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  • Creed III (2023)

    Creed III (2023)

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    On a $50 million budget, Creed II was a commercial success, grossing $214 million worldwide, even outperforming its predecessor. Critically, while not as well-regarded as its predecessor, the sequel still saw favorable reviews, which naturally meant another sequel. In 2018, people suggested professional boxer Deontay Wilder could play the son of Clubber Lang, Rocky’s opponent from Rocky III. Michael B. Jordan announced a third entry in development in 2019, and in 2020, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Zach Baylin was hired. Later that year, it was announced that, in addition to starring, Jordan would also be making this his directorial debut. While Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, and Wood Harris returned, Sylvester Stallone announced in 2021 he wouldn’t return as Rocky. The movie was shot primarily in Atlanta between January and April 2022 on a budget of $75 million. After premiering in Mexico City, Creed III hit theaters in March 2023.

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    Synopsis

    Three years after retiring from boxing, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) runs the Delphi Boxing Academy to train future champions. When not running the gym, he’s spending time with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent). One day, Creed gets a surprise from his old friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors), who recently exited jail. Damian wants Creed to give him a chance at boxing, so Creed reluctantly has him spar at the gym. However, Damian gets aggressive while sparring and is thrown out, but Damian makes it clear he wants a title shot. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Damian gets a shot at fighting the world champion Felix Chavez (José Benavidez Jr.). He wins by fighting dirty, and Adonis learns of Damian’s true intentions and agrees to end his retirement to fight. Will Adonis put Damian in his place, or will Damian retain his world championship status?

     

    Review

    While it’s not as great as the original, Creed III easily surpasses the second installment in this spin-off series. First, Jonathan Majors continues to show he’s a force to be reckoned with by giving another fantastic performance. Thankfully, it’s an excellent performance in a good movie instead of a mediocre film like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The rest of the performances are equally outstanding, with Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson doing their best work. Wood Harris also does an excellent job as Adonis’ coach Tony Evers, and Phylicia Rashad shines as Adonis’ adoptive mother. Admittedly, Sylvester Stallone is missed, but his exclusion helps make this series stand apart from the Rocky franchise. This installment firmly establishes that, while part of the Rocky series, this spin-off franchise can work on its own. Thankfully, there are enough references to past movies, so this feels like part of the same series.

    With this being his first time behind the camera, Michael B. Jordan showed great promise as a director. He makes the fight scenes more dynamic and fluid with its mix of slow-motion and extreme close-ups. The best part is the fight between Adonis and Damian, where the audience disappears, and the focus is on them. There’s no music, no cheering, nothing but the deep breathing of the two boxers squaring off. It is a well-staged sequence, and it feels like the culmination of all the backstory we’re given on their relationship. The story is incredibly riveting as we explore more of Adonis’ childhood and his guilt over abandoning his old friend. My only complaint is that it does feel predictable at points, but that could be symptomatic of the franchise’s formula. Overall, Creed III is another knockout in this long-running franchise that shows a lot of potential for the future.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy Your Tickets on Sale to watch “Creed III” playing in theaters starting Mar 3rd[/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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  • Seedpeople (1992)

    Seedpeople (1992)

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    After Empire Pictures went bankrupt following the release of 1989’s Arena, filmmaker Peter Manoogian had trouble finding work. Once Charles Band started Full Moon Features, Manoogian ran into him and made a deal with him. For $15,000, Manoogian would get to direct for four weeks, which turned into three to four months. While he was initially supposed to helm one film, Manoogian shot two back-to-back, the first being 1992’s Demonic Toys. That project went over so well that Charles Band had another in line for Peter Manoogian to direct. Originally intended as a “psychological thriller” by Band, the film became a riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Manoogian tried to make it more of an action movie, but unlike his killer doll movie, this didn’t get sequels. Just weeks after his film about evil toys, Peter Manoogian’s Seedpeople hit video store shelves in May 1992.

