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Category: Cult Films

  • Dreamaniac (1986)

    Dreamaniac (1986)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After working as a production assistant for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, a young David DeCoteau started making adult films. Under the pseudonym “David McCabe,” he directed several gay adult films, saving up for his first mainstream movie. DeCoteau raised $30K, which was enough for a 10-day shoot on 16mm film, so he developed a treatment called Succubus. Through a mutual friend, DeCoteau contacted Debra Dion, the development head at Empire Pictures and Charles Band’s then-wife. Since David already had filming locked down, Band was more than eager to join in, offering to reimburse DeCoteau’s $30K. At the time, Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was hugely successful, and Band wanted to capitalize on it. So, he asked David to change the title and create a new marketing campaign for this yet-to-be-made film. Under Band’s Wizard Video label, DeCoteau’s Dreamaniac hit store shelves in late 1986.

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    Synopsis

    Heavy metal artist Adam (Thomas Bern) agrees to loan his house to his girlfriend Pat (Kim McKamy) for a party. Her sister Jodi (Lauren Peterson) wants to get into a local sorority, offering to pay Adam to use the house. Soon enough, the other guests arrive, including sorority sisters Francis (Cynthia Crass), Jan (Linda Watts), and Rosie (Lisa Emery). Meanwhile, Adam performs a ritual to summon the succubus Lily (Sylvia Summers) to help him become a rock star. Unfortunately, Adam’s plan backfires as Lily kills the partygoers one by one to appease her need for a sacrifice. Eventually, Adam falls under Lily’s spell and joins her in attacking the party guests, even going after Pat. With help from local nerd Jamie (Bob Pelham), Pat learns what Lily is and must try to stop her. But will she overpower this succubus or fall victim to the dreamaniac?

     

    Review

    Despite this film’s quality, David DeCoteau has made some enjoyable B-movies, like Creepozoids and Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama. Sadly, Dreamaniac is not one of those enjoyable B-movies but rather an 82-minute endurance test. But before going into the negatives, I want to spotlight a few decent aspects of this movie. For starters, Kim McKamy, aka Ashlyn Gere, is pretty likable and easy to root for as the leading lady. Also, this movie has a delightfully cheesy synth score that could only have come from the 1980s. Plus, there are gruesome gore effects, such as a decapitation by a power drill and a scene of genital mutilation. These effects are the work of Tom Schwartz, whose credits include Scanners, Galaxy of Terror, and Hell Night. Sadly, these positive qualities can’t compensate for how dull and monotonous this movie is.

    The movie’s biggest problem is that it’s boring, which is the worst thing a movie can be. Until the killings start, there is so much filler and padding that you’ll be checking your watch half the time. It doesn’t help that the cast, aside from McKamy, is either unlikable, uninteresting, or both. To her credit, Sylvia Summers is trying to be an over-the-top horror villain, but it doesn’t work. There are a few chuckle-worthy lines here and there, but most of the dialogue is utter garbage. While there are some gory moments, most of the kill scenes are substandard and lack any creativity. Plus, it has one of those “fake out” endings that will leave you more annoyed about what you just saw. Overall, Dreamaniac might be worth some laughs if you have friends and alcohol, but otherwise, it’s not worth it.

     

    Buy Dreamaniac from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Dreamaniac (1986)

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  • Stuck on You! (1982)

    Stuck on You! (1982)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 1977, Michelle Triola tried to sue classic actor Lee Marvin after breaking up, though they were never married. Triola lost the lawsuit in the end, but the case led to defense attorney Marvin Mitchelson coining the phrase “palimony.” Essentially, palimony combines “partner” and “alimony,” where non-married partners divide their finances and property, or “marriage with no rings attached.” The verdict became national news, which caught the attention of Troma founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz. Seeing some potential, Kaufman and Herz decided to take the concept of palimony and make it into a sex comedy. Kaufman took inspiration from the works of songwriters Tom Lehrer and Stan Freberg, who were known for their political satire. In addition to talking about palimony, the movie would also be a sketch comedy revolving around historical relationships. In early 1983, Troma released their third sex comedy, Stuck on You!

