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Category: Troma Tuesdays

  • Curse of the Cannibal Confederates (1982)

    Curse of the Cannibal Confederates (1982)

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    After dropping out of the University of Maryland in 1975, Tony Malanowski pursued a career in independent filmmaking. He started Little Warsaw Productions and made his first feature film, Night of Horror, in 1981. Before directing, Malanowski had a small part in Don Dohler’s 1978 sci-fi horror film The Alien Factor. He later was an associate producer and a second unit director on Dohler’s 1982 follow-up Nightbeast. Malanowski decided to remake his 1981 film that same year but with some extra gore, much like Dohler’s follow-up. Most of the cast and crew from Night of Horror returned for this pseudo-remake, including Steve Sandkuhler and Rebecca Bach. Malanowski’s film was released in 1982 as The Curse of the Screaming Dead before Troma acquired the rights decades later. They retitled the movie Curse of the Cannibal Confederates for their 2004 Toxie’s Triple Terror DVD.

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    Synopsis

    Mel (Christopher Gummer), Wyatt (Steve Sandkuhler), and Bill (Jim Ball) are driving on a hunting trip in the southern US. They’re accompanied by their girlfriends Sarah (Rebecca Bach), Lin (Judy Dixon), and Blind Kiyomi (Mimi Ishikawa). While making a stop, Blind Kiyomi hears some strange noises and wants Mel to investigate, leading him toward a graveyard. He finds several items left behind by former Confederate soldiers and takes a diary from one of them. The group sets up camp at night when suddenly several Confederate soldiers rise from the grave as zombies. As the group fights off the Confederate zombies, they run into Deputy Franklin (Bumb Roberts) and Captain Fritz (Richard Ruxton). Neither of the police officers believes their story, but soon the Confederates catch up to them and eat them. Why are these Confederate zombies attacking, and who will survive the Curse of the Cannibal Confederates?

     

    Review

    Curse of the Cannibal Confederates is a brutal movie for me to review because there isn’t much to discuss. I make no exaggerations when I say that this is one of the most boring movies I’ve ever seen. Even Lloyd Kaufman has called this one of the five worst films in the Troma library, which is saying something. I’m not sure what the other four are, though I bet Igor and The Lunatics is one of them. Part of what makes this film so dull is that many shots last longer than they should. Moments like these show how the filmmakers are trying to reach the 90-minute mark. It doesn’t help that there’s no backing music or what sounds like a broken Casio keyboard droning endlessly. The acting is what you’d expect from this kind of movie: either flat or trying too hard to emote.

    This is also a hard movie to watch, either due to the film being overexposed or needing more light. Plus, the audio mixing is so bad that it’s often hard to understand what certain characters are saying. The zombies are pretty laughable; most have tons of white face paint plastered on and wear contemporary clothes. The gore effects aren’t the best, but they’re about on par with a low-budget horror film. Honestly, you could only get some enjoyment from this movie if you had some friends to suffer with. I understand that Night of Horror is even worse, but I don’t want to find out for myself. I agree with Lloyd that this is one of Troma’s worst movies, though I’m not sure why he’d release it. Overall, Curse of the Cannibal Confederates makes Redneck Zombies look like Night of the Living Dead by comparison.

     

    Buy Curse of the Cannibal Confederates from Amazon: https://amzn.to/42HeAjD.

    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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  • Rose and Viktor: No Mercy (2017)

    Rose and Viktor: No Mercy (2017)

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    Originally from the California Salinas Valley, a filmmaker known only as “Moses” started a small studio called The Underground Front. With a strong sense of anti-establishment and a lack of good taste, the studio produces shorts, feature films, and comics. In 2008, Moses directed his first film, a documentary called Transcend, about a struggling filmmaker named Armando Gonzales. He followed this up with 2010’s Exploited, which starred fetish model Mercedes the Muse, who helped found The Underground Front. At some point, Moses and Mercedes’ work caught the attention of Troma Entertainment and Lloyd Kaufman. Troma agreed to distribute their next film, a grindhouse-style anthology with some influence from Bonnie & Clyde. Mercedes would star alongside Jim Schumacher, the bass player for the heavy metal band Brocas Helm since 1982. In 2017, Moses’ Rose and Viktor: No Mercy was released by Troma in June 2017.