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    Synopsis

    In the small town of Comet Valley, geologist Tom Baines (Sam Hennings) is visiting to lecture on meteorites. The townsfolk have become enamored with meteorites after several of them landed recently, much to the chagrin of local farmers. While visiting, Tom runs into his old flame Heidi Tucker (Andrea Roth), who’s dating the local sheriff Brad (Dane Witherspoon). Tom soon notices the other townsfolk are acting strange, Heidi’s niece Kim (Holly Fields) believing him and wanting to investigate. Meanwhile, strange plants have sprouted up all over town, sending local nutcase Doc Roller (Bernard Kates) into a panic. Tom and Kim soon find evidence suggesting a connection between the plants and the townsfolks’ strange behavior. Heidi initially doesn’t believe them, but after seeing video proof, she joins them in fighting the alien seed pods. Who will survive, the uncontaminated humans or the Seedpeople?

     

    Review

    Seedpeople isn’t as good compared to Demonic Toys, but it’s still an enjoyably silly creature feature. Sure, it’s a low-budget version of Don Siegel’s 1956 classic, but plenty of similar movies have been made. The acting is above average, but none of the performances would earn any awards recognition. Sam Hennings makes for a decent lead and has good chemistry with Andrea Roth, though their love triangle is unexciting. Bernard Kates has some fun moments as a crazy old man trying to expose the aliens despite being mocked. Full Moon regular Sonny Carl Davis also appears as a local farmer who meets a horrible fate. Peter Manoogian’s direction is decent, especially during the nighttime scenes where he uses various colored lights. It helps that he had Full Moon’s go-to cinematographer Adolfo Bartoli on hand to enhance the style.

    The film’s real highlight is the creature effects from John Carl Buechler and Mike Deak, primarily puppets and rubber suits. Each titular monster’s distinct look closely matches the box cover, which is a plus. Admittedly, the film’s low budget shows when you can tell the actors are just moving the puppets around. That said, it’s very progressive how they hired disfigured performers to wear alien costumes and gave them opportunities. This movie feels like the filmmakers wanted to pay tribute to classic 1950s B-movies and succeeded, for the most part. At barely under 90 minutes, the film goes by fairly quickly, though there’s a lot of filler sprinkled throughout. This isn’t on par with Full Moon classics like Puppet Master III or Dark Angel: The Ascent, but it’s decent. Overall, Seedpeople is best recommended as a rental, much like other Full Moon movies you’d find at the video store.

     

    Buy Seedpeople on:

    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 Seedpeople (1992)

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  • Breeders (1986)

    Breeders (1986)

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    Tim Kincaid, real name Tim Felix, first hit the scene for his 1973 sexploitation film The Female Response. In 1976, Kincaid started making gay porn films under the pseudonym Joe Gage beginning with Kansas City Trucking Co. Up until 1985, Kincaid produced titles like El Paso Wrecking Co, Closed Set, Heatstroke, and Blue Hanky Left. In 1986, Kincaid and producer/wife Cynthia De Paula transitioned into mainstream filmmaking with the women-in-prison film Bad Girls Dormitory. Charles Band was so impressed with Kincaid’s work that he agreed to fund four DTV movies made in NYC. For the first film, shooting would last for ten days on a budget of $80,000 with effects by Ed French. While Kincaid had filmed Mutant Hunt beforehand, this sci-fi horror film would be released first. In 1986, Tim Kincaid’s Breeders hit video store shelves under Charles Band’s Wizard Video line.

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    Synopsis

    In the seedy streets of Manhattan, various women are being attacked and killed by a strange entity. Detective Dale Andriotti (Lance Lewman) and Dr. Gamble Pace (Teresa Yvon Farley) investigate what’s targeting these women and their connection. They find that the thing these women have in common is that they’re all virgins who’ve been raped. Among the victims are model Karinsa (Frances Raines), nurse Kathleen (LeeAnne Baker), and local girl Donna (Natalie Savage). Almost all of the victims end up catatonic or with some form of amnesia, making the investigation more difficult. Eventually, the women get up from the hospital, fully nude, and wander the streets in a trance. Detective Andriotti and Dr. Pace follow them into the sewers, only to discover something horrific. The sexual invasion is about to begin as the breeders emerge to try and conquer the Earth. Anything this hideous must be stopped from breeding!

