Next up on the Grossfest tour? Creature Feature Weekend, Maddie and I will be out there with Bathtub Shark Attack, Spirit Animal, Jagoff Massacre, Blood Freak (remake), In Search Of: Pittsburgh Bigfoot and several other Indy films for sale along with my new book and talking about Grossfest! See yinz there…
http://www.creaturefeatureweekend.com
Severe Injuries (Blu-ray) – Vinegar Syndrome’s newer label Saturn’s Core is a specialty label that releases hard to find or out of print SOV Indy films from the past. Well one of their latest releases comes from director Amy Lynn Best and writer Mike Watt who released this Indy gem in 2003 that deals with a bumbling killer named Melvin. Melvin happens to come from a long line of serial killers who are bad at their job. But with the death of his father Melvin is determined to change things around… once he finds a sorority that is? Littered with several Indy genre vets this movie does a wonderful job of mixing horror and comedy with a smart script that brilliantly pokes fun at the sorority slasher flicks of the 80s. Not many horror films take a chance like ‘Severe Injuries’ being an outside of the box horror film with a killer learning to kill and you the viewer care for the serial killer? The film is very entertaining, smart, and most likely be more appreciated now than 20 years ago when it was made. This is one of those films that stood out in the early 2000s for being different but not sure how you market something like this? Now you get to enjoy it in all its remastered Blu-ray glory along with a kick ass slipcover, three commentaries, cast and crew interviews from 2003 and 20 years later as they look back on this interesting Indy project made for little money. Get ready there is more as this disc is loaded with deleted scenes, trailers, and several more short films from writer Mike Watt and director Amy Lynn Best. Again I have a feeling SOV fans will appreciate this feature much more now than 20 years ago as I give the full package 3 ½ out of 4 stars. You can order your copy at www.vinegarsyndrome.com .
St. Patrick’s Day (DVD/YouTube) – A 2021 36 minute Indy film that goes for nostalgia setting it somewhere in the 80s for the backdrop (nevermind the Direct TV dish we see that doesn’t exist at that time or the Jeep Renegade one of the characters drive or there wasn’t talk of edibles but that is just me picking on things now). The story is centered on Ned and last year’s St. Patrick’s Day untimely event involving an accident where Ned is taking full blame what something he and his friends did? The throwback slasher vibe has the young group of partiers looking for edibles to really get the party going but the past keeps being brought up by certain members which makes the party have a tough time getting off the ground. Unbeknownst to them this is about to change as someone has other plans to kill them one by one as they hide their identity with a Trolls mask (again I don’t think that was around either?)! Overall I enjoyed the spirit of the film, where they were going with it, and with some tweaks how much more could be done with it. The project was entertaining and could be a lot worse as I think the effort put forth helped this be an enjoyable viewing experience as I give it 2 ½ stars.
Fog City (DVD) – A recent film from Steve Wolsh that has gotten some flak from horror fans after they have viewed it? After his other film ‘Kill Her Goats’ horror fans were on edge a little as was I to watch this film. The first few minutes of this film is to establish everything that goes down as it was shot weird to me but there was an endgame as Steve introduces you to some very unlikable characters for a horror film. There is an island setting, expensive cars, big house for the party, talk of attending Georgetown without loans and such, trust fund babies to say it simply. Along the way these young people going to party talk of this local thing, “The Paige Plant” and how it is going to poison everyone at some point or what is really made there? One of the girl’s fathers of course owns but doesn’t have a clue what exactly goes on there for years. Once the group hits the house for some drinking and evening falls that is when the old school sirens blare as an orange fog rolls close to the home. This sets in motion the group to break down very quickly and turn on each other in a heartbeat. Now the choice of music during this might not be the best but that is for a different conversation? Without giving too much away that is the plot of the film. Now saying that the film has too much filler, characters I hate, but I enjoyed how they quickly broke down and the ending is wonderful! The project is a huge mess in some ways but I don’t think these characters were ever supposed to be likable and the ending has an issue but I do like what the filmmaker went for but the rewatchablity will be tough for horror fans once they actually think this film through. Think ‘The Sixth Sense’ as an example after you see it can you really go back and give it a proper watch now that you know everything? Saying that I liked this film a little more than some people out there in social media land, it wasn’t perfect by a long shot but I did enjoy the deep subject matter of this film once it was over as I give it 3 stars.
Monsternado (DVD) – A hilarious British bootleg ‘Sharknado’ flick where a dude has been predicting a crazy tornado thingy that will come out of the Bermuda Triangle for years! The tornado or water spout has stirred up ancient sea life from this area that hasn’t been encountered ever. He was hired by FEMA to think outside of the box but when the shit goes down he is left behind to defend this event with almost nothing! Then you have a subplot of this film where three FBI and Interpol agents catch a sexual deviant at a hotel but cannot escort this dangerous individual because of this legendary storm. Matt has a plan but needs help from the hotel staff to execute it correctly which sets up a cool scene of a redhead agent getting eaten by a crocodile in a stairway. Yes it is a bad movie but I laughed several times throughout so gather friends, beer, and pizza and have fun as I give it 2 stars.
