Spanish and Italian Horror

[marmes]

I'm obsessed with the following horror directors right now
- Jesus "Jess" Franco(key films:Venus In Furs,Vampyros Lesbos,Virgin Among The Living Dead,Succubus)
-Lucio Fulci(key films:Zombie,The Beyond,City of the Living Dead,House By The Cemetery)
-Amando De Ossorio(key films:Blind Dead series,Night Of The Sorcerers)

All three of these guys prevailed in the 70's and 80's and make absolutely crazy,insane movies.All drenched in dark atmosphere and music.
I'll warn you that these films are visually driven and if youre looking for strong story you might hate them.They are low budget and flawed but are still very sincere.Think of horror comics made into a movie and you pretty much describe these,in all their tackiness and beauty.If you are a lover of the unusual,check them out!

[toys2cool]

My brother is really into all those weird films :grin: i personally don't like those very cheaply made films but he loves them too

[cjefferys]

I remember going through my Franco phase around 12 years ago, trying to track down as many bootleg videos of his films that I could. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by many of them. :smiley1: But there are some "gems" in his huge body of work. And he is a very interesting character, I love reading stories about him and his filmmaking.

I respect Fulci, but am not a huge fan. I think my favourite of his films is DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING. He should have tried working a little bit more in the giallo genre then he did.

As for De Ossario, I've only seen the first Blind Dead film so far. I've been meaning to check out the rest for the longest time, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Goblin19]

I've watched quite few of the Italian horror movies. No one director has stuck out to me yet, though I've watched Fulci, Bava, and Argento. Edwig Fenech (SP?) on the other hand stands out beautifully.

[Werewolf]

The only one I have on DVD is Nightmare Castle with Barbara Steele.

[Meule]

I have several of those on DVD, quite entertaining, especially Fulci's Zombi :grin:

Talking about Italian horror, you gotta mention Dario Argento as well. Loved his Demoni 1 & 2. Among others of course since he made so many great movies :yes:

[fallensaviour]

Fulci and Argento are to of my favs.I loved Zombi and Demoni as a kid.I think I watched them when I was a around 13.I've often felt that Fulci did for zombies what Leone did for westerns. :yeah:

[palitoy]

I'm into all things Paul Naschy (El Hombre Lobo) and have more than one of his films, my favourite being "Assignment Terror" which I have two prints of. Saw it on TV 25 years ago intrigued by the "BOMB" rating it always got, for my money Naschy is one of the best werewolves ever and who doesn't love 70's blood?

[Count Creepyhead]

I love the Italian stuff, especially Fulci. The music was always the best, plus they always end on a sad note. No squeeky clean happy endings. However I can't stand Argento, I think he's higly overrated. Other than his re-edit of Dawn, I don't like any of his stuff.

[cjefferys]

Oh yes, when you're talking about Spanish werewolf films (and who doesn't on a regular basis!), it all begins and ends with Paul Naschy. I'm trying to track down some of his Spanish theatrical posters. Wonderful artwork.

I'm a big Argento fan too (especially DEEP RED, SUSPIRIA, TENEBRE and OPERA). His more recent stuff has really been hit or miss though, but his new film is supposed to be a return to form. (unfortunately I didn't get a chance to check it out at the Toronto Film Festival)

[marmes]

[QUOTE=cjefferys;43088]Oh yes, when you're talking about Spanish werewolf films (and who doesn't on a regular basis!), it all begins and ends with Paul Naschy. I'm trying to track down some of his Spanish theatrical posters. Wonderful artwork.


Yes,I forgot to mention the whole slew of Paul Naschy movies.
CJefferys I have all of the Naschy posters.Let me know what ones you are looking for and we can work a trade.

[palitoy]

I used to have a collection of Naschy films in those over sized VHS boxes from the early 80's, I sold them and wished I had not. Occasionally you can find tapes of the films in Spanish language stores here in Toronto but I miss the dubs.

I think I'm going to pop in assignment terror again, I really love watching him take down the other monsters.

[marmes]

I used to have a collection of Naschy films in those over sized VHS boxes from the early 80's, I sold them and wished I had not. Occasionally you can find tapes of the films in Spanish language stores here in Toronto but I miss the dubs.

