Thursday, August 07, 2025

The Bloody Pit #218 - MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944)


Universal’s output in 1944 was packed with horror tales and MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM seems a likely addition to that list of chillers. At least until you realize that a firm 20% of the film’s scant running time is taken up by song & dance numbers! Yes, its a musical horror comedy with a script that started life as a Ritz Brothers feature, but don’t let that scare you off. The chills may be lacking but the entertainment value is surprisingly high. And there is a ghost enlivening the proceedings. Oh! And a murder as well. 

Troy Guinn and I take a run through this humorous creeper and find ourselves having more fun than expected. The credit for that goes to the talented cast so we spend a lot of time talking about the stars and a few of the amazing bit players as well. Where else other than in this movie are you going to hear actor Ian Wolfe say the word ‘Zut’? 

The film has several great songs and I include Troy’s favorite tune in the show because it is far too catchy to ignore. We discuss the plot shenanigans and the script’s careful skipping past a subject usually forbidden by the Hays Code. Mention is made of the award-winning career of one of the screenwriters and we point to areas in the dialog where his efforts might be heard. Also, we point the curious to the first English language version of this tale, THE SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (1933), as a better source of horror thrills if not toe-tapping fun. This 1944 version might serve as a good pairing with that minor classic but only if we can ever get a better-looking print. Come on, Universal.

If you have any song recommendations from a scary film thebloodypit@gmail.com is where to send them. And let us know what you think of this film and the podcast in general too. Thank you for listening! 


Tuesday, August 05, 2025

Lamberto Bava's BODY PUZZLE (1992) Comes to Blu-Ray!

This 90's giallo comes to Blu-Ray from Raro sporting a commentary track from Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett! Wait. I'm one of those people! 
Yes, we discuss this film and its crafters while pointing out what makes it work and ask the difficult questions. Questions such as, are all police detectives in thrillers overly horny incompetents?


 

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Trailers From Hell - THE BIG SLEEP (1946)


Director and screenwriter Larry Cohen talks a bit about one of my favorite movies of all time. Who did kill the chauffer? 

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Leon Klimovsky's I HATE MY BODY (1974) Comes to Blu-Ray!



Director Leon Klimovsky; Spain/Switzerland, 1974
100 minutes; 1.85:1, color
English/Spanish audio choice/optional English subtitles
Starring: Alexandra Bastedo, Narciso Ibáñez Menta, Gemma Cuervo, Manuel Zarzo, Eva León, Manuel de Blas, Blanca Estrada, Byron Mabe

Lecherous businessmen Ernest and Peter go out for an evening of fun with two girls from work. There’s a lot of drinking and dancing and more than a little suggestion of frolics to follow, particularly when Ernest has the idea they swap partners. The two men set off in their cars with their respective dates. Ernest, in no fit state to be behind the wheel, roars with laughter as they speed off into the dark night. Momentarily distracted as he glances at his attractive passenger, he loses control of the car. They crash into the side of a bridge and the vehicle bursts into flames.

The bodies are rushed to the nearest hospital where both Ernest and his passenger are certified dead on arrival. However, the hospital’s surgeon, Dr. Adolf Berger - a former medic in a Nazi death camp - discovers that Ernest’s brain is still intact. Encouraged by his female assistant, Lydia, Berger decides to try out his long-cherished experiment- transplanting a brain from one body to another. However, the only body available is that of a young woman, Leda Schmidt, also technically dead in the hospital morgue. Casting aside all scruples, Berger begins the operation...

This outrageous film, which now has much contemporary relevance, was directed by horror specialist Leon Klimovsky the man behind Paul Naschy’s Werewolf and the Vampire Woman and numerous other Spanish “fantaterror” classics. The disc includes many exclusive extras and the feature has been fully restored.

DISC FEATURES
Region Free
Brand new 4K restoration from the original negative
Interview with actor Manuel de Blas
Interview with Spanish film expert Ángel Sala about the film
Victor Matellano on actor Narciso Ibanez Menta
Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn of the Naschycast
Trailer

LIMITED EDITION FEATURES

Reversible sleeve with original ad art on both sides; 24 page booklet by Spanish genre film expert Ismael Fernandez; 1000 numbered copies in the usual red case.

