Lamberto Bava's BRIVIDO GIALLO (Canale 5, 1987-8) series of television films

[Paul L Scholar of Sleaze Find all posts View Profile Close Paul L]

Alex's thread about RAT MAN made me recall this series of four television films made by Lamberto Bava for Italian television. Anyone else a fan of these? I'm not too keen on the two humorous pictures, GRAVEYARD DISTURBANCE and DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE, but I love the two 'serious' horror films he made for this series, THE OGRE and UNTIL DEATH. The first, in particular, has atmosphere in spades.

GRAVEYARD DISTURBANCE and THE OGRE were VHS staples over here (the latter under the title DEMONS 3: THE OGRE), and didn't these two get cinema distribution in some markets? The other two were much harder to see, as I recall, although UNTIL DEATH/PER SEMPRE is pretty good, imo.

[Clive Smith noodle doodle Find all posts View Profile Close Clive Smith]

Lamberto Bava's BRIVIDO GIALLO (Canale 5, 1987-8) series of television films

THE OGRE's great - I just watched it again last week. Plays very much like a fever-dream. UNTIL DEATH is also good fun and has quite a suffocating atmosphere - there's a makeup effect towards the end of this one that I find particularly unnerving. I'd seen GD on one of the budget VHS releases from a couple of decades ago and wasn't overly impressed with the goofball, fratty humour. Still haven't caught up with the George Hilton number though and have been circling the MYA release for ages, never quite taking the plunge.

[Paul L Scholar of Sleaze Find all posts View Profile Close Paul L]

I really like THE OGRE. I haven't seen it in years, however. It's a very atmospheric little film. UNTIL DEATH is very good too.

I was never a fan of GRAVEYARD DISTURBANCE, but I may revisit it. I haven't seen it since the early 1990s. I like DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE a little more, but it's not a truly successful blend of horror and comedy, in my view. That doesn't make it unworthy of watching, however.

[Paul L Scholar of Sleaze Find all posts View Profile Close Paul L]

Wonky posting madness double time.

[Scyther Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scyther]

I actually think the two comedic ones work the best, with The Ogre being my least favorite of the four. Although there was some atmosphere going on, I don't think it was held throughout the entire film, and it felt tedious, without much of a payoff. Until Death felt a little better, with solid performances from the cast and a nice, macabre story with some real sexuality going on, as well. I have to say I enjoyed the lighthearted, almost kid-friendly tone of Graveyard Disturbance and Dinner With a Vampire. They almost felt like Italian takes on stuff like Gremlins, Ghoulies and The Gate from my childhood.

I reviewed a couple of them here, actually:

http://www.examiner.com/review/horro...with-a-vampire

http://www.examiner.com/review/love-...er-until-death