Spechtreum V. 5___________________________FILM REVIEWS________________________Draconis Blackthorne
DARK SHADOWS Special Edition
An MPI Home Video release of a Dan Curtis Production / DVD - 3 1/2 hrs. Starring: Jonathan Frid, Joan Bennett, David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, John Karlen, Lara Parker, Alexandra Moltke.Includes: Inside The Shadows, DS Nightmares & Dreams, DS On Location, DS Behind The Scenes, plus more.
I recently had the opportunity, by certain Satanic Machinations, to possess this relatively rare copy which was staring at Me in the face, and being that I Am a fantom of this dark series, I just had to take it back the Lair with Me. The familiar and classically menacing face was a welcomed evocation, conjuring foreboding and eerie visions of the charming and dapper vampire who for centuries has held an enchanted grasp on the Collinswood Estate, presiding from his darkened abode at The Old House.
Twists and turns in the ingenious plots, literary and aesthetic innovations, compelling characters, a repletion of The Occult, covering subjects such as witches, demons, mad scientists, zombies, crazed parsons, werewolves, ghosts, cultists, seances, time travel, dream curses, parapsychologists, all encompassed in the world of Dark Shadows.
I have always found the resident vampire Barnabas Collins to be far more interesting than most of the likes of what is popularly presented to the masses as the ideal, who are rather one-dimensional characters with blood-dripping gore. Barnabas enjoyed being a vampire, at first struggling with the transition, expressing a varying degree of emotions such as love, compassion, and sadness, yet always remaining the gentleman, the model of deportment and grace - a true role-model of etiquette.
This DVD is divided into three sections - Programs, Additional Material, and subtitles in the Main Menu, which then also contain subdivisions. The infamous fanged rictus leers from the foggy shadows amidst the unforgettable theme song which has since been replicated time and time again by many a horror flick. It is also this pervasive musick which has settled into the culture's subconscious as that which is indicative of the supernatural. As an example, when around a campfire, or in a candle-lit room relating ghost stories, and other paranormal events, there always seems to be a joker in the group who orally duplicates the song {"ooo-wee-ooo"} to attempt to lighten up the atmosphere. This is the original source of that gesture.
As one is choosing a destination from the Main Menu, you notice that Barnabas' ring gleams, and his eyes are moving, beckoning you on to a choice.
PROGRAMS
Behind The Scenes
See extremely rare footage of the first ever episode of Dark Shadows, which aired on 6/27\1966, but was originally filmed on 6/13\1966, the Spring of Year One, Walpurgisnacht Season.
Here we are regaled with many interesting little anecdotes about the goings-on when the cameras were turned aside, and in some cases, while they were still on. A couple of humorous "bloopers" are shown, and just some of the fumbled lines which occurred, but being that this series was done completely live {except, of course, for the afore-mentioned promos}, the show fairs extremely well considering all factors. Some explanations of the construction and placing of the sets, and some other accidental occurrences are discussed.
Nightmares & Dreams
Twenty or so more magnificent blissful minutes of the many dream sequences spread throughout the series, which every character experienced, most of them were obviously comprised of the "Dream Curse" cast by Angelique the Witch, each becoming more horrific until the etheric wave was to strike Barnabas - and such is the love/hate dynamic factor underlying the entire series.
Mesmerizing transitions in fog and softly glittering kaleidoscopic light.
* On Location
Nancy Barrett hosts this segment, which is a wonderful documentary on the house itself, otherwise known as Seaview Terrace in Maine, a beautiful and sprawling estate which faces the Atlantic Ocean from the opposite view of the infamous one covered in sea mist we are used to seeing during the introduction of every show. as well as a couple of other locations, which are also steeped in rich history.
A couple of taverns are looked into as well, one of which the DS fantom will recognize as The Blue Whale.
Inside The Shadows
Series producer Dan Curtis comments on the origins, personalities and motivations of the characters within this dark universe of romance and terror, as well as the actors themselves, and relates a few anecdotes on some of the goings-on in the story lines and public appearances. In the beginning, it was only intended as a Gothic romance soap-opera, but eventually evolved into a far more fascinating series which has since become a classic of supernatural horror. It all began with the introduction of the vampire, who took on a life all his own {pun intended}. He brought in the iconoclastic notion that the vampire did not completely lose his humanity, or other reasoning functions, including more of a plethora of emotional expressions - the audience actually began feeling empathy for the villain, as it were, who can be as intensely and heartlessly cruel to his enemies, as well as administering draconian justice to the deserving rotten {quite Satanic}, serving as the balancing factor, but is also capable of expressing intense undying love for his beloved, even beyond the grave, and searches tragically through the centuries for his Josette, who finally seemingly reincarnates in the 20th century.
Along with Dan Curtis, several of the actors comment on their take on playing their roles, & what they brought to the character.
Included herein is also a Spanish episode rarely seen.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Commercials
A really remarkable collection of commercials showcasing what the actors were promoting for Dark Shadows, before, and after the series. Includes House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows - in this reviewer's opinion, the first is a classic, while the second has its moments, but ends up becoming a rather laborious watch. These are presented in that certain shock quality reminiscent of the 70's genre - great fun to watch. Included also is a piece on The Dark Shadows board game, a commercial for Right Guard antiperspirant {Rev. Trask}, Jergen's lotion {Louis Edmonds}, and Brut aftershave {David Selby}. True gems for the video collector.
Promotional Spots
These are original highly dramatic black & white commercials for the series, enticing the viewer to find out "the secret of the chain". Johnathan Frid makes a more recent appearance on a Public access program from New Jersey promoting the station, and advertising a mug {filled with......coffee}, a Dark Shadows T-Shirt worn by him, and a picture of "the handsome devil" in return for viewer support. Quite a deal!
Photo Gallery and Music Montage
Wonderful and memorable stills accompanied with selections from the Dark Shadows soundtrack. Would make a very nice screen saver. Shots include that of the haunted Victoria Winters, the noble Mr. & Mrs. Collins-Stoddard, the effervescent little David Collins, a diabolically fanged Barnabas, the sniveling Willie Loomis, a nubile Caroline Collins, and the ever-wicked Angelique. A great collection of images.
Program History
Glamor photographs arranged in a collage, detailing the origin and plot of this momentously sinister entertainment.
Outside The Shadows
Relates the subsequent careers of the actors, who have gone on to appear in such myriad films {to name but a few}, as 'Mark of The Vampire', 'Amityville 3-D: The Demon', 'This House Possessed', 'The Passion of Dracula', 'Exorcist II: The Heretic', 'Dead of Night', episodes of 'The Twilight Zone', 'Curse of The Living Corpse', 'The Devil's Daughter' {recommended}, 'The Exorcist' {recommended}, 'Gargoyles' {recommended}, episodes of 'Night Gallery', 'Satan's School For Girls', 'The Lost Boys' {recommended}, 'Daughters of Darkness' {recommended}, 'Bloodbath' {recommended}, 'Salem's Lot' {recommended}, 'The Night Stalker', 'Race With The Devil', 'Turn of The Screw', 'Witch's Brew', 'Silent Night, Bloody Night' {recommended}, 'Tales From The Darkside' {recommended}, & 'The Addams Family' {recommended}.
