The dark curse of the moon is a captivating and mysterious phenomenon that has intrigued humans for centuries. Countless myths, legends, and superstitions have arisen surrounding the moon and its supposed ability to bring misfortune and chaos. It is believed that those who fall under the moon's dark curse will face a series of unfortunate events that may include sickness, financial ruin, and even death. Throughout history, various cultures have associated the moon with magic, witchcraft, and the supernatural. The idea of a dark curse is deeply rooted in these beliefs. Some cultures believe that the moon's influence is strongest during specific lunar phases, such as the full moon or new moon.
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick. Entire family Yes though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety Run time 79 minutes Black-and-White Studio Distributor Kino Lorber Aspect ratio 1.
Some cultures believe that the moon's influence is strongest during specific lunar phases, such as the full moon or new moon. It is during these times that the curse is said to be most potent, causing individuals to become more vulnerable to its effects. In addition to its connection to mystical forces, the moon has also been associated with madness and insanity.
Family Home Theater
A week ago, if you had asked me to name a Western that bridged genres and included vampires, I would have said, “I know, I know: Billy the Kid vs. Dracula!” That 1966 movie is famous for being so absolutely awful that it’s not even laughably bad—an insipid film that’s only known for the blending of genres that everyone thought unique. But a few days ago I became aware of another vampire Western—Curse of the Undead—and it turns out that this black-and-white 1959 film was really the first vampire Western.
What’s more—and here’s the shocker—it’s not a silly movie that takes itself seriously, thereby setting itself up for an audience that likes campy films, films that are wink-wink so bad that they’re kinda good. You need to know this, so you won’t look at the cover art and think, Oh, we’re going to have so much fun making fun of this rotten film. It’s not rotten and it’s not campy. Writer-director Edward Dein, who would go on to direct Robert Conrad in three TV series (Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, The Black Sheep Squadron), plays this absolutely straight. It’s a surprisingly good drama that treats vampires a little less like Universal monsters and more like what legend says they were. If it were shorter, it might pass for an episode of The Twilight Zone, and tonally it’s very much like the classic monster movies that Universal cranked out in previous decades.
To make the Western aspect work, it helps that one of the stars is Eric Fleming, who played Gil Favor on the highly respected Rawhide (think Blues Brothers!) TV series and also appeared in several episodes of Bonanza, that other long-running TV Western. In this vampire Western, Fleming plays Preacher Dan. Somebody has to have a cross, right?
One of the other stars is John Hoyt, who appeared in such TV Westerns as The Virginian, The Big Valley, Laredo, Wagon Train, Have Gun – Will Travel, Maverick, Laramie, The Rifleman, Death Valley Days, and Union Pacific. All of those Westerns were popular because they were aimed at adults. They were serious dramas and not just Saturday morning formulaic shoot-‘em-ups.
In this film, even the vampire—Michael Pate—worked in TV Westerns that were played for drama, not laughs, including shows like Zane Grey Theater, Maverick, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Sugarfoot, and Broken Arrow. These guys knew how to play cowboys, and it’s both surprising and refreshing that the vampire in Curse of the Undead doesn’t transform into a bat, doesn’t say “I vant to suck your blood,” and doesn’t behave like he just got in from Transylvania. He looks and acts like the kind of gunslinger you’d encounter in the Old West: dark and menacing as a coiled rattlesnake ready to strike.
There’s always a ranch or town boss in a Western who’s the villain, but when there’s a vampire gunman in town any villain is going to seem soft by comparison—even someone like Bruce Gordon, who played Frank Nitti in the old Untouchables TV series and also appeared with Vincent Price in Tower of London. And there’s always a damsel in distress, a delectable morsel-in-waiting in every vampire movie. Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick.