     

    Review

    Without mincing words, Breeders is pure trash and not even the enjoyable kind of trash that you can laugh at. Sure, it has everything you’d expect in a cheesy B-movie: gratuitous nudity, bad acting, and gross effects, but it’s boring. So much nothing happens that, even at 77 minutes, it feels like a movie that’ll never end. For instance, there’s a sequence where a model strips naked and does yoga for at least three minutes. Other than having an excuse for more nudity, it just drags on and on without advancing the story. Then again, there’s so little story here that you could sum it up in one sentence. Acting-wise, I didn’t expect anything Shakespearian, but I highly doubt any of these people have ever acted before. Everyone’s line delivery is so flat and dull that they might as well be cardboard cutouts.

    While I haven’t seen much of Tim Kincaid’s work, I can only imagine they’re all just as poorly made. Not only are all the camera angles basic, but so many scenes drag out you’ll be begging for a cut. The one positive I can give this movie is that the effects, while cheap, are pretty decent. It shouldn’t be surprising since Ed French (Blood Rage, The Dead Come Home, and Sleepaway Camp) did the effects. The best effect shot in the movie is when a character’s chest bursts and reveals an alien monster. Also, the alien creature responsible for the ravaged virgins doesn’t look half bad, though we don’t see it much. That said, I can only recommend this to hardcore fans of Empire Pictures and the most curious viewers. Overall, Breeders should’ve been at least delightfully bad, but instead, it’s just plain bad.

     

    Buy Breeders from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oY46aA.

    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 Breeders (1986)

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  • LolliLove (2004)

    LolliLove (2004)

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    While she’s famous today as Pam from The Office, St. Louis native Jenna Fischer was unknown in the early 2000s. She moved to LA in 1998, mostly landing small parts in Spin City, Cold Case, and That 70’s Show. Shortly after moving, she attended a charity event for a low-income school, where she saw something that stuck with her. While everyone in attendance was formally dressed and eating fancy meals, the schoolchildren were forced to sing. Two years after moving, Fischer married aspiring filmmaker and fellow St. Louisan James Gunn, who had just done The Specials. With Gunn’s help, she took the charity event experience and started working on a mockumentary about wealthy people doing charity. With a budget of $2,000, filming was done mostly on weekends over four years with Jenna, James, and their friends. Upon completion, LolliLove premiered at the St. Louis International Film Festival in November 2004.

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    Synopsis

    Jenna (Jenna Fischer) and James (James Gunn) are a young, hip couple living in Southern California with a dream. Wanting to help others, as well as get name recognition, Jenna and James decide to start a charity program. Dubbed “LolliLove,” the program entails giving a lollipop with an inspirational drawing/message to a homeless person to brighten their day. They try getting help from their wealthy friends Jason (Jason Segel) and Linda (Linda Cardellini), but neither is interested. As the couple struggles to get the program off the ground, Jenna and James’ marriage gets rocky. They try talking with Father Lloyd (Lloyd Kaufman) to fix their marriage while working on bringing their charity to life. Thankfully, with help from her friends Sarah (Sarah Sido), Michelle (Michelle Gunn), and Judy (Judy Greer), things are a go. Will their charity program succeed or fail like so many others?

     

    Review

    LolliLove is a wicked satire that pokes fun at the hypocrisy of well-to-do trying to do charity for selfish reasons. The characters claim they want to help the poor, but it’s clear they’re only doing it for attention. While they talk of wanting to do good, they’re immediately put off once they meet the homeless. When James and Jenna do a presentation to try and get a sponsor, it’s so artificial that it’s hilarious. Fischer perfectly captures how ridiculous it is that certain people only do charity for self-love and recognition. Aside from them being married at the time, Fischer and Gunn play off each other well and have great chemistry. The film is worth watching to see future superstars like Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and Judy Greer. Along with Fischer and Gunn, the supporting cast gets the satire and plays along with it.

