KILL LIST

UK: Ben Wheatley, 2011

(Commentary by Director Ben Wheatley and Writer Amy Jump - Listened to on my MP3 Player)

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Commentary Rating: 7/10

BARON BLOOD

Original Title: Gil Orrori del castello di Norimberga
West Germany/Italy: Mario Bava, 1972

(Tim Lucas commentary listened to on my MP3 player)

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This is another solid effort from Bava obsessive, Tim Lucas. Baron Blood maybe minor Bava but it is still a film that entertains and manages in places to evoke his previous gothic masterpieces Black Sunday, Black Sabbath and Kill Baby Kill. Tim Lucas' audio commentary is full of his customary facts and anecdotes about the making of the film. Again, Lucas' research is first class and where possible he has spoken directly to all the key cast and crew members. Specifically, Lucas highlights the significant rise in production value evident in Baron Blood and that this is testimony to producer Alfredo Leone, who ensured that all the money that was spent was seen on screen.

However, much like the film he describes, this track from Tim Lucas resides somewhere in the middle of his commentary output. The occasional periods of 'dead air' are present once more and I maintain that Lucas' delivery style is rather monotone and rehearsed. Although, this is nitpicking on my part as I believe Tim Lucas to be one of the very best purveyors of the audio commentary working today.

Commentary Rating: 7/10

DAWN OF THE DEAD

Italy/USA: George A. Romero, 1978

(George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Christine Romero and moderator Perry Martin commentary listened to on my MP3 player)

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Following on from my sampling of the Night of the Living Dead audio commentary, today I listened to George A. Romero's director's commentary for his masterpiece Dawn of the Dead. Again, this track manages to make you feel as if you are sat in George's front room and watching the film with him. In fact this is a far more entertaining listen whilst retaining the high level of information evident in the Night audio track. Tom Savini takes a lot of the credit for this as his enthusiasm really drives the conversation along and as a listener one is given a taste of the creative freedom and fun the film-makers experienced in the making of the greatest zombie movie of all time.

Commentary Rating: 8/10

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

USA: George A. Romero, 1968

(George A. Romero, John Russo, Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman commentary listened to on my MP3 player)

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Recently I have been indulging my taste for zombie carnage with a festival of George A. Romero's 'DEAD' Quartet (it is destined to soon become a quintet as March sees the theatrical release of Diary of the Dead). So whilst on my way to and from work today, I managed to listen to the Night 'Zombie Masters' audio commentary on my Apple i-Pod. This is the first time I have listened to an audio commentary by George A. Romero and I was suitably entertained. Whilst I wouldn't say it was one of the best commentary tracks ever, it certainly doesn't match the film's five star rating, I did feel as though I was a guest of George's and the crew, sitting alongside them as we watched this seminal indie horror classic.

Commentary Rating: 7/10

BLOOD AND BLACK LACE

Original Title: Sei donne per l'assassino
Italy/Monaco/France/West Germany: Mario Bava, 1964

(Film watched with Tim Lucas commentary)

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Commentary Rating: 8/10

BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW

UK: Piers Haggard, 1971

(Watched with audio commentary by Director/co-writer Piers Haggard, co-writer Robert Wynne-Simmons and actress Linda Hayden. Commentary moderated by Jonathan Sothcott)

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Commentary Rating: 8/10