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    Synopsis

    Bill Andrews (Mark Mikulski) and Carol Griffiths (Virginia Penta) go to Family Court over a palimony settlement. During the trial, Judge Gabriel (Professor Irwin Corey) takes the couple to his office for a private meeting. He wants to figure out how Bill and Carol met, how they became a couple, and what exactly went wrong. As Bill and Carol tell their stories, Gabriel tells them a similar story from history to help them understand. He talks about couples like Adam and Eve, Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella, and King Arthur and Lady Guinevere. Each one struggles with issues like finding the right one, staying together for a long time, and settling arguments. Unfortunately, the stories don’t seem to help as Bill and Carol only see the negatives and decide they’ve had enough. Is there any hope for this relationship, or are Bill and Carol just not meant for each other?

     

    Review

    Of the sex comedies Troma released around this time, Lloyd Kaufman considers Stuck on You! to be the best. Compared to Squeeze Play and Waitress!, I would have to agree, as this one is at least the most creative. Admittedly, the whole palimony angle does date the movie considerably, but it does touch on relevant themes. At its heart, the film deals with the daily struggles that couples go through to keep their relationship strong. In terms of sketch comedy movies, this one isn’t as good as Kentucky Fried Movie, but it beats Movie 43. Most of the historical sketches are humorous, though they rely on tons of slapstick and double entendres. There isn’t as much nudity in this one as in the previous sex comedies, but nudity doesn’t mean lesser quality. Still, there’s a fair amount of sex to be had, but not as much nudity.

    Professor Irwin Corey is easily the movie’s highlight, with his manic energy, wisecrack remarks, and goofy demeanor. Mark Mikulski works as the lovable doofus who constantly gets into trouble, and Virginia Penta has good chemistry with him. There are also brief appearances from character actress Patricia Tallman (Army of Darkness) and stuntman Kent Shelton (Batman Begins). Like the other sex comedies, the pacing here can sometimes drag, especially if this isn’t your kind of humor. Though, unlike Waitress!, which felt like a mess of ideas, this movie at least has some structure. Also, the music is surprisingly catchy, from the classical stock music to the original songs, including a rapping rabbi. There is some filler at an hour and twenty-eight minutes, but it goes by fairly quickly. Overall, Stuck on You! is definitely the best of Troma’s sex comedies, but it still has its problems.

     

    Buy Stuck on You! from Amazon: https://amzn.to/48FR0Is.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Killjoy 3 (2010)

    Killjoy 3 (2010)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 2004, aspiring Canadian filmmaker John Lechago made the low-budget horror film Blood Gnome on a budget of around $20,000. The film made six times its budget, though Lechago couldn’t find the same success with 2008’s Magus. However, his output caught the attention of Re-Animator director Stuart Gordon, who introduced him to Charles Band. Band needed someone for visual effects, and since he had a background in the field, Lechago took the job. Lechago designed the visual effects for 2008’s Dangerous Worry Dolls, which impressed Band enough to give him a chance. Around this time, Full Moon was planning on reviving several franchises, including Puppet Master and Demonic Toys. One of those franchises would be Killjoy, which hadn’t seen a release since Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil in 2002. Eight years later, 2010 would see the release of Killjoy 3, aka Killjoy’s Revenge.

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    Synopsis

    College student Sandie (Jessica Whitaker) is housesitting for her professor (Darrow Igus) while he’s away on business. She’s staying with her boyfriend Rojer (Michael Rupnow), his friend Zilla (Spiral Jackson), and her BFF Erica (Olivia Dawn York). One day, a mysterious package arrives, and they open it despite Sandie’s protest, which turns out to be a mirror. Unbeknownst to them, the mirror is a gateway to another world, where the demonic clown Killjoy (Trent Haaga) rules. Joined by his accomplices Punchy (Al Burke), Freakshow (Tai Chan Ngo), and Batty Boop (Victoria De Mare), Killjoy demands blood. One by one, the college students are pulled into Killjoy’s world and subjected to different torture methods. Eventually, the professor returns and explains the situation to the students, informing them how to defeat the demon. Will our heroes survive, or will they be Killjoy’s next victims?