Subtitles
This entire presentation is also available in bilingual English and Spanish translations.
So pull up a chair, prepare some tea or coffee, turn down the lights, ignite the candles and/or fireplace, let the monitor be your creaking doorway, and step into the timeless terror and bewitching amusement awaiting you deep within the Dark Shadows...
DARK SHADOWS
XLVIII A.S. Directed by Tim Burton. Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Starring Johnny Depp {Barnabas Collins}, Michelle Pfeiffer {Elizabeth Collins Stoddard}, Helena Bonham Carter {Dr. Julia Hoffman}, Eva Green {Angelique Bouchard}, Jackie Earle Haley {Willie Loomis}, Jonny Lee Miller {Roger Collins}, Bella Heathcote {Victoria Winters / Josette DuPres}, Chloë Grace Moretz {Carolyn Stoddard}, Gulliver McGrath {David Collins}, Ray Shirley {Mrs. Johnson}, Christopher Lee {Clarney}, Alice Cooper, Ivan Kaye {Joshua Collins}, Susanna Cappellaro {Naomi Collins}, Josephine Butler {David's Mother}
Uncustomarily compelled to emerge from My Noctuary Lair to attend the external theatre experience, I recently viewed this presentation for the amusement of it, actually not expecting too much by way of factual or actual content, usually preferring one's own viewing room, or the drive-in for these purposes. Yet harboring a deep affinity for the series, and being appreciative of the productions of Tim Burton {especially in combination with Maestro Danny Elfman's orchestrations}, it seemed a natural inspection. He does have a knack for splendidly presenting the Gothic sensibility to a fine point, after all.
I first became pleasantly aware of this sinister series through rebroadcasts on a local channel, and has since become preferred entertainment fare, which is presented in a serious vain, whose Gothic psychodramas seem to reflect many predispositions and innate interests. The uses of mood lighting, suspenseful music, occult story lines, grants it a brooding atmosphere similar to Hammer films, yet imbued with Dan Curtis' unique psychological darkness. Dark Shadows features not only vampires & witches, but warlocks, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, sinister cults, insane preachers, time-travels, mad killers, demons, & many more creatures & situations of a paranormal nature.
As far as Dark Shadows films are concerned, I personally recommend House of Dark Shadows & Night of Dark Shadows.
So, when I first viewed the preview for the film, it was a bit underwhelming, as it focuses primarily on the 70's comedic elements, yet in the overall film, it actually became beside the point. Actually, I thought it a bit appropriate after all, that since the series was broadcast in the late 60's/early 70's season {actually premiering in Year 1 A.S.}, that the setting seemed to make sense for a plot such as this. Being leery of any 'remakes, since the early 90's adaptation was actually a pleasing tribute, but what may be condensed in a 113 minute film? Obviously, if you want the real thing, just continue viewing and submerging yourself therein. I have been collecting these on DVD as they became available, & in fact, most remarkably, as of this writing, the entire series has recently become available in a marvelous coffin collection.
In October of VII A.S., Barnabas Collins is unleashed from a century of subterranean incarceration by construction workmen {instead of groundskeeper Willy Loomis immediately, whom he meets shortly}, who of course, sates his blood lust forthwith. He meets a drunken Willy {his 'Renfield'} wandering the Collinswood grounds among the pumpkins, who after a quick interrogation about the current surroundings, quickly assumes his role.
Arriving at the Collinswood estate, he meets with elegant matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and the rest of the surviving family. She is obviously taken aback by his arrival {return}, thus revealing some interesting house secrets during the introduction. After all, a pleasantly dark chamber via a secret passageway is a necessity for any vampire! His descriptions of the architecture and history of the fine resident possessions therein are a remarkable relation, in marked appreciation for the construction of their materialization.
Present are Elizabeth {the lovely, stately, lady of the manor}, Dr. Hoffman {here, the professional intellectual physician is portrayed as an attractive, fiery-haired lush living a life of quiet desperation}, David {well-portrayed, rather like a Damien}, pretty little Carolyn Stoddard {the impetuous blonde here portrayed as a hippie-like stoner / rebellious 'party girl' type}, & Roger Collins {the stoic gentleman here portrayed as a rude, inconstant, boorish lothario}. While Barnabas himself is here portrayed in a more slender variation, more akin to a callow Nosferatu, intentionally depicted.
With the help of these new-found relatives, Barnabas goes about familiarizing himself with the culture, to some amusing interactions with automobiles, entertainment evolutions, & technological advancements. The juxtaposition between a gentleman of eloquence, fine tastes, irrefutable deportment, dashing style, and elite dispositions, to that of an increasingly vulgar, down-slidden society are tangibly evident.
Arriving as David's new nanny, Barnabas is smitten with Victoria Winters, seemingly Josette resurrected, who, in another fanciful twist among many, here arrives in Collinwood from that fateful train ride deriving from no less than an asylum. Most amusingly intriguing indeed.
He eventually becomes re-acquainted with a busty Angelique Bouchard, the source of his torments, for those unfamiliar, in what would amount to be an undead fatal attraction, the witch who commended him into the coffin-prison for refuting her advances in favor of his dear Josette DuPres {a sweetly diminutive fiancé}, who herself plunged from Widow's Hill at the bidding of black witchcraft. Harboring resentment of Barnabas & the successes of The Collins Family since childhood, Angelique uses her own immortality & wiles to raise her family name to prominence. Of course, that re-acquaintance yields a passionate fling finally culminating in a final battle.
Notable scenes include: one Alice Cooper performing at a ball circa Welcome to My Nightmare, with Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott in attendance. "David! Go watch the Cooper woman!"; a haggard Christopher Lee as Clarney the fisherman hypnotized by Barnabas; Barnabas lays some hippies to waste while camping in the forest.
As pleasurably typical of Tim Burton productions, the sets are a majestic marvel to behold, the music enriching with an inspired soundtrack by Danny Elfman, familiar & compelling characterizations, complimenting the overall experience. In this case, this rendition is an amusing aside, created as a quirky notion of how a vampire would interact with an outside herd world, in continued predation, of course. As a combination Gothic / Comedy / Thriller, it certainly has its moments in the shadows, even while venturing into the lightmare, and may certainly be good for a nefarious cachinnation or two, while asserting an enhanced appreciation for the core origins. ∞
Army of Darkness
Directed by Sam Raimi
"Klatu Barata Nikto" - the entirety of the plot depends upon those magic words {which ironically are not actually in Necronomicon}, to whether or not "the dead shall arise to devour the living" - yet that last phrase is in Necronomicon. Just remember, when attempting to possess the book, utter those words exactly, lest you release the dead & invoke all manner of chaos.
