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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:11:00 GMT
Dem's review:
Peter Tremayne - The Hound Of Frankenstein (Mills & Boon, 1977; Mammoth Book Of Frankenstein ed- Stephen Jones, Robinson, 1994)
Bosbradoe, Cornish coast. It begins with a terrified man being chased across the Bodmin moor by a massive hound, then cuts to a coach travelling the same route two nights later. The occupants of the carriage are Dr. Brian Shaw - a bloody Londoner, what with their fancy ways and all - and Ms. Helen Trevaskis who is on the verge of swooning because the pissed up driver is taking it so fast. Turns out he's terrified because strange things happen on these here moors - things some jumped-up Jessie from the smoke couldn't hope to comprehend - and this being Halloween night, too.
They arrive unmolested at The Morvoren Inn where gloomy landlord Noall breaks the news that her father, Dr. Talbot Trevaskis, has gone missing and the villagers are too busy being superstitiuous to arrange a search party! Dr. Shaw happens to be Dr. T's new assistant, so he decides to go off and try to find him as this is as good a way as any to impress his new boss and, especially, Helen, who has already taken a shine to him. Learning from Noall !!! that the doctor was last seen making his way toward 'the foreigner's place', Brian sets off. Reaching the secluded estate he's attacked by a grotesque, slobbering, bug-eyed, bow-legged hunchback and looks set to be strangled until the intervention of a tall, whip-wielding gent in black who calls the monster off. The stranger introduces himself as Baron Victor Frankenberg and explains that the mis-shapen fellow is Hugo, his servant, who moonlights as his guard dog ....
When next Brian meets them it's at the The Morvoren Inn when Hugo comes in on an errand for his master. The locals get the poor brute drunk and make him dance for them. Hugo topples over next to Brian and Helen, who promptly faints. When she revives, she explains to the doctor that she'd recognised Hugo's mermaid tattoo. The hunchback has her father's arm!. What can it all mean?
A mysterious stranger; a deformed assistant: hideous expeiments and body-parts in jars: a dashing young hero and feckless heroine: hostile villagers: an alcoholic Priest; a 'Hound of the Baskervilles' clone ... in short, all your favourite Frankenstein cliches recycled over a 60 page novel that reads like a comic strip. And it's brilliant.
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:10:11 GMT
Dem's review:
Here's one of Tremayne's shorts (26 pages), this one from Alan Ryan's Halloween Horrors (Sphere, 1986): I've only given the plot details up to around the half-way mark as anything more would spoil it, and it really is worth your time should you come across a copy.
Peter Tremayne - The Samhain Feis: "One of the beliefs of the Samhain Feis is that on the strike of midnight the fairy-hills split wide open and from each fairy-hill there emerges a spectral host ... goblins, imps, bogeymen, demons, phantoms, and the like. They spill out to take revenge on the living. The locals stay indoors on that night."
County Clare, West of Ireland. Katy Fantoni has taken up residence in a holiday cottage with her son, Mike, having fled America and her drunken, womanising husband. Flaherty fills her in on the finer details of the Samhain Feis after overhearing the name of Mike's 'imaginary' playmate, Sean Rua. "Of all the goblins and imps who appear at the Samhain Feis, there is a small, red-headed imp called the Taiblise Derg ... round these parts we call him Red John. It is said he eats the souls of children." Flaherty approves of the ornate crucifix hung over the cottage door, but urges her to make a paste of oatmeal and salt and spread it on the boys forehead before he goes to sleep. Katy is having none of this superstitious scaremongering, but come the night Sean Rua appears outside the boy's bedroom door and lures him into the night. Katy can only watch, transfixed in horror, as the mountains split asunder and a pulsating red light fills the night.
Imagine her relief when, next morning, she finds Mike sound asleep in bed. It must all have been a nightmare brought on by Flaherty's old wives' tales ...
And that's when it gets really creepy.
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:07:34 GMT
Graham's review:
Hi guys,
Here's a short review of THE ANTS (in a nutshell, it's not as great as I had hoped):
The Ants By Peter Tremayne. First published in Great Britain by Sphere Books Ltd. 1979.
“THE HUNGRY HORDES ARE ON THE MARCH… When Jane Sewell returns to the Brazilian jungle to help her anthropologist father in his work, it is not the happy reunion she is expecting. She doesn’t find the thriving village she remembers. Just a pile of bones. Human bones. Picked clean. And then the ancient steamboat Falcao chugs cheerfully into sight, carrying a ghastly cargo of grisly death. And, for Jane, the horror really begins.
