Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Phantom of the Opera

Starring Herbert Lom, Heather Sears, Edward de Souza and Michael Gough

Written by John Elder, based on the novel by Gaston Leroux

Directed by Terence Fisher

I've always avoided this movie because the PHANTOM just seems too big and fancy for a studio known for its modest budgets like Hammer. The design of the Phantom's mask and makeup I've seen in stills in horror movie books didn't do much to convince me otherwise, and there's no big name in the role -- Herbert Lom. Who's he? I dunno!

Well, I'm glad I finally got around to it because the Hammer version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is actually better than I imagined it to be and a lot of the reason for that rests on the shoulders of Herbert Lom, who manages to inject the exact right amount of humanity and empathy into the Phantom, factors I feared would be missing in a production from a studio well-known for gore and cleavage. After all, they focus on the evil of characters like Dracula and Frankenstein, and that evil gets more and more maniacal as the sequels pile up, so what hope does the Phantom have? Apparently, plenty. Who knew?

This is a very loose adaptation of the original source material, but doesn't really suffer for it -- it wisely scales the story back a little, and they're still able to do a lot with the sets and the costumes to bring the right amount of gravitas to the production. There are also a couple little satisfying narrative twists for those of us familiar with famous sequences, like the crashing chandelier.

This adaptation isn't a straight up copy of the 40s attempt with Claude Rains, but it has more in common with that than Lon Chaney's version. I still feel the ultimate Phantom adaptation has yet to be made. The Schumacher movie a while back lacked star power (I mean I love Gerard Butler and all but he's no Phantom), what survives of the Lon Chaney version has great moments but lots of pacing issues, and the Claude Rains version just seems like such a wasted opportunity with its narrative choices.

But between all those we've got this Hammer version which is humble in its approach and nails the Phantom character, which is more than can be said for most productions. The greatest moments of the Chaney classic still eclipse this one, but it's worth a look and I'm sorry I dismissed it all these years.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Hound of the Baskervilles

Starring Peter Cushing, Andre Morell, Christopher Lee, Marla Landi and David Oxley

Written by Peter Bryan, based on the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Directed by Terence Fisher

I know what you're thinking: since when is a Sherlock Holmes story a horror story? Well, I don't know that I have a great answer for that except to say that Universal produced a bunch of them, as well (theirs starring Basil Rathbone) and classify several of them as horror films, so I reviewed them during the two Universal Horrorfests and will now review Hammer's only Holmes movie in turn.

Peter Cushing stars as Holmes and seems like a perfect choice, born to play the role. However, he's a little less laid back than your average Holmes, instead applying his logic enthusiastically and passionately. Andre Morell as Dr. Watson is less memorable, and that's a shame, because (spoilers) by the nature of BASKERVILLE's plot, lots of screen time is devoid of Holmes and devoted to Watson. I've read this Watson is closer to his literary counterpart than some others, so that's cool, I guess, but I'd rather have an inaccurate, interesting take than a bland accurate one.

Christopher Lee's also on hand as Baskerville himself, and while it's always nice to see Cushing and Lee together, this is one of their less memorable pairings, if only because they don't get to share much screen time.

Still, the movie is rife with the usual Hammer atmosphere and it's worth watching for Cushing as Holmes alone.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Mummy

Starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Yvonne Furneaux

Written by Jimmy Sangster and directed by Terence Fisher

All right, now we kick Hammerfest into high gear with the kind of monster movie they were most famous for -- of course the MUMMY series is not as famed as the DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN series, and for good reason (it's not as good) but the first entry is right up there with Hammer's greatest classics.

In this way, it's sort of like Universal's MUMMY series. The first one was great, the sequels were not so great, it's not as well remembered as Dracula or Frankenstein, but damn if there weren't a ton of sequels.

The problem with the mummy in general is that a bandaged up dead guy (or girl) doesn't have much personality. Of course this first Hammer Mummy movie gets around that in two ways: first, like the Universal MUMMY, it features the mummy outside of his wraps a bunch -- in this one, via flashbacks. Second, both movies wisely cast an electric star as the mummy -- in Universal's case, Boris Karloff. Here it's... you guessed it... Christopher Lee!