If you look at Amazon you’ll see that people who bought an earlier VHS version of the film complained about the quality. Well, there won’t be any complaints about the brand new 2K master used to create this Blu-ray, with a sharp picture that helps to showcase the low-contrast lighting and the creepy elements, so that it almost feels like it came right out of Universal’s famed monster series. Except this one doesn’t have a monster. Drake Robey (Pate) is a mysterious stranger who wears black and a grimace and presents himself as a hired gun. There’s an outbreak of young girls getting mysterious ill, crazy, and dead—in that order—and no one in town suspects this stranger, who lurks the way Universal monsters lurk. No one except Preacher Dan, that is. It might be the only logical flaw in the screenplay by Dein and his wife, Mildred, which presents viewers with not just a classic monster pic but a classic triangle as well, between Dan, Drake, and Dolores. (Triple D? It even sounds like a Western!).
Kino Lorber brought in a big gun to handle the audio commentary: Tom Weaver is one of the leading scholars of the horror genre, especially the Universal horror films from the ‘30s and ‘40s. The author of 35 books, he knows his stuff, and his commentary is well worth a listen. It’s one of the better ones.
Clearly the Universal Monster Pictures were of a particular time, because this one, though very much in the same mold, lapsed into obscurity while the films from earlier decades are regarded now as classics. Maybe it was a little too realistic for classic monster movie fans; maybe Drake just isn’t enough of a monster; or maybe it just came along a decade too late.
Entire family: Yes (though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety)
Run time: 79 minutes (Black-and-White)
Studio/Distributor: Kino Lorber
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Featured audio: DTS 2.0
Bonus features: B
Trailer
Amazon link
Not rated (would be PG for some violence and themes of death)
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Sex: 1/10—Same thing here, just an innocent kiss or two
Violence: 4/10—Pretty nocturnally innocuous, with most of the action off-camera
Adult situations: 4/10—The whole vampire preying on girls and girls acting crazy and screaming before they’re found limp and lifeless can be unsettling, though brief and the real action is off-camera
Takeaway: The trailer pretty much captures the tone and essence of the film, which is surprisingly straightforward
The term "lunatic" derives from the Latin word "luna," meaning moon. In ancient times, it was believed that the moon's energy could drive people to madness, resulting in erratic and unpredictable behavior. This association between the moon and mental instability further contributes to the fear and fascination surrounding the dark curse of the moon. Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting the existence of a dark curse, many individuals still hold onto the belief and take precautions to protect themselves from its influence. Some common practices include avoiding certain activities or making specific gestures to ward off the curse. These rituals differ depending on cultural and personal beliefs but often involve charms, talismans, or prayers to counteract the moon's supposed negative energy. In conclusion, the dark curse of the moon is a captivating and enduring myth that has captivated human imagination for centuries. Despite its lack of scientific evidence, many cultures continue to associate the moon with misfortune and take precautions to protect themselves from its supposed curse. Whether rooted in ancient beliefs or simply a testament to the power of human imagination, the dark curse of the moon remains an intriguing and mysterious phenomenon..
Reviews for "Mystical Moonlight: The Enchanting Effects of the Dark Curse"
1. Samantha - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with "Dark Curse of the Moon". The story felt predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and hard to connect with. The writing style was dull and lacked depth. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and a waste of my time.
2. Benjamin - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Dark Curse of the Moon" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot had potential, but it felt rushed and poorly executed. The romance between the main characters felt forced and lacked chemistry. The world-building was weak and left many unanswered questions. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and forgettable.
3. Christina - ★☆☆☆☆
"Dark Curse of the Moon" was a complete letdown. The pacing was slow, and the story had unnecessary filler scenes that added nothing to the plot. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The main characters lacked depth and their actions often felt unrealistic. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book and had no emotional connection to the story. I do not recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling read.
4. Michael - ★★☆☆☆
I was unimpressed with "Dark Curse of the Moon". The writing style was bland and lacked excitement. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed with predictable twists and a lackluster resolution. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked motivation. Overall, it was a forgettable read that failed to captivate my attention.
5. Amanda - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Dark Curse of the Moon" to be incredibly underwhelming. The story dragged on and lacked a clear direction. The world-building was confusing and inconsistent. The romance between the main characters felt forced and lacked any real chemistry. I struggled to care about the outcome and had no emotional connection to the story. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book.