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    Synopsis

    After his band breaks up, bass player Viktor (Jim Schumacher) decides to be a gun-for-hire that kills people for money. Along his travels, he runs into a young runaway named Rose (Mercedes), who her father sexually abused. After castrating her father (Samuel Lopez), Rose joins Viktor as they go around dispensing bloody justice for the right price. They take on a sleazy strip club owner (Michael Sundin), who’s been skimping on the money he owes his girls. An old lover of Viktor’s wants him to kill her husband, a war veteran who sees everyone as a terrorist. As they slaughter their targets, Viktor and Rose hook up with various groupies, get high, and reunite with old friends. At one point, a kid hires Viktor and Rose to eliminate The Pope (Charles Darwin Hepburn). The two set out for The Vatican on what might be their most dangerous job yet.

     

    Review

    Going into Rose and Viktor: No Mercy, I had no idea what to expect other than pure cinematic trash. It seems like Moses and crew wanted to make the most trashy exploitation film possible, and they mostly succeeded. Imagine putting Pink Flamingos and Natural Born Killers in a blender, mixing in acid, and that barely sums this up. This film isn’t concerned with having a compelling story, award-winning acting, decent cinematography, or any good taste. If there’s a taboo, it’s put on full display, whether it’s golden showers, violent sodomy, or sexualized fascism. To their credit, the effects are decent despite the low budget, and there are plenty of wince-inducing sequences. If the gross, taboo-shattering imagery doesn’t put you off, the technical shortcomings will make this unwatchable. Granted, it’s hard to judge the film’s technical qualities considering there’s a chance the filmmakers didn’t care.

    The camera shakes constantly, and tons of zoom-ins and outs make it hard to see what’s happening. Also, the filmmakers added a digital film scratch to emulate an old grindhouse film, but it feels distracting. The acting isn’t great, but I suspect most of the dialogue was dubbed in post, considering the audio quality. In their defense, Jim Schumacher and Mercedes are having an excellent time and make a great duo. Plus, several segments have a unique look to emulate different film styles, like 30’s noir and 60’s drug movies. You can tell there is artistic merit underneath all the grime and grit; even trashiness is an art. While this film is not for everyone, it’s so bizarre and unlike anything else that it’s oddly compelling. Overall, Rose and Viktor: No Mercy is rough around the edges, but its imperfections make it stand out boldly.

     

    Buy Rose and Viktor: No Mercy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VtC2Pe.

    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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  • Klown Kamp Massacre (2010)

    Klown Kamp Massacre (2010)

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    Growing up in the suburbs of Albuquerque, friends Philip H.R. Gunn and David Carlos Valdez found ways to avoid boredom. At some point, Valdez’s mother gave him a camcorder which he and Gunn used to shoot various short films. Their first homemade feature was 1994’s Edwin: The Tragic Story of the Clown Who Couldn’t Make Anybody Laugh. Over the years, the two worked together on numerous short projects before they decided to try making a feature film. Being huge fans of horror films like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, they decided on that. They took the character Edwin and put him in a slasher film where he goes around killing other clowns. On a shoestring budget, filming lasted 15 days on a cattle ranch outside Cuba, NM, in 2009. Troma acquired the rights the following year and released Klown Kamp Massacre on DVD.

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    Synopsis

    In 1991, Edwin the Clown (Jared Herholtz) went on a murder spree at Clown Camp and was never found. It’s now 15 years later, and the camp’s owner, Bonzo (Mike Miller), has decided to reopen despite the horrible tragedy. Brothers Vinnie (Nick Lopez) and Lenny (Reuben Finkelstein) decide to attend along with Tipsy (Matt Sanford) and Brandi (Tara Hahn). Also arriving are Philbert (Ross Kelly), Puff (Chris Payne), Squirts (Sandor Gattyan), Buzter Pie (Isaac Kappy), and Gerald (Daniel Gutierrez). These clowns are put through the wringer in learning to be funny, unaware that Edwin has returned to kill. While all this is happening, a romance between Philbert and Bonzo’s granddaughter Valerie (Kerri Duabe) starts blossoming. Unfortunately for our lovebirds, their fellow clowns are stabbed, shredded, beaten, melted, and even blown up increasingly gruesomely. Who will be the next victim and survive this Klown Kamp Massacre?

