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I guerrieri dell'anno 2072 (1984)
Weird Gladiator Action film from Fulci!
Lucio Fulci never fails to intrigue me with his incredibly ambitious projects and dedication to the craft. Not one to let a budget stand in his way, Fulci takes on large effects heavy films and delivers regardless of the visual appeal. Sometimes the effects in his movies are just downright ugly. But he makes it look so good. Warriors of the Year 2072 is no exception. It's beautiful. Vibrant and crisp. A stark contrast to what I would think the future would have looked like.
Written and Directed by Lucio Fulci and featuring a cadre of screenwriters including Dardano Sacchetti (The Beyond, City of the Living Dead, and Amityville II), Elisa Briganti (Zombie, A Blade in the Dark, and 1990: Bronx Warriors), and Cesare Frugoni (Island of the Fishmen). We are treated to an early Running Man type story of vengeance, complete with gladiatorial fights and motorcycle chariots.
Fulci's mastery of practical effects is on full display, with impressive miniature work reminiscent of Ishiro Honda's iconic creations. The art direction is superb, and the use of wax work, particularly in the melting faces and walls, adds a grotesque yet mesmerizing touch. His willingness to experiment with various practical effects techniques is evident throughout the film. There is even a bit of animation and rotoscoping.
"Okay Raven, now I want you to zap me with your magic stick!"
American actor Jared Martin plays our lead. He grew to fame on the TV show, Dallas in 1978. He's actually really great in this and I would have loved to have seen him in some other Italian features. He plays Drake, the biggest TV star in the world, who was recently framed for taking the law into his own hands and murdering his wife's assailants. He's given a chance to clear his name if he competes in a new gladiator-esq TV show for a struggling network, the WBS Gladiator Contest. And once the movie starts heating up, Martin holds his own. It was easy to get on his side as he's pretty likable. And his attempts to escape and push his weight around were amusing.
"Drake! The world's most popular Kill Bike Champion! Now condemned to die for killing the three men that brutally murdered his lovely wife. AVOXO"
Everyone in the cast is pretty unique for the most part. Fred Williamson is the most famous of the bunch and this is right in the middle of his Italian escapades. We've already seen him pop up in our project on films like Vigilante and 1990: The Bronx Warriors. Always a gruff badass and always welcome on my TV screen. I recognized a few more faces including Italian actor Al Cliver (Devil Hunter & Endgame), he's always great. And he never lives 😂. But also Claudio Cassinelli (Lion in the Desert & The Scorpion with Two Tails). He's sort of a big deal in Italian cinema and he's perfect for this Fulci picture.
Another thing that added to my enjoyment of this picture is Riz Ortolani's soundtrack as a standout element. It's good. Just what I would expect. The main theme perfectly complements the film's action and suspense. I was humming it all day. I was also pleased to see that the soundtrack is available on the Severin blu-ray release as a welcome bonus for fans.
Now a few gripes. While the film boasts a talented writing team, the script feels somewhat unfinished and rushed. Drake being framed and abducted by WBD could have been expanded on. Maybe even focusing on the development of a gladiator program could have been further explored. And it plays fast and loose with the plot development. But these complaints are less of a distraction and more par for the course with cheap Italian scifi. I wasn't too bothered and these flaws didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the film. It remains entertaining and engaging throughout, with multiple viewings revealing new details and nuances. The film's unique blend of action, suspense, and dark humor makes it a perfect fit for a late-night viewing on a show like MonsterVision.
It's always a treat to watch Fulci movies. You never know where you're going or just what's going to transpire. While it's far from perfect, Warriors of the Year, 2072 is a far more entertaining feature than A Man Called Rage and Rats: Night of Terror. Three stars.
