elvira-movie-macabre

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Elvira's Halloween Commercials

One of my favorite ways to celebrate the Halloween season is by watching old Elvira Halloween commercials. They just don't make fun, campy, Halloween commercials like these anymore.

Elvira did a ton of different commercials in the 80s and 90s. She watches movies from Blockbuster with Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and a werewolf.

You could win a trip to Universal Studios with Elvira if you drank Mug Root Beer (or Slice).

She gave out Movie Macabre caliber movies with Coors Flick-or-Treat. And she took a trip to Mali-Boo! Beach.

I put together a quick playlist of Elvira Halloween commercials on YouTube. Check them out and enjoy the delightful time capsule.

Happy Halloween and Unpleasant Dreams!

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #horror #cassandra peterson #halloween #spooky season #halloween commercials #throwback #1980s #1990s

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Movie Macabre 111 - Count Yorga, Vampire

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 11 (111) Original Air Date: 05 December 1981

Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) Written and directed by Bob Kelljan

Starring: Robert Quarry Roger Perry Michael Murphy Michael Macready Donna Anders Judy Lang

"A couple invites a Count from Hungary, who recently immigrated to America, to conduct a seance for the woman's recently deceased mother, oblivious to the fact that he is actually a vampire." (IMDb)

Count Yorga is a fairly standard Dracula story. Foreign man arrives and starts bewitching some women. Some men are suspicious and planning to kill the foreigner based on their suspicions. Unfortunately, the movie never really does anything interesting or unique with the premise.

There's nothing to the story beyond the surface level. Visually, the movie is forgettable. Count Yorga's house has some good sets, but nothing particularly special. Perhaps, for the time, this was a more interesting movie. While there was a proliferation of vampire movies in the 60s and 70s, the ones that have stood the test of time are the ones that put their own unique spin on the idea. Count Yorga never seems to have its own point of view, relying solely on the standard Dracula story to keep it going.

After seeing the movie, I learned that the original intention was to film a softcore vampire film (as if the film needed to be any shallower). Ultimately, the best thing I can say about Count Yorga, Vampire is that it's not the worst movie of all time. It's mostly competently made (except for the terrible day-for-night shots). The character motivations are at least logical. Just skip this one.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #horror host #horror film #horror movie #70s horror #count yorga #vampires #robert quarry #bob kelljan

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It's that time again! September 17th is my personal official start to Halloween season. It's Cassandra Peterson's birthday, the amazing talent behind the Mistress of the Dark, Elvira!

Stream Elvira's Movie Macabre on Shout! and Peacock (well, the 13 episodes that are available)! Stream Elvira's 40th Anniversary Special on Shudder! Read the Elvira comics from Dynamite! Watch your favorite horror movies.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #horror host #cassandra peterson #happy birthday elvira #happy birthday cassandra peterson

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Movie Macabre 110 - Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 10 (010) Original Air Date: 29 November 1981

Cry of the Banshee (1970) Directed by Gordon Hessler Written by Tim Kelly and Christoper Wicking

Starring: Vincent Price Hilary Dwyer Essy Persson Hugh Griffith Elisabeth Bergner

"In 1500s England, a cruel witch-hunting magistrate, who often tortures innocent villagers for his entertainment, runs afoul of a witch who conjures a banshee to kill the magistrate and his family." (IMDb)

Cry of the Banshee was featured on the tenth episode of Elvira's Movie Macabre. Ten episodes into the series and this is already the third film from American International Pictures. This felt like the least competent of the three. 

The film starts with a quote from Edgar Allan Poe's The Bells, and featured Poe's name on the posters. The film itself has nothing at all to do with Edgar Allan Poe's work. They were just trying to cash in on Roger Corman's Poe movies.

Aside from an unexpected opening animated sequence by Terry Gilliam and the charismatic Vincent Price, this movie didn't have much going for it.

