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Friday, January 13, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
THE DEVIL INSIDE
Release: January 5, 2012 (U.S. Theatrical)
Directed by: William Brent Bell
Written by: William Brent Bell and Matthew Peterman
Starring:
Fernanda Andrade as Isabella Rossi
Simon Quarterman as Ben
Evan Helmuth as David
Ionut Grama as Michael
Suzan Crowley as Maria Rossi
Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade) lives a life where “Exorcisms define her”, in her own words. Her mother Maria (Suzan Crowley) spent much in her life in a Rome Italy mental institution after allegedly killing three priests of the Catholic Church as they were performing an Exorcism – on her. Isabella’s father died years later after being worn down mentally and physically by the family’s dark past, and now she is headed to Rome with a documentary filmmaker in tow (Evan Helmuth) to try and find out what really happened to her mother all those years ago.
Once in Rome Isabella meets two members of the clergy, one an ordained Exorcist and the other a medical doctor turned Priest with an interest in helping those tormented by demons. Isabella’s mother Maria was determined by the Church to not be possessed, but rather simply psychotic, and the foursome have decided to take matters into their own hands and find the truth on their own.
The Devil Inside is a found footage feature that is edited differently than most we’ve seen thus far. The supposed purpose of the filming is to create a documentary, but we are not viewing a finished documentary. This is not, however, the typical “pre-finished documentary" with quite a bit of random conversation and informal happenings to add realism – ultimately this is pre-documentary footage that is edited in a way that a cohesive and comprehensive story is told without the slickness of a monstrous studio production. Really, The Devil Inside exemplifies the best possible use and presentation of the found footage film production method.
The acting performances in this film are spot on – not overly slick and “Hollywood” while also not being purposely ragged to “add realism” and
thereby reduce the power of those performances. Of particular note is Suzan Crowley as mother Maria Rossi. She is just so creepy, so crazy – so possessed that every second she is on screen is electrifying. It is very clear that she could just jump up and bit your nose off at any second, so even when she’s appearing docile the energy of extreme violence and evil is clearly there. Really, a perfect performance by Crowley.
thereby reduce the power of those performances. Of particular note is Suzan Crowley as mother Maria Rossi. She is just so creepy, so crazy – so possessed that every second she is on screen is electrifying. It is very clear that she could just jump up and bit your nose off at any second, so even when she’s appearing docile the energy of extreme violence and evil is clearly there. Really, a perfect performance by Crowley.The way the story of The Devil Inside is told flows beautifully, building through every scene with bits of information being presented that will be important to note later, without disrespecting the audience by thinking that those facts must be jammed down our throats lest we forget them when they’re needed. To really “get” some of the specifics and intricacies of the story is important to pay attention, but it’s also easy to pay attention and retain the required background without realizing it is happening. Every scene builds on what came before, toward a climax that is quite intense indeed. There are no slow periods or parts that drag, but there are peaks and valleys so that the adrenaline has time to reduce back to near normal levels before spiking once again.
Regarding the ending, the choices made by Director William Brent Bell will certainly be a source of controversy. I will not give that ending away, but must note that there will be some who complain bitterly about the film’s conclusion. After thinking about the film for a short time after the credits rolled it came to my mind that, how else would they end it? With so many options, most of them being cheesy, or convenient, or unbelievable, or in some other way breaking the spell of the film as a whole, the final scenes and final end of The Devil Inside are the ideal conclusion. That is about all I am willing to say about the ending, lest I ruin it for those who have not bared witness.
The Devil Inside is an outstanding film that is terrifying, engrossing and uncomfortable, and presents the entire concept of demonic possession and exorcism as something so real that it could affect any one of us at any time. What The Exorcist started in 1973, The Devil Inside continues brilliantly in 2012.
Release: January 5, 2012 (U.S. Theatrical)
Directed by: William Brent Bell
Written by: William Brent Bell and Matthew Peterman
Starring:
Fernanda Andrade as Isabella Rossi
Simon Quarterman as Ben
Evan Helmuth as David
Ionut Grama as Michael
Suzan Crowley as Maria Rossi
Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade) lives a life where “Exorcisms define her”, in her own words. Her mother Maria (Suzan Crowley) spent much in her life in a Rome Italy mental institution after allegedly killing three priests of the Catholic Church as they were performing an Exorcism – on her. Isabella’s father died years later after being worn down mentally and physically by the family’s dark past, and now she is headed to Rome with a documentary filmmaker in tow (Evan Helmuth) to try and find out what really happened to her mother all those years ago.
