4 Shots From Horror History: Bluebeard, The Monster, Satan At Play, The Sealed Room


This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 Shots From 4 Films.  I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.

Today, we look at the 1900s.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Bluebeard (1901, dir by Georges Méliès)

Bluebeard (1901, dir by Georges Méliès)

The Monster (1903, dir by Georges Méliès)

The Monster (1903, dir by Georges Méliès)

Satan At Play (1907, dir by Segundo de Chomón)

Satan At Play (1907, dir by Segundo de Chomón)

The Sealed Room (1909, dir by D.W. Griffith)

The Sealed Room (1909, dir by D.W. Griffith)

4 Shots From Horror History: The Execution of Mary Stuart, The House of the Devil, The Haunted Castle, The X-Rays


This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 Shots From 4 Films.  I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.

Today, we start with the 1890s and the birth of horror cinema.

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Execution of Mary Stuart (1895, dir by Alfred Clark)

The Execution of Mary Stuart (1895, dir by Alfred Clark)

The House of the Devil (1896, dir by Georges Méliès)

The House of the Devil (1896, dir by Georges Méliès)

The Haunted Castle (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

The Haunted Castle (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

The X-Rays (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

The X-Rays (1897, dir by George Albert Smith)

4 Shots From 4 Films: The Bedroom Window, L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys, 8 Mile


On Tuesday I was shocked and saddened by the news that filmmaker Curtis Hanson had died of a heart attack.  Hanson was a great director but he was also an underrated one.  In a career that spanned 45 years, he only directed 16 films.  He was a genre director, one who often seemed to be more interested in being a storyteller than an auteur.   However, I would hold his body of work against almost any other director in Hollywood.  L.A. Confidential inspired me to learn more about film noir and whenever I need to be reminded why I wanted to become a writer, I watch Wonder Boys.

These 4 shots come from 4 films directed by Curtis Hanson.  Rest in peace and thank you for the movies.

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Bedroom Window (1987, directed by Curtis Hanson)

The Bedroom Window (1987, directed by Curtis Hanson)

L.A. Confidential (1997, directed by Curtis Hanson)

L.A. Confidential (1997, directed by Curtis Hanson)

Wonder Boys (2000, directed by Curtis Hanson)

Wonder Boys (2000, directed by Curtis Hanson)

8 Mile (2002, directed by Curtis Hanson)

8 Mile (2002, directed by Curtis Hanson)

4 Shots From 4 Dario Argento Films: Deep Red, Suspiria, Inferno, The Stendhal Syndrome


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

Happy birthday, Dario Argento!

4 Shots From 4 Films

Deep Red (1975, dir by Dario Argento)

Deep Red (1975, dir by Dario Argento)

Suspiria (1977, dir by Dario Argento)

Suspiria (1977, dir by Dario Argento)

Inferno (1980, dir by Dario Argento)

Inferno (1980, dir by Dario Argento)

The Stendhal Syndrome (1996, dir by Dario Argento)

The Stendhal Syndrome (1996, dir by Dario Argento)

4 Shots From 4 Films: HP Lovecraft at the Movies


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking. H.P. Lovecraft was born on this date in 1890. The “Weird Tales” author and creator of the Cthulhu Mythos wasn’t appreciated in his time, but his work enjoyed a revival beginning in the psychedelic 60’s that’s still going strong today. Here are 4 Shots From 4 Films inspired by the stories of H.P. Lovercraft:

Die Monster Die (1965)

Die Monster Die (1965)

The Dunwich Horror (1968)

The Dunwich Horror (1968)

Re-Animator (1985)

Re-Animator (1985)

In the Mouth of Madness (1995)

In the Mouth of Madness (1995)

4 Shots From 4 Films: The Lodger, Notorious, The Wrong Man, Frenzy


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking!

And again, we say, “Happy Birthday, Alfred Hitchcock!”

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Lodger (1927, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

The Lodger (1927, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Notorious (1946, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Notorious (1946, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

The Wrong Man (1956, dir  by Alfred Hitchcock)

The Wrong Man (1956, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Frenzy (1972, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Frenzy (1972, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

4 Shots From 4 Films: An Epic Birthday Salute


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking. When it came to directing epics movies, there was Cecil B. DeMille, and there was everyone else. The quintessential Hollywood director was born on this date in 1881. Here are four shots from some of DeMille’s greatest films:

King of Kings (1927)

                                                          King of Kings (1927)

Cleopatra (1934)

                                                              Cleopatra (1934)

Samson and Delilah (1949)

                                                      Samson and Delilah (1949)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

                                         The Ten Commandments (1956)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Brainwashed, A Clockwork Orange, They Live, Body Snatchers


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Brainwashed (1960, dir by Gerd Oswlad)

Brainwashed (1960, dir by Gerd Oswald)

A Clockwork Orange (1971, dir by Stanley Kubrick)

