Ginger Snaps Back - The Beginning

Customer Reviews:

Why Did So Many People Love This Film So Much?.......2007-06-03

Okay,im gonna get straight to my tagline for this.The first original GINGER SNAPS is definitely the only good one off the trilogy.GINGER SNAPS BACK UNLEASED I thought was pretty weak and weird.GINGER SNAPS THE BEGINNING is just very odd and doesnt really make up with logic.Obviously this isnt Ginger and Bridgett from the other 2 films but they just happen to have the same name,look exactly the same,and bottom line its just a very odd approach to the series.I dont really understand why they would take the series this way.Its pretty bizarre.Other than that,the werewolves look the best in this one of the three films,and the storyline is pretty solid.I guess I would like this movie if I never saw the very first Ginger Snaps.I kinda like it,but in my opinion its not Ginger Snaps.

Ginger and Bridgette go back in time..okay not really.......2007-05-27

I, like most Ginger Snaps fans, was confused about just what this movie was about. It takes place before the events of the first two movies, but is not a prequel. In fact...its not even the same Ginger and Bridgette...too strange. But...actually..I liked it. After I got over the oddity of it, and began to look at it more as a stand alone film. Personally, this has become my favorite of the trilogy.

(3.5 stars)The Dark Sisters of the warewolf curse, was great, but should've worked on the ending.......2006-12-11

This movie was very interesting, but why did the sister kill the indian guy? And why did the 2 bad guys just drop their guns and run, and almost every horror, characters always trip and the killer gets them? But, a good plot, could've been better. But we don't e3ven get to see how Ginger killed the indian boy. Not scary, but good to watch. Some parts were kinda gross, like the dreams the sisters get and how the warewolves literally teared those guys apart.

Terrible Beauty: Ginger Snaps Back.......2006-12-09

This film's predecessor,"Ginger Snaps 2--Unleashed," was a competent but uninspired effort: a typical sequel. In contrast, "Ginger Snaps Back" is a significant film--but hardly a sequel at all.
The first two "Ginger Snaps" installments took place in contemporary Canada, mainly in suburbs and city; but "Ginger Snaps Back" is set in the Canadian frontier wilderness of nearly 200 years ago. Furthermore, in the earlier films (particularly the first) the two sisters Brigitte and Ginger share a complex relationship--loving but mutually antagonistic: Ginger's cynical death wish keeps her at odds with Brigitte who would stay alive (and human!) at any cost. In "Ginger Snaps Back," however, the girls have been simplified: they've become fairy tale orphans wandering through a monster-infested forest.
Early on in the film, the sisters find shelter in a militaristic fort/outpost run by some very hard guys--misfit toughs who resemble ogres just waiting for victims to approach their lonely castle! Significantly, it's in this dubious refuge that Ginger is infected with lycanthropy. Thus with monsters lurking outside the gates as well as within, the film plunges toward a fiery but despairing climax.
Overall, "Ginger Snaps Back" conveys a thrilling atmosphere of folklore and legends--an ancient eeriness more easily felt than described. Even the film's snow-covered forests radiate a sense of centuries-old Indian myths; appropriately, the film's Indian characters, including a larger-than-life hunter/warrior, identify the werewolves with the wendigo.
As a work of folklore or fairy tale, "Ginger Snaps Back" tends to be less verbal, but more visionary than the preceding films in this trilogy. Startling, beautiful images abound in this movie. Just one example: lovely Ginger in her black hooded cloak, with vamp fangs and raptor claws, flinging open the gates of the fort to admit the besieging werewolves. As the creatures surge forward and around her, Ginger stands as an icon of demonic ecstasy--comparable to the robot doppelganger in Fritz Lang's great "Metropolis"! Of course, that comparison alone should indicate the imaginative power flowing through "Ginger Snaps Back."

could have been better.......2006-04-27

Had promise but was a little long with no action and not enought werewolf activity. Too many flash backs and flash forwards. The best character and the most interesting was the Indian man, but he gets killed and the movie lost all excitement for me. The dark haired girl is annoying.

Average customer rating:

Great Gothic Horror -- true to the word
Unheralded 60's Gothic Horror Classic from Mexico
Fine Gothic Chiller From Mexico
Classic Horror never gets old.
Beautiful

The Witch's Mirror
Starring: Rosa Arenas , Armando Calvo , Isabela Corona , Dina de Marco , and Carlos Nieto
Director: Chano Urueta
Manufacturer: Casanegra Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FI8MM0
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

AKA El Espejo De La Bruja. A Masterpiece of the Mexican Horror Movement! A poetic tale of madness and horror from director Chano Urueta. The Witch's Mirror is one of the landmark films of the Mexi-horror genre. A benevolent witch (Isabela Corona) enchants a magic mirror to protect her adopted daughter Elena (Dina de Marco) from her cruel husband (Armando Calvo). When the incantation fails and the girl is murdered, the witch vows revenge using every unholy principle of the supernatural that she can conjure.
Special Features:
• Original Uncut Version
• Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
• Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
• Audio Commentary by Founder of IVTV, Frank Coleman
• Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
• Essay: Chanovision: The Films of Mexican Cult Moviemaker, Chano Urueta
• Cast Biographies
• Poster and Stills Gallery