Somewhere, out in the seething jungle, a remorseless army is on the move. And it seems as though nothing can stop its savage, merciless drive. Relentlessly, inexorably, tearing, rending and consuming everything in their path… THE ANTS ARE COMING! It’s everyone’s creeping nightmare – when the ant millions teem in for the kill…”
One of Tremayne’s earlier ‘nature runs amok’ novels, this is a pretty entertaining read that clocks in at only 182 pages, so it shouldn’t take longer than a week to finish for most readers. It’s a fast-moving adventure that does away with heavy characterisation or plotting; instead, this is a lean, mean and focused story that remains straightforward throughout. As is the case with many books by Tremayne, the strength of the book lies in the meticulous research that has been done to support it; not only are the titular menace realistically depicted, but the various native superstitions and gods also sound authentic and true to life.
Surprisingly, for a noted scholar, this book has quite a lot of typographical errors – for example I lost count of the number of times that “loose” was substituted for “lose”. Still, it was early in Tremayne’s career as an author, so we can’t complain too much. Gore lovers should look elsewhere, however, as Tremayne is no Guy N. Smith; there are only a handful of deaths here and they typically skimp on explicit detail. Still, the suspense is strong and the action quite tense, recalling the good old days of pulp adventure by stirring up the excitement.
The major problem with this book is that the second half is quite obviously based on the Carl Stephenson short story, LEININGEN VERSUS THE ANTS, which was originally published in the 2nd Pan Book of Horror Stories. Although a few elements have been mixed around (as well as the inclusion of a cellar sequence inspired by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), Tremayne follows Stephenson's tale very closely indeed – surely it couldn’t have been hard to come up with a more original premise? Additionally, characterisation is a bit clichéd, there’s a romantic sub-plot that reeks of Mills & Boon, and not enough people die, aside from the obvious contenders.
The first half of the book is the strongest, building up a really eerie atmosphere in the jungle through the inclusion of great plot points like deserted villages, creepy silences, strange trails and gleaming skeletons. Unfortunately, as with many books like this, the lead characters are overwhelmingly dense in working out where the threat is coming from – they have to actually see a guy getting eaten by ants before they realise that insects are behind it all!
Rating: 3/5
Cheers
Graham
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:03:39 GMT
THE MORGOW RISES! Peter Tremayne Sphere 1982.
Beware when the Morgow rises: Lament for the living. Lament for the unborn. All things end!
The idyllic Cornish village of Bosbradoe is suitably populated by eccentrics - none more so than 72 year old retired mining expert Henry Archibold Penrose , known as *Happy* to the locals. Owning a crumbling old mansion Tybronbucca ( meaning House on Goblin Hill) - Happy likes nothing better than to pack a thermos and sandwiches and explore the disused Tom Wheal tin mine he owns , adjoining the property , in the hopes of finding a new vein of Malachite that will re-energise the town's economy.
However the dank and fetid undersea caverns hold something far more deadly than tin , as Happy finds out to his peril...
Meanwhile his visiting neice Claire breaks down on a lonely stretch of the Bodmin moor ( in the best Hammer Horrible tradition). Local fortune teller and witch , cackling Mother Polruan accosts her - fortelling of her *doom* in no uncertain terms - echoes of a village CURSED reverberating across the desolute moors ! Claire is *rescued* by Willian Neville - thriller writer , car expert and all round handsome chap and together their twin fates spiral intextricably towards the slavering jaws of the Morgow !!...
Peter Tremayne's knowledge of Cornish lore embues the story with a delicious superstitous aura - is the Morgow a monster of myth or something of a more recent vintage?! The local pub The Morvren Arms is no doub't a derivation of Morveran - the name of the mermaid from Cornish folklore and certainly befits the drinking hole of the local fisherfolk like old Billy Scalwen and Jack Trenaglos - overseen by the moon-faced landlord Noall. The actual legend of the Morgow though seems more a fiction dreamed up by Tremayne - possibly the name inspired by the character of the same name in LORD OF THE RINGS ? - no matter - Tremayne makes you believe that Mother Polruan's fortellings of the mythical beast returning are dangerously real enough. Mix into this potent brew journalistic rivalries and Harrier jump-jets and you've a cracker of a tale!
