Hammer Films
From the release of "The Curse of Frankenstein" in 1957 to its last horror production "To the Devil a Daughter" in 1976, England's Hammer Film Productions were the premiere horror films of the day. Though the studio began production in the 1930s it wasn't until the Hammer Horror period began that the studio really hit its stride. It was with the success of this genre of film on their home turf that they were also able to conquer the American market. The studio invoked controversy for its free-flowing technicolor blood and graphic violence, which later gave way to female nudity and lesbian couplings in a bid to retain an audience who were attracted to the new horror stylings of "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Exorcist". Those that grew up with Hammer never forget them and new generations of fans are discovering the wonderous gothic trappings that are long since missing from today's horrors. They also produced many memorable fantasy and suspense films and in the 1970s turned to feature film productions of popular UK tv series' such as "On the Buses" and "Man About the House". Actors such as Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, director Terence Fisher and writer Jimmy Sangster were synonymous with Hammer and owe their immense popularity to their dedication to the Hammer ideal. Hammer Films was finally resurrected in 2010 with 'Let Me In', the first new Hammer film to hit cinemas in 31 years, but the new productions could never be the same as these unique films that still hold a special place in many fan's hearts.
Love Thy Neighbour: The Movie (1973)
7/10
Director: John Robins
Starring: Jack Smethurst, Kate Williams, Nina Baden-Semper, Rudolph Walker
The big screen version of the popular yet controversial sitcom in which West Indian Bill and Barbie Reynolds (Rudolph Walker and NIna Baden-Semper) la... Read more
The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)
5.6/10
Director: Alan Gibson
Starring: Christopher Lee, Joanna Lumley, Peter Cushing
Aka "Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride". This time it's not just London, but the entire world that must beware the infamous bloodsucker (Christopher... Read more
Fear in the Night (1972)
6/10
Director: Jimmy Sangster
Starring: Joan Collins, Judy Geeson, Peter Cushing, Ralph Bates
Recovering from a recent nervous breakdown, a young woman (Judy Geeson) moves with her new husband (Ralph Bates) to a rural boarding school where she... Read more
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971)
5.8/10
Director: Seth Holt
Starring: Andrew Keir, Valerie Leon, James Villiers, Hugh Burden
A British expedition team in Egypt discovers the ancient sealed tomb of the evil Queen Tera. But when one of the archeologists steals a mysterious rin... Read more
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Starring: Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, Gerald Sim
Adding a typically '70s twist to Robert Louis Stevenson's story, Dr Jekyll finds himself turning into a beautiful woman, who in turn, kills prostitute... Read more
Scars of Dracula (1970)
6.2/10
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Starring: Dennis Waterman, Christopher Lee, Jenny Hanley
Rising from the grave once more, Count Dracula (horror legend Christopher Lee) resumes evil residence in his mountaintop castle in Transylvania. False... Read more
The Vampire Lovers (Blu-ray) (1970)
6.5/10
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Starring: Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, Pippa Steele, Madeleine Smith, George Cole, Dawn Ada...
Lesbian vampires take centre stage in this erotic horror flick from England's legendary Hammer studios. Carmilla (Ingrid Pitt) is a bloodthirsty beaut... Read more
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
6.6/10
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Starring: Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, Pippa Steele, Madeleine Smith, George Cole, Dawn Ada...
Lesbian vampires take centre stage in this erotic horror flick from England's legendary Hammer studios. Carmilla (Ingrid Pitt) is a bloodthirsty beaut... Read more
Countess Dracula (1970)
6/10
Starring: Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Maurice Denham, Lesley-Anne Down
When a voracious vampire vixen (Ingrid Pitt) discovers that virgins' blood holds the secret to eternal youth, it's not time at all before she's squeez... Read more
Lust for a Vampire (1970)
5.8/10
Director: Jimmy Sangster
Starring: Ralph Bates, Barbara Jefford, Suzanna Leigh, Yutte Stensgaard, Michael Johnson
This follow-up to "The Vampire Lovers" takes place in a finishing school for young girls, where a lesbian vampire (Yutte Stensgaard) turns up to ravis... Read more