Let's hope that 2023 brings joy to all.
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Thursday, December 29, 2022
The Bloody Pit #163 - THE MONSTER MAKER (1944)
I’m joined by author David Annandale for a deep dive into
the Poverty Row Horror film THE MONSTER MAKER (1944). Even among fans of these
low budget efforts this one has a disreputable reputation as an example of the
lines that these movies sometimes crossed. It is often singled out as one of
the darker and more sadistic horrors of the 1940’s it does its best to creep
out the viewer with the first onscreen appearance of a victim of acromegaly,
the real disease that afflicted The Elephant Man, John Merrick. The film’s
jumbled script throws in elements borrowed from MAD LOVE (1935), THE RAVEN
(1935) and a few other classic horror movies as well. And since this is a mad
scientist story, we must have a man in a gorilla suit or the authorities might
have stopped production entirely!
Mr. Annandale and I discuss the film’s cast at length with my guest’s appreciation of Wanda McKay being most interesting. We make a defense of J. Carrol Naish’s slightly underplayed central performance as the villain of the piece although why we would need to defend an actor with two Oscars to his credit is beyond me. We praise the excellent makeup effects used to transform Ralph Morgan into a misshapen, monstrous looking victim. And we dig into the section of this very short film that seems unnecessary and possibly was included to pad out the running time. Not that either of us dislike seeing a man in a gorilla suit but to have Ace, the Wonder Dog’s heroic action sequence absent from the movie seems a shame! Mr. Annandale was a good sport to be part of the show and I’m very happy to showcase his love of this film.
The email address for the show is thebloodypit@gmail.com so send any comments or ideas to us there. If you have any favorite Poverty Row Horror that you’d like to hear discussed let us know as we are keen to return to the subject. Thank you for listening!
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Friday, December 23, 2022
Video - Big Dan Frater and "The Night of Presents Tense"
If you've never experienced the supremely silly madness of Larry Blamire's audio adventures of Big Dan Frater this short bit of gift giving nuttiness is a good introduction.
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Video - Gerry Anderson Characters Sing Merry Christmas Everyone
This year's Anderson Christmas video is stranger than usual with a flurry of clips edited together to make the song flow. At least, as well as possible! It's a fun bit of Yuletide cheer but very odd. Enjoy.
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Saturday, December 17, 2022
What I Watched in November 2022
THE MENU (2022) stands as one of the most impressive thrillers of the year. It’s an extreme dark comedy that always seems to have yet another shock or surprise left to serve you. Best of all, it can be read on multiple levels and still fulfills its goal of scaring the audience in unsuspected ways. You can look on it as a commentary on the Foodie culture that turns subtle flavors and odd pairings into art to be admired rather than eaten. Or it can be seen as underscoring how the people capable of affording the rarest delights that the world has to offer are often the least likely to actually appreciate them. The film has pointed things to say about the ethics of mass consumption and the harsh visions imposed on the world by ruling class. But all of these ideas and many more are suspended in a tense, unsettling tale that unfolds gradually as details are presented one course at a time. The performances are fantastic, the direction on point and the script is as sharp as a well-honed butcher’s knife. This is a film that stays with you long after the credits are over which is a rare trait these days. Marvelous!
TRACK OF THE MOON BEAST (1976) – 3 (TV movie)
TARZAN’S HIDDEN JUNGLE (1955) – 6 (Gordon Scott and a funny
Cheeta)
THE GATE II (1990) – 7 (possibly better than the first one)
GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002) – 7 (rewatch on the
big screen!)
SEE HOW THEY RUN (2022) – 8 (great mystery/comedy)
BLACK ADAM (2022) – 8
TARAN AND THE LOST SAFARI (1957) – 6 (Scott goes to color –
well done)
SCOOB! (2020) – 8 (very fun CGI reinvention of the
characters)
INCEPTION (2010) – 9 (rewatch)
GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) – 8 (rewatch on
Blu)
INVASION OF THE ASTRO MONSTER (1954) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)
HOUSE IV (1991) – 5 (Nearly a sequel to the first film and
about as good)
DIRTY WAR (1984) – 5 (half-assed Euro-mercenary action)
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022) – 8
BLACK AND BLUE (2019) – 6 (solid but very familiar crime
thriller – goes simple in the end)
ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET THE KILLER, BORIS KARLOFF (1949) – 7
(rewatch)
DRUNKEN MASTER (1978) – 7 (Jackie Chan kung fu fun)
CREATURES THAT TIME FORGOT (1970) – 5 (Hammer’s caveman
adventure)
THE LAST MATINEE (2020) – 6 (slasher from Uruguay/Argentina)
RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACOON CITY (2021) – 5 (new film
is OK)
SHADOW OF THE WHISTLER (1948) – 6 (short, dark noir)
ANTS! (1977) – 7 (TV movie)
THE INVISIBLE MAN VS THE HUMAN FLY (1957) – 7 (good Japanese
SF crime tale)
BEYOND THE DOOR 3 (AMOK TRAIN) (1989) – 7 (Satanic
Euro-horror)
SWAMP THING (1981) – 6 (rewatch of Euro cut on Blu)
FRAMED (1947) – 8 (tight noir)
HERCULES (1983) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
THE THIRTEENTH HOUR (1947) – 7 (6th Whistler film
is solid – final entry with Richard Dix)
THE RETURN OF THE WHISTLER (1948) – 7 (final entry in the
series)
THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULES 2 (1985) – 4 (rewatch on Blu)
THE MENU (2022) – 9
SAN ANTONIO (1945) – 7 (rewatch) (Errol Flynn western with
one hell of a final act)
Friday, December 16, 2022
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