I learned after watching the movie that it had some production issues. Director Gordon Hessler reportedly didn't like Tim Kelly's original script. Hessler replaced Kelly with Christopher Wicking. Hessler wanted Wicking to develop the characters further, but AIP was on a tight schedule so there wasn't time. There was a definite sense that many scenes were there just to get the film to 90 minutes. The film could have been 30 minutes long and told the same story with a lot less sexual assault. It didn't even bother to have good atmosphere.

I do enjoy seeing how movies portray "witchcraft."

When I decided to try to watch every movie featured on Elvira's Movie Macabre, I knew there'd be some bad movies. That's the nature of the show. This may be the first one that I'd truly recommend skipping. It's not entirely unwatchable, but there's not much interesting or noteworthy here.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #horror host #horror #horror film #70s horror #horror movie #vincent price #american international pictures #cassandra peterson #terry gilliam #gordon hessler

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Movie Macabre 109 - The Werewolf of Washington (1973)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 09 (009) Original Air Date: 21 November 1981

Full episode available to watch for free on ShoutFactoryTV

It's also available on DVD, packaged with The Doomsday Machine (episode 232).

The Werewolf of Washington (1973) Written and directed by Milton Moses Ginsberg

Starring: Dean Stockwell Jane House Biff McGuire Henry Ferrentino Despo Diamantidou Clifton James Jack Waltzer

"After being unknowingly inflicted with the bite of a werewolf while on a visit to Europe, White House press secretary Jack Whittier begins to turn into a deadly beast by night, terrorizing Washington D.C. and presenting a very deadly threat to the President." (Letterboxd)

The ninth episode of Movie Macabre featured the absolutely baffling The Werewolf of Washington. This movie has some of the oddest filmmaking choices I've seen in a long time. Jack Whittier is a journalist returning to Washington D.C. after a long absence with a secret: he's a werewolf. In his wolf form, Whittier kills important people. In his human form, he nervously paces about, trying to get anyone to believe what he's going through. It's a fairly basic premise with potential. Unfortunately, the execution of the storytelling and filmmaking leave a lot to be desired.

The story moves along at a decent pace. The film gives the viewers enough to understand what's going on. But every now and again, things will inexplicably veer into scenes that feel superfluous. The story is a little shallow and somewhat lacking in any clear point of view.

The most baffling thing about the movie is the filmmaking. A substantial portion of the film feels like they only had one take. Awkward moments and dialogue flubs are left in the film. In a strange way, it almost feels more true to life. Take for instance this scene with a necklace:

Why? Why not cut and re-film this? Why not put the necklace on a longer chain? Why not unlatch it and put it around his neck? It's so weird and awkward. This is only a small example of the baffling choices (one that Elvira herself comments on).

Guess which of these two people is speaking. I'll give you a hint: it's not the one in view. Strange choices abound. Despite these weird moments, there is some fun to be had. I love the moments when the wolf acts like an overgrown dog.

And who can ignore the bowling waddle.

Despite my complaints, I did find myself enjoying the movie. It's not so-bad-it's-good. But it's a perfectly fine movie to half pay attention to on a Saturday morning. It fits well with the other films featured on Movie Macabre to this point.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #horror host #horror #horror film #elvira movie macabre #movie macabre #1970s #1970s horror #werewolf of washington #werewolf #dean stockwell

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Celebrate the 34th Anniversary of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark!

On September 30, 1988, Elvira's first feature film, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, was released in theaters! If you haven't watched this comedy gem, do yourself a favor! It's available streaming on Shudder / AMC+. Arrow Films has also put a great collector's edition blu-ray.

This is a film that I've watched many times, and I think I appreciate it a little more every time. It never feels stale. It's a great way to start off your Halloween season.

