The Nanny (1965)

A non-horror from Hammer that's nevertheless chilling in its own way. It starts out a normal 1960s drama, but a sinister edginess soon bleeds in.
It stars Bette Davis as nanny to ten-year-old Joey (William Dix). The boy's father is rarely home, and his mother is an apprehensive wreck, unable to face the challenges that parenting (and daily life) present. It's nanny that keeps the household running. But not everyone feels safe when she's around.
It goes without saying that Bette Davis is great in her role, but her child co-star holds his own alongside her. As does a young Pamela Franklin. It's the rest of the adults that let the side down. But not enough to prevent the film being an underappreciated gem in the British studio's catalogue.

3½ antipathies out of 5

Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971)

Hammer's fourth and final Mummy feature is an excellent film overall. Some folks will disagree, with cries of "There's no actual Mummy!" It's true. The story is based on Bram Stoker's The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903) novel, focussing on the restless spirit of an Egyptian Priestess (Valerie Leon), with no dusty bandages in sight. But there's plenty of blood, tons of atmosphere and the connection between past and present is integrated better than usual.
It was the first of the series I ever saw, many years ago, and while there's certainly a feeling of nostalgia attached to each viewing, I genuinely do believe that it's deserving of the final score.

4 phases of the soul out of 5