Monster Bites - Zero Hour

INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER (1964)

Okay now we're really starting to push things along at full throttle, right into the kitsch zone. If the Godzilla series hadn't already become pretty silly in the 1960s with cross-over movies and storylines about monsters from outer space, then this is where it all kind of solidifies. It's cheaper and it's gaudier and in a lot of ways this is a pretty redundant film. But it's still pretty entertaining for the most part and it has a lot of fans out there. Probably because it's full of UFOs and aliens wearing sunglasses. Or maybe it's just because it includes that part where Godzilla does a victory dance.

Horror Bites - Hollow Earth

X THE UNKNOWN (1956)

While Hammer would eventually make an official third entry in the Quatermass series, it's interesting that they had ideas of their own and tried to write another instalment themselves. The idea didn't pan out of course but the story is a spiritual successor in many ways, as well as being another clear sign of their movement towards horror films. It's not concerned with threats from outer space this time, but instead another story that leans into that other 1950s movie trend - atomic energy. The results perhaps still lack the kind of pacing and impact of their later technicolour efforts but it's still pretty entertaining stuff. The film might be a little dry but it still offers some B-movie fun and occasional shock value.

Horror Bites - Mother of Sighs

SUSPIRIA (2018)

It's an odd thing to be excited to see a remake, particularly when the excitement is coming from me and the remake is a beloved classic I hold dear to my heart. Or something like that. But why mess with perfection just to use an existing name? Particularly when the original isn't a mainstream horror icon in the usual sense. Dario Argento and John Carpenter might go hand in hand in the dark corners of the world of horror cinema fans but there's a reason only one of them suffers frequent remakes. Still, the buzz was strangely positive and the details, while seeming very familiar, were being mixed with fresh ideas. At least on the outside. Under the surface things are far less interesting.

Scorecard

APRIL

FILM OF THE MONTH Finally, Sunday! ☆☆☆☆