The Nanny (1965)

Another Hammer favourite starring Wendy Craig and Bette Davis. The set up is simple... Young Joey is returning home after a 2 year stint in special school after the death of his younger sister. His hatred for the families Nanny played by Davis is evident for all to see, questioning her involvement in the daughters death an indeed her sanity! Due to its age the dialogue and acting can be hammy in places, but overall its an enjoyable watch with a fairly straight forward plot. Good black & white no frills thriller in my opinion.
4/10

Quatermass & The Pit (1967)

The third and final story of Quatermass by writer Nigel Kneale and directed by Roy Ward Baker. A Hammer favourite telling the story of an excavation in a London underground tube station that discovers primitive skeletal remains alongside what appears to be an unexploded World War ll missile. Scientists and the army clash as to what it actually is, with the scientists leaning more towards extra terrestrial visitors rather than German warefare. Forgiving some effects due to its age, this is still a great film. Creepy and unsettling in places, but ultimately thought provoking and totally original.
6/10

Seige Of The Dead (2010)

Pacey yet short german zombie film that focuses on a guy returning to his ex girlfriends to return her flat keys. All too quickly finding himself in the middle of a zombie apocolypse Michael sets about looking for his ex lover Gabbi who he obviously still has feelings for even though hes been given the push... With some good zombie effects and some half decent black comedy this clearly parades itself as a cut above your average zombie fare. My main problem lies with the films running time. A little short at 62 minutes, meaning your straight in on the action, but showing less time to really bond with the characters or really get to know any story as to why the zombie horde has occured. Some minor plot floors in places and fast running zombies let it down for me.... Are they infected or they dead? Make your mind up?
5/10

Elevator (2011)

Unrealistic bomb in a lift set up where a lift full of diverse characters realise someones carrying an explosive. With more floors than the tower block theyre stuck in, the plot shortfalls combined with at times a laughable dialogue doesn't help to create any real tension. If I honest I get the impression the film's trying to say something a little deeper than the simple straight forward plot. What that is... I'm not sure.
3/10

The Wicker Man (1973)

Now cult classic starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward. Written by the late Anthony Shaffer and directed by Robin Hardy on a shoe string budget. A missing girl prompts a police sergeant to investigate her whereabouts on a secluded Scottish island. However, as the locals deny her existence the deeply religious police sergeant is exposed to the islands deep and somewhat disturbing Pagan beliefs and rituals. Questioning religion, Christianity and demonstrating actual Pagan practises for the first time, this is a really interesting and original film. With a history that has seen it heavily cut, lack cinema distribution and the eventual loss of the original print its definatley shrowded in mystery. With an almost musical quality, this early british thriller/horror is definatly worth a watch.
7/10

Possession (1981)

Surrouded by a desperate and hysterical feeling of being watched and set in early 80s Berlin where the divisions of the Belin wall are a constant and significant presence, Mark returns home from a prelonged period of work to his wife Anna and son Bob. However things between them have changed as Anna has been unfaithful and Ben embarks on an agonising journey to discover who or what Annas new love is. Intensly hysterical, yet layered with horror and sometimes humour 'Possession' on the ground level documents the destruction and colaypse of a relationship. Dig deeper and it portrays the slow metamorphisis of all the characters involved and maybe our ability to create something from our desires that comforts us when were at our loneliest?? Directed by Andrzej Zulawski and with devasting performances by Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill this ranks highly as one of my favourite horrors of all time. Amazing settings, an exeptional soundtrack, beautiful camera work and thought prevoking with every watch, this once deemed 'video nasty' packs a punch of genuine intensity. Simply a must watch...
10/10

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

Been in a Wes Craven mood lately so I thought as with 'Last House On The Left' I'd dig out the classics and see how they bare up today. In the 80s this scared me to death, and again with so many films by Wes intelligently reinvented the genre for the decade. Serial child murderer Freddy Krueger sets upon haunting the children of Elm Street for the crimes of their parents. The only difference being he reaches them in their dreams, where they cant escape! Expertly played by Robert Englund and featuring a very young Johnny Depp amongst others the films still great... Maybe because it was just so original for its time, but it still has genuine scares and a nice pace that never drags. A genuine genre classic and always worth a watch.
8/10