Rage - Fuoco incrociato (1984)
Terrible Italian Wasteland Action
Torrino Ricci had years of filmmaking experience before he even started on A Man Called Rage. However, the film's outcome suggests he might have been better off searching for other projects. Helmed by Ricci and written by Jaime Comas Gil and Eugenio Benito, the movie stands out for its perplexing quality. One of the most notable aspects is the eclectic and disconcerting soundtrack. While some scenes are accompanied by smooth jazz and easy-listening tunes, others are plagued with jarring and discordant music, seemingly chosen based solely on what rights were accessible. This terrible soundtrack detracts from the film's action, creating an odd juxtaposition when, for example, a Kenny G-esque song plays during Rage's battles with wastelanders.
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a group of fighters sets out on a perilous journey, guided by a mercenary named Rage. Their mission is to find uranium, a precious resource that could save their people. Along their path, Rage and his crew will encounter some of the most brutal and merciless killers that the surface has to offer, making their quest all the more dangerous and uncertain.
I am really struggling with this one. It's horrible. Bruno Minniti is so boring and a horrible leading character. The dialogue is laughable. And the worst part is that it's so horrible to try and follow along with. Everything is so drab and lame. Anna Karin and Taida Urruzola are the best parts of the movie and they are only there for eye-candy. And it's hard to keep them in order. I think Anna Karin was traveling with the bad-guy Slash. But she might have been the lady traveling with our heroes.
Unfortunately, there isn't enough here to provide a meaningful rating. Half a star.
Meatballs Part II (1984)
It's got a stoner alien... that's about it.
Isn't summer camp kind of weird? Your parents send you out into the woods with a bunch of strangers for days, weeks, and sometimes even longer. I was a camp kid. My parents would send me off to summer camp or church camp. And I would be lying if I said I didn't. Have a great time. That being said, summer camp movies hold a special place for me. Especially these movies from the '70s and '80s. Kids were just let loose during that time. It was hilarious. Not every movie can be a classic though. Such as our latest rental...
Meatballs Part 2 is a screwball summer camp comedy directed by Ken Wiederhorn who was last seen on RottenPop back in 1981 when he directed Eyes of a Stranger. This sequel to the 1979 original stars Richard Mulligan, Hamilton Camp, John Mengatti, Kim Richards, Archie Hahn, Misty Rowe, and John Larroquette. It was released to theaters in the US on July 27th, 1984.
The film follows the teens and counselors of Camp Sasquatch as they gear up for a summer of fun. But their plans are threatened when a neighboring military camp wants to buy their land. Coach Giddy (Mulligan), the camp's operator, decides to gamble the camp's future on a boxing match. Oh, and did I mention there's a weed-smoking alien?
The movie is packed with classic '80s character tropes: jocks, bimbos, greaser bullies, nerds - the whole shebang. There's also a cast of recognizable character actors. Richard Mulligan is entertaining as Coach Giddy, though he always strikes me as a budget Leslie Nielsen. Paul Reubens, as the goofy bus driver, has some great moments. I'm a big Reubens fan, so I might be biased, but I wish he had a larger role.
Interestingly, child stars Jason Hervey and Ralph Seymour, who appear in this film, later joined Reubens in his 1985 hit, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Hamilton Camp and John Larroquette play into a sort of exaggerated, homophobic/closeted alpha male stereotype, reminiscent of the militant father in last year's Packin' it In. Larroquette is essentially reprising his Stripes (1981) shtick, which is fine by me, and it's fun to see him just before his Night Court fame. Also, one of the kid actors was previously in The Invisible Woman (1983), another film we reviewed on RottenPop.
It's a shame to see such a talented cast wasted on this material. The writing and jokes are atrocious; nothing lands. The highlight is the stoner alien - yes, an alien with a stereotypical Jewish accent, clearly added to capitalize on the popularity of E. T. I chuckled a few times during his scenes, but it wasn't enough to save the film.
I did like the scene where the kids and the alien watch Shock Waves, Wiederhorn's first film. Definitely not age-appropriate for a kids' camp! But the movie desperately needed better leads. John Mengatti, who gets the second most screen time after Mulligan, is just awful. His character is unlikable and one-dimensional. The boxing match drags on for way too long, and the climax is underwhelming. The weed-smoking alien is the only saving grace, and that's not saying much.