     

    Review

    Of the films in the franchise so far, Killjoy 3 is arguably the best one, though it’s not saying much. It’s not as good as classics like Puppet Master III or Dollman, but it feels like a return to form. While some may be disappointed by the filmmakers ditching the urban aesthetic, it’s a welcome change to keep things fresh. What also helps is Trent Haaga’s performance, as he chews up all the scenery around him and runs rampant. Unlike the last film, he’s given more free reign to deliver lines with maniacal glee and have more fun. Victoria De Mare works great alongside Haaga and has tons of fun as the seductive yet quirky clown succubus. Along with Killjoy, the character designs of Batty Boop, Punchy, and Freakshow are incredibly unique and memorable. There’s also a great mix of horror and dark comedy sprinkled throughout.

    Unfortunately, the film sadly falls into the traps of many of the more recent Full Moon films. For one, the main actors playing the college kids are flat and not as memorable as the villains. Jessica Whitaker does put in the most effort compared to everyone else, though Spiral Jackson has some fun moments. Also, even for a movie by Full Moon, the production design is remarkably cheap, and the sets look flimsy. From what I understand, filming took place at a Chinese studio, which might explain the inferior quality. There’s also the occasional digital effect, but they add to the cheesy quality and mix in with some decent practicals. At an hour and eighteen minutes, the movie flies by quickly and will make a decent time killer. Overall, Killjoy 3 isn’t quite the return to the glory days of Full Moon Features, but it’s a good time.

     

    Buy Killjoy 3 from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Fortress of Amerikkka (1989)

    Fortress of Amerikkka (1989)

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    After filming Lust for Freedom for Troma, filmmaker Eric Louzil flew to their New York office to pitch an idea. His concept revolved around a group of mercenaries taking over a small American town and the citizens fighting back. While some at Troma weren’t sure about his pitch, Lloyd Kaufman fully supported Louzil and told him to make it. With a budget of roughly $100,000, Louzil planned to shoot the film in Washington state, California, and parts of Arizona. Louzil would send the dailies to the Troma offices in New York during filming and would receive generally negative feedback. However, Kaufman believed in Louzil enough that he told him to keep going and make the movie he wanted. Louzil also replaced the lead role when the original actor tried faking an injury to collect the insurance. Despite these setbacks, Fortress of Amerikkka hit video stores in August 1989.

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    Synopsis

    After serving jail time, John Whitecloud (Gene LeBrock) returns home to Troma City and immediately runs into trouble. Years ago, the Sheriff (David Crane) killed his brother, and John wants revenge to put his brother’s spirit to rest. At the same time, he runs into an old flame, Jennifer (Kellee Bradley), who’s since gotten engaged to another man. Meanwhile, a band of mercenaries calling themselves the “Fortress of Amerikkka” is forming out in the neighboring woods. Led by the maniacal Commander Karl Denton (William J. Kulzer), the mercenaries kill random passersby to prepare for a revolution. As the bodies pile up, John must lead a group of civilians to take on the mercenaries. Initially, he’s met with backlash, but the citizens band together to save their town after the mercenaries kill the Sheriff. Who will win the fight, the citizens of Troma city or the Fortress of Amerikkka?

     

    Review

    While researching Fortress of Amerikkka, I saw several people saying this is one of Troma’s worst movies. Considering the company also released Igor and the Lunatics and Carnal Monsters, I wonder what movie those people saw. Admittedly, I wouldn’t call Fortress of Amerikkka one of their best movies, but it’s nowhere near one of the worst. If you go into this expecting the same outrageousness of Troma’s usual fare, you’ll most likely be disappointed. This movie does have plenty of explosions, bloody violence, and fake breasts to satisfy any exploitation fan. Aside from that, this is one of Troma’s more straight movies, which is refreshing and the film’s main flaw. The film drags as it injects plot and character development when things aren’t blowing up, and bare breasts aren’t exposed. Thankfully, only certain moments are boring rather than the whole being a drag to sit through.