    The mockumentary style works for this film, and it weirdly predicts Jenna Fischer’s future success with The Office. Framing this like a documentary adds a sense of realism to where you believe the ridiculousness on screen. Admittedly, the movie’s not quite spot-on as similar mockumentaries like This Is Spinal Tap, but it still works. The film goes by quickly at a little over an hour, though there is some padding that drags it down. It doesn’t help that much of the dialogue was improvised, which makes the film feel unstructured. Also, the film’s satire might put off some audiences and make them think it discourages trying to be charitable. However, Fischer and company never intended to make that point, but rather that even the most well-intentioned can stumble. Overall, LolliLove is a brilliantly witty social satire that, while uneven, is still relevant today.

     

    Buy LolliLove from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3m8cd9v.

    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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  • Cocaine Bear (2023)

    Cocaine Bear (2023)

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    In December 1985, convicted drug smuggler Andrew C. Thornton II threw several bags of cocaine from an airplane. While Thornton died due to a faulty parachute, some of the cocaine was found by a black bear in Georgia. Sadly, the bear passed away, and its body was found three months later, along with 40 plastic containers of cocaine. In December 2019, filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller announced they were producing a horror-comedy inspired by the true story. The film was based on a script by writer Jimmy Warden, and Universal announced the project’s development in 2021. They announced actress Elizabeth Banks would be directing, having previously helmed Pitch Perfect 2 and the 2019 Charlie’s Angels reboot. The movie was shot in County Wicklow, Ireland, from April to October 2021 on a $30-35 million budget. After another year of post-production, Cocaine Bear hit theaters in February 2023.

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    Synopsis

    A massive shipment of cocaine is dropped from an airplane and lands in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The drugs are found by a black bear, who ingests the cocaine and starts attacking local hikers. Meanwhile, Tenessee detective Bob (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) is investigating and determines it belonged to drug dealer Syd White (Ray Liotta). Over in St. Louis, Syd sends his fixer Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) to go to Georgia and retrieve the coke. Daveed meets with Syd’s depressed son Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) to search for the lost drugs, with Bob soon behind them. In Georgia, local nurse Sari (Keri Russell) is looking for her daughter Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince), who ran off. With help from Dee Dee’s friend Henry (Christian Convery), she searches for her missing daughter, the bear running rampant. Will Sari rescue her daughter, will Syd get the drugs, and who will survive against the Cocaine Bear?

     

    Review

    Cocaine Bear is one of those movies where it can’t seem to decide what it wants to be. Is it trying to be a fun, gore-filled horror-comedy about a coked-out bear killing people? Or does it want to be a serious yet comedic movie about various characters being drawn together by the bear? Of the 95-minute runtime, about 10-15 minutes of it is devoted to the bear going on a rampage. For all the crazy bear stuff, we have to watch these human characters meander about and settle their plotlines. You get the impression that Elizabeth Banks might’ve wanted to go the more extreme route only to dial it back. To their credit, the actors all do a decent job of taking this ridiculous movie seriously, which makes it funnier. The biggest standouts are O’Shea Jackson Jr and Alden Ehrenreich, who have some great and forths.

    Keri Russell isn’t terrible as the mother trying to find her daughter, but she comes off as somewhat bland. Ray Liotta, who sadly passed away after filming, has some entertaining moments, though he isn’t in the movie much. The rest of the supporting cast has a few moments, but none stand out memorably except for Isiah Whitlock Jr. Most audiences watch this movie for the coked-out bear, which it delivers on, even if the CGI bear sticks out. Granted, the digital effects aren’t terrible, and some decent practical gore is sprinkled in, so that helps. Still, people expecting the movie to be just like the trailer and poster might be disappointed. Sure, there are the over-the-top bear scenes you hope for, but there’s not enough to live up to the hype. Overall, Cocaine Bear has some B-movie thrills, but it’s padded chiefly with tons of filler.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Buy Your Tickets on Sale to watch “Cocaine Bear” playing in theaters starting Feb 24th[/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    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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  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

    [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=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]On an estimated budget of $162 million, Ant-Man and the Wasp grossed over $622 million worldwide in 2018. Following its critical and commercial success, Peyton Reed agreed to return for a third installment around November 2019. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer announced their return alongside newcomers Jonathan Majors and Kathryn Newton. Jeff Loveness, who previously wrote for The Office and Rick and Morty, was hired to write in early 2020. Initial filming started in February 2021 in the Turkish region of Cappadocia, along with additional filming in San Francisco. Principal photography was done at Pinewood Studios between July and November 2021, followed by an extensive post-production period in 2022. The film was supposed to be released in February 2023, then was pushed to July before returning to February. After premiering at the Regency Village Theater, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hit theaters worldwide on February 17th.