The Seventh Curse (Tubi) – Dr. Yuan is a young doctor who lives a charmed life it seems but the good doctor has a secret as he is under some kind of “blood spell”! So the good doctor is told he needs to go back to Thailand or he will die a terrible death if he doesn’t get this year long spell lifted? This all because as in his flashback for the first half of the film is him witnessing some strange ritual that involves a batshit ritual of him fighting a nutzoid “old ancestor” (a shape shifting demon) to save a beautiful woman. Joe Bob Briggs would have a field day in the first forty minutes as it is loaded with “Blood, Boobs, and Beasts”! Now a year later is the main course as the doctor returns to Thailand to even crazier more hilarious shit as the doctor has to save this annoying tagalong character the rest of the way. This movie is complete chaos and feels like the Baskin and Robbins (31 flavors of ice cream for those who don’t know as this had at least a dozen ideas jammed in one) of the 80s film industry? This beautiful over the top film is just bonkers and entertaining as hell as I give it 4 stars all the way.
Suitable Flesh (Shudder) – Heather Graham or Dr. Derby is a very formal doctor who tries to help patients with some of their mental health issues. Until she is seeked out by a college student of Miskatonic University who intrigues her so much that she breaks her own rules to try to help him. He explains his out-of-body experience as he wants her help until the young man turns her life upside down and she goes down a wormhole of insanity how or if she can help even after knowing it happened to her sister in Barbara Crampton. But Derby pursues it as she must know about the boy’s father but isn’t prepared to what is found and hear this fantastic story. We got a mythical book, pictures of Cthulhu, and blood to make strange things such as body transference happen in this exciting Lovecraft tale. I like the film but didn’t love it but no matter what horror fans are all going to enjoy this in some capacity as I give it 3 stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
Severe Injuries (Blu-ray) – Vinegar Syndrome’s newer label Saturn’s Core is a specialty label that releases hard to find or out of print SOV Indy films from the past. Well one of their latest releases comes from director Amy Lynn Best and writer Mike Watt who released this Indy gem in 2003 that deals with a bumbling killer named Melvin. Melvin happens to come from a long line of serial killers who are bad at their job. But with the death of his father Melvin is determined to change things around… once he finds a sorority that is? Littered with several Indy genre vets this movie does a wonderful job of mixing horror and comedy with a smart script that brilliantly pokes fun at the sorority slasher flicks of the 80s. Not many horror films take a chance like ‘Severe Injuries’ being an outside of the box horror film with a killer learning to kill and you the viewer care for the serial killer? The film is very entertaining, smart, and most likely be more appreciated now than 20 years ago when it was made. This is one of those films that stood out in the early 2000s for being different but not sure how you market something like this? Now you get to enjoy it in all its remastered Blu-ray glory along with a kick ass slipcover, three commentaries, cast and crew interviews from 2003 and 20 years later as they look back on this interesting Indy project made for little money. Get ready there is more as this disc is loaded with deleted scenes, trailers, and several more short films from writer Mike Watt and director Amy Lynn Best. Again I have a feeling SOV fans will appreciate this feature much more now than 20 years ago as I give the full package 3 ½ out of 4 stars. You can order your copy at www.vinegarsyndrome.com .
The Man from Hong Kong (DVD) – A 1975 martial arts Australian flick from none other than Brian Trenchard-Smith who brings together a great cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, George Lazenby, Roger Ward, Hugh Keays-Byrne, and Sammo Hung. A legendary Hong Kong policeman (Inspector Special Branch) beds a Sydney newspaper reporter in the first few minutes of the film not knowing he will be seeing her again soon in Sydney. His job is to head to Sydney to pick up a suspect who is a part of a drug connection between Hong Kong and Sydney but when the suspect is shot the Hong Kong policeman goes on a one man wrecking crew of Sydney! Two detectives key the Inspector Special Branch on a man named Wilton who owns most of Sydney because everyone knows he is dirty but they cannot bring him down? Think “Lone Wolf McQuade” several years before it was made with a ridiculous amount of crap getting busted up in this movie. This movie deserves a watch if you never had the pleasure as you will not be disappointed in this over the top martial arts 4 star action!
Mad Max Exposed (Tubi) – An hour long documentary on everything Mad Max that covers everything from the stunts, the people who were a part of them, how they planned the movie, the design of the cars, to nothing stopping George Miller in putting together a film that changed car chase scenes forever. All of the cast exception of George Miller and Mel Gibson share stories throughout the hour that will have any Mad Max fan beaming and entertained in seconds as I give it 4 stars.
Dario Argento Panico (Shudder) – A documentary that thoroughly goes through the career of the Italian horror master and those who worked with him. The film takes you on a deep dive of Argento and what exactly lured and inspired him into filmmaking. There is also in-depth interviews with both of Dario’s daughters, yes you heard me right… both daughters! I only knew of Asia. Dario also has conversations about how his filmmaking shaped his family through the years as this is not just brilliant but eye opening doc on the legendary filmmaker as I give it 4 stars.
Valerie (YouTube) – Philip Brocklehurst never stops making stuff has yet another short film where it’s an artistic look at a man who believes there is nothing left in his life if he cannot have his love. A very heavy look into love and some underlying subtext of love if you are paying attention as I give the short film 3 out of 4 stars.
