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Category: Cult Films

  • Famous T & A (1982)

    Famous T & A (1982)

    [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=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]With the advent of home video in the 1980s, numerous studios started making compilation tapes using obscure movie footage. Some notable examples include Terror in the Aisles, Coming Soon, and It Came from Hollywood. There was Film House Fever, Mad Ron’s Prevues from Hell, and the Wizard Video comp tapes on the low-budget side. In 1982, Charles Band and Ken Dixon created The Best of Sex and Violence, a compilation of obscure movie trailers. The appeal of these comp tapes was that they were relatively easy to make, cost very little, and provided content. With the first comp tape being such a hit, Band and Dixon put together a more titillating tape. They hired B-movie queen Sybil Danning to host this collection of clips featuring name actresses getting nude. Released in 1982, Famous T & A tried to recapture the magic that Band and Dixon struck before.

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    Synopsis

    After strapping on her outfit for one of her big projects, Sybil Danning introduces these scintillating scenes. First up, we have revealing moments of actress Phyllis Davis on the set of the survival film Terminal Island. Next, Ornella Muti, best known as Princess Aura from Flash Gordon, bears all in the obscure 70s film Summer Affair. We also get the original Bond girl, Ursula Andress, paraded around in the cannibal film Slave of the Cannibal God. There’s also international superstar Jacqueline Bisset, fresh off of her roles in Bullitt and Airport, in 1971’s Secrets. We even get scenes from Charles Band’s earlier works, featuring Idy Tripodi from Auditions and Angela Aames from Fairy Tales. A pre-Elvira Cassandra Peterson shakes it in The Working Girls, and Vanity hooks up with a gorilla on Tanya’s Island. This and more can be found in the bizarre 74-minute collection Famous T & A.

     

    Review

    Despite my criticisms of its non-existent production values, I thought The Best of Sex and Violence was a fun treat. It had a good selection of trailers, each divided into individual segments, with a fun host delivering snappy comebacks. With Famous T&A, not even Sybil Danning’s presence can save this poor excuse for a compilation. Unlike Sex and Violence, this movie has no structure, going from one clip to another with no rhyme or reason. It doesn’t help that many clips are of inferior quality and choppily edited, making them nearly impossible to watch. Plus, for a movie claiming to feature now-famous actresses baring it all, only a few are what I’d consider “stars.” Besides Ursula Andress and Jacqueline Bissett, anyone unfamiliar with cult films won’t know Phyllis Davis, Laura Gemser, or Ornella Muti. Also, despite being listed on the poster, Nastassja Kinski is nowhere to be seen.

    Granted, in a pre-internet age, this movie certainly had its place for those looking for gratuitous sex and nudity. Back in the day, it was harder for people to find this stuff outside scuzzy movie theaters on 42nd Street. Comp tapes like this were an excellent way for people to access instant content years before the internet. This movie has its place in obscure film history, even if the final product isn’t great. After this, Ken Dixon would make two more compilation movies for Wizard Video: Filmgore and Zombiethon. His last credit was the cheesy space movie Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity, starring Elizabeth Kaitan, who makes everything better. As for this compilation, unless you want to see grainy footage of actresses stripping and screwing, there are better choices. Overall, Famous T&A isn’t awful, but you could spend 74 minutes doing something better.

     

    Buy Famous T&A on Amazon: https://amzn.to/43ddDRY.

    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 Famous T&A (1982)

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  • Rabid Grannies (1988)

    Rabid Grannies (1988)

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    After making Lucker the Necrophagus in 1986, Belgian filmmaker Johan Vandewoestijne approached Emmauel Kervyn with a directing opportunity. Kervyn was a martial arts expert who had been developing a project called Talion to star Jean-Claude Van Damme. Unfortunately, the project fell apart when producer André Coppens, head of VDS Films, ran out of money. However, Keryn had a horror movie script called The Long Night that was ready to start shooting. The movie was shot in Kortrijk and Ingelmunster Castle in 1987, with an all-French cast speaking English for commercial appeal. While Stardust Pictures mainly produced the film, Troma contributed to the budget in exchange for international distribution rights. Unfortunately, when Troma released it, several more graphic scenes were cut without the director’s knowledge. While released in Belgium in 1988 as Les Mémés Cannibales, the film hit the US in 1989 as Rabid Grannies.

