Author Archives: grossmoviereviews

Episode 58 is up horror fans!

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This week we take a look at aliens and labor relations on the eve of JSB losing his job of the last 12 years.  So we will start it off with a bang in an all-out continental war.  Japan VS. Antarctica when we review Gung Ho and The Thing from Another World.  Also JSB gives us his impressions of Rob Zombies new flick Lords of Salem, We go over the Hellraiser franchise, answer your listener questions, and we tell stories about the late great Don Muggins.  A true fallen friend.  So check it out.  

 

http://bloodbathsandboomsticks.blogspot.com/

 

EPISODE 58

Gross Movie Reviews #288

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Gross Movie Reviews #288

 

By Tim Gross

 

Bunraku (DVD) – A wild and over the top film starring Josh Harnett as a cowboy without a gun coming into town for revenge where ten killers rule the city and led by Ron Perlman who has been seen by very few. If that wasn’t enough Woody Harrelson plays a bartender who helps get the cowboy and a samurai together to kill off the ten killers for the city to be free. A little icing on the cake is Demi Moore playing Perlman’s woman but has a backstory with Woody’s bartender character. And the film is set in post-apocalyptic world with no firearms and has the look of Frank Miller’s ‘Sin City’ but in color. I found the flick for 3 bucks which was an awesome find for this crazy action film that went unnoticed direct-to-DVD… This is a film that has a little of everything and doesn’t disappoint as I give it 3 stars.

 

The Thing From Another World (DVD) – Every time I watch John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ and the music hits on TV while the kids are watching this film I get chills. This 1951 classic was a film that set up the 50s with crazy aliens, blobs, and killer rug-like creatures thanks to Howard Hawks. It was based on the short story “Who Goes There?” as was Carpenter’s remake 30 years later. Scientists find something odd that crashed into the frozen ice of the Artic and wanna go investigate. After finding what really could be a UFO they accidentally blow the ship trying to melt the ice but find its oddly large occupant. The scientists and armed forces personal take it back to base and it thaws out while they argue what should be done with the creature? Between blood sucking plants and a giant alien that grew its arm back or could be referred to as a pissed off carrot makes this film not only entertaining but fucking awesome every time I hear filmmakers like Carpenter, Romero, and even Spielberg talk about seeing this film during their childhood. I give the ultimate sci-fi classic 4 stars!

 

Battledogs (DVD/SyFy Channel) – It might be another crappy werewolf film but at least they loaded the film with some genre favorites to make it watchable. The cast: Craig ‘Nightbreed’ Sheffer, Ernie Hudson, Bill Duke, Debbie Rochon for one line, and I believe the dude that does all the freaking Allstate commercials! A woman has contracted a werewolf virus by accident and has brought to an airport where she changes and starts biting a lot of fucking people. Soon Bill Duke is talking about nuking New York City! I give it 1 ½ stars.

 

Hide and Creep (DVD) – This is a pull no punches kinda of zombie film that makes fun of rednecks but yet puts together one hell of an entertaining buckets of blood zombie film! The dead rise from their graves and people are more worried about the Auburn football game than trying to solve why zombies are roaming a small southern town. You know you are in for some no budget fun when the video clerk drops off a dead body at the sheriff’s office because the sheriff is off for the weekend. And did I mention the zombie was killed with a VCR that had a copy of ‘Night of the Living Dead’… So get your Auburn football jersey on and start Netflixing this mother fucker as I give it 3 ½ stars.

dark-age-movie-poster-1987-1020255937

Dark Age (VHS) – Of course I have found another giant crocodile film to watch and review, I cannot get enough of them. It’s almost as addictive as ‘Puppet Master’ sequels people! What we got here is a pure 1987 Australian film that copies the ‘Jaws’ storyline for the first half of the film until the crocodile eats an Aborigine kid and they say it was because he was ‘sick’… Then all of sudden it’s save the crocodile because he is a god among the Aborigines that includes after capturing the croc and it is loaded on a tractor trailer for a car chase scene. Love this film… why, because it has one fake ass giant crocodile and an awesome child chomping scene I haven’t seen since the killer animals PG classic ‘Grizzly’. Giant crocodile fans you must track it down and witness this great Aussie film as I give it 3 stars!

The Granny

The Granny (VHS) – Oh yeah, somebody made this flick in the mid-90s! A fun but poorly shot supernatural horror film starring Stella Stevens as a granny looking for the ‘fountain of youth’. A mysterious man shows up at her door shortly after the family she hates arrives to have roast beef for Thanksgiving. He gives her a potion and three rules to follow which of course she doesn’t want any part of because she hates her family but this magic potion supposedly can give you a second chance where you are immortal. Sunlight hits it, she dies, she awakens in a morgue, then comes back home days later to start killing off the family as they party in her house and cannot wait to spend her money. Two memorable scenes from the film is the cat transformation and the penis cutting scene that makes you say, “EW”. I give this forgotten gem 2 ½ stars.

