The Ten Commandments (1956)

Luckily for Charlton 'Thou Shall Not Wear False Beards' wasn't one of God's laws, because the actor's face fur wouldn't fool a goat, much less a deity. But trappings aside, DeMille's epic is memorable for other reasons. Its scope is such that it feels like an event, a thing to behold as much as to enjoy.
It's a lavish production in which Heston dominates even when he's attempting to be humble; Brynner oozes a venomous charm as Moses' ambitiously jealous sibling; while the ladies captivate whether they be decked in finery or rags.
It rarely feels like it isn't staged every step of the way, even the on location scenes feel overly-managed, but it makes up for that with the large amount of sheer drama that it brings to the table. Only the last half hour lets the side down, wherein it rushes to deliver its concluding message.

4½ binding ties out of 5

Cellar Dweller (1988)

It really surprises me this underrated gem isn't more well known. Born from the mind of Chucky creator Don Mancini, it begins with a horror cartoonist (Jeffrey Combs) delving a little too deeply into the occult for inspiration. Summoning a monster from the pages of his comic Cellar Dweller he inadvertantly ends himself. An artist's work coming to life is a classic scenario. Problems with pacing are evident from the start. The prologue is done well but the following credit sequence, while fitting, slows the film down. Thirty years later a young artist (Debrah Mullowney) unknowingly resurrects the same beast from the pages of Cellar Dweller. The creature is well portrayed with a decent use of animatronics. But sadly the pacing fails once again as the suspense is lost in a lull towards the end.

3 homages to EC Comics out of 5

Mirror Mirror (1990)

Shy girl Megan takes a shine to a possessed, grabby-hands mirror.
Too often Mirror Mirror sits unimaginatively in the shadow of Carrie (1976), but when it does its own thing it fares slightly better.
The story doesn't call for a full-on spooky atmosphere a lot of the time, preferring instead to emphasise the outsider scenario.
Rainbow Harvest is well-cast as a goth chick who attracts the ire of high school bitches. Because of the costume and make-up her resemblance to Winona is even more apparent than usual, but that's not her fault.
I didn't even recognise Yvonne De Carlo until she spoke.

2½ reflective wants out of 5

Munster, Go Home! (1966)

The Munsters leave the familiar haunts of 1313 Mockingbird Lane and travel to England so that the easily excitable Herman can claim an inheritance.
There’s an occasional America/England joke, but mostly it’s the usual kind of family-friendly comedy that made the TV Series popular.
It was the first time that fans got to see the deathly pallor of the cast in colour. If you prefer the B+W versions, you may be a little disgusted by the 60s Technicolor and the heavy-handed makeup.

2½ vulture bumps out of 5