#elvira mistress of the dark #elvira #cassandra peterson #anniversary #80s horror #80s comedy #mistress of the dark #film #80s cult classic #cult classic #1988 #1988 movies

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Movie Macabre 108 - The Thing with Two Heads (1972)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 08 (008) Original Air Date: 15 November 1981

The Thing with Two Heads (1972) Directed by Lee Frost Written by Lee Frost, Wes Bishop, and Joseph Gordon White

Starring: Ray Milland Roosevelt Grier Don Marshall Roger Perry Kathy Baumann

"Doctors are forced to transplant the head of a dying, racist surgeon onto the body of a black death row inmate." (IMDB)

Episode eight of Movie Macabre featured the ridiculous film The Thing with Two Heads. This movie really should have been called "Let's Fuck Up Police Cars."

A racist, entitled, wealth-hoarding, disgusting man thinks that he's so important to the world that he can transplant his head onto another man's body in order to circumvent death. As the old man's death creeps ever closer, a death row inmate agrees to an undisclosed medical procedure, believing this to be an opportunity to clear his name. The racist wakes up on the body of a person of color and complains. Then they go on an extended motor bike ride wherein fourteen police cars are destroyed in absurd, comical ways.

I don't really know what the intended plot of the movie was meant to be. Was it racist man dealing with his racism by helping his host clear his name? Nope. Was it about a death row inmate overcoming impossible odds to prove his innocence? No, not that. Perhaps it was a piece about people coming together? Yeah, no. It was more like someone said "Tie their heads together awkwardly and make 'em ride a dirt bike while we wreck cars all around them!"

Most of the time, the "effect" looks awkward. The film cuts between a fake head on an obvious shoulder rig and having Ray Milland hunch behind Roosevelt Grier. The most effective special effect was during the scene where they transplant Milland's head on to Grier's neck. The moments where the movie made good use of the two-headedness were rare.

The acting varied wildly. Most of the cast was fairly one-note, usually either "comical villain" or "I'm not taking this nonsense seriously." Roosevelt Grier was the definite standout. He had peaks and valleys to his performance.

The movie was definitely more on the "schlock" side of the spectrum. It wasn't terrible, nor was it particularly entertaining. Rather than sit through the full movie, just find a video featuring all of the car crashes.

It is worth noting that the two-headed gorilla was played by special effect/make-up artist Rick Baker, four years before he went on to play King Kong in the 1976 King Kong film.

#elvira's movie macabre #elvira mistress of the dark #elvira #horror host #horror #horror film #horror movie #70s horror #cassandra peterson #american international pictures #the thing with two heads

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Elvira in Horrorland #4 (Dynamite)

Elvira fans, if you're not reading the Elvira comics from Dynamite, you're missing out. The stories are irreverent and fun, campy and quirky, with a nice touch of horror, just like the Mistress of the Dark herself.

Issue 04 of Elvira in Horrorland came out this week, and it featured this gorgeous Nightmare on Elm Street homage cover by Silvia Califano.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #elvira comics #dynamite entertainment #elvira in horrorland #nightmare on elm street #comic books #horror #silvia califano #homage

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Happy Birthday, Cassandra Peterson!

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Cassandra Peterson! It's so awesome to live in a world where Elvira, Mistress of the Dark exists.

September 17th is my Official Start of Halloween Season.

#happy birthday elvira #happy birthday cassandra peterson #elvira mistress of the dark #elvira #horror host

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Movie Macabre 107 - The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 07 (007) Original Air Date: 07 November 1981

The Comedy of Terrors (1963) Directed by Jacques Tourneur Written by Richard Matheson

Starring: Vincent Price Peter Lorre Boris Karloff Joyce Jameson Rhubarb the Cat Joe E. Brown Basil Rathbone

"Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones." (IMDB)

The seventh episode of Movie Macabre was the first episode to feature a film that was more comedy than horror. Distributed by American International Pictures and featuring several AIP regulars, The Comedy of Terrors pokes fun at some of the standard elements of AIP's horror catalog.

The movie starts with a bit of slapstick: two undertakers dump a body out of a coffin which they then clean and reuse. Thus the tone of the film is set. Unfortunately for me, that tone was neither comedy nor terror.

