Elvira's Movie Macabre: Maneater of Hydra / The House That Screamed

Very disappointing, not in choice of movies but in the presentation. Both of these films are very entertaining. But the transfer of MANEATER OF HYDRA is appallingly bad. Not only is it pan-and-scan (which is bad enough and something I half expected), but it looks as if it was mastered from a VHS that had tracking problems (notice all the visual static on bottom of the frame throughout -- I actually have a DVD-R dubbed from a VHS that looks better than this!). The film is no masterpiece, but it is much better than one would expect, and it has a great cast headed by Cameron Mitchell, a great location in an old island villa and a great monster. It was also directed by Mel Welles (primarily an actor, known best for his role of Gravis Mushnick in the original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which coincidentally also featured a carnivorous plant that likes blood). Luckily THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (aka LA RESIDENCIA), an atmospheric Spanish film set in the 19th century, is taken from a wide-screen master and has excellent production values (this master is probably from a DVD of the European transfer as it is came out recently overseas -- and all these Elvira DVD releases are apparently titles that are now public domain in the USA). Anyway, be forewarned about MANEATER OF HYDRA. I've seen better transfers of public domain titles from Alpha Video and some of the other public domain DVD labels - which is scary, since Shout Factory (who released this)is a reputable company who have high quality standards. I think their quality-control guy must have been asleep at the wheel when this got through.

Nothing is as fun as watching Elvira watching these bad horror movies. Growing up in the Los Angeles area Elvira and her Movie Macabre was a weekend staple in the eighties on KHJ Channel 9.
These movies are both campy and fun. Perfect for Elvira to take a whack at. The MST3K kids, as fun as they are, should thank Cassandra Peterson everyday for making this genre hip and fun again. Maneater of Hydra is a knock off of The Day of the Triffids with a monster instead of a bunch of trees eating the cast. The House that Screamed is a pretty good little movie in the spooky drive-in movie category. It was loosely remade in the eighties as Pieces. It has been unavailable in the US years except in bad VHS copies from Europe.
All-in-all the entire package is just silly fun and thanks to Elvira and her sometimes priceless one liners, well worth the price. We love you Cassie, Happy Halloween!

Enter if ye dare. 1969's "The House That Screamed" (a.k.a."La Residencia") is the precursor to 1974's "Black Christmas" and 1978's "Halloween" but alas, so few even know of it. Writer/director Narciso Serrador paved the road that these 70's killer-on-the-loose films drove on, but received litle fanfare for his efforts (which is a shame) "The House That Screamed" goes bumpety bump in zee night with atmosphere deluxe to burn.

Let's begin, shall we? 19th century European gurls gone mild, buttoned to the teeth a la Audra Barkley, whilst minding their manners and ballet lessons. The boarding school fronts as an elite academy, but in reality, it's just an exalted dumping ground for girls who are troubled or troublesome.

Lilli (Pictures of...) Palmer is head mistress Mme. Fourneau, a woman with a secret sealed with a kiss; She has a teenage son, Luis, with mummy issues - nay subscriptions - who is literally a kid locked in a candy store. Luis isn't a Peeping Tom per se...he much prefers "Unauthorized Biographer." In his heart of hearts, Luis' theme song is "I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad." The problem is he's working on a puzzle with too many missing pieces.

Mary Maude plays the character Irene: a regal, aloof lezzie gang leader brandishing a big whip with a bigger smile. Irene is right rambunctious, not to mention bent, and rocks the school uniform until the break of dawn. However, Irene hosts the worst tea and sympathy parties, so it's best to just play dead.

Oppressive sexuality, grand architecture, and a midnight rambler to boot...Who could ask for anything more in a horror film? This is one boarding school with a student body count.

When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Nah, meet me in "The House That Screamed."