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    Synopsis

    In a remote Belgian castle, the Remington family celebrates the birthdays of Aunts Elizabeth (Danielle Daven) and Victoria (Anne-Marie Fox). Most everyone in the family is a terrible person just looking to inherit their aunts’ wealth when they die. During the party, one of the servants, Alice (Patricia Davia), sees a strange woman by the gate (Cindy Rimoe). She gives Alice a box and says it’s a gift for the aunts courtesy of their absent nephew Christopher. During the party, Elizabeth and Victoria open the box, which releases a strange mist that turns them into horrific demons. The two then rip and tear the family apart as the rest struggle to escape the aunts’ wrath. The survivors hide in other parts of the castle, but it won’t be long before the aunties come for them. Which family members will survive, and who will fall victim to the demonic aunties?

     

    Review

    Despite the title, there are no grannies, nor does anyone become rabid. Though, I guess Rabid Grannies is a more memorable title and fits the original, which translates to The Cannibal Grannies. Questionable title aside, this is a decent, if forgettable, monster/splatter film reminiscent of Peter Jackson’s early work. There are some decent effects in creature design and gore for a relatively low budget. The scene where the aunts first transform is particularly memorable for how gross and slimy it is. There are also some entertaining death scenes, including a greedy fat man getting his ass bitten. The movie even dares to kill a child character, something rarely seen in horror movies even today. There’s much to enjoy for gorehounds and fans of cheesy 80s horror films. Unfortunately, for all the decent stuff in this movie, there’s just as much wrong here.

    The film’s biggest problem is that there aren’t any likable characters you can root for. Aside from maybe the kids, everyone is terrible, selfish, and, in some cases, sexist and homophobic. The action takes a long time to pick up, with the first 30 minutes devoted to family drama. Granted, if the intent were to emulate what it’s like to attend a family gathering, I’d say they nailed it. Still, it’ll be a while before any family gets picked off, even when things pick up in the second act. It doesn’t help that, as inventive as some of the death scenes are, many are cut to where they’re incomprehensible. The movie is padded at slightly over 90 minutes, but there’s enough dark humor and creativity to keep it fresh. Overall, Rabid Grannies will be either fun or godawful, depending on your taste, but either is valid.

     

    Buy Rabid Grannies from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ONZzqp.

    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 Rabid Grannies (1988)

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  • Oblivion (1994)

    Oblivion (1994)

    [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=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 1986, Charles Band had a concept for a film called Shoot to Kill, a science-fiction/western mix. Unfortunately, the film wasn’t made after Empire Pictures went bankrupt years later, but Band carried it over to Full Moon. In the early 90s, Band shot several movies in Romania, including Subspecies, Mandroid, Trancers 4 and 5, and Lurking Fear. Seeing the potential, Band and cinematographer turned producer Vlad Paunescu established Castel Film Productions due to the inexpensive costs. For their first project, Band decided to resurrect the Shoot to Kill idea and hired comic book writer Peter David. Initially, Jeff Burr was set to direct before being replaced by Sam Irvin, who previously worked as Brian DePalma’s assistant. With a reported budget of $2.5 million, this was going to be one of Full Moon’s most ambitious films. While intended for a theatrical release, Oblivion hit video store shelves in late 1994.

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    Synopsis

    In 3031, on a remote planet, the alien outlaw Red Eye (Andrew Divoff) invades the Old West-style town of Oblivion. He challenges the town marshal, Zed Stone (Mike Genovese), to a duel, only to cheat and kill Stone. Red Eye and his goons – Lash (Musetta Vander), Bork (Irwin Keyes), and Wormhole (Frank Roman) – take over the town. Elsewhere, the marshal’s son Zack (Richard Joseph Paul) rescues a native named Buteo (Jimmie F. Skaggs) from a giant scorpion. Unfortunately, Zack learns of his father’s death from the local undertaker, Mr. Gaunt (Carel Struycken), and attends the funeral. Despite the outcries from the townsfolk, Zack abhors violence due to being an empath and refuses to confront Red Eye. However, when Red Eye and his gang kidnap Buteo, Zack decides to face his fears and rescue him. It’s high noon in outer space as cowboys and aliens go toe-to-toe in Oblivion!