The Leprechaun’s Game (Tubi) – A boring shady character (bootleg Robert Patrick) employs two fools to track down the leprechaun’s gold at the end of a rainbow? If found the duo can make 100,000 pounds! If you haven’t noticed this is a bootleg British Asylum Entertainment version of the popular ‘Leprechaun’ series that has two losers finding the gold within five minutes? But this of course is not the whole plot as they plan to spend it instead of giving it to their boring shady friend. And it doesn’t take long for the bad make-up looking leprechaun come a killing (very shitty kills by the way) for his gold coins. Oh this was hot garbage on fire from beginning to end as if I call it a parody of the original ‘Leprechaun’ that would be super insulting as I give this movie 0 stars.
The Leprechaun’s Curse (Tubi) – So this terrible sequel doesn’t get any better as it picks up immediately after the end of the first film having the leprechaun is still reclaiming his stolen gold. Tilly inherits a huge home whose father built it with the stolen gold. So of course she gets a few friends and they head to the big house with a pool just to be lame new victims for the killer leprechaun. Then you get the boring Tilly character filler trying to decide if it’s right to keep the gold? But nevermind any of that as there is a big thing that isn’t really explained in my opinion as the Mischa character returns when she was seen about to be killed at the end of the first film? What gives? Does bootleg Leprechaun decide at the last second I don’t feel like killing her because she is prego? Only to kill her in front of the kid anyway six months later, WTF? There are so many questions about this dumb movie because it comes off like the two movies were actually one split into two but didn’t enough material for either as I give this 0 stars.
Deep Fear (On Demand) – A British shark film that steals from 70s treasure hunt flicks where the shark is not the main plot as a woman must fight for her life against two drug dealers who are trying to get to their stash at the bottom of the ocean. Naomi is sailing on her yacht to see her boyfriend (or rich people with rich people problems) but finds two people who are floating with boat wreckage. Naomi trying to do something good by herself helps the two assholes and they take her prisoner and that is pretty much the whole movie as I give it 1 star.
Amityville Ripper (DVD) – Ron Bonk produces another useless entry into the “Amityville” series and that is #57 if yinz are still keeping count? Anyway the Amityville home has finally been demoed and the artifacts or contents of the home are being sold off. Hey, didn’t this happen already? But let’s move on as the character Marianne gets ahold of the knife that is supposedly “Jack the Ripper’s” knife and was supposedly at the Amityville home for some unknown reason. Once the knife is released from the box it’s Jack the Ripper (bad accent and all) beginning to kill again! Now it’s up to a couple friends to contain this great power. There are so many problems with this so-called movie I feel like I would be picking on it just for laughs. But there is literally only one redeeming thing about this entry and that would be seeing Indy newcomer Angel Bradford, a very talented Indy actress that will be fun to watch for years to come. Otherwise folks please don’t waste your time on this fruitless entry as I give it 0 stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
It’s a Wonderful Slice (DVD/Vimeo) – So I was privileged enough to check out a not released yet holiday Indy flick from an unknown filmmaker to me, Michael Moutsatsos (hope I spelled that right?). Anyway, Michael goes an unconventional route of holiday anthology story telling that gives the viewer a history lesson of Santa, Krampus, and a mischievous elf on their killing ground that eventually leads into the introduction of the storyteller. When the storyteller appears this is where the real movie begins as he ties together five quick holiday horrors that a man being sliced in his shower, a friend using wolves as cover for a murder, Santa attacking a couple in the woods, Satan controlling a man, and finally a beautiful woman toying with her victim. The story telling isn’t breaking new ground (but unconventional) as I quite enjoyed how the filmmaker went about putting everything together in this no budget production using a small if not same cast in each segment and using maybe three sets or areas the whole film. Otherwise, knowing what you have (not much) using it to your advantage and a high budget glossy look along the way. How to put it: when I see something like this I already know this might not be the filmmaker’s best work to date but it shows me they are usually testing or experimenting of putting together something even more entertaining in their next project or the one after that? Again anthologies can be a tough sell since a lot of filmmakers make them these days but these stories are quick, don’t linger, and you got someone dressed as Santa slaughtering people and quite simply you are going to have Indy movie viewers smiling in the end as I give this 2 out of 4 stars.
Cybernator (YouTube/VHS) – It’s the future of course in this direct-to-video early 90s B-flick where two cops are looking into cyborgs assassinating high ranking officials. Then bootleg Vernon Wells who is actually William Smith shows up for a paycheck as bootleg Steven Seagal! (Did you understand that gibberish?) Anyhow after one of the cops is killed in action the other finds out he has been bootleg Robocop for the past few years and now has a new mission to seek and destroy William Smith’s cyborg character. Pretty much a very terrible flick pitting good cyborg vs. bad cyborg as I can only give this film 1 star.
In Search of the Last Action Heroes (Tubi) – An absolute gem of a documentary that talks all about action films and how they got started to how they have fizzled out these days. Everything from James Bond to Bruce Lee to George Miller to how filmmakers were inspired by 50s and 60s westerns to make the modern action film! This has a bit of everything to interest even the occasional viewer of action movies as I give it 4 stars.