Ash {Bruce Campbell} returns in this part three film of the Evil Dead series. But where the first two films focused primarily on insanity, which is entertaining or disturbing, depending upon who is viewing the presentation, part three lapses into much more of a comedic vein, likened very much the Hercules / Xena brand of humor, which may have actually derived from these films.
3 immediately resumes where 2 left off, transporting Ashe through the portal from the present into the past, circa medieval Ireland, complete with car, rifle, & the chainsaw which replaces the hand he amputated to be rid of the "evil" possessing it, which in itself made for quite a hilarious scene.
He is made a prisoner of war when he virtually "falls from the sky", & despite the recognition of the resident wise man as the one prophesied as the deliverer / savior of their people, is instead identified as being a member of the opposing army's membership, & is placed in chains & shackles along with a leader of the enemy, to meet their fate in "The Pit", an abyss containing several monsters who mutilate & kill whomever is thrown down into it - a veritable sacrificial pit. So poor Ash is forced to do his first battle with a couple of ghouls, until the wise man, who resembles Merlin, tosses in the chainsaw. Ash makes quick work of them, decapitating one, blasting another with his "boom stick", as he explained to the bloodthirsty peasants. And finally, he is acknowledged as the prophesied deliverer of the people.
He must acquire The Necronomicon from a cemetery, but is admonished to speak the afore-mentioned binding words of spell, but unfortunately, at the last moment, forgets the last word, eventually causing the dead, an army of darkness, to arise to do battle with mortals, but not before he must divulge the correct book from the three set upon an altar in the graveyard, experiencing the plights that each false one presents.
Subsequently, Ash has run-ins with impish clones of himself, a demon who flies off with a sweet damsel, who becomes possessed by the nefarious gloom besetting the land, but she is eventually released of the influence of the King of The Dead, who multiplied himself himself from the flesh of Ash during that scene with the miniature imp-clones which became reminiscent of Gulliver's Travels.
Ash teaches the mortal army a few new tricks, & prepares for the arrival of the excarnate nemesis in skeletal form. The remainder of the movie consists of Xena-esque battles until the book is preserved, victory is hailed, & Ash is returned to the present, where he regales the apathetic S-Mart co-workers with tales of his exploits. But again, he did not utter the words of Spell completely, & the results are made evident when a she-demon in the form of a hideous hag attacks his girlfriend {*There is another scene earlier in the movie when another hag appeared to kill anyone who would deem to possess the book*}, to which the warrior Ash surfaces once more, to battle another denizen of the dark.
Overall, Army of Darkness is a comedy, not really something that would give you a fright, but will tickle your funny "bone'. Personally, I prefer the first two over this version, for the more occultic references, focusing on the mythology of Necronomicon lore, & some of the more horrific scenes.
The FX are remarkable however; well-hewn demonic creatures, the skeletal army is superbly done, & the environments are crafted quite appropriately, especially the cemetery. A classic Horror-Comedy.
Halloween With The New Addams Family
1977 C.E. / XI Anno Satanas~ The Legend of Cousin Shy ~ Once upon a time, a very long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, in a little village, there was this tiny little boy named Deetlemo, a very good boy, and he knew the Legend of Cousin Shy.
Cousin Shy is the Spirit of Halloween. The spirit who carves happy smiles on a specially hidden pumpkin, and leaves beautiful gifts at the feet of the Halloween Scarecrow.
And then there was one day when Deetlemo wanted to find out if Cousin Shy was real. And so this little boy carved a mouth on the great pumpkin. And guess what happened?
{"It talked! It talked!"}
{"Yes, that's right."}
He said, "...I------Am the spirit of Cousin Shyyyyyy... I belong to the whole world... you will never see Me, but if children are very good, I will pay them a visit every Halloween. And if you leave a pumpkin in a very special place, I will carve it for you and leave gifts under your scarecrowwwwww..."
{"And that is the legend of Cousin Shy."}
{At the insistence of Fester: "...And they lived happily ever after."}
Gomez has to temporarily leave for Tombstone, Arizona for a day, but finds it quite painstaking to be without his total environment, much like the vampire, thus leaving affairs in the hands of his younger brother Poncho, who is also absolutely enthralled by the ever-lovely Morticia, & harbors the same amorous inclinations inspired by French enunciation.
The house is a bit different, set in a residential neighborhood in suburbia, rather than in a palatial mansion - more of a large house. Yet still, erstwhile crooks again attempt to leach from the Addams' wealth. This time, by crashing the Halloween party {a monster mash, really}, dressed & identified as the "Boston branch of the family" - one cross-dressing as Little Bo-Peep, another as John Quincy Addams, accompanied by two bodybuilders, who are extremely poor actors, who from time to time abduct Gomez, attempting to contain him tied up in various locations throughout the house, to which, by his ingenuity, releases himself with the help of Wednesday Sr., who herself has returned from conservatory, enchantingly developed both in talent & physique. They communicate in morse code, thus releasing Gomez from various predicaments, much to the chagrin & frustration of the so-called "John Quincy Addams". Along with them, Gomez & Morticia assimilates sneak into the house with no-one the wiser, as it is assumed they are the actual ones, as their clonage is assumed to be so great, which upon observation, is not the case.
Earlier on, the spying crooks sent an agent posing as an inspector tax man who is eventually driven insane, unto a complete blubbering & blabbering idiot by the Addams' lifestyle, particularly Thing, & Uncle Fester's "Playroom", which includes The Rack {looks to be quite a stress-reliever}, & the noble & adorable lion "Kitty-cat", the family pet. A reminder of Togare is readily apparent.
Lurch takes a fancy to Little Bo-Peep, & dances the night away with the ersatz lady. He even shares his passion with her/it - pterodactyl-hunting, but instead, manages to net Mother Frump who was out for a night broom ride, until later in the film, when he realizes the true state, lets forth a moan of disappointment.
One by one, the interlopers are eliminated, by reasons of insanity &/or fear.
Eventually, as most of them are subjected to Fester's relaxation machines, & confess their intentions, & are finally apprehended by law-enforcement. Good riddance to such flotsam.
This obscure presentation provides for select family values - it could be described as an "after-school special", as it were, for Infernal Progeny. I found "The Legend of Cousin Shy" to be both useful & motivational, & as a matter of fact, inspired in part My own XXVII Nights of Halloween; The Addams Halloween Hymn "Merry, Shhh, Creepy Halloween" is an eternal memoriam, & an ode to various spooks of the subconscious; idealizations & archetypes we hold near & dear to Our Black Hearts.
One factor stands solid throughout The Addams Family lore - The Addams Family is a functional family characterization, very poignantly demonstrated in the warm, wholesome ending scene, where each member of the family grasps a black candle, & pace single-file up the stairs singing the Halloween Hymn, up to the attic, where Cousin Shy parts the cobwebs & carves the pumpkin atop the shoulders of the scarecrow, as they all look on in awe, then to open the presents wrapped in black & red, happily uncovering new possessions.