 

Any comments or questions please send to: GrossMovieReview@verizon.net, GrossMovieReview@aol.com 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………

You can always visit and see some past reviews at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

You can purchase my book from Library of the Living Dead Press called, “The Big Ass Book of Gross Movie Reviews” at www.amazon.com .

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle and I talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at http://bloodbathsandboomsticks.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 has the only place that you can purchase a Gross Movie Reviews t-shirt but also The Abomination shirt also!!!! Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

 

BADASS DOLLS: The long wait is almost over!

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Thanks to http://www.fullmoonhorror.com

Badass-Dolls-fullmoondirectHighRes1

 

Next Tuesday April 23rd, these amazing limited edition 9 inch resin statues will be available exclusively from FullMoonDirect.com and limited to 200 pieces each. These crazy characters will sell out fast. You saw their debut in Ooga Booga, which premiered on GrindhouseFlix last month.

Episode 57 is up horror fans!

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This week Tim and JSB return to rock the show.  this week we talk about the goriest films of all time,  BATTLEDOGS!!!,  Manute Bol and his amazing 7 Three pointers,  movies that make us fall asleep,  JSB’s hatred of the movie The Comedy,  Short Circuit,  the upcoming Lords of Salem,  Charles Band’s questionable business practices,  Victor Salva and his vile after work hobbies.  And more.  So listen up cause the show now contains 39% more Robo-Thing.

 EPISODE 57

http://bloodbathsandboomsticks.blogspot.com/

“Fervid Filmmaking” from author Mike Watt

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“Fervid Filmmaking” from author Mike Watt

 Fervid 1

Review by Tim Gross

 

There are all kinds of review books, cult books, and movie companions and sometimes it can be tough to keep up with the books that get printed, released, and so on. And these days most books review or otherwise have a tough time being relevant just for the mere reason it doesn’t have the author that everyone knows behind it or people are just watching way too much YouTube on their iPhone at this point. For me it’s neither of the two because usually my eyeballs are glued to the TV watching the latest Full Moon release or sequel to a direct to video no budget something or other. But from time to time I look for something to read, usually a movie review book and usually a Joe Bob Briggs book as I can be picky.

Very few authors interest me enough to make me want to buy their book since I spend so much time tracking down out of print copies of films like “Trick or Treats” or unrated version of “Leprechaun 4: In Space”. It’s too hard to explain, you can blame it on divorced parents at a young age, I was dropped on my head too much, or hell lets blame ADD or something else many people claim to have but don’t and just won’t admit they like the drugs that comes with the disorder? I love films period folks… So when Mike Watt told me he was putting together a book like this together my ears perked up because I always thought it would interesting of sorts since Mike and I have somewhat different interests in cinema but always have great conversations but certain films good or bad. I have always enjoyed Mike Watt the filmmaker but Mike Watt the author of a review book had to be somewhat interesting just because of his different taste in films than mine?

Well film fans Mr. Watt did not disappoint me as his book “Fervid Filmmaking (66 Cult Pictures)” brought a whole new way of how to look at certain films or should I say the “kitchen sink” films. Mike goes through the years and expands on why certain films should be looked upon differently because they threw everything aka the kitchen sink into them to get made and most were misunderstood by the movie going public, the producers, Hollywood, heck the writers themselves who wrote the scripts. But he sheds light on some films that otherwise people may never heard of and explains their odd origins as the book sucks you deeper into the behind the scenes of films that has more going on than you ever could imagine. Mike uniquely pushes you slowly into a realm of filmmaking that makes you not only watch the films but crave to sit down and rethink how you watch cinema. Whether it’s ‘All About Evil’, ‘The Bed Sitting Room’, ‘Coonskin’, ‘I Sell the Dead’, or even ‘Xtro’ he writes about in his book they all have the ability to make you laugh, cry, and scream and many different ways you could never imagine.

 

But the brilliant part of Mr. Watt’s well written book after reading it makes you wanna try to find the so called “kitchen sink” type of films or revisit them and look upon them with an open mind. Fervid Filmmaking not only proves Mike Watt has found his inner-Joe Bob Briggs but the book helps separate himself from the glut of authors like myself out there and make you enjoy and excited for his next writing project. Honestly people I never thought to myself I wanna watch the 1984 film “Nothing Lasts Forever” over the next Charles Band film for those who know me when reading this book. If anything Mike showed me that it is still ok to put down the iPhone, turn off the 60 inch HD TVs, stop taking the illegal meds, and imagine what a perfect vision of film can be when everything except the kitchen sink has been thrown into a drama, horror, thriller, or just misunderstood piece of forgotten film history is and was like. For that Mike Watt and fans of cinema books I can no doubt give this book 4 out of 4 stars!