     

    Review

    Oblivion is a fun genre mash-up showing what Full Moon could do with a sizable budget. For one, the cast is to die for, with names like Andrew Divoff, Meg Foster, Isaac Hayes, and Julie Newmar. Divoff, in particular, is having the time of his life playing the notorious reptilian outlaw Red Eye. Another highlight is George Takei as a drunken inventor who spouts off Star Trek quotes and is quite belligerent. There’s also Musetta Vander, who steals the show as Red Eye’s right-hand lady, Lash, who chews through the scenery. Admittedly, Richard Joseph Paul is a bit weak as the hero, but he does come through toward the end. Additionally, Jackie Swanson and Jimmie F. Skaggs come off as somewhat bland, though Skaggs at least has more to do. This is a movie where the villains are far more interesting than the heroes.

    Many of the costumes and sets may look cheap, but by Full Moon standards, this is a big-budget blockbuster. The blending of Old West and modern-day technology is a nice melding that helps it stand out from other westerns. Sam Irvin manages to stage some exciting action sequences, and Peter David’s script is filled with great gags. One joke that stands out is when Zack gives an emotional speech at his father’s funeral during bingo night. There’s also some excellent stop-motion animation from the late David Allen, which is always a treat. It’s a shame this movie didn’t get a theatrical release because I could’ve seen it doing relatively well. Sure, it doesn’t stack up to 1994’s The Lion King or Forrest Gump, but it’s better than The Flintstones. Overall, Oblivion is a flawed but entertaining genre mash-up from Full Moon’s heyday.

     

    Buy Oblivion 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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  • Blood Rage (1987)

    Blood Rage (1987)

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    With the popularity of slasher films in the early 1980s, numerous studios tried making their own hoping for success. After gathering the funds from some investors, producer Marianne Kanter set about making a slasher in 1983. Kanter hired John Grissmer, whose only directing credit was the 1977 horror film Scalpel, to helm the project. While most of the cast was relatively unknown, the filmmakers hired Louise Lasser, best known for Woody Allen’s Bananas. Unfortunately, the film ran into numerous production problems, including director John Grissmer leaving over disagreements with Louise Lasser. Fortunately, Kanter convinced Grissmer to return and finish the movie, which was then titled Nightmare at Shadow Woods. Unfortunately, the film sat on the shelf for four years before getting a limited theatrical release in 1987. While heavily edited for theaters, the movie was released uncut on VHS under the new title Blood Rage.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”60″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _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=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    In 1974, young Terry killed a couple making love and pinned the blame on his brother Todd. Ten years later, Terry (Mark Soper) lives with his mother, Maddy (Louise Lasser), while Todd (Mark Soper) has been institutionalized. Maddy is engaged to marry Brad (William Fuller), who owns the apartment complex she and Terry live at. Unbeknownst to them, Todd has escaped the mental institution and is pursued by Dr. Berman (Marianne Kanter). These events cause Terry to snap and resume his murdering ways as he kills Brad, Dr. Berman, and anyone else. Ultimately, Terry plans on pinning the murders on Todd as he did years ago while Todd tries clearing his name. When Maddy gets word of Todd’s escape, she gets worried and starts drinking, unaware of all the murders around her. Will Todd be able to clear his name, and who will fall victim to Terry’s blood rage?

     

    Review

    As far as slasher films go, Blood Rage is pretty standard, though it has a few things going for it. For instance, while none of the performances are outstanding, they’re above average for this type of movie. Even if it feels like she’d rather be anywhere else, Louise Lasser is easily the best actor in the film. Granted, most of her screen time is spent eating leftovers, drinking wine, and drunkenly calling people on the phone. Still, there are moments where she gives a heartfelt performance that’s almost way too good for this movie. Also, Mark Soper does a decent job playing twins, giving each one a distinct personality to help differentiate the two. Admittedly, the rest of the cast is pretty forgettable, but I wouldn’t say there was anyone who was particularly annoying. The actors do their best even if the material isn’t the greatest.

