It’s kind of funny how the new year is already ushering in more terror of old, and not even in the form of another shameless remake. On the 7th of January, Dominic Sena’s SEASON OF THE WTICH – starring Nic Cage and Ron Perlman as 14th century crusaders amidst a scourge of Black Death – widely spread across theaters (winning the bronze medal this past weekend with just under $11 million in tickets sold). And that got us to thinking…what are some of the best period-set horror/thrillers that have ever been put down on film. Not just the Victorian Gothic style that we’re used to, though there is some of that…we’re opening it up foul Naziploitation fare, Spanish civil war chillers, gritty 70s crime nonfiction, French lycanthropy…all of it. It’s a broad canopy, but by no means exhaustive. So what do you say, let’s spend part of the new year by taking a look back, shall we!
WARNING: MINOR TO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW!
#10. BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF (2001)
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I’m not sure how many of you have caught Christophe Gans’ 2001 flick BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, a French genre-mashup starring Vincent Cassel and Monica Belluci – but it’s one twisted f*ckin’ yarn! Set in 18th century France, the film is inspired by true events involving a mysterious wolf-like beast who gorily dispatched over 100 people in France during a three year span (it’s currently believed the real beast was likely an Asian Hyena). The film has its flaws, its artsy indulgence and unforgivable running time among them, but as far as recreating a time and place…servicing a horror story that really occurred, it’s certainly worth a mention. Besides, what the hell is not to love about Moncial Belluci, at her peak of sensuality, rocking sexy-ass French haberdashery? Straight heat!!!
#9. THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE (2001)
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I could have just as easily gone with Del Toro’s more polished, populist effort, the 2006 international hit PAN’S LABYRINTH, but when push came to shove, I elected to throw some love to his 2001 flick THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE, a much more raw and intimate portrayal of young child’s ethereal existence. Besides, BACKBONE is a bit more horrific than LABYRINTH, which honestly feels like more of a family film than any serious genre piece. Sure, both weave elements of the fantastical, but BACKBONE – about the honorable intentions of an adolescent wraith during the Spanish Civil War – is in many ways more affective. For one, the performance 11 year old Junio Valverde as Santi is really quite remarkable. But more than that, it’s the flipped convention that really works. Instead of a malefic jinni, the ghost here is a benevolent force…and the tragedy partially lies in what happened to the young boy as opposed to what he does to others. A special distinction!
#8. ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS (1975)
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I’m really not sure if any of the ILSA pictures are technically period efforts, but there’s no way in hell I’m omitting at least one of them from the fray. Why? Two words…Dyanne Thorne! In what became a recurring character through four ineffably trashy exploitation flicks – ISLA: SHE WOLF OF THE S.S., ILSA: HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS, ILSA: THE WICKED WARDEN and ILSA: THE TIGRESS OF SIBERIA – the buxom blonde oozes sex appeal as a daunting dominatrix who resorts to heinous acts of torture to ensure her happiness. In her inaugural portrayal (S.S.), Thorne played an icy-cold (yet stunningly hot) Nazi warden at a death camp. There, in a rabid search to find the most durable dick (yes, she can’t cope with premature ejaculation, natch), she conducts a barrage of disturbing medical experiments…castration, excision, you name it…the sexy She Wolf is more than game!
#7. ZODIAC (2007)
When the dude’s dead and buried, David Fincher’s headstone may very well read “director of SE7EN and FIGHT CLUB.” However, it’s the man’s exhaustive true-life account of the Zodiac Killer, an at-large California murderer in the 60s and 70s, that should be considered one of his most expertly crafted pieces of work. In fact, it’s Fincher’s directorial style here – a frenzied, circuitous maze of truth and fiction – that probably won him THE SOCIAL NETWORK gig. That is to say, Fincher directs his material according to the story he’s telling…and it’s never been more delicately handled than in ZODIAC. Also, Fincher’s connection to the area featured in the film (he’s a Bay Area dude, like me) comes through in the level of meticulous detail and spot on series of affectations the period evoked. Sure, the film is not technically a horror yarn, but you can’t tell me the scene where the cliff-side couple gets savagely knifed isn’t as unsettling as any true genre piece. And what about that heart-pounding basement scene with Charles Fleischer? (Roger Rabbit of all people…nice touch Dave!)
#6. SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999)
Although many of us would have preferred to see Andrew Kevin Walker’s original script – which was drastically tamed by famed playwright Tom Stoppard before filming- make to the big screen…there’s no denying how sumptuous Tim Burton’s version of Victorian England is in his 1999 film SLEEPY HOLLOW. In his third collaboration with Big John Depp – who’s been on record as basing his interpretation of Ichabod Crane on a cross between Roddy McDowell and Angela Lansbury (among others) – Burton not only pays tribute to Hammer films of yore, but structurally, he admitted to following a Mario Bava’s KILL BABY, KILL template…even paying homage to the Italian maestro’s other films in a series of familiar shots (spike to the face, etc). Add the fact Depp did all his own stunts, with support from a bevy of fine international actors like Chris Walken, Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson, Jeffrey Jones, Casper Van Dien, Christina Ricci and the great Christopher Lee – and we’ve got a sure fire list contender!
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!
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