Killed By Dreck

The Crimson Screens fanzine!

2011-09-07T19:14:00.003-05:00

Like a shot of adrenaline reviving an overdose victim, this here Crimson Screens zine is lean and mean on the scene. I was fortunate enough to get issues 7 and 8. Issue #7 is the awesome action issue. As a person who has purposefully purchased Bruno Mattei's "Strike Commando" twice, this surely did make me one smiling schmuck. The issue focuses on VHS and DVD treasures with short and sweet reviews that are funny, blunt and even does bios for Reb Brown and Michael Dudikoff. Top tier stuff with a double whammy of The Executioner 1 and 2 posters adorned on the back of the issue! Issue #8 goes back to the horror scene. A great zine and a worthwhile read and it's always great to support a fellow film fan. He graced me with these issues no questions asked. The least I can do is help spread the word.

To get on the mailing list, visit Crimson Screens to the link on the left or http://crimsonscreensfanzine.blogspot.com/.

How I got my Dreck back.

2011-05-21T12:44:00.003-05:00

Ah, how I miss having free time and no life. Why not be productive? Sure, here you go. Long time, no see. I'll be posting from time to time, do fun stuff and all that bonus stuff that usually come with reading a blog.

Taken from the Harmony Vision VHS release of the Golden Harvest film "Stoner" with Angela Mao and George Lazenby, here's three terrific trailers to tide you over. The films are 1977's "The Hills Have Eyes," 1978's "Patrick" and 1973's "The Cheerleaders." Enjoy!

Visit: http://killedbydreck.tumblr.com for instant gratification... won't you?

Moving out.

2010-03-03T11:33:00.005-06:00

Finally, and update! I moved, and decided to move the blog as well.

Visit me at:

Killed By Dreck

See you there(?).

"Black Belt Jones" (1974) Soundtrack

2009-03-09T18:03:00.005-05:00

Jim Kelly and Gloria Hendry train with Scatman Crothers. And from the looks of it, Crothers can teach kung fu and have the gift of 'The Shining' years later and still is able to hang out with Scott Baio a few years later? What a teacher, and what a soundtrack. The music by Dennis Coffey & Luchi De Jesus is pretty interesting. You get actual music tracks and repeats with the sound effects or audio from the film used in the mix. Bootleg? Still, it is funky beyond belief, and enjoy the funk!
http://www.mediafire.com/?dtqzzrzzvmx

Trailer:

"Hunchback of the Morgue" clip, and a welcome back!

2009-03-04T22:29:00.001-06:00

Hi! I know, it has been a while. No, I didn't forget about the "Three on a Meathook" post I used as an excuse to update, but didn't follow through on. Really? All in due time. This clip is the raison d'etre of the blog! Take one hunchbacked Paul Naschy, give him a violent streak when picked on, add some Frankenstein elements and Edgar Allan Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and gabs of gore and grue... Euro Horror delights await! Don't take my word for it, here's a sneak peek.

"The Incredibly Strange Film Show: Herschell Gordon Lewis" (1988)

2008-10-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

Trick or Treat! 'Tis the season for Halloween fun, and here's a little something just for you! The third episode of Jonathan Ross' show, that shines its spotlight on the "Godfather of Gore" himself! Enjoy!

Click here to download

"Mad Foxes" (1981) film review, clip and trailer

2008-09-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

Johnny Rotten once said "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" and in regards to the euro-trash film "Mad Foxes", this is one great swindle. When is a rape-revenge, karate fight squad, Nazi obsessed biker gang movie not what it promises to be? By having the main character care not about his girl's rape, but rather his car and honor and picking up other women along the way, the karate scenes are poorly done and despite the fact the "bikers" (who actually ride dirt bikes) love swastika armbands, they politely wear them inside out and only show the symbol when they mean business. The film starts off with Swiss heavy metal band Krokus, and also ends with a ballad by the band as well. This movie is the equivalent of a bad mix tape, since not many movies use music that ranges from heavy metal to swing jazz and disco. And despite compiling extremely different genre elements together like a bad mix tape, it is a hugely enjoyable and entertainingly fast-paced 76 minutes. From the bored, indifferent dubbing job its given and the hilarious emoting, this is a prime example of an exploitation/trash film.

