a little different in design, and you get such rich storytelling throughout. I enjoyed it.

The Giant Gila Monster: Interesting to have a hot rod horror movie at this point, but it works okay. Didn't "buy" the monster. Just wasn't as real as Tarantula or Them! But the plot was decent, minus the overly Christian themes.

The Mummy: Dear Satan below, this was a shitty movie.

Terror is a Man: I keep expecting movies based on the Island of Dr. Moreau to be awesome. Creepy and super furry. They keep underwhelming me though lol. This one, praise Satan, opened with a disclaimer, that there is a scene that will shock you and if you're weak of heart, look away. It says that there will be a bell sound, followed by the scene, then a bell sound following, in case you needed to look away. I was excited to get to that part. It was a surgery scene. The bell went off. It was a 1.5-second incision into unknown (as in, no telling what part of the body) flesh, and then the second bell went. I'm just like...today we have movie trailers with more gore than that. And we put that shit on YouTube for ads lol.

Plan 9 from Outer Space: -sigh- Everyone told me they were excited for me to get to this movie because it's so bad. Maybe I got told it too often. But having watched it, I just don't think it's that bad lol. I thought The Giant Claw was more cringey and hokey than Plan 9. This didn't seem much worse than any of the 40s films. Maybe I've become desensitized to bad films?

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Anyway, time for overall favs of these two years!

For me, I'd say The Fly, House on Haunted Hill, The Blob, and Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan. I know that's a lot, but it's true! I loved all four of those.

Sin says, "Plan 9 from Outer Space. House on Haunted Hill. The Fly."

So we lined up on two of those for sure!

Comment question of the day: What's a movie you had specific plot expectations for, but the film completely changed the game?