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  • Avatar (2009)

    Avatar (2009)

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    In 1994, James Cameron wrote a treatment for a science-fiction film inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. Rider Haggard. Cameron initially announced filming would begin shortly after the massive blockbuster Titanic for a planned 1999 release. However, Cameron felt that the technology at the time couldn’t realize his vision, so he put the project on hold. He started preparing the project between 2005-2007, but Fox was weary due to Titanic going over budget and behind schedule. Fox told Cameron they were dropping the project in 2006, at which point Cameron took it to Disney. Not wanting Disney to take over, Fox agreed to take on the project with Ingenious Media providing funding. With a budget of $237 million, principal photography began in April 2007, followed by two years of post-production. After years of delays and development, James Cameron’s Avatar finally hit theaters in December 2009.

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    Synopsis

    In 2154, all of Earth’s natural resources have run dry, so the Resources Development Administration (RDA) turn elsewhere. They’ve set up operations on the planet Pandora, home of the Na’vi, to mine a valuable mineral called Unobtainium. To try and make peace with the Na’vi, Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) has developed the Avatar Project. Essentially, a person’s consciousness is placed in human/Na’vi hybrids, allowing them to explore Pandora without needing a breathing mask. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic marine, is assigned his deceased brother’s Avatar, much to Dr. Augustine’s chagrin. Jake manages to make peace with the Na’vi, which prompts Colonel Miles Quaritch (Steven Lang) to make a deal. The government will restore Jake’s legs in exchange for any information about the Na’vi and their home. After meeting and falling in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Jake questions his allegiance to the RDA.

     

    Review

    From a technical perspective, Avatar is groundbreaking, especially regarding motion capture technology and being able to create realistic textures. Probably the film’s most significant innovation was being able to capture facial expressions to bring characters to life. These new techniques help make these giant blue humanoid creatures seem real, like you could interact with them. Visually, the movie looks impressive, with the world of Pandora fully realized with its lush greenery and unique creature designs. James Cameron does a great job making the world feel alive, and his direction is on point. There’s also the fantastic score by the late James Horner, which helps add to the film’s massive scope. This kind of movie is best enjoyed on a giant screen with the best sound system available. Unfortunately, for all its innovations and technological enhancements, the film’s story and characters suffer the most.

    As many reviewers before me have mentioned, this story has been done in films like Dances With Wolves or Pocahontas. Granted, there’s nothing wrong with telling a similar story if you do something different with it, but this one doesn’t. It doesn’t help that the acting ranges from decent to flat, though there are some stand-outs. Stephen Lang steals the show as the hardened marine, and Sigourney Weaver has some fun moments as the cynical doctor. Zoe Saldana, CCH Pounder, and Wes Studi all do fantastic jobs utilizing motion capture technology to give great performances. Sadly, the significant outlier is Sam Worthington, who weirdly became a prominent name despite having little to no charisma. Thankfully, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, and Giovanni Ribisi provide enough charm to compensate. Overall, Avatar deserves credit for its advances in filmmaking technology, but it suffers from a derivative story and lackluster characters.

     

    Buy Avatar from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BAfAuV.

    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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  • Psychos in Love (1987)

    Psychos in Love (1987)

    [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=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Growing up in Waterbury, Connecticut, Gorman Bechard became interested in writing after reading Breakfast of Champions and In Watermelon Sugar. After attending a college class on Alfred Hitchcock, Bechard started learning how to shoot using 16mm film. In 1983, he made his first feature film, Disconnected, on a $40,000 budget, which received mixed reviews. He raised the money with fellow Waterbury resident Carmine Capobianco, who had a small part in the film. For their next film, Bechard and Capobianco decided to make a horror-comedy inspired by Woody Allen and The Marx Brothers. On a $75,000 budget, Capobianco co-wrote, starred, and made the music for the film, while Bechard co-wrote, produced, and directed. The film gained much attention when it was screened at the Bleecker Street Cinema, including Charles Band. After acquiring the rights, Band released Psychos in Love under his Wizard Video label in 1987.