Our anti-hero of the film, Hal (Robert O'Neil, aka, José Gras, of 'Hell of the Living Dead') is an older, greasy looking yuppie who's out for a drive on the town with a girlfriend who barely turned Eighteen and what better way to celebrate than getting her drunk at a club? When our lothario and his little lady reach a stoplight and start making out, the head biker (who is keen on dressing up like a gestapo) knocks on the car window and interrupts the mood by belittling Hal, judging him on his car and spits on his face and drives off. While Hal drives away, a biker following him crashes into a car for no apparent reason, having his dirt bike explode. Shaking off this sheer insanity, our couple enters the club where he's apparently a regular. After ordering the last bottle of champagne and watching a swing dance scene that seems to go on for more than necessary, he offers his young gal more liquor at his place.

Walking towards his car, the couple is interrupted by the gang yet again, judging him on his car (again) and blaming Hal for their friend's death. Since the gang has their swastikas showing, you can tell they aren't in a nice mood. Hal gets beaten badly, while his underage girl gets groped and they strip her down, find out she's a virgin (How? Bloody fingers.) and rape her, they leave and laugh and mention a funeral service at the amphitheater. After Hal leaves the hospital, he calls up his friend who just happens to be a sensei for a karate dojo. The training scenes of his class show that the bunch probably wouldn't even graduate to yellow belt. Hal asks his pal to get some poorly done chop socky revenge on his biker enemies at the amphitheater where they'll have an alcohol funeral pyre for their fallen comrade.

Hal crashes the service, calling on his karate cronies to exact revenge. Some sorry fight choreography later, the biker leader willingly lets his penis be grasped by the sensei who then asks Hal: "What should I do?" and what do you think his reply will be? "CUT IT OFF!" His manhood is hacked off and shoved in his mouth. Definitely not kosher! After a sense of accomplishment, Hal happens to get another gal and forget all about his Eighteen year old sweetie, while the karate class gets their training cut short by a grenade and a bullet barrage by the biker baddies. Before lodging a bullet in sensei's brain, they get the home address of Hal and locate his fancy car, beat up an old man for information while a kid watches and warns Hal to go.

Getting in his car, bikers in pursuit, the film goes from chase scene to sex on the beach. The woman changes her mind, tells her mate to help hitchhike a ride. As luck would have it, Hal lost the bikers and happens across the lady in need of a lift. As the lady asks for a ride for two, Hal says there's only room for one and it better be her. The gal leaves her companion behind for a potentially erotic and possibly deadly ride with Hal. Where does he go with his new lady in tow? His family's house out in the country. And what a house! They have horses, maids and a groundskeeper. Mom's in a wheelchair, but Dad can still walk and they both talk about their riches until Hal interrupts and they are treated to idle chat and dinner. Hal and the hitchhiker get kinky at the table, play footsie and excuse themselves and get hot and heavy in the hallway and also in a bathtub filled with grotesque yellow water! Golden baths instead of showers for the lovers, perhaps?

How can Hal and his lady top last night's antics? By going sight-seeing, hunting, fornicating in the woods and horseback riding. Things aren't calm and cool, for our biker pals are getting drunk and rowdy while one of them gets fully nude to take a piss and starts kicking his pals playfully. The bikers get to Hal's house, swastika armbands in full view and the gardener gets a bit too sassy and gets gardening shears shoved in his mouth for his troubles. While some of the help gets shot, the parents get it just as bad. Hal's mom gets shot in the head, causing her wheelchair to rapidly roll back and daddy gets a bullet spray. While Hal and this gal return to the stable, another housekeeper gets brutally stabbed in the stomach, causing her intestines to spew out.

The bikers feel happy avenging their leader's lopped-off phallus and their dead comrade as well. Hal's none to happy to return home and seeing everyone dead, so he starts snooping around to find the motor psychos. He finds the big nude, kickboxing rapist hanging out in the back of a bar on the toilet. Despite the biker's penchant to show his genitalia, Hal quickly shoots a hole in his hand and ends the nude nazi biker's life by dropping a grenade in the toilet. His next destination is a junkyard where another biker is in sight, and a game of shotgun hide and seek turns into a car chase that seals the fate of the biker in an homage to the film "Easy Rider." Finding the rest of the biker lackeys hanging out in a film studio. One of miscreants, already knowing Hal is on the rampage, is waiting in the wings with his switchblade while other bloke is in the middle of an S & M Nazi sex session with a 3rd rate Ilsa clone.

