The Beatles: Helter Skelter (1968) - Song Review

The Beatles... A truly amazing band that was defining of it;s generation!

In life there are some songs that just scream some element in history... I mean you could almost say that these songs are an authority for a certain time, or situation that has made it's mark in history!

A great example of this is: Steppenwolf's, 'Magic Carpet Ride' (1968)... This song... When you see movies or what not, a lot of the time this song is playing in those movies, and could be said to be almost like, 'the theme song' to the Vietnam War (considering how often this song is associated with that war!)

Another example is: The Eurythmics, 'Sweet Dreams' (1983)... Now I doubt that a lot of people would tend to put two and two together about this one, but think about it... The look and feel of this song almost certainly encompasses the more corporate hard nose lifestyle with a lot of hidden decadence... Along with a sort of (Science Fictionish) feel that would encompass the 80s (and if you switch out the Science Fictionish and replace it with a more darker, 'horrorish', you could say that about the, '90s' as well!)

Annie Lennox as seen in the music video: 'Sweet Dreams'... A song I would say by and large captured alot of the aspects of the 80s and some in the 90s as well!

Now you might be wondering why I am mentioning this... Because this song is one of the, 'Beatles' more infamous songs... And well unfortunately, it was made infamous for completely wrong reasons... But still became one of the more famous songs that they made... This song being: 'Helter Skelter' from their 1968 album, 'The White Album'!

A great album, with some fantastic music on it!

Now before I go in to the reason why this song has become one of the more infamous songs out there... Let me say this... This song fucking rocks!

This song rocks for it's different nature... It rocks because this song is not like there usually more subtler (or in some cases, more, 'psychedelic') music... And what I mean by this, is that this song is hard rock (boarding on, 'metal' music!) After listening to this song, I could definitely see where people like, 'Metallica' and a lot of other future metal heads would get there inspiration from the work that the Beatles did!

I mean this song is just brilliant;y well made... George, Ringo Paul & John... These guys were an amazing and talented group of guys who truly were able to show their versatility... And it really showed in this album!

The Beatles doing, 'Helter Skelter' live!

Now on to the reason why this song was made more infamous then it would have been on it's own... Well to be honest with you, I hate to say it... But back in the late 60s, Charles Manson used this song as a pre-text to have his cult kill about 6 pretty famous/wealthy people... Including: Roman Polanski's wife, 'Sharon Tate' (The Fearless Vampire Killers)...

Well despite the darker aspects... This song is pretty awesome, and if you haven't checked it out yet, then do so... I think that you are going to really like it... I did, and I think you might as well!

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Friday Night Double Feature: Planet Of The Vampires/The Astro-Zombies

We are proud to announce that we are now opening a new segment every Friday with the, 'Friday Night Double Feature'! These are just a couple of Horror or Science Fiction movies that we thought that we would recommend for you Fright fans every Friday night!

And for this week we thought that we would recommend, Planet Of The Vampires (1965) and, The Astro-Zombies (1968), for more information on these movies, please check out these trailers!

Planet Of The Vampires (1965):

The Astro-Zombies (1968):

The Jimi Hendrix: Up From The Skies (1968) - Song Review

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils

I will be honest and say that for me, I was pretty blind when it came to a lot of the entertainment mediums out there before I started reviewing them... Since then my understanding of them has greatly increased... I mean I thought I knew a lot before I started reviewing (and I did, but boy was there so much more to learn!)

There is one person in particular that kind of helped to revolutionize rock 'n roll back in the 60s, some one whom I would say did a great job of embodying the spirit of what made the counter-culture movement so great!

That being, 'Jimi Hendrix'!

Jimi Hendrix doing: 'Up From The Skies' live!

Now I hate to say it, but I don't know much about his music myself... So I can't tell you rather I like his work personally or not yet, but I will say this, I recently heard my first song of his, and where as I can't say it was the best song in the world, it was actually a fair amount of fun, and definitely gives me hope for the  rest of his music! That song being: Up From The Skies (1968), from the album: Axis: Bold as Love (1967), from: The Jimi Hendrix Experience!