Fervid 2

Published by McFarland

www.mcfarlandpub.com

 

But you can purchase the book at www.amazon.com and several other online websites.

Episode 56 is up folks!

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EPISODE 56 the post wasteland hangover edition.

 

This week we find Tim and JSB nursing hangovers (at least JSB is) from their recent trip to the best convention in North America Cinema Wasteland.  We recount all the activities of the weekend, who we met, what we picked up, and find out if JSB came home with neck aids.  Also we get JSB’s uncut review of the Evil Dead remake, even though it’s more of a rant than anything else.  Also we talk recent viewings and New Jack stops by to shoot us in the face making it his 5th justifiable homicide.  So enjoy.

 EPISODE 56

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News of a sequel to Murder-Set-Pieces

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Thanks to James Cullen Bressack

 

LOS ANGELES, CA — Fright Flix Productions and controversial cult filmmaker Nick Palumbo have begun pre-production on “MUSE,” a psychological horror film starring Samantha Mion in her film debut. Co-starring Patrick Scott Lewis (“Zodiac”), as an irascible thespian. MUSE is written, and directed by Palumbo and produced by Nick and David Palumbo along with cult filmmaker James Cullen Bressack (“Hate Crime”). Director of Photography is David Newbert (“Marfa Girl”). Principal photography begins on April 15 in Los Angeles, California. The announcement was made today by Fright Fix Productions’ President Nick Palumbo.

“I’m very excited to return to set with my follow up to ‘MURDER-SET-PIECES,‘” said Palumbo. ‘MUSE’ is something very different from me. The subject is extremely relevant. The film is a character study of a sociopathic young woman, and how loneliness and isolation pushes her further into the abyss. I believe it’s a feeling many actors have experienced and will surely relate to. With our incredibly talented production team, we are confident we’ll give thriller/horror fans something to talk about as we offer an unflinching look at the dark side of the entertainment industry.”

“Nick is one of the very few American filmmakers that isn’t afraid to lay it all on the line and make a confrontational film,” said Bressack. “His dark and visceral style is unparalleled within the genre.”

MUSE is a brutally honest and chilling story of a young actress (Mion), descending into homicidal madness. Both shocking and controversial, the film is told from her point of view, as we follow her dark odyssey through modern day Los Angeles.

MUSE is written and directed by Nick Palumbo, produced by Nick and David Palumbo and James Cullen Bressack through their Fright Flix banner.

For more information please visit: http://www.musethemovie.com/
Please join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/musefilm

ABOUT NICK PALUMBO:
Well known in the horror industry for his cult horror films, Palumbo is best known for “MURDER-SET-PIECES,” the first NC-17/Unrated horror film to hit America cinemas in over 20 years. Palumbo attended film school in Los Angeles. He wrote, produced, and directed one of the most notorious horror cult films of all time: “Murder-Set-Pieces.” Shot on location in Las Vegas on 35mm and screened for its theatrical world premiere at the prestigious Sitges International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain, it was the first unrated American horror film to hit theaters in twenty years. “Murder-Set-Pieces” was released in Europe and Asia by Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and The Weinstein Company. An edited version was released in the US by Lionsgate Films. As of 2013, Palumbo’s uncut version of the enormously controversial film is still banned in several countries.

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Gross Movie Reviews #287

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Gross Movie Reviews #287

 

By Tim Gross

 Crossbearer

Crossbearer [The Hammer of God] (DVD) – If you like your independent horror films filled with sex, drugs, and violence? This film is right up your alley. But that isn’t the only thing enjoyable about this horror sleaze picture… Heather is a stripper who has a shithead for a boss, gets shit from the person whose house she stays at, and hopes for just one break so Heather and her girlfriend are able to fly off to Italy and start over. She has a dream and she might have gotten a break when she arrives to work late and her boss wants her to do this drug drop-off to prove she still wants the job? What the shithead boss doesn’t know is Heather is going to exchange the drugs for money of course but she isn’t coming back. The drop-off is at an abandoned warehouse where hobos and drug addicts hang out from time to time until an unnoticed figure only known as the ‘Crossbearer’ wonders the dark and dank location reciting verses from the bible and he is off his rocker. The sex, drugs, and awesome violence is fun but the religious nut ‘Crossbearer’ just happens to be a very interesting piece to the film that doesn’t get enough screen time for my liking. This character and his storyline makes this fun sleazy horror film stand out from most independent horror films and makes me want a sequel! The DVD comes with lots of extras including a 2 ½ hour making of featurette. This glorious violent film can be found at www.adversaryfilms.com as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

 

X-Treme Fighter aka Sci-Fighters (DVD) – Don the Dragon Wilson and his son get stuck inside a virtual reality game his father made and only Lorenzo Lamas and Cynthia Rothrock can help along the way for the father and son duo to find a way out. No words can possibly describe what I actually watched, but if I had too, here it goes: Imagine if Charles Band and Albert Pyun decided 13 years after the film Arcade they would remake it with B-action stars and release it on DVD… Wait, did your head explode? I give it 1 ½ stars and give you the viewer 4 stars if you can make it all the way through without wanting to keep your thumb on the fast forward button.

