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  • Howard the Duck (1986)

    Howard the Duck (1986)

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    In Marvel Comics’ Adventure into Fear #19, writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik introduced Howard the Duck in 1973. Gerber wrote the character with existential themes whose central joke was that funny and intense are often indistinguishable. After the production of American Graffiti, George Lucas introduced the comics to co-writers Willard Hyuck and Gloria Katz. While they intended for the film to be animated, Lucas’ contract required that he produce a live-action movie. Universal optioned the film due to having turned down opportunities to work with Lucas in the past. Lucas spent his money to bring Howard to life, designing an animatronic suit that actor Ed Gale would wear. They cast Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, and a relatively unknown Tim Robbins, with Chip Zien providing Howard’s voice. Following a five-month shoot and extensive post-production, Howard the Duck arrived in theaters in August 1986.

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    Synopsis

    Mild-mannered Howard T. Duck is relaxing in his apartment on Duckworld when a vortex abducts and drops him on Earth. He winds up in Cleveland, where thugs assault up-and-coming rockstar Beverly (Lea Thompson), so Howard fends them off. Beverly decides to let him crash at her place while they figure out how Howard arrived on Earth. She takes him to her scientist friend Phil (Tim Robbins), but Howard blows him off since he’s just a janitor. After unsuccessfully trying to make it on his own, Howard goes back to Beverly and meets her band, Cherry Bomb. Later, Phil introduces Howard to Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones), who explains that a laser spectroscope accidentally brought Howard to Earth. Unfortunately, the spectroscope brought down The Dark Overlord, which possesses Jenning and plans to bring down his fellow overlords. He kidnaps Beverly, so it’s up to Howard and Phil to save the world!

     

    Review

    Ever since its release, Howard the Duck has been called one of the worst movies of all time. People compare this to movies like Freddy Got Fingered, Plan 9 from Outer Space, and Manos: The Hands of Fate. Even though I believe it’s nowhere near one of the worst movies ever, that doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. For instance, the film has very little humor, often relying on duck puns, corny one-liners, and tons of slapstick. Also, it seems confused on whether it wants to be for kids or older audiences, constantly going back and forth. Acting-wise, everyone seems to be trying given the material, but people like Tim Robbins probably don’t like people mentioning this. The film introduces elements that would be more interesting than what we’re shown, such as the brief glimpses of Duckworld. Even with these flaws, there are plenty of good qualities.

    For one, even if Howard isn’t that appealing of a character, the costume and animatronics are impressive. Given that this came out in 1986, the amount of expressions they can get from the animatronic head is remarkable. Also, the prosthetics used to show Jenning’s transformation into the Dark Overlord are effectively creepy, enhanced with optical effects. In addition, the stop-motion used for the Dark Overlord towards the end is impressive, as expected from Phil Tippett. The music is surprisingly catchy, and credit should go to Lea Thompson and her bandmates for taking singing lessons. A common complaint is that it’s too silly to take seriously and vice-versa, but that might’ve been intentional. While not necessarily an unappreciated gem, this is a film worth re-evaluating and giving a second chance. Overall, Howard the Duck is undoubtedly flawed, but it has some decent qualities that critics and audiences may have overlooked.

     

    Buy Howard the Duck from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BS8Qq1.

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  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

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    In late 1972, Marvel Comics tried acquiring the rights to the TV series Kung Fu for a comic book adaptation. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the rights since Warner Communications owned the show, so they created the kung-fu master Shang-Chi. The character made his debut in Special Marvel Edition #15 in 1973 by writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin. Stephen Norrington, fresh off the success of Blade, was signed on to direct a live-action adaptation in 2001. Unfortunately, those plans fell through until Avi Arad announced that the newly formed Marvel Studios would be developing the property. In 2019, Marvel hired Destin Daniel Cretton to direct since the studio wanted to explore Asian themes and cultures. Shooting commenced in February 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and finally wrapped in October. After some delays, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hit theaters in September 2021.

