HEMOGLOBIN / BLEEDERS (1997)

This is a strange one indeed... Also known as "Bleeders" and coming out of Canada, the main thing that attracted me to it was the fact that Rutger Hauer was in it. Since writing this blog I've become a big fan of everything I've seen him in. He plays a more subdued role as Dr. Marlowe than the other stuff I've seen him in so far, but the movie itself is pretty good.

This one follows the exploits of a young couple John and Kathleen .... John has a history of blood borne disease which seems to require constant medical attention, luckily for him he has a substantial trust account, and the pair are trying to find out who left it to them and presumably reconnect with their family tree. Their investigations take them to a small island.  The couple cross paths with Dr. Marlowe when John falls ill and requires treatment for his blood condition. Upon investigation, it is found that John may be descendant from Dutch royalty who were based on the island and had basically ruined their bloodline by inbreeding. As investigations progress John starts to feel a 'bond' so to speak with the island. But I won't divulge any more of the plot from there. 

This is a creepy story, whilst not huge on the gore (there are some great creature effects and fair level of horror later on in the film) this is definitely an unsettling film in a few regards, especially the incestuous theme that runs through the plot. I later found out this movie was based on a HP Lovecraft story the Lurking Fear (which I think I've read...) but didn't make the connection until trying to find out a little more information about the film online. 

I think the film itself is rather well shot, but it would seem I'm alone on that one as all the reviews I've seen tend to pan the movie rather harshly. I feel this film is produced quite well and it held my interest the whole way through. I really can't fault it in any way. This like every other of the HP Lovecraft based movies I've reviewed on here is well worth seeking out if you can find a copy of it around.

For more great horror movie reviews and other stuff be sure to check out http://www.gorenography.com on a regular basis! 

BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

This one is kind of a sleeper as far as horror films go. I think its pretty cool but its more a psychological thriller rather than a flat out horror film, despite the "R" rating on the cover its actually pretty tame aside from some coarse language. I'd seen the 2006 version of this film and it was so shitful I couldn't even sit through it, so it was with some trepidation that I threw this one into the trusty old DVD player.

This one revolves around a university sorority house (mostly attractive girls) who are receiving obscene phone calls from an unidentified pest. Serial pest is not taken seriously until one of the girls is found dead asphyxiated with a plastic bag in the dorm. Who's next? And who is the killer? Of course I won't ruin this one for you.... you'll just have to watch for yourself! 

Black Christmas bills itself as a pre-runner to the 'slasher' film genre, to some degree I agree, it was a few years before Friday 13th and Halloween but for my thinking the jury is still out. Regardless it was a much better film than the modern remake, it doesn't rely so much on gore or explicit killings but building an atmosphere, which it does with a fair degree of success. The movie is well shot and the plot is pretty cool with enough twists to keep it interesting … There's nothing in this film that really lets it down. Basically I'd rate it as a pretty solid watch without being particularly outstanding in any way.

One cool thing about this film is that it stars a very young and attractive Margot Kidder as Barb (who went on to be Lois Lane in the 70s/80's series of films) … I had no idea she'd been acting since the early mid 70's and a younger John Saxon (Nancy's dad in A Nightmare on Elm St) 

Overall, I thought this was pretty cool as something to watch and I'm quite happy to have this one in my collection! 

For more great horror movie reviews be sure to check out http://www.gorenography.com on a regular basis! 

Thanks to the magic of youtube you can see it for yourself!