Nightmare (Ultra HD/4K) – This film is also known to many as “Nightmares in a Damaged Brain” as this sadistic horror film had such an edge about it it kept getting pulled, recut R-rated versions, etc. during the late 80s just for it to be released in the VHS market. This newer 3-disc version is everything you could hope for as a fan and then some with this notorious 1981 horror film. Young kid George comes home early to witness something he shouldn’t have as the film announces quickly you are about to get something a little sleazy as it may look like a slasher but doesn’t play exactly like one. Many years later we see adult George receiving experimental treatment for his childhood trauma. Haunted by flashbacks George slowly loses his sanity and bolts to Florida to find his ex-wife and kids. His doctors are worried for not just their sake of their treatment but what is about to come with George’s breakdown. George finds his former family, stalks them, and kills anyone else that seems to get in the way of what he is doing there. This horror film still packs a punch and it is wonderful to see it all cleaned up and unrated as I was one of many horror fans who read about or tried to track down an uncut version many years ago. Plus bonus here kids, Savini sets the record straight on whether he worked on it or not as this was something Tom not often would talk publicly about. If you are an old horror nerd like myself you are going to want this version in your collection as I give this piece of fun sleaze 4 stars.
Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies (Blu-ray) – (This review is from ten years ago when I first found this glorious gem) Let me just say this any horror film that begins with Suicidal Tendencies “I Saw Your Mommy and Your Mommy is Dead” gets 4 stars no matter what comes next. But that just isn’t enough for this fun gem of unknown goodness! Karen Black stars as Auntie Lee, Pat Morita as the local small town sheriff, Michael Berryman as the weird dude (Larry) who takes care of the nieces’ cars after deliveries, and the very beautiful Teri Weigel. Teri may have done a lot of porn but always found a way into a stray horror film which I always enjoy finding. Teri is one of the best. But after jamming out to Suicidal Tendencies we are introduced to some lunatic who tries to carjack a young lady and becomes a victim himself for Auntie Lee. Auntie Lee for years has sold her famous meat pies to the local town folk of Penance. And these days now her nieces are all grown up they go out and lure men in for the taking. Usually if there is car trouble or car cleaning needing to be done it’s up to Larry until he is caught one day with a trunk full of bones! Pat Morita decides then with the bootleg David Bowie as a private investigator to try to bring down Auntie Lee. But the real question is will the sheriff bring her in or will he become the next meat pie? Everyone is awesome in this light-hearted “Motel Hell” horror film. This movie deserves to be seen by all horror movie fans as I give this fun meaty morsel 4 stars. (More to the review as a new special edition has finally put this film in print again). Already written the review, I didn’t know what else could lure you into this lesser known classic horror munchie with the great cast other than its now cleaned up, has a great interview with Michael Berryman telling stories about everyone on set. With this special edition this horror film truly gets a second chance in finding a bigger audience?
Cracula (DVD) – A recent release from Indy filmmaker Brad Twigg which takes no prisoners in his version of Dracula waking up in present times. A couple degenerates unknowingly find Dracula in his coffin at a storage unit in West Virginia where of course they open it looking for shit to steal. Meanwhile, Rick Sloan is a normal dude just trying to get past his parents’ death and clean up their affairs as he gets nothing in inheritance except this storage unit. Only to learn when seeing if there is anything for him to sell the unit is a crime scene! But that is only the beginning for Rick and Dracula as Old Drac has developed a taste for drug addicts as he reigns hilarious terror on the small West Virginia town. Rick on the other hand learns he is a descendant of Van Helsing as he teams up with an odd duo of vampire hunters who have arrived to put an end once and for all to Dracula’s blood thirst. Sounds simple and straight forward but Dracula isn’t just a menace he is gathering a small army of degenerates along with coming to grips he must go to “AA” meetings? Brad and company don’t skip out on handing you gore and nudity as they give viewers a disgustingly, slightly sleazy funny take on the Dracula story as I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars.