Customer Reviews:

Great Gothic Horror -- true to the word.......2007-08-07

I love these old Mexican Gothic Horror movies; so much style, substance, and they don't leave you feeling horrified afterwards due to feeling as if you've just wasted your time for a few hours watching them. This film, "The Witch's Mirror," really is another great gem. I loved the spooky scenes of sorcery and magic; the mad scientist theme is great too, even though I've never been a big fan of that sort of thing; the crisp black and white, quite baroque and even chiaroscuro in some ways, is sensational. This truly is a great Gothic horror film, and I am glad that Casanegra is getting these forgotten classics out there in such pristine beauty and form.

Unheralded 60's Gothic Horror Classic from Mexico.......2007-08-02

When people think "Mexican Horror" over the top insane, poorly dubbed, high-camp movies featuring masked wrestlers come to mind. Not so with this flick. This is a well acted, directed, very cinematic, beautifully photographed and quite the graphic little low-budget shocker that's quite a lot of fun.

Since re-viewing this (this is perhaps the only flick that scared the bejezus out of me as a little kid who watched it last time decades ago in the 70's on a Saturday afternoon on "UHF" TV) recently, I concluded that this is really one of the many European "takes" on "Eyes Without a Face", a classic French horror film made a few years earlier. However, Eyes Without a Face really didn't contain any horror elements - it's a straight ahead story of an insane doctor who was obsessed with restoring the face to his daughter who was horribly disfigured in an accident.

See the parallels? Except here, the Mexicans took a look at that film and decided to add elements of occult to the proceedings. Rather than being a mishmash, The Witches Mirror is quite original and effective in its own right. I really love the elements of surrealism that appear through out the film, little scenes like that "thing" (what was that?) that dances in the witch's mirror through the fog in the very beginning of the film, and that bandaged mummy ghost-thingy who the witch converses with that is suspended on the wall mid-way through the proceedings.

The director, Chano Urueta, was a staple of Mexican cinema and later bacame a character actor who appeared in a shot in Mexico Sam Peckinpah film (mentioned in the "extras" on the DVD) - as a tribute perhaps? ...studied under Sergei Eisenstein in the 30's, and his skill is displayed here in spades.

The 1960 low-budget Mexican effects work "overreaches" and includes some obvious and unfortunate gaffes but by the time they show up at the end, this film has already won you over. They actually add in a way to the charm.

Fine Gothic Chiller From Mexico.......2006-10-13

Wow!! Viewing this film was a real kick. Like another reviewer here I have seen and loved many of the old school gothic style horror films from Universal, Hammer, AIP, AMICUS and many of the early Italian horror films from Mario Bava and others. Well, I thought that I had seen just about all the genre had to offer and would probably never see anything new from this area of horror film again; for as the saying goes..."they just don't make films like that anymore". Fortunately I've been ignorant of Mexican horror cinema all these years. Oh sure I had heard about films from Mexico that featured masked wrestler heroes fighting vampire devil robots from Mars but I, quite ignorantly, thought that was about it for Mexican horror flicks. All I can say is I was wrong and am more than glad to admit it.

"The Witch's Mirror" is a worthy gothic horror film effort that fits quite snugly in among the old Hammer and Universal films. In fact it borrows quite liberally and shamelessly from many of those old classics. While watching it I kept seeing elements from all kinds of sources including: "Rebecca", "Frankenstein", "Mad Love", traditional ghost stories, revenge plots, etc. Now you might think that such a hodge podge could never work well together but director Chano Urueta pulls it together seamlessly, giving those of us who love this kind of thing an hour and a half of thrills and chills.

I'm not good at summarizing plots but here is a quote from the product description: "A poetic tale of madness and horror from director Chano Urueta. The Witch's Mirror is one of the landmark films of the Mexi-horror genre. A benevolent witch (Isabela Corona) enchants a magic mirror to protect her adopted daughter Elena (Dina de Marco) from her cruel husband (Armando Calvo). When the incantation fails and the girl is murdered, the witch vows revenge using every unholy principle of the supernatural that she can conjure" This barely does the story justice but to reveal more would, in my opinion, rob you of many of the joys I had of watching this film. I would just like to comment on how the film positively drips atmosphere. Director Chano Urueta had an excellent directorial style and he employs the black and white cinematography to good effect. And while the special effects don't always work when they do they are spot on and will raise a goose pimple or two even among many jaded horror fans. Also the film has a great music score as well and it reminded me of Bernard Herrmann at times.

In summary this is an excellent gothic period piece thriller and if you are looking for good old fashioned horror thrills you could do a lot worse than "The Witch's Mirror". This would be an excellent film to curl up with by your self or with someone you love on a chill October evening. So, I say go ahead and purchase it or rent it if you can and settle in for some good creepy fun.