The element of tribalism is always present, loyal to one another, preserving the pack with etiquette, & surrounded in chosen fineries. An ideal of a family to emulate, which in many cases, has already been naturally in practice. Comparisons are inevitably drawn between the Satanic Family & the prototypal Addams Family. Such a dynamic occurred with Dr. LaVey & Family. I believe this film, as well as all the others, including the original series, will humorously supplement the overall Satanic Family. Hail Infernal Progeny! HAIL SATAN.
WEDNESDAY
Season 1: Wednesday's Child Is Full of Woe / Woe Is the Loneliest Number / Friend or Woe / Woe What a Night / You Reap What You Woe / Quid Pro Woe / If You Don't Woe Me by Now / A Murder of Woes
Finally a series from one to another who resonates with Gothic sensibilities enough to express the quintessence thereof. It has been a desire for Tim Burton to direct an Addams production, with the upmost bonus of maestro Elfman conducting the score. It has come to be, and it is splendid. Those that brought forth the likes of Nightmare Before xmas, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, and other favorites. A most appropriate and inevitable manifestation.
This production is in a darker vein, reminiscent of Addams & Evil strips, some of which may have been excised from New Yorker issues due to its more preferably extreme, misanthropic nature.
Beginning at normie generic secondary school for commoners, where she defends Pugsley from being picked on by simpleton bullies, ingenuously gaining justified satisfactory revenge, Wednesday is sent to Nevermore Academy for outcasts accompanied by a sutured Thing, who remains clandestine. Therein begins an adventure to finding out how she fits into the mystery of a doomsday prophesy.
Nevermore is reminiscent of Hogwarts and The Addams Mansion with familiar mansard darkitechture and angles, filled with gargoyles and inherent statuary, inclusive of infamous alumni such as Edgar Allan Poe {"Nevermore" being an obvious reference}, and portraits of other notables such as Morticia and Gomez, both of whom harbor quite a legacy herein, particularly in the fencing and séance arenas.
Both matriarch and patriarch are modeled after the original depictions from the illustrations; the squat, pug-nosed, beady-eyed, gap-toothed, almost greasy toad-like characterization, while luscious Morticia is a bit more nicely full-figured than the original, who was skinny, moreso the likes of Cher or Eva O {both of whom one would not kick out of the coffin!}, who would also be excellent renditions. Both offer a rebellious Wednesday sage advice and attempted guidance, through her adolescent phase of self-discovery, determined to find her own darkness.
Wednesday herself is perfectly misanthropic, ingenious, highly selective and obsessive, demonstrating the best eccentrically unconventional Addams traits reflective in our occulture. Clairvoyant abilities have been enhanced, aiding her exponentially in her investigations. While Pugsley, who remains back at The House in the regular world, is much taller and thinner than expected, yet still enthusiastically masochistic. She rooms with kaleidoscopic lycanthrope Enid, whose transformative capabilities become useful.
Other students include vampires, werewolves, sirens, gorgons, telekinetics, witches, warlocks, and shapeshifters. {Some of whom cheat in competitions}. She also befriends apikinetic Eugene Ottinger, AKA "Beeboy".
A pleasure to see an orange-haired Christina Ricci herein, who plays botany instructor & dorm mother Marilyn Thornhill, a secret devotee of outcast-hating Joseph Crackstone, a xian pilgrim deathcult leader whom she seeks to resurrect via Necromancy. A personification of theocratic tyranny who carries a staff of blindlight.
Fester makes a brief appearance in trenchcoat and fedora, vital in the revivification of Thing, via his Frankensteinian electrode digits, thank Satan!
Pleased to see season II underway. It just keeps getting better. [5/5] ∞
_____________
🎂 Review coincides with series Progenitor Charles Addams´ nativity {1/7}.Monkey Shines
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
The wondrous world of Harry Potter opens up through the enchanted pages of J.K. Rowling's books, as veritable grimoires masked in fictional caricatures, but demonstrating subtle magical principles. The books come to life in a veritable bibliomancy - the words vibrate, a Magical glow eminates therefrom, & the pictures come to brilliant life, jumping forth from the pages in dynamic enchanted exuberance. And thus it has been for those who have enjoyed these wonderful works.
These have served to stimulate, & sometimes even enhance the child-like Magic residing within - that charm personified in animals & children, & preserved by The Magician.
I have found this film a marvel to behold, although I feel it could have been twice the production had it been a tad darker, as the books have tended to be. Unfortunately, producers felt that the initial more gothicesque aesthetics would frighten children, to whom the film is primarily directed towards. But I question the excessive over-sheltering of children would only raise a populace of mollycoddles. Speaking for Myself on the left hand, I have always been attracted to the darkest subject matter since I was a very young child. The pervasive fascination for blood & gore in western society is due to the lack of real-life bloodletting spectacles, practices, & traditions in modern culture. In many societies, a boy was not considered a man until until he had killed his first prey in the hunt, or slain an enemy. Western Society compensates for this natural blood lust with horror movies & documentaries, to stimulate that latently essential primal part of the psyche which remains far too under-stimulated.
The first half of the movie seemed aesthetically darker, whereas the second half was a bit 'lighter', probably as a result of the pusillanimousness of Chris Columbus {who also directed "Home Alone" as an indication}. I believe a film of this caliber would have been better directed by the likes of Tim Burton, who has consistently brought forth the dark sides of the characters he has worked with, & created films of magnificent & gloriously gothic proportions, as Batman would be a major example; with a musickal score conducted instead by Danny Elfman, considering the current score unfortunately sounds rather tired & redundant - not one of John William's better works. It just seemed that he did not place too much effort into it, yet it still remains memorable, but so much more could have been done with it.
I found the effects to be quite well done, concurrent with the descriptions in the book. There were several scenes which were curtailed for time, but I have a feeling the release of the video / DVD will divulge many deleted scenes.
A most poignant scene was towards the end, when Potter comes face to face with Voldemort, in which he states, "There is no good or evil, only Power & those who seek it. Those who do not, are weak." Quite a Satanic statement!
The release of this movie will probably inspire some children to gain an interest in The Occult, & will create A.C.I.'s in many, & just may serve to open the door to self-realization in true infernal progeny yet unknown. A movie of this type I feel is timely, & necessitates "popularity" in this select case, to help contribute to that societal shift in the Satanic direction.
Besides that one moment of the stating of Satanic fact, there is no weakan sanctimony, no xian drivel, just plain fun "witchcraft" for the whole family.
The idea of a "School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" does sound rather appealing {notice the distinction between the genders} - the closest thing we have to that is the homeschooling initiative which is espoused by most Satanists. Speaking for Myself, I have schooled Myself in The Dark Arts, incorporating & experimenting with what I will to determine My own personal philosophies & rites {Draconian Satanism}, & I do consider Dr. LaVey My Daemon-Mentor. And now, as "grownup" Witches & Warlocks, Our Infernal Progeny may have the benefit of Our tutoring.
Overall, I found the film to be visually stunning, relevant to the book, & it displayed a higher class of diction & politeness, serving as a good example to the more bereft & vulgar infesting the current populace. Recommended.