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    Synopsis

    Having helped save humanity, Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) lives with his girlfriend Hope van Dyne/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly). While visiting her parents Hank (Michael Douglas) and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), Scott’s daughter Cassie (Kathyrn Newton) has some exciting news. She’s developed a machine that can send a signal down to the Quantum Realm, which makes Janet panic. While they shut it off, the message is received, and the gang is sucked into the Quantum Realm. Scott and Cassie run into a group of rebels while Hope, Hank, and Janet try to find answers. After trying to find help from Janet’s old friend Lord Krylar (Bill Murray), she reveals a horrible secret. She says she met Kang (Jonathan Majors), who she helped, before learning that he’s a megalomaniacal maniac bent on conquest. Now, it’s up to our heroes to help the rebels stop Kang from escaping the Quantum Realm.

     

    Review

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is, by far, one of the most ambitious films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While undoubtedly commendable, maybe this film is a bit too ambitious for its own good. Before going into my issues, the movie has qualities that work, namely some of the performances. Undoubtedly, Jonathan Majors is the highlight as Kang the Conqueror, playing a cold and calculating villain with occasional outbursts. He’s easily one of the best villains in the MCU, alongside Tom Hiddelston’s Loki and Josh Brolin’s Thanos. Also, Michelle Pfeiffer is given more to do and an opportunity to remind us why she’s such an accomplished actress. Paul Rudd is likable as always, Evangeline Lilly works well off him, and newcomer Kathryn Newton is a welcome addition. While Michael Douglas and Bill Murray are decent, they both feel wasted in this. Plus, Corey Stoll’s inclusion feels pointless.

    From a visual standpoint, the effects are otherworldly and weird, like a cross between Star Wars and Heavy Metal magazine. The creatures and people of The Quantum Realm have a distinct style, each looking more bizarre than the last. Unfortunately, all this ambition and flair is a disservice to the first two movies, which felt more down to earth. Part of the appeal of the Ant-Man movies was how the titular character was more of a blue-collar hero. Sure, they’re about a man with size-changing abilities who commands an army of ants, but they felt grounded. This film is so out there and wild that it doesn’t even feel like it’s in the same universe. While the movie has some great performances and unique visuals, the whole film is a very underwhelming experience. Overall, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is mid-tier at best, which might be worse than terrible.

     

    Buy Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UzWJtA.

    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 Slashening (2015)

    The Slashening (2015)

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    After the release of Fear Town, USA, in 2014, aspiring filmmaker Brandon Bassham wanted to try and top himself. Bassham wanted to make a horror-comedy that poked fun at slasher movie tropes like his last film. However, for this film, he wanted to amp up the humor and the violence to further extremes. Since he had such a good working relationship with Troma, Bassham’s second feature would be distributed by them. He brought back many of the cast and crew members he had worked with and some new faces. Bassham launched an IndieGoGo campaign for the film, which raised $3,000 of the final $6,000 budget they’d be using. The movie was shot over three weeks in August 2014 in Bassham’s parent’s house in Long Island, New York. After a limited theatrical release in 2015, The Slashening debuted on Troma NOW in 2019.