    Given its low budget, the gore effects are top-notch, whether someone is cut in half or a head splits open. The makeup effects were done by Ed French, who also worked on Sleepaway Camp, The Stuff, and Vampire’s Kiss. Also, the music by composer Richard Einhorn, who also worked on The Prowler, is pretty catchy and fits the film. On the downside, some aspects of the story, such as the motivations, don’t make much sense. After the opening scene, Terry lives happily while his brother is locked away, but Terry kills again for no reason. Why would he return to his murderous ways when he’s living well while people think his brother is a killer? There’s even a moment when a character asks Terry why he’s doing this, but there’s no explanation given. Overall, Blood Rage has some decent performances and gore effects, but the story is a mess.

     

    Buy Blood Rage from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gncoLE.

    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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  • Vegas in Space (1991)

    Vegas in Space (1991)

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    After making Super-8 films as a teenager, Phillip R. Ford enrolled in San Francisco State University’s film program. While attending class, Ford met Philip Mills, better known as Doris Fish, a drag queen originally from Sydney. One night, Ford showed Fish and her wife, Lori Naslund, Trouble in Paradise, a Super-8 short he had filmed back in 1981. Doris was so impressed with Ford’s short film that she agreed to star in his next project, Rollercoaster to Hell. The student movie got tons of attention and was shown on KTVU’s Creature Features, where Ford announced his next film. Doris had aspirations of making it big in Hollywood and pitched Ford an idea for an outer-space musical comedy. Filming lasted between 1983 and 1984, but post-production took an additional seven years due to a lack of funds. After everything was said and done, Vegas in Space finally premiered in October 1991.

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    Synopsis

    In the 23rd century, Captain Dan Tracey (Doris Fish) and his Space Cadets receive a critical mission. Vel Croford, Empress of Earth (Miss X), instructs them to travel to the planet Kleetoeres to solve a jewel heist. However, only women are allowed on Kleetoeres, so Tracey and his men must take sex reassignment pills to blend in. Now, as women, Captain Tracy Daniels, Lt. Sheila Shadows (Ramona Fischer), and Lt. Debbie Dane (Lori Naslund) visit the Empress. According to Empress Nueva Gabor (Ginger Quest), her Girllinium gems, which maintain the planet’s orbit, have been stolen. The prime suspect is Veneer (Miss X), the planet’s queen of police, who agrees to work with Daniels. Helping out the ladies is Nueva’s Vice Empress, Princess Angel (Tippi), who secretly has an agenda. Who stole the Girllinium gems, will the ladies stop them, and what else will happen in Vegas in Space?

     

    Review

    Vegas in Space certainly earns its cult status just for how weird it is, especially with its intentionally tacky aesthetic. This movie was a labor of love, from the homemade sets and colorful costumes to the intentionally cheesy tone. Even if this was initially made as a vanity project for Doris Fish, you could tell the filmmakers cared. They spent the better part of a decade trying to get this film made, and that commitment is admirable. While made for a small budget, the filmmakers created a distinct, albeit tacky style that lends to the movie’s charm. The performances are over-the-top and campy, but that’s the vibe they were going for, and it works. The late Doris Fish shines as Dan Tracy/Tracey Daniels, the enigmatic leader who’s both strong and sassy. Her cohorts, Ramona Fisher and Lori Naslund, are appropriately ditzy and bubbly, which goes well with Fish’s attitude.

    However, as goofy as the movie is, and while the people involved had fun, it’s a bit of a mess. For a film that’s 85 minutes long, there’s a lot of padding to reach feature length. There are several scenes where nothing plot-related happens, and characters talk endlessly, dragging the pacing to a crawl. Some jokes land, but unless you’re familiar with drag culture, most of the humor will be lost on you. It’s also weird to call this a musical since there’s only one musical number toward the movie’s end. Plus, the film plays it a bit too safe, considering it’s made by drag queens for drag queens. If you’re a fan of campy sci-fi, you might get some enjoyment here, but there are better options. Overall, Vegas in Space might appeal more to drag fans, but it’s only watchable as a curiosity.

