The Man Who Changed His Mind - 1936 - UK

The Man Who Changed His Mind - 1936 - 6/10  

 
“I can take the thought content from the brain and store it.”
Perhaps that is when young Doctor Wyatt goes on alert.
True, the scientist she came to study under, Dr. Laurience (Karloff), is a genius.
Yet, dabbling in matters such as mind transfer could have dire consequences.
And – this wouldn’t be a mad scientist movie if he did not perform unethical experiments.
Karloff, eccentric, stymied, resentful, vengeful, is the driving power in this.
Everyone else is support, other scientists, journalists, chimps.
Loder as lovestruck boyish stalker has the charm of a dented bucket.
Fans of classic Universal, this could pass muster.

The Au Pair - 2025 - UK

The Au Pair - 2025 - 5/10

 
Fashion designer Zoe and husband Dr. Chris hire an au pair for their too-old-to-need-one kids.
The French arrival, smiles on the surface, malice beneath, launches quiet sabotage from the onset.
Wily Sandrine holds your interest, wondering what drives her, and who or what she will destroy next.
To my annoyance and frustration, the narrative pivots midway into family angst.
This becomes a completely different story, and I start barking at characters with short term memories.
My suspicion is the writing room boxed itself into a corner, then shrugged.

Macbeth - 2025 - UK

Macbeth - 2025 - 7/10

 
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
Macbeth the Thane, aspires to the throne via blood, urged by his dominating wife.
Austere version of Shakespeare’s darkest play may not appeal to all tastes.
Minimal set design, however, serves to enhance the words.
Language, dialogue and monologue, is paramount, forcing viewers to flesh proceedings themselves.
Powerful play of ambition and treachery, of deceptive promises and muddled prophecy.
Inspired use of small folk ensemble offering sparse music.
“Cruel are the times when we are traitors and do not know ourselves.”
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358197

Bon Voyage - 1944 - UK

Bon Voyage - 1944 - 6/10

 
During WWII, RAF gunner Dougall escapes from a German prison camp, back to England.
Of course, he had help through France, and a French officer wants details.
So, Dougall relates how he and his comrade navigated from one safe house to another.
Terribly obscure Hitchcock wartime short is absolutely worth tracking down.
Everything is first-rate: camera work, story, the murky undercurrent.
A Hitchcock vehicle, this does not shy away from unpleasantness.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358198

Seven Days In May - 1964 - USA

Seven Days In May - 1964 - 7/10

 
During nuclear disarmament talks with the Soviets, the US President’s approval ratings plunge.
The man is ailing, out of step with the people, and stubborn.
While behind his back, a clique of Pentagon brass plot a military coup.
Far-fetched?  The premise swings in and out of relevancy all the time.
Just as it’s hard for viewers to choose a side, depending on what team is in power.
Burt Lancaster plays the calculating general with chilling effectiveness.
The Cold War was ongoing when this premiered, and audiences probably gasped at coincidences.
As mentioned, the theme of takeover, or ignoring the Constitution never seems to go away.

I Walk Alone - 1947 - USA

I Walk Alone - 1947 - 6/10

 
Successful bootleg partners Frank and Dink have a gentleman’s agreement.
Should one of them go to the slammer, his 50% share of the business will be intact upon release.
Honor among thieves, hey?  Make a prediction.
Yes, once Frank serves 14 years, his buddy is all smiles and excuses.
“Agreement?  What agreement?  I don’t know nothing about no agreement?”
Swanky nightclub, femme fatale singer, crooked accounting, a frame job.
Typical elements for a Noir, yet this is slow and rather boring.
Best is Kirk Douglas as the swindling, duplicitous partner.

A Time Out Of War - 1954 - USA

A Time Out Of War - 1954 - 6/10

 
Late in the US Civil War, three soldiers guard a meaningless stream crossing.
A Johnny Reb and two Yanks exchange potshots, insults, jibes, pleasantries.
The war is almost finished, they know that and just want to return home.
After awhile, they decide to an hour ceasefire to go fishing.
Poignant short of the banality of war, along with the similarities that tie us.

Cesium Fallout - 2024 - Hong Kong

Cesium Fallout - 2024 - 6/10
AKA - Fen Cheng // 焚城

 
Scavengers rake the industrial landfill looking for salvage, especially precious metals.
Oops, they stumble across highly radioactive material.  Oops, oops, they start a fire.
Whoa!  Deadly wastes explode, turning the junkyard into an inferno.
Worse, there is now radioactivity in the air, soon to turn Hong Kong into a wasteland!
Throwback to disaster films of the 1990’s is entertaining, preachy, predictable.
Heroic firefighters, bickering politicians, self-serving business elites.
Stemming the annihilation, a rogue scientist / activist.

Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed Up Zombies - 1964 - USA

The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed Up Zombies - 1964 - 5/10

Rather than dinner and dancing, low-rent Jerry takes Angela to the carnival.
A sashay into Madam Estrella’s for palm reading only incenses him.
Then, near the sideshow, Jerry abandons milk fed Angela for gypsy Carmelita.
Strippers and cooch girls, yeah.

 
The plot, already crazy, now hits overload.
Fred Astaire dancing duo act as interludes, as does the burlesque revue.
The strolling guitarist, nightclub comedian, hypnosis, psychosis, the sinister knife.
At the core of evil lurks Madam Estrella.
A thoroughly slagged film, that I watched in an amused haze.
Good photography, slick editing, miserable acting, a cast who seem too old for every role.
Must for aficionados of trash cinema.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3358196

Eye Of The Devil - 1966 - UK

Eye Of The Devil - 1966 - 6/10

Philippe is summoned back to the ancestral home.
The surrounding vineyards are in decline, necessitating the ancient rites.
He tells his wife to stay home in Paris, with the children.
She disobeys, not understanding the danger she has placed herself and her children, into.
This is a fantastic looking film, yet it is a MGM vehicle for star Deborah Kerr.
And she dominates, hamming it up.  Over-emoting, wailing, screaming.
David Hemming far more memorable as the mysterious archer.

 
There are the twelve robed figures, an upcoming village fete, and the fatalistic Niven.
Not to forget newcomer Sharon Tate, who seems an adept.

 
The potential for atmospheric Gothic Horror is rivaled by the disappointment in the Melodrama that this was.
Extremely disappointing as every other player serves the moody story.

Killer’s Kiss - 1955 - USA

Killer’s Kiss - 1955 - 6/10

 
Grimy tale of washed up pug and dimehall dancer.
Sordid NYC tenement provides the location for this Pulp romance, with full Noir cinematography.
At barely an hour, this packs in fierce boxing, cheap dancing, jealousy, murder, and an irresistible fight amongst the mannequins.
Photography is breathtaking at times.  Amazing that this was filmed for $75 K.
Weak point is the female actor, who has the magnetism of a worn out paper sack.
The director would ascend to greater films, but he often cast wooden types in those films, too.
View as a minor Noir, you should enjoy.  Don’t overlay the director.

Night Of The Comet - 1984 - USA

Night Of The Comet - 1984 - 6/10

 
Save for a pair of Valley girls (and a pinball pro), a comet has wiped out most of humanity.
And other survivors are hungry zombies.
Light-hearted Horror goes for satire and laughs and hits most bases.
Wry homage to Dawn Of The Dead as well as grrrl power.
Shopping mall is laugh out loud at times, and the scientists are proof that the smartest in the room often have no common sense.
No great shakes, but fun, although so many references will be lost to post X-er viewers.