I watched it, but I'm not sure why I bothered. There were a few laughs, but mostly I just sat there wishing Bill Murray would show up. He's sorely missed. There are countless better summer camp movies out there, and Meatballs Part 2 falls to the bottom of the barrel. Maybe the next installment will redeem the series.
Dances with Wolves (1990)
A Good Kevin Costner picture.
Now this epic western is a Kevin Costner picture based on a 1988 novel, Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake. Blake also penned the screenplay for the film. The movie delivers a very American Social Studies version of the US Civil War and the Sioux tribe. This is a very well made movie with a great cast, terrific story, and high-quality production. There are some alarming scenes for animal lovers. However, the Buffalo hunting scenes are breathtaking. It's no wonder that DwW took home so many awards at the 1991 Academy Awards. I'm not going to say that this is going to be for everyone. It's kind of a commitment since the run time is up to three and a half hours depending on the version you see. At least fifteen of those minutes feature Costner's butt. A trope in Costner pictures. But if you are checking out movies from 1990 then I think you've gotta check it out at least once.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
John Carpenter presents an original Lovecraftian tale
In the Mouth of Madness is an American psychological horror film from director John Carpenter. It serves as the third and final film in Carpenter's Apocalypse Trilogy of movies. The others being Prince of Darkness and The Thing. Starring Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow, David Warner and Charlton Heston. The film was distributed by New Line Pictures and released on December 10th, 1994 in Italy before being released in the US the following year.
The story is told in a flashback. An insurance adjuster (Sam Neill) is investigating the disappearance of horror writer Sutter Cane. After his books seem to be having a strange effect on his readers. He goes with the writers editor (Julie Carmen) to look for the fictional town, Hobb's End. In hopes of finding the reclusive writer. They actually find the town and find themselves being written into the next best selling Sutter Cane book. Or, did they not exist until Cane wrote about them?
The psychological elements are incorporated with a lot of care and respect for the genre. Carpenter did an amazing job delivering tension and anxiety in every scene. This is a perfect homage to Lovecraftian works, while also putting a finish on the Apocalypse Trilogy.
Sam Neill goes off the rails with his performance. We watch this man have a mental-breakdown and it's awesome. His character, John Trent, is a sceptical insurance adjuster that travels to the seemingly fictional town of Hobbs End to find the horror novelist, Sutter Cane. It's An oddball locale to lose your mind in. A place full of tortured souls and creatures from beyond.
The downside is the obvious financial limits that John Carpenter had to work with. The film was shot in Canada and for some reason some of the lines were poorly over-dubbed. It takes me out of the movie every time. I think the worst is Sutter Canes agent breaking a window and asking, "...do you read Sutter Cane?" I just don't like it.
Although it has a few flaws, John Carpenter's Lovecraftian love-letter is definitely worth a watch. In the Mouth of Madness provides a lot of anxiety driving scenes that will keep you positioned on the edge of your seat for the entire viewing. I have seen this film multiple times now. But still get creeped out by the dreary location and doomed vibe. It's not a hard movie to find and is pretty common online. Check it out.
Tutti i colori del buio (1972)
Beautiful and Entertaining... if you like Giallo
An Italian Giallo picture from acclaimed director Sergio Martino. Starring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimov, Julian Ugarte, George Rigaud, Susan Scott, and Marina Malfatti. The film was released on February 28h, 1972 by Interfilm in Italy. It was released in the United States in 1976 under the title There Coming to Get You!
Synopsis
Jane lives in London with her boyfriend, Richard. She is haunted by visions from her past. Visions of her mother being murdered when she was five. The baby she had recently lost in a car crash. And also, a knife-wielding man with icy blue eyes. Her boyfriend has her on vitamins to help curb the hallucinations. But it might be exacerbating things. Jane's sister recommends psychiatric care, but Richard won't hear it. A strange neighbor suggests a satanic ritual performed at a black mass. Jane goes through with it. However, now the visions are seeming all too real. Now the nightmares are coming to life.
