Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

The first horror anthology from Amicus Productions stars two of the genre's greatest actors, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. The former is the titular Doctor, but the House isn't literal - the setting is a night-time train carriage into which he steps. He tells the fortunes of the other passengers, each of whom experience a glimpse into their individual futures.
In no particular order, there's creatures of the night, voodoo happenings, and killer vines, among others, with an occasional just deserts situation, and the frame narrative having a twist of its own. I can't say without going into spoiler territory why I thought the frame ending was detrimental to the whole, but maybe I expected too much from the studio's first attempt. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the various settings and the performances of the lauded cast.

2½ conveyance predictions out of 5

The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)

Abandoning the continuity that had been carefully established in their two previous Frankenstein films in favour of one that was more closely related to Universal's was a dick move by Hammer. Seeing an opportunity to make some easy money the rival studio had relaxed their earlier restrictions in exchange for distribution rights, meaning Hammer could reference the trademarked big-footed and flat-headed creature design. So Hammer did, but they did it badly. The make up is atrocious. The Baron is a less complex individual than he'd been before, and the creature's story is underdeveloped.
Katy Wild’s deaf-mute character was a bright light in the dimness, and I’ll watch anything just to see Peter Cushing in action, but the film was a lumbering step in the wrong direction for the franchise.

2½ external impulses out of 5

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)

It’s been a year since the Prince of Darkness (1966) was put to rest but the townsfolk are still shaky and superstitious. A meddling monsignor, who seems to think that gold crosses grow on trees, self-appoints himself to do something about it and unsurprisingly cocks up everything for everyone.
The application of colour-edged filters was a bold idea but it seems almost arbitrary and more often than not they just look amateurish and silly. By contrast, the rooftop scenes look fantastic and the inventive way that Dracula is dispatched is highly entertaining and memorable.

2½ drinking games out of 5