Harry Potter & The Chambre of Secrets
Harry Potter returns to Hogwart's for his second year in Magical-Scholastic training. And now he is pretty well settled to begin afresh on a new adventure. He is sprung from his room {he actually is granted a room, probably at the behest of Magical intervention}, away from the muggles who desperately try to keep him as their virtual slave; released by the Weasley Brothers in a flying car to which they affix a chain to Harry's barred window and make away back to school, his true home in this case; with Privet Drive being more like a tower of imprisonment holding many bad memories.
They run into The Whomping Willow, a burly tree who beats the car about unmercifully, instead of weeping. When they finally meet the ground, the car, a living being in itself, becomes understandably annoyed and races off.
Arachnophobes beware! Arachnophiles delight! Another remarkable moment occurred when their adventures lead them into the enchanted forest, following clues by a vision, deep into a cave to speak with a huge spider creature, a wise monster indeed, who would not allow them to leave without providing sustainment for his young:
"I cannot deny them fresh meat which comes so willingly into our midst. Farewell, friend of Hagrid..."And the chase is on. They unbelievably make it out into the forest where they are rescued by the car, squashing a few spiders along the way, until they finally reach the safety of the castle. So the mystery monster has yet to be divulged, until the very end, Voldemort makes an appearance as his preferred manifestation of youth, aspiration, and vigor - along with an impressive serpentine basilisk at this bidding, which he orders to kill Potter, but is eventually thwarted by Dumbledore's phoenix who plucks out his eyes.
Draco Malfoy's father plays a role in the film, along with Gilderoy Lockheart, a popinjay-poseur opportunist par excellance, which does speak to the faux "magician" type who frequently takes credit for others' accomplishments, as well as natural occurrences; jumping in at the last moment pretending it to be their own - he may fool the muggles, but a true Magician can spot this type outright. He has the audacity to engage Snape in a wand-sparring competition, of which his knowledge and experience is virtually null, and is forthwith humiliated by the Dark Potions instructor. His rottenness reveals itself in a subsequent in which, behind the fanciful facade of a rather weakan exterior in aesthetic and shallow personality, deems to take credit for the exploits of Harry's innovation, but through circumstance loses his memory by a well-deserved blow to the head by Ron Weasley.
Overall, it is analyzed that the film should be seen three or more times in order to appreciate all of the quick scenes which run by far too fast, as there is so much to the books, that each one could quite easily fit into two films at a time, but for expedience, was compressed into a little more than two hours. Viewing this film in the theatre is amusing for an entertaining "night out", but I believe it would be far more appreciated in one's own Lair. Still, to experience this series to the fullest, the highest recommendation is to read the books themselves, and this the films will be far more vibrant.
Another element that was noted was in the instance when introduced to "Dobby" the house elf, who appeared just as I imagined him, who is a masochistic character practicing self-flagellation for the smallest infraction in slave conduct who, through all of his efforts, attempts to prevent Potter from attending another year at Hogwarts, for the apparent reason that he fears for his safety. although it is later divulged that he has another Master, who himself does not wish Potter to return.
In one scene involving the house elf, Potter frees him from his cruel master's rule by actually bestowing him an article of clothing, thereby liberating him from slavery, which did receive a few hand claps of approval from the audience, particularly from a negro woman who obviously connected this as a metaphor for ancestor oppression... but the question remains, "what does Dobby do now?" For it is known, that the slave-type encompasses most of humanity, who are in the majority followers, necessitating a leader, a ruler, a master, whether it be a so-called "God", messiah, television, trends, etc. Although in this day and age, they still want to be told what to do, but without the use of the word "slavery" - so instead, PC terminology has been invented such as "team player", "church group", "congregation", etc., that it may be more palatable - yet drones they remain, no matter which connotation is used.
Overall, if one has been well entertained by the premiere film "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone", then "The Chambre of Secrets" is well worth the watching.
Fantastic Beasts {And Where To Find Them} strikes as a sort of Harry Potter meets Beastmaster set in early 20th century America.
A rogue British Wizard travels to America back when immigrants were allowed to drove from Europe legally en masse. He with his magical briefcase containing enchanted creatures of various sorts. Along the way, he meets a "nomag" {collective word for unfortunately teeming unmagical people, commoners akin to muggles}, a likable stout fellow who happens to be a baker of doughy confections with an infectious sense of humor.
The creatures thrive in a magical multi-dimensional garden akin to their particular elements. One of the most impressive beasts for me in this menagerie is the Thunderbird, native to the southwest, whose wings bring forth thunder & lightning, and the mighty winged serpent Quetzacoatl.
In the end, they must make the muggle forget, but not without eventual rewards for his help.
Wonderful CGI, with fluidity and spectacular scenery in stark contrasts of commerce & the age of mechanical invention. The imaginative and the practical in complementary rapport. ∞
A capuchin monkey named 'Ella' {Spa. "her"} develops a strong psychic attachment to a quadriplegic when becoming his assistant for an experiment gone wrong. At first very efficient and worthwhile even developing remote viewing through her. Subsequently, there are several disturbingly wrong unscrupulous key moment betrayals, wherein no one can be trusted.
Ella becomes a veritable junkie secretly subsisting on a green solution, reminiscent of Re-Animator, manufactured by a pseudo-friend, deciding to use him as a guinapig. Even he's lied to by his boss at the lab wherein his research notes are stolen for ill-gotten gains and false credit. 1st kill: Ella dispatches an irritating pet bird of the resident nurse's who attacked Allan. Whereupon losing his ambulatory abilities, whom he thought was his friend coalesces with his girlfriend. He gains justified fiery vengeance though Ella {2nd kill}, which is a proper application of revenge. ∞But when Ella goes too far, becoming uncomfortably overly possessive, almost indiscriminately murderous, electrocuting Allan's mom {3rd kill} and jealously harming his new girlfriend, all stops are off, as lycanthropy is enacted to dispense final Darwinian reciprocity.
Special note on the resourceful manner Allan & Melanie engage in intimate relations.
Comparatively, this film really speaks to the
7th Statement. [5/5]
The Devil & Daniel Mouse
XII A.S. Nelvana. Directed by Clive A. Smith. Starring Chris Wiggins {B.L. Zebub / The Devil}, Jim Henshaw {Daniel Mouse), Annabel Kershaw {Jan Mouse), Martin Lavut {Weez Weezel}, Laurel Runn {Jan Mouse singing voice), John Sebastian {Daniel Mouse / Rock Show Emcee singing voice).
The typical Faustian scenario of making a deal with The Devil, then reneging on that agreement, trying to cheat one who was gracious enough to help the applicant in their heartfelt wish. There's always some kind of 'battle for the soul' at the end, where the dealee somehow worm their way out of the contract. All the while The Devil is a perfect gentleman, & of course would become annoyed when a business transaction is unfulfilled. An amusing Judeo-Christian mythological frivolity to be sure.