Classic Horror never gets old........2006-09-06

I vaguely remembered watching this movie as a child, so when I saw it on DVD I had to pick it up. There is something about black and white movies that never gets old. The movie is about a surgeon that murders his wife to marry another woman. The womans Godmother is a witch and foresees this, but she is told by the spirits that she can not stop what is already bound to happen. So she bows to help Elena seek revenge from beyond the grave. I watched the movie in spanish, but it also comes dubbed in english, and the dubbing is pretty good. If you are a fan of classic horror cinema, or horror in general, this is one you have got to pick up. It will be a worthy addition to any horror collection.

Beautiful.......2006-09-05

This old Mexican horror film has finally been officialy released by CasaNegra. This movie has been restored and the DVD is full of extras including the english dubbed version full commentary and much more. Great spooky movie full of atomosphere, totally recommended!!!

Average customer rating:

LA LLORONA....
restored mexican classics done right!!
Great Movie Finally on DVD

The Curse of the Crying Woman
Starring: Rosa Arenas , Abel Salazar , Rita Macedo , Carlos López Moctezuma , and Enrique Lucero
Director: Rafael Baledón
Manufacturer: Casanegra Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FI8MMA
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

AKA: La Maldicion De La Llorona A visually lush, gothic story based loosely on the real legend of La Llorona, the Crying Spirit. Beautifully filmed and dripping with atmosphere, Baledon's Curse of the Crying Woman is considered a true horror classic. A phantom figure attacks a horse-drawn carriage in the woods. As the police investigate the grisly murders, young Amelia (Rosa Arenas) travels to the old mansion of her Aunt Selma (Rita Macedo) close to where the murders took place. Shortly after her arrival Amelia uncovers dark family secrets, including rumors of torture, murder and witchcraft! Each sinister revelation exposes a more diabolical mystery. Whose charred corpse lay buried in the family crypt? Why does Aunt Selma cast no reflection? And finally: What terrors will be unleashed by The Curse of the Crying Woman?
Special Features:
• Original Uncut Version
• Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
• Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
• Audio Commentary by Mexican Cinema Expert Michael Liuzza
• Full Color Booklet: The Legend of Llorona by Entertainment Weekly's Peter Landau
• Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
• Essay on Legendary Actor, Filmmaker Rafael Baledon by noted film historian David Wilt
• Cast Biographies
• Poster and Stills Gallery

Customer Reviews:

LA LLORONA...........2006-07-17

While perhaps not as vividly graphic as CasaNegra's other excellent release "The Witch's Mirror", "The Crying Woman" has it's own Gothic pleasures to offer. Obviously filmed on a lower budget, this only enhances the decaying atmosphere of the film which takes place in a decaying, dusty old house in a desolate wooded countryside. There, Selma-a mysterious "black widow" who's a direct descendant of La Llorona (the legendary "crying woman" who had supernatural power)-waits for her niece to arrive whom she will pass on the legacy to, whether she wants it or not. When the niece does arrive, all hell breaks loose. There's a weird clubfooted caretaker, a couple of massive bloodthirsty hounds, a crazed man-beast locked away in a cell, the putrifying corpse of La Llorona herself in the dungeon waiting to be released in new form, and there's Selma herself who casts no reflection and can change into a bat creature as well as roam the countryside with her hounds---her eyesockets black and empty. "The Crying Woman" is what it is: a highly enjoyable, low budget b&w straight-up horror film with loads of atmosphere. The DVD print is flawless. Kick back and enjoy.

restored mexican classics done right!!.......2006-07-04

casanegra entertainment has done a wonderful job restoring these 2 horror classics from south of the border"the curse of the crying woman" and "the witch's mirror".on august 29th casanegra is releasing 2 more dvd classics--"brainiac" and "the black pit of dr.m".if it is any indication how these first 2 were restored,these are going to be truly worth waiting for--casanegra si!!

Great Movie Finally on DVD.......2006-06-08

First of all, this is an awesome movie. A throwback Mexican classic, the settings and cinematography alone are amazing. The best part of this package, though, is the quality with which the DVD is produced. The technology available today has transformed what would be a grainy VHS copy into a collector's item. And for the movie? Easily one of the best Mexican horror movies ever made. Enough said.

Average customer rating:

How Did They Do It?
Hilarious!
beautiful film
Belongs in Russia
Whew!

Father Frost
Starring: Aleksandr Khvylya , Natalya Sedykh , Eduard Izotov , Inna Churikova , and Pavel Pavlenko
Director: Aleksandr Rou
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005OCKP
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Description

Based on popular Russian fairy tales, Father Frost is a beautifully costumed musical about Nastenka, a sweet girl who lives with her wicked stepmother and is forced to do all the work of the house. Nastenka falls in love with Ivan, a fine young man from the village who is turned into a bear, while Nastenka is sent to the woods to freeze by her stepmother. Will the two young lovers ever reunite? Only the good wizard Father Frost can make it possible.

