Classic Brittish Horror

[Shaolin Drunkard]

I found myself watching this great film on UK TV late a couple of nights ago called Asylum made in 1972. The only actor I recognised was Peter Cushing. It was an anthology film about a psychologist who went round a mental institude and heard 4 different short stories, one from each patient.. it wasnt particularly scary but there is something about the style of the movie I enjoyed, and it had a classic twist at the end :)

I was wondering if anyone else has seen this film or has any recommendations for similar films?

[kenichiku]

There's the British 'Tales From the Crypt' anthology from about this time that also featured Peter Cushing with Joan Collins this time instead of Britt Ekland. Another is 'House That Dripped Blood' with Cushing and Lee. Also Hammer House films, all released a year or two apart.

I guess I liked my limey horror less subdued. Just watched the raunchy British horror film 'Vampyres' lately with lesbian vampires on the rampage played by Playboy playmate Anulka & sexy Miriam Morris (Hubba, Hubba). It was a bloody trashy blast. Love films of this classic period like 'Wicker Man', 'Lifeforce' & 'Liar of the White Worm'.

[Shaolin Drunkard]

I have actually seen Tales From The Crypt yeeeears ago when i was little:D I just remember one of the storys was about a killer plant or something!

I think I will start watching more of these classics as they are quite often shown on TV over here....

[kenichiku]

And where would that be Shao? You're pretty lucky cuz I haven't seen Hammer films on Creature Feature Tellee shows since I was a kid myself. They show nothing but sh**te on broadcast, cable AND dish here in California now. 'Island of Fear', 'Quartermass' & 'Scars of Dracula' are the ones I recall the best!

[Markgway]

Saw this a while back on TV. Is it the one where Robert Powell visits an, er, Asylum? :p

Amicus did a follow-up to Tales From the Crypt called Vault of Horror. More of the same really... famous Brit actors slaughtering one another....

[chingdog]

I still have a ton of these on vhs that i watch from time to time...have Asylum and House that Dripped Blood and Scars of Dracula too

[krazykoolkat]

@Shaolin

You should really go watch Dr. Terror's House of Horror then ( imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0059125/) ), which features Peter Cushing as well (next to Christopher Lee and a very young Donald Sutherland) and is produced by the same company as Asylum (Amicus).

It's an anthology film as well, with several short stories with a certain EC Comics flair. At the end there is some nice twist which sums up all the movie.

Director Freddie Francis also was director of photography in several Lynch movies. So Dr. Terror's is a very "visual movie" with nice lightings and use of camera.

very moody, not scary. recommended!

@kenichiku

Just for info, Asylum is not by Hammer but by Amicus. A smaller company who tried to reach Hammer's success with smaller films feat. the typical "Hammer people".

[kenichiku]

Krazy:Just for info, Asylum is not by Hammer but by Amicus.Duly noted! 'House of Horror' sounds interesting. Then, the Amicus films do have less of that Hammers gloss as I recall.

[krazykoolkat]

Then, the Amicus films do have less of that Hammers gloss as I recall.

They're a little different but nevertheless pretty cool. :)

(in fact, I think Dr.Terror's House of Horrors is one of the best British genre classics and Lee's and Cushing's performances in this little gem are truly of their best's :) )

[kenichiku]

Then 'Dr.Terror's House of Horrors' and 'Witchfinder General' are my next vintage Lee horror titles on my 'to see' list.

Any opinions on the Italian import 'Witchfinder' for those who's seen it?

[krazykoolkat]

You can get this movie right now for a very good price at Play (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=132009) (DVD by Anchor Bay, should be good quality then).

[gorlank]

See the Wicker Man, a minor masterpiece!

