Monthly Archives: July 2020

Bloodbaths and Boomsticks has another two episodes up so take a listen!

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This week we put on our swatch watches, get out our Rubik’s cube, and pop some quarters in that old Pac man machine as we pick out some of our favorite flicks from 1980 and 1981.  Was also chat about that time Mothra shit all over Kyle’s laundry, Godzilla movies, homemade board games, shitty shark films, and the death of Joel Schumacher?  We also do a rundown of all the news this week brought us, and what we have been watching.  So download this episode or Batman’s nipples will be sad.

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

 

This week we bring back 3 more flicks to argue over.  First Tim continues to scrape the bottom of the post-apocalyptic barrel with his pick A MAN CALLED RAGE.  Then John talks up the 4th installment in Troma’s flagship series in THE TOXIC AVENGER 4: CITIZEN TOXIE.  And lastly Kyle pays tribute to the late great Joel Schumacher and covers a Nazi zombie siege flick BLOOD CREEK.  We also chat about a ton of topics such as Tim’s current issues with Full Moon Entertainment as he watches Blade: The Iron Cross, Fireworks accidents, Kyle’s failed attempt to wrangle a ground hog, and Blazing Saddles the lost TV show.  And as always we read your listener questions, read the news, and go over what the hell we have been watching.  So download this episode or Charles Band will banish you to his magic warehouse.

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

Gross Movie Reviews #509

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Gross Movie Reviews #509

We Summon the Darkness (DVD) – Holy balls this film was fucking great! The film is set in Indiana, 1988 following three young ladies who are heading to a heavy metal concert. Along the way we keep hearing on the radio about some satanic murders sweeping the mid-west. The three metal goddesses reach the concert and meet three metalhead dudes and they all seem to get along. After the concert the boys are invited back to Alexis’ house or her father’s house to be precise. They start drinking and play a little game that gets a little risky. But things get a little weird as the boys pass out and awake inside a room full of bloody pentagrams and that is where the fun begins. The cast, story, effects, and the ending are a wonderful blast. I would like to tell you more about the film but I rather not ruin it for your viewing pleasures? Put it this way this film is another entry into my “Best of 2020 list” as I give it 4 stars.

 

In Search Of: Pittsburgh Bigfoot (Vimeo) – When you have no money, know a bunch of people who want to be actors, and your passionate about your project you get what filmmaker Luther Cosmo Ickes Jr. gets… a hilarious and entertaining independent movie about Bigfoot. Or is it Bigfoots? Don’t know that is always a conversation that gets started whenever I review a Bigfoot movie and plus this project has multiple Bigfoot/Bigfoots! Anyway three yinzers are interested in the latest Pennsylvania sightings of Bigfoot. They wait out for spring since the winters can be gawd damn cold around here n’at. So the three chums head to the woods for some camping, illegal or legal drug use depending how much now that Pa. has turned the corner on that stuff, and looking for evidence of Bigfoot. Oh these three are not the only yinzers looking for Bigfoot apparently the Devil is also according to the witch of the woods and a goat dude with a giant dong! Of course this spells hijinks for the yinzers in the woods as they get lost, screwed up on shrooms, and find themselves in a war between the Devil and the Bigfoots as Bigfoots hitch a ride to the burgh. Lou tries to bond and save these creatures but in the end we all know what happens when the church tries to get involved. The film has many flaws but that is the beauty of Luther’s film: it is a film you grab friends, a case of beer and enjoy its glory because it isn’t going to win an Oscar for the love of Rutger Hauer it’s a gawd damn Yinzer Bigfoot movie as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

 

Relic (On Demand) – So grandma goes missing for a few days and ma and daughter come to her home to hang out in the moldy home. Or as the wife put it: a very long and boring version of ‘Stranger Things’. Take it for what it is as not a whole lot goes on except Grandma is sick and there is something wrong with the house. For me there just wasn’t any payoff after watching this long buildup of a movie as I give it a ½ star.

 

Amityville Island (DVD) – Mark Polonia goes to the “Amityville well” again as a mother of four moves into the cheap area only to become possessed and murder her kids. Sent to prison and on death row she is forced to fight in the basement of the place so it could be streamed for creeps. If that wasn’t enough she is then transferred to some scientist weirdos that label her as Patient 59. Unbeknownst to her captors and weird scientist dudes she is still possessed by the Amityville curse whatever that is? Along the way we meet a freelance reporter who is trying to connect all the murders over the years and how they connect to Patient 59? Don’t get me wrong I love the Polonia Brothers but this film truly feels it is all over the place but really doesn’t have a plot. Also what doesn’t help is I get a possessed shark for three seconds. I felt cheated folks! The shark is on the gawd damn box art! I wanted 75 minutes of an Amityville possessed shark is that too much to ask so in saying that I can only give this Mark Polonia film 1 star because I know Mr. Polonia can do better.

