BadRonald Peephole Review: Twins of Evil

Hammer Films Sexes It Up!

Hammer Horror had always been filled with as much T&A as there was crimson blood.  But, as the 70s came, the British studio, which was the previous go-to for great horror thrills, found themselves struggling to keep up.  Horror was slowly becoming less about monsters and ghosts, and more about creepy realism, with chainsaws and butcher knives and domestic demonic possessions.

Hammer's response was to do away with the T&A teasing, and offered up some nekkid flesh.  And lesbian nekkid flesh, at that.  The Vampire Lovers (1970) and Lust for a Vampire (1971) were the first two films in the Karnstein Trliogy, inspired by J. Sheridan Le Fanu's Gothic novella Carmilla, a story of a female vampire that predates Bram Stoker's more famous novel Dracula.

In this third installment, Hammer tames down the lesbian love-making (only one scene, boo-hoo), but doubles the fun by casting Playboy's centerfold sensations, the Collinson Twins (Mary and Madeline) as the film's heroines.

Having been sent to stay with their puritanical uncle Gustav Weil (Peter Cushing), twins Maria and Freida (Mary and Madeline respectively) serve up the classic struggle between good and evil.  Sweet Maria falls for the local teacher Anton (David Warbck), while lusty Freida gets horny for the local Satan worshiper Count Karstein (Damien Thomas).  Naturally, Uncle Gustav has a little something to say about all of this, and gets all "I'm gonna start another witch-burning fire stack" on everyone.

Peter Cushing is always great, and rarely ever does better in his villainy suit than when he's playing Baron Frankenstein, but as Gustav Weil, Cushing hit's new levels of evil.  As the creator of monstrous life in previous Hammer flicks, the Baron often felt misunderstood and villainized.  His madness was a result of his being outlawed.  In Twins, however, he plays a man on the side of God, who righteously strikes down anyone he and his "brotherhood" has determined to be evil (usually women of wanton ways).  What is so catching about his Cushing's performance is not just the twisted zealousness, but the almost gleeful smirk he places on his power.  He seems to be having as much fun playing the character as Gustav has in lighting young women on fire.

And big kudos got to Synapse Films -- for picking up the ball that Anchor Bay tossed up a few moons back.  Synapse's DVD/Blu ray pack is packed with some great extras, including an 84 minute documentary on Hammer's Karstein Trilogy, a featurette on Hammer props, a deleted scene, originals trailers, and more.

First Looks at Ti West's INNKEEPERS

Here are some set photos released to BadRonald from the set of Ti West's latest flick THE INNKEEPERS, his follow up to the fantastically retro horror flick THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

Don't Check In To Horror Hospital -- It'll Kill You!

Dark Sky and MPI have announced that they're bring back a cult favorite.

From Dark Sky:

AN OVER-THE-TOP CULT CLASSIC RETURNS IN REMASTERED FORM,
LOOKING BETTER – AND BLOODIER – THAN EVER

HORROR HOSPITAL

Fright-Flick Favorite Michael Gough Is at His Most Sinister in Antony Balch’s Wild Feast of Sex and Gore, Hitting DVD from Dark Sky Films on June 15, 2010

“One of the greatest – if not the greatest – horror films ever made in the UK.”

– British Horror Films

 “[Twists] the conventional elements of the horror movie to a new level of grotesquerie.” 

– Time Out Film Guide

New York, NY (April 12, 2010) – Before he played the mild-mannered butler Alfred in Tim Burton’s “Batman” movies, Michael Gough was an icon of horror, appearing in such classics as “Berserk,” “Trog” and “Horrors of the Black Museum.” But none of his roles can compare to his performance as sadistic and deranged Dr. Christian Storm in HORROR HOSPITAL. Director Antony Balch’s legendary 1973 shocker has now been restored to its uncensored glory and will be released on DVD by genre masters Dark Sky Films, via MPI Media Group, on June 15, 2010. The disc, carrying an SRP of $19.98, includes a new feature-length commentary.

As with many British fright flicks of the ’70s, HORROR HOSPITAL pours humor, sex and abundant nudity into the macabre mix, but Anthony Balch (“Secrets of Sex”) amps up the action to eye-popping levels. Exhausted young rock singer Jason (Robin Askwith, “Confessions of a Window Cleaner,” “Let’s Get Laid”) decides to visit a rural retreat for some rest and rejuvenating treatment. Along the way, Jason meets Judy (Vanessa Shaw), a pretty girl who is also traveling to the “health hotel,” where her aunt is the matron. But when the new couple arrives for their relaxing vacation, they instead become trapped in a nightmare of wandering psychotic patients, cheeky dwarves, decapitations, lethal luxury sedans and a diabolical plan to create a slave army of lobotomized teenage zombies – all at the hands of the domineering Aunt Harris (Ellen Pollock) and her husband, the skull-drilling Dr. Storm.

Skip Martin (“Vampire Circus”) and Dennis Price (“Theater of Blood”) co-star in this bloody/campy cult favorite, now transferred in HD from the original 35mm camera negative and featuring a revealing new commentary with producer Richard Gordon (“Fiend Without a Face”), moderated by Tom Weaver. The DVD also includes an extensive still gallery which features selects from the personal library of Mr. Gordon, as well as rare lobby cards from Germany

Dark Sky Films’ DVD features the rare uncut, uncensored version of HORROR HOSPITAL and presents the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio, enhanced for 16x9 TVs.

About Dark Sky Films

Dark Sky Films is dedicated to the discovery, preservation and production of new and classic horror, sci-fi and cult films from around the world. Based in Chicago, Dark Sky Films is a wholly owned subsidiary of The MPI Media Group -- one of the largest independent entertainment companies producing and distributing a compelling slate of the world’s most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs.

About MPI Media Group

The MPI Media Group is a leading producer, distributor and licensor of films, home entertainment, historical footage and more. Founded in 1976, Chicago-based MPI Media Group remains one of the largest independent entertainment companies producing and distributing a compelling slate of the world’s most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs. MPI’s wholly owned subsidiaries include MPI Home Entertainment, Dark Sky Films, and the WPA Film Library. www.mpimediagroup.com