VCI Scream Pack with Don’t Look In The
Basement/Kiss Of The Tarantula/Don’t Open The Door
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C Films: C+
As so
many films of late fall on their face trying to recreate the Horror genre look
of the early 1970s, especially from Texas
Chain Saw Massacre, it is amusing to look back again at three very, very
B-movies and see how much better they are in look and ambition versus the
current record set of wanna be projects.
Though far from great, there are certain enjoyments that can be found in
the following three genre films that helped put VCI on the DVD map.
Don’t Look In The Basement (1972 aka The Forgotten or Death Ward
#13) is a very politically incorrect thriller about mental patients
(stereotypical at that) being allowed to act out their madness in freer ways
than might be advisable. Of course, this
assumes all persons mentally ill are potential killers, but that does not stop
director S.F. Brownrigg from making what was a much censored film at the
time. It is now interesting and amusing,
if not totally successful.
Don’t Open The Door (1975 aka Don’t Hang Up) makes one wonder if the alternate title was cut
because The Chordettes sent a cease-and-desist order, but features another
young girl taking care of an elderly grandparent, only to be hunted down by a
psycho-killer. Not very good at what it
does, but an interesting failure just the same.
Kiss Of The Tarantula (1976 aka Shudders) crosses the sick dysfunctional family with a young, wacky
daughter just loving to raise and keep the title arachnid. It also tries to cross Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, Carrie, Ben and Willard, but comes nowhere close to any
of them. However, none of the creatures
are digital and some moments are a hoot.
The
various aspect ratios for each film don’t matter, since they have the equally
soft, color limited and detail-challenged look they had upon first arrival as
single discs and these are the same DVDs.
Along with the dated Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono in all cases, three is a
reason this is a cheap set. These are
early transfers and they look it. Extras
for each include trailers and text on the films, but little else. The result is a curio DVD Horror set all fans
should see just once for reference sake and a few laughs.
- Nicholas Sheffo
