Tag Archives: horror

Tim Gross actually reads another book “Ghoulish Stories Vol. 1”

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So of course everyone knows I don’t read many books I mainly watch horror movies but from time to time I try to expand my drunken brain. When I was contacted by the “Drive-in Horrorshow” guys: Greg Ansin and Michael Neel about they wrote book together of course it peaked my interest. And the book is damn interesting as it took me about six hours over a two day period to read it. The only other book I ever read that quickly or had a hard time putting down was Bruce Campbell’s first book. The first story “iThink the APP” is brilliant and will be a story you the reader will remember for years as it captures exactly what is going on with teenagers/soccer moms too and their cell phones. The next story is “The Crawlspace”, a kind of monster in the closet updated story of sorts. It brought back memories of that old “Tales from the Darkside” episode that Tom Savini made up this little creature/kid that lived in a closet. What makes the story different is the end twist. Third story “Trampoline Chainsaw Lovers” is homage to what we all fear about traveling circus or festival people? They are coming to get us at some point! The fourth story “Blackout” is more of a dream-like story or just what the inner devil inside of us would do if we didn’t think? This is a type of story that I think readers will have several opinions and will be seen differently by many. The fifth story “Plastic Island” is a story after my own heart as its post-apocalyptic/old school Planet of the Apes type kind of thing base on what is happening in one of the world’s oceans right now. The sixth story can be seen as Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon ran hell where an old man who used to torture people guides you the reader through this interesting universe. The seventh story “The Freak” is what most kids or adults over 30 or 35 years of age remember having that neighbor or person that had that weird story or may have killed someone at some point. The simple urban legend brought to life. The last story “Two Drop Donuts” could be a sequel to any of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films if they had a cousin who made donuts for a small town. Maybe we can call it ‘Ed Gein 2: The Sequel’? Anyhow the stories are absolutely brilliant, creepy, fun, and entertaining. Greg Ansin and Michael Neel literally wrote a book of short stories that brought my inner 14 year old paperboy that would go to the video store in the late 80s out while reading this. Anybody that is able to do that with their project you get 4 out of 4 stars from me every time! Greg Ansin and Michael Neel are great filmmakers and great writers and any chance you get to see or read anything these two do you should jump on it immediately. This book would make the perfect gift for your special horror fan but also your kid, nephew, niece who is a budding horror fan.

Website:  www.driveinhorrorshow.com and www.facebook.com/DriveInHorrorshow

Where to purchase the book: www.amazon.com/Drive-Horrorshow-Presents-Ghoulish-Stories/dp/1973490226/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517528966&sr=1-1&keywords=Drivein+Horrorshow

Jason Horton’s The Campus on VOD (Amazon Instant) February 1st!

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“The Devil Will Take Your Soul…One Piece At a Time.”

Los Angeles, California (January th, 2018): Director Jason Horton’s (Monsters in the Woods) The Campus will be releasing through Video-on-demand this week. This indie horror film puts Morgan (Rachel Amanda Bryant) in a demonic limbo, after her father makes a deal with the Devil. Robert C. Pullman (“Fragmented”), Brit Sheridan (“Supernatural”) and Scott Menville also star in this Gas Money Pictures’ production. And, The Campus will be available, through a wide online release, this February 1st!

 

The Campus brings several stories together in a larger narrative. Horton says of the story and its genre: “with The Campus I set out to put a unique spin on a familiar premise, by combining several horror subgenres into a single coherent story. I used the Groundhog Day’s (1993) framework to combine different types of horror, while telling a very human story.” Horror fans can see this thrilling horror title, through VOD this week. The Campus debuts on Amazon Instant, on February 1st. And, this is one horror title not to be missed.

 

The film’s official trailer: https://vimeo.com/241165897

 

The film can be reviewed here (pw: morgan2017): https://vimeo.com/232474646

The official synopsis: Robert dies after breaking his deal with the Devil, bringing his daughter home for the funeral. Morgan arrives with the intent of ripping off the family business but soon finds herself in a never-ending cycle of terror; being brutally murdered then resurrected over and over again – each time losing another piece of her soul.

 

Director/writer: Jason Horton.

 

Producers: Sean A. Reid, Joe Bartone, Robert Pullman, James L. Bills and  Paul Norman

 

Cast: Rachel Amanda Bryant, Britt Sheridan, Robert C. Pullman and Scott Menville Notes: Director Jason Horton and actress Rachel Amanda Bryant  are available for interviews.

