Going IFC but I can understand a strong showing from A24.

I have to give it to Hammer; with the hours of enjoyment I've gotten from their classic tempra-paint-blood-and-gratuitous-breasts-laden flicks and even the Hammer House of Horror series, it would be akin to criminal for me to vote any other way. I love The Gorgon and The Vampire Lovers the most out of their catalog. Captain Kronos is delightful trash. Everything pairing Cushing and Lee was unfuckwithable. And their influence was huge among their contemporaries; The Blood on Satan's Claw is the best Hammer film Hammer never made.

This touches on a pet peeve of mine, so apologies, but: A24 is mostly a US film distribution company. Their logo might appear on trailers and films in the US, but their involvement remains mostly as film curators I suppose. Having said that they've produced more over time, and all (?) the Ari Aster films are A24 productions, as are recent Ti West. However Talk To Me, Saint Maud, The VVitch, and Under the Skin aren't.

But anyway, Hammer all the way. Cleavage and bright red blood in mittel-European settings was their bread and butter, but even these films are surprisingly well made and acted. Rewatched Vampire Circus the other day, and what a great - and weird - film.

Charlie D wrote: The Blood on Satan's Claw is the best Hammer film Hammer never made.

+1. I also love Death Line as a not-Hammer Hammer.

pldms wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:06 am This touches on a pet peeve of mine, so apologies, but: A24 is mostly a US film distribution company. Their logo might appear on trailers and films in the US, but their involvement remains mostly as film curators I suppose.

No apology necessary. I welcome and appreciate the clarification.

Never having seen any of the Hammer films mentioned so far I certainly loved the atmosphere and gravity of the recent Hammer films I've seen. Wake Wood is an absolute delight - loved the ritual scenes and overall vibe and The Lodge is surprising and dark.

For real? You never seen any of the Cushing (Van Helsing) / Lee (Dracula) flicks?

I made a chart of their pairings back in the day.

Can’t say I have a favorite as most of the ones I look up are all over the place (Universal, New Line, RLJ/Image, etc). But from this list I’d say A24 is the most consistent. So I guess I’m voting there.

I want to like Hammer. I just can’t make it all the way through any of their old films.

Charlie D wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 11:10 am For real? You never seen any of the Cushing (Van Helsing) / Lee (Dracula) flicks?

No, sir, I have not. While growing-up I familiarized myself with the Universal features but never strayed too far for unknown reasons. I guess the older I got the more I became drawn to movies capturing the here and now. I'm certainty not opposed to any of them, just never actively sought them out.

Shout-out to Rapi Films for producing a handful of chilling Indonesian joints.