    Acting-wise, everyone plays their parts as if they were in a serious action film for the most part. In the lead, Gene LeBrock has the looks and charisma needed to make John Whitecloud believable as a reluctant hero. As the Sheriff, David Crane plays a great bad guy you love to hate, though you can understand his viewpoint. William J. Kulzer is on another level with his performance, acting over-the-top just enough to come off as menacing. Kellee Bradley does what she can with the material given, but she’s the cast’s weakest link. Thankfully, there are plenty of explosions and graphic violence to keep people entertained, and the climax is the film’s highlight. It does take a while for things to get going, but this is still an underrated gem in Troma’s catalog. Overall, Fortress of Amerikkka has its problems, but it’s worth at least a one-time viewing.

     

    Buy Fortress of Amerikkka from Vinegar Syndrome: https://bit.ly/3aao4he.

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  • Transformations (1988)

    Transformations (1988)

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    Jay Kamen was an assistant story editor at American International Pictures when he got a call from producer Bob Wynn. Wynn served as a producer on Cellar Dweller for Charles Band’s Empire Pictures and needed a director. Kamen made a short film that won awards at the Miami Film Festival and the Festival of Festivals in Houston. Since this would be his first feature-length film, Kamen took the job and flew out to Rome for a meeting. He met with Charles Band, who gave him a script written by Mitch Brian, who previously wrote 1987’s Night Screams. The screenplay was about a space parasite that infects the lead and quickly spreads as an allegory for AIDS. Kamen cast Rex Smith for the lead role because he was a fan of his from The Pirates of Penzance. Armed with a small budget, Kamen filmed Transformations in the Empire Studios in Rome.

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    Synopsis

    Wolfgang Shadduck (Rex Smith) is a smuggler floating through space when a mysterious creature invades his ship. The alien shapeshifts into a beautiful woman (Pamela Prati), who seduces him and infects him with a deadly virus. In addition, the creature damages the ship, forcing it to crash land on a nearby prison planet. Wolfgang is recovered and nursed back to health by the prison doctor Miranda (Lisa Langlois), who immediately falls for him. Meanwhile, a group of prisoners – Calihan (Christopher Neame), Antonia (Cec Verrell), and Stephens (Michael Hennessy) – hatch an escape plan. They plan on taking Wolfgang hostage and forcing him to use his ship so they can escape the prison planet. Unfortunately, the disease starts consuming Wolfgang, turning him into a sex-crazed mutant who goes on a rampage. Will Wolfgang be cured, will the prisoners successfully escape, and where did the alien come from in the first place?

     

    Review

    With Transformations, it’s a movie that will be hard to review since not much happens in its 80-minute runtime. The opening scene checks off all the boxes of low-budget science-fiction: gratuitous nudity, weird-looking creatures, and minimal set design. Once Wolfgang’s ship crashes on the prison planet, the film grinds to a halt until roughly the last half hour. The production design is surprisingly decent in this movie’s defense, considering this was towards the end of Empire Pictures. Jay Kamen does a decent job for a first-time director, though most of the camerawork is substandard. With the creature effects, John Carl Buechler’s assistant William Butler does some good work considering the limited resources. Admittedly, we don’t see the whole alien creature except for the beginning and near the movie’s end. Aside from that, there are some decently gross prosthetics and gory death scenes sprinkled throughout.

    Rex Smith makes a decent lead, though he doesn’t come off as a believable space smuggler like Han Solo. Lisa Langlois is alright as the female lead, though her dialogue sounds cliche, and there’s not much chemistry with Smith. Neame and Verrell are okay, but their characters aren’t that interesting, though Hennessy seems to be trying too hard. Despite his brief scenes, Patrick Macnee takes the material seriously and gives a performance that’s too good for this movie. The prison planet could’ve offered many opportunities, but the film doesn’t do much with this setting. Additionally, not much is explained, such as where the creature who infected Wolfgang came from or its ultimate demise. Despite these questions, this is a decent throwaway sci-fi monster movie that’ll at least kill some time. Overall, Transformations is fairly forgettable but it’s still worth a watch for Empire/Full Moon completionists.