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCampusMovie/

 

Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GasMoneyPics

Gross Movie Reviews #426

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Gross Movie Reviews #426

 

Mayhem (DVD) – Imagine if “The Belko Experiment” was done better with a simpler plot to it. The new virus that is affecting people around the globe is the ‘red eye virus’. This virus doesn’t kill you as it attacks your brain and makes you just not care. Some people it affects them sexually, some people it gives them angry rage, and so on. The point is this law firm with the help many people that work long and hard for the company found a way to get a man off for murder who killed a co-worker during the time he was infected with the virus. The CDC is aware of it and constantly trying to find a cure for it. But someone has put the virus into the water supply of the law firm and now it is on lockdown. Not before the dude that found the loop hole is fired and a woman his company is screwing over is supposed to be thrown out. Because of the lockdown the two decide to make a pact to make their way to the top in a gruesome, murderous, sexually charged rampage to kill the president of the company because they wouldn’t be blamed. Great concept for a film, gory as fuck, and absolutely entertaining as hell as I give it 4 stars.

 

The Mummy (DVD) – So if you get through the first 15 minutes of the film of Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise and check your brain at the door you will enjoy this flick for what it is? Now I was expecting a giant turd but it never happened. It is a cheesy, wonderful throwback idea of how to start the “Dark Universe” saga. Tom Cruise is a guy who uses the military to dig up artifacts and sell them on the black market until the 30 something cute professor gets involved and both unleash something evil that the world thousands of years ago buried. The Mummy or princess turned to the blackest of magic when her father had a son to make a pact. Now alive in present day she wants to complete the pact to bring evil upon the world and her to reign as king or queen in this case. But with the introduction of Dr. Jekyll as the Nick Fury character he has other plans. The movie is interesting enough to take a chance on and it is shameful that Universal Studios gave up so easy on this “Dark Universe” concept. Me personally I want it to happen, don’t give two shits whether Tom Cruise is involved or not as I give this flick 2 ½ stars.

 

Double Target (DVD) – Oh Bruno Mattei aka Vincent Dawn I so wanted to love your bootleg ‘Rambo 2’ 1987 flick that stars Miles o’ Keefe as bootleg Lorenzo Lamas or Bob in this case. But it gets boring pretty quick. Donald Pleasance plays a senator who wants a covert operation into Vietnam that makes sure the Vietnam and Russia aren’t planning some kind of terror attack. Bob just wants to go in rescue his son. Once you understand Mr. Pleasance was there for maybe a day of filming you lose interest in this action war flick that is a little too light on the action as I give it 1 star.

 

Jigsaw (DVD) – It has been a decade since the last Jigsaw murders and the death of Jigsaw aka Tobin Bell’s character. But a recent police chase of a two bit drug dealer to a roof reopens an investigation into the murders as apparently Jigsaw is back or so it seems? A police detective wrapped up in the investigation thinks he has the suspect knowing Jigsaw is dead but Jigsaw is always one step ahead in this prequel, sequel as usual they are still making shit up as they go! It wasn’t terrible but I think I am hung up on the fact I liked what they were starting in the last film with the victims of Jigsaw having their ‘AA’ meetings. It felt like it was setting up a slew of other Jigsaw flicks that were going to go in a different direction? I give this flick 2 stars.

 

Zombies: The Beginning (DVD) – One of the last films for Bruno Mattei aka Vincent Dawn goes back to the reimaging cookie jar one more time as he remakes “Aliens” sort of with zombies soap opera style. Armed forces are sent to an island where a zombie outbreak has been reported. Tyler Inc., has been experimenting with humans and now the island has become overrun with the undead. The Special Forces go in in hopes of rescuing the scientists but instead have to fight off hordes of flesh eaters. Not his best work in the zombie genre but you know I had to watch it as I give it 1 ½ stars.

 

Island of the Living Dead (DVD) – Vincent Dawn had one last zombie film in him before he left this great earth and horror fans. This film centers around Treasure Hunters who get stranded on an island that has the undead and a crap load of gold. About 500 years ago the Spaniards were happy and rich until a plague hit turning them all into zombies and they are controlled by a being who wants them to obey and worship it. Meanwhile the treasure hunters are risking life and limb trying to figure out how they can get the gold off the island. If there was a rave it could have been called “House of the Dead”? I give it 1 star.

