This website is dedicated to horror movies (independent and mainstream), beer, Full Moon, Spookies, Graveyard Shift, Leprechaun sequels, massacre films and watching every god damn horror film ever made or die trying!
This week we have another 3 interesting movies to talk about from all over the world. First it’s another made for television jam starring Karen Black in THE STRANGE POSSESSION OF MRS. OLIVER. Then we travel to Korea in PROJECT WOLF HUNTING or as Kyle likes to call it Frankenstein Murder Boat. And finally a total classic in David Cronenberg’s VIDEODROME. We also talk about some new magazines, Kyle talks about his convention artwork collection, and why the hell it’s so hard to find 27X41 frames, We also answer your listener questions, read the news, and review all the movies we have been watching lately, So, download this episode or we will steal all of your 70’s drive in posters.
Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions (DVD/Tubi) – A 2020 documentary that covers the story of a dude who made shot on video movies like no other as he flooded the market with his no budget stuff. Interviews with Tina Krause, Art Ettinger, J.R. Bookwalter, Mike Gingold, William Hellfire, and some other actors that have worked on these numerous productions with Gary Whitson tell the story of what his production unique. What separated this production company if you want to call it from the other low budget stuff was he took requests, scripts from fans and made them! Or what some fans call this genre “Custom Fetish Films”. More than likely if you are over 30 and been to a video store you have rented one of these movies by accident as I give this fun doc 4 stars all the way as it was fun watching people explain the impact these films had on the Indy scene.
Strangeville Home Movies (DVD) – Kevin Strange has recently returned to the independent scene like a hurricane with comics and movies. Always been a fan of Kevin’s work as I was a huge fan of the Nixon and Hogan stuff. So knowing there was new stuff released thought it was time to start with something that could be a lot of fun and that was this collection of never seen before short films, promos, and unreleased skits Kevin and friends did as far back as 2005 before a lot of the features Hack Movies became known for. If you are a fan of Hack Movies this will the sweet spot as there is some funny Nixon and Hogan stuff here and “The Pumpkin Reaper” playing Kevin in a board game of “Life” during one of the short films. The independent genre is better for Kevin and Hack Movies being back going full steam again as I give this collection 3 out of 4 stars.
Death Mask (DVD/YouTube) – James Best writes and stars in this 1998 feature where he is a part of a circus for the past several decades because his father scarred his face as a child. He plays Wilbur a shy aging man that is being threaten by the new circus owner to be fired until a young lady (Linnea Quigley) Angel comes along and takes interest in the old man unlike all that work there. Wilbur hell bent on wanting to change things of course goes with Angel to visit a swamp gypsy because he is told his death masks are fake? Wilbur sells his soul, makes a mask, it becomes pure evil, and he kills people because he becomes possessed by it… I guess. By far not the most interesting film but you know I had to see it to believe it as I give it 1 star. Also look for one of the most awkward shower scenes done by Linnea in her career, weird stuff.
Shingles the Movie (DVD) – This time out super talented independent filmmaker Steve Rudzinski directs a film that starts off promising as it looks and feels like an Indy “R” rated version of Goosebumps. A small group of friends sitting around a campfire as they are part of the “Cooter Scouts” wait for their scout leader. To pass the time they discuss life lessons and tell stories to entertain and scare each other. The stories consist of a messy comedian; foreign exchange students challenged to a beer Olympics, cocaine filled talking gnome, and a zombie apocalypse. The cast is wonderful and might be the best yet to be in a Rudzinski film as there is a few of the usuals that you will see like a Ben Dietels who is glorious but the one that may catch your attention is Michael Varrati (super talented and one of my favorite people to ever work with) as the voice of the cocaine filled gnome! This entertaining low budget film (I believe $50,000) has a great professional higher budget look to it as I like the “Goosebumps” and even a splash of “Wishmaster” vibe I get from the film. I enjoyed everything about it except the running time… two hours. This could be a me thing in general with independent stuff as I respect the hell out of Steve and that crew but once it hits the 80, 85 minute mark the film feels like it loses the steam or momentum it had early on in their story telling with the Cooter Scouts discussing things. The people playing the scouts were perfect but in the end the stories felt like they were a little long to fit into this feature as I give the film 3 out of 4 stars. http://www.silverspotlightfilms.com
Ghosts of Amityville (DVD/Tubi) – Once again I felt a disturbance in the movie force as I had a feeling entry #46 (if yinz are still counting?) was streaming and it was… Anyhow, this entry has clowns… again and from Spain. Believe me not that matters much but this story has a little girl named Oliva being haunted by a clown that might be some kind of Amityville force? Because they had a few quick shots of the Amityville house at the beginning and some words scrolling across the screen explaining some deaths occurred there. So of course this means a little girl gets haunted by some stupid clown whether she in the woods, dreaming, in her bedroom, or in some random hotel looking thing that the filmmaker thought would be cool like “The Shinning”. Who in the fuck knows as this was hot garbage from beginning to end. How bad was it? I put this right behind: Mt. Misery Road, Vanishing Point, Thanksgiving, then this entry, then Scarecrow most likely. You know for those people who think I am completely insane for watching all these films and laughing with me as I keep writing about these complete disasters as this entry was no different as it gets 0 stars.