Analysis
Jane is being held back by the drugs Richard has her on, and the effects stemming from the Black Mass she attended. All of the characters that are poised to "help" Jane end up making her problems worse. The movie does a good job of keeping things fairly ambiguous by leaving it up to the imagination whether or not these people are conspiring against her.
However, the entire thing is a metaphor for this depressed and bored housewife to be free and be on her own. Void of these hang-ups that haunt her. A disinterested lover, an overbearing sister, and a clueless therapist. Ultimately she gets this wish granted, albeit gruesomely.
The pacing and style of the film help keep the viewers disoriented. It feels very dreamlike, leaving us wondering what's real and what's fiction. We watch in agony as Jane tries to unravel the mystery of the stab-happy killer, but it's torturous to watch her try and progress. You fear for Jane seeing what's happening to this poor woman.
The music by Bruno Nicolai is good but strangely placed in weird scenes. The Black Mass is one good example of this. It's a horrific scene with a dog being killed and drained of its blood followed by a kissing orgy. However, it's presented with this spaghetti western type score. It's very bizarre and a bit off-putting. But I think the filmmaker missed his mark with this scene.
The cinematography by Giancarlo Ferrando and Miguel Fernández Mila is great too. I love the lighting throughout the picture. It's done well and it works with the vibrant colors in each scene.
Overall
All the Colors of the Dark is very reminiscent of Roman Polanski's 1968 classic, Rosemary's Baby. The satanic imagery and torture of a poor, mentally frail, young woman are in line with the style of that picture. It's not presented as well. But this film hits most of the same beats. I found myself really getting into it. Very impressed with the filmmaking, but generally intrigued by the story. It's a good Giallo picture. I can safely recommend this to cinephiles, but I don't think you would fall into it unless you had an interest in these weird little Italian flicks.
Into the Dark: The Body (2018)
The Body is the perfect treat for the Halloween season!
Into the Dark: The Body is a horror film produced by Blumhouse Pictures and the Hulu streaming service. It was released on October 5th, 2018, and serves as the first entry to this project known as Into The Dark. This first episode is directed by Paul Davis and stars Tom Bateman, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Aurora Perrineau, David Hull and Ray Santiago.
A hitman, who had just killed someone, needs to transport the body of his victim on Halloween night. Left without a working vehicle due to Halloween antics, he is abandoned. However, three friends on their way to a lit "A-F" party, mistake the hitman and dead body for a costume and prop. They invite him to have just one drink, before helping him get on with his night.
I thought this was a good first outing for the Into the Dark series. The Body has some really bloody effects that are sure to please the gorehounds. It looked like everything was practical, but there might have been some minimal computer assistance. Either way, the killings were gory and merciless. If you like blood. This will be right up your alley.
The acting wasn't the best, but it wasn't horrible. Ray Santiago was funny. It was cool seeing him outside of Ash vs. The Evil Dead. I liked Rebecca Rittenhouse as Maggie. But, Tom Bateman was a cold and calculating killer. His presence as Wilkes the Hitman is terrifying. Director Paul Davis did a great job of delivering scenes of sickening suspense and gore spliced with drama and dark humorous comedy.
Tales from the Darkside: The Word Processor of the Gods (1984)
The Word Processor of the Gods (1984) - Michael Gornick
The Word Processor of the Gods is a television episode of the horror anthology series, Tales from the Darkside. It had aired on November 25th, 1984, and is the ninth episode of the first season. Michael Gornick, the cinematographer for Creepshow and Dawn of the Dead, is at the helm for this episode. It's based on a short story by Stephen King, and stars Bruce Davison, Karen Shallo, Patrick Piccininni, and William Cain. It's not the usual guts and gore horror movie that you might be used too. Instead it focuses on creepy situational suspense to deliver the scares.