[venoms5]

WITCHFINDER GENERAL does not star Lee. It's a Vincent Price film and definitely worth picking up. Some other great Brit horror flicks are CITY OF THE DEAD aka HORROR HOTEL(get the VCI DVD, it's uncut and has some great special features, FRIGHT a very suspensful pre-HALLOWEEN horror from Peter Collinson starring Susan George and Honor Blackman, CIRCUS OF HORRORS, a very disturbing horror film from 1960 starring Anton Diffring, Donald Pleasance and Yvonne Monlaur from BRIDES OF DRACULA. It's amazing what this film got away with for the time. Most assuredly pick up HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD arguably the best of the Amicus anthologies and THEATER OF BLOOD with Vincent Price if you haven't already seen it. Without a doubt Prices' best film whose character encapsulates what a lot of critics thought of him in real life. The PHIBES films with Price are also must haves and a Peter Cushing film that's not British but is still a must have is SHOCK WAVES also with John Carradine and Brooke Adams. An intense ghost film about underwater Nazi zombies terrorizing vacationers stranded on an island whose only living inhabitant is a slightly insane Peter Cushing as a Nazi commander. This movie has one of the best soundtracks for a horror film ever. Also for somewhat cheesy horror but still fun nonetheless is THE BEAST MUST DIE a sort of Blaxploitation-werewolf picture featuring Peter Cushing and Anton Diffring. One I almost forgot even though it's not a British film is HORROR EXPRESS an all time favorite of mine starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Telly Savalas. To say anything about this one would give too much away. This film has so much going for it- a very inventive story, lots of quirky characters and two of the best performances by Cushing and Lee ever. You can tell by their scenes together that they are definitely having a good time with the material and both utter several memorable lines. BTW does anyone know if and when BRIDES OF DRACULA and CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF will make there way to DVD?

[irons]

Ahh, another Amicus fan. Amicus were famed for their anthologies, the man who was Amicus's main man (Milton Subotsky) was an editor in his early days. He always said that he could cut a film by 3/4 and it would be better, and so the Amicus anthologies were born. Most Amicus films are set in 'modern' times, Hammer films were more concerned with 'period' films. (17th century Transylvania) that's the easiest way to tell the diffirence. The best Amicus anthologies are:

Tales From The Crypt.
Asylum
Vault of horror
Dr Terrors House Of Horrors.
The House That Dripped Blood.

They also did a few feature length films, but they weren't in the same class as their short stories.

Some other good British Horror films that might be of interest, many of them have the same 'feel'.

Try:
Blood on Satans Claw.
The Creeping Flesh.
The Wicker Man.
The 2 Dr Phibes films
Witchfinder General.
Theatre Of Blood.

That should keep you busy for a while. I actualy prefer Hammer, but many prefer Amicus. I'd say try both, the Hammer films are far easier to come by, and I love every one of them.
Dunno where you're from but there's a Region 2 box set of Amicus films still available. It might be worth picking up, Asylum's included in the set.



Venoms 5, I wish I knew! 'Brides' is like the Holy Grail of Hammer films just now, and from what I heard we could be in for a long wait. Hopefuly I heard wrong.

[leung jarn]

You forgot to mention "From Beyond The Grave" another excellent Amicus production.
The British compendiums were very popular in the 70's.
Dr Terror's IS a classic horror flick. It features a very young Donald Sutherland. I also quite like the Monster Club. (based on stories by R Chetwynd-Hayes as was FBTG)
If it wasn't Amicus or Hammer< Tigon also did some rather good horror films. The Creeping Flesh is one of my faves featuring Cushing and Lee.
Another good one from the 70's was The Uncanny ,a Canadian co-production starring Cushing, Milland, Pleasance. Puts you right off cats!

[irons]

Didn't forget about it Leung, just don't think it's quite as good as the others. Torture Garden is another film anthology that didn't quite reach the heights of the ones I mentioned.
Did you like The Uncanny? Not a big fan of it, thou I could watch Susan Penhaligon in pretty much anything. I thought the stories were a bit weak. Just my humble opinion thou.

[leung jarn]

Nice to see another Hammer fan.
I used to think I knew a fair bit about Hammer but one of my work colleagues was THE man.
He had every film taped off tv (EVERY one), film posters, scripts, he even has some of Roy Ashton's make up sketches/notes.
He also so had a large collection of the model kits.
U know, Godzilla, frankenstein etc,etc.
Don't see him now he moved darn sarf dinne?