I think I'm going to pop in assignment terror again, I really love watching him take down the other monsters.

Aah yes..Assignment Terror(also known as Dracula vs Frankenstein..not to be confused with the Al Adamson Dracula vs Frankenstein or the Jess Franco
Dracula vs Frankenstein..both great films(i use that term loosely) in their own respect.One of my favorite things about Assignment Terror w Naschy is that swanky go go music used throughout and the awesome spanish poster,which i own!!

[Bo8a_Fett]

Argento stands up as one of the best....got most of his stuff..its a bit difficult to follow the plot sometimes but entertaining enough. The blind dead quadrology is worth a watch too if you'd like to see something different in the zombie stakes (Amando De Ossorio..Night of the seagulls stands out here).

[lepage]

I am right there with you on that!

I have that awesome "coffin" blind dead collection and love it!

Another good one that I own is the Emilio miraglia "Killer Queen" boxed set.

Another one that I have that is classic is the Bava boxed set.

[samurainoir]

Any fan of Italian Gorror Movies needs to own this book...
Spaghetti Nightmares (http://www.amazon.com/Spaghetti-Nightmares-Italian-Fantasy-Horrors-Protagonists/dp/0963498274/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198085697&sr=8-1).

I have a soft spot for the films of Joe D'amato. He's not really the best film maker of the lot, but certainly the one who pushed it passed the edge.

[samurainoir]

In terms of the more contemporary Spanish horror auteurs, I'm quite fond of Guillermo del Toro. The stuff he does outside of the Hollywood system is brilliant. Chronos, Pan's Labyrinth, and the Devil's Backbone are incredibly brilliant films. Hellboy of course is good fun.

Michele Soavi's Dellamorte Dellamore AKA Cemetary Man was pretty excellent as well.

[EMCEtoys]

Hey, what if we made a few custom Blind Dead MEGOs? I know I'd love 'em, but would it be worth doing 'em for real? Would anyone actually buy them?

[Meule]

Hey, what if we made a few custom Blind Dead MEGOs? I know I'd love 'em, but would it be worth doing 'em for real? Would anyone actually buy them?

Are you kidding me? You go right ahead and make 'em, I'll be buying :yes:

[Tothiro]

In terms of the more contemporary Spanish horror auteurs, I'm quite fond of Guillermo del Toro. The stuff he does outside of the Hollywood system is brilliant. Chronos, Pan's Labyrinth, and the Devil's Backbone are incredibly brilliant films. Hellboy of course is good fun.

Michele Soavi's Dellamorte Dellamore AKA Cemetary Man was pretty excellent as well.

I agree, I really enjoyed Dellamorte, and re: Guillermo, I'm not 100% sold on his directorial style (I liked Pan's a lot as well as Chronos, but I'm a Hellboy fan with wild fan ideas). I really like the stuff he's pushing right now too (IE *The Orphanage)

[MysteryWho]

Wow, Emce Blind Dead?! That would be amazing! I had intended to cobble together something with bits from CTVT but I'd rather not have to 'cause I'm lazy.
Love the Blind Dead films but I haven't seen Ossorio's other stuff.
Fulci and Ossorio actually seem to share that dreamlike quality where "anything goes" as long as it is terrifying. They both have such a unique approach. Horror fantasy content is often better when presented in a completely non-linear, non-realist fashion. Their movies sometimes remind me of Bergman and Godard, but without the intellectual content. I don't mean that as a criticism, sometimes intellectual exercises are the last thing you want out of a movie.
And Naschy rules.

[MysteryWho]

Here's one of my favorite Italian/Spanish Horror Features. Be prepared for some medium level horror/zombie violence. Nothing really bad.
YouTube - NIGHTMARE CITY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRMAVSN1IH0)

[mazinz]

Here's one of my favorite Italian/Spanish Horror Features. Be prepared for some medium level horror/zombie violence. Nothing really bad.
YouTube - NIGHTMARE CITY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRMAVSN1IH0)

always a guitly favorite of mine

[wilbs518]

Argento, Fulci, and Bava are some of my favorites!