     

    Buy Vegas in Space from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UUvQPb.

    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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  • Savage Island (1985)

    Savage Island (1985)

    [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=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]When Charles Band founded Wizard Video, he acquired the rights to foreign exploitation films for very little money. Through his label, Band released titles from directors like Ruggero Deodato, Jess Franco, Sergio Garrone, Sergio Martino, and Lucio Fulci. Charles also used Wizard Video to release some experimental titles, including compilation tapes like The Best of Sex and Violence. Another experiment Band attempted was something producers like Roger Corman would do: acquire foreign films and recut/redub them. For example, Corman bought the rights to the Lone Wolf and Cub films and re-edited them into 1981’s Shogun Assassin. Band similarly acquired the rights to Hotel Paradise and Escape from Hell, two Women In Prison films from Edoardo Mulargia. Under the pseudonym Nicholas Beardsley, Ted Nicolaou shot new segments featuring Linda Blair to tie everything together. The result was the 1985 direct-to-video cheapie Savage Island.

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    Synopsis

    Having freed herself from slave labor, Daly (Linda Blair) breaks into the corporation responsible for her imprisonment. She confronts the boss, Luker (Leon Askin), and explains how her sister is still captive. We cut to flashbacks showing female prisoners forced into jewel mining, focusing on Marla (Ajita Wilson) and Muriel (Cristina Lay). When the women aren’t looking for precious stones, they’re beaten, tortured, and molested by the guards while also catfighting. One day, Laredo (Anthony Steffen) arrives to drop off more prisoners but is secretly working on starting a revolution. He helps Marla stage a prison break, frees all the captive women, and gets back at the guards. Unfortunately, things go sour when members of Laredo’s gang turn on the women and lead the remaining guards to them. No one is safe, everything is at stake, and only the strongest will survive on Savage Island!

     

    Review

    If what I just described in that synopsis didn’t make much sense, there’s a good reason for that: it doesn’t. Savage Island is one of the most confusing and disjointed movies I’ve ever seen doing this series. As mentioned in the introduction, this movie is essentially two movies re-edited and stitched together with some new footage added. What doesn’t help is that both films have very similar plots and almost the same actors playing different characters. So, an initially good character would turn heel almost randomly, and people would die and come back inexplicably. Continuity is non-existent, with scenes going between day and night and certain moments feeling out of order. What helps make these scenes somewhat watchable are the poor dubbing and some genuinely bizarre moments. Where else will you see a transgender actress biting the head off a snake used to intimidate her?

    Despite being featured on the cover, Linda Blair is only in the movie for about ten minutes. It’s easy to rag on her performance, but then again, she’s barely given anything to work with. In her defense, she didn’t want her name featured prominently as she didn’t want to fool her fans. It is worth mentioning that future magician/comedian Penn Jillette has a small part as a security guard. Ted Nicolaou, who later directed Terrorvision, Subspecies, and Bad Channels, has said that this wasn’t one of his proudest moments. To his credit, he did the best he could given the circumstances and at least made better movies later. Even at roughly 80 minutes, the film is a tedious slog that might be worth watching as a curiosity. But overall, Savage Island is a narrative mess that barely even qualifies as a movie.

     

    Buy Savage Island 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 Savage Island (1985)

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  • Blood Hook (1987)

    Blood Hook (1987)

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    Minnesota-born Jim Mallon is probably best known today as one of the creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, back in the mid-1980s, he had just graduated from college when he got a job at WHA-TV in Madison. Since converting to video, the studio had access to tons of unused film equipment, which Mallon decided to use. He contacted his old friend David Herbert to write a script based on an early short film. With a budget of $200,000, filming lasted for 35 days in Hayward, Wisconsin, under the title Muskie Madness. While initially planned for a 1986 release, the film had to be trimmed to avoid an X rating for violence. At some point, Troma acquired the distribution rights to the film and decided to re-edit and re-title the picture. In April 1987, Troma released Mallon’s film in theaters as Blood Hook.