Vietnam: Kill Zone (YouTube) – Another new release from Mark Polonia that deals with 1970 Vietnam where Tim Hatch who plays Fitzpatrick, a combat photographer who is placed with a small platoon to record the ‘The Two Step Platoon’. Not the usual Mark Polonia project as fans will be surprised as Fitzpatrick tries to capture the story of this platoon as they find a random priest in the jungle. This priest is someone of importance as the platoon is now told of a new mission of getting this dude to the rescue point to be airlifted out of the action. For me it’s hard to gauge if Polonia fans will get behind this project as this isn’t aliens, sasquatch, amityville, etc., but Tim Hatch does do a great job as a combat photographer for this project. Mr. Hatch has come a long way from ‘Mummy Shark’ as I give this project 2 ½ out of 4 stars.
Alien Swamp Beast (Tubi) – A 2019 film from Robert Elkins that I missed so I needed to correct that as a meteor falls from the sky into a swamp near a farm. A boy from the farm heads on over and tracks the green rock down only to be confronted by a group of criminals who just robbed the bank in town. On the run these baddies waste no time killing the boy only for the green rock to bring him back to life as this large ass swamp creature! The alien swamp creature looks pretty bad ass and tracks down everyone to kill them. The creature was cool but the film itself drags and felt it lacked some heart as it comes off as a bad homage to ‘Swamp Thing’ instead of doing something else cool since you got the cool creature thing as I can only give the project 1 ½ out of 4 stars.
Backrooms Bigfoot (YouTube) – I cannot blame the filmmaker for making something like this but also I am just not into the whole ‘Backrooms’ thing but that didn’t stop me from watching another Sasquatch film. Anyhow this contains info on why maybe Sasquatch is so elusive as a man goes searching for the creature only to find himself being transported to endless hallways out in the middle of the woods. As more people disappear being curious about Sasquatch, it hits social media the backrooms might not be the best idea for people? This project has two good things going for it that makes it watchable: first Phil Herman as a survivor of so-called backrooms and Sasquatch gives the movie some depth. It is an interesting character that stands out. Second, pretty much Sasquatch just bashes all the victims into a bloody pulp. Its weird but it is a thing as I give the movie 2 out of 4 stars.
Faces of Death (Shudder) – This remake had me on the fence of if I wanted to see this or not? But after a few trusted people told me a few things about it since its theater release I was actually kind of excited to watch it. Well so glad I did as it was a thrill ride for me. The story focuses on a young woman Margo who has had trauma in her life as she works for a content company called ‘Kino Moderation’. An app just like a YouTube, etc., where she works behind a computer viewing all videos helps review what videos are allowed or not on the app to be watched. One regular day she finds an execution video that is somewhat disturbing but believes is fake? Then not too long after comes across another that is posted that now makes her question if it is truly fake? The other end of this is a killer that has a fetish or condition or two but likes using the original ‘Faces of Death’ for inspiration. The killer is creating content as Margo continues to let this affect her as she takes the work home to investigate further of these videos. The more she investigates and gets fired unbeknownst to her she has possibly become the next victim of the killer. I quite enjoyed the recent ‘Silent Night Deadly Night’ remake. And this knew you gotta do something different as this project knew how to incorporate some present day commentary on content and how it is consumed. This was definitely a 4 star flick for myself and so happy how the original was incorporated into the story.
Die Die Delta Pi 2: The Burnt One (Blu-ray) – Sean Donohue is back writing and directing this sequel as it deals with a couple young ladies get the idea of reopening the Delta Pi sorority because they cannot afford the rent. Their thinking is why not? They have heard about the murderous history but this would be a great way for the school to pay for the housing and plus Jesse and Riley can run the sorority. In order to restart they first have a car wash but what really gets it going of course is having a toga party and a couple cute guys there for their party. Sounds great until a new killer has arrived to haunt Jesse and Riley as the underfunded cops cannot stop the bodies piling up in this quick nostalgic slasher. Sean Donohue’s style, tight script, and just enough little nods gives this quick moving slasher sequel enough to keep independent cinema fans more than excited as I give the entertaining sequel 3 out of 4 stars.
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