[KidwiththeGoldenArm]

Hammer flicks rock.

[Markgway]

I got the Hammer Franchise Box Set from Universal. Terrific value for these British horror classics (well, most of them). ;)

[KidwiththeGoldenArm]

Another great British spooker from the `70's in The Legend of Hell House. It's good.

Hammer's are tremendous (like Shaws in their way) and are available on the cheap at deepdiscountdvd as I have recently discovered.

[leung jarn]

I have seen em.
Why they don't record commentaries for them is beyond me.
Christopher Lee wont live forever.

A wasted opportunity. IMO

[Markgway]

Some Hammer films have audio commentaries from Anchor Bay. Eg. Scars of Dracula & Prince of Darkness.

[Chinatown Kid]

Christopher Lee sure could play a good Dracula! Dracula Has Risen From The Grave is one of my favorites of Lee. Also liked the Frankenstein movies with Cushing. And who could forget Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, the Shaw/Hammer co-production.

[Markgway]

I've always been partial to Peter Cushing. The best "horror movie" actor ever. Fact.

[leung jarn]

Some Hammer films have audio commentaries from Anchor Bay. Eg. Scars of Dracula & Prince of Darkness.



Thanks for that.
Will have a look for the Anchor Bay dvds.

[Chinatown Kid]

I remember a Hammer film called "Vampire Circus" that I seen on tv as a kid. It was quite scary and bloody if memory serves me correct. Have to track this title down and see if it's available on dvd.

[venoms5]

Try www.xploitedcinema.com. They have an excellent box set consisting of VAMPIRE CIRCUS, TWINS OF EVIL and COUNTESS DRACULA all uncut for 30 dollars. BTW the set is region 2 and they have another box set with HANDS OF THE RIPPER, THE UNCANNY and THE DEVIL WITHIN HER(under one of its several alternate titles I think.

[Markgway]

I had the R2 Vampire Box Set. All films are 16:9 and AFAIK uncut. The only one I kept was Twins of Evil - one of the best of the 70's Hammer Horrors. It also had a very good print. Whereas Countess Dracula looked kinda yellowish to me.

[Chinatown Kid]

Thanks guys, I'll check it out then.:)

[chingdog]

Countess Dracula is always a bit washed out from what I have seen.....Twins is a great movie. I also recommend: Pirates of Blood River, Night Creatures, Shadow of the Cat, Scream of Fear, Cash on Demand, and Stranglers of Bombay if you like Hammer.....

[Markgway]

Some of those are quite rare, Chingdog. But Night Creatures (originally Captain Clegg) is available on the recent Hammer Franchise DVD collection from Universal. It's overmatted @2.00 but the cropping doesn't interfere TOO much and otherwise the print looks great. Possibly the most enjoyable film in the set.

[chingdog]

They are rare...I have them all on video but need to get the Captain Clegg release...I think I will after you told me the print is pretty good since mine is average at best.....

[Markgway]

Universal's Captain Clegg DVD uses the American Night Creatures print (actually a better title IMO) but seems to be uncut, as are most if not all the other films in the set. As I said it IS overmatted so don't be surprised that your tape has more image on top/bottom. But doesn't spoil the movie. It's worth taking a chance for the ultra-cheap price. I hadn't seen any of the eight films before buying and the only one I thought was (a little) below average was Curse of the Werewolf.

[Chinatown Kid]

I just ordered this set put out By MCA that includes Curse of the Werewolf. I remember seeing C. of the W. before and thought it was pretty good. Oliver Reed's performance was quite intense and riveting. The guy that played the king in that movie sure was a mean, hateful SOB. I believe Mr. Reed was quite a rowdy wildchild in his personal life too. Looking forward to seeing Night Creatures, Paranoic, and Nightmare in this set also as I've never seen them before.