 

Yellow Fangs (DVD/YouTube) – A 1990 movie directed by Sonny Chiba based on true events that happen in the mountains of Japan in the winter of 1915. A ridiculous huge bear went from village to village attacking women and dragging them deep into the snowy mountains. So of course a hunting party gets together trying to track down this murderous beast. Great killer bear flick worth tracking down that is also known as “Remains” or I like to call the film “Grizzly 3”. I give this wonderful killer bear film 3 stars.

 

Another Kind (DVD) – A few young people get together to on a trip to the mountains mid-winter to enjoy something different? After the one dude’s stuck up girlfriend leaves and the threesome see some lights at night that wake them strange things begin to happen. As they try to decide whether to hike back or press on they get lost and weird things keep happening. Think “Blair Witch” in the winter with aliens. I give this bare bones film 1 ½ stars.

 

Blade Runner 2049 (DVD) – The sequel picks up 30 years later after the first film’s events where the Tyrell Corp., bankrupt and was bought out by the Wallace Corp. They continue to make replicants but have learned from their mistakes and still hope for them to take over the human population. A Blade Runner comes across a typical non-violent replicant that as long lived longer than he should but something is different and this Blade Runner has found evidence of something that is linked to the legendary Officer Deckard. Deckard mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago and leads this new Blade Runner down a worm hole of something that could change the world or possibly put it into complete chaos! Again visually beautiful like the first film but can be a little boring but for me this film came about 20 years to late as I give it 2 stars.

Skip Trace (Blu-ray) – Jackie Chan is Bennie a lifelong cop for the Hong Kong police who has no family except a girl who is the daughter of his former partner that he swore he would watch over. Johnny Knoxville is a lifetime hustler/gambler/con man who gets mixed up with the Chinese mob when he sees a murder and has “the Matador’s” phone. On top of that the Russian mob is looking for him as he knocked up the main man’s only daughter. It is up to Bennie to get Connor Watts back from Russia over the China border to testify and put this notorious mob to rest. Jackie is getting a little older but that doesn’t stop him from doing a crapload of entertaining stunts and Knoxville being the perfect sidekick for Jackie. I really would like to see a few more movies with these two together as I believe they have some untapped chemistry? I give this entertaining as usual Jackie Chan film 3 stars.

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.netor www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/ also available at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kyle-poling-2/bloodbaths-and-boomsticks?refid=stpr

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

Independent horror fans it is coming… GROSSFEST! July 28, 2018! Go check out www.grossfest.com for all the details! 

 

Small Town Monsters Teams with Terror Films to expand the release of Invasion on Chestnut Ridge!

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LOS ANGELES, CA (January 16, 2018) – Terror Films is teaming up again with award winning filmmaker Seth Breedlove for his latest documentary, Invasion on Chestnut Ridge. The genre label has set a release date for Tuesday, January 16, 2018, on most VOD platforms.

This film examines the history and continuation of unusual happenings on and around Chestnut Ridge, a mountain range located in Southwest Pennsylvania. The unexplained phenomenon in this region includes the Kecksburg UFO crash in 1965, the Uniontown Bigfoot and UFO sightings, terrifying encounters with an enormous prehistoric bird in Keystone State Park and much more.

Invasion on Chestnut Ridge was written, edited and directed by Breedlove as part of his “Small Town Monsters” series, which premiered on Amazon in October 2017 – to positive acclaim.

Terror Filmswill expand the film’s release to multiple platforms, shortly. Also, this marks the third collaboration between Breedlove and Terror Films. Previous titles include have included The Mothman of Point Pleasant and Boggy Creek Monster. As well, the expansion will include: iTunes, Vudu, Google Play and Xbox in North America with a Worldwide digital expansion to follow via iTunes International and iFlix. Additional platforms, VOD and a DVD release will follow at a later date.

 

The official synopsis: In southwestern Pennsylvania lies an expansive mountain range called the Chestnut Ridge. Though a home for unusual activity since the 1800s, the area has been largely overlooked…until now!

The Invasion on Chestnut Ridge trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUHc2eKiJ9Y

Terror Films is a distribution company specializing in the horror genre. They also produce titles out of Los Angeles, CA. More details on Terror Films:

 

www.terrorfilms.net

 

And: www.facebook.com/TerrorFilmsLLC/

 

More details on the documentary at Small Town Monsters:

 

http://smalltownmonsters.com/

 

Bloodbaths and Boomsticks Year in Review of 2017

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This week we return to close out what was another year in the books, and another year closer to the eventual robot apocalypse.  So join us in our yearly tradition of running down out top 10 movies that we saw in the year that was 2017 with our normal guest host T-SHIRT JOE. Along the way we will be talking about the usual topics of what we watched this week,  race relations, and CHUD uprisings.  So join us as we close out the year with a fizzle and a fart.

