Norman Coombes Movies
A hellish piece of professional laundry equipment wreaks havoc in a tiny New England town in this horror film. It all begins in The Blue Ribbon Laundry, a place run by the ruthless, crippled old Bill Gartley. With no feelings at all for his employees, he demands absolute obedience and unrelenting hard work. One day an old speed iron goes crazy, sucks in and permanently presses a hapless worker. The rest of the crew is frightened and in shock, but this does not stop old Gartley from cruelly ordering them back to work. A police officer investigates the case and begins suspecting that the sinister owner is concealing something. When a boy suffocates in an abandoned refrigerator that had somehow come in contact with the speed iron, the cop calls in his friend the theoretical parapsychologist who deduces that there is a "transference of evil" going on. Meanwhile, Gartley is putting the moves on comely Lin Sue; he also is interested in messing with his own niece. Both girls have been harmed by the evil iron and have contributed some of their precious blood to it. It is the cop who discovers that in order for Gartley to remain successful, he must see that the demonic machine periodically receives such sacrificial donations. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
After two unsuccessful attempts to turn the House horror franchise into a collection of unrelated haunted-house stories (even ditching the House moniker prior to distribution of the third film, The Horror Show), the producers opted for a direct sequel (more or less) to the first film in the series. William Katt returns briefly for the role of Roger Cobb, the former beleaguered owner of a nightmarish fixer-upper filled to the brim with obnoxious demons. His part here amounts to little more than a cameo -- early in the film, Roger is killed in a nasty auto accident during a vacation with his new wife Kelly (Kerri Treas) and their 12-year-old daughter Laurel (Melissa Clayton). Kelly and Laurel -- who is now confined to a wheelchair -- try to begin their lives again at the family's summer house. Once there, Kelly is visited by visions of horrific events (including Roger's death) which become more frequent until she is forced to seek the aid of a shaman, who helps her to interpret them. The visions include a replay of the events which led to Roger's death, indicating the crash was no accident -- and revealing the identity of the party responsible. This installment marks a slightly more effective return to the comedy-horror formula that made House a surprise hit. Basically a distaff retread of that film, House IV benefits from its strong female heroine and more emotional involvement for the leads amid the barrage of slimy effects and over-the-top humor. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terri Treas, William Katt, (more)
- 1989
- R
Without a doubt the weirdest adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe tale in recent memory, this lurid production features a raging, leering Oliver Reed as Roderick Usher, who treats his nephew (Rufus Swart) and the man's bride-to-be (Romy Windsor) to some genuine family hospitality by raping her and burying him alive. It seems Roderick intends to sire a child with the poor girl in order to continue the Usher bloodline -- apparently oblivious to the fact that her marriage to his nephew would have accomplished the same thing. As if Reed's lecherous advances weren't enough, we are presented with a one-armed Donald Pleasence, who likes to threaten our heroine with a power drill attached to his stump! This film is not only an abomination to the memory of the great author, but a sick joke by comparison with Roger Corman's excellent 1960 adaptation. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
South African medical examiner Joe Stewardson investigates a rash of prostitute murders, all with the same gruesome MO. While pursuing this case, Stewardson is pressured by the government to declare that the death of a known black activist, killed while in police custody, was due to heart failure. Sympathetic to the activist's cause, Stewardson refuses to falsify his report. Then he learns that the prostitute killings are the handiwork of other black extremists, who argue that they're justified in venting their wrath on the white establishment by whatever means possible. Unable to determine who's right or wrong anymore, Stewardson pulls out of the controversy-and, simultaneously, out of life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Stewardson, Ian Yule, (more)
- 1986
- PG
It took many years of filmmaking in South Africa before this first anti-apartheid drama saw the light of the silver screen. Commendable for its ground-breaking message, its scenes of suffering at the hands of white oppressors are well-integrated with a completely realistic storyline. After a black farmhand is driven to stealing a chicken to help feed his family, he is beaten to death by his white farm boss. Gracie (Gcina Mhlophe) wants to bring the farm boss to justice for the death of her brother and ultimately finds some assistance in a reporter (James Whylie) who has been sent to the area to cover the fighting that is going on. The local priest warns the reporter not to get involved, but his advice is not taken, and further confrontations result. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Whyle, Gcina Mhlophe, (more)
- 1980
- PG
Featuring top-notch karate action, this film about a kick-off competition between two opposing martial arts coaches offers all the fight scenes any lover of the genre could want. An ex-Nazi general and karate teacher was booted out of the army by Hitler during World War II when the general's karate team lost a competition to the Japanese. Now the losing coach has figured out a devious means to entice the Japanese coach to re-enter his students in a show-down between competing international champions. If the ex-Nazi's team manages to beat the Japanese team in competition, the former general will be vindicated in more ways than one. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ryan, Charlotte Michelle, (more)
- 1977
- PG
This actioner is set in South Africa and follows the vendetta of a former professional assassin who is betrayed and imprisoned by his last employer, the South African government. To succeed in killing all of the country's most important leaders, the professional killer makes himself up as a black man and sets off for his bloody revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Peter Hunt directed this old fashioned -- if not reactionary -- action film about gold-mining in South Africa. The story concerns a nefarious scheme to control the international price of gold by sabotaging the country's largest gold mine, flooding it with an underground sea. Hurry Hirschfeld (Ray Milland) is a cranky but kind millionaire who owns the gold mine. His granddaughter, Terry Steyner (Susannah York), is a beautiful women suffering from the old ennui. She happens to be married to chief bad-guy Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), who, along with unscrupulous international tycoon Farrell (John Gielgud), hatches the plot to flood Hurry's gold- mine. To the rescue comes Rod Slater (Roger Moore) and his faithful black sidekick Big King (Simon Sabela), ready to right the wrongs and stem the tide in order to make South Africa safe for cheap black labor. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Moore, Susannah York, (more)
- 1974
- PG
In this sports-oriented drama from South Africa, a former Olympic marathon champion pushes his sons to be as successful in competition as he was and emphasizes victory above all else. However, one son is killed and another severely injured in an auto race, and the family turns against him. In the film's climax, the father races his son and loses, learning a valuable lesson. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
