Clip of The Week: The 10 Greatest Sounds From Star Wars

Greetings Groovy Ghoulies!

The vault kinda stuck last night but I was finally able to pry it open this movie and this is what tumbled out. Hope you enjoy and don't forget about The Brood and Gigantis The Fire Monster at the drive-in!

Watch the skies!

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Previews: The Brood and Gigantis The Fire Monster

I'm looking forward to this weekend's features. The first one I haven't seen and the second I'm looking forward to watching again.

1979 saw the release of "The Brood". It stars Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, and Art Hindle. I guess she gives birth to some mutant kids and they act of her negative thoughts. They share a psychic bond. And it all sounds creepy! Sounds like it should be a good one. Here's the trailer...



Gigantis The Fire Monster is the American names for Godzilla Raids Again. This is considered the second in the Godzilla series and came out in 1955. Godzilla dukes it out with Anguirus is his first monster on monster tussle! The original plans were were to take all the monster footage and throw out out all of the Japanese actors and make a new movie called The Volcano Monsters. This didn't happen and the American suits decided to change the name to Gigantis to fool the audience into thinking they were seeing a new monster. We knew better....silly corporate movie people! Here's a short collection of trailers for the movie:

This Weekend's (5/9) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Greetings Ghoulies! Hope you were able to get out and enjoy the nice weather this past weekend! I did and had time to sink my teeth into our vampire features. Really enjoyed Near Dark and Dracula vs. Frankenstein was fun but tough to watch poor Lon Cheney.

Judging from the posters to my right here, they went crazy with the red! Two more great features for the weekend!

First up Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar fend off "The Brood"! When Samantha gives birth to mutated children, what secrets do they hold? Can they be stopped?

Then, rising once more from Tokyo Bay, Godzi....Urrrr...Gigantis The Fire Monster! Confused? I'll explain all tomorrow with the sneak peeks. Just know some giant monsters are tearing up Japan so it can't be that bad!

See you tomorrow! Till then, Watch the skies!

Clip of The Week: Some Days You Just Can't Rid of A Bomb...

Our clip of the week comes from The Batman movie from 1966 and features Adam West as Batman trying to get rid of a bomb. Great fun from an awesome show and movie!



Se you tomorrow night for this week's Creature Double Feature!

This week's previews!

It's a double dose of trailer goodness this evening! The weather is calling some rain this weekend. It should make some gloomy, atmospheric viewing for our bloodsuckers out there!

First, we have Near Dark. This came out in October 1987 and didn't seem to generate much buzz. Maybe The Lost Boys came out around the same time, and stole some thunder from it. Will have to check the dates on that! Anyone? This is a smart vampire film as I believe they never actually mention the word vampire. It stars Adrian Pasdar and also features early appearances on film by Bill Paxton and Iggy Pop! It's become a cult hit over the years, and I love me the cult classics! Here's the trailer...



From there, we will shifting to a movie I know hardly anything about, 1971's Dracula vs. Frankenstein. It's a low budget Grindhouse-like film. For those that are unfamiliar with the term; In the 70's there were a lot of movie houses that ran all night low budget horror movie marathons. They usually had some nudity and lots of gore. And they called these houses Grindhouses because they "grinded" out the films one after another. They always seemed to be in the seedier parts of town and god knows what went on there! Anyway, this featured Lon Cheney Jr. in his last role, as his addiction to alcohol had pretty much ran it's course by then. I was curious in this flick as it was on the list of films that originally ran on Creature Double Feature. My mind doesn't recall it but we'll see if it sparks anything when viewed...



I love the tone of this week's Creature Double Feature. I hope to see you there! Until then, watch the skies!

This Weekend's (5/2) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Greetings Groovy Ghoulies! A day late and a dollar short but "fangs" for staying around! The drive-in is featuring two doozies this weekend! Texas Chainsaw and Horror of Dracula were great and I hope you will enjoy these two too! We will be celebrating MORE vampires in different flicks.

First, Adrian Pasdar of Heroes fame is bitten by a pretty drifter and soon finds himself caught up among them! Can he break the curse before him? Find out in Near Dark!

Pure Grindhouse and monster battle royal fun after that! A descendant of Dr. Frankenstein hopes to revive the monster in 1971! The good count Dracula arrives and the body count soars! Could anything contain these two titans? Have you seen the movie poster above? Dracula vs. Frankenstein is placing bets now!

Check back for the previews tomorrow! Until then, watch the skies!

