#return of the vampire

[blueruins]

Return of the Vampire

[atomic-raunch]

Man? Monster? Or Both?

[hallucinationhorrors]

[chernobog13]

It's September Two Hundredth (Ed. AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH! It's the 20th, nimrod!) and this crybaby werewolf is upset that there's still 943 days (Ed. So help me Hannah--!!) until Halloween!

[gurumog]

The Return of the Vampire (1943) Columbia Pictures Dir. Lew Landers

Bela Lugosi as Armand Tesla (not Dracula) Matt Willis as Andreas Obry, a werewolf

“Columbia Pictures hired Lugosi for Return of the Vampire, in which he played Dracula in all but name; for copyright purposes, the vampire's name was Armand Tesla.” - Hollywood Gothic by David J. Skal

[schlock-luster-video]

On April 10, 1971, The Raven and Return of the Vampire were screened as a double-feature on Creature Features.

[petty-crush]

Notes on the New Bev Horror a thon 2023

I love this event. This is my Halloween jam.

This was extra special this year because new important friends in my life got to join me for the first time. It raised the electricity in the room.

There was some good natured grumbling that, yes, the event isn’t an all nighter anymore. It’s from late afternoon to after midnight, not deep evening to early morning. I really don’t care, a celebration is a celebration, no matter what time of day.

-/—/-/—

The films, such as they rolled,

1-The New Kids (Sean Cunningham, 1985)

2-Return of the Vampire (Lew Landers, 1943)

3-Komodo (Michael Lantieri, 1999)

4-The Severed Arm (Thomas S. Alderman, 1973)

5-Scarecrows (William Wesley, 1988)

6-Wrong Turn (Rob Schmidt, 2003)

-//-//////—-

This was the first time since I’ve been going that there wasn’t a Italian or Spanish horror film in the line up (I have missed a few years though), an odd beat in the rhythm.

-//-

More grumbling from the veterans; the first film really wasn’t a horror film. I can somewhat disagree, as there was elements of a siege near the end.

But, clearly, this was a shout-out to the Friday the 13th crew doing a left turn. It was fun, which was important. I probably wouldn’t have made it the first film however.

-///-

This was a marathon that was back end heavy, for my tastes. The Severed Arm and especially Scarecrows powered up this showing.

-///—-

Early to mid 2000s horror is one of my least favorite eras. The look and leftover 90s teen cast of Wrong Turn wasn’t my ideal way to end the night, though it was solid on its own merits.

-////-/—-

Here is something I really wasn’t expecting, the monster movie was my least favorite of the night. Usually it’s in the top three, but this year it rests comfortably at the bottom. It was still quite fun, and seeing it with this audience made it a delightful go of things.

-/-////—-

I fucking love Bela Lugosi. He’s just delightful. His personality is other worldly strong.

Before Return, there was this hysterical winking interview with him from 1938. His hamming it up as if he was a real ghoul plastered a stupid grin on my face. This dude rocks.

-/—-/

More on The New Kids;

The opening set piece with Tom Atkins, training the kids to run, in slow motion, had the entire audience rolling. He didn’t come back after that but it’s almost worth the movie just for that section.

James Spader is magnificent as the bully leader. I’m still mystified that he didn’t knock it out of the park as Ultron in Avengers 2.

I suspect that was the strings being pulled away from him behind the scenes. Also maybe Jim Shooter’s version of Ultron is best, and it wasn’t that.

As mentioned, I think putting this movie 3 or so would have been better. Severed Arm would have been a great opener. Not a dealbreaker however.

-/-/—

Arm is truly one of those raw bruised exploitation films that has such a seedy view of the world. Its griminess is palpable, but never a dirge.

There is one scene that drags (the guy in the mechanic shop) but that’s actually pretty good by the standards of this weight class. You have to accept that these kinds of films are not the best paced, little rough around the edges.

Gawd help me, I laughed so hard at the scene of the group pressuring the guy to cut off his arm to feed them (they are trapped in a mine) and the rescuers coming barely thirty seconds later. This poor schmuck.

Of the films that were new to me that night (hold that thought) this one easily won. Highly recommended.

There is also one guy doing an substitute teacher version of Woody Allen Schlick that is right up my alley.

-//-/—////——/—

Scarecrows was the film of night to my eyes, even though it was the only one I had seen before.

This was an astute lesson in how a film plays totally different with an audience. Like how a song from an album comes truly alive in concert. The communal experience transforms it.

When I saw it at home, I thought it was ok, if a bit slight. With a dark room, an attentive crowd, it murdered. All the jokes were funnier, the surreal touches more vivid, the despair more claustrophobic.

I love horror films that don’t explain shit, and this was that plus surprising. A winning combo.

-/-/////-//—

Thinking back again, I think making the kid in Komodo a boy just felt really dry to me. A girl fighting big lizards is just funnier.

That said, seeing him pull a home alone/Rambo trap on the Komodo had my cheeks red.

-////-/—/

In Wrong Turn’s favor, it had the most appealing gal of the night, Eliza Dushku. Her alternative boobies soothed all the backwoods brutality.

This is definitely a film basking in the post 9/11 bitterness. The anger and visceral violence. What a strange time.

Films from this era were also extra dirty, textures wise. And yet it feels a bit too pristine at the same time.

-/-/-/—

By golly, did I love the wolf man growing a spine and in near death besting the vampire. As bombs are falling down. Those last fifteen minutes in Return are wonderful.

-/-/—-

The gift this year was a jacket patch with a gnarly pumpkin on it. Neat.

-/-/////—-

Solid year. Every film played well, with most being ones I would return to again.

My favorite is, so far, still the marathon of (deep breath) race with the devil/horror party beach/rawhide rex/twitch of the death nerve/slaughter high /ticks. But this one was quite spiffy as well.

Halloween, like life, is all about variety and surprises. This year delivered. My only regret is waiting a whole year till next time. But it’s worth the sweet leisure.

[canisalbus]

✦ Fever Pitch ✦

[duruto]

I was gonna post these later but got too excited so….here u go

[mcroutfits]

10000/10 famous aesthetics: gerard's camo shorts

[mychemicalraymance]

vampire corporate card! 3 2 1 we came to suck!!

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[atomic-raunch]

Display set up for “Return of the Vampire”. What I wouldn’t give for even one of those cut outs.

[sirpoopepic]

And cross the Patron saint of switchblade fights!

And on a side note, I may start a mini series of vamp Frank and Gerard (not frerard catering OBVIOUSLY?????!!!)

[notyoujamie]

Guess what I've got, Donna?

[gurumog]

The Return of the Vampire (1943) Columbia Pictures Dir. Lew Landers

Frieda Inescort as Lady Jane Ainsley Miles Mander as Sir Fredrick Fleet Leslie Denison as Detective Lynch William Austin as Detective Gannett