David Hamilton Movies

A woman who has learned a few things about taking care of herself runs the risk of having her tricks found out in this comedy-drama. Stella (Seema Biswas) works as a domestic in New Delhi and has used her fluency in English and skills as a cook to wrangle a job as housekeeper for Canada's ambassador to India. While she's well liked by her employers, they don't know that she's been submitting padded expense reports for years and pocketing the difference; she also regularly raids the cupboards to sell quality foods at a discount to others. However, Stella's schemes may be a thing of the past with the arrival of new ambassador Maya (Lisa Ray). Maya's husband Michael (Don McKellar) stays home to look after their young daughter, and cooks as a hobby; he's fond of Indian food, and insists that Stella give him lessons in preparing the local cuisine. With the man of the house a frequent presence in the kitchen, Stella finds scamming her employers is not nearly so easy, especially since she and Michael get along so well. Matters become all the more complicated when Maya and Michael hire a nanny, Tannu (Shriya Saran), who is an especially devout Hindu girl. Cooking With Stella was the first fiction feature from director Dilip Mehta. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A young New Zealand boy comes to grips with the harsh realities of adult life in this subpar drama adapted from a novel by Maurice Shadbolt. Nick Flinders (Paul O'Shea) is a teenager trying to adjust to life and his parents' unusual devotion to religion when he goes out hiking with his best friend, and the friend dies in an accident on the trip. Overwhelmed by guilt, Nick leaves home to spend time with his grandparents -- but then tragedy strikes again. Encumbered by stilted, unnatural dialogue and acting (with the exception of the grandfather), Among the Cinders burns out after the first few scenes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Marred by controversy at the time of its release, this horror fantasy from Italy's legendary horror director Mario Bava centers on the twisted desires of a nobleman's son (Christopher Lee). Lee is ostracized by his father for his dalliances with a servant girl (who later commits suicide), but is allowed to return to the fold by his brother, whose lovely wife (Dahlia Lavi) immediately becomes the object of Lee's mad lust. Lee is later found murdered, along with several other victims from the surrounding village, leading superstitious locals to believe that Lee's evil spirit has returned to destroy them; the twist ending reveals the real evil at work. The kinky, sadomasochistic relationship between Lee and Lavi raised more than a few censors' eyebrows, leading to some harsh cuts. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide