Cyber Tracker (1994)

We are in the future (2024 or thereabouts) and justice is dispensed by a cold heartless android killing machine. This is Terminator meets Robocop meets Judge Dread with about one hundredth of the budget.

Don (Don "The Dragon" Wilson) is a secret service agent tasked with protecting a senator (John Aprea) in a future America where the state has merged with a giant corporation. By now policing is done by near invincible androids who also act as judge, jury and executioner (one assumes they are not used to police jaywalking or parking offences). Don protects the senator from a terrorist group who want to stop the cyber police. 

The senator tries to bring Don into their dark secret though he wants to remain a good guy (of course). He is framed for murder and now the cyber cops and the human enforcer in the form of Ross (Richard Norton) are sent after him...

The story isn't up to much and doesn't have much originality. The film does have a lot of action and a lot of violence. Cars don't just crash, they explode. Most characters end up butchered by heavy calibre rounds. The violence does help to make the film watchable though overall the film isn't that great. The hi-tech "future" graphics and computers which look dated even by 1994's standards are funny though.

Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)

The 1950s were a hazardous time, you couldn't move for some kind of radiation mutated monster. This time its the crabs...

A team of scientists arrive on a remote island to study the effect of nuclear weapon tests on local fauna. However, a scientist who was already supposed to be there has gone missing. Mysterious noises are heard of night and people start to die. The voices of some of those who have died, including the original scientist are heard at night...

To the horror of Dale (Richard Garland) and Martha (Pamela Duncan) the voices are from gigantic killer crabs! The radiation mutated crabs have eaten humans and absorbed their memories, and can even speak like them. The crabs are also impervious to anything fired at them...

Monster movies from this period are usually not the best of films but this one isn't that bad. It has some genuine suspense and builds the terror well. The monster crabs do not appear until well in the film, they arn't really worth the wait but you'll see a lot worse.

Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)

Charlie Chan faces Boris Karloff, what more could you want?!

Years before a famous opera singer called Greville (Karloff) is thought to have died in a fire, but really he has spent his time in an asylum with no memory. That all changes though when he sees his former wife is in town performing at the theatre. He escapes and heads to the opera. 

When the people responsible for the fire (his wife and her lover) are killed at the theatre, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is bought in to investigate. Naturally Greville is suspected but is all that it seems?

The theatre setting and costumes give the film a feeling of the macabre at times and Karloff of course helps with the air of menace he can provide. All the ingredients for a good (if not one of the best) Charlie Chan films are there. The in-joke about Frankenstein is hilarious.

The Visitor (1979)

An entertaining if somewhat confusing and bizarre piece of science-fiction / horror.

The forces of good and evil are battling across the universe. On little old Earth a young girl called Katy (Paige Conner) is possessed by telekinetic powers and a desire to cause evil, her poor mum Barbara (Joanne Nail) gets crippled after Katy (accidentall? Maybe, maybe not.) shoots her in the spine. Police detective Durham (Glenn Ford) is convinced there is something going on with Katy, though the girl's demonic pet falcon soon sorts that out...

Meanwhile, Jerzy (John Huston) has arrived on Earth to find Katy and prevent her mum becoming pregnant again as the second child will be bad news for the universe...

It is all rather confusing with often strange visuals and a bizarrely inappropriate soundtrack. The demonic horror does work at times though, the film may have been better if it had concentrated on that and not the outer space battle stuff. However, the nonsense and oddness does make the film pretty unintentionally funny. Conner plays a great role as the demon child, though as with most 8 year olds it probably wasn't entirely acting.

New York Confidential (1955)

A tough and compelling crime drama.

The Syndicate run crime in the USA, in New York its headed by Lupo (Broderick Crawford) who is trying to arrange a billion dollar payday but this requires the help of Washington DC (a whole other level of hoodlum). Meanwhile, Nick (Richard Conte) is bought in from Chicago to make a hit. He soon gains Lupo's confidence and rises up the ranks. But trouble is brewing for Lupo, Nick and Lupo's daughter Katherine (Anne Bancroft)...