Terminal Island (DVD) – Before: No Escape, that one with Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even Turkey Shoot there is this 1973 edgy fun cinema that stars a young Tom Selleck. It is called the San Bruno initiative where convicts that have been convicted of murder are sent to an island about 40 miles off the coast of California because it is cheaper for taxpayers for them to live out their lives there. Little does the public know it’s all about survival as men and women break up into two groups of convicts because one of them is trying to control everyone? But remember they are all killers and their instinct kicks in quickly in this gritty but wonderful movie you may never heard of as I give it 3 stars.
Mortuary Academy (DVD/YouTube) – Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, and two dumb ass dudes that inherit a mortuary and its school program but must attend and graduate in order to get the inheritance. Yep, go no further as I am always in for something late 80s like this where the Grim brothers must fumble through mortician school as Paul and Mary’s hilarious characters try to stop them so they get the inheritance. Paul and Mary steal the show as I give this 3 ½ stars.
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!
The Dead Don’t Die (YouTube) – A George Hamilton TV movie from 1975 that is set in 1934 Illinois. Hamilton plays Don Drake who has a brother that was accused and tried for murder at The Illinois State Penitentiary and is heading to the electric chair. Don’s brother swears up and down before his execution that he was wronged so Don begins to investigate his brother’s innocence? But Don finds himself in over his head quickly as he falls into a strange world of evil, voodoo, and zombies as his brother becomes one himself. It’s an odd mix of film noir and supernatural TV movie that I am unsure if people would have picked up on at the time of its release? This oldie fits the weird card if you are looking for something in streaming land that you haven’t heard of before as I give it 2 stars.
Dracula: Live from Transylvania (DVD-R/YouTube) – Speaking of George Hamilton here is a documentary with some comedy thrown in, hosted by George Hamilton himself and throws a jab or two at himself for starring in “Love at First Bite”. Hamilton plays it for laughs as he directs you through the history of the famous bloodsucker himself, “Dracula”. He interviews experts about the legend, talk about the history of vampires past and present, and even speak once or twice about the countless films about it. It is 1989 TV event that I do not remember ever hearing about but now glad I have had a chance to witness this hilarity as I give it 3 stars.
Wild Blade (YouTube) – A super odd dramatic college film project (I believe) from New York 1991, that stars Stephen Geoffreys as a mute and boyfriend to an up and coming comedian who was trying to divorce his wife before his untimely death. The movie reflects on everything that happens after his death as it seems to go nowhere except everyone is banging everyone as I give it 1 star.
Doomsday Stories (DVD) – A new project from a ‘jack of all trades’ filmmaker Phil Herman that puts together a host of stories that connect in the sense they all are about a man-made virus that has almost wiped out all of mankind. Many years later a man wandering the wastelands or the nice beach they filmed on finds a notebook documenting these stories of individuals or groups of people trying to fight back, survive, or even change the past? I enjoy the concept, looks professional, but any independent film pushing the 2 hour limit is always going to find itself some critics for the mere reason it better be perfect? The movie has its flaws for sure but it is entertaining from my perspective of it feeling like an updated “Hitchhiker” TV series that was from HBO during the mid-80s. If Phil would have reeled his character a little bit for the wraparound of the stories the only thing he would have been missing is a dusty leather jacket and him thumbing for a ride… I like seeing different stuff like this from Indy people as I give it 2 out of 4 stars.
Night of the Axe (DVD/YouTube) – First feature length film from Shawn Wright that features music from Matt (Hexercise) Cannon and it is a slasher so right away you have my attention good or bad. Our story begins with a very large mute man in an insane asylum where he decides to get up and begin a murder spree! But the small town doesn’t have the resources to track him down as had escaped weeks ago but also the young people of the town don’t care until now. Bulk of the film takes place in a home where the locals are having a small high school reunion party where they can get drunk, high, and bump uglies. I gotta give kudos to Mr. Wright for understanding “when to end the film”, giving Indy fans what they want, and keeping the first feature length formula simple. I found the pacing of the whole story a little choppy but still delivered on the blood and guts factor and most likely will have independent movie fans wondering “what’s next” for the second feature as I give this delight 3 out of 4 stars.
Macabre Medicine (YouTube) – Will Devokess wants all to know full heads up that this was a school project from several years ago and had a shitload of issues from budget restraints to distribution rights, etc., so be kind if you get the chance to see it like I have. But anyway a passion project that became a reality where the first ten minutes is fake trailers that lead into a 90 minute feature with a man Heywood West who enjoys experimenting with the human body by butchering them. A fellow medical student in Jeff does his best to become friends and hang with West but to Jeff’s dismay he witnesses West’s enjoyment let’s say? Now Jeff must decide to stay friends with a killer or listen to his college buddies and turn him in? Here is the thing the film goes a different route as most scenes are played up for laughs and features some gore. I liked the concept but feel like Mr. Devokess never executed exactly what he was trying to give the audience as I give the movie 2 out of 4 stars.
