Asylum
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Movie Reviews of Asylum
Movie Review: Classic Amicus gem back in circulation
Summary: 5 Stars
Long out of circulation (except in an inferior bad transfer and print) "Asylum" finally reappears on DVD. One of Amicus' finest efforts is told anthology style much like "Tales from the Crypt" and "The House That Dripped Blood" from a screenplay by Robert Bloch (the novel Psycho among many other genre offerings)most fans of the film know the story but I'll briefly recap it here after I mention the new stuff on the DVD.
For this edition from Dark Sky Films has struck a new print from the 35mm negative, transfered it in high definition and presents it in an anamorphic widescreen presentation. The extras include a commentary track by director Roy Ward Baker and Director of Photography Neil Binney, biographies for Baker, Cushing, Lom, Britt Ekland and producers Milton Subotsky & Max J. Rosenberg. There's also a featurette on Amicus entitled "Inside the Fear Factory" as well as liner notes and a still gallery. The only thing I could have asked for that isn't included is a appreciation in the form of a featurette for some of the deceased stars such as Peter Cushing.
Dr. Martin (Robert Powell) arrives at Dunsmoor a hospital for the mentally ill. Martin is challenged by the director of the hosptial Dr. Rutherford (Patrick Magee) to prove his mettle as a doctor; Martin must figure out who of the recently admitted inmates is Dr. Starr the former director of the hospital who's gone insane. Martin listens to the stories of different inmates (played by Barbara Parkins,Charlotte Rampling and Herbert Lom)and tries to determine which of them was the former director. Each has a bizarre story to tell from a reanimated dismembered corpse, suits that bring the dead to life to hand made little "people" that their maker can "will" himself into. Curiously Robert Bloch is credited as Robert Black on the box. Considering all the care that went into the re-release I'm surprised this happened.Also featuring Peter Cushing, Barry Morse and Charlotte Rampling "Asylum" is the gem in the Amicus crown.
The featurette features Max Rosenberg discussing the formation of Amicus and how the first couple of films came to be. For example Rosenberg discusses how he and Milton Subotsky became involved in Hammer's first successful horror production "Curse of Frankenstein". Freddie Francis also appears discussing how he got into direction, working with Peter Cushing and his work for the duo.
The previous edition has been out of print for far too long. It looks as if the plentiful extras and usual care that MPI takes with their releases is here as well. It's taken a while for this gem to become available again but I'm happy it has finally come "back to life". This creepy horror thriller scared the heck out of me as a kid and while some of the edge may have been dulled by the more explicit horror films out there for younger horror fans the subtle direction and storytelling has kept this film vital and makes this film an essential horror thriller to pick up on DVD.
Movie Review: The Author of "Psycho" Brings Us A Great Anthology of Gothic Insanity
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the Dark Sky Films release:
"Asylum" is an awesome anthology based on a collection of short stories written by Robert Bloch, author of "Psycho" - the granddaddy of all slasher films. Like Norman Bates of "Psycho," most of the characters in "Asylum" are psychotic; in fact, they are residents of an insane asylum. Four patients each have a ghastly story to tell about how they became residents.
Amicus Productions is famous for releasing horror anthologies and "Asylum" is considered by many fans to be one of their best. Why? It boasts a top notch cast of horror stars led by Peter Cushing (who portrayed Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing in numerous Hammer Productions), Britt Ekland ("The Whicker Man," "The Monster Club," and "What the Peeper Saw") and Patrick Magee ("Demons of the Mind," "Dementia 13," and "The Black Cat"). Each story is truly frightening and involves inanimate objects that come to life such as severed limbs and tiny dolls. There is always the thin line separating reality from fantasy. (Is the homicidal playmate real or imaginary? Which one of the patients is actually a doctor who suffered a mental breakdown?) This film, which boasts beautiful sets and a great musical score, has some shocking twists and turns, especially at the end when we learn the true identity of Dr. Starr.
"House of Crazies" is an alternate title and, I must say, a more appropriate one. However, "Asylum" has a more ominous, chilling ring. Whatever its title, I highly recommend buying it for anyone who collects horror films made by Amicus Productions or is a big fan of Peter Cushing or loves seventies horror. I happen to be a fan of all three.
The DVD presentation from Dark Sky Films is very professional. "Asylum" is presented in its theatrical release aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the video and audio are pristine, and there are English subtitles for those of us who are having difficulty hearing in our old age. There is also a collectible booklet of interesting liner notes inside the DVD keep case. However, let me warn you not to watch the "Inside the Fear Factory" feature unless you have already seen "The Beast Must Die" and "Now the Screaming Starts." There are film clips from these features that may ruin them for you.
Movie Review: One of the best horror anthologies from Amicus.
