When a distinguished but now-crippled pianist dies, he leaves everything to his niece, much to the dismay of his personal secretary (Peter Lorre) and other occupants of the old boy’s gothic manse. And now it seems the place is haunted by the pianist’s disembodied hand–but is it the cause of murder, or the avenger thereof? […]
Author Archives: cryticescapemagazine
June
20
The Warlord of Mars – “Rewards” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
REWARDS With the realization that Dejah Thoris was no longer within the throneroom came the belated recollection of the dark face that I had glimpsed peering from behind the draperies that backed the throne of Salensus Oll at the moment that I had first come so unexpectedly upon the strange scene being enacted within the […]
June
20
Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Dr. Huers New Relativator is Installed”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
The Plot is in the title folks. 🙂 Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Dr. Huers New Relativator is Installed” – April 21st, 1939
June
19
House of Dracula (1945 Universal Pictures Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Tired of immortality, Dracula seeks out the castle home of Dr. Franz Edlemann, a doctor who has been working on a possible cure for vampirism. Dracula relocates to the home permanently to receive a series of transfusions of blood mixed with the clavaria formosa. The mysterious plant that can change the structure and qualities of […]
June
19
The Warlord of Mars – “The Tide of Battle” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
THE TIDE OF BATTLE But Solan’s last loud cry had not been without effect, for a moment later a dozen guardsmen burst into the chamber, though not before I had so bent and demolished the great switch that it could not be again used to turn the powerful current into the mighty magnet of destruction […]
June
19
X Minus One – “Child’s Play”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
A timid lawyer receives a mysterious package, which turns out to be a kit from two hundred years in the future. What could be inside? X Minus One – “Child’s Play” – October 20th, 1955
June
11
Jungle Captive (1944 Universal Pictures Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
The final chapter in the ape woman saga, Jungle Captive is the third film of the series. It is preceded by Captive Wild Woman and Jungle Woman where we witness the ongoing struggle of beautiful women who have the superhuman strength of a gorilla and the temperament as well. When will these mad scientists get […]
June
11
The Warlord of Mars – “The Magnet Switch” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
THE MAGNET SWITCH The guardsmen paid not the slightest attention to their wards, for the red men could not move over two feet from the great rings to which they were padlocked, though each had seized a weapon upon which he had been engaged when I entered the room, and stood ready to join me […]
June
11
Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Four dead cats and a man are found in an apartment…all with their throats slit or their heads cut off! The story of the human victim involves a hated wife and murder. A delightfully macabre story. Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist” – January 1st, 1945
June
07
Jungle Woman (1944 Universal Pictures Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
In the sequel to Captive Wild Woman, we see the return of Paula Dupree, the ape woman. The film sets out as a series of flashbacks rehashing the events of the previous film. We learn then that Paula indeed survived as Cheela. Once revived she is can turn to her human form this time without […]
June
07
The Warlord of Mars – “Follow the Rope” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
“FOLLOW THE ROPE” What could it mean? “Follow the rope.” What rope? Presently I recalled the cord that had been attached to the parcel when it fell at my side, and after a little groping my hand came in contact with it again. It depended from above, and when I pulled upon it I discovered […]
June
07
The Adventures of Superman – “Atomic Fuel Cylinders Stolen”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Dr. Dahlgren’s Atomic Beam fuel cylinders have been stolen by “The Yellow Mask.” The Adventures of Superman – “Atomic Fuel Cylinders Stolen” – February 28, 1940
June
06
Captive Wild Woman (1943 Universal Pictures Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Exotic animal trainer, Fred Mason, is returning from a safari where he captured a large selection of animals for John Whipple, his employer. Whipple is the owner of a circus and often hires safari experts to routinely capture dangerous and rare animals from all over the world. One such animal is Cheela, a gorilla who […]
June
06
The Warlord of Mars – “The Pit of Plenty” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
THE PIT OF PLENTY I did not languish long within the prison of Salensus Oll. During the short time that I lay there, fettered with chains of gold, I often wondered as to the fate of Thuvan Dihn, Jeddak of Ptarth. My brave companion had followed me into the garden as I attacked Thurid, and […]
June
06
The Shadow – “White God”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
The Shadow and Margot visit an island to find out why a dozen ships have vanished in “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” The Shadow – “White God” – May 1st, 1938
June
05
Bowery at Midnight (Monogram Pictures 1942 Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
A professor of psychology maintains a soup kitchen in the Bowery. Secretly, however, he’s also a gang boss who uses the soup kitchen to recruit members for his organization. One such recruit is a doctor who has become addled and addicted to drugs and alcohol. The doctor, however, happens to be quite adept at corpse […]
June
05
The Warlord of Mars – “In Durance” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
IN DURANCE The public houses of Barsoom, I have found, vary but little. There is no privacy for other than married couples. Men without their wives are escorted to a large chamber, the floor of which is usually of white marble or heavy glass, kept scrupulously clean. Here are many small, raised platforms for […]
June
05
Suspense – “In Fear and Trembling”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
“At the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea is the grey stone mansion weather-beaten by the storms of several decades. To this mansion four years ago Gilbert Durant brought his wife Lucia and until a year ago when Lucia’s half-sister came to live with them they were quite happy. The gradually something began to […]
June
04
The Black Cat (1941 Full Movie)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
An oldie and a goodie. The Black Cat, which is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe‘s short story of the same name stars Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, and Alan Ladd. Lugosi also starred in the earlier 1934 film with the same title.