     

    Review

    If you go into a movie called Klown Kamp Massacre expecting an intelligent, thought-provoking experience, look elsewhere. Gunn and Valdez wanted to make a goofy film about a clown killing other clowns, and that’s what we get. This movie isn’t trying to be the next great horror movie; there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, an 84-minute slasher about clowns getting killed in absurdly gruesome ways is all you need. To the filmmakers’ credit, they accomplished quite a lot with a minimal budget, like impressive practical effects and decent camerawork. Two kills in particular that stand out involve a seltzer bottle filled with acid and an exploding pie. Also, the night scenes are filled with fog and colored lighting, giving them a spooky feeling. Plus, a few dynamic camera angles help keep the action moving without getting too overwhelming. Gunn and Valdez show a lot of potential here.

    Given the subject matter, the acting is intentionally goofy, and while it isn’t great, there are a few standouts. Jared Herholtz sells the part of a struggling clown who ended up snapping because he couldn’t be funny. Kerri Duabe is likable as Valerie, who gets a whole backstory about childhood abuse, which adds some depth. Granted, this kind of film trying to handle such a sensitive subject might seem distasteful, so proceed with caution. Admittedly, most of the humor is pretty juvenile, relying on gross-out gags and sex jokes, but that’s Troma for you. The ending threw me for a loop without going into spoilers, so I must give them credit. As I alluded to early on, this isn’t the next great horror film, but it’s not trying to be. Overall, Klown Kamp Massacre is one of those movies best enjoyed with friends and your ideal substances.

     

    Buy Klown Kamp Massacre from Amazon: https://amzn.to/40BxdUL.

    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 Klown Kamp Massacre (2010)

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  • VHS Massacre Too (2020)

    VHS Massacre Too (2020)

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    Upon its 2016 release, VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media was very well received. The film won several accolades at the Telly Awards, WorldFest Houston, and the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival. Since then, Tom Seymour and crew have noticed how history is being repeated in the streaming era. Much like movies were subject to censorship in the VHS era, independent filmmakers faced obstacles from large conglomerates today. Years after the original, Seymour decided to make a follow-up documentary showcasing the struggles of independent cinema. They got several interviewees from the first documentary and YouTube creators James Rolfe and Shawn C. Phillips. Once again, Troma picked up the distribution rights to the documentary and had its premiere in early 2020. In 2022, VHS Massacre Too made it to Blu-ray before premiering on Troma Now in 2023.

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    Synopsis

    The documentary starts with film critic/horror host John Bloom, aka Joe Bob Briggs, giving a history of film censorship. He goes over the Hays Code, first introduced in 1934, then the formation of the MPAA in 1968. Interestingly, he mentions how films like The Texas Chain-Saw Massacre are regarded as classics today but were trashed upon release. From there, we see how physical media has declined, thanks partly to Blockbuster excluding exploitation/independent films. Filmmakers Debbie Rochon, J.R. Bookwalter, and Lloyd Kaufman discuss how streaming has financially hurt them and other independents. Rochon and James Rolfe also share stories about the difficulty of supporting themselves while making a movie for no money. Lloyd Kaufman also talks about how even the term “independent cinema” has been co-opted by the major studios. To top it off, the filmmakers even visit the last Blockbuster in the country, located in Bend, Oregon.