This is a dark Noir for sure. Nick makes an unlikely kind of hero considering the number of people he kills and maims but you do root for him. There is a real sense everyone is doomed though in this heartless and ruthless world. A very good film that doesn't waste much time.

First Spaceship on Venus (1960)

An East German science-fiction epic and it is equal parts amazing and weird.

An artefact from a meteorite strike is found to have come from Venus and contains a message. An international team of astronauts is sent off to Venus to discover what happened to the apparently advanced civilisation on the planet. Their mission soon runs into many hazards in outer space. When they reach Venus they discover the civilisation is in ruins, having destroyed themselves somehow while preparing to attack Earth. However, a super weapon is still aimed at Earth...

Although dubbed into English, this film stands out from other films of the period and genre with it's inventive set design and the thoughtful weighty plot. This isn't a space opera with all American heroes, in fact the film has a rather refreshing international feel about it. The film is pretty odd though, a lot of that is probably due to how the film was edited to fit the English dialogue. 

The Lady in the Morgue (1938)

A fast moving crime drama.

The body of a woman called Alice Ross is found hanging in a cheap hotel room, the police (Thomas E Jackson) call it a case of suicide. Private detective Bill Crane (Preston Foster) is hired by the healthy family of Kathryn Crawford (Patricia Ellis), who fear that Alice is really Kathryn, to investigate discreetly. However, the body disappears from the morgue and the police think Crane and his buddy Doc (Frank Jenks) have something to do with it.

Crane begins to unravel a complicated plot involving a mysterious women dancing in a bar, a jealous band leader and two rival gang leaders who were both involved with the missing/dead woman. He handles the case in breakneck fashion and with plenty of wise cracks.

This is an uneven film though held together by decent performances by the leads. There is quite a lot of story here and it is squeezed into a typically short B-movie length, some pruning of the story may have worked wonders. However, it is an enjoyable film for all the flaws.

Feeders (1996)

Aliens have come to conquer the world, though first it seems they need a snack... on humans.

A rather dodgy looking flying saucer deposits a couple of small aliens in the US backwoods. They begin to hunt down their prey, humans. Meanwhile, Derek (Jon McBride) and Bennett (John Polonia) are on a road trip and travel though where the aliens are. They are soon involved in the troublesome situation, with aliens who prove hard to kill until local girl Michelle (Melissa Torpy) treads on one...

This is quite an awfully made and zero-budget film. It looks like it was filmed in 1976 rather than 1996 and on well used video tape at that. The story and acting is rather poor and the special effects terrible. The film is of course... brilliant despite all of that, hilarious (usually unintentionally). The film has heart too, it doesn't feel cynical. 

The film is what it is and should be enjoyed because of that.

Unknown World (1951)

Low wattage thrills deep underground.

Dr Morley (Victor Kilian) is convinced the world is heading towards atomic annihilation and thinks mankind needs a new home deep underground to keep safe. He forms a foundation and raises funds to build a machine that can explore deep underground. With a team of scientists and rich playboy financier Wright (Bruce Kellogg) the mission begins...

Of course, deep underground is a dangerous place (though also unfortunately a bit dreary). However, finally they discover a huge cavern underground with a mysterious life source and a sea. The rabbits which Joan (Marilyn Nash) has bought with her prove to be sterile in this new world though, which dooms Morley's hopes...

This isn't a bad film, it's just a bit dull. It has the usual perils and personality clashes and a reasonably cool drilling machine but lacks a spark somewhere, the low budget didn't help. 

Cyborg 2087 (1966)

It is the future and mankind is under the control of deranged technology. A cyborg is sent back to the present day to prevent the invention of this technology and change the future. No, this isn't Terminator!