Blood Scarab (DVD) – A weirdo horror film sort of… where Vlad Dracula and Elizabeth Bathory are a thing and Renfield still serves Dracula. After Dracula fails to make it home before daylight this allows Bathory to walk around mostly naked, feed on her girlfriend at will, and make sure we all see her girlfriend topless for most of the film. Meanwhile a mummy disappears from a museum that Brinke Stevens works at and Renfield is challenged to track down this mummy for a ritual to become a daywalker. While Renfield performs his duties we get a bad soft-core version of Bathory and her girlfriend but once she has performed the ritual Renfield disagrees with her and tries to bring Bathory down. The movie is supposed to be played for laughs but I think you are so beaten over the head to watch boobs for 90 percent of the movie the jokes get lost in the process. This is the type of horror movie you give friends who claim “they don’t watch porn?” Or better yet they should have just made the porn version because most likely it would have been funnier as I give it 1 star for at least having the legendary actress Brinke Stevens in it.
Death Blow (Blu-ray) – Chris Leto’s latest Indy feature has a man David owning a rental property that was supposed to be profitable but it’s been a real slow time for rentals. Thus David is starting to panic as he goes deeper into debt just trying to keep up with the property. One afternoon David heads to the property after someone’s (Mr. Beck) one night stay to clean up only to find Mr. Beck hasn’t left yet but died of an overdose. This is where the real story begins as David quickly decides to clean up, get rid of the body, and make it like he left after finding a bag with a large sum of money. David believing he has gotten away with it starts to spiral into doubt of his actions and just trying to keep it hidden of what he has done but the real problem is Mr. Beck was bringing the money to a friend who isn’t happy now. This movie doesn’t go for laughs, gore, just a straight up gut punch thriller of what happens to David now? Felt like I have seen this before but Leto and crew still did a wonderful job of trying to interject new dark twists to this concept as I give the film 3 out of 4 stars.
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!
Just an update so far: Vendor spaces are selling nicely, waiting on one or maybe two more guests to get back to us, and we have an early movie list for the event that will be playing (no order yet, except we always open with Matt Cannon Hexercise) and thank yinz again!
Grossfest returns in a big way Saturday, August 5, 2023!!! We are going to party like Grossfest 2018 because unlike other conventions we are sticking with “PRE-COVID” PRICES!
One day event with guests, movies, filmmakers, vendors from 11am to 7pm. (Guests will be announced soon and as always subject to change)
All we ask of yinz, is your support! You want this to keep happening you have to get your asses there and plus to answer any questions of it: Yes, a two-day event is already in the plans for August 2024! (We need to take the first big step back) So let’s keep it simple and enjoy Grossfest is back and with your support this is a new beginning for our Independent Horror Convention.
Vendors please contact grossfest@gmail.com for a vendors application and we are working on having several different ways of taking payment.
This week John is on vacation so Kyle and Tim are going back to the old school approach. 3 movies, 2 dudes and a whole lot of good movies to talk about. First we scream ” DEATH TO THE LACTOSE INTOLERANT’ as we cover the Swissplotation epic MAD HEIDI. Then Eric Roberts and John Voight break out of prison and hop aboard a RUNAWAY TRAIN. And finally a burned up Richard lynch convinces some folks to become snipers while Andy Kaufman runs around a new York Saint Paddy’s Day parade in GOD TOLD ME TO. We also answer your listener questions, recap all the news and new trailers, and round up what we have been watching this week. So download this episode or you will disappoint our very Swiss leader Casper Van Dean.
This week we try something different. We invite our good buddy Out Of Print Dan onto the show to talk about the greatest year for genre film of all time 1987… But this time its draft day! We will be compiling a list of what we thing the top 18 movies released in 1987 were. And as always we talk about the news, recent watches, and whatever the hell we want to talk about. We got Dan of the show for Crist’s sake! So download this episode or you might get drafted as the next Cleveland Browns quarterback, we don’t wish that on anyone.
Jaws of Satan (Blu-ray) – So I was checking out this out of print 2-pack Blu-ray that has “Jaws of Satan/Empire of the Ants” with no real extras and pretty much is the latest but out of print physical media of this flick that is available? Anyway, after a train stops suddenly in a small town several snake attacks happen that just happen to be led by a King Cobra who might be Satan himself! This cobra is tracking a priest who might not believe as much as some of his brothers until this snake along with others come looking for him so there can be an ultimate fight between good and evil. This killer snake movie is still some cheesy fun that I give 3 stars too but look out for the overpriced Blu-ray as it isn’t worth what the eBay people want?
Mercenaries (DVD) – A Hong Kong Shaw Brothers flick that isn’t as available as some Shaw Brothers flicks on YouTube has a bad ass dude Mr. Lou Li approached by a gorgeous rich woman who needs him to travel to Cambodia to kidnap an assassin? Lou Li is given permission to put together a small team and each can make a substantial amount of money if they are able to retrieve an audio tape that is being used for blackmail. Imagine a cool Hong Kong version of “The Expendables” who accomplish their mission but things go from a little bad to a whole lot worse when they all get screwed over! A super fun and crazy action flick well worth seeking out if you haven’t had the chance to witness bad ass flick as I give it 3 stars.