Released for the Halloween season, the tale of this animation is based on the short story The Devil & Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet, that film with the same premise, except the benefactor of the first part is a farmer fed up with the stresses of his occupation. Other more well-known storylines with this scenario include 'The Pick of Destiny', & the song 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia'.
The animation herein The Devil & Daniel Mouse is reminiscent of Rankin/Bass productions, and works very well for a children's fable. The Devil is portrayed as a beastly, richly ample Lord of The Underworld, complete with pentagram necklace, while his primary henchman is a rather fox-like weasel.
The Devil comes to the aid of Jan Mouse, distraught over being fired from the nightclub which payed the bills for she and her counterpart Daniel Mouse, granting her dreams of being a singing rock superstar, for of course, the price of her "soul", which she signs for in blood, of course. Daniel Mouse is nowhere to be seen until the latter half of the film, for a confrontation in a hellish court. One good turn deserves another, so the veritable deception on the mice's part is met in kind.
If any "morale" should be extracted from it, it is to honor your promises and don't lie, in this case, to a business partner, especially a successful one for great mutual benefit, which is ironically the misplaced trait attributed to The Prince of Darkness, who materialized all your desires. Have character and honor your agreements. ∞
The Grinch
I have long since enjoyed this little tale about a hermit living high up on mountaintop overlooking Whoville in disgust. I recently accompanied a young cousin, & had the opportunity to view this latest presentation, & though it is rather slow in the beginning, it really picks up after Little Sarah Loohoo invites The Grinch to receive an award down in town. A request made by the Mayor triggers a memory sequence in which the Grinch experienced some rather traumatic events in his childhood, & all Hell breaks loose after that. He serves in his capacity as villain, as revealing the programmed habits of the townspeople who celebrate xmas, motivated by nothing more than greed. The Grinch asks the question, "is that all xmas means to you?" This sheds a luciferic light on them all, revealing them for the money & gift-hungry drones that the are. In a particularly memorable scene, The Grinch acts as accuser, then proceeds to lay waste their town.
I can already hear someone saying to Me, "you think too much". To which I would answer, "no, you think too little". There are subtleties that can be picked up if one only wishes to see them. The "Evil" character in most any presentation, serves in his or her capacity as a catalyst. Indeed, in most cases, "evil" serves as a catalyst for change. In this respect, it serves as a positive & cleansing element that instructs in harsh lessons for the commoner.
However, since I Am acquainted with the original story, the outcome was predictable, although the pervasive question remained: "What does xmas have to with having a 'big heart'? Or the ability to show compassion towards those who deserve it?" Personally, I do not celebrate this xian holiday, but may participate in certain activities for the gift factor. The Winter Solstice is My Yuletide. It is all relative.
So, when The Grinch removes all of their precious little holy-day decorations, the whos begin to realize their erroneous materialistic activities, & realize the root of their holiday. They consequently gather together in a large cluster, & celebrate the "true spirit" of xmas. "Evil" has once again purified the lies & deceptions.
Even through this quaint Seuss tale, the necessity of catastrophe proves itself evident, as pain is indeed a harsh, though sometimes necessary element. In its own way, this film speaks to the efficacy of The 9th Satanic Statement.
There is one female member amongst the whos who is just entranced by The Grinch, as she practically has orgasms as he displays his misanthropy. The "bad guy" lure. There's always at least one.
It would have been nice to preclude or follow this film with the original animation. Carey makes for quite an appropriate Grinch character, & the costuming was very sufficient. Hail The Grinch!
House on Haunted Hill
Vincent Price plays a Satanic MIllionaire {not too far from the truth}, who invited 7 people into his home, rumoured to be haunted by 7 ghosts. Each will be payed $10,000 if they manage to make it through the night sane & alive. After the toll of the Witching hour, no one can leave, as all the windows are barred, & the front door is locked like a vault.
Immediately, ghostly manifestations occur. The first, blood dripping from the ceiling, thus "marking" one of the female guests.
The guests consist of a young entrepreneur, a dashing type, a young skiddish lady, an older lady, a stuporstitious & slightly fearful little man who is learned on the subject of ghosts {you may also have seen this actor portraying the real-estate agent granting Rosemary & Guy Woodhouse a tour of their new apartment}; an investigator, rather like a P.I., Vincent Price's character, & his lovely wife {whom he abuses from time to time}.
He creates a veritable "spookhouse" environment employing doors opening & closing, chills of air, apparitions {the most remarkable being that of a floating hag}, a severed head, a haunted rope, & even a walking skeleton! {At the time of the movie's release, (1957), during the scene when the skeleton appears, one was actually brought out to hover above the heads of the audience members to accentuate the experience - however, true to herd style, popcorn & other miscellaneous objects were thrown at the hapless skeleton. Once, it detached from its invisible wire, falling into the audience, was treated like a beach ball at a KISS concert.
So the Vincent Price character arms his guests with guns kept in seven black coffins {nice containers, by the way}.
In the end, it was all planned for the beginning, much like the "Let Me Entertain You" chapter from The Devil's Notebook taken to another degree.
"House on Haunted Hill" is classic spook show fare, definitely deserving of one's collection.
An American couple travel abroad to haunted olde England to claim an inheritance, which is a strikingly beautiful castle high up on a hill overlooking a gloomy peasant village.
When entering the town pub for some directions, the resident drunken peasants are rude, fearful, & stuporstitious, when finally, a doctor explains the peasants' actions, & guides them to their inheritance.
The castle carries a nefarious connotation, a veritable "place that god forsook", where a Warlock bearing a frightening resemblance to the visiting American once resided, & who in fact, is the ancestor, whose dark magic left freakish anomeles upon the descendants of those who murdered him by the stake's flame. And indeed, his "generational curse" is plainly evident upon the deformed peasants to this day, who ironically, resemble zombies themselves.
Arkham Palace is a magnificent lair, filled with what you would expect to see in a Warlock's abode - ornate furnishings, frescoes, tapestries, stark gothesque chambres, lit with candles, torches, fireplaces, & to add to its charm, veiled in cobwebs.
He is fixated - veritably mesmerized by the portrait of the excarnate Lord of the castle, which hangs {where else?}, above the main fireplace.Slowly but surely, the essence of the warlock takes possession of his mind, until he fully gains incarnate composition again within the body of his descendant. Then he goes about to summon up 'The Old Ones' {from Lovecraftian Lore}, taking up the 'forbidden rites' of The Necronomicon, that he may resurrect his beloved wife, long since in necrotic catatonia. Of course, she is eventually revived, his companion sorceress, to aid him in his diabolical experimentations.
David's initial companion becomes very disturbed by his personality fluctuations, that she seeks out the doctor who helped them before - eventually, they both become prisoners, she is subsequently scheduled for sacrifice. A pit leading directly to Hell is opened, revealing a growling, demonic spechtre awaiting to take his prize.
The film concludes in the ubiquitous D.P. manner, as the peasants, drunken with liquid courage & fear, form a mob, eventually setting the castle ablaze, although David is spared the fate of his ancestor.