     

    Buy Transformations from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3x0lvXc.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Waitress! (1981)

    Waitress! (1981)

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    Made on an estimated budget of $150,000, Squeeze Play proved to be a hit for the burgeoning studio. After premiering in Norfolk, Virginia, the movie was financially successful and earned positive reviews from The New York Times. With a winning formula, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz decided to start cranking out more sex comedies. Like their last film, the team decided to base their next movie on the rising women’s liberation movement. Kaufman and Herz chose to use a restaurant as the setting for their next sex comedy. They chose a local restaurant called Marty’s in Manhattan for filming locations, which presented a new set of problems. The crew wasn’t allowed to shoot during work hours, so they had to wait and film throughout the night. While filming wrapped in 1981, “Waitress!” premiered at the Cannes Film Market in 1982 and New York later that year.

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    Synopsis

    Andrea (Carol Drake), Jennifer (Carol Bevar), and Lindsey (Renata Hickey) are struggling waitresses working at a high-class restaurant. In addition to the insanity of food service, each has personal problems outside of work they have to deal with. On top of her boyfriend Jerry (Jim Harris) being the restaurant’s manager, Andrea is an aspiring actress looking for work. Jennifer is working as a waitress to interview people for an article she’s hoping to get published. Lindsey’s father, Mr. Bellerman (Ed Fenton), happens to be the restaurant’s owner, and he’s making her work as punishment. Everything at the restaurant gets topsy turvy as the staff goes crazy and the patrons flee. There’s an alcoholic cook, a medical student working as a bartender, and an over-the-top cowboy, among other wacky staff and diners. A complete course meal of zaniness with some hilarity will be served in this madhouse of a restaurant.

     

    Review

    It feels like Kaufman and Herz tried to go all out with “Waitress!” to recreate the success they had before. Unfortunately, they created a movie that tries so hard to be funny that it’s too chaotic to follow. There are so many gags and jokes sprinkled throughout that it’s hard to understand what’s happening. For instance, one scene will have pratfalls, hot food jokes, and rolls flying happening all at once. There will often be a joke that works, but they’re so few and far between. I feel like Kaufman and Herz just threw whatever gags they thought of against the wall and saw what stuck. Later Troma movies like Terror Firmer would have tons of background gags, but they at least had more focus. This movie, however, is such a chaotic mess that it’s more confusing than it is funny.

    Like Squeeze Play, the cast comprises relatively unknown actors who haven’t done much else before or since. Among the cast is soap opera star Hunt Block, Tony Denison from The Closer, and Chris “Mr. Big” Noth. Considering that Block and Denison went under pseudonyms, something tells me they’re not too proud of this. The rest of the cast do the best with the material and play their parts exaggeratedly. Carol Drake, in particular, really goes for it as an actress who’s desperate to play Joan of Arc. On top of looking like a bootleg Billy Crystal, Jim Harris has some of the funniest lines in the movie. The movie goes by quickly at slightly under 90 minutes, though it’s so hectic that you won’t know what happened. Overall, “Waitress!” has its moments, but it’s more of a mess than a hidden comedic gem.

     

    Buy Waitress! from Amazon as part of The Sexy Box: https://amzn.to/3lojFtq.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Evil Bong (2006)

    Evil Bong (2006)