Richard Hagstrom is a struggling writer that is having issues with his family. However, things turn around when his late nephew leaves him a Word Processor that he had custom-built. A Word Processor with a special trait. Anything that Richard writes about happens in real life. Doesn't like his wife. Blink her out of existence! Don't like your kid? Blink him out of existence. Want some Spanish doubloons? Blink them into reality!
This was a fantastic episode that leaves me wanting more. It's not a good enough story for a full movie, but it could have been one of the features during the failed Creepshow 3. I love how simple this episode can be, yet how entertaining and intriguing the source material is. If you haven't seen Tales from the Darkside yet, then this would be a great introduction. Fun and good for Stephen King fans.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
A Vincent Price movie from the Seventies... need I say more?
The Abominable Dr. Phibes is a horror dark-comedy from 1971, directed by Robert Fuest and starring Vincent Price in the lead role, alongside Joseph Cotten, Peter Jeffrey, and Virginia North. It's a beautiful film that leans heavily on the art-direction and set design. Very vibrant and colorful for such a dark and gloomy tale. American International Pictures had seen to the distribution of the film, which did well at the box office. It's no surprise since this is one of the greatest horror movies of all time.
The setting is London in 1925. Vincent Price plays Dr. Anton Phibes, a famous musician that was believed to have been killed in a terrible accident back in 1921. He was rushing home after hearing about his wife's demise during surgery. Phibes had survived the accident in secret but suffered damage to his throat and face. Anger and rage take control as the not-so-good Doctor exacts his revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife. Motivated by the Old Testament, Dr. Phibes takes great pride in the killing of these surgeons using methods from the Ten Plagues of Egypt.
This film serves as one of the most creative and intriguing entries into horror during the nineteen-seventies. It may be deemed too corny by today's standards. But it has a certain quality that couldn't be duplicated. It's almost as if the movie is so weird it's off-putting. Vincent Price delivers a tremendous performance that has some great detail. The scenes of him using an electrolarynx were great. He commands a scene every time he is on the screen.
Bats on strings, bright neon colored blood, bizarre pseudo-psychedelic musical scenes that have disjointed shots and cuts. Everything screams camp, but for some reason, it all comes together neatly in a creepy little package. I have watched this movie quite a few times and enjoyed it with each viewing. The creative deaths are always entertaining. Quite a treat for fans of these kitschy horror flicks. I know it made a fan of me.
Lethal Weapon (1987)
The quintessential buddy cop action flick!
Lethal Weapon is the eighties action film that kicked off the whole buddy-cop trope in Hollywood. It's directed by Richard Donner (Superman II) and penned by Shane Black (Predator). Our cast of stars features Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in the lead roles with Gary Busey as a henchman to the main villain, The General played by Mitchell Ryan. I decided to pair the film with a nice Indica like King Louis XIII from Marley Natural. It's a relaxing strain that provides a good deal of happiness. A good combination to dive right into a badass picture like this. The earthy tastes and piny aromas pair well with a good beer too. If that's your kind of thing.
The film follows the pairing of two LAPD detectives. Martin Riggs is a detective that is psychologically broken and emotionally damaged following the death of his wife. Roger Murtaugh is a veteran cop that works hard to support his family. They get paired together as partners working various crimes and bonding. Roger is constantly tested by Riggs' inherently psychotic behavior. He almost gives up. However, after things go south and the duo bands together to put an end to a very dangerous group of drug smugglers called Shadow Company.
The film features cheesy action film acting and witty dialogue, mostly between Gibson and just about everyone he comes in contact with. His Martin Riggs character is iconic. He stands as one of the best cops in movie history. Danny Glover is the perfect straight man but it's kind of unfortunate that he was so tight cast. Busey is badass in this movie. He looks awesome and does a great job of projecting himself as menacing. Tom Atkins is good too, his role is minimal, but he gives it everything. That is up until his death, which is rather goofy looking.