Once in Rome Isabella meets two members of the clergy, one an ordained Exorcist and the other a medical doctor turned Priest with an interest in helping those tormented by demons. Isabella’s mother Maria was determined by the Church to not be possessed, but rather simply psychotic, and the foursome have decided to take matters into their own hands and find the truth on their own.
The Devil Inside is a found footage feature that is edited differently than most we’ve seen thus far. The supposed purpose of the filming is to create a documentary, but we are not viewing a finished documentary. This is not, however, the typical “pre-finished documentary" with quite a bit of random conversation and informal happenings to add realism – ultimately this is pre-documentary footage that is edited in a way that a cohesive and comprehensive story is told without the slickness of a monstrous studio production. Really, The Devil Inside exemplifies the best possible use and presentation of the found footage film production method.
The acting performances in this film are spot on – not overly slick and “Hollywood” while also not being purposely ragged to “add realism” andthereby reduce the power of those performances. Of particular note is Suzan Crowley as mother Maria Rossi. She is just so creepy, so crazy – so possessed that every second she is on screen is electrifying. It is very clear that she could just jump up and bit your nose off at any second, so even when she’s appearing docile the energy of extreme violence and evil is clearly there. Really, a perfect performance by Crowley.
The way the story of The Devil Inside is told flows beautifully, building through every scene with bits of information being presented that will be important to note later, without disrespecting the audience by thinking that those facts must be jammed down our throats lest we forget them when they’re needed. To really “get” some of the specifics and intricacies of the story is important to pay attention, but it’s also easy to pay attention and retain the required background without realizing it is happening. Every scene builds on what came before, toward a climax that is quite intense indeed. There are no slow periods or parts that drag, but there are peaks and valleys so that the adrenaline has time to reduce back to near normal levels before spiking once again.
Regarding the ending, the choices made by Director William Brent Bell will certainly be a source of controversy. I will not give that ending away, but must note that there will be some who complain bitterly about the film’s conclusion. After thinking about the film for a short time after the credits rolled it came to my mind that, how else would they end it? With so many options, most of them being cheesy, or convenient, or unbelievable, or in some other way breaking the spell of the film as a whole, the final scenes and final end of The Devil Inside are the ideal conclusion. That is about all I am willing to say about the ending, lest I ruin it for those who have not bared witness.
The Devil Inside is an outstanding film that is terrifying, engrossing and uncomfortable, and presents the entire concept of demonic possession and exorcism as something so real that it could affect any one of us at any time. What The Exorcist started in 1973, The Devil Inside continues brilliantly in 2012
Release: January 5, 2012 (U.S. Theatrical)
Directed by: William Brent Bell
Written by: William Brent Bell and Matthew Peterman
Starring:
Fernanda Andrade as Isabella Rossi
Simon Quarterman as Ben
Evan Helmuth as David
Ionut Grama as Michael
Suzan Crowley as Maria Rossi
Isabella Rossi (Fernanda Andrade) lives a life where “Exorcisms define her”, in her own words. Her mother Maria (Suzan Crowley) spent much in her life in a Rome Italy mental institution after allegedly killing three priests of the Catholic Church as they were performing an Exorcism – on her. Isabella’s father died years later after being worn down mentally and physically by the family’s dark past, and now she is headed to Rome with a documentary filmmaker in tow (Evan Helmuth) to try and find out what really happened to her mother all those years ago.
Once in Rome Isabella meets two members of the clergy, one an ordained Exorcist and the other a medical doctor turned Priest with an interest in helping those tormented by demons. Isabella’s mother Maria was determined by the Church to not be possessed, but rather simply psychotic, and the foursome have decided to take matters into their own hands and find the truth on their own.
The acting performances in this film are spot on – not overly slick and “Hollywood” while also not being purposely ragged to “add realism” and
thereby reduce the power of those performances. Of particular note is Suzan Crowley as mother Maria Rossi. She is just so creepy, so crazy – so possessed that every second she is on screen is electrifying. It is very clear that she could just jump up and bit your nose off at any second, so even when she’s appearing docile the energy of extreme violence and evil is clearly there. Really, a perfect performance by Crowley.The way the story of The Devil Inside is told flows beautifully, building through every scene with bits of information being presented that will be important to note later, without disrespecting the audience by thinking that those facts must be jammed down our throats lest we forget them when they’re needed. To really “get” some of the specifics and intricacies of the story is important to pay attention, but it’s also easy to pay attention and retain the required background without realizing it is happening. Every scene builds on what came before, toward a climax that is quite intense indeed. There are no slow periods or parts that drag, but there are peaks and valleys so that the adrenaline has time to reduce back to near normal levels before spiking once again.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
GOREZONE 26
#69 Haruo Nakajima
as Godzilla in 12 Godzilla Films!