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    Synopsis

    Joe (Carmine Capobianco) is a strip-club owner who happens to kill women in between serving drinks at the club. While working the bar, Joe meets Kate (Debi Thibeault), a manicurist who also kills men at random. The two fall madly in love as they each continue their murderous ways, though they’re usually separated when they’re killing. Joe tries bringing women back so he and Kate can kill them together, but it doesn’t quite work. After killing many people, the two start to wonder if they should continue being psycho-killers or retire. Realizing they enjoy each other more, Joe and Kate decide to end their murderous ways and be a happy couple. Unfortunately, a plumber named Herman (Frank Stewart), a killer who eats his victims, tries to blackmail the couple. Will they cave in and work with Herman, or will these psychos in love stand up to him?

     

    Review

    Even by Charles Band’s standards, Psychos in Love is one of the oddest movies from his library. It’s a gory, violent slasher film that’s also a screwball comedy with romantic elements similar to Annie Hall. As bizarre as the movie is, its weird nature almost makes it work despite how disjointed it is. You can tell this was made for very little money, from the reused locations to the cheap effects. Also, the acting isn’t the greatest, with many actors making stuff up on the fly with no rhyme or reason. Plus, the film has an odd Casio keyboard soundtrack that starts to grate on you after a while. Yet, these technical shortcomings give the film a charming, homebrew quality, like you’re watching something some friends made. There’s a lot of heart that was put into this movie, unlike most big-budget Hollywood pictures.

    While not the best actors, Carmine Capobianco and Debi Thibeault work well together and have great chemistry. They genuinely feel like they love each other, and you start rooting for them despite them being serial killers. Also, Frank Stewart is odd as the murderous plumber who randomly shows up only to become relevant near the end. Even with a low budget, the gore effects are decent, and Bechard manages to inject some style into the production. Admittedly, the film doesn’t have much plot and is more of a series of random events. The movie mainly relies on slapstick, but a few gags work, especially whenever grapes are mentioned. At 83 minutes, the film drags slightly, and the ending is somewhat anticlimactic, but it’s worth seeing at least once. Overall, Psychos in Love isn’t the most excellent horror comedy, but it’s one of the strangest.

     

    Buy Psychos in Love from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4khlIfA.

    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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  • Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

    Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

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    In 1974, Australian author Margaret Carnegie wrote Morgan: The Bold Bushranger about the life of notorious outlaw Daniel Morgan. Around this time, documentary filmmaker Phillipe Mora wanted to move into narrative filmmaking and chose to adapt Carnegie’s book. After writing the screenplay, Mora acquired a budget of $400,000 from the Australian Film Commission and some private investors. Mora and producer Jeremy Thomas wanted to hire Stacey Keach, but they ultimately went with Dennis Hopper. Hopper had been blacklisted from Hollywood due to his drug and alcohol abuse, so he took whatever jobs he could. Despite a rough shoot, the film was finished and released in Australia and the US in 1976. Due to copyright technicalities, various low-budget companies were able to license the film for home video, including Troma. After releasing heavily edited versions on VHS and DVD, Troma released Mad Dog Morgan uncut in 2009.

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    Synopsis

    In 1850s Australia, Irishman Daniel Morgan (Dennis Hopper) is looking to strike rich during a gold rush. Failing that, he turns to a life of crime, only to be arrested and sentenced to serve a six-year sentence. After being brutalized and raped in prison, Morgan emerges a broken man and becomes an outlaw looking to plunder. With his aboriginal accomplice Billy (David Gulpilil), Morgan tears through the Australian countryside and becomes a local legend. Meanwhile, Superintendent Cobham (Frank Thring) enlists Detective Manwaring (Jack Thompson) to track down Morgan and bring him to justice. As tensions mount, Morgan’s legendary status continues to grow as more and more people talk about his exploits. However, it’s only a matter of time before the long arm of the law catches up to him. While his grip on reality continues to slip, Daniel “Mad Dog” Morgan continues his rampage in pursuit of fortune.