Now, you might think a great like Christopher Lee is wasted in a role where he's made up beyond recognition for most of the run time, is mostly mute, and just lumbers around murdering people. Normally you'd be right. But Christopher Lee doesn't get enough credit for what an imposing physical presence he has. Usually you're fixated on his face and his voice, but here you can't fixate on either and instead are astounded by just how big, broad and tall he is. This mummy actually looks lethal and frightening, not frail and slow.

Another thing this MUMMY has going for it is that he's pitted against Peter Cushing, reuniting Hammer's two biggest stars, who also go at it as Frankenstein and his monster, and Dracula and Van Helsing.

I guess I've said so much without getting into the plot or story or anything like that, but you don't really need to know that stuff -- just know that this one is definitely worth checking out and is quintessential Hammer horror.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Man Who Could Cheat Death

THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH (1959)

Starring Anton Diffring, Hazel Court and Christopher Lee

Written by Jimmy Sangster and directed by Terence Fisher

Now, we get to Christopher Lee -- the other, perhaps even more famous than Cushing, face of Hammer Horror. With his imposing presence and baritone voice, Lee is perfect for both horror and heroic roles, and plays both throughout his filmography, though he may have been happier doing some less silly stuff. Still, I'm glad any time he's on screen.

Unfortunately, his first entry into this year's Horrorfest is not very memorable. He's relegated to third fiddle in a not-very-interesting role, supporting the story of an artist who has undergone secret transplants in order to remain young-looking even though he's well over 100 years old. He has to drink a potion to keep it up, and continue to repeat the surgery from time to time, and the professor he's in league with is getting too old to keep going. They want another doctor (Lee) to take over, though, of course, there are ethical considerations.

This one plods along at a snail's pace without much in the way of memorable set pieces. If you love period sets and costumes, it might be worth a watch for that, or if you're a Lee or Hammer completist. It's notable here as being the first color film of the season -- that was one of the things that Hammer was most known for, as opposed to their predecessors, presenting their tales of gothic horror in bright, well-shot and sometimes startling (for the time) color.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - The Abominable Snowman

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (1957)

Starring Forrest Tucker and Peter Cushing

Written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Val Guest

Now Horrorfest really picks up with this year's arrival of the great Peter Cushing! Cushing, along with Christopher Lee, who we'll get to later, is the biggest star of Hammer Horror, appearing in a ton of their pictures in both villainous and heroic roles. For example, he plays both Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing. How's that for two ends of the spectrum? I mean, it's not like Gregory Peck doing both Atticus Finch and Captain Ahab but it's not unlike it either.

Cushing stars here as a climbing and botany expert on a scientific research mission in the Himalayas who hooks up with an American mercenary/promoter/hunter to track down the legendary abominable snowman. Cushing's in it for the science but the American, played by Forrest Tucker, wants to capture a beast alive and bring it home for exhibit.

Aside from the beautiful black and white photography as well as the impressive scenery that seems to have been shot on location (even though most of the action is shot on sets), the most interesting aspect of this movie is its take on the monster -- this isn't just a killing machine or dumb brute wandering around the mountains. It turns out, the abominable snowmen (yep, there's more than one) are complex, sensitive and wise creatures that have psychic abilities and human characteristics, like the ability to mourn their losses. Their plaintive wails, echoing in the mountains, are emotionally effective and memorable. So is the one clear shot of their eyes -- finally delivered after most of the movie keeping the monsters mostly hidden, for budget and suspense's sake.

This is a great and unpredictable adventure with two solid central performances, great cinematography and an above average "monster." The only drawback is that the depiction of the Himalayan locals may not always be as sensitive as the depiction of the abominable snowmen. It's a shame in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable movie.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - Quatermass 2

QUATERMASS 2 (1957)

Starring Brian Donlevy, John Longden, Sid James, Bryan Forbes, William Franklyn and Vera Day

Written by Nigel Kneale and Val Guest, based on the 1955 TV serial by Nigel Kneale

Directed by Val Guest

The QUATERMASS trilogy is the only other series of sequels in Hammer's horror filmography outside of DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN and the MUMMY. Not as familiar a name as those other three, huh? Still, a pretty cool character -- a rocket scientist who just wants to put men in space but keeps getting interrupted when he's embroiled in fighting monsters for the government (and for the good of mankind). He's the sort of guy who probably would be a mad scientist, if he wasn't always saving the day. Although he seems to get less mad (as in crazy) as the series goes on but continues to be just as mad (as in cranky) the whole time. He's sort of the House MD of rocket scientists -- cranky, always right, no one believes him. I reviewed the first QUATERMASS movie, THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT in a previous Horrorfest, so here we're starting with part two, the aptly (if boringly) named QUATERMASS 2.