     

    Review

    VHS Massacre Too significantly improved over its predecessor, even if the title is a bit of a misnomer. This documentary is about censorship and how changing times affect independent filmmakers, which was the first film briefly touched on. While the decline of physical media is covered, it’s not given as much attention as the original. The best parts of the documentary are hearing the stories of independent filmmakers dealing with bad distribution deals. Hearing Debbie Rochon’s story about trying to get her film Model Hunger released made me want to watch it. Another highlight is Joe Bob Briggs pointing out the news publications’ hypocrisy in giving exploitation filmmakers attention when they die. The New York Times won’t review Larry Cohen’s The Stuff, but they’ll write a loving obituary for him. It shows how people who willingly talk about exploitation movies today were ashamed of it before.

    Including James Rolfe and Shawn C. Phillips is an interesting choice, but it also seems out of place. Nothing against Phillips, but Rolfe has much more experience behind the camera and understands the struggles more. The feel of the documentary is generally negative, but it offers suggestions for improving the state of independent cinema. It presents the idea that while independent cinema is dying, there are ways to take power away from the conglomerates. This documentary is also excellent for fans of exploitation cinema as it talks about how important these films are. Many classic exploitation movies shattered taboos and challenged how people think, which many of today’s mainstream movies fail to do. At 77 minutes, the documentary goes by quickly and doesn’t overstay its welcome, providing enough entertainment without dragging things out. Overall, VHS Massacre Too is an excellent documentary about censorship and truly independent cinema.

     

    Buy VHS Massacre Too from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MOM37c.

    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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  • Slashening: The Final Beginning (2021)

    Slashening: The Final Beginning (2021)

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    Upon its release in 2015, The Slashening was well-received among critics and horror fans for its satirical wit. At the 2018 Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Festival, the film won the Best Supporting Actor and Best Makeup awards. Given its success, Brandon Bassham decided to crowdfund a sequel on IndieGoGo, much like he did on his other films. While most of the cast was new, Billy Bob Thompson and Patrick Foy returned for the sequel. Of the $10,000 flexible goal, the film raised over $8,000 for production, which added to the total $15,000 budget. Regarding the sequel, Bassham promised that it would be “the bloodiest, dirtiest horror/comedy ever made.” Like Bassham’s last two movies, Troma picked up this one for distribution and was released in 2021. In April 2021, Slashening: The Final Beginning had its LA premiere, followed by a release on Troma Now.

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    Synopsis

    Five years after the last film, Madison Santangeli (Addie Weyrich) moves to Brooklyn and joins a support group. Her father owned the pizza parlor where the murdered delivery drivers worked, killing his business and leading to suicide. The support group is led by Pat (Patrick Foy), who survived his mutilations, with his girlfriend Cher (Madonna Refugia). There’s also Viv (Jean Louise O’Sullivan), Bex (Jaime Lutz), Greg (Carl Foreman Jr.), Dylan (McManus Woodend), and Kyle (Jon Bershad). Maddie seeks solace in her friend Kim (Rasheda Crockett), who helps her cope with talks in the bathtub. Unfortunately, a copycat killer is picking off the support group members one by one in increasingly gruesome ways. As the body count rises, Maddie learns more about the killer than expected, including the number of killers. Will she survive her attackers or be another victim of the new slashening?

     

    Review

    If you enjoyed The Slashening, you’d most likely enjoy Slashening: The Final Beginning since it’s more or less the same. Like that film, this one has plenty of gags and gore to keep you entertained, though your mileage may vary. Admittedly, some of the jokes don’t land, but there are plenty that hit, and no group is spared from ridicule. These include guys pretending to be feminists to get laid and white women threatening black business owners with negative reviews. Unfortunately, there are times when the gags are stretched out too long, but luckily, they’re few and far between. It’s a horror-comedy that leans a bit more into comedy, but plenty of horrors can be had. The gore effects are minimal, but there are plenty of bloody moments and inventive kills involving ukuleles and corkscrews. There’s even some nudity added in, which came as a shock.