The Skid Kid (DVD-R/YouTube) – A WTF lost low budget film from 1991 that has a familiar face or two about a masked superhero who happens to be a high school kid (Scooter Spielberg) with special boots and skids along the road on his ass. These boots are so special that the FBI is looking into getting the boots off of the kid for the government. But meanwhile the kid is just trying to clean up his community of crime. And by the way folks his boots run on soda and not that cheap shit either… I dare you to not laugh and enjoy this cornball movie that if nothing else is entertaining and give 2 ½ stars too.
Queen of Blood (DVD) – A mid 60s film that is set in 1990 and stars Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hopper, and John Saxon where earthlings receive a distress call from an alien ship on Mars. So being 1990 in all they jump into a ship to go see if they can help their new friends? Friends this alien is not as a beautiful green alien is found and brought aboard the ship for the astronauts to bring back to good health and have her meet the good scientists that started this mess. Once awake on the ship the beauty wastes no time to lure men in with her beauty and suck them dry of their blood. Sounds like a crude version of “Lifeforce” kids but no matter how old this feature is its still worth checking out this B-movie as I give it 2 ½ stars.
Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake (YouTube) – This somewhat hard to find 1980 film is sometimes known as “Croaked: Frog Monster from Hell” where a man named Kelly tells a horrible story of a frog monster one summer when he was 11 years old. A researcher comes by Kelly and his father to investigate the lake they live on where a fossil unlike anything before was found. But there has always been a story of something living near or in the lake that is half man/half monster and was looked upon as a god. The film takes a while to get going but has a wonderful pay off when the cheesy monster goes on a rampage as I give the film 2 stars.
Cocaine Bear (Theater) – The ‘Sharknado’ film of 2023 for us film nerds as this film is very loosely based on drugs found in the mountains of Kentucky and Georgia 1985. A black bear just happens to find the bags of cocaine and likes it! Now add in a couple of drug dealers looking for their stuff, a couple missing kids, a not so smart cop, and a bear high on cocaine looking to slaughter any human that gets in the way of it and its new thing “Cocaine”. This movie was beyond entertaining and most likely will make a lot people’s “Top Ten lists” as they made sure every five minutes the bear is snorting or eating cocaine or characters are talking about the bear on cocaine as I give this brilliance 4 stars.
Crocodylus (DVD) – A no budget film about a small town having a killer croc problem even though several times throughout the film characters saying, “killer gator”… It was making no sense but anyway after a few bodies have been mutilated the cops finally take interest in these possible animal attacks. Doesn’t take much longer for others to take notice and explain how it is a professor’s experiment that has gotten out in the wild. The movie was mostly dull and couldn’t believe there wasn’t one person on set to even remotely try to add energy to this poor excuse for a killer animal movie as I give it 0 stars.
Remnants (Plex) – An Indy filmmaker Mark Byrne tries to take a stab at the recently bloated genre of paranormal and tries to bring something to it? A rich dude bank rolls a group of paranormal experts to research and help clear “remnants” of souls good or bad haunting people or structures. While just trying to help a lost soul of a killer clown happens to find an opening into the real world and restart his rampage of murder. Now the paranormal flick might not be my cup of tea but I gotta give kudos to Mr. Byrne trying to spice up the independent paranormal genre with a different take as I give the film 2 out of 4 stars.
Scream of the Blind Dead (Full Moon/Tubi) – This 40 minute short film based on “The Blind Dead” series is just proof that Chris Alexander needs to stop directing and go back to his day job. This poor excuse for a short ‘fan film’ is about a young lady named Virginia who checks out a church in the middle of nowhere because she is a sexual deviant that thinks nasty thoughts and only awakens one shitty Templar Knight. I apologize this sounds harsh but I know this dude has the resources and I am still not over how bad that ‘Necropolis: Legion’ was as I give this garbage 0 stars as this might be the clear cut winner already in 2023 of “Worst Movie of the Year”!
Invaders from Mars (DVD) – This 1953 drive-in classic have a kid witnessing a flying saucer landing in his backyard during a stormy night. David’s father George goes out to investigate to only fall into a hole and disappear mysteriously. David frightened until his father comes home and begins to act different and has a strange cut on his neck that reignites David’s fear. David fears it is no longer his father, but an alien clone or possession of sorts as townsfolk are slowly taken over. Luckily for David a nurse at the local police station believes something isn’t right and they head over to an army base where David is finally taken seriously about aliens invading. It is up to the Army to stop these invaders from sabotaging shit around town but the kicker of the whole thing is: Did David dream it all up or did something else happen? Still a wonderful flick to show movie people who are looking to dip their toe into the sci-fi/horror genre as I give the film 3 stars.
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!