Clip of The Week: Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi

Happy Friday Groovy Ghoulies!

The sun is shining and it looks like it's going to be a great weekend in upstate NY. I opened up the vault to see what they had for the clip of the week, and this is what popped out! Tim Burton made a movie about the life of B Movie director Ed Wood. It starred Johnny Depp and Martin Landau.

Here's a clip from the movie where Bela is supposed to fight a mechanical octopus while filming Bride of The Monster. Things don't go exactly as planned. Enjoy the scene and I hope to see you all for Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Horror of Dracula tomorrow!

Previews: Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Horror of Dracula

Double the previews tonight as we get ever closer to what's shaping up to be a great weekend!

Our first feature, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was one of those films I waited until I was a teenager to discover. I remember going to Karner Video and Hippo's, of all places, to rent movies and always being drawn to the Horror section. Anyway, there was this movie explosion for me and I was introduced to many of the great '70s and '80s slasher films. And I would like to think if Creature Double Feature had lasted the test of time of the cable expansion, we might have seen these kinds of films make their way into the rotation with the likes of our second feature.

Tobe Hopper made this low budget great in 1974. I don't think he realized he would spawn a franchise that has enjoyed recent success with rebooted remake and prequel. It's based loosely on serial killer Ed Gaines and at times unsettling. It grossed almost $31 million and and has become one of the most influential horror films of our time. Here's the trailer...



From there, we return to the familiar hallowed Hammer Films ground. I hope you can tell I am a huge fan of these films and this is one of my absolute favorites! Anytime Christopher Lee is donning the fangs, it's a good day. But, "The Horror of Dracula" was the first one to pit Peter Cushing against his good friend. Hammer was still breaking ground with their horror films, and this followed up "Curse of Frankenstein" in fact playing as a double feature in some spots. The colors in this film are great. And I just love the atmosphere of these films. Here's a great trailer...



It's going to be a great weekend to hit the drive-in and I hope to see you there! Bring your raincoat as the blood will be flowing freely!

This Weekend's (4/25) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Greeting Groovy Ghoulies! The films for this week's drive-in have just landed in my lap and it promises to be a bloody good time!

We're going to be headed to the great state of Texas for our first feature and check it with our favorite family of cannibals. Can you survive a night in their house? Will you be able to get away from Leatherface and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

From there, we journey to far away Transylvania and watch one of my favorite Hammer classics. Peter Cushing stars as Dr. Van Helsing and Christopher Lee appears as Count Dracula for the first time as The Horror of Dracula is unleashed on the world! Hope to see you this weekend at the Creature Double Feature Drive-In!

Jason and Werewolf reviews

Greeting Ghoulies!

It's nice to have a few minutes to talk about last week's movies before I start spooling up this week's horror hi jinks!

Jason and The Argonauts was decent. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I was more of a Clash of The Titans kid but I enjoyed Ray Harryhausen's special effects. I did love Telos the guardian of the tomb and the creaking metal noises he made will stick with me for awhile.

Werewolf of London has been often compared to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and I can see that comparison. This was like no other werewolf movie I had seen before. The werewolf seemed to keep his intelligence and voice. It seems not until Lon Cheney Jr. did the bar get set for future werewolves. Great film though, not the bomb it was in it's day!

Going to go see what is in store for us this week, I think some more blood will be in order! Till then, Watch the skies!

Clip of The Week: I'm Your Boogeyman

Welcome to a new feature here at the drive-in, Groovy Ghoulies!
Fridays will bring the clip of the week from the great big vault known as Youtube! This week, we're featuring some music from my second favorite shock rocker, Rob Zombie! Here's his cover of KC and The Sunshine Band's, "I'm Your Boogeyman!"

See you at the drive-in tomorrow night, and remeber to watch the skies!

Preview: Werewolf of London

When people think of the Wolf Man, most people think of the legendary look of Lon Chenay Jr in the Universal Classic. But, years before that Henry Hull wore the fur in Werewolf of London, also from Universal.

This will be my first viewing of this film. Growing up in various monster magazines and books, I had seen black and white stills of the werewolf in this film, it will be nice to finally see it on the big screen.

This was the first mainstream Hollywood production of a werewolf film and also considered a flop at the time. Here's the trailer! See you at the drive-in!

Preview: Jason and The Argonauts

I'm a big fan of stop-motion animation and Jason and The Argonauts is full of great stuff by Ray Harryhausen. Jason came out in 1963 and told the tale of the Greek hero taking the almost impossible task of hunting down the golden fleece and gaining revenge against Pelias, who killed his mother.

