Come find me in the film room kids as my new book makes its first public appearance and I will have copies for sale!
http://www.horrorrealmcon.com for details of this fun event
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Gross Movie Reviews #341
By Tim Gross
The Deadly Spawn (DVD/YouTube) – Oh one of the first low budget films that Bruce Lentz of Incredibly Strange Video introduce me too… Great stuff as some cool looking aliens land on earth and make their new home in the basement of a house where there is lots people to feast on. The film was made on a mere $25,000 budget and sports some wicked ass creature and gore effects that more than gives any horror fan a reason to watch at least once! A great creature feature that should get more love than it has as I give it 3 ½ stars.
The Mothertown (DVD/YouTube) – A first time effort from independent UK filmmaker John Williams who apparently is giving all the proceeds from the movie to local charities in the UK which is pretty cool… But anyway two security guys find a weird naked dude in the gym shower and from there the zombie apocalypse begins! The film focuses on several groups of people who are not only trying to survive the zombie apocalypse but entertain themselves. The film also sports possibly one of the funniest scenes in a zombie apocalypse film where two men who are taking part in an S+M thing are left tied up and forced to chat as their slave master has left them for work. The film keeps cutting back in on these two and it gets funnier every time it does. There is an enormous amount of zombie extras and a gory zombie wedding scene which gives the film that cool zombie apocalypse feel. But what hurts the film and stops the story in its tracks of being interesting is when these groups of people find themselves being held by two so-called military personal waiting for their ride to leave the town before its destroyed by a nuclear attack. Williams does a great job of building a fun zombie film but shows the growing pains of what it takes to try to pull it off. I really enjoyed seeing all the extras and enjoyed the film just wish the last quarter of the film would have been edited more. I give the overseas independent effort 2 out of 4 stars and more information about the film can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/themothertown .
Vengeance of the Dead (VHS) – Another Full Moon movie I can cross off the list as I pull a flick out of my basement to check out… With this 2001 effort a character named Eric comes home and is haunted by a ghost named Julia. Not a whole lot happens in this flick as the film really doesn’t go anywhere interesting. I have seen better and have seen worse but you wanna be bored this is your movie to watch. I give the flick 1 star.
Rabid (DVD) – Another David Croenberg classic from the mid-70s, that stars the beautiful and talented actress Marilyn Chambers. Rose and her boyfriend are riding their motorcycle out in the country land outside of Montreal only to get into a horrible accident. Rose and her boyfriend get help from a plastic surgery center nearby where Rose will need several skin grafts. Rose receives several experimental skin grafts that heal quickly but Rose awakens from her coma in a crazy state not understanding her hunger until her armpit begins sucking blood out of a man’s neck. Soon Rose helps super-rabies get out in the general population of Montreal and people are attacking anyone and everywhere with the government in dismay of how to stop the super rabies. If you are a fan of “Shivers” and not seen this flick yet? Get your ass to Amazon and buy or rent this shit as I give it 3 ½ stars. And thank you to David Croenberg for making such a bizarre but awesome horror flick.
Cut Throat (VHS) – Keep finding these forgotten Full Moon flicks that I always wanted to see but never found the time to see them. This flick is about a horror film “Death Blade” where the actors and actresses are being killed on set and keeps comparing itself to “Scream” constantly. I have seen better but was entertaining enough that I stayed awake for the ending as I give it 2 stars.
Asylum of Terror (VHS) – A 1998 film that looks like a shot-on-video flick from 1988 that has a closed down prison/asylum become the new local haunted house where one its psycho inmates has decided to make a personal visit and slay those who enter. The horror film has some great gore throughout but suffers from pacing issues that makes the film awfully boring at times as I give the flick 1 ½ stars.
Flashback (VHS) – A German slasher film dubbed in English about a woman who leaves an asylum after ten years to be a French tutor for some rich kids. When the rich kids play a bad prank on her, she snaps and begins slaying everyone involved. Worth watching the flick for the mere reason for a body goes through a large chipper! I give the flick 2 stars.
The Graveyard (VHS) – A 1972 film about a young man David who hates cats and for good reason as his mother has tortured him for years. She blames him for her crippled hip and stopping her luxury life with the man she always loved. Once David’s wife and kid are dead he gets wants revenge on his mother. Animal lovers prepare yourself for a very uneasy opening to the film as I give the movie 2 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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis 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 for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015 as you will find me in the “Out of Print Film Room” presented by Gross Movie Reviews. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
And do not forget to order your copy of Gross Movie Reviews: The Wrath of Gross at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-the-wrath-of-gross/paperback/product-21975934.html
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW LOCATION! Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh West Green Tree!
