Hammer Time!

If you are a Horror fan with an appreciation for the history of the genre—unless you are, in other words, one of those “special” Horror film fans who considers SAW to be an “old Horror movie”—then there are two names, two titanic, monolithic agencies, companies, studios that stand tall, eclipsing all others, and it is the subject of eternal debate (meaning there is no definitive answer and never will be) as to which of the twain is superior. I am speaking (or writing, to be technical about it) of Universal Studios (in the 1920s through 40s) and Hammer. Every great classic Horror icon came to us from one of this pair, or usually we were bequeathed with two differing interpretations of the same icons: Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Werewolf. Of the latter, what is the one ultimate, definitive werewolf flick, the greatest of them all? Is it Universal’s THE WOLFMAN (originally THE WOLF MAN) or is it Hammer’s CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF? We are fortunate, fellow fans, in that we don’t have to choose. We can have both our bloody cake and consume it (raw), too!

This documentary on Hammer Studios, FLESH AND BLOOD: THE HAMMER HERITAGE OF HORROR, promises to be a tell-all, dishing the dirt from behind the scenes as well as the more familiar history of the company. It looks like must viewing. It will not, however, answer that unanswerable question as to which is better, Hammer or Universal.

Which do YOU like better?

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

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