[Markgway]

Reed's performances could sometimes be a bit mannered and theatrical. But he dominates the screen that's for sure.... Except when the great Peter Cushing is on. 8)

[sevenhooks]

Suprised nobody's mentioned "Night of the Demon" (US title: "Curse of the Demon") with Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummings (the supremely sexy broad from "Gun Crazy").
Sh#t was eerie as all hell & used to give me straight up nightmares as a lickle youth!!
Search it out if you want to see a good, classy British horror flick.
Same director that did the old Cat People films if I'm not mistaken.
It's also the movie that "Rocky Horror Picture Show" was referring to when they said "Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes."

:eek

[Markgway]

The R1 DVD of Night of the Demon has both original British and re-edited US versions on it. (I know because my Dad has it). ;)

Just got Captain Kronos R1 thru the mail. From the makers of The Avengers... meets Hammer has me intrigued. Heard it's good fun. No spoilers please! :b

[killer meteor]

I'm quite pleased with the German Hammer DVDs from Anolis. They retain the commentaries and extras from the OOP Anchor Bay discs and have fair to decent picture quality

[moongirl6]

YES!!! Night/Curse of the Demon is an EXCELLENT film, one you can watch over and over and over again and never get tired of it (I speak from personal experience).

[Markgway]

Well, I watched CAPTAIN KRONOS and it was a giant bore. Very disappointing. It's got some positive reviews though, so maybe it's just me. On my trade list if any wants...

[Chinatown Kid]

The Hammer dvd sets I ordered arrived yesterday. One was a set put out by Universal and the other was put out by Warner Brothers. I've started watching the Warner Brothers discs first and so far have watched Dracula Has Risen From the Grave, Taste The Blood of Dracula, and Frankenstein Must be Destroyed, having never seen the latter two. Taste the Blood of Dracula was rather kinky, more so than the usual Dracula fare. Christopher Lee was again great as Dracula altough he was scarcely in it except towards the end. Seems like the movie didn't even really need Dracula in it with the plot about Satanic cult leader and the victorian thrill seekers that got involved with him. I liked Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed alot better. Peter Cushing portrays Dr. Frankenstein alot more evil and ruthless in this movie than he normally appears. He murders, rapes, an commits blackmail. The movie doesn't feature a grotesque monster as usual but a normal looking guy that has recieved a brain transplant played by Freddie Jones. Jones does a good job of portraying him as a pitiful, sympathetic character. Well I plan to watch Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula next, hope their just as good.:smokin

[chingdog]

They are just as good.....Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed might be the most underrated performance of Cushing's career. Taste the Blood was so-so but Dracula again didn't have enough to do.....

[venoms5]

Your observations about TASTE THE BLOOD... are spot on as the movie was originally meant to only feature a disciple of Dracula but at the last minute the producers resorted once again to emotional blackmail to lure Chris Lee back into the cape once more. Also, the version used is the uncut British version containing much more violence and nudity then the previous VHS from Warner. FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED has always been my fave of the Frank films because Peter Cushing, besides being my favorite actor, delivered his most evil and vicious performance of the series with all his scenes oozing perfection. Also Seven is right about NIGHT OF THE DEMON. When I was 8 I had a big book about horror movies and one page featured a large picture of the demon from the movie and I had to see it based on that one photo. If I remember correctly Joque Tourneur was against having the demon visualized in the movie and it was put in against his wishes.

[Chinatown Kid]

I was very pleased with both The Curse of Frankenstein and the Horror of Dracula. They were both great retellings of the classic stories. I notice Christopher Lee is very tall, this gives him a very imposing presence and helped to make him a great Dracula. Peter Cushing makes a great Dr. Frankenstein and is a brilliant actor also. Didn't care much for The Evil of Frankenstein though. The monster just looked to hokey and cheap looking, I liked Lee's makeup alot better in Curse of Frankenstein. He was one ugly mofo!:lol Looking forward to watching Brides of Dracula and Phantom of the Opera next. 8)