Cape Fear (1962)
Feb 2, 2000Ex-Con's Revenge Thriller
Classic psycho-thriller with Robert Mitchum (who was never better) as an ex-con determined to take revenge against lawyer Gregory Peck. Stark and superbly sustained psychological suspense
J. Lee Thompson
The Chairman (1969)
Jun 8, 2001Spy Thriller/Journey to Communist China
Big-budgeted spy thriller with Gregory Peck as a scientist who poses as a defector to Communist China. This never enervates much as a thriller but its recreations of Communist China are amazing
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
May 22, 2001Planet of the Apes Sequel
The fourth of the original Planet of the Apes films, this cuts back on the humour and makes a stark parable for the Civil Rights movement with the apes rebelling against humanity in a revolution
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
Mar 26, 2000Planet of the Apes Sequel
The fifth and final of the original Planet of the Apes films. After four well worthwhile entries up to this point, a tired air infects this production as it assembles the elements in a haphazard clutter
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)
Aug 24, 2016Reincarnation Thriller
High-profile film of its era that was mounted with an A-budget sheen. Beyond that, the film is made with the sedate predictability of a tv movie – it takes the hero half the film to work out what the title tells us
The White Buffalo (1977)
Nov 7, 2018Western/Hunt for a Mythic Buffalo
Probably the strangest film that Charles Bronson ever made – a retelling of Moby Dick where he plays the real-life figure of Wild Bill Hickok hunting a mythic white buffalo instead of a whale. This was a big financial flop but is a not unworthwhile film
Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
Apr 10, 2014Slasher Film
Slasher film from the 1980s heyday directed by the once great J. Lee Thompson. This drags drearily where the only going for it are some novelty splatter effects and a twist ending that makes no sense whatsoever
10 to Midnight (1983)
Mar 10, 2006Cop Pursues Serial Killer
Typical of the hard-boiled thrillers/action films Charles Bronson made during the 1980s for Cannon Films. This borrows the basics from Dirty Harry with Bronson as a cop required to bend the rules to stop a psycho
King Solomon’s Mines (1985)
Jun 8, 2003Adventure Film
Cannon Films' remake of the H. Rider Haggard adventure novel was made to exploit the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark but that does not excuse what an awful film it is where everything is played up for excruciating camp humour