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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Werewillie Oleson" data-source="post: 392555" data-attributes="member: 8">Last night was a "the eyes have it"  double feature.THE VISITOR (1979)[ATTACH=full]51757[/ATTACH]I have no idea how this film poster connects with the feature itself, unless it should be read as a promise that we're going to gaze into Franco Nero's uncredited Jesus eyes.[ATTACH=full]51758[/ATTACH]And a few eyes are getting picked out so perhaps it all makes sense anyway.THE VISITOR is a typical example of an ill-conceived (semi-)European project that borrows bits and bobs from popular sci-fi and horror films, kinda like the Italian soft-core disco vampire genre.It goes without saying that these type of films have tremendous "cult" value - it would be a great entry for Studiocanal's Cult Classics label, maybe I should drop them an email - but the surprise here is that THE VISITOR is much more entertaining than it deserves to be.It's messy, it's overwrought or downplayed in all the wrong places, scenes are rushed or go on forever, the soundtrack - albeit a very  good one - is often used inappropriately, it's unintentionally campy etc etc.You'd think this is one of those "so bad it's good films" but it's not. There really is something effective and fascinating about this trippy potpourri, but it's a matter of sheer luck rather than the result of creative input.My experience was similar to watching ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, John Carpenter's film that failed to deliver its vision (at least there was one) but made with such deadpan coolness that it acquired a unique atmosphere.THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946)[ATTACH=full]51761[/ATTACH]This time it's a misleading title rather than a misleading film poster, as that spiral staircase only marginally contributes to the story.In fact, it's massively upstaged by the grand staircase in this typically American mansion including the offensive but fashionable black statures.Although it could be argued that the staircase is upstaged by that fantastic, huge mirror on the mid-landing.[ATTACH=full]51762[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]51763[/ATTACH]Yes, why didn't the Carringtons have a mirror like that on their dramatic staircase?It's very much a product of its time, an unsubtle and melodramatic gothic noir, but the effects and cinematography are excellent.I'd say that it puts the "dark" back in DARK SHADOWS, and I always love it when they transform something as mundane as a person's eye into a macabre and grotesque feature.[ATTACH=full]51764[/ATTACH]The events play out during a thunderstorm - well, naturally - and it enhances the experience of cozy nighttime watching.Dorothy McGuire's ficitional vocal handicap proves a little bit too ambitious sometimes but never to the point that it started to irritate me. Besides, it was compensated by physical acting that captured the frenzy this film was going for.I enjoyed the bitchiness between the bedridden matriarch and nurse Barker. The actress who played nurse Barker reminded me of a woman who used to work in a department store I frequented, and we hated each other.Then there's the sneaky maid who's only interested in getting drunk, sexy secretary Blanche who also lives in the mansion, and the new handsome doctor in town, Dr. Rossi style.So, apart from being a serial strangler whodunnit there are various other things to enjoy. I guessed the murderer but not for the correct reasons. All in all, this is a good choice if you're in the mood for something old-fashioned with a few surprisingly creepy effects, but don't expect too much from the spiral staircase itself.</blockquote>

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