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    Synopsis

    Xu “Shaun” Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) works as a hotel valet driver with his childhood friend Katy (Awkwafina). He leads a relatively everyday life, but things change when he and Katy are attacked on their bus to work. A gang called The Ten Rings attacks them and ends up stealing a jade pendant Shaun wears. Shaun tries to recruit his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) to help, which she does despite her resentment towards him. Unfortunately, they’re captured and brought to Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung), who insists their mother, Ying Li (Fala Chen), is alive. It turns out Xu Wenwu is their father and the leader of The Ten Rings, named after his ancient weapons. He believes that their mother is being held captive in the old village of Ta Lo behind a large gate. However, upon arrival, our heroes learn that something more sinister lies in wait behind the gate.

     

    Review

    Going into Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, I knew nothing of the property nor what to expect. That might be the optimal way to go into this, as I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was. While this film reuses some story tropes from other MCU movies, it adds plenty of twists to stand apart. For one, our hero has a dark past they’ve tried running away from, only to have to go back. Admittedly, Iron Man used a similar trope, but Tony was more oblivious of what happened than trying to escape it. Also, without going into spoilers, Xu Wenwu isn’t necessarily evil but more so misguided in his intentions. Like many other MCU movies, the climax involves a giant battle with otherworldly creatures, but that’s par for the course. Thankfully, you’re so invested by then that it doesn’t affect the overall quality.

    Simu Liu makes a likable lead for a relatively unknown actor, riding that balance between humorous and serious. Given Liu’s background as a stuntman, it’s no surprise that his fight scenes are excellently choreographed and well-staged. Much like in Crazy Rich Asians, Awkwafina is the comic relief, but thankfully she knows when to play it straight. She and Liu have great chemistry together, and it’s refreshing that she isn’t thrown in as some generic love interest. Meng’er Zhang is excellent in her debut role as the younger sister trying to prove herself as a skilled warrior. Tony Leung is both intense yet oddly tragic as the former warlord who’ll go to any extreme for his beloved. The film goes by relatively quickly at just slightly over two hours despite some exposition-heavy scenes dragging it behind. Overall, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings breathes new life into the MCU.

     

    Buy tickets to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in theaters: https://fandan.co/2WxHAy6.

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  • Redneck Zombies (1989)

    Redneck Zombies (1989)

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    Having grown up in the Baltimore area, Pericles Lewnes knew that he always wanted to be a filmmaker. With his friends Ed Bishop and Bill Decker, he decided to work on something that could be gory and slapstick. They came up with the title Redneck Zombies, and from there, started brainstorming various ideas for gags and gore effects. Working on a very shoestring budget, they said that the film should play more like a parody than something serious. Towards the end of filming, Lewnes saw The Toxic Avenger at a local theater and fell in love with Troma. He took the film to Troma and made a distribution deal, which led to Lewnes working for the company. Lewnes got to work on Troma’s War, The Toxic Avenger Parts 2 & 3, and Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. Finally, in early 1989, Lewnes’ Redneck Zombies was released to video store shelves.

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    Synopsis

    While driving through the backwoods, a soldier named Tyrone Robinson (Tyrone Taylor) accidentally loses a barrel of toxic waste. A family of moonshiners, the Clemsons, finds the barrel and decides to use it for their still. Meanwhile, some young people are hiking through the woods for a camping trip led by Wilbur (James H. Housely). One night, the young people get high on weed while the local rednecks drink the radioactive moonshine the Clemsons made. Unfortunately, the following day, the rednecks who drank the moonshine have turned into flesh-eating zombies wandering through the woods. As the zombies tear their way through the area, the remaining campers, including Lisa Dubois (Lisa M. DeHaven), try surviving. The drugged-out Bob (Anthony Burlington-Smith) discovers that deodorant kills the zombies, but will that be enough to stop them? It’s a good old-fashioned hoedown of horror as our heroes try surviving the Redneck Zombies!