It's a great fantasy film that that should make for a great showing this week. I'll look forward to watching this with you this Saturday.

Here's the trailer that was remade still cool nonetheless...

An Apology

Well Hello Groovy Ghoulies!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks here at the drive-in and I haven't been able to get here as much as possible. With a business trip and Easter, it was tough to give myself the time to watch the features.

So, I am giving 150% to the drive-in and getting things back on track! I didn't get a chance to watch this past weekend's features so Tune in tomorrow for a preview of Jason and The Argonauts and Thursday a preview of Werewolf of London. On Friday, we'll start the weekend off with a brand new feature but more about that when the time comes!

Hang in there Ghoulies, this train went off course a touch but we're back on track now!

It's Alive!

Yes, my Groovy Ghoulies! I am back among the undead!!! I spent a long bunch of days out of town on business. and I have missed the drive-in so! I am back and ready to bring more great monster, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy flicks your way!

I hope you are still out there and able to come to the drive-in this weekend as we are showing two classics!

First up, Jason and The Argonauts set sail for adventure and great mystery!!

After that, we face the Werewolf of London. I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into these features, and catch up on some other reviews I owe you all! Check back hopefully tomorrow for the trailers to these fine features, and I hope there are some of you still out there to enjoy them!

The Legend of The 7 Golden Vampires

Greetings Groovy Ghoulies!

I wasn't sure if this weekend's first feature was going to make it on the air this week!I had seen the DVD of this last week at one of the book chains here in the area (not my favorite one, I'm more of a Barnes and Noble guy!). I knew I wasn't going to get paid for another week. So, I asked the young zombie-ish girl if she would hold it for me. She told me they only hold them for 24 hours. Shite!

So, I put it back on the shelf and waited. Yesterday morning, I went onto this chain's website and they have a thing where you ask the store to hold something for you. I found the DVD and entered my request. A few hours later, I received an email telling me they were out of this product. Well, tonight for the heck of it, I decided to take a ride over there, and sure enough on the shelf....The Legend of The 7 Golden Vampires. So, the drive-in will go on...I'm going to start having to come up with back-up plans!

Anyway, this is going to be my first viewing of this classic. And at the time this was made, Hammer Films was in trouble. It was 1974, and the horror from Hammer had it's day some ten or so years before. Peter Cushing played Professor Van Helsing for one of the last times, and John Forbes-Robertson was playing the role of Count Dracula after Christopher Lee had stated he would never play the role again. He had said the material had gotten too far away from Bram Stoker's original novel.

I think this was one of only two movies produced by Hammer that year, along with another movie also shot in China. This mixes Horror with the Kung Fu craze that had taken the Eastern World by storm. It tells the tale of a rural village in China attacked by vampires and Van Helsing to the rescue! With today's special effects, this could be a cool sequel to Van Helsing. Anyway, here's the trailer. I am really looking forward to watching this one!

This Weekend's (4/4) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Evening Groovy Ghoulies! Tuesday has rolled around and it is actually starting to feel like spring somewhat!

The question on every one's minds is "Where will the drive-in take on this weekend?" Well, pack your bags, CDF is taking a couple of trips!

First, we head to China with Peter Cushing. His Van Helsing is called in to stop a rural village being overran with vampires in Hammer Film's "The Legend of The 7 Golden Vampires."

After that, we head to the great white north for some Canadian horror, with Jamie Lee Curtis. The Sigma Phi Fraternity is throwing a costume party for New Year's Eve and everyone is dying to go, literally! Punch your ticket for a ride along the "Terror Train!"

I have to go start packing! Be back tomorrow for a preview of our first feature!

Black Lagoon and Phantom Menace reviews

Ahhhh, Spring has sprung, Groovie Ghoulies!

And what better way to celebrate then with two Creature Double Features?

Creature From The Black Lagoon is such a fun ride. After old hand bones are discovered in the Amazon, a group goes to try and find some more fossils to find out what and how old the stange claw actually is. They find more then the bargained for in the Creature! The underwater photography is great for it's time. The creature suit works perfectly. I think this is one of the better entries in the Universal horror library. And who can really blame the Creature just wanted a little love? I always root for the monster in these. By the way, my wife watched this with me and her favorite line comes from the main hero talking to his boss. "Ohh Carl, get out of my way!" It's just the way the scene goes. It's pretty funny!