It may seem silly to give acting credit to a guy in a Godzilla suit, but the fact Haruo Nakajima played the true King of Monsters in a dozen films is an Olympian feat, to say the least. According to the Internet Movie Database, Nakajima suffered a ton of Godzilla style injuries while filming the role, including burns, electrical shock, and near-suffocation.
as Godzilla in 12 Godzilla Films!
It may seem silly to give acting credit to a guy in a Godzilla suit, but the fact Haruo Nakajima played the true King of Monsters in a dozen films is an Olympian feat, to say the least. According to the Internet Movie Database, Nakajima suffered a ton of Godzilla style injuries while filming the role, including burns, electrical shock, and near-suffocation.
#68 Daveigh Chaseas Samara
in The Ring
A part of few words, young Chase brought a creepier than hell grace to the part of the spectral Samara that easily made her one of the scarier movie monsters of all time. Aided by great makeup and camera trickery, Chase's portrayal gives me chills just thinking about it now. For a good scare, look at the picture on THIS PAGEfor about 10 seconds.
#67 Donald Pleasanceas Dr. Sam Loomis
in Halloween
The late Pleasance has been in nearly 200 films, but it's his role as the Captain Ahabesque Dr. Loomis, determined to hunt down Michael Myers, that he's most fondly remembered for. According to the IMDB, the role was originally turned down by both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, which gave Pleasance a chance to bring his reserved yet manic style to the part.
#66 Amanda Donohueas Lady Sylvia Marsh
in Lair of the White Worm
Based on a little known Bram Stoker tale, 1988's Lair of the White Worm is not particularly good, but Amanda Donohue's performance as the creepy Lady Sylvia Marsh makes it quite watchable. She's sexy as hell and owns every second the camera spends on her. Shame on the folks behind the DVD release for shrinking her picture down on the cover in favor of a giant head of Hugh Grant, instead. You canCLICK HERE to watch the trailer.
#65 TIE: Dennis Hopperas Simon Feck in River's Edgeand Frank Booth in Blue Velvetand Lt. Enright in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Though not a horror film in a supernatural sense, 1986's River's Edge is certainly a shocking and scary look at a bunch of disconnected teens who do absolutely nothing when they find out a friend murdered his girlfriend, and left her body by the river. The film is full of star performances, particularly by Crispin Glover as the twitchy broken inside Layne, but the movie is owned by Dennis Hopper in perhaps his craziest role of all time. He plays Simon Feck, a whiskery old drug dealer who lives with an inflatable woman. And not content to rest on his laurels, Hopper turned out a more over the top but equally masterful performance that same year in David Lynch's Blue Velvet. In Velvet, Hopper plays the nitrous oxide huffing sadistic bastard Frank Booth who shouts out gems like, "I'll FUCK ANYTHING THAT MOVES!" Add these performances to the hilarious job he did as Lt. Enright in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and you have a 1986 Triple Crown Victory in Horror film acting that few people have ever pulled off. You can catch Dennis returning to horror when Land of the Dead is released on DVD October 18th.
#64 Michael Berrymanas Pluto
in The Hills Have Eyes
Like Rondo Hatton and Lindsay Lohan, Michael Berryman has joined the ranks of actors with physical afflictions that have been used to their advantage. Resembling a bald hybrid between human and dinosaur, Berryman needs no special effects to bring the element of terror to the roles he plays. But it's too easy to talk about the physical appearance to Berryman and overlook the creepy misunderstood charm that shines underneath. He can bite off a chicken head one minute, and make you feel sorry for him the next. Berryman has found lots of work in the horror genre since this 1977 showpiece, and his work in 2005's The Devil's Rejects was a funny comedic departure from the creepy mutant roles he usually tackles. With Berryman being a similar root surname to my own, I'm honored at the possibility that we could be related. It would certainly explain my sister a lot more.
#63 David Cronenbergas Dr. Phillip K. Decker
in Nightbreed
As the director of The Fly, Scanners, The Brood, The Dead Zone, and Videodrome, David Cronenberg is clearly one of the greatest horror film creators of all time. So to see him do such a masterful job acting in Clive Barker's Nightbreed was an amazing feat. As the serial killer therapist Dr. Decker (a year before Anthony Hopkins portrayed Hannibal Lecter), Cronenberg shines as a deliciously evil and sleazy villain. It's too bad he hasn't had more of a chance to show off his acting skills, but as long as he keeps making wonderful movies, one can't complain.