Switchblade biker rumbles with Hal, only to fail miserably and get his throat slashed and gut gored. Then Hal crashes the Nazi sexcapades, shoots the Ilsa clone and her submissive biker lover. Vengeance is Hal's... right? He drives off home, celebrating his victory with Krokus blaring on the soundtrack, but wait a minute. Having eliminated all those insignificant biker lackeys... the castrated kommandant is nowhere to be found. Coming home to celebrate with his lady, he holds Hal and the señorita hostage with a surprise ending that you won't forget. Also known as "Los Violadores" (the rapists), this film is available on a region free widescreen PAL DVD released by ABC DVD, that comes dubbed in English, (Castillian) Spanish, and German. But the notorious JEF Films, under the label Euroland Movies, released a region free NTSC copy of the PAL disc. So, that means you have two options for seeking this one out.

Here's the uncut(!) trailer, which gives away the whole movie and may not be up for much longer:

See the Mad Foxes engage in brutality and bloodshed:

"Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970) film soundtrack

2008-09-13T20:07:00.001-05:00

Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs and sleaze in this Russ Meyer mainstream classic. The majors were failing and the independents were cashing in, and that Russ Meyer was making money on his cleavage and carnal carnage films, he was courted by 20th Century Fox and made the non-sequel to 'Valley of the Dolls' that has some great editing, wild visuals, humor and a great soundtrack to boot.

Click on the link below to get the snazzy sounds.
You will drink the black sperm of my vengeance.

"Three on a Meathook" (1972) intro and film clip

2008-09-09T20:19:00.000-05:00

Ed Gein's eerie and evil exploits were exploitable enough to bring more or less nine movies (not including remakes or sequels) to the screen. William Girdler made this lovingly luridly titled, low budget shocker. Review coming soon, in the mean time here's some scenes of shocking slaughter from the film.

Film clip:

Intermission Time!

2008-08-23T17:42:00.001-05:00

Funny how things turn out, I was writing about Women in Prison movies, only to end up locked up in jail for a day. Funny thing is that there were some women locked up there for shoplifting. I've been lacking a computer to update and upload videos, but will do so quite soon. I'll include trailer downloads too, but wonder if anyone really likes that sort of thing... See you soon!

"Candy Stripe Nurses" (1974) review, opening scene, film clip and trailer download

2008-07-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

I had the displeasure of being hit by a car, taken to the hospital and being attended by a nurse. All she did is tell me how I was lucky to have been fat since I wasn't seriously hurt, and showed me how to change the television channels on the remote before my parents arrived to be pissed off at the inevitable hospital bill and my stupidity. Naughty nurseploitation antics didn't occur during my hospital stay, but the ladies in this film really seem to care about their patients well being. The film mixes stories such as an athlete's denial and struggle with drug addiction, a sexually jaded rock star, and also covers crime and it's effect on class struggles and race. I've never been a fan of soap operas or telenovelas, but this film manages to mix the melodrama and social commentary nicely with prerequisite sexual antics thanks to writer/director Allan Holleb. But really, the fourth film in Roger Corman's "Nurse" series needed a back story to stretch out the scant 76 minute running time.

Starting off with an annoying theme song (which apparently was co-created by Eron Tabor of 'I Spit on your Grave' infamy!) that accompanies crudely drawn and slightly animated title credits, we're treated to a girl at a high school named Marisa Valdez (played by María Rojo) who starts carving away at some wood with a knife who dismisses a guy (who looks like a poor man's Robert Carradine) that invites her to see a rock show. Who's playing? Some Led Zeppelin reject named Owen Boles. Some prissy teacher scolds the señorita for her knife antics and takes her blade away stating that she'd stolen it. Marisa gets mad and attacks the teacher while a crowd of kids form, cheering her on. Thanks to her temper tantrum, she lands in the principal's office. The principal wonders why she's so stubborn to make something of herself, and she replies with genuine ennui: "It's no use. You can't beat the system." Her punishment for being a juvenile delinquent? Becoming a candy stripe nurse.

The same dorky dude that asked Marisa moves on to a ballerina named Dianne (Robin Mattson) to the same show, only to be shot down again. Tough luck, buddy. Her friend, saying she would of gone, asks why she didn't take the ticket. Seems that our ballerina wants to become a doctor. If she wants more medical experience, she'll have to volunteer as a candy stripe nurse as well! Now we move onto the hospital itself, and find a doctor and nurse post-sex scene that ends with Sandy (Candice Rialson) getting dressed and wanting to leave quickly, also asking the doctor if he finished her math homework for her. He did, and also got tickets to the Owen Boles show. When she gets home, Sandy says she's going to change out of her clothes only to simultaneously smoke weed, eat, and pass off the doctor's homework answers as her own while taking a bath!