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    While having dinner with his two youngest sons, Charles Band tossed around the idea of a weed movie. His mindset was to make a wacky stoner movie about a bong that teleports people to an alternate dimension. Essentially, he just wanted an excuse to, as he described it, “silliness and naked chicks,” so production got rolling. Since Band loved the idea of crossovers, he decided to add characters from previous Full Moon movies. He included characters from classics like Trancers and Demonic Toys and newer movies, The Gingerdead Man and Doll Graveyard. Because of the subject matter, they hired Tommy Chong to make a small appearance in the movie. The movie is also notable for being cinematographer Mac Ahlberg’s last credit before his passing in 2012. After a brief 7-day shooting period, Evil Bong made its way onto video store shelves in 2006.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”60″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Nerdy college student Alistair McDowell (David Weidoff) has just moved into a new apartment with drop-out Larnell (John Patrick Jordan). Larnell lives with his two roommates, the stereotypical surfer Bachman (Mitch Eakins) and the stereotypical jock Brett (Brian Lloyd). Except for Alistair, all the guys are stoners, and Larnell decides to buy a new bong from a local listing. Supposedly, the original owner of the bong claimed it had supernatural powers and was cursed, but they smoke it anyway. After hitting the bong, each guy ends up in another world where demonic strippers kill them. The bong grows stronger with each new victim and starts reverting to its original look. Soon enough, the original owner, Jimbo Leary (Tommy Chong), arrives to destroy the bong and rid humanity of its evil. It’s one hell of a trip as our heroes must contend with Eebee (Michelle Mais), the Evil Bong!

     

    Review

    Going into this movie, you’ll know whether or not you’ll enjoy it based on the title. If your first reaction upon hearing Evil Bong is to groan, you’ll want to avoid this. This film scrapes the bottom of the barrel, even by Full Moon standards, compared to movies like Subspecies and Dollman. Still, unlike Puppet Master: The Legacy, this at least is a whole movie instead of a glorified highlight reel. You can tell this is a far cry from the Paramount era just by how cheap this movie looks. There’s only a handful of characters, most of it takes place on one set, and the puppet’s mouth doesn’t move. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the movie’s budget went to having Tommy Chong and Bill Mosely appear. I’m sure whatever was left was used to get Tim Thomerson to show up for one scene.

    Tommy Chong seems to be having fun swinging a chainsaw at the titular bong to his credit. He delivers the usual stoned-out performance you would expect from his Cheech & Chong movies or That 70s Show. Sadly, the same sentiment can’t be said for the rest of the actors, who range from mediocre to stiff. Instead of playing three-dimensional characters, each cast member plays the most exaggerated stereotype you can think of. For instance, Mitch Eakins is playing a dollar-store version of Dante from Grandma’s Boy, which came out the same year. Weidoff seems miscast as Alistair, looking less like a nerd and more like a jock who’s dressed like a nerd. In fairness, this movie isn’t trying to be anything more than a dumb stoner horror-comedy for what it’s worth. Overall, Evil Bong is far from Full Moon’s peak, but there are worse ways to kill 90 minutes.

     

    Buy Evil Bong from:

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Last Foxtrot in Burbank (1973)

    Last Foxtrot in Burbank (1973)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After finding success in Italy as a director, Albert Band fell on hard times and moved back to the US. Having grown up in Italy around sets, his son Charles became obsessed with movies and wanted to make his own. Charles had to make a commercial film, and horror was the most profitable genre, so he aimed for that. It was the early 1970s, and, at some point, Band became friends with stand-up comedian Frank Ray Perilli. Perilli suggested that Band should make a spoof of a then-popular movie instead of a horror film. In 1972, Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris hit theaters and was a massive hit despite all the controversies. Perilli convinced Band that they should make a spoof of Bertolucci’s film with actor Michael Pataki doing a Brando impression. So, in 1973, Charles Band’s Last Foxtrot in Burbank made its way onto the big screen.

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    Synopsis

    In the city of Burbank, France, Paul (Michael Pataki) is grieving the loss of his wife by wandering the streets. Elsewhere, a young woman named Jeanne (Sherry Denton) is looking for an apartment to rent and stumbles across Paul. The two start an illicit affair where neither person knows the other one’s name to maintain anonymity. As their relationship grows, Paul is unsure if he wants to keep Jeanne around anymore or continue the romance. It doesn’t help either that Paul feels inadequate in bed as he cannot fully satisfy Jeanne’s desires. It all comes to a head when Paul finds out that Jeanne has been shooting adult films on the side. Distraught over the perceived betrayal, he confronts her, and she responds by shooting him where he stands. It’s a story of love, death, loyalty, and betrayal that permeates throughout the city of Burbank, France.

