view
Banditi a Milano [The Violent Four] (Carlo Lizzani, 1968)
Oct
22
Two of the four bandits, Pietro 'Piero' Cavallero (Gian Maria Volontè) and Sante Notarnicola (Don Backy), surrounded by press and Carabinieri. DPs: Giuseppe Ruzzolini & Otello Spila.
view
The Haunting (Robert Wise, 1963)
Oct
21
1873
Eleanor (Julie Harris), with Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) and Theodora (Claire Bloom) in conversation behind her. DP: Davis Boulton.
– “Memories for Abigail Lester Crain: A Legacy for Her Education and Enlightenment. From her devoted father, Hugh Desmond Lester Crain, Hill House, October 21, 1873.”
– But that's today.
– Tomorrow and 90 years later.
view
La sixième face du pentagone [The Sixth Face of the Pentagon] (Chris Marker + François Reichenbach, 1968)
Oct
21
1967
Armed police seen from the back. In front of him someone holds up a sign that reads WHY WAR. DPs: Tony Daval, Chris Marker & Christian Odasso.
view
Swissmade [Swiss Made 2069] (Fritz E. Maeder, Fredi M. Murer + Yves Yersin, 1968)
Oct
20
Alien
A man hooked up to a device with tubes dreams about a strange, unsettling creature. Just out of a frame someone (H.R. Giger himself) works on the being with a grinder. DPs: Witold Lesiewicz, Fritz E. Maeder & Fredi M. Murer.
[A favourite] Alien [“alien”?] movie*
Three segments envision the future of the Swiss Confederation. In the Fredi M. Murer instalment 2069 – oder wo sich Futorologen und Archäologen gute Nacht sagen, an alien visits surveillance state Switzerland. The visitor in question is designed by H.R. Giger, and glimpses of the XX121 xenomorph are present in its exoskeletal core.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for October is horror-themed as opposed to date-based, and is all about favourites. Expect non-horror and films I believe to be relevant instead.
view
Nattmara [Nightmare] (Arne Mattsson, 1965)
Oct
19
Tue
spoiler warning: click to toggle image
spoiler warning: click to read
Hands hold up a small diary. The camera is focussed on Tuesday the 19th of October, 1965. Handwriting, a chicken scrawl, reads CITROEN A66692 MAJ BERG ✝. Besides that the week is uneventful. DP: Max Wilén.
view
La vérité [The Truth] (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1960)
Oct
15
1959
Gilbert (Sami Frey) and Dominique (Brigitte Bardot). DP: Armand Thirard.
The day of the court case. Numerous other dates are mentioned, all in flashbacks.
– The Paris Court of Appeals, meeting on October 15, 1959, pursuant to the charges against Dominique Marceau.
– With a girl like that, truth may be the best defense for once.
view
Le mystère Koumiko [不思議なクミコ / The Koumiko Mystery] (Chris Marker, 1965)
Oct
11
1964
The film covers multiple days. Koumiko thinks on October 17. DP: Chris Marker.
“Mr. Everyman explains how to look like a Japanese and thus impress those wild and not very civilized people. Mrs. Everyman replies that for savages, they look remarkably civilized. Meanwhile, Mr. Everyman, seeing more people looking even more Japanese, is reassured. Mrs. Everyman sees soldiers parading in European uniform. She smiles ironically. But now a number of typical Japanese walk into the house. Her irony disappears. And Mr. Everyman is not ashamed to admit… he is mystified.”
– narrator
view
Satan bouche un coin (Jean-Pierre Bouyxou + Raphaël Marongiu, 1968)
Oct
10
A [favourite] color [horror] film*
“Here lies
Pierre MOLINIER
born on 13 April 1900 died around 1950
he was a man without morals
he was proud of it and gloried in it
No need to pray for him.”
– Pierre Molinier, mock-epitaph (via, NSFW as goes without saying)
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for October is horror-themed as opposed to date-based, and is all about favourites. Expect non-horror and films I believe to be relevant instead.
view
Il demonio [The Demon] (Brunello Rondi, 1963)
Oct
6
exorcism
While several men hold her down, Purif (Daliah Lavi) sticks out her tongue to the crucifix held up to her. DP: Carlo Bellero.
[A favourite] exorcism film*
“Blood of Christ. Demon. A curse upon this man. A curse that he will never forget me. Blood of my body. Until the grave. A curse that he will never forget me.”
– Purificazione
When a rejected young woman puts a curse on her heart's desire, the locals see nothing less than witchcraft. It is decided that Purif must be possessed, and exorcised.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for October is horror-themed as opposed to date-based, and is all about favourites. Expect non-horror and films I believe to be relevant instead.
view
妖怪百物語 [Yōkai hyakumonogatari / Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters] (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1968)
Oct
4
[A favourite] horror movie with more than one bad guy*
A shrine must give way to a brothel, and a game of supernatural storytelling follows. At the end of the spooky tales, the landowner neglects to complete the all-important purification ceremony resulting in one-hundred yōkai – one for each story – coming out to haunt the rich man and his cronies.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for October is horror-themed as opposed to date-based, and is all about favourites. Expect non-horror and films I believe to be relevant instead.