Calamity of Snakes (DVD) – Holy balls is this movie just fuckin wild! A crapload of snakes are uncovered at a construction site that is in a rush to get their apartment building built. The man financing the project says “Fuck it” and begins commanding the death of the snakes so they may continue the project. But all are warned these snakes will seek revenge! Once the building is up and operational tenants are reporting snakes are attacking which causes the manager to bring in the “Master of Snakes” who comes and chops them all into several pieces. Problem is believed to be solved again until the snakes come back in truck loads this time to attack a cocktail party and that is when the big king snake is revealed! This is not a film for those who are against animal cruelty or the squeamish as this movie gets bat shit crazy with the attacking snakes as I give it 3 stars. P.S. I didn’t know there was a whole snake burning army on call?
One More Shot (On Demand) – If you are Scott Adkins fans you are going to enjoy this flick as it tries the one continuous shot like Bruce Campbell in “Running Time”? Now I know they probably made a cut or two but they try the whole movie running time to be a continuous shot which is fun. Also a part of this project is Michael Jai White and Tom Berenger. Scott Adkins is CIA agent Harris who was part of an op in Poland trying to protect an asset. It all went bad as the movie starts soon as the plane lands at an empty airport near Norfolk and we are introduce to the Harris character. From there his asset is still in demand as there is a dirty bomb somewhere in the city set to go off in two hours and a military grade security team is there to kill off whoever has the asset to use him to take over everything in the U.S. This has a wonderful twist to an old action film formula that is well worth paying attention to more than just Scott Adkins amazing onscreen presence. Can’t wait to see what else this dude does as I give this flick 3 ½ stars.
Wanted Man (On Demand) – Dolph Lundgren is Johansen an old high strung bigot detective who has been under fire at the Del Vista Police Department recently for his actions towards a suspect. The “Defund the Police” crowd wants him gone but instead he is given a job to disappear into Mexico to go protect two escorts who witnessed DEA agents getting killed. While on the way back to the border Johansen is shot along with one of the witnesses as it’s all made to look like one of the cartels is doing it but isn’t? As Johansen is trying to make his way back he keeps getting stopped every time. A quick and pretty cool Dolph flick that also features Kelsey Grammer, Michael Pare, and a great character actor in Roger Cross as I give this action flick 3 stars.
Crabs! (DVD) – This is one of those movies that hit in early 2022 that would have been perfect for SyFy Channel if that was still a thing but also most likely this project got swept under the rug because of COVID? This cheeseball flick doesn’t try to pretend to be something it isn’t as it starts quickly with a power plant blowing up and then large crabs begin to attack people on the beach. When Phil and Maddy are not planning their prom they must come up with a plan to fight off the ocean demons who want to turn the prom into their own seafood slaughter fest! The movie has a little filler but knows how to hit all the high notes with this hilarious B-horror throwback that needs to be found sooner than later by all you horror fans as I give it 3 stars.
Beach Zombies (YouTube) – A recent no budget Indy flick that comes in at 38 minutes about bootleg versions of Beavis and Butthead who got older and held a long conversation about zombies in a car ride. They meet up with two shady dudes for a job that will pay big time if they dispose of a barrel at the closed beach? Instead when they go for the barrel a fog machine in the garage turns the bootleg duo into zombies that has them wandering around doing nothing. The beginning of the film doesn’t lie as it warns of what happens to idoits turning into zombies as it did make me laugh so I gotta give it 2 stars.
Zombie Beach (DVD) – A bad low budget Canadian zombie flick from 2010 that has college kids who go to the “Zombie Beach” to take pictures and get eaten. Apparently the beach is part of a centuries old agreement that where evil can walk or something? It is part of a prophecy that a chosen one will fight the zombies supposedly if you last through this entire terrible concept of a film that I have to give 0 stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
It’s a Wonderful Slice (DVD/Vimeo) – So I was privileged enough to check out a not released yet holiday Indy flick from an unknown filmmaker to me, Michael Moutsatsos (hope I spelled that right?). Anyway, Michael goes an unconventional route of holiday anthology story telling that gives the viewer a history lesson of Santa, Krampus, and a mischievous elf on their killing ground that eventually leads into the introduction of the storyteller. When the storyteller appears this is where the real movie begins as he ties together five quick holiday horrors that a man being sliced in his shower, a friend using wolves as cover for a murder, Santa attacking a couple in the woods, Satan controlling a man, and finally a beautiful woman toying with her victim. The story telling isn’t breaking new ground (but unconventional) as I quite enjoyed how the filmmaker went about putting everything together in this no budget production using a small if not same cast in each segment and using maybe three sets or areas the whole film. Otherwise, knowing what you have (not much) using it to your advantage and a high budget glossy look along the way. How to put it: when I see something like this I already know this might not be the filmmaker’s best work to date but it shows me they are usually testing or experimenting of putting together something even more entertaining in their next project or the one after that? Again anthologies can be a tough sell since a lot of filmmakers make them these days but these stories are quick, don’t linger, and you got someone dressed as Santa slaughtering people and quite simply you are going to have Indy movie viewers smiling in the end as I give this 2 out of 4 stars.
