Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - Germany

Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - 6/10
AKA - Das Verrätertor

 
Graham is busted out of Dartmoor, then helicoptered into London.
Reason?  He’s a dead ringer for one of the Tower guards, Dick.
Once you realize the Tower Of London, you grasp the plot.
Caper film.  Heist.  Stealing the Crown Jewels
Alright Krimi, based on Edgar Wallace, is great for shots of vintage England.
Some comic relief from a curious busybody, but it is minimal.
Kinski best as the ruthless right hand man and crew captain.

Dr. Jekyll's Mistresses - 1964 - Spain

Dr. Jekyll's Mistresses - 1964 - 6/10
AKA - El Secreto del Dr. Orloff

 
Middling Gothic Horror outing, well composed yet the plot is weak.
On his deathbed, Dr. Orloff shares with his most gifted pupil, Dr. Fisherman, the secret of immortality.
Actually, it Is more like reanimation, which Fisherman employs to revive his murdered brother.
Whom he then controls and sends out to kill some females because … I don’t know.
Side story involves a flirtatious romance between niece Melissa and a cute taxi driver.
Songs, nightclub scenes and police investigations round out a muddled film.

Between Riverside And Crazy - 2022 - USA

Between Riverside And Crazy - 2022 - 7/10

 
Retired beat cop Walter Washington survives in his rent-controlled apartment.
His landlord wants him out, and his ex-con son Junior (Common) worries about eviction papers.
There is a young moocher who runs errands, and pushy church types.
Excellent ensemble of forces urging the old man to leave.
To accept payouts, to compromise.
Funny as well, with a jagged edge.
Stephen McKinley Henderson anchors this throughout as the lovable, cruel, obstinate, lonely, Walter.

(Iron) Angels - 1987 - Hong Kong

(Iron) Angels - 1987 - 6/10  
AKA - Tian Shi Xing Dong  // 天使行動

 
Military troops, led by Interpol, destroy a poppy field in the Golden Triangle.
In retaliation, Triads murder or kidnap and torture Interpol agents.
Police haven’t the resources, so instead the Angel organization is contracted to hit the gangs.
Breathless action in the Girls With Guns category, with Moon Lee and Oshima Yukari squaring off.
Countless villains, endless rounds of bullets, crazy stunts.
One of those rare HK films directed by a female.  Several sequences would be cribbed by major films.
Entertaining audio commentary by Samm Deighan.

Dangerous Animals - 2025 - Australia

Dangerous Animals - 2025 - 7/10

 
Greg and Heather board skipper Tucker’s boat for shark cage diving.
Soon to discover sharks also exist topside.
Among later arrivals is Zephyr, recognized by Tucker as a fellow shark.
Seafaring adventure mixes surfing, sharks and a sociopath.
Gruesome cat and mouse torments throughout.
Jai Courtney spellbinding as the lethal Tucker.  Surf porn?  Very little.

Phantom Lady - 1944 - USA

Phantom Lady - 1944 - 7/10

 
“No names, no addresses, just companions for the evening.”
Two unhappy souls meet in an empty bar, later attend a hit show.
Afterward, they separate, he returns home where three detectives await.
And a murdered wife.  Detectives ask where he was, who he was with.
“No names, no addresses” comes back to haunt him.
Characters above disappear, while others start to track the elusive date.
Terrific Noir, highlighting midnight New York full of exuberance and excitement.
As well as loneliness and despair.

Murder In Lille - 2017 - France

Murder In Lille - 2017 - 6/10
AKA - Les Crimes Silencieux

 
The victim, swinging from the noose, had been highly unpopular.
Our new captain arrives with her daughter and traumatized husband in tow.
Suspects include the dead man’s wife, her lover, as well as the new captain’s dad, a retired judge.
There are several elements of conflict which elevate this over most of these TV films.
Romance is dysfunctional in this one, which is a plus in my book.