Claws & Saucers

  • “SCALPS” (1983) Review

    SCALPS (Fred Olen Ray, 80 min, color, 1983) What’s Happening: Archaeologists awaken evil Indian spirit Famous For: Early film from prolific schlockmeister Ray If you count short films and TV films, Ray would go on to direct more than 200 cheap genre films through the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.  His first film (Alien Dead) is…

  • “ICEMAN” (1984) Review

    ICEMAN (Fred Schepisi, 101 min, color, 1984) What’s Happening: Frozen Neanderthal is brought back to life Famous For: Serious treatment of a living caveman Living cavemen had been treated comedically in Dinosaurus! (1960) and condescendingly in Trog (1970).  At last in Iceman, a living caveman is treated seriously – and successfully. The straightforward story shows…

  • CLASSIC CREEPY CARNIVAL CINEMA

    CLASSIC CREEPY CARNIVAL CINEMA Carnivals have always been a little creepy.  Sure, they’re places to have fun, but they always promise something weird, something grotesque, something to squirm and gawk at as part of the fun.  It’s no surprise, then, that carnivals have inspired a host of excellent horror films.  I’m distinguishing carnivals from circuses,…

  • “BEASTMASTER 2” (1991) Review

    BEASTMASTER 2: THROUGH THE PORTAL OF TIME (Sylvio Tabet, 107 min, color, 1991) What’s Happening: Dar must seek and destroy his evil older brother Famous For: Dar visits 1991 Los Angeles Here comes a surprisingly fun sequel to the hit 1982 Beastmaster.  It’s actually a new movie inspired by the first one, rather than a…

  • SCI-FI SERIALS: RETRO CLASSICS

    SCI-FI SERIALS: RETRO CLASSICS If you really want to appreciate classic sci-fi films, you can’t just watch the feature films; you need to watch the serials.  The episodic rhythm of a sci-fi serial is a little like that of a TV show or a comic book, but there’s something larger and more urgent about it,…