The Beekeeper (On Demand) – This is not just another run of the mill action film starring Jason Statham. I think this movie is going to have some legs for the next few years. A mysterious dude named Adam Clay has rented a barn from a Mrs. Parker out in the middle of nowhere where he raises “bees”! But when Mrs. Parker is taken in by a computer scam and commits suicide after seeing she has just lost her savings Clay finds the aftermath. This sends Mr. Clay to find the United Data Company and burn them down from bottom to top. This event sets in motion Mr. Clay to find everyone who is involved and just burned them to the ground so to speak! Mr. Clay is an agent for the government that is a failsafe. He works outside of all agencies but has unlimited funds and have been a part of the US for decades as they are unstoppable killers. This is one of the better action film ideas I have seen in recent memory and love this concept as this taps into a very real-time subject that everyone could get behind and would want to happen as our government sucks at trying to control shit like this? Plus this movie doesn’t waste time at all throughout, there is no filler as Clay is just killing almost from the time it begins till the great ending as they still had time to fit in some interesting characters. This film gets my approval big time as I say you need to watch this as I give it 4 stars.
The Gladiator (YouTube) – A mid-80s TV movie from the dude that gave us ‘Driller Killer’ that I found out recently existed from my good friend/brother T-shirt Joe Garcia at www.fastcustomshirts.com . The film stars Nancy Allen, Rick Dees, Stan Shaw, and a bad ass 1969 Charger… Talk about a huge “let’s pick out of the grab bag of ideas”? The premise of this flick is a mysterious dude in this 1969 Charger (that never runs out of gas by the way) runs people off the road for fun. Rick and his younger brother become victims one evening after a bit of road rage. Rick survives the mishap barely only to become consumed with tracking down bad drivers and reporting them to the police with his bad ass 70s Silverado which by the way is able to shoot a grappling hook! Rick is literally making citizen’s arrest which is just laughable and just adds to the dramatic filler of this film. I wanted more out of this but maybe this is why TV movies in the mid-80s were dying off as they were not given as much creative freedom or their time passed unlike the fun times of the 70s TV movies as I could only give this 2 stars.
Raiders of the Living Dead (VHS) – A weird mid-80s no budget film that has been on my list of shit to track down to watch for years. We get someone investigating zombies, a boy making a laser gadget out of a laserdisc player (we are not dating this movie immediately?), and a movie that doesn’t make a whole lick of sense… This is most likely why this film wasn’t the easiest to track down and watch as I cannot give it more than 1 star.
The Boogens (Blu-ray) – By now I am sure most horror movie fans have either watched this film or have heard about it and have varying opinions on it: Too dark, the monsters barely show up, not enough people died, or this was one my favorite films to see on HBO when growing up in the early 80s. This was one of those horror films that slowly faded away as the 80s crept on and this title went out of print without anybody paying attention. Then sometime in the early 2000s when movies such as this were starting to pop up finally this movie was found by a newer generation of horror fans and that is how I believe it eventually had the rights bought up so it could see the light of day again in physical media? Anyway, set in Colorado, late February a small crew is reopening a mine that had a cave-in and strange happenings 70 years before. Talk of creatures eating miners and such fun crap. Well after this crew reopens the mine the strange bloodthirsty creatures awaken to feast again on those who dare enter their domain! For me this film just hit right when I was young watching it on the HBO, so almost every year in late February I am usually watching this with ‘My Bloody Valentine’ because I am a horror nerd at heart. But this is a recent Blu-ray release with a 4K transfer from Kino Lorber that let’s be honest I don’t how much cleaner they can get this? Anyhow, there aren’t a lot of extras but it does have two different commentaries from the director, cast, and film historian Howard S. Berger which were interesting if you enjoy the film? Also there is a little cool featurette called William Munns: The Man Who Made the Boogens. A fun interview that pretty much explains what we have and why and most likely why there really isn’t any deleted scenes floating out there as I give this proper release 3 stars.
The Monster that Challenged the World (DVD) – Just another fun 50s movie where after an earthquake under the ocean an ancient giant creature is released and begins to breed as it feeds on humans. Now only the scientists and the US Navy are the ones that can save humanity! One of those late night horror host favs that should be watched with friends or at a drive-in as I give it 3 stars.
A Haunting in Venice (On Demand) – Kenneth Branagh returns in this third entry as Detective Hercule who is lured out of retirement to figure out if a medium is a fraud or not? Feeling off his game and starting to believe in ghosts at a home that is believed to be haunted but also the cause of a young woman’s death he investigates. It dabbles into paranormal a little here but never goes over the edge and remembers what these movies are supposed to be and that is mysteries. I have enjoyed all three entries of the series so far and surprised they made a third one as I didn’t believe the second one did much box office? Anymore these days Hollywood is driven by greed like most things in this world and we don’t exactly get entertained by movies these days or taken to a different world if that makes sense for 90 or 120 minutes as often as we should… Anyway horror fans if looking for something a little different? You don’t need to see the first two flicks and you like ghosts stories well this is all you as I give it 3 stars.