     

    Review

    Mad Dog Morgan is one of the most beautiful, brutal, and mind-bending movies I’ve ever seen in quite some time. For such a small budget, what Phillipe Mora and his crew accomplished is spectacular, especially given the filming conditions. Much of the film was shot in the eastern Riverina and northeast Victoria to give it some authenticity. With cinematographer Mike Molloy, Mora takes full advantage of the locations and stages some beautiful landscape shots. Contrasting with these gorgeous long shots are scenes of brutal violence that, while not overly graphic, are disturbing. From the Chinese camp early on being burned to the final standoff with Morgan, there are some memorable set pieces. It reminds me of how Heaven’s Gate had gruesome violence set against beautiful landscapes on a fraction of the budget. Thankfully, the shoot of this film was nowhere near as problematic as Michael Cimino’s infamous flop.

    While the rest of the cast does a great job, Dennis Hopper is on a whole other level. Hopper gives one of his best performances as Daniel Morgan, who goes from innocent everyman to a crazed outlaw. Granted, it’s not the most historically accurate depiction of Morgan, but his performance is impressive. His right-hand man, David Gulpilil, has excellent chemistry with Hopper and helps balance out the insanity. Jack Thompson also delivers as the stern police detective hellbent on either capturing or killing Morgan. It’s worth noting that a pre-Mad Max Hugh Keays-Byrne and a pre-Road Warrior Bruce Spence have minor roles. My only main gripe is that, despite its hour and 42-minute runtime, it can sometimes feel slow and disjointed. Despite that, Mad Dog Morgan is an underrated Australian Western that will stick with you long after the movie ends.

     

    Buy Mad Dog Morgan from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3V3PMyk.

    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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  • Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 (2022)

    Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 (2022)

    [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=”{}”]Since its release in 1988, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama has become a huge cult favorite. Director David DeCoteau continued working with Charles Band into the Full Moon era, directing almost 30 movies for the studio. Some of the more notable films DeCoteau made included Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge, Beach Babes From Beyond, and Shrieker. After directing Puppet Master: Axis of Evil, Decoteau made the 1313 series and family films like A Talking Cat!?! In 2019, Charles Band announced The Deadly 10, a series of 10 movies linked to the studio’s past. Chief among them was a sequel to the 1988 cult classic with DeCoteau returning to the director’s chair. Unfortunately, plans were put on hold due to the pandemic, but the project resumed in 2022. With Brinke Stevens directing, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 premiered on Full Moon’s streaming service in December 2022.

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    Synopsis

    At the Pi-Epsilon sorority, sisters Sarah (Jessie Gill) and Tiffany (Katie O’Neill) are desperate to recruit new pledges. Luckily for them, Ginger (Audrey Neal) and Devon (Hannah Tullett) are looking to join alongside the rebellious Bitsy (Glory Rodriguez). Their housemother, Auntie Snake (Kelli Maroney), warns them about the initiation ritual, given what happened in 1988. However, Sarah wants to maintain tradition, so she sends Ginger, Devon, and Bitsy to the ill-fated bowling alley. Along with Bart (Luka Parente), Turkey (Nathan Blair), and Dinger (Justin Lupo), the girls have to steal a trophy. While throwing a little bowling party, Bitsy and Turkey stumble across the trophy, only for Turkey to accidentally break it. This brings out The Imp (Derek Jeremiah Reid), who grants their wishes but with disastrous consequences. It’s happening all over again as this new batch of would-be victims contends with the mischievous imp.