The cast is superb. Vincent Price is debonair and detestable. You can't help but feel sorry for Peter Lorre's loveable oaf. Joyce Jameson manages to upstage Vincent Price in nearly every scene. And Basil Rathbone as the cataleptic John F. Black got a few chuckles out of me. The real star of the movie was Rhubarb the cat. This cat was credited in the opening title crawl and on the poster. Rhubarb was also all over the movie, including riding on the top of the hearse.

Visually, the film doesn't really manage to be particularly unique. That's probably due to the fact that AIP churned out a ton of movies using the same sets, the same actors, and the same filmmakers. After a while, the style can blend into other movies.

This film has one of the worst uses of day-for-night filming that I've seen. The characters are supposed to be out at midnight, and yet we see them riding through what is obviously a sunny day ever so slightly color corrected. It's possible the version I watched had a different color grading than the original released film.

Despite the great cast and the otherwise competent filmmaking, I found it difficult to connect with this movie. I'm not a huge fan of the slapstick humor that comprises a large part of the comedy in this film. If it's not people falling down, it's Trumbull being verbally abusive to his wife. I understand what the film was trying to accomplish. It just all fell flat for me. Still, I would recommend it to those who enjoy Vincent Price.

I wish the full episode of Movie Macabre still existed. I'd love to hear with Elvira had to say about The Comedy of Terrors.

#elvira's movie macabre #elvira #movie macabre #horror #60s horror #vincent price #peter lorre #american international pictures #horror host #horror film #elvira mistress of the dark

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Movie Macabre 106 - Blacula (1972)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 06 (006) Original Air Date: 01 November 1981

Blacula (1972) Directed by William Crain Written by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig

"An ancient African prince, turned into a vampire by Dracula himself, finds himself in modern Los Angeles." (IMDB)

Starring: William Marshall Vonetta McGee Denise Nicholas Thalmus Rasulala

Blacula was the sixth movie featured on Elvira's Movie Macabre first season. Equal parts supernatural horror and Blaxploitation film, Blacula is a film that continues to have an important spot in horror history. Though I had never seen Blacula, cultural osmosis led me to believe I knew more about this movie.

Prince Mamuwalde is a cultural ambassador sent to open relations with Transylvania and the rest of the world. Dracula, a racist who delights in enslaving people, takes offense to Mamuwalde's demand that he stop all slave trade in Transylvania. So Dracula turns Mamuwalde into a vampire, and curses him with a terrible name.

Luckily, no one calls him Blacula. What follows is a quintessential story about a vampire trying to reunite with their lost love while wrestling with their demons. William Crain's directing tends more towards action than horror, which I think benefits the film greatly. Elements that could seem cheesy come off more exciting. The film makes excellent use of light and shadow.

The story is very character-driven. The four central performances are all captivating in their own ways. We get to know a lot about these characters just based on how they carry themselves or interact with others. These are strong, intelligent, confident characters.

Overall, Blacula was a highlight of these first six Movie Macabre features. It's easy to see how Blaxploitation films, their casts, and their creators influenced so much of American pop culture at the time. Add Blacula to your watchlist if you enjoy supernatural action and character driven stories.

This film also features The Hues Corporation. Most well known for their song "Rock the Boat," the group recorded three songs for Blacula. I saw a lot of reviews complaining about the almost complete performance of "There He Is Again" in the middle of movie. I loved this moment. The song feels like a message, both to the audience and the characters. It doesn't slow the pace of the film. And look at the joy. This is a group of people doing what they love to do. I love to see it.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #elvira's movie macabre #elvira movie macabre #horror host #horror film #70s horror #horror movie #horror #movie macabre #vampires #blacula #william crain #movies #the hues corporation

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Movie Macabre 105 - The Dunwich Horror (1970)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 05 (005) Original Air Date: 25 October 1981

The Dunwich Horror (1970) Directed by Daniel Haller Written by H.P. Lovecraft (original story), Curtis Hanson, Henry Rosenbaum, Ronald Silkosky (screenplay)