Summary: 5 Stars
Asylum was directed by Roy Ward Baker and was written by Robert Bloch who also wrote Psycho and some other Amicus films, the film has four stories which are told by a different patient that lives in the Asylum and they are played by an all star british cast that you may recognize that includes Peter Cushing, Brit Aklend, Herbert Lom etc. This film has got to be the best anthology horror I have ever seen now it is not gory but it had one of the best format storylines, Amicus allways made these low budget horror films in the 70's and were trying to rival Hammer but usually there films turned out to be very bad and cheesy. The four stories are woven together with a clever framing device the story begins as a psychiatrist applying for a position at an English insane asylum and it seems like the previous director of the institution has gone mad and has become one of the patients. Dr. Rutherford (Patrick Magee) tells him that he must pass a test in order to be hired which is to find out who the director is and it all ends in a surprise I'm not going to ruin it.
The first story is about a young woman whose boyfriend cut his wife into little pieces and put the parts in the freezer but it soon turns out to be a tale of revenge when the pieces start moving, this part was very cheesy and hilarious but it still worked and was effective cause it was the best storyline.
The second story is about Bruno the tailor who is hired by Peter Cushing to design a magical suit for his son. It was a bit predictable but still great because of the performances from the actors.
The third story is about a woman named Barbara (Charlotte Rampling) who had been in a mental institute before, when she arrives back home she finds her friend played by Britt Eklend who causes alot of trouble by murdering people and might send Barbara back to the institute.
The final story is about Bryan (Herbert Lom) who makes little robot dolls which can be controlled by his mind and are able to do anything including murder. This one has a lot of twists and turns and it all concludes with the psychiatrist trying to figure out who the real director is. The film is not scary but still fun to watch and I highly recommend this great British horror film and two thumbs up!.
Movie Review: "COME TO THE ASYLUM....."
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished watching Amicus Productions' "Asylum" and was thoroughly entertained throughout! This collection of macabre tales is imaginative, intelligent and contain some genuine thrills! As the trailer for the film advertised, "come to the asylum..." we have a young doctor arriving to take the head position of the psychiatric department. That is, if he can first identify the former doctor, who is now a mental patient of the asylum and is now residing upstairs with the other "incurably insane." We meet each of the patients one by one as they reveal how they became patients of the asylum.
(1) British actor, Richard Todd (Disney's "The Story of Robin Hood" and "The Sword & The Rose") stars in the first story revealing a murder with a dash of voodoo mixed in for some truly chilling results, you'll never look in your deep freezer again, without remembering this horrific scene!
(2) The second story gives a new meaning to "owning a good suit." Peter Cushing hires a tailor to make him a new suit for his son. The material Cushing brings is "special" and even glows! Wait till you see Cushing's son, and then how the suit effects the tailor's store mannequin!
(3) The lovely Britt Ekland stars as the friend of a wealthy young girl, who is on the edge of insanity. Is Britt real or a figment of the girl's pill induced imagination?
(4) The fourth and final of the tales, involves the great Herbert Lom (Hammer's "Phantom of the Opera" and as Chief Inspector Drefus of "The Pink Panther" films). Lom's character is a psychotic genius, which has invented several doll-like robots that not only can do his bidding, but the robot becomes the actual person it is created to resemble. This one is the best of the tales and rounds up the collection with a good solid finale.
Also available in the Amicus Collection is "And Now the Screaming Starts" and "The Beast Must Die," both starring Peter Cushing and a must have for any Hammer Studios horror fan or collector! I hope Dark Sky Films will continue with more titles in their "Amicus Collection," for these are just a few of the fine films that were produced from this Hammer Studio rival.
Movie Review: Great Stuff
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow, this movie was fun. I never saw it before and, because I've been on a big Hammer and Amicus kick lately, took a chance on it. I was not disappointed.
Like other Amicus productions, what we get here are several horror stories in one, all centered on "incurably insane" patients in a British asylum. There are some great stars here that make it work oh so well, including Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange), Robert Powell (Tommy, Jesus of Nazareth), Herbert Lom (Phantom of the Opera-1962), Peter Cushing (Do I need name all of his great horror films?), Richard Todd (Stage Fright)Barry Morse (Gerard from the 1960s TV series classic The Fugitive), Geoffrey Bayldon (The House That Dripped Blood), the scrumptious Britt Ekland (The Wicker Man-1973), beautiful Charlotte Rampling (The Fury), and lovely Bonnie Parkins (The Mephisto Waltz).
The transfer from Dark Sky Films is fantastic; it looks like a brand new film. It's presented in anamorphic widescreen and looks great when played in a progressive scan DVD player on a HD television.
Looking forward to the upcoming release of "From Beyond the Grave" from Image. Never saw that one before, either, but am looking forward to buying it just the same.
I'm hopeful other Amicus classics, including "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors," "Tales from the Crypt (1972)," and "Vault of Horror" will be released on DVD soon. There are rumors abound that Vault and Tales will soon be released by 20th Century Fox in England, but that won't help those of us living in the states much. Dr. Terror was released in England on DVD, but never in the U.S. There is a demand for these films here. Let's get with it, whoever owns the rights.