On to The Phantom Menace. I could go on for days about Star Wars! And I have always had a love hate relationship with The Phantom Menace. I love Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. I think Darth Maul rocks. I think Senator/Chancellor Palpatine is one of the best villians this century. Natalie Portman is a cutie. I'm not a huge fan of Jar Jar Binks and the kid who played Anakin in this film. I know what George was trying to get across that this was just a kid with a good heart, and he ends up with a bum rap. I actually enjoyed it more this time as I had in the past. It's been awhile since I've seen it, and I thought it was better then I remember. The franchise really gets rolling for me with Episode 2. But that is an episode for another week.

That's all for now. See you here tomorrow when we see what will be landing in our laps this week. May want to get some garlic, and start sharpening some stakes from what I hear. Till then, watch the skies!

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

A young kid went to the long departed fox theater and Cine 1-8 in Albany, NY and was introduced to a world of smuggles, Jedi, wookies, lightsabers, princesses and more! The double moon of Tatooine brought a new hope and much more!

I LOVE Star Wars! I am one of it's biggest fans and waited a long time for the saga to become complete. When George Lucas announced plans for the prequel saga, I was just floored! Finally, we would learn how Anikin Skywalker turned to the dark side. And so will you tonight!

Our second feature is Episode 1 in the whole Star Wars saga, and many fans are devided on whether they like this episode or not. Which side do I fall on? Check back tomorrow for my review and find out.

Here's the trailer...

Creature From The Black Lagoon

The Creature from the Black Lagoon was a 1954 Universal Film. It is considered part of the universal monster series along with Drac, The Frankenstein Monster, Wolf Man, Mummy, and Invisible Man. I always found that odd as he appeared later then the original lot.

I think it is a great drive-in flick and a nice way to get Spring time rolling.

Richard Carlson and Julie Adams star in this Jack Arnold directed feature. They head off to the Amazon and soon plagued by the creature who I think wants Julie Adams to be his mate!

It was originally filmed and released in 3D and I have noticed that is starting to wake a comeback.

It must have done well and 2 sequels were commissioned after the fact. Here's the trailer...

This Weekend's (3/28) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Ahhh, it's good to be back on Earth, Groovy Ghoulies! After being abducted by aliens at the beginning of last week's drive-in run, it's good to rev the old machine back up for another run!

Did get a chance to run Haunted Hill and Son of Kong, and I promise to get those reviews up. Those pesky aliens and all their tests kept me away!

This week we "dip" into the past for The Creature of The Black Lagoon. A classic from the old days. Considered one of the Universal Monsters, this one should be a fun time! Can they track this stange creature down?

After that, I always wondered what of today's movies might translate well with the old creature double feature format. We've seen Jaws, The Thing, and Fog get their moment in the sun. And now we switch to some of my favorite movies, The Star Wars Saga! And as the poster reads, "Every saga has a beginning..." Join Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kanobi, and Princess Amedila as they journey to Tatooine and beyond as they meet young Anikan Skywalker and discover that The Sith live again.

Bring lots of popcorn and some scuba gear, and I'll see you this weekend! More on these features as the week goes on. The weather is getting nicer, so watch the skies!

House on Haunted Hill

Greeting Groovy Ghoulies! Spring feels like it's coming and it will be time to start creeping around the moonlight again. But, there's still time to enjoy some movies at the drive-in.

Our first feature I am ashamed to say I saw the remake before the original. Once I saw the original, I fell in love with it. Vincent Price and Director William Castle are a great match!

William Castle brought a whole new esperience to theaters, rigging them with electic buzzers, hiring people to run through as ghosts; and for this movie, hooking up a pully system to shoot a plastic skeleton out over the crowd! I can only imagine how much fun that must have been.

This made the film a huge success and even inspired Alfred Hitchcock to create Psycho when he saw how well this low-budget film was doing. I can't promise no skeletons on Saturday night but I can promise lots of thrills and chills with The House on Haunted Hill!!

This Weekend's (3/21) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Welcome Groovy Ghoulies and Happy St. Patrick's Day! As luck would have it, two more features will be playing at the drive-in this weekend. And I'm not sure if luck will in line for the cast of our first feature!

Vincent Price plays millionaire Frederick Loren. He has invited five people to his house to spend a haunted night, and whomever survives the night receives $10,00 dollars! A William Castle Classic called "The House on Haunted Hill"!

After that, return to Skull Island! Filmmaker Carl Denham, played by Robert Armstrong, goes in search of treasures and finds the "Son of Kong." Will he be anything like his famouse father?

