What I Watched in March 2023

I've been very busy over the past couple of weeks and haven't had time to compose my thoughts on many movies. Working every single day and then just needing to relax in the evenings has sapped my energy to write. Suffice to say, I really enjoyed both the new SCREAM film and the second big screen Shazam adventure. 

The List

2020 TEXAS GLADIATORS (1983) – 6 (rewatch)

THE REBEL SET (1959) – 6 (sharp, short crime tale) 

I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE (1998) – 3 (remake is much lesser than)

ATTACK OF THE 50 FT. WOMAN (1958) – 5 (rewatch) (I enjoy it but its flaws are large)

KILL A DRAGON (1967) – 5 (Jack Palance in a thin Hong Kong set adventure)

THE DEATHLESS DEVIL (1972) – 6 (silly Turkish rip-off of a Republic serial) 

THE GATEWAY (2021) – 6 (flawed but interesting crime character story) 

BENT (2021) – 6 (modern noir with Karl Urban)

NOCEBO (2022) – 8 (excellent Irish/Filipino horror film)

SON OF DRACULA (1943) – 7 (rewatch)

SCREAM VI (2023) – 8 

HIGH-RISE (2015) – 7 (fascinating adaptation of Ballad’s novel)

BLOOD HUNT (1986) – 8 (excellent Spanish rural thriller) 

GIRL’S NITE OUT (1982) – 4 (low grade slasher)

GUNAN, KING OF THE BARBARIANS (1982) – 3 (dull, cheap Italian adventure)

2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK (1983) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

DARK PLACES (1974) – 7 (excellent cast buoys this murder mystery)

HOLLYWOOD STORY (1951) – 7 (noir murder mystery directed by William Castle) 

THE SWORD OF THE BARBARIANS (1982) – 5 (A.K.A. Sangraal, the Sword of Fire) 

DEATH SCREAMS (1982) – 4 (North Carolina slasher) 

THEODORA, SLAVE EMPRESS (1954) – 7 (Italian costume drama with some great action) 

GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. (2003) – 7 (rewatch - caught it on the big screen!)

HIGH ROLLIN’ (1977) – 5 (flat, sloppy trucker tale that is a western in disguise) 

THE KNIGHT OF 100 FACES (1960) – 5 (the 75-minute version - would like to see the 91-minute cut)

WINTERBEAST (1992) – 3 (the stop-motion monsters show ambition) 

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE (2021) – 7 (worthy sequel)

ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (2021) – 6 

THE PERFECT SPECIMEN (1937) – 7 (fun madcap comedy with a sterling cast) 

MESSALINA (1960) – 6 (Italian sword & sandal historical tale)

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (2023) – 8