Customer Reviews:

How Did They Do It?.......2006-10-04

And by, "How did they do it?" I mean, "How did they manage to make this movie so good considering the title character is totally absent until the halfway point of the film?" That's right. Jack Frost doesn't show up at all until the movie's half over. Yet the movie is fantastic. Let's take a guided tour through it.

First we see our heroine Nastenka knitting stockings at the command of her evil stepmother. She's a pretty girl with an ugly sister. Her stepmother spoils the ugly sister while she's treated as a slave.

Nastenka is able to finish knitting the stockings by the deadline her stepmother sets only because she begs the sun to turn back and rise at a later time. Her reward for meeting the deadline is getting more chores to do.

The film cuts to the male lead of the movie, Ivanushka (or Ivan). Ivanushka is robbed by bearded thugs, but he doesn't seem to care. While the thugs are dividing up his money, he throws their clubs into the air and says they'll come back down to Earth next winter.

Ivanushka runs into a magic mushroom elf guy who beats him in a game of hide and seek. The mushroom guy thanks him for the game and gives him a bow and arrow set. Ivanushka doesn't show proper thanks to the mushroom guy for the kind gesture, so the mushroom guy waits for an opportune time to mess up Ivan's looks.

No Jack Frost yet.

Shortly after Ivanushka meets our heroine Nastenka and asks the beautiful girl to marry him, the mushroom guy turns Ivan's handsome into the head of an ugly bear. Ivanushka blames Nastenka for turning him into a freak and runs away.

After Ivanushka figures out the mushroom guy was behind his transformation, he tries to reverse the spell by doing a good deed. It isn't until he forgets about his own needs and finally does a good deed out of true altruism that the mushroom guy sets Ivanushka back to normal.

Suddenly winter hits. Ivanushka is looking for Nastenka to apologize for blaming her. Little does he know Nashtenka was abandoned in the woods by her evil stepmother. Thankfully, JACK FROST shows up to save her!! Unfortunately for Nastenka, she touches Jack's wand by mistake and freezes herself.

Ivanushka asks an old witch for help finding Nastenka, and the witch isn't really nice. She commands a squad of trees to kill him but her plan backfires. She's forced to help Ivan out. She tells Ivanushka to follow her magic pig-shaped sleigh through the snow and it will lead her to Nastenka. Sure enough it does, and he finds the girl he wants to marry frozen in Jack Frost's house.

How will Nastenka ever thaw out? You'll have to watch Jack Frost to find out. There are other ways of finding out too, but they're not nearly as fun. This classic fairytale is highly recommended for all ages.

Hilarious!.......2006-02-03

I've never felt the urge to write a review till now.

I just reviewed this film the night before writing this, and this movie was absolutely hilarious!!!! Of course, I'm not familiar with the original Russian fairy tale, but seriously I couldn't stop laughing! I'm a huge collector of ususual films, and this one blows others right out of the water! The weird acting and dialog, was too much!!! Mushroom people, a wandering man with a bear head, the sun obeying a little girl's will in waiting to rise till she finished knitting the last row on a stocking, a cabin that walks around on giant chicken feet, flying tree people, an oinking wooded pig sled, ... the extremely odd sequences in this film never seem to end!!! |

Seriously it's the weirdest thing I've seen since "Earth and Moon in Love"!

Guaranteed, to be placed next to other favorite films of sheer random weirdness like "K. Gordon Murray's Santa Claus", "Troll 2", "Mr. Vampire 3", or even "Crazy Sufari: The Gods Must Be Crazy pt. 3"!

This film holds an honorable place in next week's Incredibly Strange Movie Night :) Forget the MST3K version, this film is a total riot by itself!

- ISMN & The Lost Media Archive

beautiful film.......2005-10-29

I'm really pleased that this is on DVD and that so many other reviewers share my feelings about this film. First of all, this is a fine movie for children to watch, unlike the garbage released today. But for older viewers this movie is all the more amazing. To put it lightly, this is a tripped out tour de force of talking mushrooms, huts on fowls legs, man-bear transformations, and a man with a very bad haircut. The most amazing thing about this film is that something completely bizzare happens in every scene. Example: when the hero finds his future wife(sorry I'm not even going to bother trying to transcribe the names) she is watering a dead tree stump, "so that it will sprout flowers." Later when he is turned into a bear(!) the flowers grow and reassure her that he is alright. I wish I could write stuff like this. The special effects are horrible, but would you want it any other way? I would recommend this film to any parent who wants an imaginative and clean film for their child, and those who enjoy classic/obscure/budget cinema.

Belongs in Russia.......2005-03-09

Alesandr Rou's fairy tales don't travel well. They are very Russian and hard to understand outside of the USSR. He made many films of this type but I have not enjoyed any of them. This one makes no sense. If you want a good Russian faity tale get THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, also very Russian but quite different, great fun and understandable.