 

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

Gross Movie Reviews #424

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Gross Movie Reviews #424

 

The Lost Tribe (DVD) – A scientific group is sent to a small island where it is believed lost natives still live there cut off from the rest of the world. The point is explore and prove that the missing link does exist as its worth millions. But things change when Lance Henriksen shows up to take the evidence and kill anyone there. Things get even more ut of control when a small boat shipwrecks on the island and finds whats left of base camp. Blood, broken shit everywhere and the shipwrecked people feel like they are not alone. They are not as these lost natives still live and like to hunt humans! The box art looks kinda like a ‘Predator’ rip-off but still cool, the story sounds good, but when watching it just seems the movie got too much going on when it should have just focused on the tribe. I give this flick 2 stars.

 

Lovelace (DVD) – A film that documents or reacts the rise and fall of the woman known as Linda Lovelace. Anybody over the age of 30 knows the name or has at least googled it, or even stumbled upon her work at some point. The young woman basically change the porn industry as her film “Deep Throat” brought porn into the mainstream. The porn she starred in played in many mainstream theaters and was a milestone for the business in the 70s. That was only part of the story as Ms. Lovelace spent the rest of her life trying to not be a part of the business that used her to grow it worldwide. After an abusive husband and a bad time of seeing the shitfest the porn business could be at the time she just wanted a normal life and move on. A great film that gives you the inside stuff on what really happened throughout her life as she said, “She was only in the business for 17 days.” I give the flick 3 stars.

 

Operation: Endgame (DVD) – A well produced under the radar action/comedy about the changing of the president from Bush to Obama as the back drop. The two branches of the secret government in their underground lair go ape shit on each other when their secret lair goes on lockdown. No escape as they are about to be purged unless they find out who killed their superior. It is a comedy but there is some really surprising brutal fight scenes and a bit of gore. And the cast isn’t your no name just starting in the business type of cast, this film has some vets that I will not name just so you go watch this very amazing movie. This is a treat we old people would find from time to time in the video store during the days of straight-to-video. Snowed in, rainy day, calling off work cause they suck a bag of dicks, then look for this flick as I give it 3 1/2 stars.

 

Dark Skies (DVD) – This film is like a lost episode of “The X-files” staring Kerri Russell (I don’t know why but she always bothers me ever since showing up on the WB network) and also could be compared to if smashed the films “Paranormal Activity” and “Signs” together? I don’t know if that works for you but Kerri and family keep having strange shit happen to them. They are a well to do family that suddenly has like something randomly coming through the back door at night, setting up puzzles and art work with their chairs and plates, making signs that they are aliens… Being rich white people they do not know how to deal with it until they are accused of child abuse and go visit the crazy dude aka J.K. Simmons and explains aliens are fucking with them. The movie is interesting but yet boring at times too. Different cast or maybe better different pacing of the film could have made this a better watch because the material is there. I give it 2 stars.

 

No One Lives (DVD) – Oh for the love of Rutger Hauer this was such a pleasant surprise. We have a family of criminals who look for small time heists, people to screw over, cons, etc. Their last job goes bad when they had to kill the people that lived at the house they were robbing early. Upset, they hit the bar and find a normal looking couple that looks like they have money? The innocent couple is moving and just wants left alone but of course that cannot happen. The couple gets taken on a dimly lit road and the criminals believe they got a score that will make up for the last one that went wrong. Things go sideways when the woman of the couple slices her own throat on a knife and they break into the gentlemen’s car only to find a blonde woman tied up in the trunk. Things go to even weirder when they learn this normal looking man is a crazed and beyond smart serial killer that is upset his trophy has been killed. Chaos ensues as the criminals now become the hunted in their own home. Brutal and beautiful at the same time as I give it 3 1/2 stars.

 

The Machine (DVD) – Its the future and a very bright doctor named Vincent McCarthy is doing research and trying to develop A.I. that will like a human. Lots of tries but it always thinks like a computer. He wants it to be logical. He dreams of a cyborg of sorts that you cannot tell the difference. But also too he is trying make a program, a chip, or parts that would form with the human brain, arm, leg to become one with them. The good doctor is trying this on war vets that have no hope of brain function or missing limbs and no where else to turn. Of course the government that is funding the project wants it as a weapon. The government’s goal is to defeat China in this not too distant future. While looking for an assistant or testing them Dr. McCarthy finds Ava, a woman who has a program of her own that is fond of the good doctor and how he treats the program as an equal. When the higher ups feel Ava and Vincent are getting to close they kill Ava. Dr. McCarthy knows this and builds a prototype robot with Ava in mind. From there the film gets very interesting as it does not take the usual twists you would expect. Enjoyable flick that may explain this reality is not as far away as we common people think as I give it 3 1/2 stars.