www.horrorrealmcon.com
Guests include:
From American Horror Story, appearing courtesy of In Person Productions:
– Naomi Grossman (Pepper)
– Erika Ervin (Amazon Eve)
– Rose Siggins (Legless Suzi)
Also starring:
– Tony Todd (Candyman)
– Derek Mears (Friday the 13th 2007)
– Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp)
– Tiffany Shepis (Tromeo & Juliet, Sharknado 2)
– Sean Whalen (People Under the Stairs)
– John Amplas (Martin, Day of the Dead)
– College football Hall of Famer Major Harris (The Axeman of Henderson County)
– Dan Kamin (Creepshow 2)
– Bob & Bobby Cranmer, author of The Demon of Brownsville Road
– John Ventre, UFO researcher and author who has appeared on on History Channel’s Hangar 1, Discovery Channel’s Close Encounters and PCTV’s UFOs over Pittsburgh
– Mord McGhee, author of Murder Red Ink
– Amy Lynn Best & Mike Watt of Happy Cloud Pictures
– Fred & Shelby Vogel of ToeTag
– Larry & Cindy Parmiter of Semi Charmed Productions
Tickets available by clicking the link below. Prices:
– Weekend passes are $30 through 1/31 then increase to $35 on 2/1
– Single Day Friday or Saturday – $15
– Two Day Saturday/Sunday – $20
– Super Steeltown Sunday Discounted ticket – $10
Discounted room rate is $105 plus 14% tax per night. To reserve your room by calling the hotel direct at 412-922-8100 or toll free at 1-800-439-4745 FREE and mentioning Horror Realm. You can also reserve online at http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/pittsburgh/pitgr/hoteldetail with code HOR.
Horror Realm 2015 Spring Break Massacre Panel Schedule
All panels will take place in the Greenery Room. Convention admission is required.
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Schedule subject to change at any time.
Gross Movie Reviews Presents: The Out of Print Room
Tim Gross has hand picked the film schedule at Horror Realm on Friday & Saturday. And yes, it includes Spookies. Films will be screened in the Embassy Room.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday schedule to be announced.
Gross Movie Reviews #340
By Tim Gross
Yor, The Hunter from the Future (DVD) – A great combo movie that somehow was able to combine “Beastmaster” and “Caveman” with some weird no budget droids. This classic from the early 80s is about a man named Yor, who doesn’t know it yet but is the savior for a future generation that has been hiding among the mountains. His people let him go as a child to live among the caveman-like humans in hopes of learning to fight for his life and be their savior. If you are like me and only knew it existed and never seen it until now then start tracking it down now you will not be disappointed. And for that I give it 3 stars.
Beauty Queen Butcher! (DVD) – A shot-on-video movie from 1991 directed by Jill Zurborg is actually very brilliant and not talked about much. Our story begins with a bigger girl named Phyllis who has been entered into the ‘Miss Slough Queen’ beauty queen pageant by her nemesis Muffy and company to be embarrassed. It does not help Ms. Purnish the pageant hostess hates Phyllis also. As the pageant is going down Phyllis is nervous and has her friend bring her a box of Twinkies which of course gives us the famous line borrowed from “Stand By Me” (my best friend since 6th grade, Craig Wallace) would be proud, “Chow down Lard Ass!” If that wasn’t enough torture the beauty queen and her runners-up put Phyllis’s cat in the microwave which sends Phyllis over the edge and begins killing them one by one. But with each death Phyllis rises up the ladder of ‘Miss Slough Queen’ as there has to be one every year according to Ms. Purnish… What is amazing with this low budget feature is it borders two hours in length which usually spells ‘death’ for most low budget films but in this case is unnoticed because of how much fun and entertaining the film truly is! So I thank Miss Zurborg for giving a great effort and give it 4 stars.
Freak (VHS) – A bad independent flick from 1999 but entertaining in its own little way. Example: the box says the story starts 25 years ago with a monstrosity! In the opening of the film it says, “Nine years ago”… Go figure, I find this shit hilarious and entertaining but anyway a mother who was some kind of recluse has a son who she hates and keeps chained up with a burlap bag over his head. One night when she throws her newborn in a barrel fire, the son bashes her head in. Present time/1999, two sisters moving to a new home across several states come in contact with the monstrosity when he escapes a van owned by the asylum that housed him. Sounds better than it was but what the hell you only live once so go ahead and watch it? I did! I give it 1 star.
Repo Jake (VHS/DVD-R/YouTube) – 1990… Dan Haggerty aka Grizzly Adams… and he is a Repo dude! If this shit had evil Nazi elves I would been going to bed with aluminum foil on my head knowing someone is tapping my brain for movie ideas? Jake is new in town and has just gotten a job at K+K Repo. He meets a nice young lady trying to be an actress, makes friends at the repo joint, is introduce to slam track racing, and just happens to repossess everything that includes helicopters. Yep mother fucking Grizzly Adams is a chopper pilot. This is the type of bad b-action shit I live for. I give it 3 stars.
Chrysalis (DVD/Vimeo) – The film is being released under a different name “Battle Apocalypse” and was directed by John Klein who bases his story in the future of the year 2038. Everything is dead, almost everyone is gone, and there seems to be only a wasteland of infected left. Two survivors are just trying to survive the best way they can until they come in contact with a another woman one evening while traveling through a big empty city or so they thought. Josh and Penelope take her in and try to make the best of it as their new friend tells them about a bigger group of people that will be waiting outside of the city. Problem is they must fight through the infected to get there. Klein provides hints along the way of what exactly happen to make this wasteland possible and stays away from the term ‘zombies’ or even ‘ghouls’ throughout the film. What interested me was instead of going the way of gore galore the zombie Eye-talian way, John Klein lets his characters and dialogue bring his imaginative brilliant vision to life. Klein’s film succeeds where the highly regarded zombie film “The Dead” failed. He does not rely on the ‘zombies’ or in this film’s case the ‘infected’ to tell the story but the survivors of the fallout of 2019 and how they are still surviving all these years later to tell it. For that I thank you John Klein as you have given me the first horror flick to be on my “best of 2015 list”. I give the independent flick 4 out of 4 stars and info on it can be found at www.therestaredead.com .
