Chiller Theatre: Oct. 2018

Due to a nor' eastern we had to reschedule our plans to hit Chiller Theate from Saturday,  Oct. 27 to Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. There also ended up being a gas leak/ bomb scare on that Sat, but you can read more about here.

So, on Sun, we headed off to enjoy the greatest convention in the world: Chiller!

The first person I went up was Hammer Horror legend and former Bond girl, the lovely Martine Beswick. I told her that my friend, and I had had recently seen Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde. I also told her that we loved the film, and that it now was one of our favorite Hammer movies! She was very sweet and spoke to me about Italy and even complemented me on my hair, which completely blew me away! To say that I was flattered would be the understatement of the year!

Terrifier is the best slasher film of the year, and, as such, I was so happy to talk to David Howard Thorton, who plays the evil Art the Clown. He is so incredibly nice and friendly in person, that he talked to us for a good ten minutes! During this time, a fan cosplaying as Art the Clown got a pic with him!

After all these years, I finally decided to meet the lovely PJ Soles, who of course "totally" played Lynda in John Carpenter's masterpiece Halloween. She was also in classics like Carrie, Rock n' Roll High School, and Rob Zombie's The Devil's Reject's. Speaking of RNRHS, we talked a little bit about the awesomeness of The Ramones. After all, she had their shirt on, and I have a patch of theirs on my battle-jacket. I also learned that she is not, actually a horror fan! Soles is legitimately one of the nicest celebs you could ever meet. She is so impossibly sweet and down to earth, that every fan loves her!

My friend Freddie and I, both met the lovely Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family TV series among other great roles. She was very sweet, as well, and we both got a pic with her. She is such a freaking legend!

We also got to catch up and say hi to Mr. Chiller, himself, Kevin Clement, who runs this amazing convention. None of this would be possible without him. And, while he was not doing well some time before, he is feeling good now. He is even walking around on his own. He looks great and is truly one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Bless him and Chiller!

The last person that I met was the gorgeous Kelly Hu, star of Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Martial Law, X2: X-Men United, and countless more. She was, without question, the person that I wanted to meet the most; at this show as I am a huge and long time fan of hers. I can tell you that she is awesome in person! Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful, and clearly does not age, but she is also super friendly. Not to mention energetic! She was lively and seemed genuinely happy to meet and talk to her fans. Meeting her is one of the true highlights of this year for me!

These are my movies that I got signed at the con:
From Russia with Love by Martinez Beswick and Halloween by PJ Soles.

Finally, this is the swag that I bought at the con:
From Severin Films: 3 Blu-rays for $50- Anthropopagus, Absurd, and Eaten Alive (the Umberto Lenzi cannibal movie)
A Cannibal Holocaust $5 turtle in which proceeds went to the TSA (Turtle Survival Alliance)- if you have seen this movie, you know that it has a horrible scene where a turtle (among other poor animals) gets killed for real. Being that this was for a turtle charity made me feel great about buying and owning this, as I love that movie but HATE that scene (and all the other real animal killing scenes)
And, for buying a copy of Screem magazine, I got a free Blu-ray of Trilogy of Terror!

And, so ends another Chiller, we already can't wait April for the next one!

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DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE (Review)

Title: Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Writer:  Brian Clemens, based upon the story by Robert Louis Stevenson
Cast: Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, Gerald Sim, Lewis Fiander, Dorothy Alison, Neil Wilson
Min: 94
Year: 1971

At the start of our story, Professor Robertson (Gerald Sim) goes to visit his friend Dr. Jekyll (Ralph Bates). Jekyll is a young scientist who is so obsessed with his research and work that he never leaves his house, where his lab is found at. Currently, he is working on an anti-virus, that will kill other viruses. But, Robertson tells him that he will need to live well beyond his own lifetime to discover the anti-viruses to all viruses. Jekyll soon realizes that he will need to extend his own life to achieve his goal.

His studies lead him to discover that women age slower than men. So, he precedes to put female hormones into a fly, which turns it female. He decides to try the process on himself, first by extracting the hormones from female corpses. To get these, he is eventually helped by the infamous grave-robbers, Burke and Hare (Ivor Dean and Tony Calvin, respectively). He makes an elixir from this which turns him into a beautiful woman (Martine Beswick). When, the gorgeous girl, Susan Spencer (Susan Brodrick) who lives with her brother and mother in the floor above him, sees her she thinks that they are a couple. Being attracted to the handsome doctor she is a disappointed. But, he tells her that the lady is in fact her widowed sister, Mrs. Hyde. Her brother, who name is Howard (Lewis Fiander), in turn sees the gorgeous Mrs. Hyde and is immediately attracted to her.