 

D-Railed (DVD) – It is Halloween and there is nothing like a “Murder Mystery Train” party going down where people pay to be a part of dinner and a ‘who done it” play. This is an expensive dinner party so you have to dress the part but as everything is about to start with the train roaring down the tracks a real robbery takes place. Events unfold quickly as people try to stop the robbery with a few people getting shot and the train derailing into a lake bed. The survivors trying to help each other and see if they can get to land easily must contend with a creature looking to consume them. Doesn’t have a strong ending but does have Lance Henriksen explain a few things when needed as I give this neat little horror film 2 ½ stars.

 

Thunder 3 (VHS) – Or as the film is also known to most ‘Thunder Warrior III’. Mark Gregory returns as Thunder for the third time to help defend his Native American community. This time around some racist weekend warrior townsfolk get ahold of Thunder and abuse him and his people. Thunder wanting to do this the right way takes it to the cops and demands money to replace their homes. But the racist townsfolk want none of it so Thunder once again goes all Rambo on their asses and ruins the town until they pay up for revenge. It was pretty much the same as the last two entries but somehow made to look cheaper and less action in some ways as I give it 1 ½ stars.

 

Raindrops (YouTube) – Philip Brocklehurst never rests as he has yet another new short film. This time around a plot about a gentleman who is slowly driven insane by raindrops on the window seal. This man soon reacts in a very horrific way in order to remedy the problem. Philip’s shorts get to the point quickly and usually star him as it seems he is challenging himself or teaching different things about filmmaking to himself. I give it 2 ½ out of 4 stars. His Facebook and YouTube page usually have links to his independent film work that is well worth checking out.

Are You in the House Alone?! (DVD) – I never seen this 1978 after school horror special that starred a young Dennis Quaid. And a little sneaky bastard he is. Gayle is newer to the high school as her parents moved to the neighborhood because it was supposed to be safer and have a safer school for Gayle. Gayle finally getting back into the dating game at the urge of her best friend finds a guy at school that really fits her. But at the same time Gayle is being left nasty notes in her locker and crank calls at her home late in the evening. Gayle with help from her best friend blows it off quickly but as it escalates Gayle becomes worrisome and even goes to the school principal. She is being stalked on her dates and her babysitting job which sets her up to be raped. But instead of her going all “Death Wish’ on the person she finally gets her revenge by proving to people he is an asshole rapist that even his rich family couldn’t get away with. The film opens up with Gayle being taken to the hospital then flashes back to tell the story up until then. The film tries its clever ass off to make you think it is several different people and well worth the payoff as I give the film 3 stars.

 

Black Cobra 2 (DVD) – Never mind I didn’t watch the first flick cause I cannot help myself when it comes to sequels. Anyhow Fred Williamson is a hard-nosed Chicago cop in this Eye-talian action thriller. After Lt. Robert Malone gets himself into an incident with him gunning down a criminal he finds himself in an exchange program with the Philippines. After arriving in the Philippines and getting his wallet stolen he partners up with Nicholas Hammond (TV 70s Spider-man himself). This is when I thought I was in for an excellent action bonerjam! Instead I was in for a limp action flick where it looked like not just Fred but all involved were just going through the motions. It seems the plot of the story is the two go down the rabbit hole of the stolen wallet leads them to a criminal ring of drugs, robbery, and some z-grade violence. One good thing came out of this film and that is we get to see a dude get shot in the dong! I am a huge Fred Williamson fan and 70s Spider-man fan but this was pretty much a dud as I have to give it 1 star.

 

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling, John Shatzer, and me talking about horror flicks on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!

 

Grossfest had to cancel! Out of our control

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Yesterday I was filled with hope that we would be able to have Grossfest. But with great displeasure, regret, and sadness we are canceling Grossfest 2020. With the new mandates just handed down by the governor of Pa. we cannot go on and have the event we want to have. From the beginning of Grossfest a couple years ago yinz know we would always be upfront about everything we do and this is no different. We tried our asses off and the virus won. Whether you agreed or disagreed with what we were trying to do this year we gave it our all. First and foremost we thank the fans of the convention, vendors, guests, and future fans of Grossfest for supporting us. Second, The George Washington Hotel and staff kicks fucking ass! They went to great lengths to help this event happen with every phase the state had mandated from the beginning. So please support The George Washington Hotel anyway you can in the future.  Third, Tom Gross, Jen Bootleg Gross, Tammy Main, and Terrence Main all worked their asses off to help put together something different for independent film fans. The hours we put in were a lot more than the past two shows we put together. Grossfest will always strive to be different and support independent cinema in the future… Now saying that remember be nice and respectful to your fellow human, wear a mask, and don’t forget we will see yinz July 24th & 25th, 2021 when Grossfest Returns!