    [/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=”80″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _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=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Lucy (Anna Callegari) is still reeling from her boyfriend breaking up, so her friends have an idea. Eva (Lily Du) has the house to herself while her parents are away, so she throws a sleepover. She invites Lucy and her best friend Margot (Samantha Reece Schecter), along with Beth (Dana Clinkman) and Ashley (Elyse Brandau). Ashley’s boyfriend Billy (Billy Bob Thompson) and his friend Pat (Patrick Foy) show up for some action during the party. Little do they know that a deranged killer in a burlap sack is waiting to break in and slaughter them. As numerous pizza delivery drivers are slashed, the partygoers learn more about each other than they ever expected. Soon enough, the killer makes their way inside and starts picking off our horny youngsters one by one. Friendships will be tested as our would-be victims try to survive The Slashening!

     

    Review

    Slasher parodies have existed for many years, from cult classics like The Slumber Party Massacre to blockbusters like Scream. In that regard, The Slashening doesn’t redefine the slasher parody, but it doesn’t have to. The film works as a standalone horror comedy thanks to some decent gore effects and surprisingly endearing performances. Each of the five girls fits a slasher archetype, and they play their parts well without coming off as obnoxious. Elyse Brandau is having fun playing the stereotypical slut, and Dana Clinkman is hilarious as a foul-mouthed coke addict. Anna Callegari and Samantha Reece Schecter have great chemistry and feel like genuine friends, which makes the revelations much funnier. Lily Du doesn’t have much to her character, but she has one of the funniest death scenes in the film. Also, Billy Bob Thompson and Patrick Foy fit their roles of cocky douche and timid nice guy, respectively.

    While there isn’t any gore or nudity, the writing helps elevate it beyond being a tame slasher film. That’s not to say there isn’t any blood, as some decent kills are sprinkled throughout. One of the best sequences involves the girls trying to order pizza, only for every delivery driver to get slashed. The scene goes on for so long that it just gets funnier and funnier because of how absurd it is. Absurd is the best way to describe this film, as it’s utterly ridiculous to the point where logic is gone. Admittedly, the killer is pretty generic, a guy wearing a jumpsuit and a burlap sack over his head. Thankfully, the twist makes up for it, and the finale needs to be seen to be believed. Overall, The Slashening may be nothing new, but it works in its simplicity and makes for a decent watch.

     

    Buy The Slashening from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZptVoj.

    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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  • Hideous! (1997)

    Hideous! (1997)

    [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=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After their partnership with Paramount Pictures ended, Full Moon Features was financially precarious, solely relying on Kushner-Locke. It was in the late 90s that Full Moon took advantage of the burgeoning internet to announce their future titles. Some of the titles featured that got made included The Creeps, Shrieker, Subspecies 4, Puppet Master 6, and Blood Dolls. One of the other features mentioned wouldn’t be funded by Kushner-Locke but by producers David DeFalco and Michael Fiechtner. Shot on location in Bucharest over two weeks in February 1997, Charles Band directed while Benjamin Carr wrote the script. Carr previously wrote Head of the Family, starring Jacqueline Lovell and Michael Citriniti, a.k.a. J. W. Perra, who returned here. Another notable cast member was Mel Johnson Jr., who later partnered with Charles Band to form Alchemy/Big City Pictures. After a brief filming period, Charles Band’s Hideous! was released in August 1997.

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    Synopsis

    A group of sewage workers finds a strange embryo and sell it to the International Medical Specimens corporation. Headed by Ms. Belinda Yost (Tracie May-Wagner), she sells it to eccentric collector Napoleon Lazar (Mel Johnson Jr.) for $650,000. Word gets out to rival collector Dr. Lorca (Michael Citriniti), who has his assistant Sheila (Jacqueline Lovell) steal it. After the embryo is stolen, Lazar hires Detective Leonard Kantor (Jerry O’Donnell) to help him return it from Lorca. Along with Yost and her secretary, Elvina Shaw (Rhonda Griffin), Lazar and Kantor go to Lorca’s castle to confront him. While there, they see Lorca’s four other strange creatures, who break free and wander the castle. Soon, our hapless victims are picked off individually as Lorca and Lazar fight over ownership of the medical oddities. Who will survive against these deformed, depraved, and devious creatures and escape the castle?

