Gratitude and Love All Around

Andy of Taliesin Meets the Vampires has generously awarded me a Premio Dardos Award, which “is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.“

This is quite an honor from an old blog buddy who has stuck with me through thick and thin, and I am truly humbled.

As tradition dictates, I am to pass the award onto 5 other bloggers. I choose to award the following blogs:

Trixie’s Treats

The Drunken Severed Head

Frankensteinia

Final Girl

Zombos’ Closet

I would be surprised to find that any of the blogs mentioned have not been given this award already, but I just wanted to continue the affection.

Thanks again, Andy.  It is certainly a warm “welcome back.”

Cult of the Cobra (1955)

From the DVD case: Vengeance is sworn against six American G.I.’s after they witness a clandestine ceremony worshipping beautiful women who can change into serpents.

Mark says:  Tom Markel can’t catch a break.  During his last day of service he and his buddies crash a snake cult ritual resulting in a curse upon the gang and the sudden death (cobra bite) of one of his pals.  After returning to the states, he loses his girl to his best friend and roommate, Paul.  The very same night he meets the woman of his dreams who, it is eventually revealed,  transforms into a cobra at will and is methodically knocking off his friends one by one.  The brutalities of war must have paled in comparison.

It is difficult to watch Cult of the Cobra without being put in mind of Val Lewton’s Cat People, released thirteen years prior.  We have the haunted, alluring woman, in this case Faith Domergue in the role of Lisa Moya, who has the ability to transform into a deadly creature and who fears she’ll harm or kill the man she loves;  we have an American leading man, Marshall Thompson (Fiend Without A Face, It! The Terror from Beyond Space) playing Tom Markel, who tries desperately to understand his girlfriend’s hesitancy towards passion; and we have the “other woman,” Kathleen Hughes (It Came from Outer Space) as Julia who stirs jealousy in our shapeshifting friend.

What Cult of the Cobra lacks is the artistry of Cat People.  There is no ambiguity as to who or what the killer is, a prime source of suspense in Val Lewton’s productions.  Although Cult of the Cobra attempts to use some of Lewton’s techniques (i.e. the false scare often termed “the bus”), it just can’t seem to pull them off in a convincing manner.  The suspense created is almost negligible.

Coming Soon!

I know, I know, you’re sick of my promises, but this one is the real deal.  I’ll start updating this page again with a review of 1955’s Cult of the Cobra, starring Faith Domergue and Marshall Thompson.  The review may be up as early as Sunday, but no later than early next week.  Hold me to it. ~ Mark