    Everyone in the cast does a commendable job taking the material seriously while being in on the joke. Addie Weyrich makes for a likable lead, acting as the straight man to all the insanity around her. Jean Louise O’Sullivan and Jaime Lutz are having fun playing two stereotypical stuck-up, entitled white women you love to hate. Patrick Foy is funny as the lone survivor from the original, and Madonna Refugia is excellent as the insane girlfriend. Speaking of hateable characters, McManus Woodend plays into the incel trope well, and hearing people insult him is hilarious. Some might find the humor too political, but it works because both sides are made fun of. Some parts of the movie drag at an hour and twenty minutes, but watching with friends is still fun. Overall, Slashening: The Final Beginning is a hilariously bloody slasher spoof that builds on what made the original enjoyable.

     

    Watch Slashening: The Final Beginning on Troma Now: https://bit.ly/3MAlkew.

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  • Story of a Junkie (1985)

    Story of a Junkie (1985)

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    Originally from London, Lech Kowalski moved to the U.S. with his Polish parents, where he spent much of his upbringing. In 1969, Kowalski began experimenting with Super 8 filmmaking and made his first film, The Danger Halls. After surviving a car accident, he moved to New York and studied filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts. In 1976, Kowalski made his first documentary, Sex Stars, about adult film actors he met during this time. Entering the late 1970s, Kowalski became entrenched in the punk scene and attended various clubs, eventually meeting Tom Forcade. In exchange for an editing job, Forcade financed Kowalski’s 1981 documentary D.O.A., about The Sex Pistols’ only U.S. tour. During this time, Kowalski became fascinated by the drug scene in New York’s lower east side. He made the pseudo-documentary Gringo, released by Troma as Story of a Junkie in 1985.

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    Synopsis

    The film mainly follows Gringo (John Spacely), a heroin junkie living in New York’s East Village, going about his day. He talks about what it’s like living on the streets and how the drug dealing business works. As he tells his life story, we see Gringo buying cigarettes, picking up women, and trying to find his fortune. Sprinkled throughout are scenes featuring drug busts, confrontations with dealers, and various drug houses getting raided by the police. These moments are reenactments of stories as told by Gringo taken from his day-to-day life on the New York streets. We also learn about Gringo’s history: how an ordinary family raised him and what led to his downward spiral. He tells us tall tales about losing an eye in a fight and confronting doctors about a botched surgery. Learn more about the life of a drug addict in Story of a Junkie!

     

    Review

    Admittedly, Story of a Junkie is hard to review, not necessarily for its content but for its lack of story. It’s not that nothing happens, but the issue is that there isn’t much in the way of a narrative. The film is more like a series of events than a connected story from point A to point B. While it’s hard to follow, that almost feels intentional, which adds to the sense of realism. Life isn’t like a movie, where there’s a story going from one point to the next in a concise way. You feel like you’re there with Gringo as he goes about his day walking through the lower east side. If nothing else, this film is a great time capsule of New York’s East Village in the 1980s. It’s a unique period we’ll likely never see again, so it’s great to see it preserved.

    The acting isn’t great, but in this film’s defense, none of the people featured were actors but real-life junkies. John Spacely, who plays Gringo, was a heroin addict who tried cleaning himself and pursuing an acting career. Sadly, years of drug abuse and exchanging needles led to his dying of AIDS in 1992. It’s unfortunate because you can see that John had a lot of potential to be a solid actor. Kowalski’s decision to mix documentary footage with reenactments was an interesting choice, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Also, it’s important to note that the filmmakers don’t try to glamorize or demonize drug abuse but instead be neutral. While this movie won’t be for everyone, it’s still worth a watch for being a look at a bygone age. Overall, Story of a Junkie is sometimes uneven, but it’s a fascinating look worth at least one viewing.

     

    Buy Story of a Junkie from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZBiAjO.

    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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  • Decampitated (1998)

    Decampitated (1998)

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    After getting a book about legendary special effects artist Dick Smith, budding filmmaker Matt Cunningham’s path was set. In his own words, the book “set his hair on fire” as he started working on creating homemade make-up. By this time, it was the early 90s, and horror was expanding a mini-boom as self-aware slashers became popular. In 1995, Cunningham and his friends Ryan Lowery, Carolyn C. Miller, and Brian Walters started working on their slasher parody. Filming occurred in Colorado Springs on a minimal budget with a cast primarily of no-name actors. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough money to market the film, and that’s when Troma stepped in. Lloyd Kaufman helped get the movie in front of audiences by taking it to the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. A few months later, Matt Cunningham’s Decampitated hit video store shelves in November 1998.