Now the setting changes to a gas station, where Carlos (Roger Cruz, who also comes out in Paul Leder's "My Friends Need Killing"), a latin lover type asks if he can use the restroom. Little does he know that some jerks are about to rob the place, and he's making the set-up easier for them. The bandits take the loot, take off and the gas station owner shoots at the crooks only to hit the guy that just wanted to, as he eloquently puts it: "take a piss." Carlos arrives at the hospital, Marisa is the nurse to attend him and he simply requests the nurse to scratch his back since he's unable to do so. He tries to be charming by being sleazy, but Marisa is wise to his foolishness and turns him down. Sandy gets a call to attend a patient, only to trade places with him, since the doctor is about to check on his condition while Dianne follows him, showing she's smart enough, despite being a nurse. Despite the fun and games going on the hospital, the real trouble happens when a Larry Bird-esque high school basketball player, Cliff Gallagher (Rod Haase) is taken in while freaking out, having a fit and has to be subdued rather quickly. The old doctor asks if he's on drugs, coach denies it and says he'll draw the blood for him. Dianne takes care of him, and they seem to have a connection.

She ends up saying how basketball is like ballet, goes to practice with Cliff, filming his performance on the court, so he can study his game play better. How does he thank her for such kindness? By taking her to the gym room and forcing himself on her. The scenario plays out like a rape, but she smiles and makes it a consensual come-on. Moving back to Marisa's story, she gets to know the Carlos as the man behind the seedy advances, hears his story about being framed for the gas station robbery and hears him say: "It's no use, you can't beat the system." Seems this nurse has found her soul mate! Marisa makes it a priority to prove Carlos' innocence. The only clue she gave him was that a witness was a guy with a rainbow colored gas tank on his motorbike. She travels to the barrio to claw out some clues. She gets her purse stolen by two brats, gets it back and lays some unconvincing slaps to the main culprit. She goes to an auto shop to get some info, but gets poor attempts at flirting and another mechanic 'looks' at her car, saying he better fix it before it gets worse. She gets upset and wishes that she'd "get a pair of needle-nose pliers, and pluck out your eyes with them!" All talk and no action, Marisa.

She then visits the gas station owner, letting him know that Carlos is innocent and is trying to get more information. This only to get the old coot getting pissed off as if he were Archie Bunker. He says the neighborhood has become a slum, then says to Marisa, how she and all the rest of her kind are all alike. What's the mean old man get for belittling her and being a bigot? A candy stripe slap across the face! She then decides to have a sexcapade with the framed fellow in his room, or is it in space since they're surrounded by darkness? How avant garde! Moving on, Sandy takes care of the sex clinic, enjoying a freaky phone call from someone in trouble that participates in bestiality and incest! The previously mentioned 'rock star' Owen Boles is carried in with his manager and two groupies. He apparently suffers from "goose eggs" and is attended by the real doctor of the sex clinic. Sandy eavesdrops on the consultation and it turns out that the rocker is suffering thanks to his drug use. The doctor tells Owen's manager that he'll send along a therapist to check up on him. Sandy uses this info, and the request to call said therapist to her advantage to see the hirsute rocker, because Sandy knows she can do a better job.

Dianne and her basketball beau, Cliff take a bike ride, go to some anglo-kabuki theater production, hang-gliding, and call it a night by doing some nude tutoring. Seems Cliff has a learning problem as well as a drug one. Dianne forgets to call home, tells her mom that she'll be spending the night with Cliff and this seems to send the jock in shock at how progressive her parents are! Sandy goes to visit Owen, posing as the therapist, only to find the rocker acting rather limp and lazy. Sandy tries to get a rise out of him by telling him how great he is, but nothing. He only gets a reaction from the repulsive rocker when she speaks down to him, only to storm off. Marisa finally gets a lead when she visits another mechanic, who sends her to a specialist who does custom paint jobs. Who was hearing the conversation Marisa had with the mechanic? The creep responsible for robbing the gas station! He follows her around, trying to hear who the witness was. After finding out the witness works at a junkyard, the creep tells Marisa to go visit his friend, Eddie, who works at a butcher shop and he can give her more info there.

After the guilty robbery creep calls Eddie, the fat lout (who looks like a bloated Peter Lorre) said slob welcomes Marisa to his butcher shop by going on a tangent about how people don't know how to make enchiladas correctly. A fine bit of acting worthy of Cameron Mitchell or Victor Buono's weirdest moments. Marisa gets antsy at his ramblings, then he pulls out a gun and starts undressing her at gunpoint, observing her flesh and telling her; "A little skinny, but you'll do!" He tries to rape her, putting the gun aside, but mean lil' Marisa gets a hold of it, cocks the gun and holds it to his head and warns him that if she doesn't make it worth her while, then she'll shoot. He runs off, Marisa then heads to the junkyard knowing she was set up.