     

    Review

    Redneck Zombies is one of those movies that you should go into with shallow expectations before watching it. With a title like that, you really shouldn’t go into this thinking it’s going to be a terrifying zombie film. This film has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek and wants you to laugh along with it. There are plenty of over-the-top performances, a ridiculous story, and tons of gore like any good Troma movie. On that note, the gore effects are surprisingly decent given the meager budget they had on hand. Admittedly, the make-up effects are pretty cheesy, but the filmmakers were fully aware and are rolling with it. Seeing many people with black eye makeup and putty-covered faces stumbling around has a charming quality to it. As goofy as most of the film is, there are some genuinely sickening scenes in the last few minutes. It’s a mixed bag.

    Given that the filmmakers were trying to make a fun, cheesy monster movie, it seems pointless to critique this seriously. For instance, the movie was shot on video instead of on film since it’s much cheaper than using film. Also, don’t expect deep characterization or a richly compelling story since the filmmakers weren’t concerned about that. Still, there are tons of filler scenes, and several of the jokes don’t land quite as well as they hoped. Plus, some of the more exaggerated performances can get grating at times, but it seems intentional given their ultimate fate. Thankfully, at just slightly under 90 minutes in length, the movie won’t take up too much of your time. If you’re looking for a fun bad movie to watch with some friends and some drinks, look no further. Overall, Redneck Zombies is no Night of the Living Dead, but it doesn’t have to be.

     

    Buy Redneck Zombies from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UKMOW8.

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  • Crash! (1976)

    Crash! (1976)

    [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=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In the 1970s, there was a sort of mini-trend of car movies, usually involving various stunts and wrecks. This decade saw the likes of films including Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, The Gumball Rally, and Smokey and the Bandit. One prominent director who made these car movies was Steven Spielberg, whose early works included Duel and The Sugarland Express. In 1977, Universal planned to release The Car, which would’ve added a supernatural element to the car movie. After producing Mansion of the Doomed, the distributors asked Charles Band to make a similarly themed car movie. Charlie wound up directing this as his second feature, his first being the lost 1973 spoof Last Foxtrot in Burbank. The plan was to shoot this film over the weekends and get it released to theaters before Universal’s movie. In the end, the finished movie hit theaters in late 1976/early 1977 as Crash!

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    Synopsis

    Young Kim Denne (Sue Lyons) purchases a strange-looking idol from a vendor at a flea market before returning home. She’s married to the older Marc Denne (Jose Ferrer), who was in a horrific car accident that left him paralyzed. Marc resents that Kim can walk around fine despite the accident as he constantly treats her like dirt. After she goes for a drive, he sends his trained Doberman to follow and attack her, causing her to crash. Thankfully, Kim survives the crash and wakes up in the hospital, where she’s cared for by Dr. Martin (John Ericson). Unfortunately, Kim has lost her memory, yet she still holds onto the idol as if she’s always had it. At the same time, a mysterious black car is going around killing people and causing car crashes. It turns out the idol is using Kim to control this demon car to exact her revenge!

     

    Review

    Crash! is a film that could only have come out in the drive-in era of the 1970s. You’ve got a completely nonsensical plot whose sole purpose is to try connecting tons of car crashes together. Also, there are tons and tons of real cars crashing into each other for real with real explosions. Keep in mind that this was pre-CGI and made on a low budget, so the stuntwork is pretty impressive. Interestingly enough, one of the film’s cinematographers was Andrew Davis, who went on to direct The Fugitive and Under Siege. The music from composer Andrew Belling also helps this stand out, with a very 70s funk sound. He’d later compose the music for End of the World and Fairy Tales before Richard Band became the go-to guy. Speaking of the Bands, both Richard and Charlie have minor cameo appearances in the film.