Legacy of Thorn (DVD/Vimeo) – Okay horror fans we got a new independent flick from the UK that combines elements of the “Splatterhouse” video game, Jason X steroided look, and leap year. MJ Dixon crafted a story about a group of friends who have been attacked by a supernatural force four years before on February 28th, now four years past and barely surviving the last attack the group of friends capture the supernatural being and to kill it for good. But the local authorities’ break-in on them right before they are to behead the being (Thorn) and gory chaos begins as the unstoppable supernatural force slashes and hacks his way through everyone. Is there way to stop him? Is there a real reason he only comes every four years looking for a singular person? And why does a group of armed personal show up to capture Thorn and we get to see they are a part of “Project Slasher House”? (Which “Slasher House” is another flick from filmmaker MJ Dixon I am now interested in seeing.) All great questions in this fun and crazy over the top supernatural slasher flick. I love this kind of independent horror flicks because it shows vision, fun, and excitement! Maybe Mr. Dixon needs to contact Mr. Steve Rudzinski here in the states about his project “Slasher Hunters” because great minds think alike!!! And for that I give this wonderful project from the UK 3 out of 4 stars and you can find out more about it at www.legacyofthorn.com .
Pernicious (DVD/Vimeo) – Three pretty young woman go to Thailand to “save the world” in their own words. Julia and friends are staying at a nice hut, home, not totally sure what you call it on that side of the world but anyway they get to their place of dwelling and find a freaky ass gold statue of a child. The girls go out and party, pick up some ugly dudes, get drugged, and the three go “all Fred Vogel and Toe Tag Pictures” on these three dumb dudes. The girls wake up like they didn’t sleep to find the statue has gone, their gold jewelry is gone, and the ugly dudes are gone. Not sure of calling the police or what to do but they do decide they need to replace the statue or they will get fucked up. So of course they go visit a witch and she tells them “the statue could be a black market thing”. Never mind the story some old crazy Thai dude keeps trying to tell them about the statue. But apparently it’s not going to end well for Julia and friends as they didn’t pay tribute to this odd statue when arriving. The horror film has its gory moments and believes James Cullen Bressack has made another film that will make a lot of horror fans happy. Be warned my friends there is a gruesome fingernail removal scene, I know some of you will cringe or puke… I have seen it. So keep your eye out for this gruesome flick as I give it 2 ½ out of 4 stars and you can find out more at www.jamescullenbressack.com .
Megaforce (DVD) – Oh I so wanted to see this movie for so long and now that I finally have, I was not disappointed in a film that you could call a prelude to the G.I.JOE cartoon. No shit folks, Barry Bostwick and his hair command an elite force aka Phantom Army that defends freedom all over the world. They are hired by that dude that gave Michael Knight, K.I.T.T. and they need to go fight some commandos led by Henry Silva. But the topper for me was Michael Beck showing up and rides a motorcycle just like the one he does in “Battletruck aka Warlords of 21st Century”. My mind was blown people… They work their ass off to make the filler of the movie interesting but it pays off when Barry Bostwick and his hair are flying on a motorcycle! Believe it as I give this masterpiece of greatness 4 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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis 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 for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015 as you will find me in the “Out of Print Film Room” presented by Gross Movie Reviews. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
And do not forget to order your copy of Gross Movie Reviews: The Wrath of Gross at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-the-wrath-of-gross/paperback/product-21975934.html
Gross Movie Reviews #339
By Tim Gross
Smiley (DVD) – I was told to stay from this flick but you know me that is like telling a mosquito don’t go to the bug zapper… But anyway I finally sat and watch this flick that is based on some weird internet urban legend. It’s dated already since supposedly you go into some chat roulette room and wish death in so many words upon someone and this thing with a smiley face shows up behind them and kills them. Sounds cool but gets annoying very quickly especially with the lack of bloodshed throughout the film but did somewhat enjoy the twist where it’s just a prank pulled by a demented chatroom group. I give it 1 ½ stars.
Deadly Blessing (DVD) – An odd early 80s film that I can check off my list of films I never seen. If that wasn’t enough it’s directed by Wes Craven and stars the likes of Michael Berryman, Sharon Stone, and Ernest Borgnine and based in Amish country of eastern Pa., even though it was shot entirely in Texas. But Borgnine’s oldest son breaks away from the crazy pack Amish and marries a woman that they call an Incubus! The dude dies of a horrible death but that doesn’t stop Borgnine calling her an Incubus and warning all more death will come. Weird, odd, and not a much talked about film from Craven’s career which is all the more reason to give it a watch as I give 2 ½ stars.
Silent Hill: Revelation (DVD) – Sharon and father has been on the run since her mother Rose had disappeared in Silent Hill. But “The Order” has found a way to try and bring Sharon back to Silent Hill and that is kidnapping her father as she would come willingly to Silent Hill and that would please “Alyssa”. The film stars Sean Bean again and Malcolm McDowell as this is the film that reminds me of the game not that first film which I just felt was boring at times. Unlike the “Resident Evil” adaptions, “Silent Hill” got it right. I give the film 2 ½ stars.
The Midnight Hour (YouTube/DVD) – An ABC TV flick from 1985 that just happen to star Lavar Burton, Peter Deluise, Kevin McCarthy, Dick Van Patten, voice of Wolfman Jack, Kurtwood Smith, and the Home Alone kid shows up for an uncredited role as a trick or treat kid. Anyhow some high school kids steal 300 year old costumes from the town museum for a Halloween party and joke around with a ritual at the local legendary cemetery. With this prank they back demons, witches, and the dead because some evil cursed the town 300 years ago and it’s up to the nerd of the group to figure out how to save everyone and the town. Fun stuff from the mid-80s as I give it 3 stars.
