Inseminoid (1981)

An amazing science-fiction horror. On a remote planet an archaeological team investigates the remains of a long-dead alien civilisation. Mysterious things start happening, maybe the civilisation isn't quite dead after all, especially when the deaths begin. Sandy (Judy Geeson) is also attacked but survives her attack... but is now pregnant with alien spawn after it appears like she was penetrated by a green alien phallus...

Sandy, now under the control of the aliens, begins a violent series of attacks against the other crew including Mark (Robin Clark) and Kate (Stephanie Beacham). Can the crew stop Sandy, who is also now blessed with superhuman strength as well as homicidal aggression and a taste for human flesh?

Low budget maybe, and at times the acting is as creaky as the scenery, but this is a thrilling film full of gore and alien horror. The idea of the film isn't that original but this has a few interesting twists.

The Ape (1940)

Slightly sinister but mostly ridiculous monkey business. The idea of this film (mad scientist dresses as ape to kill men to enable his forbidden human experiments) sounds terrific though in reality it is all a little too cosy to truly work.

Dr Adrian (Boris Karloff) is an unpopular MD in a small town who is well-meaning but obsessed with helping Francis (Maris Wrixon) who is crippled after polio. The doctor devises a possible cure using spinal fluid but he runs out of fluid. Meanwhile, an ape has escaped from the circus. The ape attacks the doctor but he manages to kill it.

Doctor Adrian begins to use the skin of the ape to kill bad men and drain their spinal fluid so he can continue his treatments. Another Doctor (Selmer Jackson) becomes suspicious of Adrian and his methods...

This is a strange film, the ape is so obviously a man in an unconvincing suit (in fact it was Ray "Crash" Corrigan) and there is little actual menace because of that. A fun enough film all the same.

Morocco (1930)

This early talkie is notable for being Marlene Dietrich's Hollywood debut, though the film itself is a bit slow and light on plot though certainly worth watching. We are in Colonial Morocco during the Rif War, in Mogador the French Foreign Legion has returned from the fight, in their ranks is Private Brown (Gary Cooper). Also just arriving in Mogador is the nightclub singer Amy (Dietrich) who takes a singing job in a club.

Brown and Amy spark a friendship though he rejects the chance to have a relationship with her. However, Brown's past womanising and the fact rich La Bessiere (Adolph Menjou) is pursuing Amy makes their love rather difficult... especially when Brown has to return to the war.

Visually the film looks great, especially Dietrich's iconic nightclub performances in her top hat and tails, though is light on dialogue and a bit cliched. A film to savour for what it is but a film that is quite flawed.

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Classic British sci-fi, low quality effects but high quality thrills. A British spacecraft crash lands in a field, when Professor Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) orders the craft opened they find only one of the three crewmen accounted for, the other two have vanished. The survivor, Carroon (Richard Wordsworth), is in a bad way. As Quatermass and Inspector Lomax (Jack Warner) of the Met begin their investigation, Carroon begins to mutate...

The scientists discover that Carroon has been infected by an alien organism. It makes him lethal to others who come into contact with him, which is quite a problem as he has escaped hospital and is now loose on the streets of London. Dr Briscoe (David King-Wood) discovers that the organism is due to spawn, London could soon be overrun by thousands of killer alien creatures...

The film is a bit of a slow burner but has an air of menace and alien horror over everything which slowly builds. Maybe the final monster looks a bit ridiculous but the film, by then, has earned you suspend enough disbelief. A great film.

The Devil Rides Out (1968)

A superb Satanic occult horror, one of the best films by Hammer. We are in Interwar Period England. Nicholas (Christopher Lee) and Rex (Leon Greene) are looking for their young friend Simon (Patrick Mower). To Nicholas' horror, he thinks Simon has become part of a dark coven dedicated to the Horned One led by Mocata (Charles Gray). Nicholas, who is well versed himself in the dark arts himself - though for good, manages to save Simon from being baptised into the Satanic coven.

However, Mocata is not easily stopped. He summons dark forces to try and defeat Nicholas and regain Simon and Tanith (Nike Arrighi) who is also due to be baptised in goat's blood. There follows a terrifying battle between good and evil...

A wonderful film and also notable for Christopher Lee being the good guy for a change. The film has a rare depth for horror films of the period.