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    Synopsis

    Garret (Mike Hart) and April (Christine Patterson) are organizing a camping trip with their friends to DeCamp Acres. There’s Candace (Amy Gordon), Toby (Steve Ladden), Paige (Bethany La Voo), Roger (Thomas Martwick), and Vince (Deus Xavier Scott). Unfortunately, they get into a car accident on their way there and have to hike the rest of the way. Once they get to the campsite, things don’t get much better as there’s a killer on the loose. Throats are sliced, arms are hacked off, ears get cut off, and people get stabbed with tree taps. Also, the group runs into an old friend of Garrret’s, Jake (Ryan Lowery), who’s become a transvestite. As the group scatters across the woods, the mysterious backwoods killer stalks them, waiting for his moment to strike. Who is this mysterious slasher, and who will survive this camping trip from hell?

     

    Review

    Decampitated is one of those movies you’ll love or hate depending on your sense of humor. There’s no hope if a camper trying to escape a killer by hacking her limbs off doesn’t make you giggle. The film is littered with these gags, like a woman beating up the killer with her severed arm. Almost every scene of this movie has some joke or funny moment that comes one after the other. Admittedly, plenty of them miss their mark and often get repeated too much, but there are some real hitters. With a few exceptions, almost everyone plays their parts as silly as possible without mugging for the camera. One of the few exceptions is Amy Gordon, who acts annoyed around these people and always makes passive-aggressive comments. That said, she does have some of the film’s best lines, especially when dealing with Garrett.

    It doesn’t look half bad for a film that most likely only had a few thousand dollars in the budget. There are some decent gore effects, and Cunningham keeps the action moving with some fluid camera movements. Unfortunately, this movie is a product of its time, so get used to tight zooms and choppy editing. The soundtrack has a few nu-metal bands, including H2O, Strife, Coalesce, and Hatebreed, as well as some kitschy 40’s music. The vintage music is mainly used when the killer’s about to strike, which adds to the cartoony vibe. That’s probably the best way to describe this film: a live-action cartoon with gore and some poorly aged stereotypes. At slightly over 90 minutes, this movie is a good time waster you and your friends can enjoy laughing at. Overall, Decampitated is rough around the edges, but it makes for a decent bad movie night.

     

    Buy Decampitated from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iPOG6Q.

    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 Decampitated (1998)

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  • Hectic Knife (2016)

    Hectic Knife (2016)

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    Born in 1986 in Detroit, Greg DeLiso moved to New York to attend the NYFA’s one-year directing program in 2004. After graduation, DeLiso got his first job shooting a music video for PBK’s song “Tout Va Bien.” Around 2010, he and his high school friend Peter Litvin worked on a series called Short Films for Nobody. In 2011, DeLiso directed his first feature-length film, the documentary Canada’s Best Kept Secret, which Litvin did the score for. Around this time, the two started brainstorming ideas for a parody of the recent dark, brooding superhero movie trend. Filming began in 2010 and took roughly four to five years to complete as they had a minimal budget. Once filming finished, they called Troma to make a deal for distribution, and a contract was drafted in a week. Greg DeLiso’s Hectic Knife was released to the world in July 2016.

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    Synopsis

    The city streets are riddled with crime, and the only one standing up is the vigilante Hectic Knife (Peter Litvin). Armed with knives, Hectic kills drug dealers and thieves while practicing his knife-wielding skills in his shabby apartment. He gets a roommate, Link (John Munnelly), and a girlfriend, Frannie Glooper (Georgia Kate Haege), who constantly annoys him. Meanwhile, the evil villain, Piggly Doctor (J.J. Brine), plans to rule the world with his sidekick Porch (Traci Ann Wolfe). Piggly’s ultimate plan is to make the heads of children spontaneously explode, and only Hectic Knife can stop him. Along the way, he’ll contend with bagel-obsessed thugs, reunite with his estranged father (Randy Hutch), and find his true self. Unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend has been stealing his money, and Link gets kidnapped by Piggly. It’s up to Hectic Knife to defeat Piggly Doctor and save children from having their heads explode.