Rage of Honor (DVD) – The action film stars Sho Kosugi aka that bad ass Asian dude from “Enter the Ninja” and “Revenge of the Ninja”. After his partner is killed while trying to bring down a druglord his character takes it upon himself to kill everyone involved no matter who gets in his way in this over the top crazy action film that no words can do it justice. I give it 3 stars.
Night of the Sharks (YouTube/DVD) – A weirdo Eye-talian flick that stars the underrated actor Treat Williams as a shark hunter and his buddy Antonio Fargas best known for his work in the alien flick “The Borrower”. Treat Williams aka David has a brother named James who sends him a CD that just so happens to have damning evidence of a mob’s illegal dealings. David doesn’t want to have anything to do with it and doesn’t think of it until his brother shows up and is killed soon after by the gangsters that wanted him killed. Now the gangsters are trying to buy the CD off of David but also plan his untimely death. Fun random shit piles into a film that is a must see for Treat Williams fans, hell there is a scene of a gangster being eaten by a shark. I give the film 2 ½ stars.
Auteur (DVD/Vimeo) – A new Cameron Romero joint that happens to star Tom Sizemore and involves a kid named Jack who is doing a documentary on a talented filmmaker Charlie Buckwald who disappeared after finishing his horror flick “Demonic”. Jack wants to find out the truth behind the film and why Charlie decided to disappear? Jack’s project begins with a simple mysterious post card that points to where he could find Charlie Buckwald. Along the way Jack gets interviews from all involved and tries to find out why things went wrong. Soon after Jack gets the courage to face Charlie he soon finds out there is a lot he does not understand and there is good reason Charlie wanted to disappear so the film would never be shown. Charlie went over the edge to get the perfect film made and paid the price when he brought in real exorcism shit and cursed the film! B.J. Hendricks aka Jack was essential to bringing some movie magic into this low budget film. His actions, fandom, passion of sorts for the Charlie Buckwald character takes the film from the usual independent fare to something special, something more, something interesting and worth seeking out when released. I give the independent flick 3 out of 4 stars. You can find out more at www.jamescullenbressack.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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis 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 for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015 as you will find me in the Gross Movie Reviews “Out of Print Film Room”. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
And do not forget to order your copy of Gross Movie Reviews: The Wrath of Gross at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-the-wrath-of-gross/paperback/product-21975934.html
This week Kyle and Tim dust off a couple of Shot on Video gems from the old mom and pop video stores. And those 2 flicks are VIDEO VIOLENCE 1 and 2. And we also tackle your listener questions and go over what we’ve been watching lately. NOTE: Kyle is an internet dummy and lost his review of whatever flick he was watching for the week, BUT, in his searching he found our long lost CRITTERS RETROSPECTIVE. So come back in a few days and it will be posted.
http://www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/
Gross Movie Reviews #338
By Tim Gross
Detention of the Dead (DVD) – Another quirky zombie flick trying to do something different like parodying “The Breakfast Club” among a few other pop culture films. High school kids trying to battle the undead flesh eaters as they are trapped inside on just a typical day of school and of course the nerds seem to have the answers for the jocks, drug dude, and the smoking hot girl of how to survive… Maybe? Lots of blood but it just becomes bland half way through as most do. But best teenage zombie flick I have seen in the past decade has to be “Dance of the Dead” but for this flick I gotta give 2 stars.
The Nostril Picker (DVD) – The film is also known as “The Changer” and recently released on DVD by that great independent company www.massacrevideo.com . This lesser known independent film is from 1988 and about a dude named Joe who really doesn’t have friends, a job, or money but wants women. So just like any other poor scumbag he visits the local hobo that tells him the secret of changing his appearance so he could get close to teenage girls. Soon Joe looks like a pretty blonde girl who is new in town and has no friends until she or he meets a few at the tennis courts. Then Joe as a girl and himself goes about his sleazy murdering spree! A pleasant surprise to watch and a perfect film for family entertainment night as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.
The Unnamable II (VHS) – Only able to scare up a VHS copy in the US, there is an Eye-talian PAL DVD I believe floating around but I say wait for the special edition… Anyway this 1992 sequel literally picks up seconds after the original film loosely based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft. Randolph Carter wants to prove the 300 year creature exists and protect the “Necronomicon” after his buddy is taken to the hospital and the police clean up the dead bodies. So Carter searches out the assistance of a scholar played by John Rhys-Davies to help him prove the creature exists. They find its lair and caves under the old house on the college campus and the creature is injured. They find some drawings that they decipher and split the creature and its former human self “Alyda” a part. But the bloodbath continues as the creature wants Alyda back. A fun underrated sequel I was glad I gave a second chance too after seeing it when it was first released on video all those years ago. David Warner plays the dean of the school which he is always fun to see in a horror flick and Julie Strain plays the creature! Awesome horror stuff folks as I give it 3 stars.