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    Synopsis

    Seventeen years after witnessing his grandfather’s death, Peter van Clease (Mark Jacobs) returns to his hometown for a fishing festival. There’s also his girlfriend Ann (Lisa Jane Todd) and friends Rodney (Patrick Danz), Kiersten (Sara Hauser), and Finner (Christopher Whiting). While everyone’s preparing for the Muskie Madness fishing contest, a psychopathic killer is on the loose. His method of choice involves using a large lure on a fishing line to reel in his victims. While the sheriff (Paul Heckman) tries to keep the peace, our heroes scramble to figure out who the killer is. Wayne Duerst (Paul Drake) instantly distrusts Peter and his friends, while his son Evelyn (Bill Lowrie) thinks there’s something more. While suffering from PTSD over his grandfather’s death, Peter has to rise to the occasion and stop the killer. But who is this psychotic fisherman, and why is he catching people with his blood hook?

     

    Review

    Blood Hook is a ridiculous movie, and the filmmakers are fully aware of that, but there’s plenty of sincerity. One aspect that works in the movie’s favor is the location, an actual small town in Wisconsin. It’s the sort of homegrown setting where you feel like you know everyone, and minor things are significant events. Jim Mallon does a great job of capturing the beauty of the lakeside locations while adding a moody atmosphere. It’s worth noting that the key grip was Kevin Murphy, who went on to voice Tom Servo in MST3K. In addition, the movie moves at a steady pace, offering enough time between kills to develop the characters further. Also, the way the killer dispatches his victims with a fishing hook is unique, and each kill is quite bloody. There are also some disturbing moments where the victims are dragged with ropes through their mouths.

    The acting is hit or miss, with some standing out or coming off as a wet blanket. For most of the runtime, Mark Jacobs is a bland lead that makes dumb decisions that hurt his character. Lisa Jane Todd is likable enough as the love interest, but the other would-be victims are pretty forgettable. Bill Lowrie is easily the biggest stand-out in the cast as a crazed Vietnam veteran who rants about conspiracy theories. Don Winters also does a great job playing a friendly fisherman/bait shop owner who might be hiding something sinister. Also worth noting is Sandy Meuwissen, who is irresistibly cute, and her bubbly personality makes her endearing. The movie clocks in at 111 minutes, which is long for this type of movie, but it never drags. Overall, Blood Hook isn’t one of the greatest Troma movies, but it’s an underrated gem.

     

    Buy Blood Hook from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UkWKit.

    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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  • Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

    Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

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    While the original Halloween was a critical and commercial success, Halloween II wasn’t as successful. Despite grossing over $25 million, reviews weren’t as kind, with Roger Ebert calling it “a fall from greatness.” Still, the producers thought the film earned enough money to warrant another sequel despite John Carpenter and Debra Hill’s reluctance. They only agreed to return if they could make a standalone film without Michael Myers returning as the focus. With a $2.5 million budget, Carpenter hired Nigel Kneale, best known for the Quatermass series, to write the script. Unfortunately, producer Dino De Laurentiis wanted more gore added, so Carpenter and director Tommy Lee Wallace rewrote the script. The hope was that if this film were successful, it would spawn a new anthology series of Halloween-themed movies. On October 22, 1982, Halloween III: Season of the Witch was released to an unsuspecting audience.

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    Synopsis

    Dr. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins), an alcoholic, divorced doctor, is called into the hospital when a delirious patient arrives. The patient, shop owner Harry Grimbridge (Al Berry), clutches a Jack-O-Lantern mask claiming that “they’re going to kill us all.” That night, a mysterious stranger (Dick Warlock) goes to the hospital, kills Harry, and immolates himself. The next day, Challis meets Harry’s daughter Ellie (Stacey Nelkin), who reveals she found some strange information regarding his death. Their investigation takes them to the Santa Mira headquarters of Silver Shamrock Novelties, a company known for its Halloween masks. Posing as potential buyers, Dan and Ellie tour the factory and meet the owner, Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy). Things go south when Ellie gets kidnapped and Dan gets captured while breaking into the factory. What Dan soon learns about Silver Shamrock and their masks will shock him to his very core.

