Horror Express

This 1972 Spanish production featuring British horror stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing serves up an odd but entertaining mix of murder mystery, supernatural horror, mummy movie, zombie film, and alien attack set at the turn of the 20th century. Lee plays archeologist professor Sir Alexander Saxton, traveling from Northern China on the Siberian Express with the frozen remains of a "missing link" that comes back to life, preys upon passengers, and then jumps bodies to survive. Cushing is rival gentleman scientist Dr. Wells, who shifts from enemy to colleague when the milky-eyed victims come back to life as undead zombies. Both actors maintain their dignity during all the ridiculousness of the crazy horror, sniping and sabotaging one another before finally teaming up. There’s also a beautiful spy, a Rasputin-like monk, a pair of aristocrats in a private car, and Telly Savalas adds a blast of personality in a small but memorable role as a Cossack officer. It’s a minor but very entertaining production, filled with incident and paced by director Eugenio Martín like a speeding train. Extras include audio commentary by film historians Stephen Jones and Kim Newman, an introduction by Fangoria editor Chris Alexander, appreciations by filmmakers Steve Haberman and Ted Newsom, and interviews with Martín, producer Bernard Gordon, and composer John Cacavas. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)