    The film has quite an interesting cast, including Sue Lyon (Lolita), Jose Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac), and even John Carradine. Admittedly, Carradine only has a few minutes of screentime since he filmed his scenes over a weekend. Lyon makes the best of the albeit light material she’s given and comes off creepy in some moments. Ferrer is fine as the conniving husband, even though it feels like he’s just waiting for his paycheck to clear. Also, John Ericson comes off a little bland as the compassionate doctor trying to help Kim regain her memories. Like many of Charles Band’s early work, this one does suffer from having too much padding, even at 90 minutes. Still, this provides plenty of B-movie thrills, and the car stunts do steal the show, so there is that. Overall, Crash! is that particular kind of schlock that could only come from the 1970s.

     

    Buy Crash! 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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  • Reminiscence (2021)

    Reminiscence (2021)

    [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=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]After graduating from Stanford University, Lisa Joy started working for McKinsey & Company before earning a law degree from Harvard. She submitted a spec script to ABC between her studies, which became the cult TV series Pushing Daisies. Joy also worked as a staff writer and eventually became a co-producer on the long-running series Burn Notice. In 2016, she and her husband Jonathan Nolan created the TV series Westworld based on the 1973 film. The show was a massive hit and received several Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including “Outstanding Drama Series.” Thanks to the show’s success, Lisa was able to work on directing her first feature film starting in 2019. While initially supposed to be released in April 2021, Warner Bros. pushed the release date to favor Mortal Kombat. Now titled Reminiscence, the film saw a worldwide release on August 20, 2021.

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    Synopsis

    In the not-too-distant future, the world has become flooded due to climate change, and people only come out at night. Using technology initially meant for interrogations, people can relive their happiest memories to escape the harsh reality around them. In Miami, Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) and his friend/partner Emily “Watts” Sanders (Thandiwe Newton) offer people such opportunities. One day, a mysterious woman named Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) visits them, and Nick almost immediately falls in love. The two start a relationship, but after a few months, Mae mysteriously disappears, and Nick starts looking for her. Despite Watts’ objections, he explores his memories, looking for clues about her whereabouts, going deeper down the rabbit hole. The trail leads to him confronting the corrupt cop Cyrus Boothe (Cliff Curtis), who asserts Mae has some dark secrets. Just who is Mae, and where will this trail lead Nick?

     

    Review

    Given what Lisa Joy is most famous for, it should come as no surprise that Reminiscence borrows from other movies. It has a film noir style similar to Blade Runner, though not nearly as futuristic and more grounded in reality. Also, the plot element of worldwide floods and humanity adapting to it is very much like in Waterworld. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with movies borrowing elements from other movies so long as the final result is worthwhile. Unfortunately, this is a case where you’re thinking of better films that you could be watching besides this. The story is incredibly convoluted, with tons of twists that come out of nowhere and in rapid succession. Also, they hint at things taking place before the events of the film that sound far more interesting.

    There’s also plenty about this film that elevates it to be at least passable despite its flaws. For one, the cast all do a solid job, with Hugh Jackman always making for a strong and likable hero. The lovely Rebecca Ferguson fits the femme fatale role, and she has some great chemistry with Jackman. Thandiwe Newton has some good back-and-forths with Jackman, acting as his voice of reason despite mostly speaking in exposition. Also, Cliff Curtis makes for a decent antagonist, even if he doesn’t show up until roughly halfway through the movie. Another aspect of the film that stands out is the cinematography, adding a dreamlike quality to the film noir vibe. At almost two hours, you could certainly do worse, but this is one I could only recommend at matinee prices. Overall, Reminiscence is an at-best average sci-fi mystery whose acting and visuals compensate for its weak story.

     

    Buy Reminiscence from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ecEzon.