Whew!.......2003-09-19

Frankly, this movie is the pits. There's a reason it was included in the Mystery Science Theater lineup, and unsurprisingly it's because what you've got here is a bizarrely staged fairy tale that fails on oh-so-many levels. The costumes and sets are hokey, the dubbing is atrocious, the effects are ridiculous, and even as budgetary constraints prevented the film from looking as magical as a fairy tale should, the filmmakers apparently decided that they could make up for it with the sort of slapstick that will appeal only to slow children under the age of ten. Entertaining only as schlock.

Average customer rating:

Great potential that is never fully realized...
whose your mummy?
Nothing to really brag about
Not a horror movie
Soundtrack Info

The Eternal: Kiss of the Mummy
Starring: Rachel O'Rourke , Lois Smith , Alison Elliott , Jared Harris , and Sinead Dolan
Director: Michael Almereyda
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000IXC2
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Amazon.com

Michael Almereyda, whose unusual career finds him bouncing between personal experimental movies and genre pictures, is back in commercial territory with the supernatural thriller The Eternal, which was given the opportunistic yet appropriate subtitle Kiss of the Mummy to cash in on the success of 1999's The Mummy. Alison Elliot and Jared Harris star as an alcoholic American couple who travel to Scotland with their son so he can meet his grandmother and, ostensibly, so they can dry out. ("Ale isn't like alcohol. It's like food," she explains to her dubious son as she immediately violates her vow to quit drinking.) Unfortunately, they walk in on their crazed uncle (Christopher Walken), who is in the midst of reviving a centuries-old Druid witch--who looks just like Alison Elliot! Almereyda manages to create some genuinely spooky moments (the underwater photography in particular takes on a dreamy beauty), but much of the film has a slapdash quality, from clumsy special effects to awkward performances. The exception is Elliot, excellent as usual in the double role and conveying more with her eyes alone than many actors can manage with words, while Jared Harris offers a dead-on Walken impression in a humorous interlude. It's a gorgeous film with a marvelously eerie soundtrack, but the story is too slight to carry the tension through to the end. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Great potential that is never fully realized..........2006-11-11

I really wish that Michael Almereyda had kept the alternate title for this movie, which was Trance. The Eternal: Kiss of the Mummy is a terrible title, and the cover graphics make it look like any other lame horror flick. But it's not.

The Eternal is traditional mummy/haunted house/zombie movie, but with interesting details. A woman who emigrated from Ireland at the age of 16 returns to her native country with her Irish-American husband (I think; Jared Harris looks like a short version of Conan O'Brien here) and their son. She and her husband are alcoholics and want to start over by reuniting with her grandmother and uncle. You can tell that they love their son, but they neglect him by drinking. It's not a typical mummy movie set-up, and it makes you see the characters as people and not just victims.

It returns to conventions with the addition of her invalid grandmother, her crazy uncle, and the mysterious little girl he adopted. But even these have twists. The mummy is a Druid corpse and not an Egyptian one. Christopher Walken makes the uncle simultaneously hilarious and terrifying. And the little girl is the most sane one in the house. With the exception of the grandmother, who seemed one-dimensional, the characters are well-played. There are slight touches of other films in it: Psycho, Days of Wine and Roses, What Lies Beneath, even Straw Dogs.

Michael Almereyda's Hamlet is one of my favorite movies, but since The Eternal obviously does not have Shakespeare's writing, it exposes Almereyda's weakness in plot development. Once the scariness sets in, the story becomes so loosely constructed that it's hard to determine what's actually happening. And that's how the film dies, so to speak.

Overall, it's a good movie but not a great one.

whose your mummy?.......2004-05-14

this one gave me a sort of chill down the center of my spine. Jared Harris(Igby Goes Down), his wife played superbly by Allison Elliott(dont know whatelse shes played in) and their son go for a vaction in Scotland to where Elliott used to grow up. Their they meet Joe, a guy who Elliott loved back then and her relatives, a eeirly Lois Smith(Minority Report) and a ever so mad frankensteinish Christopher Walken(Catch Me If You Can, Envy). Walken brings Elliott to the basement where a centuries old corpse of a mummy lies. He tells her a chilling tale about love and death. Pretty much what you'd expect from Walken, thought I sort of knew he would die. He looked more like a pale vampireish figure (with one blind eye). Maybe it was the red robed coat that gave it away. The mummy is in the shape of Elliott and it's on the loose when it gets done chopping poor Walken to bits. It goes on, roaming threw the house. Tensions flare and chills fly. Camera work is dizzy and amazing. Almereya knows how to make you feel like your there. Harris does a nice Walken impression...Elliott is sexy as ever and Karl Geary(was in 2000's Hamlet with Ethan Hawke with was also directed by Michael Almereya, forgive me if I spelled his last name wrong), Geary is a nice supportee with his long tied back hair and gun. He was bitchin in this movie. Some people might not like this type of movie but I did really enjoy it and I watched it last night. So I recommend this movie

Nothing to really brag about.......2003-01-24

Eternal is an OK horror film. The idea is that Nora and her Husband Jim, along with their son Jim, travel to Ireland to visit her ailing grandmother. While there she stays with her Uncle Bill (Christopher Walken) who seems to be as ecentric and insane as he described her Grandmother. FOund this 2000 year old druid witch mummy in the bog and seems to be trying to ressurect her. HE succeeds and he dies. From there the witch is trying to fuse with Nora and live her life out again for another 100 years or so. As it turns out however that Nora Grandmotehr is Good Witch and with Nora help slays the evil witch.