This energetic, talented actor, director, overall cool human being has been one of my favorite and possibly most interesting people I have had the pleasure meeting over the years. You may know him from one of the best Indy “massacre” films ever made in “Pool Party Massacre”. But he also has parts in recent projects such as: The Barn 2, Amityville Hex, Scare Me, and Slashlorette Party as Grossfest is honored to have Drew Marvick as a guest.
This talented newcomer to the filmmaking community busted onto the scene with a film not only shot on video but prefers the process and has already carved a niche into the scene with their first big project “Spirit Animal”. Now they are about to rock the boat of Indy filmmaking again with their latest “Bathtub Shark Attack”! I dare you to say there is a bigger supporter of SOV films and shark films out there? So with great pleasure we will be having Madeline Deering as a guest.
This filmmaker is a quiet, talented fellow that I have known for many years and have had the pleasure watch him grow and learn with his films. I get super excited when this individual has a new release because I know it’s gonna be gory, fun, and possibly a little disturbing. He might be best known for such titles: Welcome to Deer Creek, Tonight You Die, What’s Wrong With Mom?, and Happy Hour Holocaust . But the I believe the Indy world is about to be blown away by this filmmaker’s most complete feature to date with “Then My Mind Walked Away” as we enjoy knowing Jim Roberts will be joining Grossfest as a guest.
Now this dude is excellent and his career has spanned a few decades where he started in a little role for a little film called “The Dead Next Door”. From there he was in such titles: Robot Ninja, The Sandman, Polymorph, Killer Campout, Frames of Fear 3, Deathboard, Hell Van just to name a few. But recently has really made an impact as a director with titles: Her Name is Christa and Brimstone Incorporated! We believe Grossfest fans will enjoy his presence and we are happy to announce James L. Edwards as a guest.
Now yinz know we cannot have a Grossfest unless we have this individual as a guest? This director, actor, producer, has given Indy fans such fun titles as: Basic Slaughter, The Slasher Hunter, Everyone Must Die!, Super Task Force One, and then showed off his talent even more when he broke through with not just his “Meowy” series but his “CarousHell 1 and 2” breaking into the mainstream! This multi-talented star is on the edge of going global but always has time for us folks at Grossfest as usual we enjoy knowing we have Steve Rudzinski as a guest.
Over the past decade Mr. Clevenger has had a variety of roles through several Indy projects but also is a director, producer, etc. It isn’t often someone can make waves with one Indy film project and if I could point out a film that in our opinion is why we wanted him as a guest for Grossfest it is his first directed feature 2018’s “People to Kill” starring the very talented Erin Ryan. That film stands out big time when we discuss independent films over the years and take our word on it… It will stick with you as you get to meet this very cool individual who we are happy to have as a guest at Grossfest, Mr. Adam Scott Clevenger.
2 Cool 2 Geek the Film (YouTube) – A no budget film that documents two guys (Old School and 50-K) who have a web series and these guys have gotten big enough Spike TV is gonna pick the show up. Spike TV arrives to start filming and follow these two around until their buddy of the show Youngblood is kidnapped and of course hijinks ensues. There are cops, way too many comic book conventions, talk of sex slaves, way too much Sonic the Hedgehog worship, a bat on a string, and a Swedish exchange kid that cannot wait to do cosplay. This project is from Craig Blake and Adam Stern, so if you have enjoyed such films as Doug Waugh’s “Trash Juice”, “The Wet Ones” from “Wig Wolf”, or Addison Binek’s “Magnum Opus: The Movie” this chaos will be up your alley as I give it 2 ½ out of 4 stars.
Valentine Bluffs: My Bloody Valentine Fan Film (YouTube) – ‘Fan Film’… let’s start there because that to me is always gonna be a tough sell especially a sequel to horror fans’ favorite over the years and there was only one movie, never a sequel. I am not opposed, I might be old thinking on this, but I always felt when you do see that term your expectations are already lowered right or wrong as a viewer. Anyhow it has been 40 years since the original killings of Harry Warden/Axel and the town of Valentine Bluffs has spent a lot of time healing and not talking about the legend. But two things are happening that will possibly rip the town apart again as it has barely kept alive this long. First, is TJ and Sarah’s son is heading to the small town looking for his father and second is the mayor (Lloyd Kaufman) who has come up with a gimmick for the closed mine “Harry’s Bloody Attraction” that most are not too keen on the idea. As you watch the film, filmmaker Tom Smith (pretty much his first feature) tries to connect certain things to the original to keep fans interested. Once TJ’s kid comes rolling into town the small town murders begin to happen again and without giving too much away Tom Smith tries to give answers to what may have happen after the first film. Now I know there are some fans of this film already but this is how I seen it right or wrong it’s just an opinion. But here we go folks: I felt the pacing was off and the buildup to the end was slow. The production looked great, you had a location, but in my mind what you did in the last five to ten minutes of the movie should have been expanded or made more of the plot point of the film. Because I think you can’t get away from the ending of the first film without explaining what happen to Axel so it sucks fans in. Second, I understand the appeal of Lloyd Kaufman as the mayor but anymore he only brings humor and not a sense of seriousness to the role that I believe was key for this project to work. Clearly you had a mine location I just felt you should have used it more as the last five/ten minutes felt great compared to what came before it. Again why it will always be tough to do a project/sequel to such an iconic film “My Bloody Valentine” of horror fan lore, so let the hate mail role in but anyway if anything filmmaker Tom Smith has my attention as I am curious where he goes with his second or third feature length film as I give this 2 out of 4 stars.