Whilst the book boasts a salaciously saliva-drippingly lurid delineation of red head siren Sheila Fahy ( of the too full breasts she opines!) , getting scoffed alive by the slithering Morgow - Tremayne opts to concentrate more on building suspense initially , rather than outright explicit sex and gore - but let's fly as the reader rounds on the final bend of the book The story is exuberantly kinetic and easy on the eye - a couple of hours should suffice the average reader. Tremayne's real strentgh lies in his ability to forge folklore and reality convincingly without the story getting bogged down in too much detail - highly recommended!
Killercrab click rating 4/5
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:02:25 GMT
I figured that Tremayne was deserving of his own thread since he produced a veritable bunch of schlok horror books - of which I only own THE ANTS Sphere 1980. He reputedly penned VENGEANCE OF SHE - no doub't a Hammer film literary adaption. Apologies if he's been mentioned elsewhere - but here is a list of his horror output - or near most of it!
Hound of Frankenstein (1977) The Vengeance of She (1978) The Ants (1979) The Curse of Loch Ness (1979) Zombie! (1981) The Return of Raffles (1981) The Morgow Rises! (1982) Snowbeast! (1983) Raven of Destiny (1984) Kiss of the Cobra (1984) Swamp! (1985) Angelus! (1985) Nicor! (1987) Trollnight (1987) Ravenmoon (1988) aka Bloodmist Island of Shadows (1991) Master of Souls (2005) Dracula Unborn (1977) aka Bloodright : Memoirs of Micrea Son to Dracula The Revenge of Dracula (1978) Dracula, My Love (1980) Dracula Lives! (omnibus) (1993)
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Post by killercrab on Oct 24, 2007 13:48:17 GMT
The Boys are Dudley Sutton, >>
Probably the standout ruffian ! Sutton specialised in such roles before he became the lovable rogue in LOVEJOY. He plays a nasty piece in one of the b/w SAINT episodes too.
HELL DRIVERS is perhaps the achetypal british tough guys film - every performance is nail hard - look out for a class act from William Hartnell - another forgotten tough guy actor.
ade
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Post by killercrab on Feb 28, 2008 14:15:20 GMT
Apart from renewing my acquaintance with Pan #9 (the rather wonderful school-prize-giving edition Ade sent me in the early days having gone awol), >>
LOL! Those Pan nines - you just can't put them down. Should come on a leash I say ...
ade
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Post by killercrab on Feb 7, 2008 15:27:17 GMT
Thanks Steve for that expansive overview! I actually picked up one of the Bionic Woman annuals last year. We should also add that there was a SMDM poster mag too - at least that's what I recall - came out around the time that poster mags were all the vogue. >>
It was an episode in Season 2 called "Outrage in Balinderry".>>
That's got to be it - thanks! It is from season two - but an episode I've not got to yet!
I watched Lee Majors in KILLER FISH last night - it's rubbish frankly - though points for unconvincing piranha attacks of course...
ade
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Post by killercrab on Feb 6, 2008 11:10:59 GMT
Not sure if we've got a SIX MILL thread here at the Vault revamp yet? I recall Dem posted one of the book adaptions at the old haunt. I'm a fan as a few of you know. I've got two of the Mayflower original Caidin novels ( which the series was based upon). Last week I picked up one of the tv episode adaptions - WINE , WOMEN AND WAR ( one of three pilots for the show in fact). I learned today that there was an episode that was banned in the UK - wherein Austin tackles the Brits in Northern Ireland. Definitely can't recall it ( not surprising eh?) - but I'm guessing it's from season 3-5. Anyones memory jogged by this?
Banned episodes of shows are real barometers of *then* current thinking. The Klan episode of THE PROFESSIONALS *another*. It's actually readily available now - though I don't think Bravo broadcast it in the last few years. In fact the Bravo repeats were still edited - a drug taking scene in an early one definitely cut when I watched it.
ade
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Post by killercrab on Oct 23, 2007 13:40:05 GMT
FM - very good - got it on vid somewhere. Having not read the book I can't say how accurate it is , but most of the film is a courtroom drama - very captivating - bit like a boot boys Twelve Angry Men I suppose.
ade
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Post by killercrab on Oct 22, 2007 16:58:19 GMT
Ade, I'll be grabbing some of my own comics posts soon. I want to transfer a cross-section of different types each time - comics, film, stories, radio, blah blah, you know. I need to get a new scanner soon. Will be getting in touch with you. Gather you've heard from Steve. >.