     

    Review

    Before going any further, I want to point out just how miraculous it is that I can review this movie. After a disastrous release, Charles Band erased Last Foxtrot in Burbank from history and had several prints destroyed. It was only recently that someone from UCLA was able to find the original negative in their film archives. Frequently, movies that are considered lost tend to stay that way and end up never found. Quality aside, I can appreciate that this obscure piece of cinema history has been uncovered and restored. Admittedly, Last Foxtrot in Burbank isn’t some lost gem, and I can see why Band wanted this buried. It’s not as much of a trainwreck as Big Gus, What’s the Fuss?, but it’s still pretty stupid. Then again, Charles Band was in his early 20s, so I didn’t expect much.

    As a Last Tango in Paris spoof, the movie does hit all the major plot points humorously. Michael Pataki makes a decent Marlon Brando impression, though he goes as over the top as possible with his performance. Even though she doesn’t do much besides getting naked for most of her scenes, Sherry Denton is admirable. The rest of the acting is pretty hit or miss, though everyone acts like they know they’re in a comedy. Admittedly, most of the gags fall flat and are outdated, but the movie made me chuckle every so often. There is a gag where they parody the notorious butter scene, which might seem tasteless, but it made me laugh. At slightly over an hour in length, the movie goes by really fast and will kill time quickly. Overall, Last Foxtrot in Burbank isn’t impressive, but movie completionists will enjoy seeing this previously-lost film.

     

    Watch Last Foxtrot in Burbank on Full Moon Features: https://www.fullmoonfeatures.com/videos/last-foxtrot-in-burbank.

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  • Forbidden World (1982)

    Forbidden World (1982)

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    After graduating from the American Film Institute, Allan Holzman got a job as an editor for New World Pictures. Working with B-movie kingpin Roger Corman, Holzman edited Candy Stripe Nurses, Crazy Mama, and Checkered Flag or Crash. Holzman wanted to direct despite having a terrible stutter, and he managed to convince Corman to give him a shot. Corman originally suggested making Lawrence of Arabia in space but instead asked Holzman to rip off Alien to save money. Galaxy of Terror had finished shooting, and Corman was impressed with the set, so he kept it for this project. Holzman hired his girlfriend Susan Justin for the soundtrack, and future Charles Band regular John Carl Buechler handled the effects. The film was originally going to be called Mutant, but Corman decided to change the title at the last minute. Finally, the movie hit theaters in May 1982 as Forbidden World.

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    Synopsis

    While drifting through space, Officer Mike Colby (Jesse Vint) learns of a new assignment from his robot SAM-104 (Don Olivera). Their mission is to investigate a research facility in Xarbia, where an experimental lifeform got loose and attacked the staff. Colby meets the survivors, including research head Gordon Hauser (Linden Chiles) and his assistant Barbara Glaser (June Chadwick). The creature wrapped itself in a cocoon after killing some of the research team, so Colby wants to kill it. However, Hauser tells him not to terminate the creature and remains secretive about what happened, much to everyone’s dismay. One day, lab technician Jimmy Swift (Michael Bowen) gets killed by the beast, and it sabotages their communication equipment. As more people get picked off, Colby learns more about the experiment and its method of consuming people. With the body count rising, who will be able to survive this forbidden world?

     

    Review

    Compared to Corman’s other space movies around this time, Forbidden World is one of the oddest. The tone is all over the place, where sometimes it feels intentionally funny and other times unintentionally amusing. Granted, this is partly due to Corman not being happy with the more comedic moments and having those trimmed out. While the direction is relatively basic, Holzman keeps the pacing tight and shows plenty of potential for a first-time director. Jesse Vint is decent as the smooth leading man, bedding both women and creating a love triangle. June Chadwick and Dawn Dunlap are knock-outs who bare it all on more than one occasion. Character actor Fox Harris hams it up as the eccentric Dr. Cal Timbergen, who ends up helping defeat the monster. Linden Chiles comes off a bit wooden, but he makes for a good foil for Vint.