#62 Mia Farrowas Rosemary Woodhouse
in Rosemary's Baby
I always thought this movie would be scarier if it were reworked with Rose Marie from The Dick Van Dyke show and it was just a 2 hours of graphic birth footage, but beggars can't be choosers. Mia is simply fantastic in this role, even though she had to cut her hair like a 10 year old boy and lose her Mrs. Sinatra status in the process. Mia plays the tormented mother of the title character with a class and skill that rarely come aboard on most horror films. Of course, having Roman Polanski direct you doesn't hurt, either. CLICK HERE to view the original trailer.
#61 Steve Railsbackas Charles Manson
in Helter Skelter
To many kids of the 70s, Steve Railsback, who played Charles Manson in the TV film Helter Skelter, was Charles Manson. With only still photos and news stories to go by of the real thing, Railsback's eerie portrayal of the cult leader was the only live action version people saw. It's a fantastic performance indeed, and according to the IMDB, the film was the highest rated film on TV until Roots was released. Of course, nothing can top the real Manson appearing on a cheezy TV interview with Geraldo Rivera in the 80s, in which he proclaimed to be god, and claimed to be able to have Geraldo's head cut off and delivered in a basket.
#60 Catherine Deneuveas Carole Ledoux
in Repulsion
As previously written in our 100 Greatest Movie Scenes feature (#44) "Roman Polanski's Repulsion is a great slow brooding look into madness and hallucination. Catherine Deneuve plays a mute woman who is freaking out inside of an apartment with visions and fantasies of rape and murder. With no dialogue to speak of in these scenes, you're completely sucked into the atmosphere of terror she's experiencing. There's a ton of creepy events, which you, along with the main character, often wonder if they're really happening, or not..."
GOREZONE 27
#79 Kevin Van Hentenryck
as Duane Bradley
in Basket Case
This was the role Kevin Van Hentenryck was born to play. Well, it's about the only role he's ever played, so it'd better be. Duane is a character that is burdened with carrying around a sentient lump of flesh that just happens to be his Siamese brother that was surgically removed and dumped into the trash at a young age. He brings a goofy and disturbed innocence to the role that really works well, as a fish out of water from a small town plopped into the seediest part of New York City. CLICK HEREto see the trailer for Basket Case.
as Duane Bradley
in Basket Case
This was the role Kevin Van Hentenryck was born to play. Well, it's about the only role he's ever played, so it'd better be. Duane is a character that is burdened with carrying around a sentient lump of flesh that just happens to be his Siamese brother that was surgically removed and dumped into the trash at a young age. He brings a goofy and disturbed innocence to the role that really works well, as a fish out of water from a small town plopped into the seediest part of New York City. CLICK HEREto see the trailer for Basket Case.
#78 Randy Quaidas Nick Lamele
in Parents
Sure, he's known for big goofy oaf characters, but his great range in films like Midnight Express and Parents aren't as appreciated by the masses as they should be. Trash Film Orgy princess Christy Savage says Parents is one of her favorite movies, and Quaid's a big reason why. His performance as a typical 50s everyday dad that might just be a cannibal is a kick, and is one of the best things he's ever done. CLICK HERE to see the trailer.
#77 John Carradineas Erle Kenton
in The Howling
A veteran of nearly 250 films from 1930-1988, John Carradine has no shortage of wonderful roles, but it's one of this later parts, as an aging Werewolf in The Howling that's one of my favorites. Carradine gets to chew up the screen in a fun role with a who's who of cheezy horror vets like Forrest Ackerman, Roger Corman, and other impressive legends like Slim Pickens in this great flick. CLICK HERE To see the trailer.
#76 Ellen Burstynas Chris MacNeil
in The Exorcist
In a film that's chock full of the freakiest, scariest stuff ever to put on screen, Ellen Burstyn's role as the Mom dealing with the unthinkable gives The Exorcist the grounding it needs to be more believable. She represents how you or I would act when confronted with such demonic madness. She certainly put up with a lot of abuse during the filming, as she suffered a severe back injury when "thrown" off the bed via a cable that pulled her sent her crashing into a wall. Her cries of agony in the scene are genuine. CLICK HERE to see the trailer.