 

P.S. not saying but just sayin there might be something Gross going on outdoors July 25th evening… Heard something from a friend?

Also in the meantime please support all who were going to be vendors at Grossfest the next couple weeks. Even if you can’t purchase anything let them know you care because Grossfest may have been their last chance this year to show off their talented work (links below):

https://www.facebook.com/tony.lavorgne

https://www.facebook.com/Minervatrinkets/

https://www.facebook.com/cultclassichorror/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

https://www.facebook.com/daniel.boyd.142240

https://www.facebook.com/BpoFilms/

https://grossfest.com/2020/03/02/announcement/

https://www.facebook.com/slowmutants

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004080845938&fref=search&__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARDv49Qx5eNjNvI1WLq5WTPoeTyo3jBp1vYG1iT2hA74O-SfI9psMwqDHvT5_bhACNOoVc-uTfhy_KDQ

https://www.facebook.com/lifelesscreations/

https://www.facebook.com/scott.baucan

https://www.facebook.com/SpiritAnimalMovie/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCWNlDw097qaovRhm3FLZ5f5bMC-8hmn-InBXxi9QEaeTxLqQAYec9pfE1XxWTwz4nZXkRp5Z0R0uHC

https://www.facebook.com/JessWeary44

https://www.facebook.com/chaosrecreations/

https://www.facebook.com/venuscomplete/

https://www.facebook.com/GraceDuhLeeDesigns/

https://www.facebook.com/1331studios/?ref=br_rs

https://www.facebook.com/slinkyslpv/?eid=ARDuOLF4AJJZX-ovWUnm20iNmwTex0sABqm8qse-Lx86yWxv3RVoki6ozRq4LQPEnk1oc-ZF8XQ3jYVn&timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=100001205221550&fref=tag

https://www.facebook.com/creaturesandcreeprods/

https://www.facebook.com/uvmagazine/

https://www.facebook.com/GothicHunnyDesign/

https://www.facebook.com/SixFeetoFSeparation1/

Grossfest is almost here!

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July 25-26th, 2020 at The George Washington Hotel in Washington, Pa.

http://www.grossfest.com

(Last update before the show: Tim Gross here, honestly people we are all scared with what is going on in the world. But if this is the new normal then we are ready to roll: grab your mask, we got the hand sanitizer, the social distancing of vendors and guests will be in place, and be respectful to your fellow human.  All we ask if you come follow the rules and just like Tom, Terrence, Tammy, Jen, myself, and our volunteers forget about what is going on in the outside world for a few hours. Hang out and check out all the cool vendors, filmmakers, guests, and Angel the coolest tattoo artist you’ll ever meet. Grossfest is just gonna be a little different than past shows. Remember just be nice to your fellow human in these tough times.)

Well…. we had our last meeting with the George Washington hotel staff and…….This year is going to be one for the record books!

The staff have been super great to us and very accommodating! Big shout out to Lia Capito and her crew for really helping make this event come to life! Thanks to them, this year, to help with social distancing, Grossfest will be taking over the entire hotel! Guests and vendors will be spread out throughout different ballrooms to help with social distancing! Each table will be spread 6ft apart as well as we will monitor how many people will be going in to each room to respect people’s social distance.

Award winning head chef of the George Washington hotel James a. Warcholak, will be on hand cooking up some tasty brain tacos for all of us! (I’m being serious, you read that right!) if that is not your thing, there will be other things as well! Menu will be posted soon!

There will be a bar on each level of the hotel for everyone to enjoy!

Second, the movie room will be going both days! We have a lot of cool movies playing this year. Again, to help with social distancing, only a certain amount of people will be allowed in the movie room at one time. To help with that, we will play a couple of movies on Sunday for those who may not be able to get in on Saturday

The hotel and our main goal is to keep everyone safe while we try to show you a good time. If you are sick, please stay home. There will be temperature checks at the door before you enter the show. Also as per the hotel and state , masks are mandatory! They must be worn all day. The only exception is when eating and taking pics. If you are caught without a mask and refuse to comply, you will be asked to leave with no refund. We know this is a touchy subject for some but we must do what is best for everyone and also what the hotel and state are requiring . We are in this together and we want everyone safe!