Thills and Chills at the drive-in this weekend! Should be great! I'll be back here tomorror to drive up to Haunted Hill. Watch the skies, Ghoulies!

Tarantula and Godzilla reviews

Greetings Groovy Ghoulies!

What a weekend for giant monsters! Still trying to wash the radiation off! Oh well, what's the worst that could happen?

Tarantula was alot of fun to watch again. The movie slowly builds to this giant Spider tearing up a house and attempting to wreck havok on the town. It stars John Agar and I am beginning to think he starred in every monster movie from the 40s and 50s. I'm sure he'll be showing up again. He always looks like he's having fun but not over acting it. The special effects for this are cool, as they used a real spider for most of the scenes. They grew it to epic proportions, and they blend it well into the sets. And yes, Leo G. Carroll's transpormation still scares me. I want to give special thanks to David for pointing out young Clint Eastwood as the fighter pilot towards the end. He does what Clint does best, kick ass! If you like giant monsters, check it out!

We journeyed to Tokyo to check in on Godzilla, King of The Monsters for the 2nd feature. This movie seems like it was made with such care. It almost seems like a smart monster movie or Kaiju as the Japanese call these movies. I think these use a blend of man in suit, stop animation, and puppetry to make Godzilla come alive. I love the shots of him rising out of Tokyo bay. I wonder if they knew what they were starting? Godzilla has always been my favorite and I also hoped he would be one of the features every weekend. I do feel sorry for Big G at the end when the oxygen destroyer is released. A sad end to the first adventure. Was I the only one rooting for him? Nah, couldn't have been.

The government is coming to spray down the drive-in now, but we'll be back tomorrow with two new features. Till then, watch the skies!

Godzilla, King of The Monsters!

No giant monster made a bigger impact on my childhood growing up then the big G himself, Godzilla. I love all of the toho classics, and this was the one that started it all.

Growing up, I had no clue that Raymond Burr was added to Godzilla for the American Release. I just thought it was cool having a big giant lizard tearing up Tokyo. This may not be my favorite entry in the film series, something like 28 movies now, but it keeps moving throughout.

I'll tell you more about my Godzilla love in my review. So, here's the trailer and I'll save you a spot up near the screen Saturday Night. Till then, watch the skies!

Tarantula

The movie poster read, "Giant Spider Strikes! Crawling Terror Over 100 Feet High!"

That's enough to tell me to get out of dodge! In 1955, Universal unleased "Tarantula" on the world. And I always looked forward to watching this one when I was a kid. This film had some scary parts in to me, and they didn't involve the spider! Leo G. Carroll plays the professor who unwillingly unleashes the monster upon the world. Don't we always blame the man of science for these atrocities against man? Will they ever learn? Anyway...got sidetracked! Carroll begins to transform in the movie, and I thought he got scarier looking as the movie went on!

So, here's the trailer for the first of many eight-legged freaks! See you tomorrow!

This Weekend's (3/14) Creature Double Feature Drive-In movies!

Good evening my Groovy Ghoulies! It seems the atomic bomb testing area we built the old drive-in on has awakened strange creatures for this weekened's features.

This is a true Creature Double Feature going back to the days I remember watching on Saturday afternoons. This one will be a real treat.

First up, Leo G. Carroll and John Agar will face atomic experiments gone wrong when "Tarantula" takes to the hills!

And then, from the seas off the coast of Japan, Raymond Burr will report on the arrival of "Godzilla, King of The Monsters!"

I owe so much of my love for giant monsters to these two films, especially the second. So, go find a radiation suit, and I'll warm up the projector and see you all Saturday night for these Creature Double Features! Till tomorrow, watch the skies!

Creature TRIPLE Feature reviews

Welcome in, Groovy Ghoulies!

I hope your weekend has been a good one! The weather was great yesterday, and it was nice to breath in some fresh Spring air! I know it's not Spring yet, but close enough!

So the first dusk till dawn festival happened yesterday, and I really enjoyed two of the three movies featured.

House of Wax was a lot of fun! I did not watch in the 3D as it originally filmed, but I snickered at their obvious attempts to wow with a new technology from that time. Vincent Price was great. He treats his wax figures as real people, until he is betrayed and his musuem is burned to the ground! A revenge and scarred Price returns with a new musuem and real people as his subjects! I remember bits and pieces of this from when I was a kid, and it's fun watching Price sink into madness. You wonder if he was all there to even begin with. The make-up for the scarred Vincent was good, and the ending will make your blood boil!