She finds the witness, but he lies to Marisa, telling him Carlos did it. Not to be a misanthrope, but due to the fact the true criminal has a gun pointed in the middle of his buttocks. Marisa leaves disappointed in her efforts, ripping her dress on a car that looks familiar... was it following her? She tells the nurses to call the cops and heads back to the junkyard. The witness is held at gunpoint, told to stay down or else he'll be shot. Thinking the criminal creep has gone away, he tries to call the cops, only to be caught in the act. He then gets tied up, alongside his co-worker for the trouble about to be shot for their troubles. Marisa arrives, grabs a lead pipe knowing that the almost rapist Eddie and the real criminal are there, attacks Eddie, but he shoots. Is she dead or wounded? The junkyard worker gets loose to shoot at the main criminal, only to have him end up at the mercy of an inept cop who cannot get the gun out of his holster without a little help. Dianne thinks that Cliff isn't on drugs, and Sandy goes back to Owen's rock palace to pick up her purse she left behind. Still upset at her for debasing him, Owen gets upset and amongst the chaos, reignites his libido and knocks her down causing a dog pile with her groupies.

She leaves to join Dianne at Cliff's basketball game. Dick Miller puts in a brief cameo as a heckler, criticizing Cliff's game. What's he get for his comments? Popcorn dumped on his head. Looks like lover boy isn't doing well, but what will make Cliff turn into Popeye? Not spinach, but speed. After an amphetamine fix, he is shooting hoops and scoring to miraculously wins the game. Giving Dianne a victory ride home, Cliff, the hopped up hero is driving erratically and confesses to using speed only to crash and leading them to the hospital. Dianne is okay, follows Cliff in and tells the doctor that the coach drew his own blood and lied. She exposes the truth on the basketball team and saves her love from death. Marisa is taken in the hospital as Cliff is just being moved upstairs. Will Marisa and Carlos live happily ever after? Does Sandy want the neglected young doctor instead of the old repulsive rocker? What about Dianne and her druggie, Cliff? Things get resolved in the two last minutes of this movie, so it doesn't matter.

It's an enjoyable film to watch, but easily forgettable as well. Nothing too exciting, nor boring. Candice Rialson is great as Sandy, while María Rojo as Marisa and Robin Mattson as Dianne provide the perfect soap opera elements to give the film a serious tone. The supporting cast is a real treat, with everyone give the right amount of humor to make the film enjoyable. The out-of-print New Concorde DVD is presented full-screen, in good condition with such extras as the original trailer, a brief Leonard Maltin interview with Roger Corman, Bios, but the trailers included are for the Women in Prison series, not the "Nurses" films. The hard to find film was easily available as an online rental through the outlet I mentioned in the previous post, but the VHS isn't that hard to get a hold of. Better yet, check your local video store. Those that are lucky enough to have a store that specializes in mainstream and cult/independent/etc. film rentals should be able to find it easily.

Here's two scenes from the movie, the opening credits and a fun clip featuring Candice. The trailer is also available for download, but you will need a program such as winrar to open it. Enjoy!

Opening credits/intro:

Candice Rialson as Sandy, the Candy Stripe Nurse & occasional Sex Clinic Operator:

Click here to download the trailer.

"The Big Bird Cage" (1972) review, trailer and opening scene.

2008-06-23T11:50:00.000-05:00

Director Jack Hill followed up "The Big Doll House" with "The Big Bird Cage" which has a lot of action, character and intentional humor, some of it at the expense of Homosexuals. The film starts off with Terry (Anitra Ford, star of many exploitation films and model on 'The Price is Right') making the scene as a groupie for any Politician. She is invited to a night club that has a hell of a musical group that consists of Blossom played by Pam Grier, as the sexy lounge singer, while backing her up on guitar is Django (not the spaghetti western character) played to perfection by Sid Haig. Since the band didn't do a sound check, Blossom throws a fit and Django breaks his guitar only to reveal a gun and their henchmen that were waiting in the wings, ready to rob the place. Why? They're taking over the night club in the name of the revolution! A people's revolution? A sexual revolution? Who knows. Terry gets a kick out of the robbery in progress, comes on to Django who is quite happy to take the lippy lady as bait.