Good Old Days (Dropbox) – A short film where we have a beautiful summer-like day for three young ladies to take a bike ride to the field of a drive-in. Enjoying a great time and wanting a picture of it they get something they weren’t looking for and that is a sadistic couple with video cameras! But the best scare yet to happen. The five minute short is too the point, professional, and the ending will make yinz savor the entertainment you just witnessed as I got to give Zane Hershberger’s and Bridget Murphy’s project 4 out of 4 stars.
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama 2 – (Full Moon) – We are introduce to the sorority that has been trying to get from under the past of the strange murders at the bowling alley with a new set of sorority sisters wanting or needing more pledges or the house charter will be taken away. Kelli Maroney the sorority mother tries to put a stop to any thinking of the young ladies doing something stupid but they do it anyway as the sorority sisters and pledges head to the bowling alley to once again steal the bowling trophy. Remember it is about tradition so they are trying to restore it by unleashing the evil imp again! It’s cheesy, stupid fun, and has a few fun cameos. Is it the original B-movie madness some of us nuts loved 30-some years ago, probably not but they were smart to not reinvent the concept and go with what works as new Full Moon fans should enjoy this one as I give it 2 ½ stars.
Doppelganger (YouTube) – A Matt Diulus short film that deals with a man that falls into his dream world meeting another version of himself. What sets this idea a part from some others that might sound familiar is the music as it sets the tone for what happens as I give the short film 3 out of 4 stars.
Victim No More – A Friday the 13th Tribute Film (YouTube) – Written and directed by a person some Indy fans may know from Ramsteer Films from several years ago, Bob Heckman. In this project Mr. Heckman tackles of course the Jason Voorhees legend. A young man Robbie who is talking to his therapist wanting to prove to his mother that Jason is long dead along with the Camp Crystal Lake serial killer legend. All Robbie wants is to put this behind him and be able to live a normal family life as his mother was a survivor of these Camp Crystal Lake bloodbaths many years ago. Meanwhile a young couple is exploring the woods in search of the legendary stomping grounds of Jason believing he has been long gone since 1984 (if you are listening to their conversation). But to the surprise of all three the ghost of Jason is very much alive and still stalks these woods. I gotta give Mr. Heckman credit for the cast, a solid story, and of course the location and keeping this fan film at 40 minutes. Really felt it didn’t allow the film to get dull. To be honest I am surprised there haven’t been more real attempts of this universe by fans? Now is there something for me to pick at, yes, but they are small things: What happens at the end (without spoiling it) thought there could have been a little more subplot there to sprinkle in but that would have made the film much longer. Also Jason… love the look (Part 6 undead/part seven rotting Jason) but felt like a much bigger person or more opposing person (CJ Graham perhaps) should have been in the suit. Overall Mr. Heckman had a budget to check off everything a “Friday the 13th” would want from a fan film as I give it 3 out of 4 stars. Curious to see if an idea like this would cross over into a bigger Hollywood budgeted version of “Friday the 13th” or will we always stay in limbo with projects like this?
Then My Mind Walked Away (DVD) – One of my favorite Indy filmmakers of all time Jim Roberts has a new project coming to haunt fans as he introduces us to Logan Hill. Filming during COVID, Jim took full advantage of not much crew, not much cast, and the world changing. In the first couple tense minutes the dark tone of the film is set as Logan beats to death his girlfriend and the man she was cheating on him with in bed with a baseball bat. Logan now forced to get rid of the bodies is also quickly faced with visions of horror after the fact. He is soon haunted constantly by a dark figure and visions of himself killing himself constantly. As time passes Logan is going nuts as the young man’s visions get more vivid and real. But when Logan thinks he has completely lost his mind he is shocked by a secret from his family’s past! Trying not to spoil this intense and beautiful film of Jim Roberts, but anyway how to explain it as gore and Jim have gone hand and hand since the beginning. This film has the gore but Jim doing a 180 has only made it a set piece in this feature as this talented bastard may have made the most complete film of his career! And that is coming from someone who absolutely loved “Welcome to Deer Creek” and “Tonight You Die”. This project felt like Jim got out of his comfort zone (now I could be wrong of course, lol), kept it simple, and made something that will surprise Indy fans as this is possibly the best Indy film that I will watch in 2023 (there is a couple releases yet coming). It was a serious film from beginning to end! Everything about this film with the help of Karen Roberts, Jorge Delarosa, and bare bones crew should be proud as the look of this film was beautiful, the natural sounds outside of the music caught in the background, and bare bones cast all played a role in making this wonderful. If I need to say anything else that will make you the movie viewer drool over or run to get this once available is I have a saying about filmmaking: “I am not a filmmaker that would be insulting to actual talented filmmakers, I just know where the record button is…” In this case Jim Roberts is truly one of those talented bastards as I give this movie 4 out of 4 stars!