Starring: Sandra Dee Dean Stockwell Ed Begley Lloyd Bochner Donna Baccala Joanne Moore Jordan Sam Jaffe

"Wilbur Whateley travels to the Arkham Miskatonic University to borrow the legendary Necronomicon. But, little does anyone know, Whateley isn't quite human..." (IMDB)

Elvira's Movie Macabre continues with The Dunwich Horror, based loosely off of H.P. Lovecraft's story of the same name. When compiling the list of Movie Macabre movies, this is one of the early ones I was most excited to watch. Lovecraftian horror is a subgenre that always feels entirely under-utilized, especially in modern horror. I understand that it can be difficult to properly convey on screen the type of unfathomable horror Lovecraft detailed. When done well, it can make for a truly unsettling viewing experience. When done poorly, the horror can veer quickly into mundane.

Lovecraft's writing can be very evocative. It can also be very dry. This movie tended towards the latter. The story isn't slow by any means. It continues on at a fairly brisk pace. The scenes start, give us the information we need, and the move quickly to the next scene. Rarely are moments given time to breathe. Yet somehow, the movie still drags at times.

The acting does nothing to add to the dread we're supposed to experience. Dean Stockwell has one expression throughout the whole film. When Sandra Dee's Nancy meets him for the first time, she says to Donna Baccala's Elizabeth "Did you see his eyes? He's really got great eyes." Just a moment prior, we're treated to this close up:

I feel that these cold, lifeless eyes should have been Nancy's first clue that this man was not to be trusted. She is presented with red flag after red flag as the story progresses; never for a moment does she stop to consider her path. This is a quintessential "yelling at the characters when they make stupid decisions" type of movie.

I could go on, but I don't want to hate on the movie too much. It has a lot of wasted potential, but you can still see the potential in the film. The story may not be the most engrossing, but it is competently told. The cast could have benefitted from some better direction (and perhaps a better script), but they weren't unbearable. There is some charm to be found in this film.

There's a solid chance that I will return to this movie in the future and have an entirely different view of it. If you enjoy Lovecraftian horror and classic horror movies, The Dunwich Horror is worth a watch when you have nothing else going on.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #elvira's movie macabre #movie macabre #horror movie #70s horror #horror film #horror host #horror #h.p. lovecraft #the dunwich horror #lovecraftian #dean stockwell #sandra dee

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Movie Macabre 104 - The House of Usher (1960)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 04 (004) Original Air Date: 17 October 1981 Episode titled "The Fall of the House of Usher"

House of Usher (1960) also known as: The Fall of the House of Usher Directed by Roger Corman Written by Edgar Allan Poe (original story), Richard Matheson (screenplay)

Starring: Vincent Price Mark Damon Myrna Fahey Harry Ellerbe

"Upon entering his fiancée's family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely." (IMDB)

One thing most fans of Elvira learn is her love of Vincent Price movies. Knowing this, I was excited to get into the first Price film featured on Movie Macabre. House of Usher was also the first of Roger Corman directed Edgar Allan Poe adaptations

Roger Corman is particularly adept at turning out competent, enjoyable movies regardless of time or financial constraints. This film is a great example. Corman's resourceful filmmaking results in a movie that is sometimes visibly cheap yet engrossingly believable. Though viewers are sometimes treated to wobbling set walls, it's still easy to accept that this is a real house.

There's a great attention to detail with the set design. The movie wants us to feel as though we are in a grand, impressive mansion in disrepair. The house feels haunted. These creepy ass paintings, by Burt Schoenberg, are absolutely watching you.

It comes as no surprise that Vincent Price is excellent. Early in the film, his delivery is dry and almost demure. As the story progresses, he subtly shifts and changes. As Price's performance tethers the film, Mark Damon's performance brings an almost youthful exuberance. He's bright and kinetic, often being the catalyst for moving the story along.