     

    Review

    The original Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama isn’t what I’d call a good movie, but it was enjoyably trashy. Sure, the story was nonsensical, the acting was mediocre, and the effects were shoddy, but it had charm. On the other hand, the sequel has none of the low-budget charms that made the original enjoyable to watch. Before going into my criticisms, there are some nice things I can say about this unfortunate sequel. For starters, Kelli Maroney is easily the movie’s high point, giving an entertainingly snarky and cynical performance. Also, while Michael Sonye is missed, Derek Jeremiah Reid does a decent job doing a similar voice as The Imp. He offers the same corny jokes and off-color remarks you’d expect from the character and does it reasonably well. Also, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer have fun cameos as ghosts watching the film play out.

    Unfortunately, that’s where any of the positives end because the movie, as a whole, really does not work. For one, it’s more or less a remake of the original, with almost nothing new added aside from different characters. Also, it says a lot when the puppet from the 1988 original looks better than the puppet here. With this, everything feels flat and generic, with no dynamic look, no interesting camerawork, and shoddy CGI. Say what you will about David DeCoteau’s directing, but he at least gave the first film some style. While the cast looks like they’re having fun, none of the characters are likable or stand out. Plus, the fact that this is barely over an hour while the original was 80 minutes exemplifies its disappointing nature. Despite its best intentions, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 is a huge letdown from the first film.

     

    Buy Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 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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  • Lust for Freedom (1987)

    Lust for Freedom (1987)

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    Following the closing of the Robinson Mine, the citizens of Ely, Nevada, formed The Bristlecone Film Committee in 1983. The committee advertised their town as an ideal filming location, which caught the attention of producer/director Eric Louzil. Louzil contacted the committee in 1984 to use Ely as the filming location for a women-in-prison movie, Georgia County Lock-up. Filming started in 1985 on a $1.5 million budget, with many locals serving as cast and crew. About 30% of the film was shot in Nevada, while the rest of the filming took place in California. In 1986, Louzil met with Lloyd Kaufman, who agreed to add $125,000 for sound, additional filming, and converting to 35mm. In exchange, Troma would get distribution rights to the film, which included theatrical and home video. After premiering at Cannes in 1987 as Lust For Freedom, the film hit theaters the following year.

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    Synopsis

    After an undercover drug bust went wrong, police detective Gillian Kaites (Melanie Coll) mourns the death of her partner/fiance. She goes on a road trip to try and forget what happened and is taken to the Georgia County police. Kaites meets with Sheriff Coale (William J. Kulzer), who spikes her drink and frames her for possessing illegal substances. She wakes up in prison with several other women who’ve been captured and thrown in jail for bogus reasons. Coale and his partner, Ms. Pusker (Judi Trevor), subject the prisoners to torture and abuse. In addition, Warden Maxwell (Howard Knight) sells the girls off to the highest bidder and makes snuff porn. Having witnessed all the abuse she and the other prisoners have suffered, Kaites decides to start a jailbreak. She’ll make sure her fellow prisoners have the same lust for freedom that she does.

     

    Review

    Lust For Freedom is as bare bones as you can get with a women-in-prison movie, and that’s not bad. This movie is exactly what you want if you’re looking for gratuitous nudity, massive explosions, and gun violence. Unfortunately, that’s about all this movie offers because the rest is pretty bland and not as bombastic as it promises. To his credit, it feels like Louzil wanted to make a legitimate exploitation film rather than an intentionally campy flick. Like Fortress of Amerikkka, which came out two years later, this movie plays it reasonably straight. All the actors play their parts like they’re in a legitimate drama, with no one going too over the top. This is Melanie Coll’s only acting credit to date, and it’s easy to see why since she’s not very memorable. It’s not that she’s terrible, but she doesn’t stand out from everyone else.

