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Girls for Rent (1974)
A gem from the 70's
For a while now, I've been on a quest to find hidden epic film experiences in what most people consider trash. I've come pretty close on many occasions, but possibly never so close as with this film. Al Adamson, the director, had a singular vision. A vision that admittedly fell short sometimes, but nonetheless provides for a viewing experience that is always, to say the least, unique. Georgina Spelvin, the overwhelmingly underrated star of the original "The Devil in Miss Jones", rips to shreds the southwestern Arizona scenery in Adamson's "I Spit on your Corpse", AKA "Girls For Rent". Here she plays a chain gang killer who makes her escape while on a desert road crew, killing several guards on her own. Once back in the loop, she's hired to hit a greedy politician, and so plans his demise with a heart attack inducing drug to be administered to him by a hooker who also works for the Man who hired Georgina. The hooker freaks when he dies because she was told it would just knock him out so they could take incriminating pictures of him. She goes on the run and hit-man logic states that if shes scared enough to run, shes scared enough to talk. So Georgina and her tough talking 70's style Black female partner, Played by Rosalind Miles set out after her across the desert of Arizona. Even though our hooker heroine has quite the head start, the salt and pepper hit ladies soon catch up with her. But because of poor driving skills or under performing Ford Pinto's they lose their prey. Then after a series of near misses and brutal outbursts the film climaxes with a very, almost, satisfying climax that even while being a little too convenient, still packs quite a punch. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a cool 70's vibe in their action quest.
Swamp Country (1966)
Okeefenokum hokum, but in a good way!
The main reason for watching this movie is to see one of the only appearances on film of the amazing Baker Knight. Baker wrote songs for some of the biggest names in show biz and this is a great chance to hear him perform. If you like the rock-a-billy sound of Ricky Nelson and Southern Culture on the skids, this is one of the guys who helped create that sound. An unsung hero of a classic musical groove, Baker Knight should never be forgotten. The movie is pretty good too. Definitely not wasted time. When a town floozy is murdered at the local hotel, another guest is accused of the murder. The big guy makes his escape into the swamp, with the local law and their hound dogs in pursuit. Meanwhile, a little red headed baby doll flirts it up with the town balladeer and the, old enough to be her Paw, sheriff. Who will she choose? Who will the murderer save next? How many cool songs can one movie have? Check this out.
Untamed Fury (1947)
Backwoods hilarity!
If you've ever heard stories of backswamp gator baiting, here's your chance to see it in action. This is the story of two young boys, used as bait to catch gators, who grow up competing with each other over who is the best at what they do. But one of the fathers wants his son to go on to better things and so sends him off to school. When he comes back to the swamp an educated man, the old rivalry ensues. I imagine this movies main selling point back in 1947 was the gator baiting scene and the young girl cutting her overalls to shreds to form an early variation on the bikini. Its a short film, one like they use to show before the main feature instead of irritating commercials like they do now, so you won't feel like you wasted too much of you time.
Maniac (1934)
A silly shocker
Sheesh! I wasn't expecting anything like this. I received the collection this movie is on for my birthday, from my sister in law. The whole family knows I love horror, fantasy and Science Fiction films. This one sat around for a couple of months. Constantly getting shuffled back to the back of the pile of unwatched DVDs that I try to keep on hand so I always have something to watch besides regular TV. The other night I awoke from a sound sleep and could not fall back and so this collection was put into the player. Immediately I thought I was in for a very strange treat. The actors were so over the top that I found myself even more awake. The story says it is based on some Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, but just barely. A mad doctor needs a dead body to test out his new re animating solution. So he and his ex vaudeville assistant go to the morgue to steal a cadaver, a young girl who committed suicide. They revive her and take her back to the lab, but we don't see her again for a while. The next time we do see her she stumbles zombie like into the arms of a madman who proceeds to tear off her clothes. We get nude girl in a 1934 movie! Its quick, so don't blink, but they come back to her a couple more times and then there are other 30's floozy types that spice up the proceedings with an old fashioned cat fight down to the underwear, along with several real cat, cat- fights that lead up to the part stolen from Poe, with a cat bricked in the wall with a murder victim. If you can stand the crazy bad acting its definitely worth a look and less than an hour long so you don't lose too much of your life.
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
missed opportunity
It really doesn't pay to expect respect from Hollywood, just watch the new installment of the Punisher for confirmation. The source material is of course a comic book, but for the last three or so years those comics have told some of the best character driven stories ever told in any field. Sadly the Punisher: War Zone, barely touches any of those story elements and instead gives us a 90 minute shoot out with little or no story worth remembering 5 minutes after the viewing experience is over. However, Ray Stephensons portrayal of the Punisher, even without a descent story, is the best of the three who've brought this character to life. We probably won't get another version of the Punisher on film for a long time, but if you want to see what it could of been check out one of the graphic collections by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Goran Parlov and several others in the marvel MAX series.