#75 Jonathan Pryceas Mr. Dark
in Something Wicked This Way Comes
20 years before Ray Bradbury was attacking Michael Moore for ripping off the title of Fahrenheit 451 for his anti-Bush documentary, he was busy ripping off Shakespeare for this wonderful film. Jonathan Pryce is wickedly demonic and fun to watch as the villain, Mr. Dark, who torments a small town with an evil circus that he drags in with him in a quest for souls. He manages to be larger than life, scary, and charming all at once. It's an amazingly dark film to bear the Disney name for the time, and a movie I highly recommend seeking out if you haven't seen it yet.
#74 Donald Sutherlandas Matthew Bennell
in Invasion of The Body Snatchers '78
Sometimes a remake can be as good as the first, in the case of this 1978 retelling of the 50s classic. This is thanks to a rock-solid performance from Donald Sutherland who is fantastic throughout the film, but it's his memorable final scene (which you can read more about by CLICKING HERE) that clinches the deal. CLICK HERE to see the trailer.
#73 Klaus Kinskias Nosferatu
in Nosferatu (1979)
Klaus Kinski did a phenomenal job of bringing Max Scheck's eerie and iconic work as the lead in the original 1922 silent masterpiece, into a full color flesh and blood character with depth and dimension. He brings a tortured, lonely, and sad flavor to the character had never been seen in previous incarnations.
#72 Lon Chaney, Jr.as Bruno
in Spider Baby
With the impossible shoes of his immortal father to fill, Lon Chaney, Jr. was relegated to acting behind makeup roles with little more to offer than pale replacement acting for parts Boris Karloff didn't want any more. Even his starring role in Universal's The Wolf-Man was more of a special effects showcase, than a true use for his talents. His alcohol ravaged voice and body proved to be perfect, however, for the fatherly Bruno in Jack Hill's '69 wacko-fest, Spider Baby. Chaney even gets to sing thetitle song of the film! Chaney agreed to play the part for $2500, and stayed off the sauce for the entire production, and it shows. To read more about the production of this film, CLICK HERE and check out our interview with the film's director, Jack Hill.
#71 Yuya Ozekias Toshio
in Ju-On and The Grudge
Next to that girl who made the Pepsi commercials years ago, Yuya Ozeki may be the creepiest kid to have ever appeared on film. But unlike the Pepsi girl, it was achieved through acting (CLICK HERE to see what a charming kid he is in real life). With those deep black eyes and that guttural groaning sound, I get chills even thinking about it as I write this. Both Ju-On, and the American remake, The Grudge, are just a mess of goofy scare effects, but Yuya's presence in both make it far more eerie than the films deserved to be.
#70 Walt Gorneyas Crazy Ralph
in Friday The 13th I and II
Walt passed away in March 2004, leaving many poor teenagers free to wander into Camp Crystal Lake without the proper drunken warning of "You're all DOOOMED!" Nobody did it better, and nobody ever will. According to pitofhorror.com, "Walt Gorney was so devoted to the role that he was
GOREZONE 28
#89 Dee Wallace
as Patricia Bradley
in The Frighteners
Christy from Trash Film Orgy told me she felt Dee deserved inclusion here because, "I hate everything she's ever done, but I loved her in The Frighteners so that says a lot." Indeed she does a great job as a demented woman who is incredibly freaked out by ghosts, yet may have more going on than we are lead to believe. It's a nice change of pace from the disturbed yet resolute mother figures she had been typecast as playing in ET, Cujo, and the like. CLICK HERE to watch the trailer.
as Patricia Bradley
in The Frighteners
Christy from Trash Film Orgy told me she felt Dee deserved inclusion here because, "I hate everything she's ever done, but I loved her in The Frighteners so that says a lot." Indeed she does a great job as a demented woman who is incredibly freaked out by ghosts, yet may have more going on than we are lead to believe. It's a nice change of pace from the disturbed yet resolute mother figures she had been typecast as playing in ET, Cujo, and the like. CLICK HERE to watch the trailer.
#88 Sherman Howardas Bub The Zombie
in Day of the Dead
Though most of the zombies in Romero's "Dead" films are just shambling, mindless flesh-eaters, Sherman Howard brings a soul to "Bub", the reanimated corpse of a soldier, who is being taught to use a gun. The deep expressions with his eyes shine through the Savini makeup and result in a loveable zombie that has been given quite a cult following in the 20 years since the film was released. Sherman's made quite a career outside of this role, as well, with may acting and voice-over parts in TV, Film, and even videogames. CLICK HERE to watch the trailer.