     

    Review

    Halloween III: Season of the Witch is criminally underrated, even if it’s the furthest apart from the other entries. Since its release 40 years ago, there are still fans who’ve dismissed this entry simply for not having Michael Myers. Even though the marketing clarified that Michael Myers wouldn’t return, this fact still annoyed fans. Thankfully, the film has recently gained a reevaluation from critics and audiences, which it rightfully deserves. As a standalone film, it works as a supernatural thriller with some clever satire toward the commercialization of Halloween. As a sequel, the movie is removed from the first two as much as possible, which is its biggest flaw. If it were called anything other than Halloween III, the film probably wouldn’t have been as hated by audiences. Still, it’s the only way the movie would’ve gotten the green light, so its downfall was inevitable.

    As always, Tom Atkins delivers a charismatic and commanding performance playing an unconventional leading man as an alcoholic divorcee. On top of looking adorable, Stacey Nelkin makes for a great leading lady and has excellent chemistry with Atkins. Dan O’Herlihy makes for a compelling villain, coming off as charming and sinister, best exemplified by his speech about Samhein. While there are some gruesome kills, the movie manages to make them disturbing without being needlessly graphic. Not to mention, this movie does something you rarely see either back then or nowadays: they kill a child. Admittedly, the plot doesn’t make much sense, and there are plenty of plotholes, but they don’t hurt the overall experience. If you view this as a standalone movie, you’ll get one of the best supernatural horror films of the decade. Overall, Halloween III: Season of the Witch deserves its status as a cult classic.

     

    Buy Halloween III: Season of the Witch from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fW5JI1.

    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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  • The Best of Sex and Violence (1982)

    The Best of Sex and Violence (1982)

    [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=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Despite founding one of the earliest independent home video companies, Charles Band wasn’t a part of it for long. After starting Meda Home Entertainment, he started taking on more and more partners, including producer Irwin Yablans. Eventually, Yablans and his associates owned more of the company, so Band forcibly sold off his shares. The company was rebranded to Media Home Entertainment and continued for the next decade until 1993. Meanwhile, Band still wanted in on the home video market, so he formed a new label called Wizard Video. Charles started acquiring the rights to all kinds of crazy exploitation films to release under his new brand. After getting the licenses for so many bizarre movies, Band created a compilation tape of the trailers. He hired Ken Dixon to put together the first Wizard Video release titled The Best of Sex and Violence.

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    Synopsis

    Veteran actor John Carradine hosts this cavalcade of cinematic oddities, delivering snide comments with a dry wit. The compilation begins with two violent exploitation films, Bury Me an Angel and The Doberman Gang. Things get steamy with trailers for The Sin of Adam and Eve and the adult version of Alice in Wonderland. Charles Band also sneaks in trailers for his movies, like Cinderella, Fairy Tales, and Tourist Trap. For more extreme thrills, we get trailers for video nasties like I Spit on Your Grave, The Boogeyman, and Zombie. There’s a bevy of buxom beauties, either being sacrificed to Satan or shooting their way out of prison. We end with some blaxploitation, including Ebony, Ivory, & Jade, Dr. Black & Mr. Hyde, and some Rudy Ray Moore. Also, look for an appearance by John’s sons, David “Bill” Carradine and Keith “Tom Frank” Carradine.

     

    Review

    The Best of Sex and Violence is a hard movie to review since it barely counts as one. In terms of being a movie, this has very little production value, essentially just one actor sitting in a room. That said, John Carradine does his best to deliver his comebacks, even if he looks confused about why he’s there. It’s funny hearing him talk about working on the classic Universal horror films and working with Cecil B. Demille. It’s also nice seeing him with his sons making family jokes about borrowing the car or asking for money. Ken Dixon, who later directed Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity, put a lot of care into making this compilation. He makes the trailers flow together, dividing them into segments depending on genre and selecting the best trailers. They even sneak in clips from Last Foxtrot in Burbank and End of the World.