My only real complaint is that this felt like reinterpretation rather than an adaptation. The film didn't have the depth or nuance of the original story. What House of Usher lacks in story, it makes up for with atmosphere and creative filmmaking. If you're looking for a short watch to get you in the spooky-time spirit, look no further.

#elvira #elvira's movie macabre #elvira mistress of the dark #horror host #horror film #horror movie #horror #60s horror #vincent price #roger corman #edgar allan poe #movie macabre #classic horror

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Movie Macabre 103 - The House That Screamed (1969)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 03 (003) Original Air Date: 10 October 1981

Full episode available to watch for free on ShoutFactoryTV

This is the earliest full episode of Movie Macabre available to watch. It's also available on DVD, packaged with Maneater of Hydra (episode 306).

The House That Screamed (1969) also known as: La Residencia, The Boarding School Directed by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador Written by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, story by Juan Tébar

Starring: Lilli Palmer Cristina Galbó John Moulder-Brown Mary Maude

"A strict headmistress runs a secluded school for wayward girls in 19th century France, whose students are disappearing under mysterious circumstances." (IMDB)

Episode three of Movie Macabre featured Narcisco Ibáñez Serrador's The House That Screamed (or La Residencia). This early example of boarding school horror blends psychosexual drama and slasher motifs into a tense, atmospheric, sometimes surprising film.

Through the experience of the new girl Teresa (Cristina Galbó), we learn about the school and the women who inhabit it. The acting throughout the film is great. We find out pretty quickly who each of the characters are and how they view the school. Though the boarding school is a large building, it often feels claustrophobic. No matter where these girls go, there is always someone watching. The story is engaging and well paced. The film does become predictable at times, yet still manages to have some genuine moments of surprise throughout.

The film is beautifully shot and atmospheric. From bright banquet halls and classrooms to dark, quiet corners and long hallways, light and shadow are used well to change the feel of the house. Often, films of this nature skew sleazy in their filming and portrayal of women. "All female boarding school" is a premise rife with potential for fetishization. While that fetishization is not entirely absent, the film never feels sleazy or disgusting. The women in the film are treated and filmed like human beings. There are a few scenes that stand out for being filmed very artfully. It's easy to see why this film is sometimes listed as one of the inspirations for Dario Argento's Suspiria.

I expect to find quite a few terrible movies as I continue to watch through Movie Macabre. This film is definitely an early stand-out. If you enjoy tension and psychological distress in your late 60s horror films, The House That Screamed is absolutely worth a watch.

#elvira #elvira movie macabre #elvira's movie macabre #elvira mistress of the dark #movie macabre #horror host #horror movie #60s horror #horror film #the house that screamed #lilli palmer #shout factory tv #elviragif

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Movie Macabre 102 - Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 02 (002) Original Air Date: 03 October 1981 Episode unavailable

Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972) also known as: Night of the Dark Full Moon, Deathouse Directed by Theodore Gershuny Written by Theodore Gershuny, Jeffrey Konvitz, Ira Teller

Starring: Patrick O'Neal James Patterson Mary Woronov Astrid Heeren Walter Abel Fran Stevens Walker Klavun

"A man inherits a mansion which once was a mental home. He visits the place and begins to investigate some crimes that happened in old times, scaring the people living in the region." (IMDB)

The second episode of Elvira's Movie Macabre aired on October 03, 1981. It featured 1972's Silent Night, Bloody Night, a low budget slasher set around Christmas. The film is notable for featuring many Andy Warhol superstars, including transgender icon Candy Darling in her final film role, as well as being co-produced by Lloyd Kaufman before founding Troma Entertainment.

I'll admit I'm not much of a fan of slasher movies. I prefer my horror to have supernatural or psychological elements. A normal (or "crazy") human going around killing normal humans with normal human tools often fails to engage me. Despite that, this movie kept my attention, though sometimes perhaps for the wrong reasons.

Though the creepiest part of the movie was the child singing Silent Night at the beginning, there is nothing about this movie that requires an association with Christmas. The film could have been set at any time of the year and the only real changes would have been the occasional set decoration or costume.