Garth A7 (Michael Rennie) is sent back to groovy 1960s Earth to prevent Professor Marx (Eduard Franz) from developing a mind to mind communication system which in the future is used to enslave humanity. Unfortunately he only has a short time period to do it before sentinels from the future are sent to capture him. He enlists the help of Marx's assistant Dr Mason (Karen Steele) and her friend Dr Zellar (Warren Stevens) but the sentinels with their zap guns are already on the case...

A low-budget science-fiction film that makes the clever decision, budget wise, to base most of it's action on present day non-SF film sets and locations. Although the film's plot does plod a little at times, and can be a little cheesy, this is not a bad film at all. The idea behind the film is very good, no wonder it was later used again.

Our Miss Fred (1972)

Danny La Rue versus the Nazis, so awful it's brilliant.

Fred (La Rue) is an actor who is called up by the British Army to entertain the troops in early 1940. However, while Fred is on stage in drag, the Germans launch a surprise attack and capture everyone. Fred is told he must stay in drag otherwise he'll be shot as a spy! Unfortunately for Fred, General Brincker (Alfred Marks) takes a fancy to them!

Fred soon finds themself involved with Miss Flodden (Lally Bowers), Miss Lockhart (Frances de la Tour) who are leading a bunch of English schoolgirls trapped in France (and as this is a 1970s comedy the girls are of course saucy and oversexed), and a shot down RAF pilot (Lance Percival) whom they are hiding...

So, this is a typically British piece of whimsical nonsense, containing so many innuendoes and obvious jokes. It is terrible but incredibly funny at times. The charisma and charm of La Rue holds the film together and somehow makes it work.

Charlie Chan in London (1934)

Charlie Chan tackles a complicated crime in an English country house, How could this be anything other than brilliant? Let's find out.

A young man (Douglas Walton) is due to go to the gallows for murder in a few days but his sister Pamela (Drue Leyton) is still desperately trying to prove his innocence. Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is in London on another case but Pamela persuades him to help. Charlie heads up to the country house where the murder took place. 

He encounters some resistance from the upper class stereotypes assembled there for a hunting party. While they hunt foxes, Charlie hunts clues. But soon his own life is in danger...

This is an excellent instalment in the Charlie Chan series, though Charlie is on his own this time with no sons to help. Charlie expertly unravels the plot and ends up tricking the real murderer into unmasking himself. Great film indeed!

The Panther's Claw (1942)

An excellent crime drama that makes heavy use of red herrings.

Wig maker Digberry (Byron Foulger) is arrested acting suspiciously by a graveyard. He claims he is the victim not the crime and he was paying a blackmailer called the Panther. However, the police in the form of Commissioner Colt (Sidney Blackmer) soon unravel the blackmail plot and find it was fake, set up by Digberry himself to cover the use of money for another reason...

Then opera singer Nina (Gerta Rozan) is found dead and the evidence points to Digberry. The DA (Herbert Rawlinson) wants Digberry arrested by Colt, but the Commissioner isn't so sure...

A great crime drama with some solid police detective work, including typewriter forensic analysis which i particularly enjoyed. Everything points to Digberry but it is fairly obvious that that would be too easy, the question is just who is the real culprit and this film very cleverly shows us. Not many films have the creator and owner of a wig as a vital plot point.

The 27th Day (1957)

Usually, science-fiction films with low budgets means bad (though often very watchable) films, however it isn't always the case such as with this one...

Five strangers are plucked seemingly from the world at random by an alien (Arnold Moss). Onboard his flying saucer, they are each given a capsule containing a terrible weapon (which only they can use) that can wipe out millions. The alien tells them that they have twenty seven days (once they are returned to the world) to decide what to do with the weapon before it becomes useless.

The five strangers including reporter Jonathan (Gene Barry) are in shock and not sure what to do, though their terrible secret is soon out. Jonathan goes into hiding with Englishwoman Eve (Valerie French). German scientist Professor Bechner (George Voskovec) lies ill in hospital. In the Soviet Union, poor unfortunate soldier Ivan (Azemat Janti) is encouraged to give up his secret by the various robust methods of the KGB. As the deadline approaches can Bechner, Jonathan and Eve find a way to stop the weapon being used by the Soviets?

