Goodbye and Thank You Christopher Lee

I'm sure that by now many of you know that Christopher Lee has passed away. I'll probably be far from the only person to write a blog post in tribute to him, but I'm still going to share a few thoughts. This morning I was surprised to read on Twitter that he had died. Not that I could be all that surprised that a 93-year-old died, but Christopher Lee has been a fixture for my entire life and for people a lot older than me! He's one of those people it seems has always been around, confidently striding out onto the screen with an air of sophistication in one scary role or another.

He was a real inspiration who showed that a person could still be cool in their 90s. A lot of people just hang up the towel and declare themselves "old" decades and decades before they're in their 90s. But there he was, recently acting and singing in a metal band! He was cooler in his 90s than a lot of people are at any age.

What made Christopher Lee the natural vampire was the regal way in which he carried himself and that voice! Not that you heard much of it in those Hammer Dracula films, but the little bit you did hear was so deep and powerful. He seems like he should have been doing Shakespeare, almost like he was slumming it in those Dracula movies. Sometimes I think he knew that, because when I look at his eyes before he's about to bite someone he looks sort of bored and disgusted by his prey. It's like he's thinking "Centuries of these dumb girls. Oh well, a neck's a neck."

Are we having fun yet?

But he sure looked lively during those fight scenes with Peter Cushing! Like in this scene from Horror of Dracula:

It occurred to me that I'd watched Christopher Lee die as Dracula so many times in these movies and then somehow be resurrected in the sequels, that it's weird for me to think of him actually being gone. But like Dracula, he does have a sort of immortality. Christopher Lee will live on forever through the many movies he made. That's the almost magical thing about actors, that so long as they exist on film somewhere, they still live on for their audience. Most of us had never met Christopher Lee, so all we'd ever seen of him was in his movies. So when you watch him, as I plan to do tonight, his greatness will still be there for you as a movie viewer as much as it ever was.

The monsters have arrived! My review of Midnight Syndicate's Monsters of Legend

Remember my recent blog post about Midnight Syndicate's new album Monsters of Legend? Well, the CD just arrived in the mail! The men of Midnight Syndicate were cool enough to send me a copy to review. How lucky am I? I couldn't wait to pop this into my CD player the minute I saw the package. First of all, I have to say how well done the cover art is. Both the front and back. The CD itself has a very vibrant Frankenstein and cool fonts on it too.

The album's cover art

The back of the album and song list

Pretty cool, hey? I love when the CD itself is well designed.

The men of Midnight Syndicate looking dapper and deadly

So, first I listened to the album all the way through. I wanted to soak in all the songs as a collection or series of events. Much like Midnight Syndicate's Carnival Arcane album, this one sets a mood in part through atmospheric sound effects. If you listen closely, you really can visualize the different settings and story lines. The album is open to interpretation, and I think those with a creative mind will be able picture more with every time they listen to it.

As I wrote in my previous blog post, this album was inspired by the classic Universal and Hammer movies. The songs aren't titled in a way where they directly point to one movie. Well, there is a little hinting with "Building the Monster" and "It Lives!" but otherwise I think it's up to the listener to connect the dots. The back of the CD states:

A foreboding castle perched upon the cliffs looms over the mysterious village of Arcacia where monsters of legend roam its hillsides. Will you dare to venture forth?

So there is a loose story line involving those classic Horror movie characters. For those of us who are familiar with Universal and Hammer movies, it's a fun exercise to listen for the clues as to which movie influenced each song. I think I figured out most of the movie influences. That's not to say that I interpreted the movies and sounds in the same way as the musicians did! Maybe I'm hearing something different in the songs than was intended.

As I wrote before, I first listened to the full 65 minutes of the album to sense it as a whole. Then I listened for the little details a second time around. I'm going to go through the songs and give you a brief or not so brief idea of what I heard. I'd love to hear from anyone else who has listened to this album to see if you agree with my interpretations.

1. Return to Arcacia: The album starts off with subtle sound effects, the clanking of chains, a wolf howling in the distance, a faint heart beating. This is followed by foreboding orchestral music. This introduction felt like the calling of the creatures to gather at Arcacia castle.

2. Into the Valley of Shadows: After all the movie monsters have gathered in the castle and surrounding woods, you get the feeling you are riding through the dark woods in a stagecoach towards the castle. This image is very Hammer. So many of those movies had these awesome fog filled settings with a carriage on its way to a dreary location. You hear the sounds of the forest, crickets chirping, an owl hooting, and then the hooves of the horses carrying you along. There's that Wolfman howling again! The cymbals crashing at the end give this an old time cinema feeling.

3. A Watchful Gathering: Now that you've traveled through the dark haunted woods in your Victorian stagecoach, you stop at a clearing. It's dark and fog swirls around the coach. Crows are cawing all around you. You can't see much because it's a dark night, but you have the distinct feeling that you're being watched. Something is approaching the carriage from all sides.