This movie is only Ok and is a weekend rental. There is mild violence and gore, and really the R rating goes for the [f]word ... being said a few times, a slit throat, and a lot of drinking.

Not a horror movie.......2001-11-29

This is not really a horror movie, more of a psychological
thriller. In fact, it's not even all that heart-pumping
suspenseful. Rather, it has a cool rhythm and sense of
inevitability and growing dread. The camerawork is beautiful,
Almereyda's direction is deliberately choppy to give you a
sense of what the usually drunk) characters are feeling.
The soundtrack is great. I loved this movie, which is why
I went out and bought the DVD. I thought it was lovely and
uplifting, while still delivering B-movie thrills.

Soundtrack Info.......2001-10-18

For anyone wondering about the origins of the first track of
this film, it's a song titled "Rockets" by Cat Power. I've
always loved this song and was quite surprised to hear it in
a film. This movie surprised me quite a bit. Much better than
I expected, especially considering the horrible DVD cover that
the studio gave it.

Average customer rating:

Romantic supernatural thriller for nostalgia buffs.
It's Not Val Lewton But It'll Do.
Review on IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVD Quality only
CAT PEOPLE made how much???!!!!!!!
You Should Stay Away

The Woman Who Came Back
Starring: John Loder , Nancy Kelly , Otto Kruger , Ruth Ford , and Harry Tyler
Director: Walter Colmes
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JWXB
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Description

An engrossing tale of horror and suspense. They say you can't go home again, and this time it might be for a very good reason. After a bus accident, Lorna Webster (Nancy Kelly) returns to her New England hometown, convinced she is a witch, the target of a 300-year-old curse. Strange happenings soon persuade the townsfolk that she's right as Lorna cannot shake the evil that seems to follow her. Caught up in a wave of hysteria, the entire town is driven to extremes.

Customer Reviews:

Romantic supernatural thriller for nostalgia buffs........2007-05-17

This is a wonderfully atmospheric "horror" movie. All the supernatural stuff is explained away at the end, but there is a great deal of over-the-top acting, shadowy backgrounds and enough tension generated by mere suggestion to make it a fun movie. (You just gotta love that maid!)

I purchased this DVD sight unseen, merely because of the other great reviews. I was not disappointed! The Woman Who Came Back is just the kind of film that held me mesmerized as a kid when ALL the movies on TV were B&W and really, really old!

It's Not Val Lewton But It'll Do........2006-07-31

This film has the misfortune of being constantly likened to a Val Lewton film and, as such, ends up disappointing first-time viewers. It's not a Lewton film. It doesn't have the literate tone of a Lewton production, nor does it have the subtlety of a Lewton film. What it is is an imaginative "B" movie that generates a few supernatural frissons enroute to being explained away in a thouroughly rationalistic finale. It's also a pretty good study of small-town prejudices and mass hysteria at work. "The Woman Who Came Back" works best as a sociological document whereasthe Lewton's work best as "filmed literature."

Review on IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVD Quality only.......2006-01-16

RE: DVD by "Image Entertainment" only. I own this dvd and it has great Sound Quality and Sharp/Clear Black & White Video. I highly recommend purchasing dvds by Image Entertainment.

