Gross Movie Reviews #352
By Tim Gross
Scarewaves (DVD) – The unique independent filmmaker Henrique Couto is always trying to give the audience a different flick every time out. And Mr. Couto did not disappoint with his latest release as it’s an anthology of urban legend inspired stories. All the stories are told by radio host Amos Satan who wants something different for his last night on the show. While conversing with callers he tells the stories. But also someone keeps calling in threating Mr. Satan. All the segments are a nice length and do not seem to drag as most anthologies there always seem to be that weak segment no matter how good the others are. Henrique seems to find an even flow with the stories. The anthology is a lot of fun, could have used more blood, but entertaining and great pick up for independent fans as I give the new release 2 ½ out of 4 stars. You can purchase or find out more about the film at: https://www.alternativecinema.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alternative-Cinema-Pop-Cinema-Studios/99873255809?fref=ts .
Killer Dead (DVD-R) – A very unknown 1992 film that was made aware to my Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast partner by Out of Print Dan a few weeks ago that may or may not be the unofficial sequel to “Spookies”! No bullshit director Brendan Faulkner gets the “Spookies” gang back together and from the sketchy details it was 1989 and made another movie on a fraction of the budget for “Spookies”… And yes Gabe Bartalos was there along for the ride doing special effects. The film also had the title “Non Vegetarian Zombies from Outer Space” and I believe was released with this title outside of the US in a very limited release on VHS. And there may have been a Japanese laserdisc but cannot prove or disprove this as I have found a picture of it but no information. But for the “Spookies” fans a group of campers lead by Vinny and a generic Indiana Jones go into the woods for some weekend fun until a UFO crashes and the group stumbles upon it. Soon aliens come out of the spacecraft and begin shooting at the campers and bring the dead back to life to kill all of them. And let’s not forget Vinny’s wife is supposed to be killed by a couple mob hitmen. The movie is a mess, the copy is low quality, and I laughed the whole time watching it as someone besides us may or may not had the idea of a sequel to “Spookies” years ago! I give it 3 stars for it being the random mess it is. There was supposedly plans for a DVD release but no information can be found on whether it will or was going to actually happen.
We Are Still Here (On Demand) – A very surprising cool horror flick starring Barbara Crampton and set in the 70s. An older couple buys a house in a small rural town shortly after their college-aged son has died. A few strange things happen in the house the two weeks they have been that makes Crampton’s character believe their son’s spirit is there with them. But it is so much more as the mayor keeps checking in on them and they have a couple hippie friends stopping up to stay for a few days that may be able to help? The film is very story driven and you gotta to stick with it as you just learn that the mayor is an asshole and there is more to this house and rural town that the movie leads onto until that perfect moment. Then it’s a BLOODBATH! I give it 4 stars.
Crash! (VHS/DVD-R) – It is debatable if this was Charles Band’s first directorial effort or not? In 1973 there was this project “Last Foxtrot in Burbank” where he even used a different name which wasn’t uncommon at the time but then four years later we got this flick that seem to be the go button on Mr. Band’s career. So let me know if you see “Last Foxtrot in Burbank”? But in the meantime let’s talk “Crash!” where a black Camaro is running people off the road with no driver behind it. This happens quite often after a dog attacks a beautiful woman on a mountainside and causes her to crash. She is later found on the side of a highway and taken to the hospital gripping a lucky charm, an evil idle that she picked up at the Drive-in swap meet earlier that day. Apparently the charm allows her to get revenge and control her car as it smashes into everyone on the highway. Fun movie with lots of car crashes but the driverless car causes at least one death before she is ever put into the coma by her husband’s dog. Don’t if its editing, or you are supposed to overlook this, or it might be a combo of things. But not finding much information on VHS releases, etc., it is tough to say. But anyway I thought I seen all the driverless/devil car movies from the 70s and 80s and I was just happy to get a hold of a movie from early on in Charles Band’s career as I give it 2 stars.
