I think “Horror In The Heights” was the best episode from the short lived “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” TV series. I have discussed Kolchak in prior posts but I watched this particular episode again recently. It was scripted by Hammer films vet, Jimmy Sangster, whose screenwriting credits included Hammer’s “Curse of Frankenstein” and “Horror of Dracula”. Very good credentials, indeed. A series of ghastly murders are occurring in a neighborhood primarily populated by the elderly. What worse is that the bodies show the signs of being partially devoured! Our fearless reporter, Kolchak, begins to sense that the killings are far [More]
This may be one of those creepy tales that is best not to watch alone in the dark. Was that movement in the darkened room? What was that creak on the front porch I thought I heard just now? LOL! You know what I mean. Travis Walton is a logger who is out at night with his friends and co-workers when they encounter a brilliant light in the sky. The group heads toward a better vantage point to investigate. Travis is a little too exuberant with his curiosity and jumps off the truck and runs to a spot directly under [More]
Probably my all time favorite movie. This trailer is interesting in that it has the crude egg model and the tracking shot of the alien planet surface which are unique to the trailer and do not appear in the theatrical release. Hugely influential film.
The Americans’ air defense system blows a gasket and a group of six bomb carrying jets is instructed to drop their payloads on Moscow. It is all a computer mistake but one that the US cannot put a stop to. The President’s solution to appease the Russians is far fetched and more than a bit absurd. Suspenseful and tense though the majority of the film making may be, I can’t buy the ending.
My favorite song from Porcupine Tree, a rock outfit led by Steve Wilson. A sad, harrowing tale of a boy who grew up with “wiring loose inside (his) head” and who matures into, probably, a full blown serial killer candidate. Pretty unpleasant as you listen to the lyrics reflecting the main character’s reasoning that his acts are merely displays of love or romance toward his intended victims. He seems to know something is terribly wrong with him but it is probably too late to do anything about it. Haunting stuff. Crunching, power chords alternate with more gently strummed guitar passages. Steve [More]
Night Ranger was a band that made it big in the formative days of MTV. Apparently, a film school friend recorded their music video and it was given heavy air play on the fledgling music video network. With a limited amount of content to air, Night Ranger’s “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” received heavy play on the network. The public took note and music video stars were born. A succession of pop metal hits was the spawn. “When You Close Your Eyes” follows the Night Ranger formula and features the band members exhibiting their thespian skills. The net results [More]
Here is an easily digestible grouping of profiles on popular progressive rock bands from England. Witness some brilliant footage of King Crimson, Genesis and those lovable space cadets, Hawkwind in concert. This video might get you to start searching in depth for more clips on these bands. I am investigating Genesis. Such theatricality! The King Crimson segments featuring the lunatic percussion playing of Jamie Muir are also most memorable.
Make no mistake about it: everything has a lifespan. What was once utilized and depended on will one day outlive its usefulness and figuratively end up on the proverbial scrapheap. The important thing is that it was all fun while it lasted! Check out the link to a slideshow which shows old derelict forms of transportation rotting in nature. http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/40-eerie-images-of-abandoned-transportation-from-around-the-world/ss-AApLbTy?ocid=spartanntp#image=40 Meanwhile, check out this video from the Explore With Us channel on YouTube as they continue their beautiful pursuit of exploring old mines, Area 51 and abandoned shacks which they scout out on Google Earth. Good stuff!
Dick Dale was known as the King of Surf Guitar. I am including this link to a story reported in Rolling Stone magazine. It tells Dale’s story better than I could: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dick-dale-surf-guitar-king-dead-obituary-809294/ I saw Dale perform at a small club a few years back. His band definitely didn’t hold back on the volume! Treble, reverb, noise showered the crowd. A beautiful thing.
Simeon Coxe was part of the musical duo known as The Silver Apples. He just passed away. I would not say I was previously a huge fan of their music. I thought their use of a DIY synthesizer beast and drummer combo were at times too repetitive and I wasn’t in love the singing. Listening now, I am liking what I hear more and more. I have borrowed the description below from Jon Pareles of The New York Times who describes the band: Silver Apples was a two-man band: Dan Taylor on drums and Mr. Coxe, billing himself simply as [More]
This is another one of those flicks I watched in my youth, 10,000 years ago, that frightened me. Watching it now, I am struck by the loveliness of some of the black and white film cinematography but bored by the dull goings on and the lumbering, costumed monster. I now remember what creeped me out all those years ago and it has to do with the beast’s predilection to behead his victims. Never pleasant in any era. So, we have a giant sea monster that walks on two legs and apparently lives in a cave near a lighthouse. The lighthouse [More]
Take a break from the calamitous state of the World at present and rejoice in the mellow yet haunting vibe of “Sundown” from the recently departed Gordon Lightfoot. He was a singer-songwriter who had many cool tunes. I saw him perform once in California during simpler times. Well, I was younger back then and the times certainly seemed better. Great song. Enjoy it!
In celebration of the November 13th birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classic “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, we look at a derivation of that work with the shake and bake Hammer picture, “Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde”. Stevenson wrote the tale about Dr. Jekyll who developed a serum that would transform himself into a more self-assured, sinister, promiscuous version of himself so that he might more easily pursue some of his “unstated vices and not deal with the shame”. Thus, Mr. Hyde was born. Hyde is variously represented as a savage, violent, night reveler. [More]
Danger Dolan is at it again with a smashing documentary on 20 of the creepiest places to visit in this strange world of ours. There are segments on Chernobyl, Winchester Mystery House, and Prague among others. I tend to observe these type of locations from afar. Safer that way. I have been to the Winchester Mystery House, though. Hehe.