     

    Review

    In some ways, Hideous! is almost a throwback to the Empire Pictures classic Ghoulies, both in story and visuals. Both are about people going to an isolated area and are systematically picked off by tiny creatures. Also, both movies have a similar lo-tech feel to the effects, which makes sense, given who handled the effects. Mark Rappaport, the film’s special effects supervisor, previously worked under John Carl Buechler on Demonic Toys. Admittedly, there is some questionable CGI, and the puppets aren’t the most complex, but they work for this movie. They’re not in the film very much, but the creatures are fun to watch when they are. Filming in a Bucharest castle adds much production value to the movie and helps it stand out. Say what you will about Full Moon using Romania, but it helped make their films look more expensive.

    For the most part, the cast plays their roles as campy as possible without going too overboard. Mel Johnson Jr. is one of the biggest highlights, and his back-and-forths with the rest of the cast are entertaining. Michael Citriniti is an excellent rival for Johnson, and Tracie May-Wagner is fun as the stuck-up rich bitch. Jacqueline Lovell is another highlight as Dr. Lorca’s sexy and devious assistant, spending her screen time with her cleavage exposed. She and Johnson easily have the movie’s most memorable scene, where she robs him while topless in a gorilla mask. Even in context, the sequence comes out of nowhere and is never brought up again, which makes it more bizarre. At under 90 minutes, the movie goes by pretty quickly and doesn’t have too many slow scenes. Overall, Hideous! isn’t one of Full Moon’s best, but it’s a decent creature feature.

     

    Buy Hideous! 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 Hideous! (1997)

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  • Honky Holocaust (2014)

    Honky Holocaust (2014)

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    In 2010, Melrose locals Greg LaVoie, Paul McAlarney, and Nick Viau created a comedic web series called Super-Townie. While working on the series, cinematographer Nick Norrman introduced McAlarney to the controversial 1971 mockumentary Goodbye Uncle Tom. This gave McAlarney the idea to make a feature film that addressed racial issues mixed with a 70s exploitation style. Rather than sugarcoating the message, McAlarney and Norrman decided to showcase the message where it couldn’t be ignored. About a month later, McAlarney formed Blood Hammer Films, wrote a script, and assembled his cast and crew. Filming took place mainly around Boston in 2014, with some additional funds through Kickstarter totaling over $1700. After filming was completed, the film went on the festival circuit in 2015 until it caught the attention of Troma. Troma picked up the distribution rights and released Honky Holocaust in 2016.

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    Synopsis

    In 1969, notorious cult leader Charles Manson (Thomas Delcarpio) and his followers went underground to await a prophecized race war. When Manson died, he assigned his second-in-command Dan Masucci (Lucas Fleming), to take over and raise his daughter Kendra. After years of living underground, Masucci leads the Manson family outside to see what the world has become. Much to their shock, the world is not what they expected: whites are the minority while blacks are in charge. While Masucci retreats after several of his men are killed, the now-adult Kendra (Maria Natapov) wanders the streets. She’s mocked, drugged, assaulted, and possibly raped because of her skin color until she’s taken in by Lucius (Constantine Taylor). Having seen what African Americans have experienced, she decides to stand against bigotry and hunt down her surrogate father. Alongside the newly reformed Fiona (Krisoula Varoudakis), Kendra must stop Dan from assassinating the mayor.

     

    Review

    Honky Holocaust is a movie I have conflicted feelings about: it has a strong message, but its tone is off. Having the tables turned and showing how it would feel to be treated as a minority is still relevant today. Then again, this film features people getting shot through the anus, strangled with intestines, or shot and urinated on. It’s as if McAlarney couldn’t decide if he wanted to make a message movie or a sleazy exploitation flick. While it’s admirable that he tried to do both, the result is all over the place with its tone. While the message isn’t delivered with any hint of subtlety, it feels intentional, like the filmmakers demand you face it. Also, while out of place, the exploitation elements provide what gorehounds expect, especially with the Troma branding. There are copious amounts of fake gore, nudity, and politically-incorrect humor to entertain Troma fans.