Now as far as the instrumentals go... I will say that they are supreme! A great example of 60s rock! The vocals... Well I am going to say this, they are great... Jimi Hendrx was an amazing talent that was taken away to early... The only problem that I had with this song (and it may have been the recording that I listened to,) but it seemed like the audio was out of sync... What I mean is that Hendrix's vocals were heavily over powered by the instrumentals... Which I didn't like, and found to be distracting...

And well folks, this may not be the best song, Jimi Hendrix was a true talent, and if you haven't tried his music yet, this is definitely one to put on the list!

For the fans, the lyrics to: Up From The Skies.

I just want to talk to you. I won't uh, do you no harm,
I just want to know about your different lives, on
this here people farm.I heard some of you got your families, living in
cages tall & cold,
And some just stay there and dust away, past the
age of old.
Is this true? Please let me talk to you.I just wanna know about, the rooms behind
your minds,
Do I see a vacuum there, or am I going blind?
Or is it just remains from vibrations and echoes
long ago,
Things like 'Love the World' and 'Let your fancy
flow',
Is this true? Please let me talk to you. Let me
talk to you.

I have lived here before, the days of ice,
And of course this is why I'm so concerned,
And I come back to find the stars misplaced
and the smell of a world that has burned.

The smell of a world that has burned.

Well, maybee, maybe it's just a change of
climate.
I can dig it, I can dig it baby, I just want to see.

So where do I purchase my ticket,
I would just like to have a ringside seat,
I want to know about the new Mother Earth,
I want to hear and see everything,
I want to hear and see everything,
I want to hear and see everything.
Aw, shucks,
If my daddy could see me now.

Two Captain America's Made For The Big Screen But Not In America!

That's right folks, so far, from what I can tell, in the late 6os and early 70s Turkey decided to make a couple of movies that were based on the American super hero, and the need for him to come to turkey to help!

The first one being, Three Giant Men (1973):

An insane Spider-Man and Captain America in Turkey... Can it get better?

This movie which starred Aytekin Akkaya (Emir Sultan) told the story of how Captain America is called to Turkey with a Mexican wrestler by the name of, 'Santo' (Yavuz Selekman) to stop a crime wave that is beginning to overrun the city of, 'Istanbul'!

For more information, please check out this trailer for: Three Giant Men (1973):

The other one that I found that I thought you guys would be interested in is another Turkish movie called, Major Tayfun (1968).

Major Tayfun... One of two classic, 'Turkish' Captain America movies.

Not much seems to be known about this movie, so much so that it appears that this movie doesn't actually have a trailer for it...

Now of course there a ton of Captain America movies/tv shows and the like that have come from the United States over the decades, but I thought that you guys might find it interesting to discover that the ultimate American soldier has also made appearances in other countries as well!

The Blood Beast Terror (1968) - Movie Review

Official Score = 3 Devils

Peter Cushing (Star Wars - Episode 4: A New Hope), what can I say about this man... I mean as, 'Moff Tarkin' in Star Wars he did an amazing job entertaining audiences all over the world, but the truth is, is that as a master of horror, there is very few people that are his equal... And in a lot of his best films he plays a good guy!

I mean this amazing British master of horror has managed to entertain audiences all over the world playing in horror movies based on Victorian horror novels, or in modern (well for the time when he was alive,) horror movies... His dry wit, and demeanor just compliments the types of movies he was in just perfectly, and you know what? The Blood Beast Terror (1968) is another great example of his mad genius!

The Blood Beat Terror... Something all horror fans or newbies should see at least once!

Written by Peter Bryan (The Brides Of Dracula) & Directed by: Vernon Sewell (The Crimson Cult). Starring: Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng (Funny Face), Wanda Ventham (Asylum), David Griffin (If), Glynn Edwards (Get Carter), Kevin Stoney (Doctor Who), Russell Napier (A Night To Remember) & Vanessa Howard (Girly).

This awesome tale takes place in Victorian England during the later part of the 19th century, during this time Detective Inspector Quennell (Peter Cushing) is investigating a weird series of murders that are beginning to more and more look like some sort of, 'bird' is attacking them...