The filmmaking was both ambitious and incompetent. Multiple scenes were poorly lit or framed. However, we're also treated to really effective first-person shots of the slasher, a perspective that had been done before (and since) but was still relatively uncommon at the time. The kills were often silly, the equivalent to hitting an empty sack with a stick. The gore was light and often cheesy looking. The story was easy to follow if you can overlook gaps in logic and competent storytelling.

There was something about this movie that made me think of early John Waters, just without his vision or comedic timing. Many of the people from the town just felt like awkward weirdos just being themselves. For Waters, it works. Here, it feels unintentionally deadpan. Mary Woronov's performance was a highlight, though perhaps only in the context of this movie. I think I'll seek out more of her movies.

If you enjoy pre-1980's low budget slashers, consider adding Silent Night, Bloody Night to your watchlist. You know, somewhere near the bottom of the list.

#elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #movie macabre #elvira movie macabre #silent night bloody night #70s horror #horror #horror film #horror host #slasher movies

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Movie Macabre 101 - Grave of the Vampire (1972)

Movie Macabre Season 01 - Episode 01 (001) Original Air Date: 26 September 1981

Grave of the Vampire (1972) Directed by John Hayes Written by David Chase and John Hayes (based on Chase's novel The Still Life)

Starring: William Smith Michael Pataki Lyn Peters Diane Holden Kitty Vallacher

In September 1981, Movie Macabre debuted on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles. The premiere episode featured 1972's Grave of the Vampire. This episode of Movie Macabre is currently unavailable to watch.

From the film's IMDB: "A young man, born of a r*pe committed by a legendary vampire against a living woman, vows to locate and vanquish his undead father."

With a synopsis like that, I expected cheap schlock. What I found was a surprisingly competent and enjoyable 70s vampire movie. There is a lot to love. The film has a great atmosphere. The director makes great use of light and fog. The score, by Jaime Mendoza-Nava, adds to the sense of dread hanging over the story. The gore elements are light but effective. The characters are largely one-note, with performances often bordering on melodramatic. While I wouldn't say I connected with anyone, I was still interested in seeing where the story went. I particularly enjoyed the stunt work (stunt coordinator Joe Pronto). Despite being 50 years old, this movie still managed to surprise me at times.

I can understand why Grave of the Vampire was the first film to be featured on Movie Macabre (other than being in public domain). It was a nice balance of horror schlock and competent film-making. If you are a fan of cheap, somewhat campy, classic horror, add Grave of the Vampire to your list.

#elvira movie macabre #elvira #elvira mistress of the dark #grave of the vampire #horror movie #vampires #horror host #horror #70s horror

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Hello Darlings

I was unfortunately too young to watch Movie Macabre when it aired. Despite having been born in the mid-1980s, I have long had a love for Elvira. When I was seven or eight years old, I attempted to walk out of a grocery store with an Elvira standee advertising beer (I think it was Coors). As a young queer man, I thought Elvira was incredible. She was strong and in control. She didn't care what people thought of her; she just lived her best life. And she had a strong association with my favorite holiday: Halloween.

Unfortunately for me, most of Elvira's Movie Macabre is not available to watch. There are exactly 12 episodes of the original run of Movie Macabre available on DVD and streaming. Twelve episodes out of 140. It's truly disappointing that I will never get to see every episode.

To assuage my disappointment, I have decided to watch all of the movies featured on Movie Macabre. I made a list on Letterboxd and I am going to spend the foreseeable future working my way through these incredible and/or terrible films. Where possible, I will watch the Movie Macabre episode.

This isn't going to be a quick journey. I don't live a life that allows me to watch 140 movies in a short period of time. Regardless of life's time constraints, I will still attempt to watch all of these films, and then move on to Elvira's post-Movie Macabre projects. All while praying that one day, more of this delightful series finds its way into my hands.

Until then, Unpleasant Dreams...

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