Easter Casket

Easter Casket (DVD) – Perhaps the craziest independent holiday horror film I have seen in the past year or two but it also came the same man that gave us “The Puppet Monster Massacre”, so I knew what to expect. On a $3000 budget Dustin Wayde Mills goes out of his way to give you an Easter film will never forget. Father Asher (Demon Slayer) is a chosen one who helps protect the church and is called to duty when the Easter Bunny just happens to be the anti-Christ and is pissed that the church would like to take all the bunny shit out of the holiday. But that just isn’t enough for Mr. Mills he puts together a gracefully hilarious film of nun-fucking, inter-species sex that leads to the anti-Christ growing Godzilla-like, killer peeps, and the Mega Pope! You heard me right Mega Fucking Pope. I was shouting “Mega Pope” away all day during Easter! Apparently we have the answer to who the church answers too and it is the Mega Pope that just so happens to resemble Galactus in some odd way or my mind just could not contain absolutely nutzoid fun horror film I just witnessed. Thanks to Mr. Mills I now know not to piss off the Easter Bunny especially if I am a nun. Then you just get raped, inter-species style. I give this flick 4 out of 4 stars and available at www.eastercasket.com . Let’s also not forget the great performance from upcoming actress Janet Jay as her actions teaches you never eat the wrong candy so Mega Pope away!

 

The Collection (Blu-Ray) – The sequel to the highly popular film “The Collector” that surprised most horror fans a couple years ago opens up with a couple girlfriends going to an underground party that just happens to be the place for The Collector to set his traps. Instead of a couple people The Collector wants to kill everyone all at once after humongous lawnmower trap is set in motion after Emma Fitzpatrick’s character finds Josh Stewart in a red trunk still alive. Mass beheadings and blood splattered by the hundreds of gallons follow. But this time Josh Stewart’s character is able to escape but The Collector takes another possible victim with him. Stewart’s character is next shown in a hospital where he is trying to heal up but soon rushed out to help a group of people go back to where The Collector took him to save the girl. Good story and I enjoyed the film but sorry horror fans there is no way they can top the first film but I did enjoy the fleshing out of The Collector and what he is all about without ever giving away who exactly he is. Horror fans do not shy away from this film as its bloody, exciting, and moves the story along without giving away much about The Collector. I just don’t believe no matter what budget or actors for the sequel the filmmaker wasn’t going to top the first film. Just glad he was able to give a sequel to make horror fans scream for more. I give the film 3 stars.

All American Zombie Drugs Key Art

All American Zombie Drugs (DVD) – A horror/comedy that can be misleading about two young drug heads who have used every possible drug and starting to find drugs are not as good as they use to be. Out of work and out of money they decide it’s time to start making their own drugs to sell but they need an investor. Along comes a hot rich Goth chic and they are in business or until they find out the stuff is fake. Without skipping a beat they go to the Google machine or that inter-web thingy and look up how to make drugs with household products. Once one of the characters tries their own product he is sent into a deep coma which makes him believe the drugs turn his friends into zombies. It’s a funny ass independent comedy but to call it a horror/comedy is borderline call at best. Just because you have two scenes of zombies attacking characters and one of your main characters keeps seeing and talking to his dead brother while he is high doesn’t make it a horror/comedy, maybe a fun dark comedy as the filmmaker uses ‘zombies’ in the title to maybe get more attention from a distributor or movie fans. Smart move for the short run but possibly hurt the comedy film in the long run. It may not be a horror film in my eyes but I still enjoyed the overall product and give it 2 ½ out of 4 stars. The film and more info about it is available at www.midnightreleasing.com .

 

Any comments or questions please send to: GrossMovieReview@verizon.net, GrossMovieReview@aol.com 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………

You can always visit and see some past reviews at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

You can purchase my book from Library of the Living Dead Press called, “The Big Ass Book of Gross Movie Reviews” at www.amazon.com .

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle and I talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at http://bloodbathsandboomsticks.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 has the only place that you can purchase a Gross Movie Reviews t-shirt but also The Abomination shirt also!!!! Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

Horror Realm is now accepting film submissions for September’s show!

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Thanks to Rich Dalzotto

www.horrorrealmcon.com

 

Filmmakers – we’re taking submissions for our 5th anniversary fall show on Sept 20-22. You can submit a screener DVD of your short or feature film for consideration to: Horror Realm, PO Box 10400, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. No entry fees! Submission does not guarantee a screening.