Well he decides to head over to the eminent Scientist Dr. Carl Mallinger (Robert Felmyng), and see if the good Doctor can help. Well in the end, the good Doctor ends up sending him on his way with out much help.

Inspector Quennell talking to Dr. Mallinger about the attacks...

Later on though, The Detective Inspector will come back with some flakes that he shows the good Doctor, who ends up up getting concerned... You see Carl Mallinger has ended up using his immense knowledge to give himself a daughter by the name of, 'Clare' (Wanda Ventham)...

The problem is, is Clare has a dark secret that consumes every one in her path, and after a dead body and a bunch of bones are found at Mallinger's estate, the Detective Inspector and his daughter, 'Meg' head off after the Doctor and his deadly daughter.

The only problem is that the Detective Inspector is going to have to close this case quick, before Mallinger and his daughter can swallow up, 'Meg' in to their madness!

Dr. Mallinger is about to use Meg to help feed the husband he is growing for his daughter...

In the end, there is something always fun about mad scientist movies, and the monsters and what not that they create... And this one is certainly no different!

The truth is, is that British Horror, and especially B horror movies, are fantastic with the suspense and keeping one on the edge of their seat, but if you are more of a fan of the more contemporary gore fests that we see in modern horror movies, then this one probably is not for you. Despite that, give it a try, you might really enjoy it, I know I did!

The Beatles: Hey Jude (1968) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="350"] Official Score = 4 Devils[/caption]

The Beatles... I mean these guys still to this day kick some total ass when it comes to their music! I mean I would say that not only did they help trail blaze some of the awesomeness that is heavy metal, but considering the fact that these guys have been broken up for years, with a lot of the band having died...  And considering the fact that there are still young men and women from all over the world that are getting in to their music,  that not only are they British icons, but historical icons as well!

And you know what? For myself, a guy who has been listening to their music since I was barely in the single digits, I hope that their legacy of true rock 'n roll genius lives on forever!

And you know what guys, their 1968 song, 'Hey Jude' is one of those songs that will resonate with people all over the world for generations to come!

Written by: Paul McCartney  for John Lennon's son to help comfort him during the divorce of Lennon and his ex-wife, and original titled, 'Hey Jules' this song has a great message to it, that can extend well beyond just helping Lennon's kid... The song is so upbeat that it could almost make you feel better if you are in a bad mood, no matter what the reason is!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="650"] 'Hey Jude'... A song that was originally titled, 'Hey Jules', and was meant to help comfort John Lennon's son, 'Julian', during his parent's divorce![/caption]

Now you might be wondering why I am mentioning this song in a site that is about, 'horror and science fiction'?

Well simply, this song is one of the best songs I have ever heard this amazing powerhouse of a rock band ever do... It has some truly awesome and upbeat lyrics, and it is all set to some truly fantastic instrumentals!

In the end if you are looking for a new band, this song I think would be a truly spectacular way to get in to listening to this band that I think will definitely withstand the test of time... They have so far!

http://youtu.be/eDdI7GhZSQA

Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

I will be honest and say that despite the fact that I consider myself to be definitely an aficionado of music... And to be honest I would say that I like just about all types of music (except for most forms of country, and opera)...  Now that is not to say that I am huge fan of all songs that are out there from the genres that I didn't just mention that I find to be utterly repugnant!

But regardless the one area of music that I have not heard to much of is, 'long songs'...

What I mean by long songs are songs that go longer then I would say about 6 minutes... Now that is not to say that I haven't heard any, as a matter of fact I would go on to say that I have heard more then a few!

With that in mind though there is one song that I found to be really pretty much a kick ass good time, and it was a song that from what I have seen movies and TV shows, seems to be what defined the drug craze of the 60s and the counter-culture movement that was going on in those turbulent times... This song of course I am talking about is, 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' by Iron Butterfly (1968)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Iron Butterfly in 1969: from left to right Doug Ingle (organ, vocals), Ron Bushy (drums, percussion), Lee Dorman (bass, vocals), Erik Braunn (guitars, vocals). The legends who made one of the most famous counter-culture drug songs of all times![/caption]

Now of course the 60s are dead, and so the song has lost a little bit of its luster as a cultural icon for the dissatisfied masses, but the truth is, is this song is still extremely relevant as not only an Icon representative of that time, that works out great for movies and TV series, but it is also still a truly amazing song... And I will be honest and say that it is one of the longest songs that I have ever heard!

