The Descent - Lisa's Review

The Descent is a movie I have seen numerous times.  One I was lucky enough to see at the cinema in the days where I went to see pretty much everything that was on.  I went to see this one not knowing much about it and it was an incredibly lucky call to see it on the big screen given the awesome cinematography and how well it translates on a larger screen.

As I said, I have watched it numerous times since and I've enjoyed it every time.  It was released in the same year as a movie called The Cave.  Both movies were set predominantly underground in equally impressive cavernous chambers, but they were actually worlds apart in quality.  The Descent winning hands down.  It is a UK release and unbelievably the fantastic cavern shots set underground were actually actually filmed using sets in the studio as actual caving was deemed too dangerous.  After having watched the movie, I have to say I concur whole heartedly.

We follow a group of friends - Beth, Sarah, Sam, Juno and Rebecca as they set off together caving, in something of a reunion for them.  The previous year Sarah, Beth and Juno had been white water rafting when Sarahs husband and daughter were tragically killed in a car accident.  Sarah hasn't been dealing well with the loss and the girls feel the trip may be good for her.

The relationships between the women are convincing and believable, but the movies main strength is revealed when the girls get into the massive caverns below ground.

Carnival of Souls (1962) - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

So we're back to the 60's in this Herk Harvey movie.  His only movie it should be added.  Herk Harvey worked making Educational Films, something which he went back to after directing, producing and starring in Carnival Of Souls.

The movie was made with a tiny budget of approximately $33,000.  There were only 6 actors (hence Harvey playing a key, albeit non-speaking role) himself.  The only professional actress hired was Candace Hilligoss who played the lead role Mary Henry.  She was paid $2,000 for her work on the movie, which she felt was a fortune.  So, to the movie itself.

We start the movie with 3 pretty girls in a car (Mary Henry being one).  They are challenged to a drag race by a car full of guys.  They seem to be holding their own, but as they cross an unsafe bridge (with clear warning signs) driving alongside one another, the womens car plunges over the side and into the river below.  The drop and subsequent sinking meant inevitable death, but inexplicably Mary staggers up the bank from the river, unkempt and muddy, but completely dry and uninjured.

Peeping Tom - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

We remain in the world of early movies this week for 1960 offering 'Peeping Tom'.  A story about a rather, awkward, shy but disturbing young man called Mark who loves nothing more than to film beautiful women.

He works on a movie set by day and takes soft porn photographs at night in a room above the local corner shop, which sells the images under the counter on the hush hush (and even packages them in a brown bag labelled 'Educational Books').  We become aware very quickly though, that Mark isn't just your normal pervert as the title would suggest, but someone with a penchant for something a little more.... painful.

The Tenant - Lisa's Review

*SPOILERS*

After last weeks offering of Hour of the Wolf, I really wanted something good to watch and review.  If not good, at least understandable.  After watching this Roman Polanski movie (directed and starred in) I have to say, they have maybe made it a teeny bit more understandable, but not much.

My viewpoints however on this weeks movie and last weeks is pretty much exactly the same. Although it had some dark, creepy imagery in places that made me feel a bit freaked out, on the whole, I found it quite difficult to get to the end of this one.  It was dull to watch (visually and mentally) and I pretty much didn't like anyone in the entire movie.  Kind of a difficult mix.

Hour of the Wolf (1968) - Lisa's Review

I've had a couple of attempts to watch this movie.   Viruses in the Davy household has made it difficult as it's not a movie to watch to pass time when you want to relax.  This is a swedish movie directed by infamous Ingmar Bergman.

I have had a great deal of difficulty with the movie, in understanding it, in working out what was going on and why.  In separating dream sequences from reality and in trying to understand what the movie was trying to tell me.