In this retrospective I pay homage to the girls who made the formative years of a fledgling horror fan so utterly memorable and while not all get a mention, they are so numerous; you can bet they all passed through my mind as I wrote (one of them even follows me on Twitter and you can’t begin to imagine how excited that made me!) Here then, in no particular order, are the girls...
As a forty-six year old English fan of all things horror, I was obviously raised on a diet of Hammer films. What makes Hammer so special? (See my previous article, Hammer – A History of Brilliance) Undoubtedly the period costumes, gothic settings and, of course, the ultimate horror icons Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, made the films so memorable for a period of over thirty years. But one equally important ingredient defined those films too; the Hammer glamour. A whole host of girls, some talented actresses, some not, but all of them stunning, contributed to the enduring popularity of Hammer. In this retrospective I pay homage to the girls who made the formative years of a fledgling horror fan so utterly memorable and while not all get a mention, they are so numerous; you can bet they all passed through my mind as I wrote (one of them even follows me on Twitter and you can’t begin to imagine how excited that made me!) Here then, in no particular order, are the girls... 1. INGRID PITT Ingrid was born in Poland on 21st November 1937 and as a child during WWII was interned in a Nazi concentration camp. Surviving this she eventually grew up in East Berlin from where she escaped in 1962 by swimming across the River Spree. Initially appearing in low-budget films in Spain, Ingrid was cast in 1968 in Where Eagles Dare alongside Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. Despite only appearing in two Hammer films during its ‘Golden Era’ (The Vampire Lovers and Countess Dracula) Ingrid is felt by many fans to be THE Hammer girl. Post-Hammer, Ingrid appeared in The Wicker Man and then worked as a writer. She died on 23rd November 2010 after suffering from a heart condition for several years.
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Dark Horse (2014) with cult actor and writer Tobin BellCharles Agron! Horror Central's very own L.A. Gore talks |
1957 saw the release by Hammer of their first color horror film, The Curse of Frankenstein, and like so many that followed, as well as being written by Jimmy Sangster, it was also shot in technicolor and praised for its visual style. It was also the first of many horror films starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, two actors who became synonymous with Hammer. Lee was outstanding as the monster (despite the seemingly unenviable task of following in Boris Karloff’s iconic footsteps) proving, as he did so many times subsequently, that he had incredible physical presence and Cushing was impeccable as ever in his role as Baron Frankenstein; living up to his later nickname ‘the gentleman of horror’. |
THE EVOLUTION OF THE HORROR MOVIE |
Nosferatu (1922) Though not the first (that was actually the two minute long The Devil’s Castle in 1896), Nosferatu for me, set a foundation for future horror movies. Not only is it beautifully made with an almost dreamlike quality, but the vampire Nosferatu/Count Orlok (based so closely on Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula that it was the subject of much legal wrangling) is truly monstrous. Today’s sparkly vampires could take a leaf from his book. The scene where Nosferatu’s elongated shadow is climbing the stairs and reaches out for the bedroom door handle with his clawed hand being particularly chilling. Nosferatu was the first, and in my view still the best, vampire movie ever made and set a high standard for future horror movies. It's sheer quality, its deliciously dark, Gothic feel and its ability to scare without explicit violence or blood being seen, enabled the horror genre to really take off. |
The Human Race (2013) follows 80 confused people from all walks of life after they are plucked from their everyday lives to participate in a race to stay alive. Each participant in this competition of life or death hears their own voice in their heads telling them the rules of a game being played in an unknown location, 'If you are lapped twice, you die. If you step off the path, you die. If you touch the grass, you will die. Race... or die.' The struggle to survive and determine what brought these doomed people together for this contest of futility will prove exhausting and lethal.
In the slew of films depicting a group of unrelated individuals forced into the ever-present battle to the death, there has been many of noteworthy films. From Battle Royal to the new Hunger Games Franchise inspired by the novels of the same name, a niche is being carved from the genre that is oddly pleasant to watch. It is in the vein of such films that The Human Race makes it's presence known as a unique and inventive stab at the horror premise where seeming everything has become redundant.
What I found separated The Human Race from similar films that preceded it, was an incomparable cinematic brilliance and perhaps the most rounded group of actors I've ever seen in an independent horror film. Taking the lead and showing that “handicap” is a misnomer is Eddie McGee. Former Big Brother winner and inspiration to those whom have followed his career, McGee's role solidifies him as a role model for fellow amputees and industry newcomers alike.
In the slew of films depicting a group of unrelated individuals forced into the ever-present battle to the death, there has been many of noteworthy films. From Battle Royal to the new Hunger Games Franchise inspired by the novels of the same name, a niche is being carved from the genre that is oddly pleasant to watch. It is in the vein of such films that The Human Race makes it's presence known as a unique and inventive stab at the horror premise where seeming everything has become redundant.
What I found separated The Human Race from similar films that preceded it, was an incomparable cinematic brilliance and perhaps the most rounded group of actors I've ever seen in an independent horror film. Taking the lead and showing that “handicap” is a misnomer is Eddie McGee. Former Big Brother winner and inspiration to those whom have followed his career, McGee's role solidifies him as a role model for fellow amputees and industry newcomers alike.
Open Grave follows the events that unfold when John, a middle aged man with no recollection of who he is our why he is in a pit full of bodies, climbs from the chasm of death to inevitably meet others who are burdened by similar memory loss. In a struggle to figure out the circumstances of their amnesia and who is responsible for the macabre that lurks in the unknown outside, tensions and confusion culminate to something none of them could have anticipated.
This is undoubtedly the most brilliant work to date from Director Gonzalo López-Gallego. A meeting of some of the most underrated actors in the last decade, cinematography that makes the abundance of awards the film won entirely justified, and spot on writing...Open Grave flawlessly injects you with a state of morbid curiosity equaled to that of the characters themselves. As much as I'd like to spew all this film's secrets and correlate it to the specific genre which it impeccably perfected, a promise that you will be awestruck is going to have to suffice.
This is undoubtedly the most brilliant work to date from Director Gonzalo López-Gallego. A meeting of some of the most underrated actors in the last decade, cinematography that makes the abundance of awards the film won entirely justified, and spot on writing...Open Grave flawlessly injects you with a state of morbid curiosity equaled to that of the characters themselves. As much as I'd like to spew all this film's secrets and correlate it to the specific genre which it impeccably perfected, a promise that you will be awestruck is going to have to suffice.
The Dirties follows two high school friends as they collaborate on a film project about taking revenge on their tormentors and fellow classmates which they've nicknamed “The Dirties”. As their film evolves, and their friendship faces it's own unique challenges, it becomes apparent that one of the two friends has taken the notion of revenge to the next level.
Contracted follows the struggles faced by a young woman in the 72 hours following a one night stand. The chance encounter with an unknown man results in the lesbian woman trying to pick up the pieces of the night which would change her life, and the unidentified sexually transmitted disease that is taking over her body in a way that baffles her gynecologist.