Happy Sunday, friends! I went on a Fulci binge and I know he is a respected director. So hopefully you agree with my feelings on these. If not, oops.
CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)
Written by: Lucio Fulci and Dardano Sacchetti
Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Run time: 1 hour, 33 mins
Rated: Not rated
Free: PlutoTV
Synopsis: A clergy’s suicide causes the gates of Hell to open and the dead to rise.
Pros: cinematography, soundtrack, campy lines, special effects
Cons: the maggot-like fire hose
Most memorable scene: the two lovers and their deaths
Thoughts: Fulci has some graphic ideas, holy Toledo. The maggots scene almost ruined me. RUINED I SAY! I said, “Jesus Christ”, more times than I could count (that’s a good thing).
Rating: 10.5/10
THE BEYOND (1981)
Written by: Dardano Sacchetti
Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Run time: 1hour, 20 mins
Rated: R
Free: Tubi, PlutoTV, Plex
Synopsis: Liza inherits a hotel that has a dark past… oh, and allegedly it contains a gateway to Hell.
Pros: the tension of the bells in room 36
Cons: none I could find
Most memorable scene: the warlock and the chain beating.
Thoughts: That opening scene will stay with me for a long time. The graphic brutality is something I rarely see in films today. And the way the last scene ties to the first chef’s kiss.
Rating: 10/10
THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981)
Written by: Dardano Sacchetti and Giorio Mariuzzo
Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Run time: 1 hour, 26 mins
Rated: Not rated
Free: Tubi, Plex
Synopsis: After a colleague hangs himself, Norman, with his wife and son, go to live in the same small town and house only to find out the house holds secrets.
Pros: kill scenes were insanely graphic and gory
Cons: the gotdamn maggots
Most memorable scene: any scene that creepy kid, Bob, isn’t in.
Thoughts: Dammit, Fulci. The maggots and this guy, am I right? While the kills weren’t as brutal as the previous two, the story line was extremely solid, and the suspense and terror reigned.
Rating: 9/10
THE HITCHER (1986)
Written by: Eric Red
Directed by: Robert Harmon
Run time: 1 hour, 37 mins
Rated: R
Free: No Streaming: Max
Synopsis: A young man acts as a Good Samaritan and picks up a hitchhiker. But this hitchhiker wants more than a ride.
Pros: stellar acting, perfect pacing
Cons: it ended. I could have watched another hour of it.
Most memorable scene: Ryder releasing the clutch.
Thoughts: Critics panned this because God forbid they use their brains. It was brilliant from the first to last frame. Ignore any negative review.
Rating: 11/10
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