    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 Reminiscence (2021)

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  • Tales from the Crapper (2004)

    Tales from the Crapper (2004)

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    Following a successful web-comic on Troma’s website in the early 2000s, Lloyd Kaufman wanted to expand it further. He signed a contract with adult film star India Allen to produce two digitally-shot films and a TV series. Unfortunately, a year into production, the footage presented to Kaufman was unwatchable, and the entire budget was gone. Kaufman and his business partner, Michael Herz, were unhappy about what had happened and needed a plan. So, to try and salvage the footage, they decided to turn the two movies into one anthology film. Filming began in 2003 around New York and Los Angeles, though the production problems were just getting started. Alongside dealing with an incompetent crew, many scenes had to be redubbed and stitched together to make it work. After a rather tumultuous post-production period, Troma finally released Tales from the Crapper in September of 2004.

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    Synopsis

    Our illustrious master of ceremonies, the Crap Keeper (Lloyd Kaufman), presents us with two stories to get the juices flowing. The first tale, “The Case of the Melon Heavy Alien Man Eater,” involves a man-eating alien who becomes a stripper. Sgt. Ivana Dance (Julie Strain) goes undercover to investigate the bizarre murders happening at The Shimmering Beaver strip club. The second tale, “Tuition of the Terror Twat”, involves Timmy (Rob Zazzali) losing his college tuition money. His skinny buddy (Andy Lazarus) and friend Racoon Head (Jorge Garcia) decide to host a stripper party to raise money. They hire Demanda (Julie Strain) and her girls, but it turns out the strippers are vampires who slaughter the partiers. In between these stories, the Crap Keeper reads fan letters and teaches us how to make our damn movie. It’s a cornucopia of blood, boobs, and bad jokes in Tales from the Crapper!

     

    Review

    Considering the production problems that happened, it’s a wonder that Tales from the Crapper even exists in the first place. While it’s admirable that they tried to salvage this whole debacle, it might’ve been better to cut their losses. Still, $200,000 is a lot of money for Troma, so I understand them wanting to make some effort. You can quickly tell what footage was shot by India Allen by the horrible lighting and obvious dubbing. Unfortunately, the reshoots aren’t much better, though they are more watchable, and you can hear the original audio. The Troma team tried spicing up the unwatchable footage by adding gore, nudity, and tons of politically incorrect humor. Unfortunately, much of the comedy comes off more obnoxious than humorous, especially the intentionally lousy dubbing and the patented “Boner-Vision.” Admittedly, when they change it to “Doggie-Vision” at one point, that was kinda funny.

    Since the filmmakers added dubbing due to the bad sound, it’s hard to gauge their acting without hearing their voices. It also doesn’t help that you can’t tell what’s happening most of the time because of the poor filmmaking. That said, the late Julie Strain is trying to make the most of the material by chewing the scenery. We also get fun cameos from Troma alumni James Gunn, Joe Fleishaker, Trey Parker, Eli Roth, and Trent Haaga. Additionally, the gore they added in post-production is pretty impressive, given the lack of available resources. In addition to the “Boner-Vision,” the sound will frequently cut to a fake commentary track talking about the poor quality. While these can make the viewing experience harder, it’s nice to see them self-aware of the disaster unfolding. Overall, Tales from the Crapper is awful on a technical level but somewhat admirable given the circumstances.

     

    Buy Tales from the Crapper from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Xw8Qgu.

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  • Free Guy (2021)

    Free Guy (2021)

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    In 2016, 20th Century-Fox purchased a script penned by Matt Lieberman from Hollywood’s Black List of the best-unproduced screenplays. The story revolved around an ordinary bank teller who discovers that the world he’s in is a video game. The studio offered it to director Shawn Levy, but he passed on it since he wasn’t familiar with video games. However, Levy met actor Ryan Reynolds through a mutual friend, and after rereading the script, they agreed to work together. With Reynolds both starring and producing, filming began in mid-2019 in Boston’s Financial District and other parts of Massachusetts. Around this time, the studio was purchased by Disney and renamed 20th Century Studios, though Disney supported the project. Once filming wrapped, it was initially slated for a July 2020 release but saw delays due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Finally, on August 13, 2021, Free Guy was exclusively released to theaters nationwide.