    Susan Justin’s score helps this movie stand out, adding an off-kilter, punk rock vibe to the proceedings. Admittedly, it can be slightly overbearing at times, but it’s weird enough to stick with you after the movie. The creature’s design is relatively basic, but it works in its simplicity, essentially looking like a giant slug with teeth. In addition to Buechler, effects artist Mark Shostrom (The Beastmaster, Evil Dead 2, From Beyond) contributed to the film. They manage to create some gruesome set pieces, such as the creature’s death and the crew being half dissolved. At 77 minutes long, the movie goes by quickly, though there’s some padding to get it to feature-length. While it’s the least well-known of Corman’s space movies, it’s still a fun watch for genre enthusiasts. Overall, Forbidden World is a sleazy rip-off of a better film, but that makes it more enjoyable.

     

    Buy Forbidden World from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ELmLRb.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Squeeze Play (1979)

    Squeeze Play (1979)

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    After the disastrous release of Big Gus, What’s the Fuss?, Lloyd Kaufman was in a tight jam. With his business partner Michael Herz, Lloyd founded Troma Entertainment in 1974, where they could produce their movies. Around this time, Kaufman directed a series of adult films under the pseudonyms H.V. Spyder, Louis Su, and David Stitt. In the 70s, the industry took celluloid sex seriously, and mixing sex with other genres was unheard of. With this in mind, Kaufman and Herz thought it would be a good idea to make a sex comedy film. The Women’s Liberation Movement was in full swing, so Kaufman and Herz decided to incorporate that into their movie. Lloyd’s brother Charles worked with screenwriter Haim Pekelis to churn out a 75-page script while Lloyd accumulated a $300,000 budget. While the film premiered in New York in 1979, Squeeze Play wouldn’t be released nationwide until 1980.

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    Synopsis

    Wes (Jim Harris) is captain of the local men’s softball team, The Beavers, and is the talk of the town. However, his fiance, Samantha (Jennifer Hetrick), isn’t happy about how he spends more time with the guys than her. She wants him to quit softball next year so he can spend more time with her, but he’s reluctant. Soon, the girlfriends and wives of the other team members share the same sentiment as Samantha and have had it. One night, the girls meet runaway Mary Lou (Melissa Michaels), who has a wicked throwing arm and can play softball. Suddenly, Samantha gets an idea: she and the girls will form their softball team to teach the boys a lesson. Naturally, the guys don’t take them seriously, so the girls train hard and start getting good. Who will win this epic battle of the sexes, and who will make the squeeze play?

     

    Review

    While not as good as comedies like Animal House or Meatballs, Squeeze Play is still an enjoyably silly sex comedy. Admittedly, most of the movie’s humor is dated and relies heavily on slapstick, but plenty of the gags do land. The most famous joke in the film is when a player catches the ball between his buttcheeks. Aside from the dumb jokes, the plot is an excuse to add double entendres and get women naked. This movie is from a bygone era where a Wet T-Shirt Contest, gender stereotypes, and politically incorrect humor were acceptable. The pro-women message, though it lacks subtlety, is weirdly relevant even today and helps it stand out. While it’s easy to hate the men for being gross and rude, the women make plenty of mistakes. It’s interesting how a 70s sex comedy depicted feminism better than today’s crop of movies.

    The cast, mainly made up of relatively unknown actors, does their jobs well and plays into the comedy. There are some notable cast members, including Jennifer Hetrick from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Al Corley from Dynasty. The most memorable actor here is Mike Starr, who later starred in Uncle Buck, Ed Wood, and Dumb and Dumber. Admittedly, the movie does follow plenty of sports movie tropes, but this was well before those tropes became a thing. As with every sports movie, everything culminates in a final game, though this one has some nudity. At slightly over 90 minutes long, it won’t take up too much of your time and goes by fast. Diehard Troma fans might get a kick out of this, but general audiences will probably dismiss this. Overall, Squeeze Play is a product of its time, for better or for worse, though it has its moments.

     

    Buy Squeeze Play from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EuFmB1.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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