150 Movies You Should Die Before You See - Miller Steve [77]
D: The first victim killed by Fu Manchu in the novel The Trail of Fu Manchu
Answer: B. Ward was a prolific British author who wrote under the name Sax Rohmer.
THE DEAD TALK BACK
Headliner Productions, 1993
PRODUCER Merle S. Gould
WRITER Merle S. Gould
DIRECTOR Merle S. Gould
STARS Aldo Farnese (Henry Krasker), Scott Douglas (Lt. Lewis), and Laura Brock (Renee Coliveil)
When a young woman (Brock) is murdered by a stalker with a crossbow, Lt. Lewis of Homicide (Douglas) turns to unorthodox criminologist/psychic researcher/creepy science dweeb Henry Krasker (Farnese) for help in cracking the case. How will the Boy Wonder do it? With his radio set that picks up signals from the Afterlife, of course!
Why It Sucks
A rooming house full of bizarre possible suspects, an unusual detective, and a suitably twisted solution to the case … The Dead Talk Back could have been a fun, quirky mystery film. But then it went in for bad acting, inept direction, shoddy camera-work, badly done lighting, and horrendous editing. Even a second draft on the script would have helped.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Script Award goes to … Merle S. Gould for his attempts to infuse the film with a “hardboiled detective” that are so over-blown they ruin what could have been a cool murder scene.
And the You Made James Randi Cry Award goes to … Merle S.
Gould for conceiving an experiment in otherworldly communication that involves a speaker, some wire, a wineglass, and a razor blade.
They Really Said It!
Renee: Oh shut up, you potentate of righteousness.
Betcha Didn't Know
Although completed in 1957, this film wasn't seen by the public until 1993 when Sinister Cinema acquired the rights to distribute the film on home video from Headliner Productions.
Ghost Whisperer, a popular television drama in which Jennifer Love Hewitt talks to dead people, employs real-world psychics as consultants.
Trivia Quiz
What was A ldo Farnese best known for?
A: Inventing television
B: Producing and hosting children's television programming
C: Investigating the death of Marilyn Monroe
D: Creating a real-life, highly successful paranormal research institute
Answer: B. During the 1960s, Farnese created, produced, and hosted children's programming that was broadcast in the Philadelphia and Boston areas.
THE EVIL BRAIN FROM OUTER SPACE
Fuji Eiga/Shintoho, 1965
PRODUCERS Kazuya Hamana, Yashushi Kotani (executive producers), Takashige Ichise (producer)
WRITER Ichiro Miyagawa
DIRECTORS Koreyoshi Akasaka, Akira Mitsuwa, and Teruo Ishii
STARS Ken Utusi (Starman), Junko Ikeuchi (Minako Yamada), Shoji Nakayama (Kan Hayashi), and Minoru Takada (Utako Mitsuya)
Starman (the Japanese answer to Superman) defends Earth from the disembodied alien brain of Balazar, his murderous mutant minions, and an omniscient narrator who tells viewers what's about to happen in the scene that's coming up.
Why It Sucks
Yaaaaawwwwn! Repetitive, overlong, tedious — are there any other words like that? What potential excitement isn't leeched away by the lame fight scenes is destroyed by the narrator who time and again tells us what we're about to watch until you want to jump through the screen and throttle him.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Costume Design goes to … Whoever decided everyone in the movie should wear sinister hats and trenchcoats, whether they are plain-clothes police or the evil mutants!And the Worst Script Award goes to … Ichiro Miyagawa and/or the anonymous translator who outfitted the film with a narrator who spoils any plot twists or drama.
They Really Said It!
Omniscient Narrator: So powerful was Balazar's genius that as he lay dying, his brain ordered built a mechanism, which would keep it alive even though his body was destroyed. And now Balazar's Brain seeks universal conquest!
Betcha Didn't Know
Starman's Japanese name translates into English as Super Giant. (Good thing he got renamed, because he's not particularly super nor is he much of a giant.)
Ken Utusi has been appearing on television