Results (YouTube) – A short film project from Austin Muratori that has a young man dealing with some depressing and shitty medical news. Without talking to family first this man makes a heartbreaking decision. There is a small twist in this depressing, effective, good short film as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.
Half a Mind (YouTube) – A cautionary tale of futuristic brain surgery and what good or bad can come of it. The short film looks wonderful and a great setup or trailer for a feature length film that all was missing was Rutger Hauer in a leather jacket and sunglasses in the background of the dinner scene as I give this Buzz Meade short 3 out of 4 stars.
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Terror Squad (VHS/YouTube) – This 1988 forgotten action gem falls into the category of “it’s so bad it is fucking wonderful”. The film opens with a rally of sorts and people saying, “Death to America”, (sounds familiar but it’s the Libyans)… Yes the folks who seem to be the bad guys of the 80s for most action flicks. Anyhow, the terrorist army and I mean four of them cross a small body of water over the Canadian border into small town Indiana. Their evil goals are takeover or destroy a small nuclear power plant in this small town. Well that plan goes south quickly and the other three wait in the car to watch so authorities can start chasing them through this small town for over 35 minutes that includes town sheriff Chuck Connors in a Brooklyn Dodgers jacket in which the car chase turns into a murderous rampage! But back to Chuck Connors for a minute as I am watching this flick and after the car chase is done and the terrorists decide to hold the local high school detention hall as hostages he is wearing this jacket while negotiating for the hostages. Now no one else in frame is wearing a jacket including our favorite “Dawn of the Dead” actor Ken Foree! So what is the point of this? Is there some kind of symbolism that I am missing? Why am I so fascinated by this even though Chuck Connors was like an actual college basketball star which made super focus that much more on him wearing this jacket? I mean for the love of Rutger Hauer he is the fucking sheriff but come on people is this in his contract somewhere? Because here is the thing I have watched a few late-80s films starring Chuck Connors and this fucking jacket appears randomly for no reason… I NEED TO KNOW! So back to the review kids: first half of the movie car chase with terrorists and having dumbest Hollywood police force since “Smokey and the Bandit” and second half of movie Libyans take hostages in a high school detention hall with Chuck Connors blurting out a few times, “We don’t need the FBI!” Yep, got it, good, because this film was entertaining as hell and had me laughing for days so it gets 3 stars folks!
Catch the Heat (DVD/YouTube) – Or by some chance you are watching the Australian version of the film it is called “Feel the Heat”. It is 1987, an action film with an Asian federal agent undercover named Cinderella Poo kicking ass against the likes of Rod Steiger, Brian Thompson, and Professor Toru Tanaka! (I am pausing a minute for those of you that don’t understand and the others went looking immediately for this film on their phones or nearest streaming sites to start watching NOW!) Okay kids for those of you that are still reading not knowing who those people are thank you for being younger than me and giving a shit by reading the rest of this review. An uncover federal agent named Checkers heads from San Francisco to Buenos Aires to track down the big boss that is sending large shipments of drugs to the US and getting fine women’s breasts butchered… Here she gets close to the big boss man by being a dancer who is looking to move up to Hollywood. One by one she fucks bad guys’ asses up to bring down Hannibal aka Rod Steiger the boss. The fight scenes are entertaining, the dialogue is absolutely hilarious at times, and I dare you to tell me this isn’t a fun action flick as I give it 3 stars.
The Hackers (DVD) – This lesser known SOV flick is about three weirdos and a truck that drive around for odd jobs of fixing up homes, cabins, etc., out in the sticks. While not working they keep bothering a beautiful woman who just happens to be housesitting. First 15 minutes is where all the murders happen and then an hour of torturing this poor lady n’at. Yinz will absolutely hate the ending or semi-like it and feel that the movie makes some kind of sense is the best way to describe where this film goes as its worth at least one watch as I give it 2 stars.
Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest (DVD/YouTube) – Thanks to an overseas friend for pointing out this weirdo TV movie that feels like a more dramatic ‘After School Special’ about drugs and corrupt cops. A well-known police detective and his associate hit a house for a drug bust, problem is they fucked up and hit the wrong house. Instead of being empty handed and a laughing stock they plant drugs and turn this family’s life upside down. This TV movie looks more like a soap opera from the 70s more than anything but it was a well spent 70-some minutes as I give this special 2 stars.
In Search of Darkness: Part III (Shudder) – If your brain didn’t melt the first two times taking in all the beautiful horror that was out there in the universe? Well this documentary ups its game with going over 5 ½ hours! Enjoy 80s horror kids as this will last longer than that boner you keep trying to have with those generic pills that keep saying you have “low-T” at the age of 20? Any doodles yinz have fun with this because it was just as glorious as the others as I give this documentary 4 stars.
