Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Black Sunday, 1960

A woman named Asa Vajda (Barbara Steele) is brutally executed by her own brother on a charge of witchcraft. Years and years later, Doctor Kruvajan (Andrea Checchi) and his assistant Dr Gorobec (John Richardson) arrive in the village and accidentally (while committing some light grave-robbing) awaken Asa. Borobec finds himself drawn to Katia (also Barbara Steele), a descendant of Asa's. But the awakened Asa intends to use Katia's body to return to life.

Usually it's the films I don't like that I don't have much to say about. But in this case, I really liked the film but find myself struggling to have much to discuss.

To begin with, the visuals are awesome. The film is a gorgeous black-and-white, with plenty of stark shadows, ominous lighting, and dramatic sets. It makes the most of Barbara Steele's striking features.

The horror aspect of the film is very solid as well. The execution sequence in the beginning of the film is horrific. But I was also a fan of the way that it showed Asa slowly returning to life--especially the shot of her eyeless corpse with dark liquid writhing on the inside.

The characters themselves are . . . medium compelling. Katia is nice enough, but neither she nor Gorobec are super strong characters. The story is enjoyable, even if some of the characters are a bit flat---the plot progression alone is enough to keep you hooked all the way through.

One slight hesitation I had was the perpetual "treating witches as real" thing. We aren't actually shown what Asa is meant to have done. And the sexualized sequence of her being tortured and then killed, while horrifying, is slightly complicated by the fact that the torturers are meant to be in the right. Frankly, after watching her get branded, taunted, and having a mask nailed to her face, I was kind of Team Asa. Though it would have been much more satisfying to see her get some direct revenge on her smarmy brother.

Mostly, this is a visually splendid film with tons of atmosphere to spare.

About a group of resistance fighters living in German controlled Rome during WW2. Broken up into two parts, part 1 shows what life is like for the citizens under German control while they work to help one of their own, wanted by the Nazi's for leading a revolution, escape the city. Not all movies have a happy ending and part 2 is about the capture and questioning of said leader and his accomplices. Pretty good and I'm sure it'll be even better the second time around.

Muzzle Flash: The 666 Case (Benjamin Ruffett, 2021)
Faux-throwback microbudget schlock made locally. Wakaliwood level effects with much less charm unfortunately but it has its moments, mostly later on, and the acting is mostly pretty alright (relatively speaking of course).

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It's funny you say this, I'm a fan of this movie and seen it several times, but the thing I think that's interesting is that one does end up kind of being on Asa's side in this, it's almost like she ends up as the anti-hero. And I don't think it was intentional. But the way she was brutalized and the fact that you only get moment there where they give you a sense that she was really dangerous and may have done some awful **** we don't see, before the movie started, added to the weakness of the protagonists who are endangered by her, you end up kinda being like, "Well, we'll just see how this plays out, I could kinda go either way here."
I mean, Katia doesn't deserve her possible fate but otherwise who cares about these people?
Fortunately, I think the movie and Steele start to give you the sense toward the end that she's real evil and you don't want her around.

Documentary about a guy, Mike Diana, who was charged and convicted of obscenity in Fl. for his raunchy comics. Okay, his comics were a bit more than just raunchy - they were extremely rough, kind of in poor taste, totally offensive, gross, many would say sick, displays of sex and violence. The film, directed by Frank Henenlotter of Brain Damage, Bad Biology, Basket Case fame, is a first amendment film questioning what, if anything, is obscene. The irony, as is usually the case, is that had the prosecution never happened this guy probably never would have been heard of.

I agree with you that Steele does a great job of conveying that Asa is evil.

I guess for me there is a two wrongs don't make a right mentality. Fine, say someone is evil. The whole self-satisfied ritual of branding her and tormenting her and, again, nailing a mask to her face, is just so extreme. That relationship--between Asa and her brother--was the one I felt was lacking. Something is missing in terms of closure, for me, in the treatment of Asa.

I agree that the tepid characters make it easy to go with the flow. It would have been nice to have a more compelling narrative to go along with the fantastic look and feel of the film.

You didn't rate the film and I was curious as to how you would rate it, it's hard to tell from the review.

I LOVED this movie...no argument that its a little longer than it needs to be. This is the film that Russell Crowe should have won the Oscar for, not Gladiator.

Good review, this film sounds really interesting...LOVE the screen shot you posted.

SAS: Red Notice (2021)

Like a modern Under Siege 2 but not as good. Very 80s in both good and bad.

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Knight of Cups (2015)

I've been meaning to watch more Malick and this was on a local TV's streaming service. Definitely worse than The Tree of Life, but visually exciting, and sorta intriguing in its poeticism. Just like a poet, Malick is just self-reflecting in all his movies, and this makes them a little repetitive. Still a director I respect but don't necessarily like that much.

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I'm curious as to whether or not you've seen the Hitchcock that immediately preceded this, The Man Who Knew Too Much. I watched the 1956 remake with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day but from what I've read the '34 version is considered Hitchcock's first big success. It might also be a more fitting example of what was to come. Plus it's got Peter Lorre in it. I don't know if I should make a point of checking it out.

Thanks Gideon. I think you'd enjoy this one. CR had seen it previously and enjoyed it as well.
The cinematography was really great in this. In fact, the mood of the shots shift from the opening scenes of a very bright, beautiful life, to a more darker tone as the story focuses on the two tortured men and their inevitable collision. The transition of which is so subtle that the realization of it, adds to the tension even more so.

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AKA Portrait of Maria was an early Cannes' winner and is one of the most popular movies in the history of Mexican film. I liked the story, and it's an easy watch with an affecting ending. Despite the subtitles, locale, and cast, it didn't feel much different than an American film. It was good.

glad you enjoyed this sub-genre It was a great little find.
Hope you do get a chance to check it out James and I'd love to hear what you think when you do.
Great little bit of technical there, very much enjoyed that, thank you!

I think Boseman would have won anyways...Riz Ahmed is good in Sound of Metal but it's not the sort of performance that really lends it's self to an Oscar. Minari might get several acting noms and Steve Yeun is a little to subtle for the academy.



I still have to see The Father though but they don't normally double down on old white guys.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)


This film is a bit of a mixed bag, in a lot of ways this should be an all-time Scorcese style crime film that runs for three hours. Daniel Kaluuya is the "supporting" role and Lakeith Stanfield is the "lead" though really you could easily reverse the titles. Jesse Plemons is also very good in this and could have used more of a character arc with more screen time. Had the director had the guts to give us a three hour epic what is a 4 star film could have been a 5 star classic. Maybe we'll get a directors cut next year.


The film is visually interesting, the characters aren't just victims but complicated characters with actual stories to tell. The last few scenes in the film are heartbreaking and crushing which is impressive seeing as how the story is so well known.

That was on my possible choice list for the upcoming PRIII. I can't remember who I considered it for, maybe it would be a good choice for me?

You didn't ask me, but yes you should check it out.