Three Rings of Danger

Film: Circus of Horrors
Format: Streaming video from Tubi TV on Fire!

The “there are two types of people” idea is one that is pretty played out, but I think it’s also true in some cases. It’s kind of true or almost true when it comes to circuses. I think you either like them or don’t. I don’t in general. They’re hot and smell bad and always feel dirty on more than just the physical level to me. So, that being the case, Circus of Horrors was not an easy sell for me.

Beyond my dislike of circuses, though, I love the idea of this movie. We start with Dr. Rossiter (Anton Diffring), a plastic surgeon who is convinced of his own genius. He’s wanted by the police for a botched operation on a socialite named Evelyn Morley (Colette Wilde). Rossiter evades capture along with his assistants Angela (Jane Hylton) and Martin (Kenneth Griffith). They escape to France where Rossiter changes his name to Schüler. They meet a young girl named Nicole (Carla Challoner, then Yvonne Monlaur as an adult) scarred from WWII. Schüler performs plastic surgery on her, restores her face. When her father (Donald Pleasance) dies in an accident, Schüler takes over the circus that he ran.

Ten Days of Terror!: Night of the Eagle/Burn, Witch, Burn!

Films: Night of the Eagle (Burn, Witch, Burn)
Format: Streaming video from Pluto TV on Fire!

There is a particular joy in watching movies from a list sometimes. Sure, you have to dig through some garbage at times, but then you find something that makes that struggle worthwhile. Such a film is Night of the Eagle (also released under the more evocative name Burn, Witch, Burn). I honestly had no idea what to expect going into this, but this is a film that I can absolutely see going into regular rotation. It’s smart, the third act is completely unexpected, and it is 100% better than its tiny budget. How come no one has ever told me that this film existed?

Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde) is a psychology professor who has a particular interest in debunking the paranormal, psychics, and witchcraft. His career has seen a meteoric rise despite his relative youth, much to the apparent distress of the other people in his college department. He is extremely popular with his students and his lectures are well-attended. What he doesn’t realize is that magic is real, and that much of his success is coming from the witchcraft practices of his wife, Tansy (Janet Blair). What he also doesn’t realize is that witchcraft is how the department works; Tansy has a frantic night finding a poppet left by Flora Carr (Margaret Johnston), the jealous wife of a potential rival of Norman’s.