Next up was Die Monster Die! This one eluded me as whether I had seen it or not, as it was shown on the original Creature Double Feature. Towards the end, there was a vague familiarity to it. I have grown to love anything with Boris Karloff in it. He was just a great actor. This deals with another family's descent into madness after a meteorite lands in their yard. Nick Adams was good, and it was sad to think in a few short years he would be gone from an accidental overdose. The way this movie was filmed, the exterior shots had a lot of fog. It actuallt felt damp and cold watching it. Best of all, it was shot at Oakley Court. Not far from Hammer Studios and also where much of The Rocky Horror Show was filmed. Can't hide the staircase!

The last feature was ok. The Dunwich Horror didn't jump out at me. Dean Stockwell was disturbing and Sandra Dee was lovely. It just didn't do too much for me. I think the hipple/jumgle people in he fever dreams were too much of a distraction and I would have maybe cut them out.

It has awakened some curiosity in H.P. Lovecraft's writing. So, some good came from it. I will be checking out Barnes and Noble to see what kind of collected works there are.

So, there's the results of the first Creature TRIPLE Feature at the drive-in. I hope you get a chance to see these, as well. Time to go see what will be cooking for this coming weekend's features. I'm guessing we should watch out for atomic bathed terrors this week. Till next time Ghoulies, watch the skies!

3rd Feature: The Dunwich Horror

Tonight's third and final feature is another H.P. Lovecraft base story and stars Dean Stockwell. I haven't seen this one before so I looking forward to it. Here's the trailer, and I hope to see you all at the Drive-in tonight! I'll have my reviews tomorrow.

2nd Feature: Die Monster Die!

Welcome back in Groovy Ghoulies!

Our 2nd feature this week is the first of two H.P. Lovecraft inspired flicks. Lovecraft was an author from the early 20th century that has truely works of horror. "Die Monster Die!" was released in 1965 and stars two of my favorite genre actors, Boris Karloff and Nick Adams. Boris, as you know played the Frankenstein Monster, as well as many other roles during his long illustrated career.

Nick Adams was an american actor who headed over to Toho land, and was featured in Monster Zero and Frankenstein Conquers The World. Wow, what a double feature that would make!

I don't know much more about this feature other than it features mutated plant life and a shiny Boris Karloff. Let's take a look at the trailer!



Looks like fun! See you at the drive-in!

First Feature: House of Wax

I have always been a fan of Vincent Price. From my introduction to him in The Fly to the Last Man on Earth, the voice on Alice Cooper's "Black Widow", to his turn as edward Scissorhands creator. It feels like he was always around growing up a monster kid. Maybe that weird uncle that you never see, you only hear about....

Anyway, I present him in the House of Wax ths Saturday. Here's the trailer. I love how they really tease you throughout the whole thing.



See you tomorrow with the first of our two H.P. Lovecraft features!

This Weekend's (3/7) Creature TRIPLE Feature Drive-In Movies!

Good Evening Groovy Ghoulies! Back in the '50s and '60s, drive-in theaters stumbled upon a way to make some more money! And they introduced the "dusk till dawn marathons." Usually, this meant an extra movie or two, and a chance to sell more hot dogs or popcorn in the concession stand. I'm sure for many fans it was chance to see Godzilla, Count Dracula, and invading martians all in one night.

By the time I was going to the drive-in's back in the '70s, these things were a thing of the past, and I never got to enjoy an all night monsterfest at the drive-in. So, We're going to keep the drive-in open a little longer this week to present three creature features!

In our first feature, Vincent Price plays wax sculpter done wrong Professor Henry Jarrod in "House of Wax!" What lengths will he go to get his revenge? After a brief intermission, we'll be heading into H.P. Lovecraft territory for our second two features. Boris Karloff will take a turn in the mad scientist role in "Die Monster Die!" And finally Dean Stockwell will star as the son of satan looking for a devilish bride in "The Dunwich Horror!"

Come early, stay late! The Creature TRIPLE feature drive-in brings new terror this weekend!

Double Frankenstein Weekend

Hello there groovie ghoulies!

Sat at the drive-in last night with a double helping of Frankenstein monster from Universal and Hammer, It was a fun ride.

I started out with Frankenstein meets the Wolfman. Lon Chenay Jr. really is a master at the tormented soul of poor Larry Talbot. He justs wants to be rid of his curse, and he is not having any luck. He stumbles across Victor Frankenstein's creation and hopes the notes of the Frankenstein family can help him end it all.