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    Synopsis

    Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is an average joe living in Free City, where people called “heroes” cause mayhem and destruction daily. However, Guy and his friend Buddy (Lil Rel Howery) continue going about their day working at the local bank. Despite this, Guy secretly years for something more in life apart from his menial and repetitive routine. One day, Guy decides to take charge and take the glasses from a “hero,” which reveals that he’s in a video game. In the real world, programmer Millie (Jodie Cromer) is looking for proof that Free City’s publisher stole her code. She plays the game as “Molotov Girl” and helps Guy level up so he can help her uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Guy’s popularity skyrockets while the publisher’s owner Antoine (Taika Waititi) is shutting the game down for a sequel. It’s up to Guy, Millie, and her ex-partner Keys (Joe Keery) to stop him!

     

    Review

    It’s hard to review Free Guy without comparing it to movies like The Truman Show or even They Live. It’s more than coincidental, from the protagonist realizing their world is artificial to a pair of glasses revealing the truth. While it certainly lifts elements from other movies, it’s still able to use them to create an original story. The idea of a video game NPC becoming self-aware is unique, and it’s interesting to see this explored. Wreck-It Ralph studied the idea years earlier, but I think this film honestly does a better job. Unlike that film, Guy is still the central focus of the story rather than shifting to another character halfway through. Even when the movie introduces real-world elements, the focus is still mainly on Guy and his actions. It’s amusing considering that Disney owns both films, though tangentially, yet this one is the better of the two.

    Once again, Ryan Reynolds makes for an amusing and likable lead, even if he’s playing the same type of character. Jodie Comer does an excellent job playing two characters and having solid chemistry with two different actors. Joe Keery is also likable, and you understand why he chose to work for the company that screwed him over. As usual, Taika Waititi steals the show as the eccentric head of the publisher whose sole interest is profits. In addition, this movie has a lot to say about the gaming industry as a whole, though it’s nothing new. It deals with publishers screwing over their employees, how companies are just after money and prioritizing familiarity over originality. Still, it’s interesting to see a multi-million dollar film tackle this and still deliver a solidly entertaining action-comedy. Overall, Free Guy does tread some familiar ground but does it satisfyingly.

     

    Buy Free Guy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M4VCQQ.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Free Guy (2021)

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  • Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

    Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

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    With a budget of $550,000, Friday the 13th was a massive commercial hit, grossing close to $60 million worldwide. While critics largely derided the film, Paramount still wanted to move ahead with a sequel. Originally envisioned as an anthology series, the producers wanted the focus to be Pamela Voorhees’s’ son, Jason. Director Sean S. Cunningham disagreed with the new direction, so he was replaced by the original’s associate producer Steve Miner. Tom Savini couldn’t return to do the effects because of prior commitments, but he has his disagreements. Miner used most of the same crew and had a $1.25 million budget, more than double the original. Filming lasted from October to November 1980, primarily in New Preston and Kent, CT, with a mostly new cast. After some troubles with the MPAA, Friday the 13th Part 2 was released on May 1, 1981.

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    Synopsis

    Five years after the last film, a new camp has opened up for CITs or Counselors In Training. Said camp is run by Paul Holt (John Furey) and located near the remains of Camp Crystal Lake. Two of the CITs, Jeff Dunsberry (Bill Randolph) and Sandra Dier (Marta Kober), decide to sneak off to Crystal Lake. They’re taken back to their camp by Deputy Winslow (Jack Marks) and are chewed out by Paul that night. Jeff and Sandra, along with some of the other counselors, have to stay behind while the others go out drinking. While Paul and his assistant Ginny Field (Amy Steel) are out, the other counselors have to hold down the fort. Little do they know that a masked killer is lurking about, and they pick off the CITs one by one. It turns out this masked killer is none other than Pamela Voorhees’s son, Jason!