The Burning Moon (DVD) – In 1992, there was this little known horror film in Germany made by a young gorehound named Olaf Ittenbach. His first project is an anthology with two main stories and the wrap around dealing with this dude telling his sister the stories to help her sleep before he brutally stabs her. The first story is about a serial killer fascinated by a woman named Julia. The second story gets even weirder as a priest practices Christianity during the day and by night rapes, kills, worships Satan, you know the good stuff! The priest accidentally gets a local man blamed for his sins and killed only to have hell pay a visit to the one who killed the innocent. The movie can be rough, boring, and just weird (not a good way) but then comes the final 15 minutes of what I call the reason I enjoy Mr. Ittenbach… He gives us the vision of hell and it’s like Tom Savini in his prime, Greg Nicotero, Screaming Mad George in his prime, and the brain of Fred Vogel got mixed in a blender and throw on screen! It’s absolutely beautiful. I may only give the film 2 stars but the ending is well worth seeing.
Grave Encounters (DVD) – After many people saying I need to see this film I decided to sit and watch it. First before I review this flick and its sequel will someone please explain to me how the footage got to the studio for it to be shown or was that explained in the sequel by the “Death Awaits” thing and I don’t really care?… Anyway a ghost hunting crew who doesn’t entirely take the ghost hunting business serious has gotten their show to air on a cable network and while working on episode six they disappeared. Episode six involves the small crew going to a closed down asylum which had a horrible history of doctors experimenting on the insane and patients that were just dropped off there because their family no longer wanted to care for them. Plus a lot of people who live nearby believe it to be haunted. Once in and the crew is doing their show not a lot happens and once they are ready to call it a wrap that is when they find out they cannot leave and strange eerie things happen. One by one the crew is driven insane and disappears or killed by ghosts that haunt the asylum that seems to be in a wormhole. Blah, most of these are not my cup of tea but of course I will keep watching hoping to find a good one as I give this 2 stars.
Grave Encounters 2 (DVD) – The sequel picks up with several YouTube movie reviewers reviewing the film “Grave Encounters”. One reviewer in particular is contacted by “Death Awaits” about his review and this sends the reviewer into mass craze of finding out the truth behind the first film being real or not. He gets his friends to take a road trip to the so-called fake asylum only to find it boarded up and “Death Awaits” painted on the front door. Breaks in, the friends begin to die, but the reviewer finds the host of “Grave Encounters” in the basement beaten, battered, crazy, yelling something about he cannot escape and a red door is the exit. The sequel takes an interesting turn in plot but not enough for me to care as usual but will give it props for trying as I give it 2 stars.
R.I.P.D. (DVD) – If you are bored of awesome horror flicks and once in a while you need that crap on a stick kinda flick? Well, here’s your answer this pile of elephant crap that sounds like it should be fun but just disappoints you like when you want Taco Bell tacos and instead you get bootleg mall Food Court Taco Bell tacos that give you the shits instantly! Jeff Bridges… okay, James Hong… yes, Ryan Reynolds… umm why, seems like a “Men in Black” rip-off. Yep, shits for one! I dare you to go watch this and say it’s good with a straight face. I have seen worse but this is just wrong to make someone sit through it? I give it a ½ star.
Pieces of Talent (DVD) – A very interesting independent horror film about a man named David Long who is a filmmaker, sort of? He uses VHS cameras to shoot all his scenes so he can watch them at home on his top loader VHS player. But he is also a serial killer who uses his real life murders for his feature project. Constantly searching out his next victim/star David wants a specific actor for his film. And fate happens as David meets Charlotte at a strip club. Well not in so many words as David is beaten up and thrown out the back door of the strip club and Charlotte the waitress takes pity and helps David to his vehicle and driving him home. Intrigued by the good deed done by the nice young lady David becomes fascinated by her and has coffee with her. He then decides that there could be a possible part in his feature for her but he is not exactly ready for her. The sweet young Charlotte never has clue what she is about to witness until it’s too late. The film has some originality, great story telling, cool gore shots, and some great casting of David Long as David and Kristi Ray as Charlotte. Well worth checking out this independent horror film as I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars.
Nite Owl (DVD) – John Leguizamo, a cameo appearance of Caroline Munro, and it’s a black and white artsy urban vampire flick. Time has not been kind to this film but if interested it’s about Leguizamo’s character worried about his sister who didn’t come home the night before and soon finds out that the guy named Jake she hooked up with is a vampire. I give the artsy independent flick 1 out of 4 stars.
Killer Kart (YouTube) – A student film after my own heart as it’s a 14 minute short film from Florida State University about a killer grocery cart at the local supermarket. Hopefully the characters Hale and Cass can survive its thirst for blood when the store closes? This hilariously gory film does it the right way of keeping it short and entertaining and I thank FSU film students for that as I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars.
Bloodrayne: The Third Reich (DVD) – Uwe Boll felt like video game/horror movie fans needed a third bootleg “Castlevania” movie especially since the real “Castlevania” project will never get off the ground. First it was fantasy times, second it was the old west, this time the big boobie Bloodrayne is fighting Nazis in WWII helping a small group of freedom fighters. By mistake she turns a Nazi commander (Michael Pare) into a day walker or vamp that can survive sunlight. With the help of evil scientist Clint Howard they want to deliver Bloodrayne’s blood to Hitler to make him immortal. The movie was poop but did find it entertaining watching Clint Howard trying to fake a German accent so for that I give it 1 ½ stars.