 

It Stains the Sands Red (DVD) – A different kind of zombie flick where a woman forms a relationship with a random zombie out in the desert. When her and the boyfriend get stuck in the sand on the side of the highway they are attacked by a lone zombie. Before I go on I must explain the film opens up with the zombie apocalypse hitting in Vegas and these two are trying to make it to an air field to fly to Mexico! Once the boyfriend is bitten and the woman travels into the desert she spends most of the movie roaming the desert and talking to this lone zombie that keeps shambling along to her. The film goes on a bit long but I did enjoy the story of the relationship that is formed between the woman and the zombie. I give it 2 1/2 stars.

 

Zombie Massacre 2: Reich of the Dead (DVD) – The zombie flick should have been called the “Reich of poop” as the movie was not much about anything. Mainly about a team of soldiers trapped in a building by Nazi zombie experiments. Not really worth your time zombie fans and go back and watch “Frankenstein’s Army” you will thank me later as I give this 0 stars.

 

Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So (DVD) – A story about a rich kid ‘So Chan’ who has everything but also is a great fighter. But when the these fighters get together in front of their king and he gets screwed over he wants to get back at them after he is forced to be nothing. He gets together with a rogue settlement of people who believe in equality and drunken boxing or fighting. He learns this skill so he get his revenge. Cool action flick but without Jackie Chan the movie just seems like it is missing something the whole time you are viewing it. I give it 2 stars.

Brutal Relax (Vimeo) – From the makers of one of the best films of 2017 “Fist of Jesus” in my mind that I watched, comes this beautiful gem! A man is told by his doctor he needs to relax so this man heads to the beach in his white underwear, sits on the beach, and listens to music. He loves it, he is relaxing… Then ugly creatures come from the sea and begin a brutal bloody gore filled massacre on the beach. Our main character still sits blissfully unaware of whats going on as people are running for their lives and being ripped a aprt and feasted on! The creatures luck changes for the bad when the man’s music stops and he stands up in a fit of rage and takes it out on the creatures. Once again brilliant, beautiful, fun, amazing, and down right entertaining. For me 2018 has started off right with this short film as I give it 4 out of 4 stars. For more details on this project and the great “Fist of Jesus” head over to http://www.fistofjesus.com .

Death Cases (DVD) – A creepy and a little sleazy flick from Russia that is hosted by a man known as the ‘Gravedigger’ takes you the viewer through real stories of death. Think of it as a another branch of the genre that has titles such as “Faces of Death”, “Necromantik”, and “Traces of Death”. The blends together brutal scenes of tapes, footage, voiceovers, and pictures of different demented psychos along some of their own footage in it to connect together. Fans of Toe Tag Pictures’ “August Underground” and “The Murder Collection” may think this the lost film of Fred Vogel and company which is a good thing. Alex Wesley goes for the jugular again in his latest project that will find an audience that will be foaming at the mouth to watch over and over again as I give it 3 out of 4 stars.

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.netor www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/ also available at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kyle-poling-2/bloodbaths-and-boomsticks?refid=stpr

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

Independent horror fans it is coming… GROSSFEST! July 28, 2018! Go check out http://www.grossfest.com for all the details!

Gross Movie Reviews #415

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Gross Movie Reviews #415

 

Return of the Seven (DVD) – No folks I did not find another Donald Jackson “Rollerblade Seven” movie… But this flick is the sequel that was released two years later starring Yul Brynner as the man in black. He now has a bounty on his head but that does not stop him in this western of gathering another group of seven to fight some mean dudes. This time he takes on a Mexican gang of thieves that won’t leave some farmers alone. Nowhere near as exciting as the first movie but worth wasting the two hours on as I give it 2 ½ stars.

 

The Sentinel (DVD) – A great late 70s creepy flick that has pretty much every Hollywood somebody showing up for screen time. Allison Parker is a fashion model who wants some space and time to herself aka she wants her own apartment and not to be married just yet. She finds a cheap apartment where the only other resident in the building is supposedly some quiet blind dude in the top unit. Once moved in, cue the supernatural mumbo jumbo and Allison is going nuts. The weird happenings are affecting her personal and professional life as she believes she is going crazy. But in reality there is a reason she was meant to be there and it could be for good or evil as the weirdness ramps up! Still a fun flick to revisit as I give it 3 stars.

