ALIENS

1986. Directed by James Cameron

Following on from the original we meet up 57 years later with Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who has awoken from a deep hyper-sleep and is the sole survivor of the Nostromo disaster where all crew members fell victim to the ultimate killing machine. Ripley relates her tale to government officials after a salvage team rescue her. No-one believes her story of the creature discovered on the planet LV-426 especially since it has been colonised by humanity during Ripley’s slumber with no signs of trouble. Contact however is soon lost with the colony therefore the  government decide to send a group of crack warriors to the planet with Ripley as adviser. What they find is beyond their wildest dreams and from here on in the film increases in intensity.

Personally I consider this the best in a fine series and the film where Ripley really comes into her own. The sub-characters are all nicely played with Bishop (Lance Henriksen) a particular favourite. The intense action and all out destruction are quite impressive all these years on and the footage of the aliens is superb and perfectly tantalises with initial glimpses of these ferocious beasts.

A spellbinding encounter and with a running time that exceeds the 2 hour mark one will go away still wanting more and with high hopes for a follow-on movie. Prepare!

BLACK DRAGONS

1942. Directed by William Nigh

Confused? You will be for the greater part of this film. And if you don't read the blurb on the DVD case first you are really in trouble. I will try to make things easier for you.

The Nazis employ plastic surgeon Dr Melcher (Bela Lugosi) to travel to Japan and transform six members of the Black Dragon Society into six prominent American business men who will then replace the originals and try and interfere with the American war effort. After the original Americans are killed Melcher is imprisoned by the Black Dragon Society instead of being rewarded. This is to hide the secret identities but Melcher will not be stopped. He switches places with his cell mate and sets about tracking down the six Dragons and killing them all. FBI Agent Richard 'Dick' Martin (Clayton Moore) is soon on Melcher's trail who is now going under the name of Monsieur Colomb and so the tale gathers pace.

I am not convinced about this one and feel as though the plot trips up on itself and makes for a difficult watch. A slight twist at the end is tame and all in all a cheap film is had and used as a vehicle for American propaganda.

DEMENTIA 13

1963. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Whilst on a rowing boat in the middle of the night John Haloran (Peter Read) and his wife Louise (Luana Anders) argue about his mothers will whereupon John has a heart attack and dies and is duly dumped overboard by his spouse (an eerie scene is had when the camera follows John as he sinks to the bottom of the lake). Her reason for the disposal is down to the fact that if John dies before his mother Louise inherits a big fat nothing and the money will go to a mysterious charity for a young girl named 'Kathleen'. Louise wangles her way to Lady Halorans' (Eithne Dunne) castle where she meets Johns two brothers Billy (Bart Patton) and Richard (William Campbell) as well as Richards fiancée Kane (Mary Mitchel). A strange atmosphere abounds with all taking part in an annual ceremony where Lady Haloran mourns the death of her daughter Kathleen who died many years before by drowning in the local pond. Of course Lady Haloran becomes the target of manipulation by Louise thus unsteadying her nerves. Enter Dr Caleb (Patrick Magee) to add even more odd behaviour to the already unsettled mix. An unknown axe man is on the prowl too and who it is shall not be revealed until the final moments of the film - detectives beware.

A strange film with a looming atmosphere and a creepy cast all enhanced by the monochrome tones and the subtle shadow play. It is a film to digest over a few sittings and one that does leave a fair impression. With Coppola at the helm one wouldn't expect anything less.

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
 
1944. Directed by Erle C. Kenton
 
The Devil's Brood! All the Screen's Titans of Terror - Together in the Greatest of all screen sensations!   Yeah whatever!   Some tagline for a film that must rank as one of Universals greatest let downs. 
 
The imprisoned Dr Neimann (Boris Karloff) and his cellmate, the hunchbacked Daniel (J Carrol Naish) escape from prison by the most ridiculous of events.  By luck they come across a travelling carnival which they take-over and use as a disguise so the doctor can exact a revenge on the persons who sent him to jail.  By another piece of crazed coincidence it just so happens the carnival contains the actual skeleton of Count Dracula (John Carradine), complete with stake through the heart.  Neimann removes the stake, Dracula is reborn and a deal is made so as to make Neimans enemies pay.  More shenanigans and Dracula is soon out of the picture with a gypsy girl (Elana Verdugo), the wolfman (Lon Chaney) and Frankenstein’s monster (Glen Strange) eventually coming into the twisted plot. 
 
In truth the whole thing is a joke and nothing more than a money spinning rip-off that makes a mockery of all that has gone before.   The creature feature aspect attracts interest but the characters are so shallow and obviously used that Universal fans will feel nothing more than insulted.
 
Buy it for the collection and if you watch this on a regular basis I would be very surprised.