FANTASTIC FANTASY FRIGHT-O-RAMA SHOW VOL. 1 (1996) *** ½

Something Weird concocted another winner when they made this horror and Sci-Fi trailer compilation tape.  What makes this collection so much fun is that it offers a good mix of eras (from the ‘50s to the ‘70s) and subgenres (everything from giant lizards to Edgar Allan Poe adaptations).  We also get a nice blend of respectable studio films (The Illustrated Man, Fantastic Voyage, and Escape from the Planet of the Apes) and low budget schlock (The Giant Claw, Beast from Haunted Cave, and Werewolf in a Girls’ Dormitory).  Speaking of which, many trailers for films that played on Mystery Science Theater 3000 show up here too (like The Giant Gila Monster, The Unearthly, and Bride of the Monster).  Other highlights include the awesome sounds of The Rivingtons’ “The Bird’s the Word” playing throughout the trailer for The Crawling Hand (which was another MST3K favorite.)

We are also treated to a lot of previews for films from the masters of the macabre like Vincent Price (The Conqueror Worm, House of Usher, and Cry of the Banshee), and Christopher Lee (Horror Hotel, The Oblong Box, and Night of the Blood Monster).  Fans of terrific taglines will be in hog heaven as well.  Some of my favorites include, “The fun finger points to Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine!”  The trailer for The Face of Fu Manchu announces its title character as “The sinister minister of fear!”  The ad for Five Million Years to Earth promises, “Women will be defiled by the invaders from outer space!” and The Crimson Cult boasts, “Every victim violated!”  How can you not want to see THAT?  I did think it was odd that some trailers for color movies are in black and white (most notably Peeping Tom), but that doesn’t in any way ruin the fun. 

And kids!  Don’t forget to pick up your “Black Stamps” when you catch a double feature of The Gorgon and The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb!

Here’s the complete trailer rundown:  Jason and the Argonauts, Captain Sindbad (sp), Horror Hotel, The Raven, The Crawling Hand, The Haunted Palace, Children of the Damned, a double feature of The Gorgon and The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, First Men in the Moon, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, The Face of Fu Manchu, a double feature of Die Monster Die and Planet of the Vampires, Fantastic Voyage, What’s up Tiger Lily?, The Fearless Vampire Killers, One Million Years B.C., Barbarella, Thunderbirds are Go, Five Million Years to Earth, Kiss and Kill (AKA:  The Blood of Fu Manchu), Brides of Blood, The Conqueror Worm, The Evil, Phantasm, Up from the Depths, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, The Love Factor, Peeping Tom, Circus of Horrors, Beast from Haunted Cave, The Little Shop of Horrors, The Devil’s Partner, The Premature Burial, Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory, The Giant Gila Monster, The Giant Behemoth, Godzilla King of the Monsters, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, Gorgo, Konga, Bride of the Monster, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Enemy from Space, The Giant Claw, The Unearthly, Reptilicus, King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Leech Woman, House of Usher, The Devil’s Bride, The Crimson Cult, The Valley of Gwangi, The Illustrated Man, The Green Slime, The Oblong Box, The Dunwich Horror, a double feature of The Crimson Cult and Horror House, Count Yorga Vampire, Cry of the Banshee, House of Dark Shadows, Night of the Blood Monster, and a double feature of Countess Dracula and Vampire Circus.