But, when the villagers get to Burke and Hare and exact punishment for their heinous deeds, Jekyll must resort to other methods to get the hormones. IE, he begins to kill hookers in Whitechapel no less, à la Jack the Ripper. Meanwhile, Robertson begins to suspect that it is Jekyll who is racking up the body count of streetwalkers. As Jekyll realizes that they are on to him, he decides to become Mrs. Hyde to kill more hookers and collect what he needs. The thing is that Hyde begins to relish in murder, unlike Jekyll who kills for, what he thinks is a greater good. Soon, both he and the sexy, seductive, and deadly Hyde begin to battle for control of his body and mind. And, she sets her eyes on Susan, who she feels is threat to her.

Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde represents the second time Hammer studios tried to a take on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde, the first being the disappointing Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll. This film though, underrated, is vastly superior and, in fact, ranks among the legendary studio's finest outputs. It is a bold, original, and fascinating take on the source material, especially for its time. 

What could have come off as campy is handled with much deft by director Roy Ward (The Vampire Lovers) Baker. There is some humor, but this actually helps the film, lightening it and coming it at just the right time, rather than bringing it down. The pacing is well handled and thus the movie is never boring. The plot with its exploration of sex and sexuality feels, for this time, fresh, bold, and comes off as highly interesting.  It all leads to an exciting climax and a very well done and highly satisfying if slightly and fittingly horrific ending.  

The success of the flick is also in large part to the strong acting from the cast. Ralph Bates is likable, well when isn't slashing up hookers anyway, and complex in his role of Dr. Jekyll. Meanwhile, the gorgeous Martine (One Million Years B.C.) Beswick is a site to behold as Sister Hyde. She is unquestionably beautiful and breathtaking in her looks, but it is her acting talent that really propels her further in her role. The character of Hyde is sexy, seductive, cold, and evil, all of which  is so very realistically bought to life by Beswick. The rest of cast are all equally excellent in their respective roles, especially Fiander, Sim, and the lovely Ms. Brodrick.

It is interesting to note, that this movie is rated PG. But, this most definitely 70's PG getting away with a lot of crazy shit that would never even get a PG-13 today, much less a PG! There are bits of gore, but much is left to your imagination. Edited expertly these scenes leave you feeling that you have seen much more than you actually have, save for an impressive knife through and out the front of a girl's neck. There is, however, some very welcomed skin by way of the lovely Beswick, who bares her wondrous boobs and ass for the camera.

Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde is a Hammer movie that doesn't get talked about nearly enough. Which is an utter shame, because it truly ranks among the studio's finest output. It took your humble reviewer and loyal Hammer fan ages to see it, thanks to a screening as part of Quad Cinema's, in NYC, current festival of later day Hammer movies. It's sexy, fun, and innovative movie with a bold and, then, different take on a story told a million times over. Topped off with superlative acting and the undisputed beauty, skin, and talent of Beswick, it is a must for fans of Hammer and Gothic horror. Sadly, we here in the US aren't left with many options to see it in (unless you have a region free Blu-ray player, that is), as it was released by Anchor Bay ages ago in a now out-of-print DVD. Here is hoping someone gives us a US Blu-ray version and soon!

4 out of 4 

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The 30 Hottest Scream Queens, pt. 1: 30-21

Ahh, scream queens what red blooded horror loving male don't love them? Women have always played in important roles in the genre. Heroines, victims, girlfriends, vampires, witches, zombies, werewolves, killers, etc, all parts ladies have played. This list presents my personal favorites. And, before this list begins I need to pay tribute to the following lovely ladies: first scream queen and King Kong's true love Fay Wray, the great and exotic Barbara Steele, and finally, of course, Jamie Lee Curtis. About Ms. Curtis, I personally think she looked her hottest when she left horror, i.e., in True Lies, but that's just me. By the way, to make this list you have been in at least TWO horror and/ or exploitation films. Anyways, this part 1 of a 3 parter. Enjoy and please tell me who your favs are.