#87 Gunnar Hansonas Leatherface
in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Though a few people have played the chainsaw wielding retard, it's Gunnar Hanson's performance in the 1974 original (damn, is it already 30 years ago?) that is the best by far. Long before Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, or Freddy Krueger, Leatherface became the prototype slasher with a gimmick. And hats off to Gunnar for refusing to appear in the 2003 remake, feeling it insulted the integrity of the original. You can watch a gorgeous 17MB QuickTime trailer for the original film if youCLICK HERE, and see Gunnar in all of his glory.
#86 Melinda Clarkeas Julie Harper
in The Return of the Living Dead III
The sexy pain-freak goth girl is taken to the extreme with interesting departure in the third Return of the Living Dead film. Her character, Julie, is killed in a motorcycle accident, and reanimated by her boyfriend with the help of the famous zombie gas. Unfortunately, she wants to eat brains, but finds that she can curb her appetite for brains by self inflicted pain. Since there's no Linkin Park records to listen to yet, she ends up cutting and mutilating herself to the point where she looks like Clive Barker's custom Real Doll. She makes what should have been a throwaway crap sequel into a very watchable, and tragic film. You can get a 7 day free pass with Cinema Now and watch the entire film on your computer for free if you CLICK HERE.
#85 Lance Henriksenas Ed Harley
in Pumpkinhead
Lance has certainly been a great player in genre work, with his roles in Aliens, and the wonderful Fox series Millennium, but his role as the father in Pumpkinhead who seeks revenge against teens responsible for his son's death by getting a witch to bring a horrible creature forth to let the killing commence. It's a great conflicted performance which makes him both the villain and the hero in the same film. You can watch the preview if you CLICK HERE.
#84 Angus Scrimmas The Tall Man
in Phantasm
Angus is wonderful as The Tall Man in the Phantasm series. Blending humorous charm with a creepy menacing quality, he makes the series of films a lot of fun to watch. Angus has a lot of neat trivia about him, among the more quirky is that he's an accomplished writer of CD liner notes and has even won a Grammy for his work. There's a bunch of great clips of Scrimm in action you can view at Phantasm.com if you CLICK HERE.
#83 Roberts Blossomas Ezra Cobb
in Deranged
While Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho both use the real-life crimes of Ed Gein as their influence, it's the story of Ezra Cobb in 1974's Deranged that tells the tale more accurately. Blossom gives a great over the top performance in the necrophilia themed film who's poster slogan read, "Pretty Sally Mae died an unnatural death, but the worst hasn't happened to her yet!" There's a great double DVD that features Deranged and Motel Hell on the same disc that's worth a look. Blossom also had some great work in Christine, Escape from Alcatraz, and Home Alone.
#82 James Karenas Frank
in The Return of the Living Dead
James Karen does a fantastic jobs as the manager of a medical supply warehouse that is soon filled with corpses, butterflies, and even bisected puppies that are reanimated because of a top secret zombie-gas that leaks from a barrel in the basement. His reactions to the madness are hilarious as he and his younger employee try to first cover up the mistake, then succumb to it. His lectures about Night of The Living Dead being a true story, and how all skeletons come from India (and wondering how they all have such perfect teeth) are priceless. CLICK HERE to watch the trailer.
#81 Werner Kraussas Dr. Caligari
in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The German film from 1920 is not only one the earliest horror films, but it's still one of the most visually striking movies ever made. Werner Krauss as the title character is amazing, in this completely silent film, yet conveying more emotion than many speaking actors ever could. Unfortunately, this film is in the public domain which means there's a wide variety of shitty versions of it on DVD to choose from, so I recommend the beautifully restored and authoritative version from KINO that you can buy if you CLICK HERE.
#80 Jeffrey Allenas Mayor Buckman
in Two Thousand Maniacs!
This is one of my all time favorite bit parts in a film! Jeffrey Allen only appeared in a handful of Herschell Gordon Lewis films, and wasn't in another movie after 1972, but his performance as the super friendly but evil Mayor Buckman in Two Thousand Maniacs is one of the great guilty pleasures of horror film. He's part Mr. Haney from Green Acres, part Boss Hogg from The Dukes of Hazzard, and his own unique ingredients inbetween. I can't help but smile when he joyously exclaims, "We're havin' us a BARBECUE!" CLICK HERE to read our article about 2000 Maniacs Director Herschell Gordon Lewis. And while you're at it CLICK HERE to listen to the 2000 Maniacs theme song.
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