Johnny Z (Tubi) – A recent Indy zombie flick I have followed over the past year seeing where I could grab a copy or watch it somewhere since the concept interest me. A little tough waiting as I believe it may have hit some festivals and such but now widely available for us weird Indy movie fans. This Spanish/English combo works in many ways to tell a story that is set already in a world overrun with zombies as people continue to live among them. We also have a corporation that of course has the cure for this terrible plague in a thing called “Patient Z” that they want to use for their rich friends and basically control the world kind of thing. But after this creation is broken out of the facility “Patient Z” or eventually “Johnny Z” is taken in by an older man (Jonray) who has been broken by the zombie plague. Slowly these two form a bond and try to protect each other from the corporation coming to collect their project. I quite enjoyed and was entertained by the subject matter this Indy flick tackles here as it was more complex than it looks? They try to inject something new and a little difficult to pull off into a ‘dead’ Indy genre “zombies” but that is just my opinion. I like some of the people who worked behind the scenes as their names are familiar if you are an Indy fan and we get a quick appearance from one of the best Indy actresses out there in Ellie Church. Overall this film kicks ass and entertaining as hell but I also believe there is a little bit of filler in the middle that could have been cut out of its 94 minute running time. Kudos to all involved as this might be the closest thing in independent cinema anytime soon I have seen like Zane Hershberger’s “Force to Fear” as I give this 3 out of 4 stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
Blood Feast (4K/remake) – I had no expectations going into this film because just like a lot of horror movie fans I felt this had been done already… ‘Blood Diner’ anyone?! Hell even ‘Blood Feast 2’ made a decade or two ago? But of course that didn’t stop anyone as an American family the Ramses headed to Paris six months ago to start up an American restaurant/diner thing. Owner Fuad Ramses and his diner are having tough times so he has been working a second job as night security dude at a museum. One morning Fuad has lost his pills which are critical to his health (according to Caroline Williams, the wife) and that night he witnesses Ishtar. Ishtar fascinates Fuad so much he goes to the library to do research on the goddess. Thus his research makes Fuad believe he has found the answer to his failings in Paris and it all starts with preparation for a giant feast that upcoming Saturday night with his family. Not only is he feeding on those he is killing but his family will also feast all in the name of Ishtar! There is no doubt the film went out of its way to be gory as hell. The cast and structure was great as Robert Rusler stole the flick with his performance that felt like he should have been in the 1963 original film as Fuad. Also it was great seeing an appearance of H.G. Lewis doing a YouTube thing giving backstory to Ishtar, a very tasteful gesture of a cameo. But my original stance on the film is still 2 out of 4 stars. Let me explain: If there was no original H.G. Lewis I think myself and other horror fans would have celebrated this release as soon as it was announced because this remake is solid and wonderful. But the biggest problem for any filmmaker is you are tackling something “historical” not only in minds of horror movie fans but just fans of “cinema”. So at least for me as I watch this version (as good as Robert Rusler was) I cannot get that original out of my mind let alone the over the top greatness called “Blood Diner” from the 80s. Hell, there is still a large portion of horror fans still learning of the legend of H.G. Lewis? This film I believe falls under the category “of it will be appreciated by horror fans in a decade or so after its release…” Also with this 4K version is the uncut version of the film, a ‘making of’ featurette, music video, red carpet premiere in 2018, promo teaser, and Scare cam. The full package itself I give 3 out of 4 stars and can be found through www.synapsefilms.com .
Desert Shadows (Tubi) – This little weirdo creature feature has Mitch Pileggi as Donnie who has lost his brother out in the desert when hunting one afternoon. Donnie has this crazy story about a monster or Baru in this case has taken him. With no one believing him he finds a Professor Ridley at a university who does believe and knows of a possible experiment that had rumored escapee at an old shutdown government facility near the disappearance. With the help of the professor’s assistant Morgan, Donnie and her go back and look for clues in hopes of finding Donnie’s brother? Instead they find some aftermath of victims of the creature which it might be a parasite that cocoons its victims to change them, mold them. Come on people, weird creature, government facility, and the bad ass dude that played Skinner on X-files! Gimme this shit all day as I give this fun creature flick 2 ½ stars.
Hair Metal Shotgun Zombie Massacre (You Tube) – After a few years of trying to track this one down for my list (yes for those that pay attention I have a massacre list just like an Amityville list and we are now under eight movies to find on my massacre list out of like 220) I watched this on You Tube on some kind of channel that is a virtual theater??? Anyway, this film takes place somewhere in Texas after 1989 it claims where four desperate metal heads and their drummer screw up with an evil book. The band is struggling to make it and to record an album but finally get their chance at a studio that was placed inside a cottage in the middle of a cemetery that was used to bury rapists and murders. Yes indeed, that is Metal! Of course after getting the booze and drugs going they find the evil book in the basement of this studio and decide to use it for their music. Thus of course brings forth the dead in this rather gory little Indy film that has zombies crashing the recording session. Surrounded by the undead and even with their flame throwing guitar there is nothing to do but pray to Satan for help who is played by none other Tom Araya, who shows up to make the film worth the watch just for this moment! The 83 minute Indy film has its moments and is a definite must watch if you were a metal person in the 80s and early 90s as kudos to the filmmakers for keeping that vibe throughout the feature. The only thing I could of maybe added to this is if they would have gotten W.A.S.P. front man Blackie Lawless to show up with Tom Araya or one be god and the other to be Satan now that would have been wonderful? But fun times with this metal zombie chaos as yeah it could have been edited to probably 70 minutes but it has some great gore, good music, and fucking Tom Araya from Slayer as I give this 2 ½ out of 4 stars.