I thought Bela Lugosi did well with what the director allowed us to see of his performance. From what I understand, for whatever reason, all of the monster's dialouge was cut. But, the monster doesn't talk you ask? Apparently, Ygor who was played by Bela in the previous Frankenstein film had his brain transferred into the monster. They have been much said about Bela's performances over the years, and it has been a mixed bag. He was 60 when he played the monster here.

I was disappointed after doing some investigating for this movie that much of Bela's performance was replaced with two stunt men. So, we are left with some close ups and light work by Bela. I guess I was hoping for more from him, but I understand his health was detoriating at this point. It felt very much like a Wolfman movie with the monster as a plot device. This would be the role for the Frankenstein monster in the next two Universal entries, House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula too.

I enjoyed the last half of the film when the two monsters throw down in the laboratory a real lot. There is this one scene where Lon is perched atop some machinary and ready to pounce down, and I swear, he really looks like a wolf waiting to attack! Cool stuff, I look forward to more from the Universal Monster collection as the months go by.

Hammer's entry, The Curse of Frankenstein showcased a monster of a different kind. In this film, Peter Cushing portrayed Baron Victor Frankenstein. And over the course of the movie, you see his descent into madness as he struggles to recreate life. And I think the Baron is the actual monster in this movie. He graverobs, buys black market hands and eyes, kills a professor for his brain, and even has the maid killed by his creation when he discovers she is pregnant and is threatening to expose Frankenstein.

Christopher Lee played the creature, and it was just an indication of what was to come for him. His tall, lanky frame fit the role well. He plays a very convincing, clumbsy monster not sure of how all his parts work. There is one scene where Victor and Paul are hunting the creature and it emerges from the woods, shambling towards them. It's just eerie and still creepy to this day. Love that part.

I love horror in a gothic setting. And this was Hammer's niche for about the next twenty years or so.

Well, time to close up the drive-in for now. Get lots of rest because you'll be needing it for this coming week's features. Till then, watch the skies!

This weekend's Drive-In previews

Well gang, after a bout of the stomach flu that left me feeling like a cross between Regan from The Exorcist and one of George Romero's zombies, I am back with the preview of this weekend's Frankenstein double feature.

First up, Lon Cheney Jr. and Bela Lugosi star in Universal's Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man. This was Bela's only role as the monster and Lon Cheney Jr. IS the Wolfman in my book. This was released in 1943 and it was the first of Universal's ensamble monster films. Monster gold in my book! Let's take a peek at the trailer...




25 years later, a studio out of England did what Universal had done and reinvented horror with the first of it's Hammer Horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein. It paired Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as The Monster. Hammer was awesome and I'm sure more of their features will be seen here. The Curse is set in the 1800s and has a very gothic feel of it. I loved watching these on Saturday afternoons. Here's our 2nd trailer...



So, there you go. I hope you find some time to check out these great classics! Or join me in your own drive-in tomorrow night, hope to see you there. Bring some extra money for the chili dogs.

This Weekend's (2/28) Creature Double Feature Drive-In Movies!

Hello all!
It must be Tuesday. Hope your week is off to a good start. Here's what's playing at the drive-in this weekend. We'll be paying homage to Universal and Hammer horrors with two movies featuring The Frankenstein monsters: Universal's Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman and Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein! Should be a SHOCKING good time!!

Tomorrow, check back for the trailer for out first feature. Till then, watch the skies!

From The Vaults #2: Superman Gumball Dispenser

Welcome to another edition from the vaults! This time around we're dealing a place to hold your candy! And Superman is guarding it. This thing is sweet. Apparently, you just pop the top off and pour some gumdrops in the top and just turn the knob and you have a new bite of krypton goodness each time!
Superman is the kick ass enforcer of the DC Universe and I can't think of a better person to watch over my gum. It would be like a mini candy fortress of solitude.

Of Vampires and Ghosts

Had a pretty good time at the CDF drive-in yesterday! Watched two films I have not seen before.

Dracula's Daughter was decent. I can see why the critics have been torn with this movie over the years. I couldn't figure out if it wanted to be a comedy or horror. Maybe Horedy? Is that even a word?

It literally picks up minutes after Edward Van Sloan killed Dracula at the end of the first film. We even a pretty bad looking wax (?) figure of Bela witha stake through his heart.