     

    Review

    Friday the 13th Part 2 is almost exactly like the original, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it’s more of what made the first film work so well, which is a safe bet. On the other hand, it doesn’t do much to differentiate itself to make it stand independently as its own thing. That said, that doesn’t necessarily mean this is a poor entry or has nothing to offer. For one, it was pretty shocking to see the survivor from the first film get killed at the beginning. Also, the film does build up plenty of suspense since you’re unsure if the killer is Jason or not. While he would get the iconic hockey, I think the bag with the one-eye hole is creepier. Combined with the overalls and plaid shirt, it gives Jason more of a reclusive look.

    Though there isn’t anyone nearly as recognizable as Kevin Bacon, the cast still does a solid job. Amy Steel makes for a likable lead, and she has great chemistry with John Furey. When she has to stand toe-to-toe with Jason, she manages to hold her own and kick some ass. While lacking Savini’s effects, future Oscar nominee Carl Fullerton’s work is top-notch, especially when it comes to Jason’s look. You can see glimpses of Savini’s design, but Fullerton manages to make it look realistically older and lived-in. Of course, you need some creative kills to make a good slasher, and this one’s got some memorable kills. Most notably, there’s the couple who gets speared in bed and the wheelchair jock taking a machete to the face. Overall, while not as good as the original, Friday the 13th Part 2 is a solid slasher sequel.

     

    Buy Friday the 13th Part 2 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4c3mMD1.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

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  • Killjoy (2000)

    Killjoy (2000)

    [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=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Under Full Moon Features, Charles Band had created various sub-labels that would appeal to a specific audience. There was Moonbean Entertainment for kids, Torchlight for fans of softcore erotica, and Monster Island Entertainment for the kaiju fans. In 1999, Band joined actor/producer Mel Johnson Jr. to create Alchemy Entertainment, later changed to Big City Entertainment. The label was geared towards “urban sci-fi, fantasy & horror,” essentially genre films aimed at a black audience. The first two films under this sub-label, Ragdoll and The Horrible Dr. Bones, were made by Subspecies director Ted Nicolaou. Around this time, a young filmmaker named Craig Ross Jr. wrote to Full Moon looking for work. After much persistence, Charles Band met with Ross and pitched him an idea for a killer clown movie. Ross was sold on the pitch, and said killer clown movie became the 2000 direct-to-video effort, Killjoy.

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    Synopsis

    Young and nerdy Michael (Jamal Grimes) is in love with Jada (Vera Yell), so he tries asking her out. Unfortunately, her thug boyfriend Lorenzo (William L. Johnson) and his lackeys T-Bone (Corey Hampton) and Baby Boy (Rani Goulant) arrive. They beat the hell out of Michael and threaten to do worse if he so much as thinks about Jada. That night, Michael uses some black magic to try summoning a clown demon known as Killjoy, only to get shot. Jada has left Lorenzo for Jamal (Lee Marks) one year later, though she’s struggling with her guilt over Michael. Meanwhile, Lorenzo visits his new squeeze Kahara (Napiera Groves), leaving T-Bone and Baby Boy alone to get high. Little do they know that the clown demon Killjoy (Ángel Vargas) has arrived to exact revenge on Michael’s behalf. The circus is in town, and it’s going to be one hell of a show!

     

    Review

    Killjoy isn’t precisely what I’d call a great start compared to other Full Moon franchises, but it’s not all bad. Much like Trancers 6, this one does its best with its low budget, but it doesn’t have the baggage. This one doesn’t have to go up against several past films that had substantially higher budgets or more talented people. That said, this one feels like early 2000s Full Moon: shot on video, lackluster effects, and subpar acting. However, what makes this film easier to watch is primarily Ángel Vargas’ performance as the titular psychotic clown demon. He’s having fun cackling like a maniac and spouting off some of the cheesiest one-liners you’ll ever hear. Not to mention, he’s got a unique look that makes him stand out from other killer clowns. He doesn’t quite match up to Radu, Blade, or Jack Deth, but he’s certainly memorable.

