Horror Movie Reviews
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Title: Elvira's Movie Macabre: Maneater of Hydra/The House That Screamed (2007) |
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Review of Elvira's Movie Macabre: Maneater of Hydra/The House That Screamed
- Elvira continues her late-night horror tradition with the MOVIE MACABRE series which finds the buxom Mistress of the Dark hosting a selection of campy horror classics. This volume features THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED which is centered on horror novelist Marty Beck who rents an old haunted house in an effort to inherit enough inspiration to finish his latest novel. What Marty's about to find out is that the ghouls and ghosts that inhabit the house have a special plan for him and dying may be the only way out of his lease. In MANEATER OF HYDRA which takes place on a supposedly idyllic island resort a group of tourists travel to the island only to be confronted by a deranged botanist who has cultivated a deadly assortment of fauna.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR UPC: 826663105261 Manufacturer No: SF10526
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Comments for Elvira's Movie Macabre: Maneater of Hydra/The House That Screamed
- Posted on 2008-02-14
(review is only for La Residencia) Talk to her mother!!!!!!!
In spite of the Elvira cuts (which I do remember seeing when I first saw this film back in the day) it was a well told story , maybe this could be remade in theaters with a good cast it colud be a box office , but as for this old movie glad it is released. can't say anything on maneater not worth commenting.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-02-05
good stories bad editing
I watched the house that screamed a long time ago I think its a great story and if it was remade I personally think it would be a good idea. lately for the past few years their has not been a movie (Horror) movie that I have liked I can't remember the last time I watched a good scary movie at the movies I remember walking out while watching Dracula 2000 such a boring movie.I liked Maneater of hydra I think of it more of a sci fi/horror film the two movies are good but what bothered me was the editing, their were pauses on both movies as if a comercial was next I didn't like that and it distracted me ,but all in all I enjoyed both movies but The house that screamed will always be one of my favorite movies.If I was a movie Producer I would make that movie again. I made a mistake rating 3 stars this is a 5 star.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2007-11-26
half-disappointing, half-great
Very disappointing, not in choice of movies but in the presentation. Both of these films are very entertaining. But the transfer of MANEATER OF HYDRA is appallingly bad. Not only is it pan-and-scan (which is bad enough and something I half expected), but it looks as if it was mastered from a VHS that had tracking problems (notice all the visual static on bottom of the frame throughout -- I actually have a DVD-R dubbed from a VHS that looks better than this!). The film is no masterpiece, but it is much better than one would expect, and it has a great cast headed by Cameron Mitchell, a great location in an old island villa and a great monster. It was also directed by Mel Welles (primarily an actor, known best for his role of Gravis Mushnick in the original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which coincidentally also featured a carnivorous plant that likes blood). Luckily THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (aka LA RESIDENCIA), an atmospheric Spanish film set in the 19th century, is taken from a wide-screen master and has excellent production values (this master is probably from a DVD of the European transfer as it is came out recently overseas -- and all these Elvira DVD releases are apparently titles that are now public domain in the USA). Anyway, be forewarned about MANEATER OF HYDRA. I've seen better transfers of public domain titles from Alpha Video and some of the other public domain DVD labels - which is scary, since Shout Factory (who released this)is a reputable company who have high quality standards. I think their quality-control guy must have been asleep at the wheel when this got through.
Score: 3 - Posted on 2007-10-14
Why does "La Residencia" deserve the Elvira treatment?
OK, Man Eater of Hydra is a pretty cheesy Euro-horror flick from the 60's with a blood-sucking tree, plus it has Cameron Mitchell, so while it's still pretty entertaining (and scared the crap out of me when I was little), this probably is a good candidate for the Elvira treatment. But, "La Residencia" (The House That Screamed) is a much more classy film, and I hardly see why anyone thought the world could benefit from a version of it with Elvira's patter inserted. Of course, on the DVD you can watch both features without Elvira, and on both that's what I did, but the films are still edited for her comments, apparently, so both the sound & the picture make ocassional fades to allow for her inserts. Which is kind of irritating, but then again, is there any other way to get these films in the US? (legally, that is?) No. Well, there is one available from Movies Unlimited but that's probably their usual DVD-R. The print of "Man Eater.." is watchable but somewhat faded, and "House That Screamed" is quite good, and even in widescreen. Don't get me wrong, I like(d) Elvira just fine, back in the day, but that was a long time ago. "House That Screamed" is just not a movie that is best butchered by her commentary. 3 out of 5.
Score: 3 - Posted on 2007-10-03
Elvira at her best!!!
Nothing is as fun as watching Elvira watching these bad horror movies. Growing up in the Los Angeles area Elvira and her Movie Macabre was a weekend staple in the eighties on KHJ Channel 9.
These movies are both campy and fun. Perfect for Elvira to take a whack at. The MST3K kids, as fun as they are, should thank Cassandra Peterson everyday for making this genre hip and fun again. Maneater of Hydra is a knock off of The Day of the Triffids with a monster instead of a bunch of trees eating the cast. The House that Screamed is a pretty good little movie in the spooky drive-in movie category. It was loosely remade in the eighties as Pieces. It has been unavailable in the US years except in bad VHS copies from Europe.
All-in-all the entire package is just silly fun and thanks to Elvira and her sometimes priceless one liners, well worth the price. We love you Cassie, Happy Halloween!
Score: 3