    Of course, the main reason to see this movie is the collection of trailers for all these obscure exploitation flicks. You get tons of action, horror, nudity, harmful stereotypes, dated humor, and exaggerated acting to make any B-movie fan happy. With many of these older movies, the trailers are far better than the movies, though there are some exceptions. For instance, Tourist Trap, I Spit on Your Grave, Zombie, and any of Rudy Ray Moore’s films are worth watching. It also gives you a glimpse of the kinds of movies coming out around that time. This movie would be great for putting on in the background during a party, especially for cult movie fans. Admittedly, some of the trailers go a little too long, and they’re poor quality, but it’s still a fun watch. Overall, The Best of Sex and Violence is a treat for fans of obscure exploitation movies.

     

    Buy The Best of Sex and Violence from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3F5BXNG.

    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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  • Manborg (2011)

    Manborg (2011)

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    In my review of Father’s Day, I talked about the low-budget Canadian filmmaking group, Astron-6. The group included Adam Brooks, Jeremy Gillespie, Matt Kennedy, Conor Sweeney, and Steven Kostanski, all of whom had various skills. Steven Kostanski had loved movies since he was a kid, having seen Terminator 2: Judgement Day when he was six. After making a series of short films, the group decided to put together their first feature-length movie. Much of the filming took place on a shoestring budget in Kostanski’s parent’s garage, making costumes out of trash. Kostanski co-wrote the script with Jeremy Gillespie, while the other members acted, worked on visual effects, and choreographed fights. Production began in 2008, but due to extensive post-production work, the film’s release wasn’t until 2011. At Fantastic Fest that year in September, Manborg premiered to a ravenous audience.

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    Synopsis

    The forces of Hell, led by Count Draculon (Adam Brooks), are invading and laying waste on the Earth. During the invasion, a lone soldier (Matthew Kennedy) tries confronting Draculon but is killed by the firing squad. Draculon’s forces have conquered Earth years into the future, and the lone soldier has been brought back as Manborg. Part man and part machine, Manborg sets out on a revenge quest as he wanders the streets of Mega-Death City. Along the way, he meets resistance members Justice (Conor Sweeney), Mina (Meredith Sweeney), and #1 Man (Ludwig Lee). Unfortunately, they are captured and brought before The Baron (Jeremy Gillespie), who sentences them to death by combat. Thankfully, our heroes survive and join together to take on the forces of Hell and save Earth. Will Manborg get his revenge, or will Count Draculon stop him and his friends in their tracks?

     

    Review

    Considering the circumstances behind its making, it’s impressive that Manborg came together, especially on a minuscule budget. Say what you will about the movie, but you can’t deny that the Astron-6 team put in tons of creativity. Everything looks incredibly cheap, but it has a certain charm to it, like watching a movie made by friends. You can tell the filmmakers had a lot of fun making this, even if it was challenging to put together. The low-tech feel reminds me of how the effects artists for Star Wars cobbled together whatever random junk they found. There is some crude stop-motion animation, costumes made with wires and pieces of plastic, and copious amounts of fake blood. It shows how much imagination was put into this and how Astron-6 had great potential to do more. Despite everything else I will say in this review, I admire what the filmmakers tried.

    Unfortunately, despite the team’s creativity and passion put into this, the movie isn’t very good. Everyone in the cast plays their parts knowing that they’re in a cheesy movie, but not in an endearing way. It feels like a group of hipsters decided to make an intentionally bad movie that takes jabs at genre cinema. If they wanted to make a parody, that’s fine, but being self-aware doesn’t always work. For example, the cast of Blazing Saddles acted as if they were in an actual Western, making it funnier. Not only that, but even at 70 minutes in length, the film feels padded to reach feature length. A better showcase of what Astron-6 could do with a low budget was Father’s Day, which I highly recommend. Otherwise, Manborg has its moments, but it feels like one of several intentionally bad movies that end up being just bad.

     

    Buy Manborg from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y9AxLm.

    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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