Pot Zombies (DVD/You Tube) – An Indy film from the early 2000s I remember being advertised at some of the horror conventions I use to go to at that time. This quick flick directed by Justin Powers has some locals secretly placing radioactive material into the weed seedlings. So now whoever smokes the weed turns green and has the munchies for human flesh! There really isn’t an ending to this movie but there is a sequel I plan on checking out soon and if you look up this film you will come across my favorite person of all time T-shirt Joe Garcia of www.fastcustomshirts.com making shirts and talking about the film as I give this no budget flick 2 out of 4 stars.
Nightmare Alley (DVD/remake) – A recent remake of a film that was unknown to me as I mostly check out horror flicks and such but anytime the name Guillermo Del Toro is attached to it you got my attention. This is a period piece that starts I believe some time after the first World War about a man Bradley Cooper playing a drifter who hooks up with a carnival one evening. As he stays and learns the ins and outs of the carnival lifestyle he meets a young woman named Molly that he cannot keep his eyes off of. After a while he convinces her to leave with him and two years later they have a mentalist duo act that caters to the rich. Bradley Cooper or Stan is warned of using these powers too much or for not so good things as they will lead to trouble? But as he starts to believe his own bullshit seeing the money getting bigger and bigger his life begins to crumble around him. This is a great telling of the Freakshow business in the first half of the 1900s. Again this isn’t a horror movie as much as an interesting drama as I give it 3 stars.
Willard (DVD) – Food of the Gods, SyFy Channel, etc., owe a lot to this classic that doesn’t get talked about much these days that also not only had a sequel of sorts but a remake with Crispin Glover that was dark and wonderful. It is always fun to go back and revisit something like this 1971 classic about a young man Willard, who is stuck in a terrible job where he is overworked and overwhelmed by his controlling mother. But things are about to change for Willard as he makes friends with a rat outside of his mother’s home and the friendship blossoms that helps Willard come out of his shyness. But just when things are beginning to look great for Willard, his mother dies, he is about to lose his house, and that ignorant boss of his has just fired him causing friction between Willard and his new rat friends. Fun horror stuff that is kind of light hearted by today’s standards but was definitely the template for future “animal attacks horror films” and “rat horror films”. Just as equally good is the remake with Crispin Glover which I believe is a more sinister and darker version of this film also worth checking out as I give this 3 stars.
Hold that Ghost (DVD) – A 1941 film that has Abbott and Costello in their second film ever as the comedy act play relief waiters who get fired the first night on. They then become gas station attendants to make ends meet. Trying to explain jobs that don’t exist any longer for those who don’t even know this was a job long ago? Anyway these two somehow get mixed up with a mob man Moose Manson and are with him when he dies so they get to inherit supposedly a haunted hotel. From there as someone is murdered and two guys claiming to be detectives but disappear as the hilarity ensues. This is just a fun reset for horror fans that are looking for that movie to help cleanse the palate before doing another deep dive in cinema as I give this 3 stars.
Blood Gorge (You Tube) – I received a screener of a 40 minute independent horror film from a new name to the scene Victor Gabriel who wrote and directed this slasher film that takes place around Halloween. Victor gets right to the point in this straight forward Indy slasher where a masked man is slaughtering his way through a group of young people with some fun unique kills. The cast is likable, Victor was sure to keep this tight so the story doesn’t grow dull (it’s hard to bring something new if anything to the slasher genre), love the Faces of Death jacket to engrain that 80s horror feel, but the surprise good thing of this first effort out is the effects as they are just delightful to see! Victor and company are not reinventing the wheel here but this has that “let’s see if we can accomplish this first before we do what we really want to do next” kind of film feel. An experimental project if you like to say as I believe they have succeeded with flying colors! Great stuff from a new name to me in the Indy world and look forward to seeing what is next as I give this project 3 out of 4 stars.
Saltville (DVD/You Tube) – From the mind that gave us Indy lovers “Music Store Massacre” comes an independent drama about racism still existing in a small mountain town of Virginia and the past coming back to haunt those who are corrupt. You know me this isn’t my usual cup of independent film tea but always enjoy getting to see stuff from a filmmaker that is completely off the beaten path. A brother returns home after twenty some years after a disappearance of their sister in the mountains that still haunts them. They disagree on just about everything including the new ski resort that is going to be built on the mountain but requires removing or forcing people who have lived up there out of their forest homes for hundreds of years. Sleazy lawyer, sinister plans to remove people, inbred blue people, racism, a missing sister, and using the Civil War as a back drop for this drama makes for an interesting project as I got give this film 2 ½ out of 4 stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
Blood Feast (4K/remake) – I had no expectations going into this film because just like a lot of horror movie fans I felt this had been done already… ‘Blood Diner’ anyone?! Hell even ‘Blood Feast 2’ made a decade or two ago? But of course that didn’t stop anyone as an American family the Ramses headed to Paris six months ago to start up an American restaurant/diner thing. Owner Fuad Ramses and his diner are having tough times so he has been working a second job as night security dude at a museum. One morning Fuad has lost his pills which are critical to his health (according to Caroline Williams, the wife) and that night he witnesses Ishtar. Ishtar fascinates Fuad so much he goes to the library to do research on the goddess. Thus his research makes Fuad believe he has found the answer to his failings in Paris and it all starts with preparation for a giant feast that upcoming Saturday night with his family. Not only is he feeding on those he is killing but his family will also feast all in the name of Ishtar! There is no doubt the film went out of its way to be gory as hell. The cast and structure was great as Robert Rusler stole the flick with his performance that felt like he should have been in the 1963 original film as Fuad. Also it was great seeing an appearance of H.G. Lewis doing a YouTube thing giving backstory to Ishtar, a very tasteful gesture of a cameo. But my original stance on the film is still 2 out of 4 stars. Let me explain: If there was no original H.G. Lewis I think myself and other horror fans would have celebrated this release as soon as it was announced because this remake is solid and wonderful. But the biggest problem for any filmmaker is you are tackling something “historical” not only in minds of horror movie fans but just fans of “cinema”. So at least for me as I watch this version (as good as Robert Rusler was) I cannot get that original out of my mind let alone the over the top greatness called “Blood Diner” from the 80s. Hell, there is still a large portion of horror fans still learning of the legend of H.G. Lewis? This film I believe falls under the category “of it will be appreciated by horror fans in a decade or so after its release…” Also with this 4K version is the uncut version of the film, a ‘making of’ featurette, music video, red carpet premiere in 2018, promo teaser, and Scare cam. The full package itself I give 3 out of 4 stars and can be found through www.synapsefilms.com .