What makes this song so great? Well I want to say that the lyrics were pretty amazing for this song... (They were fun, but not very present), no what made this song so awesome was the instrumental solo that goes on through most of this song! I mean I hate to say it (being as I am not a fan of drugs in any capacity), but I can definitely see how people could enjoy getting high from the Psychedelic tones inherent in this song!

For me personally besides the fact that even after over 40 years, the instrumental solo in this song is still truly amazing, these instrumentals are historically speaking a representation of the music of the 1960s!

In the end this song still kicks ass in a major way, and is absolutely worth the time to listen to it, and if you get a chance, I think you might really enjoy it! I know I did!

http://youtu.be/UIVe-rZBcm4

Planet OF The Apes (1968) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="350"] Official Score = 4 Devils[/caption]

I would be surprised if anyone on this planet has not heard of the, Planet Of The Apes movie series in some capacity at this point! I mean after all there was a prequel to the first movie that was released a while back with, James Franco (Spider-Man) called, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)!

But for those of you newbies to the series who probably got their start watching the latest movie, but have yet to catch up with the classic original series…

Well before James Franco did his prequel, and even before Mark Wahlberg (The Perfect Storm) did his remake of the original movie, Charlton Heston (Soylent Green), did an awesome job in the first, (and still in my opinion the best of the series), movie just simply called, Planet Of The Apes (1968)!

Written by: Michael Wilson (A Place In The Sun), Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone), and Directed by: Franklin L. Schaffner (Patton). Starring: Charlton Heston, Kim Hunter (A Street Car Named Desire), Roddy McDowall (Deadly Game), Maurice Evans (Rosemary’s Baby), James Whitmore (The Shawshank Redemption), Linda Harrison (Cocoon) and Woodrow Parfrey (Dirty Harry).

“TAKE YOUR STINKING PAWS OFF ME YOU DAMN DIRTY APE!” – George Taylor (Planet Of The Apes)

Planet Of The Apes tells the amazing tale of a group of astronauts led by Colonel George Taylor (Heston), from modern day Earth who while they are in a sort of a hyper sleep aboard their spaceship as it travels through space, end up waking up when their ship crash lands on some sort of a planet…

Of course when they first disembark, they don’t think much of the planet (as it seems like mostly a lifeless world (despite the breathable atmosphere…

So the crew sets out in search of shelter and food and the like (since their ship is now under water and currently unsalvageable…) As they are walking though, they come to discover certain interesting facts about their new planet… Like the fact that it looks like Man is an Animal and Apes reign supreme!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Taylor (Charlton Heston) as he is being held captive in a special (Human Zoo) and being studied by Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) and Zira (Kim Hunter)[/caption]

This crew gets that harsh dose of reality when they (and a group of savage humans end up being chased by a group of Apes that are trying to hunt them down and capture them!)

After they are captured, the survivors of the ship are taken to different areas where one of them is lobotomized, the other is killed and stuffed and sent to the Apes Museum, and the last one (Colonel Taylor) is left alive when he begins to not only demonstrate that he is intelligent, but that he can talk as well…

He demonstrates this to Dr. Cornelius (McDowall), and Zira (Hunter), who decide to protect him from a world where Apes treat mankind as the specimens! And now it will be up to Cornelius, Zira, and Taylor to get Taylor to safety before the rest of the Ape world gets the chance to destroy him! Because in a world like, the Planet Of The Apes, Taylor, is going to find out a truth about himself and mankind that will change both mankind and Apes in such a way that neither species will ever forget!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 'Taylor' (Heston) with, 'Nova' (Harrison), 'Zira' (Hunter) and, 'Cornelius' (McDowall), as Zira and Cornelius try to help Taylor and Nova find a life for themselves![/caption]

Now if that hasn't got you interested yet, than let me tell you this.