We soon meet Dracula's daughter and she spirits her father's body away to burn. She only wants to be free of this curse. What kind of father turns their daughter into a vampire? She tries to not be evil but she cannot escape her heritage in the end.
I love the universal era of Monsters, the golden age. This along with the Hammer horror movies shaped my love of this genre. And I will be paying homage to both again this week.

Onto the second feature, I had no idea that the Fog was a Halloween reunion. I counted at least three faces from John Carpenter's original feature. Good stuff. I loved the use of darkness and green lights in this.

I think it's much scarier when they build to you seeing what the horror is, and even then we never get a really good look at what lurks in the fog.

I've got to go looking for some John Carpenter music scores because they are so good! he must have a greatest hits album?

I'm looking forward to watching the making of this movie, as I am interested into what kind of problems they ran into filming with smoke.

So, there's this week's features. Will be looking forward to next weekend.
Before I go, just wanted to give some background onto the why of all this. When I was a kid, we got channel 55 on the weekend, and it aired Creature Double Feature. They some great monsters on there, all the classics were represented. It was a good childhood.

In my adult life, I ofton wonder what it would be like to run a drive-in and be able to share these horror movies with a new audience, and some of the same audience too. So, I guess I'm doing this to maybe put a smile on at least one other face. For someone else, to get the pleasure out of these movies that I did.

And maybe that person is out there reading right now, and will go pick up one of these movies. Ahh, maybe I'm getting too sentimental in my later 30s. If this is the extent of a midlife crisis, enjoying the films of before....not too bad.

What draws us to these movies and the love of this genre? A post for another day I think. Until the vault opens back up tomorrow, watch the skies, my friends. Watch the skies...

I'll be watching!

Getting ready for tonight's double feature. It's going to be a chilly night in upstate NY. So, bundle up before you head to the drive-in.

I'll post my reviews tomorrow, and hopefully in the coming weeks, we'll have lots more good monster stuff to talk about!

John Carpenter's The Fog

For our second feature this week, John Carpenter goodness! I have seen the remake of The Fog and thought it was pretty good. I am doing things in reverse, as I will be viewing the original for the first time.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Adrienne Barbeau, and John Carpenter. How can you go wrong?
This one came out in 1980 with Carpenter directing, writing the screenplay, and composing the music (which you can hear on the main page here). I am looking forward to it, as it always looked scary. And I love a good ghost story.
Antonio Bay is a quiet fishing town until the fog rolls in! Bring your flashlight and I will save you a seat at the drive-in!

Dracula's Daughter

The first feature at the drive-in this week, I honestly don't know much about. I know it was the 1936 follow-up to Dracula starring Bela Lugosi from 1931.Universal has started laying the groundwork for the Universal Monsters at this point. Edward Van Sloan is the only cast member to return and his playing the role of Van Helsing.The tale is bases loosely on Dracula's Guest, a short story written by original Dracula scribe, Bram Stoker.I don't think it did so well at the box office, and that may have to do with the lack of star power. At one time, Colin Clive, Ceaser Romaro, and Boris Karloff were all rumored to have roles in this film.I'm looking forward to the screening, and will be wearing a turtleneck that night.Until next time, watch the skies!

Creature Double Feature this saturday night!

It's that time again, the drive-in will be opening up this Saturday and it looks like quite the double feature.

Come back tomorrow when we'll focus on Dracula's Daughter, the first two horror classics!

From The Vaults #1: Anakin Skywalker Outland Peasant Disguise Figure

Welcome to the first edition of From The Vaults. We're featuring a kinda cool action figure from The Star Wars universe. This nifty Anakin figure doesn't come with an accordian, it's actually a force sensative canister! Apparently, when you move Anakin's hand over it, the lip opens and his weapon jumps into his hand or something.Ok, The Star Wars toys of today are pretty. cool. I'm not sure of the material they're made from. I think the faces on the older Kenner figures were better. Through I try to get any of the Skywalker family related figures when I find them.For some reason, I love the "With Force Action!" on the front of the plastic. Oh well, we'll see what I can pull out from the vaults for next week.Until next time, may the force be with you, and remember to watch the skies

The Drive-In is open!

Hello everyone!
This is going to be my little pop culture, horror, sci-fi place to hang.
Every week, two movies will be playing at the drive-in. Look for reviews and facts and other cool stuff.
Also, once a week, we'll open the vaults and see what cool toy or whatnot I can find to share. I hope you all enjoy, and comments are welcome.

More on the why as the week goes on!

Until next time, watch the skies!