Lethal Weapon also has an amazing soundtrack provided by Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton. Yes, that Eric Clapton. The howling saxophone and blazing guitar set upon a sprawling Los Angeles cityscape provide an amazing atmosphere for the story. The soundtrack provides a great technique for building suspense that gets paid off with intense action scenes.
This movie is a hell of a ride. It builds an amazing world that gets explored at break-neck speed. In some cases it's far too fast-paced to be bad. All of the faults with the film are steamrolled by the constant action. The fight scenes are brutal and unrelenting. The final showdown is a thing of pure eighties glory. I love it. It's a classic that should be enjoyed by everyone at least once! There's a reason that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia loves it so much.
The King Louis XIII paired really well with Lethal Weapon. It tasted so good, I ended up having an extra snapper or two. The cannabis had me feeling really relaxed and sunken into my couch. The uplifting effects had me alert and ready for the suspense of the action scenes, which were numerous. The effects were long lasting and are still prevalent when writing this review. Although it feels great, the taste and smell are the leading factors with this particular batch from Marley Natural. Check it out if you can!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Maybe if I close my eyes hard enough this movie will have been just a bad dream!
This is a pretty movie. Its apparent from the start, that this remake of the 1984 classic, has a pretty good sized budget to work with. In fact the budget for this incarnation was $35 Million according to Wikipedia. The budget for the Wes Craven original, $1.8 Million. You don't always get a better movie if your budget is huge, look at Avatar. You just get a really pretty movie that looks polished and has flawless special effects. Again, see Avatar. That movie was nothing but flash. The story is unoriginal and weak... and don't try coming at me with this whole "Shut up man! Avatar proved itself!" shut up! The larger budget in this case makes the movie look too polished to be takes seriously. Why the hell are we caring about watching clones of the Twilight teens being chased by Freddy Kruger? Were not. This movie didn't need a budget of $35 Million. It feels wasted. Some of the appeal of the original came from watching the director be a director and figure scenes out. This movie didn't do that. It felt trite and forced.
Freddy Kruger is less of a movie villain in the horror industry and more of an icon. Everyone I knew growing up all had Freddy Kruger nightmares when they were a kid. Perhaps this new version of Freddy will serve to scare the poop out of kids these days. I would hope so. Maybe when they remake this movie again in twenty years they will bitch about it then as well. Who knows.
The Terror Within (1989)
It's Not That Great
The acting is poor and the story is just as inspired. It's crazy to sit back sometimes and just see how much they ripped off other movies. And not just good movies either. B-Movies. Schlock films. It has it's moments, sure. It's definitely a midnight creature feature. However, it sacrifices good old fashioned exploitation for just lazy film-making. Can you blame it? Everyone has to get paid somehow and these movies were being pressed out a lot.
A few moments into this picture and you can start to see the low-budget sleaze oozing through the cracks. The jokes and innuendos are all reminiscent of a Corman Picture. The corner-cutting in editing and sub- par audio are all present too. Not to say that it isn't entertaining. Movies like this usually are. This just isn't a movie that's fit for everyone. You have to be in the mood.
Maggie (2015)
Not the Arnold/Zombie movie I expected!
First off, I am a huge fan of Arnold. My favorite being Total Recall. It's what drew me into this movie in the first place. Upon watching it I was pleasantly surprised that this was nothing like other Schwarzenegger movies. Explosions, catch phrases, and endless supplies of ammunition are sacrificed for fantastically dramatic acting and astute themes. In short. This movie isn't Total Recall.
Maggie has been bitten by a zombie and infected with the virus. Her transformation is slow coming but undeniable. Her father, Wade, decides to keep an eye on her and vows to do what needs to be done. He takes her out into the country, back to their home. He and his wife try to enjoy what little time they have left with her. However, the time is ticking. Maggie tries to come to grips with the reality of her situation while we watch her literally deteriorate.