CAT PEOPLE made how much???!!!!!!!.......2001-10-04

It goes without saying that horror films were aplenty in
first half of the 1940's. What with the war raging on two
fronts the general public, god bless 'em, needed that good old
commodity, Escapism! And boy oh boy, did Hollywood do its
best to deliver. Universal gave us its stock in trade with
the Frankenstein's, Mummy's, Invisible men, and even an
occasional Dracula. But respectability was not Universal's
forte and they liked to cut to the chase, something for which
we were all very grateful. Love stories were kept to a minimum
and the monsters prevailed, sending scores of youngsters under
their seats to the crashing cords of Hans Salter's thundering
symphonies. Other studios tried their hands, albeit awkwardly,
at frightening the masses but couldn't seem to find a formula
to call their own. The die had been cast. Universal's stamp
seemed irrevocable until RKO Studios threw a title to a former
Selznick man named Val Lewton. If the audiences would flock
to see a Wolfman... why not Cat People? One can only imagine
what went through Lewton's mind at the thought of producing
this "epic". And yet, it is sometimes the most adverse
elements that produce the most intriguing results. Thus it
was that a whole new body of work found its mark in horrordom.
The pychological, poetic terror that comprises Val Lewton's
efforts almost succeeded in giving the horror market a measure
of respectability, that up until that time, was unheard of.
Critics had tolerated the public's indulgence in "spook shows"
but now eyebrows were being raised. Gone were the boogey men,
the monsters, and the mad scientists. This was the real McCoy!
Deft performances,offbeat stories, and intelligent screenwriting
moved these efforts up a notch. One could actually watch these
films and not feel guilty. Though there were a number of
attempts to duplicate Universal's take on horror, the Val
Lewton approach seemed more elusive. Oddly enough, it was
Universal's WEIRD WOMAN that probably came closest to imitating
Lewton's stock in trade. Curiously, and quite late in the
cycle, Republic Pictures decided to jump on the merry-go-round
and churn out some Universal-style programmers. Again the
formula proved elusive and their oddball efforts like VALLEY
OF THE ZOMBIES and THE PHANTOM SPEAKS remain novelties at
best. But somehow, this poverty row wonder, know for its
riproaring serials and numerous oaters, achieved a much higher
rate of success with its Lewtonesque imitations. THE WOMAN WHO
CAME BACK, along with WHISPERING FOOTSTEPS and STRANGERS IN THE
NIGHT score high marks for attempting to do what other "more
respectable" studios dared not touch. After all, what did
Republic have to lose. They made shoot-em-ups, cornpone
comedies, and ersatz programmers, why not take a stab at
something different? Couldn't hurt? Perhaps that philosophy
allowed a free hand to weave this interesting tale. THE WOMAN
WHO CAME BACK spins an intriguing web. The opening is
exceptional and sets a tone that is never quite matched but
serves its story well. Witchcraft, reincarnation, curses
and mysterioso dominate this Salemesque tale. Nancy Kelley
is sometimes over-the-top but effective nonetheless, John
Loder's leading man seems as much a steal of Kent Smith's
character from CAT PEOPLE as should be expected, right down to
his stoic performance. By far, the most consistenly interesting
character is Otto Kruger, the cleric who serves as the voice
of reason. This production, though released by Republic, was
apparently an independently produced effort. What is odd, is
that Republic would choose to release such an uncharacteristic
item, especially so late in the horror cycle. As a guilty
pleasure, it ranks as a rather polished example of just how
good the poverty row fare could be. But alas, the ending is
a definite mishmash of how not to end a supernatural thriller.
Some things are best left unexplained, especially as in the case
of this minor gem. Unfortunately, no strings are left dangling
here, and every fantastic element is rationalized and refuted.
Still, for the most part, save for the ending, the story plays
fair and delivers what it promises, a stylish tale that merits
a sincere look. This film definitely deserves more attention
then it has received and makes one wish that Republic would have
pursued this type of chiller more often. If your tastes lean
toward atmospheric B-movies then this one is for you.

You Should Stay Away.......2001-01-07

A contrived B-movie chiller about a woman who returns to her small New England hometown, and becomes convinced that she is possessed by the spirit of a witch who was burned 300 years before. The implausible coincidences of the storyline are almost made acceptable by the earnest performances of a fine cast (including Nancy Kelly, who would leave Hollywood the year after this film was released and return a decade later to win an Oscar nomination for recreating her Tony-award winning role in "The Bad Seed"), as well as some occasionally interesting cinematography and set decorations.

Description

VAI DVD 4295 Margot Fonteyn, Michael Somes, Frederick Ashton, Beryl Grey. Sadler's Wells Ballet (Royal Ballet). Choreography by Petipa. Music by Tchaikovsky. Conducted by Robert Irving Broadcast of December 14, 1955. Approx. 90 min. B&W

Customer Reviews:

For serious students and balletomanes only.......2006-07-22

I have no disagreement with Ms. Lin's thoughtful review, but would add that not only is this important document in black-and-white, but both video and audio are seriously degraded; it can be quite painful to try to watch. You would certainly not want to have this as your only version of Sleeping Beauty.

Very truncated, but historically important Sleeping Beauty.......2004-11-21

Margot Fonteyn's "calling card" role was Aurora, where her lyrical graceful style, regal stage presence, and balletic talents seemed to fuse synergistically. She was a sensation in this role when she toured in the US in 1949, and this 1955 B&W "made for TV" production is a souvenir of the Royal Ballet's Sleeping Beauty.
A few caveats: only a B&W print remains. The ballet was filmed on a cramped tv soundstage, and many times corps are cut out of the camera lens. The closeups of the dancers are awkward -- it seems as if the camera was placed too high or too low and thus many of the scenes cut the dancers off at the knees or seem to film them at an awkward angle. Plus, the ballet was heavily truncated, presumably to fit in a televised time slot. So if youre looking for a full-length, well-filmed Sleeping Beauty video, look elsewhere.
Margot Fonteyn was of course Aurora, and Michael Somes is the Prince Florimund. Beryl Grey is the Lilac Fairy. Fonteyn's extensions in the 1950s are higher and easier, her balances steadier, and the Rose Adagio stands the test of time as a remarkable display of steely toes. More importantly, Fonteyn has a natural charm, and the most beautiful, expressive port-de-bras -- like the greatest ballerinas her arms almost become a musical instrument. However, I think Fonteyn might have been uncomfortable with the conditions, because she wears a tight smile throughout most of the film. Nevertheless this remains an important souvenir of her most famous role.
Michael Somes is her partner. He's very handsome, but the partnership does not (at least onstage -- offstage they supposedly even had an affair) exude much chemistry. It's a very classical partnership, with a handsome, somewhat stiff male danseur assisting the prima ballerina. Sleeping Beauty doesnt have much of a storyline anyway. But I can see why Fonteyn was so revitalized by her partnership with Nureyev in the 1960s: it must have been like meeting a soulmate. Somes and Fonteyn arent really on soulmate level -- Aurora and Florimund seem like cordial dancing partners rather than a romantic prince and princess.
Frederick Ashton is appealingly overthetop as Carabosse, and Beryl Grey nearly steals the show as the Lilac Fairy.