 

Living Dead World (DVD/YouTube) – A really low budget flick that has a flying object hit earth, make a big flash, and boom low budget zombies. Now the zombies have a civilian, a prisoner, and a US Marshal trapped in someone’s garage trying to survive the night of flesh eaters. I really wish this independent flick was worth talking about but this film is very dull with not a whole lot going on plot wise. I will actually pass if there is sequel as I give this flick 0 stars.

 

Decay (DVD) – I believe a low budget zombie flick from the UK where college engineering students are working at the Large Hardon Collider. They are doing computer models for their school work when the red alert goes off for radiation levels going up down in the tunnels. Believing they screwed up something they go underground and find the off switch. Yeah you heard me right if all else fails turn it off and back on to reset it just like my zombieputer? Doing this everything goes back to normal but now they are lost in the tunnels and wanna kind of explore anyway. Little they know a crew was affecting by radiation in the tunnels and now roam looking to eat flesh. Like the zombies in “The Video Dead” these zombies also don’t have to be shot in the head to go down. The students fight among each other as they try to figure out how to stop the zombies from getting to the surface and for them to escape. The Indy zombie flick has some good zombie chomping moments and the cool tunnel system set keeps you interested long enough to say you were glad you gave the flick a watch. I give Decay 2 stars.

 

Ninja Assassin (DVD) – A Europol agent is looking into some murders that seem not to have a suspect or real motive. But has a crazy theory about ninjas! And the murders are assassinations done by a group of ninjas? Or clan of ninjas? The deeper she goes the more interested other agencies from around the world become interested in her work. Why? Because the agent tracks down a man who possibly is a ninja but he has turned his back on his clan and killing off ninjas and people involved one by one. Brutal bad ass fight scenes make this action flick most amazing and want to watch it over and over as I give it 4 stars.

Wizards of the Demon Sword (DVD) – I found another Fred Olen Ray project that is Conan on a budget of a value meal at McDowell’s. But that doesn’t stop me from being entertained by this 1991 gem where a woman and her father are ambushed. The father ‘Ulric’ is the keeper of a special knife of ‘Aktar’ that in the wrong hands can make a person the most powerful in the world. Lord Khoura now has the blade but is having trouble unlocking its true power and is having trouble tracking down the daughter who he believes is the key. The young woman travels with a young swordsman in hopes of taking down Lord Khoura and saving her father. Lots of boobs (a staple in Fred Olen Ray films) and an appearance by Michael Berryman might make you wanna watch the Deathstalker series again or like me just enjoy the B-movie incarnations that were released after Arnold’s Conan movie was released. Thank you Mr. Olen Ray as I give this 2 ½ stars.

 

Nightmare Weekend (DVD) – Not totally sure how I made it through this complete shitfest of a movie but I did for the main reason it was a mid-80s flick that I can cross off my list movies I needed to see. Or in this case I really didn’t need to see. Three young women are invited to a mansion for no apparent reason except to wander and look pretty. Little they know a scientist has been doing experiments with a computer called Apache. And his assistant has some bad intentions for the three young women? But a puppet named George that plays on a Collecovision oversees the virginal daughter of the scientist who seems to get into trouble quite often. Also George tries to override Apache to stop the experiments. Doesn’t make a lick of sense but does a little when you learn the director behind it was famous for making lots of softcore porn flicks so go figure as I give this mess 1 star.

 

Evil in the Time of Heroes (DVD) – A Greek zombie film where zombies are attacking present day Greece and the story follows four people throughout the film who are part of a prophecy. Billy Zane is a mysterious messenger who comes from the past 3000 years ago to help out the new heroes in defeating the evil plague that has hit Greece. The topper of the film is Billy Zane is of course the best thing that happens in the film but once the evil is defeated Greece still gets decimated by the military to stop the spread of evil. I give it 1 star as I needed a little more gore and a little more Billy Zane.

 

Some Guy Who Kills People (DVD) – A very interesting film starring Barry Bostwick as a small town sheriff who is trying to solve a murder or murders as the bodies begin to pile up. Meanwhile, Ken is a mid-30s man working at an ice cream shop and just feels he does not fit in life. Released from insane asylum a few years he keeps to himself especially since he has flashbacks of the high school basketball team torturing him for a comic book he made. As the bodies pile up the one connection to it all is they were on the basketball team that pumbled Ken. Ken is now also trying to juggle a girlfriend and an 11 year old daughter that he never met. Is it Ken killing the people or someone else? The movie is pretty hilarious and has some great gory kills as I give the film 3 stars.