A Clockwork Orange (1971, dir by Stanley Kubrick)

They Live (1988, dir by John Carpenter)

They Live (1988, dir by John Carpenter)

Body Snatchers (1993, dir by Abel Ferrara)

Body Snatchers (1993, dir by Abel Ferrara)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Stanley Kubrick, The Early Years


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking. Stanley Kubrick was born on this date in 1928. Beginning as a photographer, Kubrick moved to motion pictures and became one of the most influential filmmakers in history. Here are 4 Shots from the early career of Stanley Kubrick, movie maker:

Fear and Desire (1953)

                                         Fear and Desire (1953)

Killer's Kiss (1955)

                                                     Killer’s Kiss (1955)

The Killing (1956)

                                                           The Killing (1956)

Paths of Glory (1957)

                                      Paths of Glory (1957)

4 Shots From 4 Films (*Sigh*): Every Young Woman’s Battle (2014), The Creation Adventure Team: Six Short Days, One Big Adventure (2002), Let Me Die A Woman (1977), If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do? (1971)


There are so many movies/videos that I am sitting on. Some I have seen, and some I only know because I have seen a review of them, but I do have a copy of them. I thought I would share four of the real crazy ones. If nothing else, just in case I never get to them.

Every Young Woman's Battle (2014)

Every Young Woman’s Battle (2014)

I actually have a partial review of this written. It’s been sitting in the drafts section since April. The reason is that there is just so much crazy that the review is going to be really long. The video is a speech given by Shannon Ethridge to a small room of middle-aged Asian women and one guy basically telling them that your husband is not the one who is going to satisfy your “emotional needs.” That’s what Jesus is for in a marriage. So, it’s kind of like War Room (2015), but a whole lot crazier.

How crazy? First, she opens up the lecture by telling us she is passionate about sexual purity because she has AIDS. Visual AIDS! Then she shows pictures of her family. She goes on to tell us about the time she came to her husband and told him he wasn’t satisfying her “emotional needs.” I put them in quotes because she will make it clear she means sexual needs along with the emotional component. So, how does her husband respond to this? He says he could line up all the men in Dallas outside her door, but it wouldn’t be enough for her. That’s right. He offered to arrange a Debbie Does Dallas (1978) gang bang for her. That’s just one example of the crazy, and how this is really sad for Ethridge at the same time.

The Creation Adventure Team: Six Short Days, One Big Adventure (2002, dir. Cathy Henderson)

The Creation Adventure Team: Six Short Days, One Big Adventure (2002, dir. Cathy Henderson)

An apple on the end of an arrow gets shot into the nose of a dinosaur in the Garden of Eden. Do I need to say more? This is a video that was meant to teach creationism to kids, but actually winds up making everyone alive ashamed to be part of the human race regardless of what they believe. Oh, and it has a sequel where they explain the whole dinosaur situation in creationism.

Let Me Die A Woman (1977, dir. Doris Wishman)

Let Me Die A Woman (1977, dir. Doris Wishman)

In the transploitation mondo “documentary” Let Me Die A Woman (1977) they felt it was necessary that we see what happens when you have sex too soon after having bottom surgery. It’s very important that we see it, and can’t just be told. How else do you do this scene, but to have the trans woman have sex with a cab driver played by no less then Deep Throat (1972) pornographic superstar Harry Rheems. He says, “Thanks, lady,” which is immediately followed by her noticing blood on the sheets in between her legs before quickly grabbing the phone. It then cuts back to Rheems who seems happy about the situation before leaving the room. That shot above is from when he tells her “thanks”. We learn from the “doctor” of this movie right afterwards that what she had was “sex impatience”. Apparently, sometimes you just have to have Harry Rheems’ dick in you.

That’s not all this movie shows either. We have the graphic bottom surgery scenes, the dick chopping off scene, the maintaining your new vagina with a dildo-like object scene, and more!

If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do? (1971, dir Ron Ormond)

If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do? (1971, dir. Ron Ormond)

This is one I have only seen a review of, but I do have a copy of it. The film is basically a cross between a Christian and Communist scare film. This is from the end of the Communist part of the movie. At the end, there is just a little kid left. He won’t give up his belief in Jesus, so the Communist solider pulls out a machete, chops off his head, and throws it off into a field. That’s it right there. This from a director who survived a plane crash and decided to stop making exploitation films to make Christian scare films instead. As Brad Jones (The Cinema Snob) said: “He never really stopped making exploitation films. He just made sure to mention Jesus in all of the them.”

What’s great is that the first film and the last one here actually have a connection to each other. In If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do? (1971) there is a scene where Communists are apparently going to teach boys about the seven erotic zones of passion in every woman. Of course they cut away from that because that situation doesn’t exist. In Every Young Woman’s Battle, Ethridge says the devil perverted sexuality seven different ways or seven different times in the Bible. That’s where that 1970’s Christian scare film got that from.