     

    Review

    If how I described Hectic Knife makes it sound like one of the dumbest movies ever, that’s because it is. The movie is intentionally bad, but not in a way that feels like they didn’t try, like with Llamageddon. It feels like Greg DeLiso and Peter Litvin set out to make the stupidest film they could come up with. Hectic Knife is constantly brooding and insults everyone he encounters, even his girlfriend, to the point that it becomes funny. Much of the humor is predictable, and some of the jokes drag in a way similar to Adult Swim. As a parody, it does an excellent job satirizing the tropes of many superhero movies around the mid-2000s to 2010s. While a product of its low budget, the black-and-white look could be a parody of Sin City and The Spirit. That said, the cheap aesthetic adds to the film’s campy charm.

    The acting is all over the place, with almost everyone overacting for the camera, showing that this is a comedy. I wouldn’t call the acting bad, as everyone intentionally acts terribly, but your enjoyment will vary depending on your tolerance. While lacking in nudity, there’s plenty of blood and gore to satiate exploitation fans as everyone spews blood all over. The effects aren’t the greatest, but there’s the ambition behind them, especially when they add stop-motion and computer effects. Like the acting, the action sequences are intentionally bad, but it adds to the film’s humor. At slightly under 90 minutes, the film drags considerably at points, and plenty of scenes could’ve been cut. Still, this is a fairly impressive, occasionally funny parody of overly broody and self-serious superhero movies. Overall, Hectic Knife isn’t for anyone, but if thugs arguing over bagels for near eternity sounds funny, check it out.

     

    Buy Hectic Knife from Amazon: https://amzn.to/42y2UAs.

    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 Hectic Knife (2016)

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  • VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media (2016)

    VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media (2016)

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    People have wanted to watch their favorite movies at home and share them with others for generations. In the late 1970s, the VHS (Video Home System) tape was introduced as a new way to watch content. In the 80s and 90s, VHS became the dominant video format, and numerous video stores popped up worldwide. Unfortunately, as time progressed and technology advanced, the need for physical media diminished in favor of digital content. While DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD are still around, most consumers are happy using their favorite streaming service. However, in the early 2010s, there was a sudden resurgence in the popularity of the VHS format. In 2012, Tom Seymour and Ken Powell began working on a documentary detailing the rise and fall of home video. After years of work, VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media was released by Troma in 2016.

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    Synopsis

    New York City film fans Tom Seymour and Ken Powell started a podcast about cult cinema and B-movies. During their show, they decided to create a series called VHS Massacre, where they find random tapes and riff them. Along the way, they conducted a series of interviews with cult film figures about home video’s impact and its decline. Subjects include genre journalist John Bloom, aka Joe Bob Briggs, Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman, and cult actress Debbie Rochon. They also chat with B-movie figures like Troll 2‘s Deborah Reed, Samurai Cop‘s Mark Frazer, and The Room‘s Greg Sestero. Sadly, almost every video store the documentarians visit closes shortly after, showing the decline in physical media. They discuss how streaming and the internet killed home media in some ways and the benefits of streaming. But the question remains: is there still life in VHS, or will physical media be phased out entirely?

     

    Review

    VHS Massacre has a lot going for it, first and foremost being the genuine passion and love for the subject. These guys have a love not just of movies but of VHS that shines throughout the documentary. You feel their excitement when they find an obscure tape in a small New York East Village store. Also, the interviews they get are highly entertaining and informative, detailing how the VHS boom helped independent filmmakers. We hear Lloyd Kaufman talk about how the conglomerates and media corporations ruined it for the independents. We also hear from fans of VHS, who show off their collections and talk about their appeal amongst collectors. A brief history of home video formats is discussed, from the VHS and Betamax rivalry to the rise of DVD. Interestingly, the documentary isn’t entirely one-sided since people like Joe Bob Briggs talk about the benefits of streaming.

