Return of the Blind Dead (1973)

The grubby, crusty, devil worshipping zombie-mummy-vampire-skeleton-Templars on fucking HORSES are back but this time aided by a doom-saying Igor (played by a post-stroke and monobrowed Al Pacino) who wakes them from their evil slumber.

Is the sequel as scuzzy and atmospheric as the original? Generally speaking, yes. There are some great gruey effects with lashings of Humbrol red Euro-blood. It's simpler, faster-paced, more bloody and with a larger cast than the original. I even liked the sub-Carry On comedic scenes with the Commissioner and the miming maid. Unfortunately, some of the creeping atmosphere of the first film is lost amid the town location and the large cast, although that shot, near the end of the film, of the Templars standing still outside the church at dawn is fantastic. Lastly, what is it with zombie horses that cause a weird time-dilation whenever they're ridden?

As well as Igor, the cast includes, an eyebrowless (I think Igor got her share) woman whom everyone seems to have fallen head-over-heels in love with; a real bastard of a mayor; a rapist henchman; and a sexist ex-army firework technician.

You know what I'd love to see? The Blind Dead Versus The Flashing Blade!

This review was for the longer Spanish cut.

Nope-Tober: Random Shit for an Ill-disciplined Mind

Letterboxd Review

The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976)

Phantasmagoric and very, very sad with a brilliantly fractured, otherworldly and childlike performance by Millie Perkins as Molly, the Witch/Venus/Frigga/All-Mother/Valkyrie taking those oh-so-perfect heroes to the afterlife. More than a little subversive.

Kill yr idols!

Nope-Tober: Random Shit for an Ill-disciplined Mind

Letterboxd Review

Prey (1978)

Totally worth it just for Sally Faulkner's portrayal of Jo the hysterically deranged, man-hating, vegetarian lesbian. Notable scenes? Where they dress the alien up in a women's dress and makeup and then play hide and seek. When Jo goes fucking batshit over some dead chickens. The very strange, slo-mo, fight in the muddy, swan pond. The final sex and death scene.

I liked this even more than Warren's later film, Inseminoid.

Letterboxd Review

Inseminoid (1981)

Possibly the only film where you get to see Judy Geeson's dental fillings.

Letterboxd Review

Evilspeak (1981)

The uncut extended Anchor Bay version. Note that the "extended" pieces of film are in a noticeably worse condition than the rest of the film and that they do not contain any extra gore, blood or sex.

Really enjoyed this movie. It's really a 70's devil worship film crossed with an 80's computer goes wrong film. A great omen-a-like soundtrack and pretty terrific effects (even the computer graphics/animations) for a cheap 80's movie. Go on, give it a watch.

Original letterboxd review