4. Inn of the Weeping Sparrow: The carriage moves along to the Inn. You know the classic Inn the protagonist always visits on his way to the haunted/vampire filled/mad scientist occupied castle. The Inn with peasants drinking beer who suddenly warn him against going where he simply must go! There's a harpsichord playing and then an organ. This song has a very haunted feeling. There's the hint of wind blowing through chimes and what I interpreted as the singing of ghost children. This could also be seen as a Woman in Black interpretation, because of the haunted, isolated, ghost child feeling. Maybe the townsfolk are warning someone away from Eel Marsh House?

5. Unwanted Visitor: Well, I see this one of two ways. Either the protagonist who just left the Inn is on their way to the castle where they are an unwanted visitor or it's about Dracula as an unwanted visitor. You know that classic line about how a vampire can only come in a place where he's been invited. A door creaks open and light footsteps can be heard. A bell rings. There are some dark mumbling voices that you can't quite make out, similar to those in the Carnival Arcane album. You can tell the mumbling voices are attached to something scary, though. By the end of this song someone or something has been let in.

6. Requiem: Another door opens and the organ music begins to play. I very much feel like we're in Dracula's castle at this point. We're in an old, abandoned chapel in the castle that most people do not know exists. The church bells are ringing and there is the sound of monks chanting. At first I'm not sure if these are positive spiritual people hoping to fight Dracula or something darker. There is another dark voice I can't quite make out. It sounds like he's speaking in Latin. I managed to make out "infinito" in the man's chanting. So infinite... Is this a dark rite where Dracula is becoming something that will be around for an infinite amount of time? Or is this a priest who banishing him for infinity? This is a mysterious one. There is a huge crash at the end of the song. A Requiem or Requiem Mass is known as a Mass for the dead, so take that for what you will.

7. Witching Hour: This is a pretty orchestral song with sort of a dink-dink-dink in the background that reminds me of the kind of music Michael Myers would be stalking along to. There is a definite stalking in the night feeling to this track.

8. Unexpected Cargo: There is no doubt in my mind what this one is about. From the title and sound effects, I know Dracula has traveled in the bowels of a ship in his coffin. He is the unexpected cargo. The ship rocks back and forth as the waves crash. Chains clank and the faint howl of a wolf sounds at the end.

9. Black Woods: This is definitely a song for The Wolfman or a werewolf. This is the sound of a creature stalking through the darkness seeking out its prey. There are some great howling moments in this song, followed by the sounds of something cracking twigs in the woods and rustling through plant life. You can almost feel him breathing down the back of your neck.

10. Twilight: I'm going to assume this has absolutely nothing to do with the recent series of Twilight movies. I'm sure the title more refers to the sun setting as men are about to turn into wolves and Dracula is about to emerge from his coffin. This could also be inspired by The Woman in Black because it is a very haunted song. There is the singing of what sounds like ghost children. Twilight was the about the time things got ugly at Eel Marsh House.

11. Carriage Ride: The sound of horse hooves coming to a stop. Suddenly they're moving and quickly. This is classic Hammer for me. I can picture the introduction to many a Hammer movie. Peter Cushing is probably in this carriage, rushing to Dracula's castle. I really like the horse and carriage sound effects in this one. They make me feel like I'm listening to an old time Horror radio drama. Every once in a while, the crack of a whip can be heard. The scary end to this makes you feel like Peter Cushing has just arrived at Dracula's castle.

12. Stone Guardians: The title makes me think of gargoyles, maybe the types of gargoyles that can be seen on Dracula's castle. I definitely think that's where we are, from the sounds of bats and vampiric organ.

13. Ancient Portal: There is the sound of rattling chains and the opening of what sounds like a heavy entrance to what is indeed an ancient portal. The Mummy's tomb perhaps? Also, there's the plodding sound of something slowly moving. I can imagine The Mummy dragging his feet out of the tomb to this music. Then there is the sound of ancient chanting, perhaps the voices of those who built this tomb?

14. Dark Tower: This song is probably creating a setting for the next one. Like the Frankenstein monster is going to be created in this tower.

15. Building the Monster: You can hear Dr. Frankenstein clanking at chains and equipment while building his creature. Later there are the bubbling noises you'd imagine in a mad scientist's lab. There is what sounds like an electrical charge building up at the end. Then there is the definite sound of electricity flowing. My favorite tracks on this album have the subtle sound effects and multiple layers of sound.

16. Lord of the Realm: The intro to this one reminded me of The Twilight Zone. It's a mysterious, haunted song. This is the only one I wasn't able to connect to a Horror character or movie, so if you know the movie connection please let me know!

17. Forgotten Alcoves: This brief track starts with more great sound effects. I think I'm hearing chains being dragged. Something just woke up and decided to escape the forgotten alcoves of an old mansion.

18. A Terror Unleashed: The terror being unleashed could be any number of the movie monsters, but it's probably something that was chained up. There is some subtle heart beating interspersed.

19. Cloistered Cemetery: This song has a haunted sound. It's like the spirits of long ago monks are chanting through the cemetery. There are some nice, magical sounding instrumental parts after the chanting. This is the most relaxing track for me.

20. It Lives!: You can guess who this is about. This song has a very classic movie feel for me. Then there are some kind of high pitched metallic strings. The song ends with the electric sound that gives the creature life.

21. Beyond the Veil of Time: Is the title referring to vampires and their endless existence? Or is it referring to how these classic movie monsters endure through time?


The album didn't end up having any of those swinging 70s Johnny Alucard type songs. Much as I like the old cheesy stuff, it wouldn't have fit with the rest of the songs. Midnight Syndicate kept their collection classy. 

Monsters of Legend is a fitting tribute to the classic movie monsters. It fits with all the images you have in your head of Dracula emerging from the mist, The Wolfman stalking the woods, and Frankenstein coming to life. Like other Midnight Syndicate albums, this would work well as the background music in a haunt. In my case, the trick-or-treaters will be hearing these songs as they approach my door, as will the guests at the annual Witches' Gathering!

Hammer Time! My Steady Diet of Dracula

Before last week, I had never watched a Hammer Horror movie. Meaning, that I had strangely never seen Christopher Lee in the role of Dracula. I know his version of Dracula is a classic and I really meant to get around to watching him at some point. I just hadn't. As you know, I liked Christopher Lee in his role as Willy Wonka's father in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I also liked him as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

So, I had only watched an older Christopher Lee in movies. It was interesting to see him as a younger actor, playing Dracula. He had some very graceful moves, which were accentuated by that huge cape. From just watching him on the screen, I could tell he was tall and had a strong presence. At times, a commanding presence. His Dracula was able to control people with just one look. You can see him work his magic on the ladies in this video, which is set to some nice Tango music midway through:

To return to where I began, I'm pretty new to Hammer's version of Dracula. The reason that I'm up to date now is that my Mom gave me a 4 DVD set of Hammer's Dracula movies for Christmas. I'm not usually one to watch a lot of movies, but I was sick last week. So it was a good time to lay on the couch and get a steady diet of Dracula. The movies in this set are: Horror of Dracula (1958), Dracula has Risen From the Grave (1968), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) and Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972). I'm not going to review these in great detail, because four movie reviews would take forever to write. That, and watching four Dracula movies in succession while having a head cold sort of made them blend together.

To be brief.... Strangely, Horror of Dracula was my least favorite. I say strangely, because usually the first movie in a series is my favorite. I think the problem here was that I had already read Bram Stoker's Dracula. I felt that too much artistic license was being taken in this movie. As in the book, there were characters like Jonathan Harker and Lucy, but major parts of the story had been changed. It wasn't a bad movie, I just wish they would have left the original plot alone.

 

Dracula has Risen From the Grave had Dracula at his most violent. In all the other movies, he was able to seduce people and put them instantly under his spell. This time he was more frustrated, loud, and willing to slap people. Aside from Dracula's aggression, I enjoyed the movie. It has more religion in the plot, as a Monsignor attempts to exorcise Dracula's castle. There's also a cute little love story between the Monsignor's niece and a local baker.

Taste the Blood of Dracula was great. I actually cared about the characters in this one. The main plot revolves around a group of sleazy older men who are looking for cheap thrills. One of the meanest sleaze balls has a nice wife and daughter who he more or less keeps locked up and mentally abuses. Meanwhile, he's out visiting a bordello. Go figure. When the bordello is no longer providing enough fun for him and his friends, they decide to dabble in the black arts. This involves "tasting the blood of Dracula". This one is great fun and I liked how the story ended.

Dracula A.D. 1972... Oh boy. Well, this is the movie  that I was most looking forward to in the DVD set. After watching the trailer, I had low expectations but in the very best of ways. Meaning, I expected a cheese fest. It was actually pretty good! The movie was heavy on the silly dance moves, 70's clothing, hilarious lingo, and someone's weird interpretation of hippies. Just great. The basic plot involves the current Van Helsing's granddaughter Jessica, who is hanging around with a bunch of bad seeds. Her friends are sassy swinging kids, who party hard and think it would be fun to play around with Satanic rites. Of course, this does not go well.

(Jessica Van Helsing and her groovy hairdo)

Overall, Hammer movies have a definite style to them. I like the way the movies are filmed, sometimes at weird angles, or looking through trees and windows. There are shadows everywhere and great uses of light. One of my two complaints is that the fake blood could use a little work. It looked like bright red paint, red velvet cake batter, or ketchup. That and the blood seriously never dried! It could be days after the blood was spilled and it would still be sitting in the same neon red, unrealistic pool.

My one other complaint is that Christopher Lee didn't have many lines in these films. I was joking the other day about how he didn't even need to speak English to play this role. He has such an amazing voice too! Here's a little sample of his voice in an old interview from the 1980s. I always like to watch interviews with the actors who played Horror movie villains. It's fun to listen to them just being nice, normal people.

If you're wondering what Christopher Lee is up to nowadays, then this next video will answer that for you! At the age of 89, he is adventurously trying out something called "Symphonic Metal" music. You have to admire that!

Chenille Macabre

How cool are these miniature monsters?! I ran across the shop: ChenilleMacabre.etsy.com today and was amazed to see pipe cleaners made into creatures like these! The photos below are of some of my favorites - the ones that remind me of classic movie monsters. The shop also features gargoyles, dragons, and other spooky characters. If you click on the photos below, you will be taken to the shop listing for each monster.