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#11
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - November 02, 2026, 11:54:22 AMNIGHT OF TERROR (1933):
This Old Dark House movie is also unexpectedly a proto-slasher, w/ serial killer "the Maniac" sneaking up on adult couples makin' out in their convertibles and makin' stabby on 'em. Then for no clear reason the Maniac decides to begin prowling around a mansion inhabited by a not-particularly-Mad-seeming Scientist and his wealthy family of greedy inheritance-seekers. There are more murders, though it isn't immediately clear whether it's the Maniac who's responsible or if the murders are committed by someone who wants to knock off other stakeholders in the estate or if there's some third motivation at play. Yeah, there's actually some Mystery element here and it ain't bad as these things go.
NIGHT OF TERROR also has a comic relief cowardly black porter
who's no Mantan Moreland, alas. And, it's got top-billed Bela Lugosi as an Indian butler named "Degar", 
not technically in brownface but wearing a turban. Bela played several similar roles in the early 30s - Hungarian, Indian, what was the diffence, eh? 
And of course he had to play numerous butlers, often thanklessly, in years to come. But following a year after his breakthrough as Dracula, NIGHT OF TERROR really plays up the viewers' expectation that Bela will be a frightening bad@$$ (his introductory close-up is a corker) and Bela is happy to lean into those expectations. At nearly every turn, it seems clear that Degar is up to no good whatsoever. Smartly, though, the truth of the matter is less clear-cut and the film's final revelations are therefore quite satisfying. Oddly, NIGHT OF TERROR ends up showcasing one of Bela's less predictable and thus better horror roles. 
There are two other highly noteworthy (and very very funny) things to mention about NIGHT OF TERROR. One is that Bela is taken into custody/detained late in the film by a homicide detective, and manages to escape not by assaulting or murdering the cop but instead by smoking him up w/ a strong jazz cigarette.
That's the only time I've seen obvious (and positive!) marijuana use in a pre-code flick. The other funny bit is that the Maniac (Edwin Maxwell in ridiculous facial hair and a puzzling accent) addresses the audience directly at the end of the film and warns them not to spoil the twists or else he'll find them and kill them! 
3.5/5 I hope I've left things acceptably vague in this review so I don't get a visit from Edwin tonight!
This Old Dark House movie is also unexpectedly a proto-slasher, w/ serial killer "the Maniac" sneaking up on adult couples makin' out in their convertibles and makin' stabby on 'em. Then for no clear reason the Maniac decides to begin prowling around a mansion inhabited by a not-particularly-Mad-seeming Scientist and his wealthy family of greedy inheritance-seekers. There are more murders, though it isn't immediately clear whether it's the Maniac who's responsible or if the murders are committed by someone who wants to knock off other stakeholders in the estate or if there's some third motivation at play. Yeah, there's actually some Mystery element here and it ain't bad as these things go.
NIGHT OF TERROR also has a comic relief cowardly black porter
who's no Mantan Moreland, alas. And, it's got top-billed Bela Lugosi as an Indian butler named "Degar", not technically in brownface but wearing a turban. Bela played several similar roles in the early 30s - Hungarian, Indian, what was the diffence, eh? And of course he had to play numerous butlers, often thanklessly, in years to come. But following a year after his breakthrough as Dracula, NIGHT OF TERROR really plays up the viewers' expectation that Bela will be a frightening bad@$$ (his introductory close-up is a corker) and Bela is happy to lean into those expectations. At nearly every turn, it seems clear that Degar is up to no good whatsoever. Smartly, though, the truth of the matter is less clear-cut and the film's final revelations are therefore quite satisfying. Oddly, NIGHT OF TERROR ends up showcasing one of Bela's less predictable and thus better horror roles. There are two other highly noteworthy (and very very funny) things to mention about NIGHT OF TERROR. One is that Bela is taken into custody/detained late in the film by a homicide detective, and manages to escape not by assaulting or murdering the cop but instead by smoking him up w/ a strong jazz cigarette.
That's the only time I've seen obvious (and positive!) marijuana use in a pre-code flick. The other funny bit is that the Maniac (Edwin Maxwell in ridiculous facial hair and a puzzling accent) addresses the audience directly at the end of the film and warns them not to spoil the twists or else he'll find them and kill them! 3.5/5 I hope I've left things acceptably vague in this review so I don't get a visit from Edwin tonight! #12
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by Rev. Powell - November 02, 2026, 10:50:07 AMANGEL'S EGG (1985): In a surreal, deserted landscape, a girl protects and cherishes an egg, eventually befriending an amnesiac man with a staff and an unknown purpose. A beautiful, almost impenetrable animated parable that's deeply alien and deeply human. 5/5.
#13
Games / Re: Answer the question with a...
Last post by Rev. Powell - November 02, 2026, 10:34:31 AM
What's that strange musical instrument you're playing?
#15
Entertainment / Re: What have you been listeni...
Last post by Rev. Powell - November 02, 2026, 09:59:03 AM
#16
Unsolved Archives / Re: A 1970 TO 1980 SPACE MOVIE...
Last post by M.10rda - November 02, 2026, 09:39:02 AMLookit that, we're gettin' more popular! 
#17
Off Topic Discussion / Re: The New Happy Birthday Thr...
Last post by bob - November 02, 2026, 08:14:16 AMHappy birthday Allhallowsday
#18
Bad Movies / Re: Generate Movie Poster with...
Last post by bob - November 02, 2026, 08:13:22 AM
#19
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - November 01, 2026, 10:07:45 PMHALLOWEEN 5 is better! And Halloween continues at least through Veterans Day around my house.
And Halloween continues at least through Veterans Day around my house. #20
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by FatFreddysCat - November 01, 2026, 09:18:55 PM"Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" (1988)
Halloween isn't over till I *SAY* it's over, dammit!
A decade after the original "Halloween," Michael Myers re-awakens during a prison transfer and returns to Haddonfield; with Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance) in hot pursuit.
This one's a sentimental favorite for me since it was the first "Halloween" movie I saw during its theatrical run. The wheels came off the franchise after this one, so I'd recommend stopping with this one.
Halloween isn't over till I *SAY* it's over, dammit!
A decade after the original "Halloween," Michael Myers re-awakens during a prison transfer and returns to Haddonfield; with Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance) in hot pursuit.
This one's a sentimental favorite for me since it was the first "Halloween" movie I saw during its theatrical run. The wheels came off the franchise after this one, so I'd recommend stopping with this one.