There will be hand sanitizer throughout the hotel and we recommend fist bumps when greeting each other.

As for pictures, it will be up to the guest or vendor to determine how comfortable they are with pictures.

Table pics are still a go, as long as everyone is comfortable with it.

Lastly, we want everyone to have fun and relax. We have a lot of great vendors and guests this year. This year is gonna be very unique, so bear with us as we all try and make the best out of a situation that is out of our control.

Thank you to everyone and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer you! See you soon!

 

#grossfest #grossfest2020

Gross Movie Reviews #508

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Gross Movie Reviews #508

Spirit Animal (DVD) – Madeline Deering has made a love letter to The Polonia Brothers, Jon McBride, Todd Sheets, and I am sure a few others that could be mentioned from that bygone era of S.O.V. I easily could have seen myself finding this “we all thought lost 1993 S.O.V. film” in Incredibly Strange Video here in Pittsburgh, Pa.! About 1998, I was finding a lot of these S.O.V. movies from the late 80s and early 90s as independent filmmakers were already using digital video and abandoned the VHS camera. Oh what a time then but that is what makes this such an awesome and unique project as Maddie, Joe, and talented cast got a VHS camera and went into overdrive to get this dream project done. Our story begins at Camp Wannawilla many years ago where a camp counselor is speaking with kids around a campfire about “Spirit Animals”. One child takes exception to this as Aarav believes he can be all of them not just one. Of course the camp counselor meets a horrible death and the camp is closed down. Many years pass and we follow a group of friends to West Virginia on New Year’s Eve to the same Camp Wannawilla. They set up camp, tell the story, and a killer with many animal masks begins slaughtering not just the group but all who enter the woods this New Year’s Eve as a special moon is coming. The music is excellent, ending is fucking great, good editing, good cast, and Maddie puts this all together on a VHS camera, the true old school none of that gimmick shit you get with your fancy laptops and cameras these days! Independent fans rejoice and enjoy because this gets 4 out of 4 stars and will most likely show up on my “Best of 2020 list”.

 

Blade the Iron Cross (On Demand) – So about 20 years too late we get a Blade standalone film Charles Band and Full Moon. Hey I was happy it was going to exist but they also kept it in the Nazi era instead of making it in present time. Bottom line plot wise is a psychic journalist; Elisa owns Blade and brings him to life to fight a Nazi scientist who continues his horrific experiments on humans. This Nazi scientist of course seeks to replicate the Toulon formula but also to enhance it. But Elisa with the help of Blade and a detective try to put a stop to it before it’s too late. For me the question remains do we even get this film if ‘The Littlest Reich’ is ever released? Because I don’t know about you Full Moon fans this movie was just meh as I give it 2 stars.

 

Weedjies! Halloweed Night (On Demand) – Three college girls need to raise funds for their next semester’s tuition so they have a Halloween party. So they rent a hotel in Vegas and Halloween it up for the party. The catch for all to come is that you pay to get in to be a part of a scavenger hunt and whoever wins gets this “ultimate weed”. The party gets going, the hunt begins, and an evil baroness shows up and gets the friends to play an evil game of Ouija that unleashes the “Weedjies”. If they do not capture the Ghoulies-lite extras they will also become part of the game. The Danny Draven film is one of those shut your brain off films that isn’t truly a horror film but kind of fun to watch as I give it 2 ½ stars.

 

Yummy (Shudder) – A Dutch horror film about a couple who are going to a shady ass hospital for a breast reduction. Allison feels they are too big and it’s time to do something about them. Finally after a false start because of the boyfriend barging in Allison and the doctors are ready for the surgery. That is until Allison’s boyfriend stumbles in to warn people about the zombie outbreak in the hospital. From there on it is all blood, breasts, and chaos that include a dong on fire! Cool creatures and great effects make this film a riot as I give it 3 ½ stars.

 

A Man Called Rage (YouTube) – Another Eye-talian post-apocalyptic film from 1984 that has a lone man named Captain Strike or nicknamed Rage brought to a military facility after he kills like twenty men to begin the film. Rage is a man who never got sick after the nukes but there is many others that did and this group of people living in this facility need his expertise to lead an expedition to find Uranium. They believe with this the people can survive the oncoming illness. Captain Strike agrees and along the way makes a deal with a complete psycho who use to be in his outfit years ago for maps that lead them to an air base in the “Forbidden Lands”. They get there and there is no Uranium but something better… VHS tapes on engineering, seeds, and the bible as I give this fun apocalyptic flick 2 ½ stars.

