It's Hammer time, so, go on and put me in the party mix!! The stark reality is that I've been getting pretty Hammered around here lately, in more ways than one. Left behind when we started this venture because they very rarely rock, most Hammer films still usually have something unique or interesting to offer in the music department, enough so, that we've unearthed more than a couple of titles recently! Tonight's feature is a perfect example of what I'm talking about, and the music is provided by Hammer musical main man, James Bernard, called
"The Devil Rides Out" and damn well deserves to be reviewed and seen again, but it doesn't even come close to rockin! Nonetheless, there are some interesting audio bits you'll enjoy!! So, as of this very second, I am totally burned out on X-Mas, Ants, Leaky Showers, and more, so, let's just skip the B.S. and get on with the show!!
If you don't like Christopher Lee, you're not going to dig very many Hammer films, but for me, he's simply the best!!!
Here's the mighty trio! Leon Greene as Rex Van Ryn, the UK version of Rod Taylor in what looks to be his own horror outing of the period, Patrick Mower as Simon Aron, a young man with devilish social problems, and Chris Lee as Duc de Richleau, a man who has to have big balls to carry around a handle like that!
So bottom line is, Duc and Rex are supposed to be watching out for Simon, but he's not listening because the devil has him under his spell, so for his own good, Chris throws a vicious haymaker!!
Wow, then it gets all crazy, and they call up this black demon!!
The rather large demonic tarantula came across as pretty cool too!
Satan's throwing a wild shindig, and all the pagan freaks show up for the big bacchanal! Did you ever check out one of these outings? These people have no sense of individuality, and they are completely swept up in the power of their host, Beelzebub!! Non-conformists need not apply!!
And there he is, ole Lucifer his self, just sitting up there on high somewhere, a chillin' and watching his followers get their freak on, but then there's trouble in the lost paradise!
Rex breaks up the party and starts kicking some pagan ass! From the title, there's a good chance you might be led to believe this was a biker flick, but that's not even close, despite the fact that there
was this cool fight scene!!!
I don't get it, you'd think the Devil's disciples would enjoy a good Bar-B-Que!!! Oh, that's right, "Some Like It Hot" was a completely different movie!!
Cool and Creepy, wild man Oliver Reed and frantic Freddie Francis style centered on another Jimmy Sangster jewel, "Paranoiac" is a great movie, and it's a lot of fun trying to figure out who is really the crazy one, because Lord knows, you've got a lot of excellent choices!! Hammer at it's black and white best, with excellent music by one of the few female composers of the time, Elisabeth Lutyens!! 
The basic premise is, Anthony Ashby died or disappeared when he was 15, and his memory is all that's left behind with his brother, sister, and eccentric aunt!
Antony's sister, Janette Scott as Eleanor Ashby, is crazy as a December loon, or so everybody thinks!
The over the top freakin' Oliver Reed is Simon Ashby, crazy Eleanor and dead Tony's brother!
Sheila Burrell is simply marvelous as Aunt Harriet!!! 
And then,...out of nowhere, and back from the dead,....Well, Tony shows up!! Needless to say it creates a myriad of money problems, etc, etc.
Simon can't believe his brother has showed back up, and he is also becoming extremely intoxicated!! Here's where some of Liz's cool swing comes into play! 
Then you just take your basic components, good music, good champagne, and one insanely neurotic personality conflict, and who knows what kind of fun might possibly ensue? Anyone for a rollicking game of darts??
Issues and back issues!!
Even Liliane Brousse as Simon's girlfriend Françoise would agree, one thing we do not tolerate around here is smoking in bed! Period! That's just stupid!!
Everything seems to be going as well as it possibly could be, when the weird music starts up in the middle of the night, so Tony goes to investigate!
This isn't exactly what he bargained for, and what the Hell is up with that huge goiter??
Eeewwww!! Don't kiss your sister like that!!!!
In the end, everything is all right, because Tony's an imposter, and the real Tony has spent the past few years in some kind of Edgar Allen Poe scenario created by his loving brother Simon! Lucky for you, this movie is available on Netflix, and just screams Hammer holiday spirit!!! Do yourself a favor!!
