SCHIZOID

SCHIZOID (1980). Written and directed by David Paulsen. 

Julie (Marianna Hill) writes a Lonely Hearts column for a newspaper, and begins receiving strange, threatening letters employing cut-out letters from magazines. At the same time, other members of her therapy group are being sliced and diced by a scissors-wielding maniac. The suspects are numerous: Julie's husband (Craig Wasson of Body Double) is not happy with the fact that she is divorcing him; Julie's shrink (Klaus Kinski) is an unethical creep who is having sex with at least two of his patients, including Julie; the shrink's daughter, Alison (Donna Wilkes), is a neurotic who hates anyone who takes away her father's attention; and lonely Gilbert (Christopher Lloyd) is not only in the therapy group but also is the maintenance man at the newspaper. Shizoid does manage to work up some suspense as to the identity of the killer, and moves at a good pace. The kill scenes are moderately gruesome and not that inspired. Kinski gives a good performance and is given two sex scenes, which may or may not have been excruciating for the leading ladies. Donna Wilkes is effective as Alison, who enjoys dressing up as if she were in a piece of film noir. Joe Regalbuto, who later wound up on Murphy Brown, plays a cop. Christopher Lloyd is perfectly okay as Gilbert, but you wouldn't have imagined that he'd be in for major success with Taxi and the Back to the Future movies. 

Verdict: Okay slasher flick. **1/2. 

MORBIUS

Jared Leto as Michael Morbius

MORBIUS (2022). Director: Daniel Espinosa.  

Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) was born with a rare blood disease for which he is trying to find a cure. This cure involves vampire bats, and it turns out to be worse than the disease. Morbius turns into a vampire who has to subsist on artificial blood, which he created. But he knows that this fake blood won't sustain him for long. Another problem is that his friend, Milo (Matt Smith), who suffers from the same disease, takes the cure and doesn't care at all that he has to kill human beings to sustain him. Before long the two are in an epic battle in and above New York City. 

Morbius contemplates his future

Morbius was originally a character in Spider-Man comic books (Spidey is not mentioned until a post-credit sequence in which Michael Keaton as the Vulture also appears). Morbius also had his own short-lived series but he worked best as an opponent for Webhead. In the comics Morbius did prey upon innocent people and was always hating himself for it, but he never did the compassionate thing and end his life. This aspect of the character is not explored in this film in which he is basically a good guy (it's uncertain if he was responsible for the deaths of some mercenaries or not). 

Leto as Morbius

The action scenes in the movie, heavily dependent on CGI like most of these pictures, are at times too cluttered to be effective -- the business with alternating slow-motion with freeze frames is also annoying --  but the movie benefits greatly from a fine performance by Leto, with Matt Smith also effective as the rather psychotic Milo. I guess the best thing I could say about the modestly entertaining picture is that if there is a sequel I would watch it, but I couldn't necessarily recommend this to others. 

Verdict: A strong lead performance helps bolster this Marvel movie from Columbia studios. **1/2. 

THE FLESH IS WEAK

Milly Vitale and John Derek

THE FLESH IS WEAK (1957). Director: Don Chaffey. 

Marissa Cooper (Milly Vitale) arrives in London and is almost immediately set up by a slick operator named Tony (John Derek), one of the criminal Giani brothers. Tony wines and dines Marissa, sets her up in her own apartment, promises to marry her, all in an attempt to snare her into prostitution by claiming he'll go to jail if she can't get him some big money in a hurry by turning tricks. Surely this is a very involved and expensive way to traffic women, so right away we have a premise that makes little sense, as I imagine pimps generally don't have such patience in turning their girls into hookers. 

Martin Benson and John Derek

Although tame by today's standards, The Flesh is Weak is pretty frank for a fifties film -- in this period British films tended to be more "adult" than in the U.S. Derek gives a good performance as the loathsome Tony, and he is capably if unexcitingly supported by Martin Benson as brother Angelo, the head of their outfit. William Franklyn plays a reporter who is trying to expose the Gianis and help their women, including Marissa, at the same time. Marissa is too stupid to be that sympathetic -- she still wants to stick up for Tony even after he disfigures a woman who let her stay at her apartment! -- and Italian actress Vitale proves too insufficient a performer in this to do much with the part. Patricia Jessel as Millie is much too old and plain to be playing a successful street walker; 37 at the time, she looks much older. 

Verdict: Distinctly minor British exploitation film. *1/2. 
 

RIVER'S END

RIVER'S END (1940). Director: Ray Enright. 

Sgt Derry Connison (Dennis Morgan) of the mounties takes off after escaped convicted murderer John Keith (also Dennis Morgan), who happens to look quite a bit like him. When the former lies dying of exposure, he suggests that Keith, whom he believes to be innocent, take his place in the Mounties and solve the murder for which he was accused. When Connison's sister (Elizabeth Earl) shows up thinking Keith is her brother, he finds himself falling for her. Talk about a sticky situation! Georgie Tobias is Keith's Pal, Andy, and Steffi Duna is Cheeta, who has an unaccountable yen for him. Victor Jory is wasted as a witness at the trial who comes back into the scene. Although the premise is intriguing, this is not a very good picture. 

Verdict: Two Dennis Morgans for the price of one! **.
 

THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES

THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES (1940). Director: Nick Grinde. 

Dr. Leon Kravall (Boris Karloff) was a leader in the field of "frozen therapy" in which cells and people are frozen for allegedly beneficial results, but he disappeared ten years ago. Aha -- it turns out that the good doctor and several others were actually accidentally frozen in a cavern in his basement. Thawed out, the megalomaniacal Kravall insists on doing things his way whether everyone agrees with him or not. Karloff is fun, Jo Ann Sayers is fine as the nurse Judith, and there are some okay ideas and moments in the movie, but overall this doesn't add up to all that much. Still, Karloff is always watchable and so is the film. 

Verdict: Just don't expect too much. **1/2.