Link to Mondo Macabro's order page
 

Monday, July 28, 2025

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

What I Watched in June 2025


28 YEARS LATER (2025) is one of the best films I've seen all year. In many ways it was an unexpected surprise. I did not expect this mostly forgotten series to suddenly spring back to life with possibly its best entry so far and I did not expect the story to be so emotional or touching. I did expect the violence and action which was very well handled in all cases. And I certainly did not expect that bizarre final scene setting up another film. But I'm onboard after this one! Bring it on. 

The List

BRING HER BACK (2025) – 8 
BARBARA (1970) – 5 (interesting if meandering coming-of-age, sex drama)
UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) – 5 (rewatch)
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS (2025) – 8 
THE PHOENCIAN SCHEME (2025) – 8 
MOUNTAINHEAD (2025) – 7 (dark comedy about tech billionaire scum) 
TERROR OF THE BLACK MASK (a.k.a. The Invincible Masked Rider) (1963) – 8 (rewatch)
BALLERINA (2025) – 7 
ROGUE ONE (2016) – 8 (rewatch after ANDOR)
THE NIGHT THE WORLD EXPLODED (1957) – 6 (small sci-fi disaster tale)
THE UNDERWATER CITY (1962) – 6 (interesting science fiction story)
THE VISITOR (1979) – 5 (rewatch) (so aggressively strange) 
THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025) – 9 
NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 
THE CURSE OF THE YELLOW SNAKE (1963) – 7 (excellent krimi)
FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (2025) – 7 
28 YEARS LATER (2025) – 9 
TALK TO ME (2022) – 8 (rewatch)
A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937) – 7 (first Andy Hardy film)
STRAIGHT-JACKET (1964) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)


Wednesday, July 16, 2025

The Bloody Pit #217 - THE VISITOR (1979)

In the Cult Italian Movie category THE VISITOR (1979) stands out for many reasons. It is made up of equal parts science fiction, thriller and religious high strangeness shot through with touches of CARRIE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. For years it was considered one of the least comprehensible movies ever made but with the restoration of the full running time in 2010 it is now only mildly incomprehensible. Indeed, with enough squinting and reading between the lines it is almost possible to find a narrative thread that only occasionally feels absurd. Ridiculous to the point of silliness THE VISITOR defies rational concepts of logical progression of story. Let some other movie have police investigations that go somewhere or examples of simple cause and effect in human reactions to inexplicable events. This film scoffs at such needless exercises. And don’t get me started on the exploding basketball that everyone ignores!
 
Troy Guinn, Bob Sargent and I (Rod Barnett) are the three intrepid film nuts that stutter-step their way through this Euro-madness. We wrestle this monster to the ground, fight off seagull attacks, ponder the eternal battle between good and evil and marvel at the cast of Hollywood stars the producer conned into being in this thing. What other movie of this type can boast John Huston, Franco Nero (playing a blonde, blue-eyed Jesus), Glenn Ford, Mel Ferrer, Shelly Winters (playing Mary Poppins’ cousin Mary Slappington), Lance Henricksen and an out-of-his-depth Sam Peckinpah? Is this the most bizarre film ever shot in Atlanta? Was the city’s mayor bribed to indulge the film’s production? How many times will we reference A Flock of Seagulls? Is the amazing prop that Troy dubs ‘Switch-Beak’ silly or brilliant? I cannot promise answers but we will at least pose the questions. Lots and lots of questions.
 
If you have anything to say about THE VISITOR or any other film that we’ve covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon. 

Monday, July 14, 2025

Wild, Wild Podcast - ZORRO AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1963)

What is Zorro doing in Spain, thousands of miles away from home? Why are they called the Three Musketeers when there's actually four of them? Why does the King of Spain sound like he was voiced by Paul Frees? Why are the Musketeers always so damned happy? Some of these questions may or may not get answered in this thrilling installment of Wild, Wild Podcast!

You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our LINKTREE. Enjoy!