I Drink Your Blood (DVD) – To sum it up best never trust dirty hippies and young boys that sell meat pies. Why… well its 1970 and we got some naked dirty hippies doing naked satanic rituals in a remote area of the woods where a local girl happens to have a crush on one of the hippies’ and watches the ritual. When the group gets ahold of her they drug and rape her. Next day the hippies van breaks down and they just happen to roll into the local girl’s town that is a ghost town since there is construction on a dam being built and the town is going to be torn down. The girl tells grandpa what happen the night before he confronts the hippies who beat his old ass up and the girl’s young brother goes into the woods to kill a rabid dog. Once dead he takes blood from the dog and injects into his mom’s meat pies sold at the bakery which the dirty hippies buy, eat, and go fucking bonkers! Stabbings, limbs being hacked off, people foaming at the mouth, people biting and infecting others, people setting themselves on fire, crazy family entertainment I tell you. The perfect midnight flick to watch as I give it 4 stars.
Beyond the Door (DVD) – Half Eye-talian and half US production about a woman who gets pregnant with her third child and it’s the devil and possesses her. Meanwhile her crazy ex-dead boyfriend Dimitri is back in town to ensure the baby’s abnormal arrival for Satan to be reborn or just some crazy voice in his head we hear throughout the movie that claims it will give Dimitri more years to live if he helps. Yep, it’s a fucked up “Exorcist” rip-off that has its lulls throughout the flick but enough weirdness to see it all the through to the end! I give it 2 stars.
The Casebook of Eddie Brewer (DVD) – When looking for a ghost hunting flick worth watching or independent flick of interest always check out the UK titles because they always seem to stir something different up whether its big budget or independent like this different paranormal flick. The film is shot documentary style most of the film as it follows a long time paranormal expert Eddie Brewer, who doesn’t exactly, believes in ghosts as much as he believes in the unexplained. As the film rolls on Mr. Brewer explains his old but effective tactics and why he prefers to work alone than in a team like most so-called experts do these days. While working on two separate cases Eddie comes across possibly the best evidence he has ever witnessed and is very unsure of how to deal with this dilemma on top of trying to figure out why a little girl is being bothered by a poltergeist. Even though the film is very dialogue driven its interesting as its main character is not a true believer as most characters are in paranormal films and the documentary style actually adds to the Brewer character’s sincerity. This film proves there is still some original thought in the paranormal film genre and was a rare delightful treat to see a movie about the paranormal again. I give the flick 3 out of 4 stars and more info about the film can be found at www.shock-o-rama.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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis 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 for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015 as you will find me in the Gross Movie Reviews “Out of Print Film Room”. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
Gross Movie Reviews #337
By Tim Gross
Video Violence (DVD) – In 1987 Gary P. Cohen wrote and directed a S.O.V. flick that would soon find cult status among horror and independent films fans as he crafted a horror flick that was perfect for the late 80s. Steve just bought a video store in a small town where he is the only video rental place around. Problem is that he and his employee Rick noticed the townsfolk are not talkative and only rent slasher films. They never rent a comedy, drama, etc. But one day an unlabeled VHS tape is left in the slot return. Steve and Rick watch it only to wonder if it’s a snuff film until they see the one being killed looks familiar. Steve goes to the authorities and brings them to the store where there is no tape and no Rick. Steve soon learns there are more tapes and more people dying. Problem is the whole town is in on it and Howard and Eli are the stars. This is a piece of VHS history even if Gary P. Cohen really never did anything this film or its sequel as I give it 3 stars. “When renting isn’t enough…”
Video Violence 2: The Exploitation (DVD) – The sequel picks up seconds after the first film with Howard and Eli having their own show and trying to pirate into local and national stations so they can go global. This in hope of bringing their murderess ways to the masses, they even ask for fan murder tapes. Most of the film takes place in a basement where the show is captured live. The idea of the movie fizzles out quickly as it seems the best work was done in the first film. But that doesn’t stop Howard and Eli raising their body count. If you watch the first flick, remember to prepare yourself for a boring sequel. I give the flick 1 ½ stars.
Cemetery Gates (DVD) – The film stars Reggie Bannister as a scientist who has been experimenting with a Tasmanian devil for several years only to see it escape with help from some dumb ass who believes science is bad. Once out in the open woods the mutation finds friendly surroundings around an old cemetery where a small film crew is more than enough to satisfy its hunger. Meanwhile Reggie and his associate are trying to figure out a way to stop the beast. Lots of cool gore, a great looking creature, and Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger playing hippies getting high make for a fun movie that I believe that has gone unnoticed. I give the creature feature 3 stars.
Horns (DVD) – I heard it was based on a book and since I don’t have much time to read books it doesn’t matter as Harry Potter finds out the hard way of what it is like to fall in love with a ginger and have her taken away from you. The film isn’t as horrible as what most critics have said about it but when it’s pushing two hours for no apparent reason except to bore you I can understand why. I give the flick 1 star.
Hauntedween (VHS) – A cheap budgeted slasher that you can call “a bootleg Killer Party” about a boy named Eddie “bootleg Grizzly Adams” who accidentally kills a girl in the “House of Horrors” his mother ran. Twenty years later and mother has died and Eddie wants to return her home. But Eddie comes back only to find a couple frat boys want to reopen the house for a fund raising “House of Horrors” to save their fraternity’s charter. Eddie likes the idea because he has always wanted to be the star of the “House of Horrors”. It’s bloody, it’s cheap, and I want the sequel it promised but never delivered as I give the flick 2 stars. There is supposedly a 20th anniversary out of print DVD floating around but very hard to find?