30. Chiaki Kuriyama - While mainstream audiences know her better as the sexy but psychotic Go-Go in Taratino's splattery Kill Bill Vol. 1, horror and Asian extreme cinema fans, also know her from the classic and ultra-violent Battle Royale and her more recent role in the highly original and enjoyable Hair Extensions. Said movie has a plethora of hot Japanese girls. Win! Anyways, Kuriyama is quite the cutie and talented to boot.

29. Florinda Bolkan- - Brazilian beauty Bolkan did most of her work in Italy, with some really memorable roles in the classic Fulci giallo movies A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling, which to me is the second best movie he ever made. It should be noted that she gets into some hot lesbian action and is nude in Lizard. Sweet! Bolkan also gives an amazing performance in the shocking, violent, but well made nunsploitation movie, Flavia: The Heretic. I sometimes think she is underrated by genre fans and with her exotic beauty, talent, and level of films that she has been she shouldn't be!

28. Martine Beswick- - Aside from her memorable role as a gypsy fighting in the Bond classic From Russia with Love, Beswick has done a huge amount of work in horror movies. Some of her most memorable work is for Hammer, including having a cat fight with the very sexy Raquel Welch in One Millions Years B.C. as well as the lead in Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde. She would continue to do genre work in movies like Critters 4 and Trancers II and lots of others. Beswick has a distinct beauty to her that sets her apart from many of her contemporaries and makes her favorite of mine.

27. Ashley Laurence- - This brunette beauty is one of my personal fav heroines having appeared in four of the Hellraiser movies. The first two classics, in particular standout (not just cause they are great films) in the fact that she stands up to Pinhead and the Cenobites. She had a cameo in the third one and was one of the few things worth seeing in the wretched Hellraiser: Hellseeker. This still drop-dead gorgeous beauty is also in other horror flicks, including The Lurking Fear and Red.

26. Danielle Panabaker- - You can blame Ms. Panabaker for me making this list. After seeing her interview on Attack of the Show to promote the superior remake, The Crazies (in which she is seen in her scrubs, good God, I wish I had a doctor that looked like her!), and recalling her battling Jason in the enjoyable Friday the 13th remake, I knew it was time to play tribute to the babes of horror. Danielle is such a cutie, and she's gonna continue being in horror movies as her next flick is The Ward for John fucking Carpenter!

25. Eliza Dushku- - Horror fans first got a glimpse of this brunette goddess as bad girl Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and later Angel. She was also in the fun 70s tribute Wrong Turn. But, the truly beautiful Ms. Dushku continues to do horror with roles in Open Graves and The Alphabet Killer, where she, finally (!), showed her awesome tits! Truly there is a God!

24. Amber Tamblyn- - While, the non-horror crowd will know this cutie from stuff like Joan of Arcadia and the craptacular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (maybe if it dealt with their underpants, but not America Ferrera's, hell no!,I would give a flying fuck about this series), I prefer to think of her horror work. OK, The Grudge 2 is NOT really a good film, but damn does she look good in it. Personally, it's her excellent acting in quite horror-thriller Spiral that really, truly makes her stand out in my book, though.

23. Jill Whitlow- - Jill's most famous role is for the cult classic Night of the Creeps, where she plays the college hottie (of course!). Not only is she really likable in this role, but she gets naked, too! God, it is so refreshing and nice (but sadly rare) when a lead babe in a horror flick shows the goods. She also appeared in little seen but quite good Twice Dead as well as horror TV shows like Freddy's Nightmares and Swamp Thing. Of note to fellow fans, she has recently been doing horror cons!

22. Brigitte Lahaie- - This French goddess gets extra points for working in my two favorite genres, horror and porn! She's worked with some of Europe's most infamous directors like Jess Franco (in the kick ass Faceless) and, most famously, Jean Rollin, including one of his best movies, Fascination. Being a porn star means Lahaie was perfectly OK with being fully nude and doing love scenes, including lesbian. Which, is of course, perfectly fine with me! Lahaie just exudes sex in every role, I ever seen her in.

21. Rhona Mitra- - This babe modeled as Lara Croft, so she was destined to be a nerd's dream come true. She's been in lots of horror flicks including Hollow Man (where she is nude and raped/ killed by an invisible Kevin Bacon), the terrible Skinwalkers (which also features the beautiful Natassia Malthe, yet still sucks werewolf cock), and the entertaining Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans. But, to me, her best role is in Neil Marshall's kick ass Doomsday (which has become a favorite of mine, by the way). This is one hell of a sexy babe!

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Now playing: Iron Maiden - Total Eclipse
via FoxyTunes

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