Average customer rating:

Natural Outdoor Decor Adds To Worth Of Tyro Film.

Witch Hunter
Starring: Witch Hunter
Manufacturer: Vintage Home Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002OXUUQ
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Description

Three high school friends in Canada have reunited in the National Forest near their hometown. Legends say an entire tribe of indians was wiped out by white men trying to find the gold that must exist somewhere in the forest. The legend attracts a young archaeology professor, who is determined to find the gold himself. After the adventurers lose their supplies they encounter a mysterious tribesman - and an ancient evil force which lurks in the woods. Inspired by a true story.

Customer Reviews:

Natural Outdoor Decor Adds To Worth Of Tyro Film........2006-09-29

The title of this curious melodrama that is distinguished by strong visual sequences is somewhat delusive as the sole items being quested after are a treasure in lost North American Indian gold and, additionally, several links with the past, primarily those sought by three long-time friends who are reuniting by means of a trek into a forested region adjacent to their former home town in Quebec. This is Ar'Lei, where the three, Mark, Paul, and Steve meet, a community that has achieved some renown due to a persistent legend that an ancient tribe, the (imaginary) "Meshabi", had secreted vast amounts of gold in deep woods before being liquidated by Canadian settlers, and as the young men move deeper into a wooded fastness, they each sense an inexplicable force surrounding them, as stated in cinematic terms with a voiceover supplied by Mark, a French Canadian who has not moved away from the region as have his two companions. In the meantime, a self-proclaimed "professor of archaeology at the university", Jack, through a guise of seeking Native American artifacts, has hired two local men as guides to assist him in an effort to find the mythic treasure, said to be hidden for over 100 years, this after Jack has spent a brief period in wooing a local waitress of Indian ancestry, their budding relationship thwarted more by scenario vagueness rather than from a lack of libido. While Jack and his guides are striding through the forest, the three reunited comrades come upon a collection of tribal relics tended by the visible spirit of one John Raven, a long dead Meshabi who, as it turns out, tests the agreeing trio with a task of intense physical labour, at issue a possibility of Indian spirit absolution for long ago White Man transgressions....and then avaricious Jack happens upon the scene. This is apparently the lone feature film credit for most of those involved and, as with many first efforts, there are too many plot threads to be efficiently handled, leaving a viewer to deal with more unanswered questions than is comfortable; however, with a meagre budget, a good deal has been accomplished with suspense nicely developed, the inventive cinematography of Daniel Villeneuve is of a high order, including effective utilization of montage, editing is skillful, and the young players, some of whom also contribute to the production's music, are ably paced by director Denis Paquet. Visuals upon a fully framed Blue Laser DVD release feature excellent colour for this work filmed near Le Gardeau in Quebec, employing 16mm. stock; however, periods of distortion are to be noted with the audio transfer. There are no extra features offered with the disc, upon the cover of which is unrealistically stated "a suspense thriller based upon a true story". At the end of the final credits listing are shown the entire closing credits for another picture entirely, BLOOD AND THUNDER (2000). As irrelevant as this may be, it is not more so than would be dour criticism of a sincere effort that might have been more pleasurable if a reasonable number of plot strings were in place.

Average customer rating:

Underrated Hammer chiller
An intriguing near-miss
Based on a novel
Joan Fontaine and the Coven of the Kooky
Excellent Hammer movie without Peter Cushing

The Witches
Starring: Joan Fontaine , Kay Walsh , Alec McCowen , Ann Bell , and Ingrid Boulting
Director: Cyril Frankel
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305808171
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Customer Reviews:

Underrated Hammer chiller.......2006-10-08

I enjoyed this immensely, although it tends to get panned even by Hammer horror fans. Once the daft opening was over, I found it suitably chilling. The trio of central performances - namely Joan Fontaine, Alec McCowen and Kay Walsh - are great, and it really benefits from Richard Rodney Bennett's typically expert score. It prefigures The Wicker Man in its tale of an outsider coming to a village wrapped up in occultic religion, and also has a hint of The Birds, which I'm sure can't b