A: Unfortunately just about everyone from this movie is dead… And it is a true shame, because the talent that was brought to this movie is unparalleled in how truly fantastic of a job that everyone did!

B: Unfortunately I have not had the chance to read the book that this movie is based off of… Before I continue on here, let me say this (most movies that are based on books that I have seen are usually not as good,) so I have to assume that if what I just mentioned holds true in regards to, The Planet Of The Apes, then the book will be mind-blowingly amazing!

C: The last thing that I wanted to say about this movie is this… I thought the special effects in this movie were amazing… Sure there were some campy moments in the special effect (but that was still good in my opinion… I mean after all it was the 60s…) But in the end, this movie had some of the best special effects that have come out of that era (short of Ray Harrhausen of course… But then again, he did set the standard back then…)

In the end, this movie for me was definitely worth the watch and could be for you as well!

http://youtu.be/uAH-Tw2hue8

The Crimson Cult (1968) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Unfortunately it is tragic that the mainstream movie studios generally (not always, but generally) tend to over look the extremely talented men and women who have made their way in the world thanks to the wonderful world of horror movies!

Like I mentioned though, that is not always the case… And is most certainly not the case with actor Christopher Lee (Dracula Has Risen From The Grave)!

Christopher Lee… I mean what can I say about this man that hasn't already been said? Whether he is a fallen Jedi (as is his role as Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequel movies,) or as the fallen wizard in the, ‘Lord Of The Rings’ movies, Christopher Lee has always brought that deep voice, and an old school professionalism that he brought to the craft that hasn't really been seen since the trailblazers of horror, (like Vincent Price (Theatre Of Blood), Bela Lugosi (Dracula), and Boris Karloff (Frankenstein) were around!

And speaking of Boris Karloff…

One of types of movies that I have found out recently that I have really enjoyed is those old school horror movies that have one or more horror movie legends starring in them, (such as is the case with Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff in, The Crimson Cult (1968)).

Written by: Mervyn Haisman (Doctor Who), Henry Lincoln (The Saint) and Directed by: Vernon Sewell (Ghost Ship). Starring Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Mark Eden (Séance On A Wet Afternoon), Barbara Steele (The Pit And The Pendulum), Michael Gough (Batman) and Virginia Wetherell (Bram Stoker’s Dracula).

The Crimson Cult tells the story of how an antique dealer by the name of Robert Manning (Eden) gets a strange message from his brother (who happens to be on an antique buying venture in a small country village by the name of, Graymarsh.) Now Graymarsh does have some significance to Robert as it turns out that Graymarsh is Robert and his brother’s home town!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Robert Manning (Mark Eden) and Eve (Virginia Wetherell) in, 'The Crimson Cult' (1968)[/caption]

So Robert heads to his home town, a town where most of the townspeople seem to be partying as they prepare to celebrate the day when the townsfolk centuries before hand, had burned a witch by the name of Lavina Morley (Steele) at the stake!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Lavinia Morley (Barbara Steele) as she is working on one of her demonic spells![/caption]

But one of Lavina’s descendants, by the name of, J.D. Morley (Lee) has another date that he is using to worship his fallen ancestor, and this actually involves Robert!

So as Robert begins his investigation in to his brother’s disappearance in earnest, Robert Manning will find out a secret about his family and the connections to the Morley family that Robert never would have expected!

Now besides that fact that it is pretty awesome that actor, ‘Michael Gough’ would go on to play, ‘Alfred’ in pretty much all of the Batman movies, (from Michael Keaton’s time as Batman, all the way through to the time George Clooney played the role of the caped crusader), I also have to admit that it is pretty awesome to see what I believe to be the inspiration for the movie, ‘The Wicker Man’ (1973) in this movie as well!

As a side note, this was Boris Karloff's last movie...

Anyway folks, if your looking for a fun one to enjoy, you might try this one, it is a good one!

http://youtu.be/r6PI13Tus8U