Brian Donlevy reprises her role as Quatermass who has ambitions to build a base on the moon, only to find out there's a similar base right on Earth in a seemingly abandoned village nearby. Mysterious guards with machine guns protect the area, and strange meteors are falling from the sky, causing gross skin deformities when they release gas onto people. Quatermass' own assistant is infected, and captured by the mysterious guards, and Quatermass goes on a journey to alert the authorities, most of whom don't believe him or are in on the conspiracy, whatever it might be.

Without going into too much detail, I will say that aliens from outerspace are attempting to take over the Earth, turning humans into their slaves. These aliens are massive blob-like creatures that tower as tall as skyscrapers and finally reveal themselves to stomp across the countryside in a memorable climax.

I feel like the QUATERMASS movies are prime for remakes -- watching this one unfold, I was struck by how modern it seemed in its pacing, action, variety of characters coming together in unexpected ways. Maybe Hugh Laurie could even play Quatermass, who knows. He's definitely an interesting character, and it's especially interesting to have a monster/sci-fi series like this center around the interesting main character instead of centering around the monsters and saddling the viewers with bland heroes. Quatermass is logical and wise while also being impulsive and decisive, taking massive risks to do what he thinks is right. It's a good mix for a hero.

Horrorfest 2020: Hammerfest - X the Unknown

The sky's gray, the rain has come, the leaves are falling... guess that means it's time for Horrorfest! Usually I try to watch and comment on 31 horror movies in 31 days during the month of October. Sometimes I have a theme -- this year is a theme year. The last couple years I tried to round out my knowledge of Universal horror by watching all the Universal horror, suspense or monster movies I'd either never seen, had only seen parts of or maybe had seen but forgotten about. 

The next logical step is to check out the horror, suspense and monster output from Hammer Film Productions, a London-based film production company that brought gothic horror back into vogue, mostly in the 60s and 70s, though technically starting in the 50s. I've seen (and loved) several of their most famous movies, and even reviewed some of them here, but I decided I'd give them the same treatment I gave Universal and watch 31 Hammer horror films this month that I've either never seen before, only seen parts of, or maybe saw and forgot about.

Hammer is probably mostly known for their Dracula and Frankenstein movies, differentiating them from their popular Universal predecessors by using blazing full color and amping up the sex and violence factors. I remember reading about these as a kid, thinking they must have been insanely excessive, full of nudity and gore. While it is true they're way more up front with skin and blood than Universal ever was, they're tame by today's standards.

I'll be skipping some of the more famous Hammer movies because I've either already reviewed them in a previous Horrorfest, or at least already seen them. Let's start with...

X THE UNKNOWN (1956)

Starring Dean Jagger and Edward Chapman

Written by Jimmy Sangster and directed by Leslie Norman and Joseph Losey

I'm going mostly in chronological order here, so my first few entries are from an era before Hammer struck gold with their series of gothic, color monster movies. X THE UNKNOWN is no less striking for having been shot in black and white, however, and is primarily a sci-fi story, though it does feature a monster.

The monster in question is a radiation-created blob. Unlike its more-famous 1958 successor, THE BLOB, which came from outer space, this amorphous blob creeps up from under the ground to spread its reign of terror. The military tries to stop it, which seems impossible, and enlists an atomic scientist (Jagger) to help.

Like most Hammer productions, the run time is brisk, though the pacing is off a little, with what should be an edge-of-the-seat thriller coming off as a little too dry in parts. Of course the military doesn't make the most interesting protagonist, and the doctor, who should be the character we can latch onto, being almost equally dry and almost laconic. Sure, everyone's worried things might not out all right, but the whole thing lacks an immediacy you'd expect from a radioactive monster movie.

All that said, it's still an efficient little thriller that gets the job done with a little more class than your average 50s-era atomic monster movie, though it doesn't rise to the heights of the greats of the genre, whether a silly crowd pleaser like TARANTULA or an ominous dirge like GODZILLA.