It’s only logical I should review this movie first, as it’s the first Robin Askwith movie I’ve ever seen. What’s not to love about this film? Has everything a bad horror movie needs. A creepy castle which is used as the “hospital” – which I looked up on the internet, apparently it’s some kind of manor museum and park grounds you can rent out for weddings and stuff! If I’d only known! A mad doctor churning out zombies from hippies. An adorably British train and rail station manned by a mysterious stationmaster. A creepy dwarf as the doctor’s sidekick. A pretty mod British girl (Phoebe “Vanessa” Shaw) as the helpless love interest who stands around screaming a lot and waiting to be rescued. I love how, upon meeting on the train, she is at first very standoffish and wary of Robin (“Jason”). After he assures her he won’t be raping her, she turns charming and pours out her entire life story to him!
Robin really shines as the hero in this film, giving us those adorable expressions of confusion, outrage, and terror he’s mastered so well.
I can't believe this is the first Askwith film you've ever seen! You started at the top. It doesn't really get much better than this: the exposition of Aunt Harris' back-story, the song he spent a week on, his smug face as he suggests they arent a couple "yet". Skip Martin's inability to say shishkebab and the finest truest bit in the film where Robin stands up at the table and says "What the fuck is going on!". Once again Robin chimes with the thought in the room. Brilliant film.
ReplyDeleteYep, first at age 12, and still my fave movie of all time at age 41!!
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