Her Name Was Torment (DVD) – Dustin Wayde Mills seems to make independent films as quickly as you blink these days as the man never sleeps. Mr. Mills always doing a different independent project from the last decides to dip his toes in the water of torture films with this project. Now, most of these types of films are not my cup of tea but Mr. Mills does some interesting things with this film that kept my attention in between a masked naked woman known as ‘Patient 394’ who believes she is doing the bidding of the “Overseer”. If you are a fan of the “August Underground” films this might fill the void for you? If you are weird and an “X-file” fan like myself the clips of unknown person asking questions to the young lady to learn about her sets up a possible series of interesting films well worth keeping an eye out for… I may not be a big fan of the film but I do respect the talent making it and curious to see where the sequel goes from here? I give the movie 2 out of 4 stars. You can purchase the film at www.dmp.storenvy.com .
Dead & Buried (DVD) – A local sheriff of a small creepy town has noticed some strange things about a car accident where a man was burned badly and no one seems to remember knowing. The sheriff does some digging and finds out the man has been dead for months, maybe? Soon the townsfolk begin acting strange and other people begin to disappear. The Lovecraft-type of film still works today with its creepy drama and fun effects. A great DVD release from William Lustig’s Blue Underground label that is worth revisiting often as I give the film 3 stars.
Embedded (DVD) – A cheap movie I found on Amazon about a Sasquatch or Sasquatches… A reporter and his fellow cameraman find their way into a small Montana town where cattle have gone missing, and recently a person or two have disappeared. The cameraman hoping for footage for a documentary and the reporter just hoping not to die of boredom are not prepared for what they find out in the woods? After a teenage boy goes missing and the father rolls into town all tore up, the sheriff gathers a small group of hunters to go into the woods and track down the boy or his remains. Thinking it’s not aliens and just crazy small town rednecks the reporter and his cameraman get the scoop of a lifetime as something has just torn up an officer! Deeper in the woods they go the hunters become the hunted when some weird hairy creature is stalking them. The film is set up like a found footage Sasquatch film but doesn’t act like one at all times. From what I have heard and read Sasquatches are the new zombies of the horror genre so prepare yourself for a slew of Bigfoot flicks. I give the film 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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me 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 is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
Gross Movie Reviews #336
By Tim Gross
Elves (VHS/DVD-R) – An off the wall direct-to-video release in 1989 that stars Dan Haggerity aka Grizzly Adams in a plot that involves virgins, Nazi experiments, New World Order, and evil elves! Brilliant until the movie starts rolling along as the film suffers from lack of budget and direction as the film at times seems like there is parts missing but don’t let that scare you from experiencing a great bad holiday horror film. A teenager is pissed at her mom, scared of her German grandpa, and strikes up an odd relationship with Grizzly Adams for all good reason when evil ninjas aka elves begin to spy on her and try to capture her and kill her friends. Looking for that odd holiday horror film to add to your collection? Well “Elves” is it as I give it 2 stars.
The Muck (Vimeo) – Tony Wash of www.scotchworthy.com has a new short film that is a throwback to 80s slimy monster flicks that will soon be a part of a big project called “World of Death”. A woman comes home from a workout ignoring the water company’s sign about something wrong with the water and goes for a long hot bath but finds something else? I really liked where Mr. Wash went with this concept and think it would be great if he could get the funding to do a feature-length film called “The Muck”. I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars.
Red Christmas (Vimeo/DVD) – Steve Rudzinski busy as ever has a new independent holiday horror for all to have under their Christmas trees for years to come and it’s called “Red Christmas”. Tara is a cute twenty-something girl that has a certain fetish or taste for killing as it gets her in the Christmas spirit. But that’s not the only thing; Tara knows there will come a day she will be caught so she wants to keep a video diary of why she is a serial killer so it can make her famous and for people to understand her. Steve as usual is creative with no budget, keeps interesting and unsettling with a couple torture scenes (fingernail removal), and made me wondering if I was watching “Necromantik 3” at one point? Steve giving fans something different every time out may have given independent gorehounds a holiday present that will keep on giving for years to come! I give the flick 3 out of 4 stars and can be purchased at www.silverspotlightfilms.com .
It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To (DVD) – Tony Wash’s first project from 2007 was a prelude of things to come as this first time director/writer/producer fresh out of Tom Savini’s school took on a project that deserves more attention than it ever got for what he accomplished! I remember seeing a copy of the film a few years back at a convention but forgot to pick it up. After having a conversation with fellow movie reviewer Mario Dommick I made sure I got a copy to witness the carnage or I should say the greatness this project is… Tony was able to do a beautiful mash-up of my two favorite 80s horror flicks “Night of the Demons” and “Killer Party”. But let’s get to the good stuff, Sara’s birthday is on Halloween and Sara’s friends want to throw her the coolest surprise birthday party that she will remember. And they decide to throw it at Burkitt Manor: a place that just so happens to have a history of murder and hauntings over the past century. After one of Sara’s friends scratches himself on a nail in the attic he soon transforms into something horrifically evil. And by the way the transformation scene is something of beauty, I absolutely loved it! Sara soon arrives to her surprise party and her friends are dying horribly only for her to think it is part of the event at first. Tony Wash did amazing work his first time out and how this project didn’t get him more notice by Hollywood is beyond me??? But if that wasn’t enough the DVD has “adventure mode” where you are able to pick from nine different endings just like the old school “pick your own adventure” books. Think of “Final Destination 3” DVD extras but Mr. Wash did it such a higher level and care. I feel bad I missed it the first time around but glad I came back to it so I could review it. I give the flick 4 out of 4 stars as horror fans this is a must own, a must support, and you must pay attention to upcoming projects from Tony Wash. You can purchase the film at www.scotchworthy.com . Hey Tony, just remember us when you’re famous my friend!
