E is for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
One of my favorite, favorite shows in junior high and high school was Elvira's Movie Macabre. Cassandra Peterson aka Elvira, honed the warped sense of humor The Addams Family had already instilled. She made me a connoisseur of all things B grade horror. Needless to say, I would not be the woman I am today-- a snarky, demented, horror film addicted writer-- without her. The movies ran the gamut from scary to bizarre, to darkly comedic and abysmally bad.
Here are a few of my all time favorites...
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! A parody of Hitchcock's The Birds about sentient tomatoes that rise up against humanity.
Hell of the Living Dead aka Night of the Zombies A chemical leak turns the staff of a top secret research facility into flesh eating zombies
Blood From the Mummy's Tomb
A professor and daughter return from an expedition to the tomb of a cursed Egyptian princess and become involved in death and reincarnation.
Count Yorga, Vampire A vampire stalks the populace of Los Angeles with his deformed servant.
The Incredible Melting Man An astronaut is forced to consume human flesh to save himself after he's exposed to radiation that causes his body to melt.
Maneater of Hydra Mad scientist creates hybrid trees that feed on human blood.
The House That Screamed Deranged man at a girls boarding school dismembers his victims to create the ideal woman.
I've heard of Elvira but I'm not very familiar with her show or the movies you listed. I'm not much of a horror fan but I do appreciate a good abysmally bad film.
ReplyDeleteM.J. Fifield
My Pet Blog
Never heard of Elvira before.. She look sexy on that photo, though her eyes give me the creeps. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, at first glance I thought you were going to say Elvis, and I thought to myself...Finally. Thats ok though, Elvira is cool to. Morticia is imortal!
ReplyDeleteI loved the Elvira movie. Remember her poodle? Cracked me up :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Elvira's personality is very cool. She was a great host for that show. Fun "E" post!
ReplyDeleteI've always found her to be such a character! She's someone you never forget.
ReplyDeletewhy didn't Elvira help poor Ernest??? Poor, Ernest, I almost shed a tear ...and I'm never eating a peach again!
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm a new follower from the A-Z challenge. Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Gorey and his dark alphabet story. I've never seen an Elvira movie. A friend of mine went to a horror convention and she signed his leg. He immediately went to the tattoo parlor and had her signature forever inked on his leg along with a portrait of her. Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Elvira, but your honest and glowing endorsement suggests I should. Gotta love the Internet!
ReplyDelete@M.J. You have to love a good bad film with no pretenses. Elvira's schtick was to cut out from the film for some snarky commentary. It was hilarious.
ReplyDelete@Nebular Creeped out by her eyes, eh my friend? George, sweetie, if you ever get the chance to see some of her old stuff, it is well worth it. I had so much fun watching her.
@Siv Elvis certainly would have been a cool E post. He was awesome. But, I had to stick with Elvira and my love for Morticia Addams. :)
@Jules That poodle rocked! I own that movie and can't even tell you how many times I've watched it. :)
@septembermom Kelly, I tell you Saturdays would not have been the same for me without her.
@Clarissa Yes, Elvira will certainly always be with me. I love how she became such a star in the horror industry.
Elvira was great. I love the B movies -- although hated the Living Dead and all things zombie. I still won't watch zombies.
ReplyDeleteI'm very partial to the beast and creature movies. :D
@Dez These poor Gashlycrumb kids are taking a beating aren't they? Wait til you see what happens to the next one...;)
ReplyDelete@Margo Hi! It's so nice to meet you and thank you so much for stopping by and following.
@Laura Gorey is fantastic isn't he? That's very cool about your friend's leg. Elvira is such a personality. Good luck to you on the challenge as well. :)
@Matt Definitely check out Elvira and some of these films. They are classic and hilarious.
@MPax B movies are the best. Creature features totally rock. There's nothing like a good monster to get you in the mood for fun.
ReplyDeleteOH what a blast from the past, Melissa! B horror movies in the 80s were the best. And who could forget Elvira's cleavage??? lol
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with Elvira though I've never watched any movie with her in it. weird. i'm not a big fan of horror films (i wont be able to sleep for weeks if i watch one) but the stories all sound interesting.:P
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I've seen several of those films. Sadly, not with Elvira's help though.
ReplyDeleteIf we ever get a chance to meet, we're going to the movies!
ReplyDeleteElvira was too funny and the films as you say, 'B' movies.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.
@Pk Elvira's cleavage was stupendous, wasn't it? And oh those 80's B horror flicks, there was nothing like them.
ReplyDelete@nutschell Hi! Elvira certainly is a character. :) The plots of these movies are rather unique, aren't they? I got into them as a kid with all the really campy ones and haven't looked back.
@Alex Aww.. No Elvira commentary? That's part of the whole amazing experience of these movies.
@KC It's a deal, my friend. :)
@N.R. Nancy, Elvira's commentary always had me cracking up. She sure knew how to skewer a film.
I dressed up as Elvira last year :D
ReplyDeleteLove b-grade horror too. One that sticks in my mind was about a zombie metal band :P
lol.. I'd forgotten all about Elvira! She made me laugh.
ReplyDelete@Trisha A zombie metal band sounds wicked cool. I have to find that movie. Too cool that you dressed as Elvira, that must have been awesome. Thanks for stopping by. :)
ReplyDelete@Lynda Elvira had such a great sense of humor. Cassandra Peterson continues to be a favorite at horror conventions. Thanks for the follow. :)
Sounds like you're a horror movie junkie.
ReplyDelete@J.L. Yep, I do love my horror films every good, bad and ugly one of them. :)
ReplyDeleteahhh Mel I hate to join the masses here but I have never heard of Elvira either, though I learn more everyday ha ha.
ReplyDeleteNice work