Arnold Schwarzenegger really shows off his acting chops in this one. Arnold Schwarzenegger really shows off his acting chops in this one. This movie doesn't move as slowly as you would expect. In fact, it has a pretty steady tone and is so full of suspense that it doesn't really give you a second to lose interest. Abigail Breslin and Arnold Schwarzenegger do a phenomenal job. If you really want to watch Arnold act then check this out. This movie delivers the gore pretty well too. You get a lot of really nasty looking zombie stuff mixed with some heavy emotional scenes. It's a trip. Not to mention how wonderfully shot this movie is. Seriously, it's pretty.
Surprisingly this movie mixes Gore and Emotion. It's a rare combination. I completely advocate for this movie. It's the best zombie movie of 2015, so far. And it's definitely not the type of movie you picture when you hear about a Schwarzenegger zombie film. However, it does a really good job. This movie focuses on the emotional side of the zombie outbreak. The zombies featured are not quick-moving ninja zombies. These are the slow shuffling type. It's not incredibly scary so don't add this to any play-lists for Halloween. Instead, throw this movie on during a stormy night with your significant other. It's perfect for that.
Humanoids from the Deep (1980)
Not a quality picture, but a fun picture.
This is your standard old drive-in Creature Feature that has tons of gore and boobs. It's great if your in for a cheap thrill. This film goes right up along side any Roger Corman produced picture from the eighties. It's rumored that he was approached to direct this movie but he decided to produce it. Humanoids from the Deep, also known as Monster, is a strange but forgettable piece of exploitation that failed to make it's notch in history. Don't let that detour you though. This is a really fun little film that doesn't fail to be entertaining.
A small sea town in California is terrorized by some mutated creatures from the deep. They look like some sort of mutated fish, merman- thing. They seem to have one goal in mind and that is raping and impregnating the females of the town. Also the town is being taken for a ride by a shifty businessman and his new corporate cannery. Could this evil cannery corporation be responsible for the Extreme Creatures of the Black Lagoon?
This movie is all that you would expect from a Corman production. Apparently, the Director Barbara Peeters was unaware of the amount of skin that would be shown. But critics have touted it as necessary. I have to disagree. The film could have been just as good without the copious amounts of breasts, but then what would set it aside? It has its place in the eighties as a Grindhouse picture and serves that reputation well. The acting is far below par. Even from veterans like Doug McClure and Vic Marrow. Except, you don't watch movies like this for the acting do you?
A decent amount of gore. Tons of graphic content. This movie is not a kid's picture. The plot may seem a bit immature but believe me, it isn't for children. Think of it as an adult Creature from the Black Lagoon. I recommend it to those that are curious. If you have seen most eighties horror movies, there is a good chance that you haven't seen this.
Check it out and share what you think!
The Ghost Breakers (1940)
Better than expected. A fun horror movie.
Horror movies during this period didn't really have a lot of depth. They all followed a similar plot and had very similar characters. The most obviously used is the Old Dark House storyline. The Ghost Breakers appeared be another, factory run horror movie. Reusing the same old tropes. Only, this proved better. Bob Hope is in top form. Paulette Goddard is a looker. You get Ghosts, Zombies, Voodoo, and yes... an Old Dark House. But it's done so well! It's based on a play Paul Dickey.
It's a fun movie that I recommend to the hardcore horror fans. It's a chore to get casual horror fans enjoy a movie as dated as this one. However, if you can appreciate the fast talking and quick wit of Bob Hope then I think you will like this one. Watch this with your grandparents. They might like it.
The Willies (1990)
Hell of a Kid's Movie
First off this movie would never have the ability to qualify for a PG-13 rating now-a-days. It is frightening. It's like a Nickelodeon horror movie. It has some really adult size horror, but can't shake that safe feeling that children's programming provides. This is an Anthology horror film that features a couple of different tales. These are always fun as they tend to provide some much needed variety.