 

The Secret of Crickley Hall (DVD) – A BBC production that flips back and forth from 1943 and present day. A London couple loses their son as mom falls asleep at a park and the kid seems kidnapped. Almost a year after dad has a job opportunity outside of London and they get to move into a house that used to be called Crickley Hall and has a history. The family is just trying to move past their son being gone but strange noises and the kid’s voice is heard in the home. An old man named Percy played by David Werner tries to tell them the haunting tale or warn them about the flash flood that killed all the kids in the orphanage that was once Crickley Hall. A good paranormal buildup for ghost story fans as they connect the events of 1943 to present day Crickley Hall. I give this mini-series 2 ½ stars.

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

You can always visit and see some past reviews, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/ also available at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kyle-poling-2/bloodbaths-and-boomsticks?refid=stpr

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

Also you can pick up my new book “Gross Movie Reviews: More Sequels, More Massacres, More Beer” at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-more-massacres-more-sequels-and-more-beer/paperback/product-22853681.html

Gross Movie Reviews #414

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Gross Movie Reviews #414

 

The Video Dead (DVD) – A package is delivered to the door of Mr. Jordan aka ‘Bullshit artist’. Problem is Mr. Jordan didn’t order anything but takes it anyhow. It’s a T.V. and Mr. Jordan is a writer so he just sets it up in the living room and goes about his merry way. The T.V. begins playing by itself a black and white zombie flick. When he goes to check it out the zombies come out of the T.V. The delivery people come back the next day to Mr. Jordan dead as the package was supposed to go to “The Institute of Occult Studies”. A few months pass and a couple young college kids, Jeff and Zoe show up to movie in to help out their parents. Jeff finds the weird T.V. talking to him from the attic one night and plugs it in his bedroom. Weird shit happens including an old dude from Texas who has been looking for the T.V. to destroy it and what’s in it. They must hunt the zombies down: destroy them or get them back into the television. A great low budget zombie flick from 1987 that doesn’t play by the typical “zombie rules” and has that S.O.V. feel to it. The effects are great, the plot is very different than most zombie flicks, and you get David Bowie zombie! I give this must watch gem 4 stars.

The Creep Behind the Camera (Blu-ray) – An amazing reenactment documentary about filmmaker Vic Savage aka A.J. Nelson aka Arthur White aka most likely had a few other names. Otherwise a film that documents the insanity behind the making of a bad movie of 1964’s “The Creeping Terror” before stuff like “Troll 2” and “Cursed” were even thought of. Vic gets the filmmaking bug and moves himself and his first wife out to Hollywood during the 50s to make “the biggest monster movie anyone has seen!” Never mind the bad movie as much as Vic Savage was a complete psycho, womanizer, drug addict, drunk, con man! True stories told by living cast members, his first wife, producer, etc. Vic Savage was such a complete maniac that his monster maker stole his own creation during filming because he wasn’t paid, change actresses, sets, hung out with Charles Manson (before we all knew who he was), god complex, threesomes, Vic was completely insane. So insane he disappears into the night leaving what was considered the finished product/film in the garage with no sound, slate, etc. This is stuff that could not be made up about a film that is one of the first two movies I can legitimately remember watching. This film started it all for me and to watch this and learn of this insanity just made me absolutely love this documentary! It is beautiful insanity that needs to be watch and rewatched to be believed! There is lots of cool extras on the Blu-ray: The Creeping Terror movie of course but my favorite extra “How to Build a Carpet Monster”. Once again, Synapse Films does not disappoint as I give this wonderful package 4 out of 4 stars and can be found at www.synapse-films.com .

Phenomena (Blu-ray) – The creepy Dario Argento film that stars a young Jennifer Connelly who plays a character named Jennifer who can communicate with bugs. Her famous father sends her to a gifted Swiss school where of course she isn’t well liked. Doesn’t help Jennifer sleep walks and finds herself outside almost being run down by a couple of weirdos and eventually meets a Dr. McGregor played by Donald Pleasance an entomologist. Besides the good doctor explaining she is in the part of the mountains that is considered the “Swiss Transylvania” he does notice and admire Jennifer’s ability with insects. The doctor soon recruits her help in his research for a killer in the area who is killing young women. The Blu-ray pack has three different versions of the film: The 110-minute hybrid cut which was awesome and never seen, the 110-minute international cut, and the 83-minute U.S. cut called “Creepers” which I grew up seeing. Along with a commentary and the different versions of the horror film there is also Dario Argento’s World of Horror documentary which is a pretty awesome thing to have in this 2-disc pack. The movie looks beautiful and it was really cool to finally see this hybrid cut as I give the movie 3 stars and the package 4 out of 4 stars as this should end collectors looking for any other copy of “Phenomena”. To find out more about the 2-disc Blu-ray go to www.synapse-films.com .

