Season of Horror 2: Twins of Evil (1971)

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Fall is here, and a whole slew of restored classic horror flicks are being released in October! I am looking forward to checking out The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre, The Night Stalker, The Night Strangler, and Trilogy of Terror in all their restored glory in October. Fortunately, I have plenty of other horror movies on hand to watch while I wait.

It is only fitting to kick off this year's Season of Horror with Twins of Evil, another movie I remember watching late one Saturday night on Creature Features with Bob Wilkins when I was young, though mostly what I remember about this movie was being shocked that some nudity was allowed to be shown on TV. It wouldn't be Hammer Horror if bosoms weren't busting out of bodices, but in the 70s, they came all the way out.

The aristocracy of this country is decadent. Their whole lives are devoted to sinful pleasures. The pursuit of lust. Is it any wonder that the devil comes amongst us?

Season of Horror: Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

The days are getting shorter and it's another wonderful Saturday night made for horror. I initially intended to make this a TV time portal night and watch Burn, Witch, Burn, as Bob Wilkins was showing this on Creature Features this night back in 1966, but I really wanted to see this film I recently acquired, Let's Scare Jessica to Death. It's a film I had heard of, but never seen, and comes recommended by Brother John, who usually does not steer me wrong. Of course, he did also recommend The Monster of Piedras Blancas. Here's a word from Bob Wilkins before we begin.

A woman is in a boat on a lake, who informs us through narration that she can't believe what happened, but has to. We see a hearse traveling on the road while somber piano music plays as the title is shown. The hearse stops at a cemetery and a woman jumps out of the back saying she'll take a minute. Two guys wait by the side of the hearse and one remarks that the farm will be great for her.

"Nightmares or dreams. Madness or sanity. I don't know which is which."

Season of Horror: El barón del terror (1962)

The problem with having way too many movies, aside from not having the time to watch them all, is that it's sometimes difficult to decide what to watch. That's not the reason for my absence, and while the Season of Horror hit a bit of a lull, it is not over yet. I'm back this evening with something completely different.

On this day in 1966, Bob Wilkins was showing Invasion of the Saucer Men and Return of the Fly. I am watching neither tonight, but would like to think tonight's selection would fit in well on Creature Features. I hesitated before picking up El barón del terror aka The Brainiac. The plot sounds utterly ridiculous, but the reviews I read about it were so enthusiastic, I was convinced I should watch it. Producer and star, Abel Salazar, who played Enrique in El Vampiro, is tonight's brain sucking Barón, so it can't be all bad. I am watching the Spanish version with English subtitles tonight from CasaNegra Entertainment. An English dubbed version is also available on a separate audio track if you have a disdain for reading subtitles.

The opening titles are shown over bizarre images recycled from the opening of El espejo de la bruja, which also shares director Chano Urueta. The action begins with the handsome Barón Vitelius Destera being tried by the Inquisition in 1661 for using witchcraft, necromancy and for generally being naughty and seducing married women and maidens. He had been sentenced to torture, but as he laughed and joked his way through it, the inquisitors decided to stop the torture and are now deciding what they should do with him.

"I want to love you and adore you above all else. But I can't. My hatred is stronger than my love."

Season of Horror: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

It is said that horror films help us to purge our negative emotions, which leads me to revisit Rosemary's Baby tonight, because I recently found myself repeatedly saying some of the same words Rosemary says in the movie. It's also a really great film and always fun to watch.

Since it's Saturday night, when I like to remember my favorite horror host, Bob Wilkins, here's an interview he did with Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) that is completely unrelated to tonight's film, but who cares because it's awesome.

Who would have imagined that a simple La la la song could be so haunting. A few things I've noticed that I hadn't noticed from viewing in the past is that our camera man, William Fraker, from Outer Limits and Incubus (among many other great films) is Director of Photography on this movie. I was also surprised to note that it's produced by William Castle. I already was aware that Roman Polanski wrote and directed.

 "This is no dream. This is really happening!"

Season of Horror: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Halloween is in the air and Saturday night is the perfect night for watching a Creature Features favorite movie, Night of the Living Dead. If you're a fan, you'll be happy to hear it's getting a 4k restoration. This movie terrified me when I was younger, and I think it may still terrify me. I found a list of dates it was shown on Creature Features over at BLOG WILKINS, but I honestly can't remember which of those dates I might have first seen it. It's been quite a few years since I've last watched this movie and I have a feeling I will be highly attuned to all the bumps and creaks and noises in the night tonight. I am watching the Special Collector's Edition released in 1997 from Elite Entertainment and I'm going to live blog it. Before we begin, let's take a moment to remember and honor Bob Wilkins.

This release begins with the opening from the horrible unrestored version that was available up until this version was released, and what a difference to clearly see the details. Here's the difference between seeing it when I was a kid and seeing it as an adult.

Season of Horror: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I like to hear the Creature Features opening theme before delving into something truly scary on a Saturday night. It brings back fond memories. It's a stormy night with rain and gusty winds and after seeing Carnival of Souls tonight, I will not want to look out the window for fear I might see the ghoul from tonight's movie. This is the first time I'm seeing this film on Blu-Ray. This version is not the extended director's cut, but the deleted scenes are available in the supplements.

"Have you no respect? Do you feel no reverence? I feel sorry for you and your lack of soul."

Season of Horror: Lemora, the Lady Dracula (1973)

Time to pay homage once again to Bob Wilkins with a frightening film known as Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural. When I first saw this movie in the 1970s on Creature Features, it was called Lemora, the Lady Dracula, and it disturbed me so greatly that I never forgot it. It wasn't until 2010 that I found it on DVD and was able to see it again. It's been a few years since I've last seen it, but I expect it will still creep me out. This movie is a brightly colored fairy tale nightmare.

"Is fun evil? The real sin is for a girl to deny herself life and joy."

Season of Horror: Black Sunday (1960)

Saturday night has always held a special place in my heart for horror because of the nostalgia I have for Bob Wilkins and Creature Features. Tonight I am honoring the many scary Saturday nights of my youth by watching Mario Bava's Black Sunday.

Horror movies with witches have always been the most frightening to me. There just aren't enough really good witch movies, but this is one of the best. It is visually striking, with beautiful use of light and shadow, and uses music and sound effectively to set the mood. I love it more each time I watch it.

"You will be dead to man, 

but you will be alive in death."