    William J. Kulzer, who gave a stand-out villainous performance in Louzil’s later film, is surprisingly subdued here. What’s more surprising is that he goes from being a bad guy to becoming one of the good guys later. Opposite Kulzer is Judi Trevor, who seems to be trying to stand apart from everyone else with her performance. She tries to be intimidating and over-the-top, but it doesn’t quite work when the rest of the movie is uninteresting. There’s plenty of T&A, but it feels less like a trashy exploitation flick and more like soft-core porn. The soundtrack keeps this movie mildly entertaining, especially the title track and “Rock You To Hell” by Grim Reaper. Combined with all the nudity and explosions, the music enhances this film’s cheesy B-movie quality. Overall, Lust For Freedom has some entertaining elements, but it’s mostly a forgettable watch.

     

    Buy Lust For Freedom from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jR7ink.

    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 Lust for Freedom (1987)

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  • Violent Night (2022)

    Violent Night (2022)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In 2020, Universal bought the rights to a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller of Sonic the Hedgehog fame. The genesis of this script came from a decades-long debate: is Die Hard a Christmas movie? With this in mind, they wrote an action movie like the Bruce Willis classic that was undeniably a Christmas movie. In the director’s chair was Tommy Wirkola, most famous for his Dead Snow movies and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. For the role of the violent Santa, David Harbour of Stranger Things fame was hired, though he was initially reluctant. What drew him to the script was that amidst the bloody violence was a message about the spirit of Christmas. With the rest of the cast in place, filming lasted from January to March 2022 in Winnipeg. After premiering at New York Comic Con in October, Violent Night hit theaters nationwide in December.

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    Synopsis

    Santa Claus (David Harbour) contemplates quitting at an Irish pub on Christmas Eve, given how rotten the kids have become. Elsewhere, Jason Lightstone (Alex Hassell), his estranged wife Linda (Alexis Louder), and their daughter Trudy (Leah Brady) visit his family. Gathered at the mansion of his foul-mouthed mother, Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), are Jason’s sister Alva (Edi Patterson), and her family. Santa eventually arrives at the mansion, only to see the staff executed by mercenaries led by “Mr. Scrooge” (John Leguizamo). Scrooge and his cohorts are there to steal the $300 million that Gertrude stole from her own company. Using a walkie-talkie, Trudy tells Santa what’s going on, so he reluctantly attacks the mercenaries, killing them off one-by-one. As Santa’s rampage continues, Scrooge wonders if he’s the real deal as he tries to eliminate the jolly would-be hero. These bad guys better watch out because Santa Claus is comin’ to town!

     

    Review

    Since the trailer was first dropped, Violent Night has gotten much attention based solely on the ridiculous premise. Well, I’m here to let you know that this movie is exactly what you think it is, and it’s fantastic. First, David Harbour gives one of his best performances as a disgruntled Santa, questioning whether or not he should continue. Not only does he deliver when it comes to the action, but he adds tons of humanity to the role. Also noteworthy is Leah Brady as Trudy, the young girl who still believes in Santa even when things are bad. The relationship she and Harbour build gives the film much more heart than expected from such a bloody movie. As the villain Scrooge, John Leguizamo chews through the scenery and has a blast playing this larger-than-life character. The scenes between him and Harbour are easily the film’s best parts.

    As the marketing would lead you to believe, this is one violent and bloody Christmas film. This isn’t surprising, considering that David Leitch, who directed Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train, produced the movie. Like those movies, the action is very fluid, well-shot, and well-choreographed, making them a spectacle to behold. The action sequences complement the story, especially when we learn little tidbits about Santa’s history as a Viking warrior. If I had any complaints, I’d say that most other characters feel more like caricatures than actual people. Aside from Trudy’s parents, none of the other characters are likable, though that may have been the intent. Also, despite the film clocking in at under two hours, a good 5-10 minutes could’ve been trimmed without ruining anything. Overall, Violent Night is a bloody, violent, and surprisingly heartfelt Christmas movie that will get you in the holiday spirit.

     

    Buy Violent Night from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AlPDBZ.

    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 Violent Night (2022)

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  • 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.

    [/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=”40″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _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” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    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.

    [/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=”50″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _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” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    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.

    [/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=”80″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _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=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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