The Babadook (On Demand) – Another good horror flick out of Australia that’s a bit of a creepy and scary kid’s tale. A single mom has a boy named Samuel who could be disturbed, autistic, etc., not totally sure but he does not like being separated from his mother. His mother is having a hard time without no husband and dealing with a child that seems to be awake 24/7. One night Samuel brings her a book to read and it’s called, “The Babadook”. After reading a few pages Samuel becomes scared and the mother hides the book. Strange things begin to happen and the book keeps reappearing with new pages and animation of death! A good scary flick for the mainstream crowd that doesn’t watch many horror flicks as I give it 3 stars.
Rec 4: Apocalypse (On Demand) – The successful Spanish zombie/demon/sort of found footage films are supposedly coming to an end with final entry? This time around the film takes place on a boat where apparently Angela the reporter, was taken too after her experience in the apartment house where the viral outbreak took place and is now been burned to the ground. Scientists are doing experiments to come up with a cure or a way to control this virus and must kill any who come in contact with it. All three films get tied into this flick so if you are a fan you will enjoy that and once again “Rec 4” does not disappoint with the crazy gore effects once infected monkey gets loose and Angela and others are trapped. I loved the film and have been a big fan of the series but felt the ending was a letdown and not the ending I was hoping for. But saying that I still give this wonderful foreign horror film 3 stars.
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films (DVD/YouTube) – A wonderful documentary about two guys who came to Hollywood and within a decade made Charles Bronson a star again, Chuck Norris what he is today, and many crazy, wacky 80s films that weird film junkies like myself enjoyed. They went from a joke to be taken serious in a decade and made Hollywood pay attention to them until their debt caught up and the two men had a falling out. Whether we admit or not Cannon Films help shape cinema of today. Dozens of actors, actresses, producers, directors share stories of what went down on sets of many of these films and what it was like working for Cannon Films. This kind of stuff is hilarious to watch and makes you take notes on movies you may have missed over the years as I give it 3 ½ stars.
Zombeavers (On Demand) – I so enjoy when people seem to make movies just for me… and “Zombeavers” is a pleasant idea seen all the way through. A barrel of toxic chemical falls off a dump truck and into a stream where beavers are living. Soon the green shit is all over the beaver’s home and has mutated them to “ZOMBIE BEAVERS”!!! How this hasn’t shown up on SyFy Channel yet I will never know but anyway three college girls are getting away for the weekend to have a drunken girl weekend at a cousin’s cabin. Soon the boyfriends show up to scare the shit out of them but so do the pissed off beavers as they attack couples on sea, on land, where ever the beavers and find flesh to munch on. I give it 3 stars.
Housebound (On Demand) – A weird oddity of a horror/comedy to come out of New Zealand about a woman who has been in a host of trouble has been just caught for trying to steal money out an ATM machine. Her lawyer convinces a judge that she can do better if forced to house arrest at home with her mother since she has been in and out of the system for substance abuse and other criminal charges. Once the rules are explained to her by the security officer she begins to hear sounds in the walls and weird things begin to happen but this has gone on for years since her parents bought the house and they both believe they seen something at one point when she was a kid. The film goes from typical haunting PG-13 film to a crazy and hilarious you are not sure what to expect horror film as the security guard gets involved because he is a paranormal expert in his free time. As the girl investigates the house she becomes involved in an unsolved mystery of many years that took place before her parents bought the house. Another great horror film from New Zealand that has a bit of everything that makes it quite entertaining and shows why Hollywood doesn’t have a clue. I give the film 3 ½ stars.
Thor: The Dark World (DVD) – A solid sequel to a boring character that Marvel Films has found a way to make interesting or at least entertaining for me. Unlike the Captain America sequel you do not feel like this film is keeping you in a holding pattern for the “Avengers” sequel. The film explores more of the Thor mythology as Thor must rely on his evil brother Loki to not only save Asgard but Earth as an ancient enemy has reappeared when Jane Foster mistakenly finds a power source that awakens evil elves. As Marvel keeps them coming I will keep watching as I give this sequel 2 ½ stars.
Tusk (DVD) – To be honest I did not know what to expect from this Kevin Smith film as a) it’s a horror film and b) critics have destroyed this film publicly from the start but that isn’t any different from anything else Kevin has set out and done. Two podcasters played by Justin Long and Haley Joel Osment have a very popular podcast called, “Not See Podcast”. Each week Justin’s character travels to places to look for stupid, strange stories and comes back home to talk about them on the podcast to his partner. Justin travels to Canada to search out a kid who got 30 million hits on YouTube for cutting his leg off with a sword. He finds out the kid killed himself and wants to find another story before he leaves the Great White North. While using the restroom he finds an ad for an old man who has stories to tell. Long’s character goes to visit him and that is where shit gets truly bizarre and if that isn’t enough for you there is a story about a walrus penis! Want more? How about Johnny Depp as Guy Lapointe plays an investigator who has been trying to track down this old dude who just happens to be a serial killer who has a fascination for walruses. It may possibly be the most creative and bizarre film Kevin Smith has ever done or ever will but it had my attention at this oddity all the way. I promise you the viewer that you have never seen a film quite like this… I give it 3 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, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!
Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me 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 is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.
See yinz at Horror Realm March 6-8th, 2015. For details visit www.horrorrealmcon.com .
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