However, at the very ende, that sinister gleam returns once again to his eyes - the warlock prevails.
A fantastic, action-filled intense Noir thriller about a "joe citizen" named "Jeffrey Beaumont" {"well, howdie neighbor"} is pushed to the brink of insanity, as he stumbles across the night creatures inhabiting the underside of a Norman Rockwellian North Carolina suburb. The counter-culture; the flip side.
He comes upon a human ear decomposing in a field as he walks to & from from visiting his elderly relative in the hospital, who was seemingly attacked by his water hose as he was watering the lawn one bright sunshiney day. The denizens lurking in the black earth are always prepared to take their due.
This film really manages to present the polarities between seemingly "wholesome" Americana & "unwholesome" Americana, as it were {the Dream & the Nightmare}.
Dennis Hopper portrays a most convincing sadistic crime boss addicted to nitrus oxide, who takes long, deep inhalations to magnify the thrill of the kill &/or sensual indulgence {often, one in the same}, which is always very graphic. He literally stuffs blue velvet in his victims' mouths as a calling card. Of his murders, the most notable was the execution of two Police officials - one with the material crammed in his mouth, & the other, standing dead with an electrical current running through the corpse. Now THAT'S creative! It rivals even Hannibal Lechter's imaginative killings.
Isabella Rosallini plays a tasty nightclub {'The Slow Bar'} dish whose prime number is, not surprisingly, "Blue Velvet" - which, after you learn more of the character's traumatic personal life, becomes much more haunting, as she is indeed a tortured soul.
She & "Jeffrey Beaumont" {MacLachlan} enjoy a tryst together, after she rapes him at knife-point, but he soon learns to compensate for his normalcy by indulging her fetish - sex & violence.
Interspersing the more dramatic/climactic moments in the movie {there are many}, are telling appearances of a dancing flame vigorously flickering upon a black candle accompanied by magnified infernal sounds {the black flame of life}, the protagonist growling bestially in dream sequences, a raging wall of lustful fire igniting the kundalini. Very Satanic. Thus is director David Lynch's style, as can be seen in favorites such as "Twin Peaks" & "Lost Highway" {which includes a cameo by Rev. Manson}.
Well, the villain discovers Jeffrey exiting from {Rossellini's} residence, after some particularly passionate sex, & takes them both for "a ride" {a Noir term meaning "swimming with the fishes", i.e., death}, but not before stepping by a favorite bar {what a sport!}. Of note, one of this author's favorite artists' song "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison is used as a prelude to the frivolity with Jeff. Jeffrey is subjected to mental as well as physical torture for a few hours, until beaten unconcious {not without good reason, of course}, & left in some desolate industrial section in the outskirts - he is truly fortunate to have not been executed.
Also keep in mind that he was deceiving a hometown girl {sort of an inconsequential foo (played by Laura Dern)}, but he could not fool the experienced fox, who makes them both pay for their lies.
{Dern}, a foo for sure, remains with him through the ordeal {that's true love!}. She represents the love interest / the "angel", whereas {Rossellini} represents the she-devil / succubus, or "lust interest", if you will. Between them both, is an amalgam of the "Madonna / Whore" dynamic analyzed by Freud.
Two worlds collide, & he walks the fine line between them, experiencing the pains & the pleasures of both.
The Witching Time
This is a great big stinking limburger of a British B-movie flick. But such is the charm which established Elvira, Mistress of The Dark as an icon. As a very young Satanist, I always enjoyed this raven-haired buxom beauty's "Movie Macabre" presentations. She was an E.C.I. of Mine. Indeed, it was on her show that I first saw "The Devil's Rain" accompanied by her lighthearted {or should that be 'dark-hearted'} smart-ass {& what an ass it was!} commentaries.
Much later, after the show was sadly placed in its respective video=coffin, I was delighted to find more of the episodes at the local library through 'Thriller Video'. Amongst them, were such titles as "The Crawling Eye" & "The Carpathian Eagle". European low-budget films no one alse would show. Segments such as the Mailbag, & characters like 'Breather', a greasy obsessed fan, the stereotypical pervert, who would call up Elvira from a local payphone wheezingly exhaling into the receiver, always managing to disgust the hostess.
Well, after having recorded them for My personal collection, I saw neither succulent hide nor long, shiny, silky black hair {it didn't matter that it was a wig} of her other shows, until this past weekend, when a friend of Mine unearthed "Two! Two! Ah-Ah!" {in the Count's accent} Elvira presentations!
The first, called "The Witching Time" {to add to the effect, it should have been arcanely spelled "tyme", but I digress}, but like I said, a real limburger.
There she was, the Gothic Goddess that she is, strewn out luxuriously sedictive on that opulent Victorian dais, like a feline succubus stretched out ever so alluringly.
"The Witching Time" is about a witch who escapes the stake by transporting herself through time. Haggard, ragged, dazed & confused, she is overwhelmed by the progression of technology, after being found by the owner of the estate.
When he locks her in a room while he calls a psychiatrist, she feels betrayed, & accuses him of summoning the Magistrate to see her burn. When he returns with the shrink, she is gone from out of a completely sealed room, which brings into question his own sanity to the doctor. A bit later, she re-appears to indignate him scathingly. From here on, she causes mayhem, causing the owner & his girlfiend into madness until they have a talk with a priest, who, I believe should have had a major role in the movie as an exorcist --- here, he is merely a brief & transitory character who may have just as well been cut out. Speaking of editing, a recurring disappointment was some of the more dramatic highlights being rudely censored, curtailed, probably in order to remain within the one hour timeframe, which was a pity.
There was one scene in which the girlfriend lit but two of the three red candles on the candlearium she was carrying, but at least there was continuity, as a subsequent scene showed only the same two candles lit.
In the end, the witch is dowsed in a horse trough, disappears again, materializing by by a blazing balefire ignited by the crazed owner of the estate.
Another irrelevant storyline was in that the witch had fashioned an effigie of herself, which came into possession of the girlfriend, who finally ended the witch's havoc by throwing it into the fire. Now, why did she fashion a doll in her own image? Bad script-writing.
Overall, "The Witching Time" is predictable, cheesy, but a great laugh at parties.
The Silent Scream
Starring Peter Cushing
Of the two, this was much the better. So much so, that I will even add it to My Recommendations List. And no, this is not the anti-abortion propaganda. There are definite traces of 'The Island of Dr. Moureu' here, but the main influence is most definitely the experimentations of Russian Scientist, Ivan Pavlov, who proved the existence of habitual responses. He experimented with dogs who came to salivate upon hearing a bell which they knew would be followed by food, instead of waiting to see the ration itself. Thus was born the understanding of "conditioned response." Which, in the long run, opened up the whole world of commercialism to programmed human response {the 'Ping' is the thing!}. As a matter of fact, as I write this, it is his birthday - he was born on this date {IX/XIV} in 1849 c.e.