A City of Ember (DVD) – Imagine if Disney made an apocalypse movie and it starred Bill Murray and Tim Robbins this would be it. As an underground city has survived for the past 200 years on the premise of being told there is no outside world, it was destroyed. But the lights are going out more often and no one is sure of how to fix the big generator that supplies the city. Two teenagers come into possession of a box that was carried by all the mayors of the city over the years. The box has a map and instructions to the outside world and these two teenagers are determined to do it as they also find out the city is running out of food too. Think of it as a light-hearted post-apocalyptic flick as I give it 2 stars.
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (DVD) – Okay before I review this flick am I wrong that this film should be titled something else as it takes place in Georgia and not Connecticut? I understand the film company is trying to capitalize on the popularity but change the fucking title for the love of Rutger Hauer! A confusing story about ghosts of slaves that walk this property thinking they were safe or looking for safety during the time the South believed in slavery. And the property was just purchased by a family where the wife, the sister, and the child can see ghosts. They try to understand why the ghosts of the slaves are showing up but there is also a strange ghost of an old dude talking to the little girl too. Movie is a little too confusing in the end for me and in the end just wasn’t that good as I give it 1 star.
Annabelle (DVD) – I figured I would get around to watching the prequel to “The Conjuring” eventually that tells the story of the evil doll that became a popular thing for movie fans in “The Conjuring”. What it amounts to is Annabelle predates Chucky with no Brad Dourif but some weirdo girl who ran away with a cult in the 70s. Then two years later comes back with her crazy ass boyfriend to kill her parents, gets shot in the process when trying to kill the helping neighbors, and boom crazy runaway possesses the doll… supposedly, since this is based on the Warrens adventures. First flick I enjoyed, this flick kinda blah and it’s no Charles Lee Ray! I give it 1 ½ stars.
Killer Legends (DVD/Chiller Channel) – Rachel Mills and Joshua Zeman (writer and director of “Cropsey”) take it upon themselves to do a documentary on how real urban legends got started. They investigate where the and poisoned trick or treat candy urban legend started and how it got out of control, the killer clown that was seen by hundreds of school children several times over the years, the person calling from within the house while a babysitter is doing her job, the Candyman, and Texarkana event from 1946 sparked several urban legends. Interesting documentary but like most doesn’t give you the answers you are looking for a lot of times. But still worthy of a watch as I give it 2 stars.
The Nightmare (On Demand) – Another intriguing documentary about a subject that many people have had or still have and that is ‘sleep paralyses’. Eight people share their stories, their experiences, and the aftermath of seeing: shadow people, dark blobs, TV people, red eyes, and darkness. The documentary dives into why this condition exists and how people who have it can be very affected by it. Now I never had this issue of where I wake up but cannot move but the one thing I got out of it is these people suffer from a lack of sleep and this may perhaps explain alien abduction but that is just me. I am sure it’s scary for some of these folks, but there is a couple I wanted to just say stop taking the acid or shrooms and you will be fine. I give it 2 stars.
Reichsfuhrer SS (DVD/Vimeo) – The same independent filmmaker that gave us “Operation: Nazi Zombies” a few years back is back at again with another Nazi film that involves Heinrich Himmler on about a $25,000 budget. The film is about how Himmler became a murdering Nazi bastard and meets the gatekeeper of hell after his suicide in 1945. While with the gatekeeper of hell Himmler goes through his past of what started him on his incredible murderous path. The crew does an amazing job with costumes, use of locations, décor, and even the gatekeeper of hell. If I didn’t tell you the budget of this flick most viewers would guess that the budget would be more like $200, 000 or $300,000 because of how authentic things look. The crew, the actors, and filmmaker go all out in this bad ass entertaining film about Himmler getting what he deserved in the end. I love watching independent movies that pay attention to detail when it comes to pictures, flags, etc. when movies are set in a certain time period and they should be proud of this project. I give this flick 3 out of 4 stars and more about this new release can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/RFSSMovie?fref=ts .
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