A Creature is Stirring (DVD) – So this was an interesting holiday film that stars Scout Taylor-Compton who I feel has craved a wonderful nice horror career for her. We are thrown right into an odd situation where a mother and daughter are struggling to communicate but clearly there is something more going on. As the two continue to deal with their secret to the audience a couple of backpackers have stumbled upon these two alone in a house during a vicious blizzard. As the holiday film gets a little odder we learn the daughter is some kind of porcupine magical monster shit?! This film had to be one of the odder holiday genre films I have ever encountered as I feel you need to be under the influence of drugs just to understand everything that happens as I give it a solid 2 ½ stars.
Silent Night (On Demand) – A John Woo film that seems to have that feeling of slipping under the radar of all the holiday nonsense here in the states and have been under advertised if that makes sense? The film opens with a terrific car stunt scene with the main character Brian and a pair of gangbangers. Brian’s boy was killed by a stray bullet and Brian took it upon himself to seek justice but fails as he is shot in the neck. But miraculously Brian survives to ignore his wife and begin training for next Christmas Eve where he plans to rein hell among all the gangbangers in his area. There isn’t a lot of dialogue and what helps this action flick out is this isn’t your Jason Statham taking an army of people and coming out completely untouched. Vengeance is messy, stupid in some cases, and everything doesn’t go to exact plan you had as this had some fun effects and stunts but feels like its holding back a little since it was made here and I can only give it 2 ½ stars.
Section 8 (DVD) – Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, and Mickey Rouke star in this feature about a dude named Jake who is trying to live the normal life until he has a scuffle with some neighborhood gangbangers who in return kill his kid and wife. Jake after losing his shit and killing a bunch of people for revenge is seeked out by a Black Ops team “Section 8” for a ‘get out of jail free card’ if he works for them. Jake isn’t happy with the option but takes it because he is out of prison until he is asked to kill some kids and now on the run. If there was one thing you will notice about this movie besides some of the kick ass action scenes is that everyone on the “Section 8” team goes overboard with the eyeliner as I give the film 3 stars.
Dreamland (DVD) – Stephen McHattie lives in some fucked up alternate world where he works for Henry Rollins and is asked to kill his doppelganger who happens to be some musician for a countess (Juliette Lewis) whose brother is a vampire and going to get married to a 13 year old! So there is a countess, a vampire, underage marriage, a mob boss played by Henry Rollins, kids smoking, and kids being sold on a regular basis… Yep you read that all correct as not a whole lot makes sense until the very end as it’s all about saving the kids in this German/Canadian/Belgium production as I give it 2 ½ stars only because Stephen McHattie plays two characters!
Ip Man 4: The Finale (DVD) – Leave it to my weird movie viewing ass to start with the last film first in this martial arts action series. Donnie Yen is Mr. Ip in 1964; San Francisco where his star pupil Bruce Lee has asked for his presence to help him get the Chinese in Chinatown to understand it is a good thing to teach martial arts to all people not one certain kind of people. The grandmasters ask Mr. Ip to keep his student in check while he is dealing with cancer and what time he has left to have with his son? Mr. Ip is not only asked to eventually to defend Mr. Lee and his people but his use of martial arts which becomes a highlight movie fight in the last ten minutes of the film with Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins as I give the film 4 stars.
Destroy All Neighbors (Shudder) – William who is a big Prog Rock dude and works on his own music constantly but never that big break has a noisy new neighbor who has just moved in. Vlad the new neighbor bothers William so much it is keeping him up at night but dislikes confrontation. William finally gets the nerve to speak out at Vlad but after a weird chaotic fake fight Vlad is impaled and that is where it gets real interesting for William as he proceeds to kill all his neighbors! The chaos of the murders goes next level weird when William begins to talk to the victims and they become his new dead friends who also play instruments in his recording! This is a weird not totally sure if it’s all a dream kind of horror comedy that will not knock your socks off funny but solid enough for a few laughs and happy you got to watch it as I give it 2 ½ stars.
Any comments please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews .
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!
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