 

Acid Bath (DVD) – A 2006 insane independent film that sports a character named Zeke who has a fetish for killing hookers. The film follows his insanity in this exploitation-type flick that also has a man shooting gang members with a rocket launcher! Not much on plot but has grittiness and insanity in spades as you feel like you found a lost Polonia Brothers’ film from the late 80s as I give it 2 stars.

 

Redemption (DVD) – Jason Statham is a war vet back from the recent war living as a bum and wants left alone. One night two nasty dudes beat the crap out of him and take his roommate he was looking out for. He stumbles into a loft being chased by the two men and realizes no one is home. Takes a hard long look at himself, quits drinking, cleans up, and goes looking for the girl. But also uses the loft as home as the tenant isn’t coming back for months. He gets a job as muscle for the Chinese boss man to take people’s money. He uses his share to buy pizzas for the poor and try to give back to the nun that would help him and others who are on the street on a nightly basis. Or as I like to call it a very sad and depressing entry into “The Transporter” series as I give the film 3 stars.

 

Outside the Law (DVD) – Cynthia Rothrock was working for the CIA in Columbia until her team and boyfriend were set up. Now she is back in the states and just wants to forget everything. Meanwhile the legendary Stephen Macht is trying to track her down in Florida and find out what she knows? Also the dad from “Wonder Years” shows up and cool action dude James Lew to face off with Cynthia in the climatic fight. But mostly its Cynthia hanging out in Central Florida helping out a young couple avenge the dude’s sister who was killed by a B-movie dickweed! Give the action flick 2 stars.

 

Any comments or questions please send to grossmoviereview@verizon.net or www.facebook.com/grossmoviereviews . Remember folks always support your local independent movie theater, independent video store, and independent filmmakers! It will keep horror alive………

You can always visit and see some past reviews, independent film news, or me ranting at: www.grossmoviereviews.com !!!

Don’t forget you can also hear Kyle Poling and me talking about horror flicks on a weekly basis on the Bloodbaths and Boomsticks podcast at: www.bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/ also available at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kyle-poling-2/bloodbaths-and-boomsticks?refid=stpr

Plus you can always go to the greatest T-shirt place online or if you are in Texas visit the store of “Fast Custom Shirts” where T-shirt Joe is the only place you should purchase your horror T-shirts: Go to www.fastcustomshirts.com for details.

Also you can pick up my new book “Gross Movie Reviews: More Sequels, More Massacres, More Beer” at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tim-gross/gross-movie-reviews-more-massacres-more-sequels-and-more-beer/paperback/product-22853681.html

 

Triple Threat Match: we just dropped three new episodes!

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This week we may make enemies of the fans as we take on 2 of the most decisive entries in 2 of the biggest horror franchises of all time.  But first we talk about a dumb movie about birds that go on the attack in BEAKS.  Then Kyle explains that by taking your franchise to space only makes it cooler and more fun as he covers JASON X.  Then Tim and Kyle go over in great detail how Tim’s fascination of being able to inherit an aging Leatherface that dwells in your basement may be the best idea ever as we cover TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D.  Also we answer all your questions, and have a little Facebook live chat nonsense.

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

We return! And we are bringing the king of the monsters with us as Kyle checks out the latest theatrical Godzilla flick Shin Godzilla.  Then Tim covers an independent Possession / heist / gore / monster flick straight outta South Africa in A HOUSE ON WILLOW STREET.  Also we answer all you questions.  Review this week’s watch, And take you to monster civics class.  #ROARRRRRRRR

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/

 

This week we lost legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. So, we asked the fans of the show to writ in and tell us tales of the man and his movies… and they did.  Also, we have 2 anthologies.  The first is Kyle’s pick for the best anthology ever in NIGHTMARES.  And lastly some shot on video oddity that Tim found that includes ex-pornstar Ginger Lynn as a ninja that is trapped in hell (you read that right) in SATAN’S STORYBOOK.  R.I.P. George

http://bloodbathspodcast.blogspot.com/