 

The Torturer (Vimeo) – A short story written by Paul Kane that has made into a short film about a man named Andy Brooks. Andy is thrown into a dark room to be interrogated by a stern man with a clipboard. No backstory, not just yet as this stern figure can’t anything out of Andy except for his name as Andy claims he doesn’t remember anything. What seems like your typical movie interrogation takes a turn when the torture begins and Andy has dreams or flashes of a past life that come to haunt him. An interesting take story wise and worth a look as I give it 3 out of 4 stars. www.LittleSparkFilms.net

Intrusion Disconnected (Google) – This is the long awaited sequel from writer/producer Craig Everett Earl’s 2015 creepy thriller ‘Intrusion’. Mr. Earl and crew waste no time keeping up the creepiness of the connection between Holly and Ray. Some time has passed since the tragic events of the first film and Holly is still nowhere near living a normal life. Convinced Ray is still alive since the police never found his body in the wreckage of the paramedic van’s accident. The nightmares come nightly as Holly wakes up screaming most nights staying with friends just trying to find a way to deal with it. But the gloves are off this time as the anniversary of the horrific event in Holly’s life draws near as there is a slaughter happening and it is slowly closing in on Holly. Craig dives deep into the two characters of Holly and Ray to expand their backstory and show their connection in this bloody sequel. Again they rely heavily on the Holly and Ray characters to move the story along more than blood or sex that is thrown into most Indy films to move them along. This is a unique independent film for the reason it is a true thriller which you do not get much in the low budget world these days and for that I give it 3 out of 4 stars. Katie Stewart and Craig Everett Earl, remember their names as I can see bigger budgeted projects coming their way soon as they are super talented people.

 

Savage Beach (On Demand) – This late 80s big boobied action/adventure flick is about two beautiful DEA agents crash landing on an island that has several people looking for gold. Apparently during WWII a Japanese boat went down nearby or may have shipwrecked on this island as it was carrying a lot of gold that set anybody up for life. So we have a few small groups of individuals trying to dupe the other while they find the gold first. These two beautiful ladies and a strange survivor from WWII just happen to wreck the treasure hunting party. It has a lot adventure hijinks to be put in the 80s sex comedy genre but if you enjoy that genre this will be worth a look as I give it 2 ½ stars for just keeping me entertained all the way through.

 

Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling, John Shatzer, and me talking about horror flicks on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com .

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com and support!

GROSSFEST IS COMING JULY 25TH AND 26TH, 2020… GO TO WWW.GROSSFEST.COM  FOR DETAILS!

 

Just uploaded three more episodes of Bloodbaths and Boomsticks

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This episode has it all!  First Kyle talks about the awesome flick THE COLLECTOR.  Then it’s back to the ABC movie of the week for THE VICTIM.  And finally G. Gordon Liddy vs. Wings Hauser in STREET ASYLUM.  We also chat about the mystery of the banging bikers in Dawn of the Dead, Neo-Nazi Kevin James, Bug zappers and their place in the scientific realm, that time Kyle met a very drunk Danny Hicks and he spelled his name wrong.  And we also have news, what we have been watching this week, and a whole lot of other fun stuff.  So download this episode or Jake will stab you with the Canadian dagger.

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

This week we turn up to talk another 3 more flicks.  First we cover Robert Stack in A STRANGE AND DEADLY OCCURRENCE.  Then we have Kyle talking about a ho-hum mid 2000’s thriller in VACANCY A.K.A. Ned Flanders Snuff Hotel.  And John brings a Corman classic to the table in BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS.  Was also chat about drink dispensing belt buckles,  missing nipples, Why Kyle has never ever seen and Abbot and Costello flick,  That time Quincy took on Punk Rockers, And as always we chat about what we have seen and all the news that’s fit to print (or make up in Bloody Disgusting’s case).  So download this episode or Quincy will slam dance on yer face!

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

This time we return to talk about 3 more fine flicks to watch in a corona filled world.  First we have a David Hebert join about Amish surviving the apocalypse in DEADLY REACTOR.  Then we check out a 100% accurate documentary on one of the greatest president ever in FDR: AMERICAN BAD ASS.  And finally we have THE COTTAGE starring Golem and an inbred redneck.  We also chat about local murders, Joe Bob warning us about streaming services, and as always we talk about what we have been watching and all the news that came up.  So, download this episode or David Epstein will give you a massage.

 

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/