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#234 Strait-Jacket - 1964 (This Film Rates a B- ) William Castle's 1964 psychological horror film, Strait-Jacket, is a masterclass in building tension and suspense, despite some minor flaws. The film boasts a standout performance from Joan Crawford, who plays Lucy Harbin, a woman struggling to adjust to life after being released from a mental institution. The story begins with Lucy's discovery of her husband's infidelity, which leads to a shocking act of violence with an axe and witnessed by their young three year old daughter, Carol. Twenty years later, Lucy is deemed stable and returns home to reconnect with her now 23-year-old daughter. However, a series of unsettling incidents and gruesome murders raises questions about Lucy's sanity and whether she's truly ready to reintegrate into society.

While the twist ending may be predictable from early on, the film's overall narrative remains engaging, thanks to Crawford's captivating performance. The black-and-white cinematography is absolutely stunning, particularly in the artistic opening credits. The soundtrack and sound effects effectively enhance the tension, making this film work on a deeper level. The script and acting are generally solid, although some moments feel slightly melodramatic and take a bit away from the seriousness of the film. Crawford shines as the troubled Lucy, bringing depth and nuance to the spiraling out of control character. Unfortunately, the film's conclusion feels somewhat over-the-top and disappointing. Overall, Strait-Jacket is an above-average horror film that relies on psychological tension rather than gore. With its vintage 1960's charm, impressive cinematography, and strong central performance, it's a must-watch for fans of classic horror cinema.

#232 Blue Monkey - 1987 (This Film Rates a B- ) "Blue Monkey" is a campy, sci-fi horror film that, despite its shortcomings, delivers tension, suspense, and occasional fun moments. The film begins innocently enough, introducing Marwella, an eccentric greenhouse owner, and Fred Adams, her overly charming handyman. However, things quickly take a dark turn when Fred is "pricked" and infected by a mysterious plant from the greenhouse and rushed to the hospital. The ER descends into chaos as a worm-like creature emerges from Fred's mouth, sparking a contagion that spreads rapidly. As the military quarantines the hospital, panic ensues, and the insect's growth accelerates. The creature resembles a giant praying mantis. The film's pace quickens, racing toward a frantic climax however there is no twist ending to elevate the story. The soundtrack is effective in creating tension and suspense. The acting is subpar, often overly dramatic. The blood, gore and special effects are unimpressive, with obvious budget constraints. The hospital and lab environments are unconvincing. The script is weak and unplausible, However, there are some tense moments that keep the storyline engaging. Overall, "Blue Monkey" is entertaining, even if significantly flawed. While not outstanding, it's worth watching for fans of campy giant insect sci-fi horror.

Winterbeast - 1992 (This Film Rates a B- ) "Winterbeast" is a campy, low-budget horror film that thrives on its exploitative charm including nudity. Two rangers, Sgt. Whitman and Forest Ranger Stillman, investigate missing persons cases on a local mountain, uncovering a mysterious Native American curse and witnessing demonic claymation murders. The stop-motion demons evoke nostalgic 1970s charm. Each one screams bargain basement budget however the gore and effects are decent enough. The sequences are at times very funny even if over the top gross but there just arent enough of those scenes. You do get several skull heads popping out of stomachs and some skin eating. The biggest overall negatives are the confusing plot with dead-end storylines, amateurish acting, a terrible script, fake sound effects and lackluster scares. This film has no real direction. The soundtrack has some peak moments though it is just sophmnoric compared to other films. "Winterbeast" embodies the spirit of low-budget exploitation horror. While technically very flawed and limited, its trashy allure and (un) intentional humor make it entertaining enough. There are no high expectations here, just pure crappy fun. Plus, the awesome mustache on Sgt Whitman.