a triple bill of Freddie Francis double bills.
After watching “The Vampire Happening” last weekend, I saw it was directed by Oscar winning cinematographer Freddie Francis.
Francis has a noted list of British horror films under his belt, most of which I’d seen, some multiple times, notably the portmanteau films – “Tales That Witness Madness”, “Tales from the Crypt”, “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors” “Torture Garden”.
But some on the list I hadn’t seen. Well, I hadn’t seen some, while others weren’t marked off on the IMDb as watched and I didn’t remember them but as it turned out.
Well, the first four I hadn’t seen. Three I hadn’t even heard of.
Friday night was two of his 1960s films, it commenced with the gialloish “The Psychopath”, written by Robert Bloch of “Psycho” fame.
Four men who were involved in the investigation of a German millionaire at the end of World War II are found murdered with tiny dolls left next to their corpses. IMDb
Friday night concluded with “Nightmare” from 1964. I hadn’t seen or known about either, both of them were a bit predictable but with some decent acting, they were worth the watch.
A young woman is plagued by nightmares of her asylum-patient mother. Upon returning to her family home, the nightmares become real when she sees a strange woman pacing the halls. IMDb
Saturday night commenced with one I’d heard of but never seen, doubt it’s been shown much on the telly, 1970’s “Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly”. Not the kind of flick you expect to see Ursula Howells in.
A wealthy, fatherless British clan kidnaps bums and hippies and forces them to participate in an elaborate role-playing game in which they are the perfect family; those who refuse or attempt escape are ritualistically murdered. IMDb
Saturday night concluded with one I didn’t know, “Paranoiac” from 1963. It’s Thora Hird’s daughter, Mrs Mel Torme and Ollie Reed.
A man long believed dead returns to the family estate to claim his inheritance. IMDb
Sunday night saw two later films of Francis both of which didn’t register until I started watching and then it was… “Yes…I have seen these”. It commenced with “Legend of the Werewolf” from 1975. With Peter Cushing, in which you won’t be surprised to learn that Peter is throttled at some point in the film. I don’t know if there was an actor who was throttled as many times on screen as Peter Cushing.
Paris, 19th century. A man who has been raised by wolves works at a zoo. But on full moon nights he transforms into a dangerous beast. Professor Paul is in charge of hunting him down as the young man develops an obsession for a prostitute. IMDb
Sunday concluded with a reworking of the Burke & Hare story “The Doctor and the Devils” from 1985. Starring a pre-Bond Timothy Dalton.
In Victorian England, two grave robbers supply a wealthy doctor with bodies to research anatomy on, but greed causes them to look for a more simple way to get the job done. Based on the horrifying Burke and Hare case. IMDb