The film is about a group of kids, camping out and telling scary stories around the fire. They make reference to The Goonies and apparently Sean Astin is playing the same character that he was in that movie. Or at least that is what the rumor mill was saying. The kid's give us a lot of quick, short stories to kick it off. Surprisingly this is all part of a cold open that seems to take forever.
They finally delve into some really bizarre tales. The first is about a scrawny, kid that has a problem with getting bullied at school. He discovers some strange, gargoyle-like monster hiding in the Boys Room. He also discovers that this monster has ripped the head off of his favorite janitor. He tries to find help, but one by one the Monster kills every intruder. It's actually kind of neat.
The second feature is about this ass-hat of a kid named Gordy Belcher, that is obsessed with flies. Especially if they are dead flies. He puts the flies in a tiny diorama that he has in his basement. The flies are all set-up in these everyday life poses. It's kind of lame. He pisses everyone in town off with his ghoulish behavior, and kicks up a rivalry with a mad scientist of sorts
This movie isn't hurting for star power. Sean Austin, Jeremy Miller, James Karen, Kathleen Freeman, Michael Bower, Bill Erwin, Dana Ashbrook, Kirk Cameron, and even Doug Benson have a part in it. The writing and acting are all television quality but that doesn't take away from anything. The weirdest thing is the cold open. It's strange. And the individual scenes seem to go on for way too long and the plot just gets muddy.
The nostalgic factor really played a part with me here. I think I may have seen this when I was a child. It seems so familiar. I didn't expect much and I felt okay with what I had gotten. Others seem to really hate this movie, but I don't understand the hate. It's not the best so don't go into this expecting anything. Just watch it for what it is. A really weird early 90's kids horror movie.
Une nuit terrible (1896)
Classic short and the beginning of horror!
Georges Méliès does it again in the same fashion as Le Manoir du Diable. Albeit shorter than his prior voyage into horror film. This is at least a different story. Instead of this being a period piece, it appears to be a modern one.
The film shows George Melies, himself, having One Terrible Night with a creepy, crawly, spider. The film is one of dozens of shorts released during the era that focused more on drawing crowds biased on technology rather than the plot of a film. It is still going to be a few years before Horror is fully shaped and functioning.
If you are curious to see what film looked like in the 1800's then check out below where I have included the short.
Georges Méliès stars as himself in this one man performance. The Film is called One Terrible Night
Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Girls, Gore, and Ghosts with help from horror icon Roger Corman!
I had never heard about this until I came across it on Netflix. I saw that Sid Haig was in it and couldn't wait to check it out and see what it had to offer. However, it didn't offer very much.
Galaxy of Terror is fun movie to watch ironically. Its an odd mix of Alien and Event Horizon. The film takes place on a strange planet where your worst fear can come to life! Each member of the crew aboard the Quest is in fight for their life!
Fear is the driving force behind this eighties b-movie. Every member of the crew that dies has one thing in common. The deaths are all based on the person's fear. This makes for some pretty neat kills, albeit weird and strange. But that is what I love about these movies. Even though this movie was trash, it had some really creative death scenes and with Roger Corman behind it, there was some really decent sleaze. Case in point is the maggot rape scene. Just let that sink in for a bit. The movie is chock full of cheesy effects and schlock. Girls, Guts, and Ghosts are what you should be expecting when your going into this. Just try not to judge them so harshly.
This movie has great timing and a pretty decent cast. Robert Englund, Edward Albert, Erin Moran, Taaffe O'Connell, Zalman King, Grace Zabriskie, and of course Sid Haig. The problem is with the story and practicality. I know as well as anyone that you have to kind of throw those two things out the window. However, it's really hard in this case. This movie has way too many holes. It feels like it left a ton of stuff out. Characters were badly introduced or explained and because of that they never really rounded out. The story starts to lag towards the end. However, luckily it only has an 88 minute run time.