A quiet, unassuming older gentleman hides a secret life & alter-ego. He is the owner of a pet shoppe & caretaker of the resident animals. Up front, what one might expect to occupy a pet store - cats, birds, lizards, snakes, tarantulas, rabbits, hamsters, etcetera. But hidden behind secret doors, beneath the establishment, he keeps lions, tigers, & a beautiful black panther fro the eyes of the world. Well, besides it being illegal, as he kept these beautiful & wild creatures incarcerated 9in small cages, he has formulated a sick plan. An unnatural & cruel obsessive technique of "discipline", which would be pure unbalanced sadism, if it weren;t for him being so deranged. Indeed, some of the world's greatest 'evils' were done in the name of 'good'. And I paraphrase:
"Imagine a zoo without bars, where you can roam amongst the animals freely without fear of attack or misbehaviour."He is a veritable 'evil' Dr. Dolittle. The procedure goes as follows: If you hear a buzz, do not touch the bars - they are electrified. If you hear the bell, proceed to poke your head out through the bars to eat your supper.Probably the type of scenario the ASPCA people would imagine occurring in laboratories, but no, in reality, they are much worse.
Sadly, one of the great cats is electrocuted - accident or suicide? I believe it was the latter. It seems she just became sick & tired of being forced to live under such conditions.
Besides this disgusting display of needless cruelty, which bears echoes of "the lamb laying beside the lion" christian drivel, the actually eventually arises a Satanic precept in the manner he dealt with thieves . The owner {Cushing} needs someone to look after the store & mind the animals while he is away for a time. A young zoologist answers his query, someone the owner could trust with the secret of not only the animals, but the safe as well. After the initial shock wears off, he agrees. After the owner departs, he hatches a plan to rob the elderly storekeeper - but lo behold, a trap door opens beneath him, sending him plunging into a cell - a perfect cage created for human habitation.
It was planned all along.
"All it takes is the right bait."
On this, I fully agree.
Now he has a human animal to experiment upon & train. He gets the buzz & bell treatment, & it works marvelously.
This is how prisons should be - by their crimes, felons have forfeited their rights, not only teir freedom, but any luxuries as well. It is appalling to see the accommodations these lowlifes enjoy. They certainly have more resources within the prison that without - it has gotten so that they do not mind returning to their "home away from home". This is utterly ridiculous.
By their crimes, they have become second class citizens {perhaps even third class - a new classification?}, if they even are citizens at all, that is!
I propose a similar technique of behavioral correction be applied, to coincide with the Legis Draconum of Graffiti & Gangs: The Satanic Solution. Electrify the doors / cell bars {just enough for a good strong shock that will send them reeling backwards}, that they may not wish, & even dread returning to such a miserable environment, & at the same time forewarning them of the deadly consequences which will follow {i.e., the electric chair}, if they kill some innocent in the process of the commission if their crime. They should be given immunity if they kill one their own kind {again, see Graffiti & Gangs: The Satanic Solution; The Devil's Scroll}.
Back to the review. Subsequently, young man's girlfriend finds him down in the cage, & is soon also outsmarted by the shopkeeper, & she gets pushed in as well. Then they are both subjected to psychological tests & manipulations --- he is the puppet master.
In the final test, a section of wall slides open - beyond, freedom. They take the bait. They rush home only to find the entre house has been rigged into one huge electric cage.
But the true horror may rest deeper, as the shopkeeper himself was pushed into the human cage by the black panther. Ergo, the Silent Scream.
Omen 4: A New BeginningDamien Thorn is reborn in his subsequent sister Delia, a dark-haired little girl who is adopted by a politician destined fo the presidency --- sound familiar? The Antichrist is persistent.
A nun turned prostitute then evangelical jesus-freak is tormented with the knowledge of helping to bring 'the evil' into the world; she prays to 'god' for forgiveness that she didn't kill the child when she had the chance. Mother Superior has a heart attack after slapping the holy sheizer out of the pre-nun, & a crucifix inverts during an agonizing supplication.
Very early on, she shows signs of her 'wickedness' --- scratching her mother across the cheek while still but an infant.
As might be expected, her whole childhood is filled with a series of anomeles.
While at school, a shit-disturbing little brat picks on little Delia for some undetermined reason, perhaps as an exercise in masochism. In a particularly memorable scene, the brat makes off with Delia's lunchbox, dumping the contents onto the floor, stamping on it while laughing idiotically. Well, Delia doesn't take kindly to this antagonistic gesture, & forthwith slams her lunchbox square across the brute's ugly mug --- he just sits in the corner crying his little beady eyes out, after managing to strike little Delia. But she gets her revenge --- the next day, during a break, Delia makes off with his lunch, & runs out to mount & climb a ladder leading to the roof. When she gets quite a ways up, the little pigface follows, & begins to climb, but lo & behold, he's afraid of heights!
He ends up urinating all over himself in front of the whole class. Ah, sweet revenge...
Next, babysitter selection comes along, & who manages to get the job, but a new-age flake / weakan type.
One day, Delia comes in from playing, & notices the babysitter sitting in the kitchen with her mother, with a book displayed on the table, entitled, "The Book of Light"; I paraphrase - "It's all about healing, & crystals...", "And stupid junk!" yells Delia, slamming the book on the floor. A truly wonderful scene.
Another scene involves curious Delia inspecting the weakan's crystal necklace. Guess what? It turns black. As do all of the crystals in her drawer.
Another incident involved the babysitter taking a shower, when all of a sudden, she sees an inverted cross appear in the steam on the mirror. Frightened, she finally employs one of her 'wippie' friends to 'feel the vibe' --- well, he promptly becomes quite ill, almost smashing his car into Delia's 'mother's'.
The weakan arranges to trick Delia into attending a weaker - blindlight convention, where all manner of occultnik idiocy is enacted. By & by, as Delia passes the different booths, the practitioners are horrified by her presence, much like rabbits in the face of a stalking predator, until she is finally sabotaged, & forced to take a Kirlian photograph, which develops quite predictably. Swirls of black & red paint, which denotes chaos.
Eventually, one of the flame tossers ignites himself, which catches upon the roof of a booth, & soon, the whole place is a raging inferno, with Delia smirking in its wake.
Eventually, Delia's 'mother' gets the 'xoid cooties', the paranoia bug, consulting priests & pastors about the rise of the Antichrist, the book of Revelations, etc.Finally, with the help of the 'lambs of god', she manages to justify her paranoia, & makes up her mind for infanticide. Not surprising, actually, considering that the judeo-xian god has been guilty of this atrocity twice {jeezwiz & Ezekiel's son Abraham --- the latter, which was a cruel mind-scrambling joke}.
The Detective helping her gets demolished, amidst a chorus of spechtral dark angels.
The little nun finally finds relief by the fang, & the weaker is destoyed. The 'mother' stalks towards the bedroom, as Delia holds the infant; the 'mother' points her gun, the baby displays the characteristic 'Mark of the Beast', & then...?
Overall, Omen 4 is very entertaining, without the demoralization. Delia proves herself to be quite a demon-spawn.
