Cult of the Cobra (1955)

Cult of the Cobra (1955)

Six American GI's stationed in Asia find themselves in considerable jeopardy after they witness a secret ceremony by a Hindu cult who worship snakes. Lovely and charming snake goddess Lisa Moya (well played and perfectly embodied by the beautiful and beguiling Faith Domergue), who has the ability to transform into a lethal serpent, goes to America and starts picking the guys off one by one. Director Frances D. Lyon, working from a compact and engrossing script by Jerry Davis, Cecil Maiden, and Richard Collins, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, offers a neat evocation of the foreign land setting in the opening third, and builds a good deal of tension and spooky atmosphere. The solid acting from a capable cast helps a lot: Richard Long as the affable Paul Able, Marshall Thompson as the decent and likable Tom Markel, Kathleen Hughes as the sweet Julia Thompson, William Reynolds as nice guy Pete Norton, Jack Kelly as smooth womanizer Carl Turner, and David Janssen as the happy-go-lucky Rico Nardi. Moreover, there are a few cool little touches such as animals all being scared or freaked out by Lisa's presence and Lisa feeling conflicted by what she has to do. The actors playing the GI's display a pleasantly relaxed and natural chemistry and hence make for engaging protagonists. Russell Metty's handsome black and white cinematography boasts several funky cobra POV shots. The shuddery and spirited score by Irving Getz, William Lava, and Lou Maury hits the spine-tingling spot. A worthwhile movie. (IMDB  Woodyanders)

David Janssen (R)

Richard Long (Center)

The Carlssons (Ruth and Carl Carlsson)

Faith Domergue

Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

Adjust your tracking is, overall, a strong film. In the film we are reminded of the early days of video. VHS was absolutely a game-changer and some people forget that. Adjust Your Tracking begins with the VHS story as a starting point for a glimpse into a culture many are not aware of. The film follows the exploits of those still devoted to VHS, who feel the need to collect it, particularly obscure films that will, sadly, never be released on DVD (or blu-ray).

These people are fascinating. Some of them are, admittedly, socially awkward, but all of them are endearing, and many of them are well-spoken and strikingly intelligent. The devotion VHS collectors feel for tapes is explored at length--we come to understand what it is that fuels this obsession, and I think, in the end, we understand it.

A strong point of Adjust Your Tracking is that it has a great sense of humor. A lot of these VHS collectors have been through hell and back to find gems in a stack of tapes. Many of them have journeyed to questionable places and encountered questionable people. It helps that a lot of the film clips are funny, as well (check out the ultra rare Tales from the Quadead Zone).

Another strong point is the aesthetic--Adjust Your Tracking looks and feels like you're watching an old VHS. The effect is utterly convincing and really sets the mood.

So, next time you see that stack of old, obscure VHS at a yard sale or flea market, remember, there could be some treasure there.

Kudos to Dan Kinem and Levi Peretic for bringing this alternative culture the attention it deserves.

Recommended for fans of documentaries.  (IMDB soultransfixion)

Doctor X (1932)

There is a serial killer on the loose in New York, committing his cannibalistic murders using a scalpel with surgical precision, and always under the light of the full moon, earning the moniker of "The Moon Killer". While the police still has no idea of who the killer is, they know one important thing about him: the killer works as a scientist at the Academy of Surgical Research. The Academy's director, Dr. Jerry Xavier (Lionel Atwill), decides that in order to avoid any bad reputation for the Academy, he must find who the killer is among the suspects, and asks the Police Commisoner for time to carry on an experiment. Gathering his four comrades in his old mansion, Xavier will try to discover the identity of the killer, as anyone could be the murderer, including himself. At the same time, a wisecracking reporter named Lee (Lee Tracy) finds himself trying to discover what's the mystery at Xavier's Mansion. (IMDB José Luis Rivera Mendoza)

Mae Busch

Lee Tracy

Lionel Atwill

Fay Wray

Fay Wray

Preston Foster

John Wray

Arthur Edmund Carewe

Harry Beresford

Leila Bennett