    As well-intentioned as the documentary is, parts of it come off as somewhat scatterbrained, namely some of the subjects. One minute, they’re talking about VHS tapes they found, followed by an interview with Deborah Reed from Troll 2. As entertaining as the discussion is, it has nothing to do with the subject, which happens quite a bit. Someone will talk about physical media, then another random interview with cult film figures will be interjected. If they discussed the VHS release of Troll 2 or Samurai Cop, that would’ve been relevant, but it’s not mentioned. At 72 minutes, it’s quick, but you’ll wish they had discussed the rise and fall of physical media more. Still, this documentary does an excellent job of highlighting how physical media should be preserved and remembered. Overall, VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media is a solid, if unfocused, documentary perfect for cinephiles.

     

    Buy VHS Massacre from Amazon: https://amzn.to/401TyuO.

    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 VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media (2016)

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  • Blood Junkie (2010)

    Blood Junkie (2010)

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    In 1899, the U.S. Glue Company factory in Carrollville was founded to make glue from animal hide remnants. The factory was sold to the Peter Cooper Corporation in the 1930s before being sold in 1976 to Rousselot. During all this time, the factory continued to produce glue until it was ultimately shut down in 1985. Fast forward to 2004, when aspiring filmmaker Drew Rosas stumbled across the glue factory with his friends. Rosas always wanted to make a horror film similar to 1980s slashers, so he picked the factory as his setting. After putting together a 50-page script and an additional month of preproduction, the three months of shooting commenced. On a $7,000 budget, the movie titled initially Rocky Trails was shot mainly around Wisconsin with some LA pick-up shots. Now retitled Blood Junkie, the film premiered in Milwaukee in 2010 before Troma released it on DVD in 2011.

    [/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=”4.20.1″ _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=”4.20.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    It’s Summer 1989, and friends Craig Wilson (Nick Sommer) and Teddy Bender (Mike Johnson) are looking to score. Meanwhile, Laura (Sarah Luther) has to babysit her little brother Andy (Brady Cohen) while their parents are away. She uses her mom’s emergency money to buy booze with her friend Rachel (Emily Treolo) to party all weekend. Laura and Rachel run into Craig and Teddy at the liquor store, who invites them on a camping trip. The girls agree, but Laura has to bring Andy along since she still has to look after him. After a night of booze, drugs, and sex, Laura and Rachel check out the old chemical factory nearby. Little do they know that a mysterious figure in a jumpsuit and gas mask lurks throughout the factory. But this isn’t just your average junkie, as this maniac is a Blood Junkie!

     

    Review

    Given how low of a budget they had to work with, it’s impressive that Blood Junkie was even finished. Drew Rosas’ love of 80s horror is on display, from the fashions to the music and even the killer’s look. Admittedly, the killer is a knock-off of the one from My Blood Valentine, but it’s nonetheless creepy. Sadly, the kills are few and far between, and they don’t happen until the movie’s last third. What helps make up for it are the inventive camera angles and the fitting synth wave music. Not only is the score catchy, but the use of synthesizers helps this feel like something out of the 1980s. Not all of the jokes land as a comedy, but a few gags get a hearty chuckle. The movie is a bit of a mess, but you can tell there’s an effort put into this.

    Unfortunately, what ultimately hurts this film are the characters, who are unlikable and annoying to the point of frustration. Everyone plays their parts with a very hipstery self-aware attitude, making them less quirky and more obnoxious. Sure, these characters will die, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want to see at least one of them survive. Granted, that could’ve been the filmmakers’ intent to make the characters obnoxious 80s stereotypes, similar to those in TerrorVision. The only difference is that Nicolaou made them endearing, whereas no one in this movie has that quality. Supposedly, this was originally a 30-40 minute short film, and I think it would’ve worked better that way. At 72 minutes, the movie goes by fast, giving off a vibe of trying to rush to the end. Overall, Blood Junkie has some glaring flaws, but the effort put into it almost makes the experience worth it.

     

    Buy Blood Junkie from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SYOuox.

    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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