When you have a low budget and want to make a science-fiction film you can blow your budget on terrible special effects and various genre nonsense. Alternatively you can invest in a very good story and plot, happily this film takes this second option. A very interesting and thoughtful film, it probably did not score too well with people who did want cheesy monsters in rubber suits but you can't win them all.

Mind Ripper (1995)

Attempts to create a genetically engineered super soldier go wrong (what a surprise!)

At a secret government laboratory in the desert, scientists attempt to bring a corpse back to life. Finally their attempts work, unfortunately Thor (Dan Blom) has become an uncontrollable crazed beast augmented by genetic mutations. Alex (John Diehl) calls the project leader Stockton (Lance Henriksen) back to the lab. Naturally Stockton brings his young family with him to a remote desert laboratory where human experiments are carried out...

Meanwhile Alex, Joanne (Claire Stansfield) and Rob (Gregory Sporleder) are desperately trying to stay alive. Joanne discovers that Thor needs a certain chemical to stay alive, unfortunately Thor gets this chemical by growing a phallic appendage out of his mouth and then stabbing it into his victim's brain! 

This film has a lot of claustrophobic mayhem and running about into a barely lit underground bunker. The gore content is pretty high and the film does have the odd bright spot in it's plot though these are unfortunately largely lost in the gloom of stilted dialogue and repetitive nonsense. Not that a great film though fun to watch.

Meet Nero Wolfe (1936)

The first adaptation of the highly popular detective novels. 

Nero Wolfe (Edward Arnold), a housebound detective who likes his beer, is employed to investigate a couple of deaths which have been declared natural causes by the authorities. However, Wolfe suspects foul play and sends his assistant Archie (Lionel Stander) to find clues, who is eager to get married to his gal Mazie (Dennie Moore) but the case must be solved first. 

The case is complicated however and involves events which took place in the past in South America. Wolfe eventually assembles all the suspects, after an attempted shooting, a gas bomb and even an attack by a deadly snake...

Wolfe is a rather strange detective character, preferring to sit and drink beer rather than do anything else. Despite that the film's complicated plot moves apace, maybe too fast moving at times. Wolfe is an interesting character though maybe he didn't translate too well into the screen. Despite plenty of stories available to adapt we would only see one more film in this series in a couple of years.

Beyond the Time Barrier (1960)

A 1960s astronaut is sent into the far future... 2024 to be exact.

Allison (Robert Clarke) is testing the X-80, a new research craft. However, when he lands at his airbase he finds it derelict and everyone has vanished. He is soon captured by a strange group of people in matching outfits. Allison discovers that he is not in 1960 anymore, somehow he has been sent to 2024. 

The land has been devastated by cosmic rays and the remains of mankind live underground in rival factions. Allison is captured by one faction who are powerful but the radiation has made them largely sterile. Allison wants to return home though The Supreme (Vladimir Sokoloff) has other plans for him, he wants Allison to mate with his daughter Trirene (Darlene Tompkins)...

A slightly strange but enjoyable film. The budget is low but well used. The plot is a little more meaty than other examples of the genre. Of course their idea of the 2020s hasn't quite matched reality though the triangular doors really would be wonderful.

Hold That Woman! (1940)

The complicated life of the repo man, especially when he gets involved in a criminal plot.

Jimmy (James Dunn) is a skip tracer or repo man who is told he needs to get results or he will be looking for alternative employment. This is an annoyance as he wants to marry his sweetheart Mary (Frances Gifford). He combines a date with Mary with repossessing a radio from Lulu (Lita La Roy), unbeknownst to Jimmy Lulu is involved in a crime to steal jewellery from a movie star and has stashed the gems in the radio!