Last Man on Earth (Blu-ray) – Being a Vincent Price fan and being a fan of this film I don’t know if I ever put out a propper review of this flick? I mean honestly most horror fans over the age of 12 have seen or have said something about this film… Fan or not (which I am not) of the Will Smith film “I Am Legend” many youngsters seeked out the original. Now there will always be debate which film is the best version or interputation (mine is The Omega Man) of the original source material but that is for a whole other conversation? We are talking this 1964 film about gloom and doom that has possibly the most serious role of Vincent Price’s career? Price is Professor Robert Morgan and it is now 1968: a few years have passed since the plague started, he lost his wife and daughter, and he became the supposedly last survivor of mankind. During the day he tries to do clean up of the corpses in the street, get food, gas, and find the nest of ghouls that come out at night for him. This all stems from a possible airbourne virus that started in Europe that the professor may have immunity? (sounds interesting like now but funny how this film wasn’t brought up when the COVID shit went down) Back to the review, the ghouls, vampires, zombies, whatever you wanna call them are afraid of daylight, can speak, stakes to the chest kill them, garlic keeps them away, might be a vampire germ, and only come out at night. As you see the film plays with the lines or mythology of vampirism and zombies (especially before it was a term on the tips of tongues of every horror movie fan). The good professor believes he is doing something right until he meets a woman in Ruth who is half and half and learns he maybe the real monster? But pay attention to the dialogue about violence and society trying to survive because I think this why horror movie fans hold on to this version more than the others. For years if you are my age you grew up grainy versions of this film but with technology into DVDs the film looks never better but depending streaming, Blu-ray, etc., there is little differences in credits, beginning of the film , even the ending. Nothing crazy but stuff that the nerds will stay up at night knowing you didn’t know? No matter what the film is timeless in the fact of Vincent Price’s role but the subject matter and what it set up for a genre for decades to come so enjoy as I give this 3 ½ stars.
Haunted (DVD) – This 1995 film is about the paranormal but not just your ordinary ghost flick that at the time it was made may have flown under the radar unlike today if it would have been released. It begins in 1905 England where a boy loses his twin sister in an unfortunate accident that causes his mother to take him to the states until many years later. Now 1928, Aidan Quinn the grown up boy is back in England as a Professor and who has written a popular book proving ghosts don’t exist. After being contacted by an older woman several times he heads to a large property to debunk the latest haunting. There he meets a young and stunning woman in Kate Beckinsale who her and her two brothers have come back to Nanny to live since their parents have died in a monsoon. Shortly after the good professor believes Miss Webb is disturbed but soon finds his reality unraveling. The film goes in weird areas that include incest, who is alive, and how far is Christina willing to go to keep the professor there to stay? The film might be much more story driven than most ghost stories these days but stick with it as this is an interesting paranormal film that has quite an ending I think you may like as I give the film 3 stars.
The Banana Splits Movie (Blu-ray) – An absolute fun film about a kids television show from the late 60s and 70s that wasn’t perfect but now that I got the blu-ray it was time to revisit this fun creation. The April Fool’s joke that never went away and most likely never get a sequel was something off the wall and different than what horror fans are fed on a regular basis. Remember the show must go on but weird thing the Blu-ray doesn’t have a commentary but a cuple other extras worth oogling. If yinz are still into physical media like myself this is worth grabbing at the right price as I still give it 3 stars but also something tells me this will disappear if there is another upgrade in DVD/Blu-ray tech just some genre titles have in the past?
Phenomena (4K Ultra HD Set) – Just when I thought I seen it all Synapse has upgraded one of Argento’s weirdest flicks to the latest tech where the sound is somehow that much better and the colors are ridiculous. Now this one is a weird but understandable choice as American audiences just eat up anything Argento. This new set works on two fronts… if by some chance you never picked up the original US Blu-ray that first featured all three versions of the film well here is your chance to finally upgrade. Second front is, there is a different documentary on this new 4K version that wasn’t on the original Blu-ray set from a couple years ago. But outside of the new slipcase there isn’t much difference exception for the nerd that is in you. Yeah this weirdo Argento flick literally jumps off the screen but this new version really is about color and sound and if you got all the new tech in HDTV and 4K player stuff. Don’t get my wrong I enjoy Donald Pleasance and Jennifer Connelly but this set is literally made for the movie nerds in the US that may have not gotten that chance to get those selected huge box sets that were released overseas. I still give the flick 3 stars and 4 out of 4 to Synapse Films for putting this package together but this will be more for those who haven’t upgraded yet more than anything. But again Synapse is smart… Argento in 4K… I can hear the movie being shipped to many as we speak. For details on the new package check out www.synapse-films.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!
For anybody always interested in helping out with producing an Indy project, here is a great friend/filmmaker looking for some help? Here you go: If you know anyone who’s looking to boost their film resume, I’m offering associate producer credits for those who donate $100 – $249 to the project, and I’m offering executive producer credits for those who donate more than $250. And just so everyone is clear, this is not a horror film in any way, it’s an action/comedy. Thank you for your time!
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