Yep Rog - replied to him at the old place - not sure Steve has read my reply yet. You know my direct email anyway.
ade
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Post by killercrab on Oct 22, 2007 15:39:30 GMT
Saw the recent Beeb screening and thought it great. The film didn't make any sense but who cares? >>
Oh the film is great - I watched on a small portable in a caravan when it aired recently - watched THE DAMNED too - now there's a movie for ya! Of the two adaptions I've read , THE REPTILE was by far the best - should get back to reading another. I'm working my way through the Swamp Thing trade right now - reprinting the first ten issues of the comic - it's groovy stuff.Reminds me - must stick some posts on the comics/Tomb of dracula threads...
ade
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 21:26:24 GMT
THE HAMMER HORROR FILM OMNIBUS bk 1
THE GORGON / John Burke
It's amazing how dull an adaption of a fairly decent gothic film can actually be - this is pretty faithful - but the written version seems so *lacking* in Gorgon action in comparison. The film though doesn't have anymore scenes - but it seems that way.
Burke is a fine workman like scribe- but he's not given much to work with and tends to shore up the story with interminably long exchanges of dialogue between the *good Gorgon action* - to the point your eyes - if not glazed - start to require props. I liked how he tried to flesh out the mythological background to the threat and chose to use the correct name of MEDUSA for the monster instead of MAGEARA in the film. Mageara was actually one of THE FURIES - a very similar Greek mythological monster with hair made of snakes. I've no idea why Hammer changed her name in the film - it's not like she's copyrighted!
At 90 pages the adapted GORGON feels like 190 - it's faithful yet uninspired which worries me somewhat about the remaining stories in the omnibus . I'll be generous and score this 3/5 overall as it has a few moments but lacks real spark...
KC
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Post by killercrab on Oct 19, 2007 18:42:38 GMT
Priorities Dem - my review of The Reptile:
You might ask yourself , why bother reading a novelisation or adaption of a film - after all most are carbon copies word for script . It's a good question.
In THE SECOND HAMMER HORROR FILM OMNIBUS you get four stories - The Reptile , Dracula Prince of Darkness , Rasputin and Plague of the Zombies. Not by coincidence , these four films were made by Hammer back to back in a four film deal. Utilising the same sets to cut costs , they make up a rather nice chilling quartet.
I know the story of The Reptile backwards - married couple inherit a quaint rose bedecked cottage called Larkrise. The locals are suspicious and there's a stonking great bleak house nearby , where the bleak doctor Franklyn dominates his innocent seeming daughter with a rod of iron.
Well she's a human reptile y'see - so you would.
The adaption opens with Harry Spalding and Valerie meeting the solicitor Mr Beeding. In the film we don't get to this until after the initial prologue where Charles' brother is killed by the Reptile ( which the adaption ignores). Burke expands on the details of the bequest and this flows naturally into the couple arriving at Clagmoor Heath. Characters like Mad Peter don't turn up until he jumps Charles one night - whereas in the film he's introduced earlier. The rest of the story follows the film except that after Charles is bitten , Valerie doesn't rush off to find the barkeep Tom Bailey - he turns up next morning and slips some brandy into her drink instead of presumably a herbal medicine ala the film.
These small changes , which are actually tighter edits make me wonder if Burke was working from an early script or wether director Gilling expanded on scenes on set.
Overall I found reading the adaption as compelling as watching the film - Burke's writing is tight yet not too functional and he presents the story well. The only other adaption I've read is THE GORGON , which I found much drier. I'm hoping PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES stands up next!
ade
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Post by killercrab on Mar 14, 2008 16:17:32 GMT
I saw this once, but too long ago to remember anything about it. I have a feeling it might be based on the book of the same title by James Herbert, but if anyone knows different, please speak up. In fact if anyone knows anything about it... >.
Yep based on the Herbert book - directed by David Hammings. My tv guide gives it one star - personally I'd plunk down 3 - I liked it alot on the last watch. Incidently it's Joseph Cotton's last film.
Sunday BBC2 12:45 a.m., Nastasia Kinski in the remake of Cat People (1982) if you need a soporific...>>
LOVE this film ! I first saw it on release and have the dvd 'natch. Malcom McDowall is *purrfect* and Kinski does cat really well. Particularly like the desert dream sequences - so typically 1980's video...
ade
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