    Given its meager budget, McAlarney and his crew manage to put together a decent-looking film. Sure, the effects aren’t the greatest, and the sets look cheap, but these add to the film’s charm. On top of that, the performances are surprisingly good, mainly because almost everyone plays their roles seriously. Maria Natapov does a great job, and seeing her transform from scared and defenseless to a gun-toting badass is incredible. Lucas Fleming is a great villain, acting just over the top enough while still being intimidating. Constantine Taylor is another stand-out as the sympathetic Lucius, who takes Kendra under her wing when no one else will. This film will offend plenty of people and has problems, but I think curious onlookers should give it a watch. Overall, Honky Holocaust is a bit disjointed, but the performances and message help the film stand out from similar schlock.

     

    Buy Honky Holocaust from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Yyt5oh.

    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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  • Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)

    Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)

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    While working on All Monsters Attack, the original idea for the antagonist monster was a giant bug called Gebara. Eventually, Gebara became a giant cockroach named Megalon for a treatment called Godzilla vs. the Space Monsters: Earth Defense Directive. The proposal would have Megalon pair with Gigan and King Ghidorah to fight against Godzilla, Anguirus, and newcomer Majin Tuol. While Gigan made the final cut, Ghidorah, Anguirus, and Majin Tuol were replaced by a robot superhero, Jet Jaguar. Jet Jaguar resulted from a contest that Toho held for kids to design superheroes for future projects. By this point, the series was on its last legs, so the studio had to cut costs and rush production. After a three-week shoot, Godzilla vs. Megalon premiered in Japan in 1973, followed by a US release in 1976. Over the years, this became one of the most well-known kaiju films in the US.

    [/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=”4.19.5″ _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=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Due to several nuclear tests near the Aleutians, Monster Island is severely damaged, but Godzilla escapes before it collapses. In addition, the citizens of an underground civilization called Seatopia aren’t too happy about the above-ground tests. In retaliation, the Seatopians send out their guardian monster Megalon to wreak havoc on Japan. Meanwhile, inventor Goro (Katsuhiko Sasaki), his friend Hiroshi (Yutaka Hayashi), and his little brother Rokuro (Hiroyuki Kawase) are ambushed. Goro and Hiroshi have been working on Jet Jaguar, a humanoid robot that the Seatopians want to guide Megalon. The Seatopians capture the three main characters, but they manage to escape and regain control of Jet Jaguar. They send out Jet Jaguar to get Godzilla’s help to fight Megalon, who is now fighting alongside Gigan. A massive kaiju tag-team rumble follows as Godzilla and Jet Jaguar fight against Megalon and Gigan.

     

    Review

    Godzilla vs. Megalon is often cited as one of the worst entries in the franchise, which isn’t entirely true. I’d argue that All Monsters Attack is the worst, but there is an argument to be made for this one. As the series progressed, you could see all the cost-saving measures Toho took to keep it going. There’s the overuse of stock footage, the flimsy suits, and the final battle being staged in an open field. Like the other late 60s/early 70s Showa era movies, this one once again was catered more toward kids. It’s especially apparent with the use of Jet Jaguar, obviously influenced by the likes of Ultraman and Kamen Rider. What’s even worse is that, for a Godzilla movie, Godzilla disappears for most of the film. It’s mainly about the humans evading the Seatopians and trying to reclaim Jet Jaguar.

    To give some credit, Megalon is one of the more interesting monsters in the series, with unique abilities. He can shoot lightning from his horn and spit bombs, which makes him one of Godzilla’s oddest but unique opponents. While most of the film’s effects-heavy scenes are stock footage, the sequence where Megalon destroys a dam is impressive. Of course, the film’s most infamous moment is when Godzilla performs a dropkick while sliding on his tail. It’s right up there with Godzilla using his atomic breath to fly in Godzilla vs. Hedorah for its ridiculousness. Unfortunately, these scenes can’t save the film’s otherwise mediocre quality in terms of the effects and the story. What’s worse is that this film cemented the West’s perception of Godzilla in general, so thanks for that. Overall, Godzilla vs. Megalon isn’t the worst, but it’s still another low point for the series.

     

    Buy Godzilla vs. Megalon on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RDWY47.

    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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