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Continuing the short story reread, and onto one of the most gruesome stories in the canon. Going to discuss this with big spoilers from the start, so here's a ( spoiler cut. )
I'd been planning to write this for a while. But was reminded by Roger Corman's recent passing.
These were the first horror films I fell in love with. My dad adored them, and encouraged me to watch them with him from a very young age. Probably too young an age! But I was quickly hooked, and like him loved them. Vincent Price's acting in these films is hammy and arch in many places, but perfectly suited to the material and treatment. And that combined with the exaggerated Edgar Allan Poe (usually) plots and lurid technicolour experience made them quite unique. I was far too young to be taking drugs or drinking alcohol, apart from a very small ginger wine at Christmas. But these were as close as I came to a hallucinogenic experience from a very young age.
Watching them again as an adult I'm much more critical, not least of the acting - and here I'm not so much talking about Vincent Price, but the guest cast - and ultimately it does feel like style over substance in places. But overall I am still delighted by them, and hope to continue to rewatch them for a long time to come. I am currently having fun introducing them to my husband, who'd never seen them before getting together with me. Next up in our watch/rewatch is The Raven. I was tossing up between various Price/Corman films we have recorded, but fell back on the rather nebulous "But it's culturally significant!" At which point he realised exactly which one I had picked.
These were the first horror films I fell in love with. My dad adored them, and encouraged me to watch them with him from a very young age. Probably too young an age! But I was quickly hooked, and like him loved them. Vincent Price's acting in these films is hammy and arch in many places, but perfectly suited to the material and treatment. And that combined with the exaggerated Edgar Allan Poe (usually) plots and lurid technicolour experience made them quite unique. I was far too young to be taking drugs or drinking alcohol, apart from a very small ginger wine at Christmas. But these were as close as I came to a hallucinogenic experience from a very young age.
Watching them again as an adult I'm much more critical, not least of the acting - and here I'm not so much talking about Vincent Price, but the guest cast - and ultimately it does feel like style over substance in places. But overall I am still delighted by them, and hope to continue to rewatch them for a long time to come. I am currently having fun introducing them to my husband, who'd never seen them before getting together with me. Next up in our watch/rewatch is The Raven. I was tossing up between various Price/Corman films we have recorded, but fell back on the rather nebulous "But it's culturally significant!" At which point he realised exactly which one I had picked.
RIP Roger Corman
May. 12th, 2024 02:03 pmI grew up as a very young child watching and enjoying his many Vincent Price Edgar Allan Poe movies with my dad. My first huge horror movie love even before seeing Hammer films. I’ve been rewatching the Roger Corman films with Martin, and we have more recorded to watch. Will bump them up the viewing queue.