Jimmy's attempts to get the radio result in he and Mary spending the night in jail, however he is undaunted though unaware of the plot surrounding Lulu and the gems. When he finally does get them he finds himself in a car chase and shoot out with the gangster Steve (George Douglas)...

A great little film, a nicely involving story and some decent comedy moments but kept straight enough to take the crime element seriously. Great performances mean this film is well worth your time.

The Incredible Petrified World (1959)

A rather deep and dull adventure a long way underwater, one could say its a bit of a damp squid.

Four adventurers head deep underwater to explore a mysterious new layer on the sea bed. Something goes wrong of course and the adventurers end up trapped in a subterranean cave. The two males, Randall (Robert Clarke) and Paul (Allen Windsor) do their best to be butch and try and find their way out, the two females Dale (Phyllis Coates) and Lauri (Sheila Noonan) do their best to do the domestic chores and begin a long drawn out bitchfest. 

Things are complicated by another trapped man (Maurice Bernard) who has been down there for years and is a bit crazy, and tells them there is no way out. However, on the surface Professor Wyman (John Carradine) is preparing for a rescue attempt...

In theory this could have been a decent film but unfortunately it is rather dull with not a great deal happens. It's a short film padded out with stock footage and aimlessly wandering about a cave. Maybe if it's budget had been increased to say $20 it would have been more worthwhile, as it is the film is easily missable.

The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939)

An amiable entry in the long-running Dr Kildare / Dr Gillespie series.

Dr Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) has cancer and it is getting worse, he is also putting himself under terrific strain while searching for a treatment for pneumonia. His assistant Dr Kildare (Lew Ayres) concocts a scheme to force Gillespie to take a rest. Meanwhile, he takes on a case of a young woman (Helen Gilbert) who has gone blind even though there appears to be nothing physically wrong with her. 

Meanwhile, Kildare's father (Samuel S Hinds) might have something seriously wrong with him...

This is a fine little film, well structured and well made. Various plot lines neatly intertwine. The Gillespie / Kildare double-act works very well.

The Dead One (1961)

One of the earliest zombie movies in colour, quite terrible though reasonably interesting.

John (John McKay) and his new bride Linda (Linda Ormond) head up to the house in Louisiana which John has inherited. His cousin Monica (Monica Davis) already lives there and isn't that happy about John's arrival. She is into the voodoo cult which John dismisses as superstition in his typical bossy 1960s male way. 

At night Monica summons her recently deceased brother Jonas (Clyde Kelly) from the grave as a zombie (in a tuxedo). She sends him to kill Linda though he gets confused and kills a woman who was also staying in the house (Darlene Myrick) instead. John is still dismissive though soon realises the voodoo power is real...

A short movie though takes such an incredible amount of time to get going that it feels much longer. Not a terribly exciting story though an interesting example of a US indie film. One of the first two zombie films in colour, the other being Dr Blood's Coffin.

Doomsday Machine (1976)

A curious low-budget science fiction movie that looks like it was finished by different people than who started it, and funnily enough...

NASA is preparing for a mission to Venus, however a mysterious Chinese super weapon has spooked the rest of the world. NASA pushes the launch earlier and replaces three of the male crew with three women. As the rocket makes it's somewhat unsteady trip into space the reason for the change becomes evident. The Earth is about to be destroyed and the six crew of the mission are to head to Venus not to explore but to rebuild the human race...

But the mission runs into trouble including one crewman becoming a sex maniac and ultimately being accidentally ejected out of the airlock, various radiation dangers and mild late 1960s sexism. The film has a strange and bleak ending which kind of makes the entire film rather meaningless. It stars Bobby Van, Ruta Lee, Mala Powers and Henry Wilcoxon who do their best with the mediocre dialogue and often meaningless and lifeless scenes.

The film was started in the late 1960s but left unfinished, finally in the mid-1970s it was picked up and finished by another crew. The final scenes employ different actors to before which adds to the confusion. Its not great but unintentionally hilarious, there are some interesting ideas but rather lost in the poor execution. Ropey special effects add to the cheese.