June
04
The Warlord of Mars – “With the Yellow Men” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
WITH THE YELLOW MEN Thuvan Dihn was not long in joining me; and, though we found the hooked weapon a strange and savage thing with which to deal, the three of us soon despatched the five black-bearded warriors who opposed us. When the battle was over our new acquaintance turned to me, and removing the […]
June
04
Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Black Barney is Under Control of Killer Kane”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
The plot is in the title! 😛 Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Black Barney is Under Control of Killer Kane” – April 19th, 1939
May
02
The Ghost Breakers – (1940 Full Movie)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Lawrence Lawrence (yes that’s his real name), played by Bob Hope, is a crime reporter. While broadcasting his latest story Mary Carter, played by Paulette Goddard is listening from her hotel room when suddenly the lights go out from a mighty thunderstorm. The entire city lies in a complete blackout. While in the darkness a knock […]
May
02
The Warlords of Mars – “Through the Carrion Caves” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
THROUGH THE CARRION CAVES Straight toward the north, day and night, our destination compass led us after the fleeing flier upon which it had remained set since I first attuned it after leaving the thern fortress. Early in the second night we noticed the air becoming perceptibly colder, and from the distance we had come […]
May
02
X Minus One – “First Contact”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
A classic story of the first encounter with an alien race and the mutual distrust that would involve—neither ship wishes to be the first to depart for fear of giving away clues of their origin to a potential adversary. X Minus One – “First Contact” – October 6th, 1955
May
01
Frankenstein (1931 Universal Studios Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
A true riveting classic in the truest sense in horror movies. Universal Studios floating on the success of Dracula continued the fright fest with their rendition of Frankenstein in 1931. Directed by James Whale and adapted from the Mary Shelley play about a mad-scientist who exhumes corpses to build a new man. However, there was […]
May
01
The Warlord of Mars – “New Allies” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
NEW ALLIES Surrounded by guardsmen I marched back along the corridors of the palace of Kulan Tith, Jeddak of Kaol, to the great audience chamber in the center of the massive structure. As I entered the brilliantly lighted apartment, filled with the nobles of Kaol and the officers of the visiting jeddak, all eyes were […]
May
01
Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Desert Death”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Two men pick up three others and offer them a lift into town. They said they were British but they are nazi prisoners who had escaped from the camp up near Post City. Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Desert Death” – January 9th, 1945
April
30
Secret Sunday (2010 Full Film)
posted by cryticescapemagazine
Three guys in an art gallery are attacked by a strange creature and murdered to hook you in. Cut to Poon, an attractive young woman ends up seeing mysterious figures throughout her story. She meets a monk, Sujitto, and her friend Nat where they embark on a journey to a temple where they experience frightening […]
April
30
The Warlord of Mars – “A Hero in Kaol” by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted by cryticescapemagazine
A HERO IN KAOL It was daylight when I was awakened by the sound of stealthy movement near by. As I opened my eyes Woola, too, moved and, coming up to his haunches, stared through the intervening brush toward the road, each hair upon his neck stiffly erect. At first I could see nothing, but […]
April
30
The Adventures of Superman – “Dr. Dahlgrens Atomic Beam Machine”
posted by cryticescapemagazine
“The Yellow Mask” steals Professor Dahlgren’s atomic beam machine that can utterly destroy anything at the atomic level and Superman must do something about it before “The Yellow Mask” takes over the world. Also, this is Lois Lane’s first official meeting with Clark Kent. The Adventures of Superman – “Dr. Dahlgrens Atomic Beam Machine” – February […]