Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but flawed
Review: This is certainly an achievement for a $20,000 budget, even in
1963. And the direction is often striking, showing much promise
for Coppola's future but in no way anticipating the "Godfather"
epics. However, the original story by the director is pretty
derivative and doesn't really go anywhere, and most of the
acting is mediocre at best. I'd advise any horror fan to buy a
budget dvd of this as it is a cult item, as well as any fan of
Francis Ford Coppola. Just don't expect a whole lot and you will
be entertained for about 78 minutes.
The print on the dvd is flat out lousy; audio dropouts and
often such poor visual quality as to annoy the viewer. But the
price is low and the film is worth adding to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but flawed
Review: This is certainly an achievement for a $20,000 budget, even in
1963. And the direction is often striking, showing much promise
for Coppola's future but in no way anticipating the "Godfather"
epics. However, the original story by the director is pretty
derivative and doesn't really go anywhere, and most of the
acting is mediocre at best. I'd advise any horror fan to buy a
budget dvd of this as it is a cult item, as well as any fan of
Francis Ford Coppola. Just don't expect a whole lot and you will
be entertained for about 78 minutes.
The print on the dvd is flat out lousy; audio dropouts and
often such poor visual quality as to annoy the viewer. But the
price is low and the film is worth adding to your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Coppola's first--a mixed bag
Review: This is not the best horror movies I've ever seen, but one of the best films in terms of *atmosphere*. The frightening parts about it are less in the film itself than what the film suggests--the really psychotic point to which codependency can build, obsession, and a host of other disturbances, none of which involve the supernatural but suggest it. Along with the Vincent Price films he did, this is the best film you'll see that Roger Corman was involved in. Luana Anders is, ironically, the strongest presence in this film. Thing is, she doesn't last very long, and the viewer isn't all that devastated when she does disappear. A scheming, money hungry witch, she preys on the co-morbidity of an elderly woman to the point of sadism. A young girl dies tragically at a young age. An Irish family living in Nowheresville idealizes her mysterious death to the point of madness. Someone is responsible, and we eventutally find out who. There are a few 'jump out of your seat scenes', one of them being the untimely (and grisly) death of Anders. It's been awhile since I've seen this film, but much of the imagery (dolls, truly 'demented' childhood memories, and the last exclamation by the ultimate culprit: "DON'T TOUCH THAT!") have remained with me. This is an odd blend, Corman and Coppola. A worthwhile old cinematic antique of misery.
Rating:
Summary: Coppola's first--a mixed bag
Review: This is not the best horror movies I've ever seen, but one of the best films in terms of *atmosphere*. The frightening parts about it are less in the film itself than what the film suggests--the really psychotic point to which codependency can build, obsession, and a host of other disturbances, none of which involve the supernatural but suggest it. Along with the Vincent Price films he did, this is the best film you'll see that Roger Corman was involved in. Luana Anders is, ironically, the strongest presence in this film. Thing is, she doesn't last very long, and the viewer isn't all that devastated when she does disappear. A scheming, money hungry witch, she preys on the co-morbidity of an elderly woman to the point of sadism. A young girl dies tragically at a young age. An Irish family living in Nowheresville idealizes her mysterious death to the point of madness. Someone is responsible, and we eventutally find out who. There are a few 'jump out of your seat scenes', one of them being the untimely (and grisly) death of Anders. It's been awhile since I've seen this film, but much of the imagery (dolls, truly 'demented' childhood memories, and the last exclamation by the ultimate culprit: "DON'T TOUCH THAT!") have remained with me. This is an odd blend, Corman and Coppola. A worthwhile old cinematic antique of misery.
Rating:
Summary: mildly suspensful, beginning movie for Coppola and Corman
Review: This movie, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and produced by Roger Corman, features a family who's greedy to get at the fortune of a deranged old woman; who's memories of her dead little girl result in some strange rituals. There's a blonde, one of two, who kills her husband; then, lies to the family, as she angles to get in on the fortune [she doesn't make it]; there's a couple about to get married, one disturbed brother (who turns out is an "ax" murderer). A weird doctor (who may be familiar to anyone who has seen "A Clockwork Orange" [he was the writer who was attacked in his home-Patrick Magee (not Macnee, of the Avengers, no)]. It was a weird, but short movie, 81 mins (which was why it was recorded, on the Alpha Video version I have, at SLP). For 1963, it wasn't bad. And it was a great place to start for Coppola and Corman. The first blond, who gets killed, was Luann Anders; who wasn't bad looking, and I wonder if she ever made any other movies [perhaps, someone reading this could help me out, thanks.] Note: It's Luana, not Luann. It won't let me add a review, so the correction is here.
Rating:
Summary: WHY DOESN'T AMAZON REQUIRE WIDESCREEN OR FULL FRAME FROM....
Review: WHY DOESN'T AMAZON REQUIRE WIDESCREEN OR FULLFRAME FROM SELLERS DESCRIPTIONS! WHY DOESN'T AMAZON SHOW ACTUAL PHOTO OF DVD BOX COVER AS WELL AS THE BACK OF THE BOX WITH ALL THE TECHNICAL INFO; TIME/FORMAT/SOUND ETC. FOR OUR CONVENIENCE? MAYBE THEY NEED A CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT AND I'M THE ANSWER? AMAZON PLEASE EMAIL WITH FISCAL OFFER, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!
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