    Given the low budget and short schedule he had to work with, Craig Ross Jr. makes the most of it. He shoots the film competently enough, employing some colored lighting here and there, as well as the occasional dutch angle. One thing you’ll notice is the overuse of stock sound effects, mainly whenever someone opens the ice cream truck doors. Even a few stock scream sounds are used in one scene, though surprisingly, there’s no Wilhelm scream used. Aside from Vargas, the rest of the acting is pretty stale, almost on par with most softcore pornos on Cinemax. It’s pretty funny seeing Jamal Grimes, who clearly has defined muscles, being a nerd just by wearing glasses. What also helps is that the film’s only 72 minutes long, so while it’s not good, it’s at least short. Overall, Killjoy isn’t anything special, but it’s worth a watch, especially with some drinks.

     

    Buy Killjoy 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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  • Igor and the Lunatics (1985)

    Igor and the Lunatics (1985)

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    In addition to producing their brand of schlock, Troma Entertainment has picked up several titles to distribute. Admittedly, most of them can be complete dreck, but every so often, you’ll find something like Cannibal! The Musical. For every classic like The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke ‘Em High, you’ll get trash like Deadly Daphne’s Revenge. Quality aside, Troma wants to encourage young, independent filmmakers to get their movies out there for the world to see. While you may not be financially successful right away, your film will eventually find its audience, which is more important. That said, Troma will sometimes pick up a movie for distribution to have a product to push out. Often, this can lead to Troma putting out just pure garbage that even they come to regret later on. Such is the case with the forgotten 1985 film Igor and the Lunatics.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”40″ bar_bg_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    In the 1960s, Paul Byron (T.J. Glenn) led a hippie cult that worshiped him among men. However, one of its members, Jimmy (Christopher Chandley), wants out because he witnessed them committing terrible acts of murder. While Paul is locked away in prison for several murders, he’s freed after 16 years and is looking for revenge. He reunites with his old lackey Igor (Joe Niola) to search for a child Paul believes is his. Said child is found by Jimmy’s wife, Mary-Ann (Mary Ann Schacht), making it more personal for Paul. Meanwhile, a Native American man named Hawk (Peter Dain) is trying to protect the child since he helped raise him. Soon, all the groups come together to fight to the death to either reclaim or protect the child. It’s an all-out rampage headlined by Igor and the Lunatics!

     

    Review

    As of writing this review, I’ve done the Troma Tuesdays series for almost a year now. In that time, I’ve reviewed some genuinely Troma-rific classics, but I’ve also seen my fair share of dreck. Unfortunately, Igor and the Lunatics is probably the worst Troma movie I’ve reviewed so far, and that’s saying something. I had to look up several other reviews to remember what exactly happened because I forgot just about everything. I could go on about the shoddy production value, the questionable acting, and the weird pacing issues. However, despite all of that, this film commits the ultimate sin a film could commit: it’s boring. The opening scene offers some nudity and blood, and there are a few other scenes like that. Unfortunately, for those ten minutes, you have to sit through an hour and twelve minutes of nothing!

    When you look up the cast for this, you’ll find that most of them never worked on anything else. In fact, the film’s director didn’t make another film for almost twenty years and hasn’t made one since 2011. Considering how little information there is on the production, I almost wonder what happened to these people. Its production history would probably be much more interesting than the film itself, but we may never know. If there are any positives, I will say that some of the gore effects are actually pretty good. Some highlights include a girl getting sawed in half and a guy getting a machete to the face. Also, while I panned this movie for its shoddy production values, some scenes have a nice gritty quality. This one might be good for a few drunken laughs, but overall, Igor and the Lunatics is not worth watching.

     

    Buy Igor and the Lunatics from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AluZw7.

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