Being that the cops bust down the pillaging of the people's revolution, the gang takes off. Seems Django was weighed down by carrying Terry, so he takes over a cab, admits he wants to rape Terry and she happily proclaims that you can't rape the willing and chooses to be not a victim, but a hostage. The police on their trail, Django decides to flee from the scene by stopping the cab on the bridge and take a cold swim to cool off his hormones and clear himself from facing the cops and their handcuffs. What does Terry get for her troubles when the police show up? A stay to a jail that doubles as a sugar mill work camp. Workers who get too crazy, lazy or defiant? They get imprisoned in the titular torture device. Terry is then introduced to the local populace. The prison guards are two mean and chubby bastards. The main guard, Rocco (played perfectly by Vic Diaz) is clever with the wit as he is with his cruelty. But the prison guards aren't as loathsome as you'd think, they'd rather seduce men than women. They keep the women in line, while they joke around their sexual preferences.

Django returns back to his revolutionary commune, only to be greeted by Blossom who breaks a melon over his head and almost castrates him for his unfaithful ways. A mud wrestling match later, they kiss and make up so powerfully that their cabin shakes to the point of collapsing. The men in the commune really want to have women for sex, justifying it under the pretext of them doubling as assistants to the revolution. They think the prison girls would be a good assignment to their cause. After much pestering, Django comes up with a plan. Blossom goes into town, uses a fake grenade as an assassination attempt and lands in jail. After Blossom makes herself the new leader of the locked up ladies, Django puts on a limp-wristed stereotype to call the attention of Rocco to land a job inside the jail. With the two rebels in place, they light the fuse that'll make the revolt explode with freedom!

Released in a special edition full-frame dvd version by New Concorde, this now out-of-print disc features audio commentary by Jack Hill, bios and the theatrical trailer for the main film as well as "The Big Bird Cage," "Women in Cages" and "The Arena." The movie is well worth watching, but hard to come by. If you find the disc at a low price, be sure to pick it up. I found the movie available by an online rental company. No, not the one with the red background and white logo. The company's name rhymes with 'Lackluster' and their in-store, overpriced one-day new release rentals aren't worth the trouble. This film is though, it's another great film by Jack Hill.

Trailer:

Opening Scene:

"Holocaust 2: The Memories, Delirium and Vengeance" (1980) review and clip

2008-06-18T16:24:00.000-05:00

Brought to you by the man that directed the film: "A Porno-Erotic Western," this movie is a time honored Italian tradition of making a 'sequel' to a movie that only shares the title to the original film. The title on the box reads: "Holocaust 2: The Memories, Delirium and Vengeance," only to have the title appear as: "Holocaust 2: The Memories, Delirium and the Vendetta, Part Two" on screen. Part two to what? Actually, it's trying to ride the coattails of the Italian television movie. It sure doesn't seem as if it was filmed in 1980 as it states when it was released, but really is shot in 1978 as per some sources. Even with William Berger, his appearance should count as more of a cameo than an actual role.

As soon as the titles start, the film has the bad taste to use actual photos of Nazi labor camps and its victims and corpses as well. The film focuses on Jewish activists that are tracking down ex-Nazi criminals that are hiding in Italy. They send a pudgy, nerdy hit man to snuff out the ex SS and Gestapo members. The first blitzkrieg occurs when we see a man walking his Doberman in the woods, then we see a gal walking there as well, simply reading a book. The man walking the dog lets his Doberman off the leash. You may start thinking the canine will attack the girl right? Wrong. Misses bookworm is assaulted in the woods by some men and the dog is merely content playing with some other animals. The Doberman owner is shot down by the main assassin. Then the film cuts to a flashback of the man's past as a Nazi. He leads a group of men out of a church and also gets a priest and shoots him in the middle of praying! Then we go back to the assaulted lady in the woods. She's stripped nude and has rope tied around her neck and legs. They pull her apart so unconvincingly far, that her neck breaks.

The next target is a woman, and the head of the activists tells the killer to change methods, so the cops won't catch on. The woman is sound asleep in her room while she has a record playing. Downstairs in the same room, a sexy SS Señorita is doing a lewd dance in her low cut mesh shirt and panties while the other fascists are trying to seduce their ladies. One of them is a woman dressed in a Nazi uniform that looks as if it were made out of a stewardess uniform trying to seduce a girl that's supposed to look twelve, despite the fact that she looks twenty seven.

The assassin lets the gas fill the room while the sleeping lady I mentioned earlier is sound asleep. It'll look like a suicide, so says the lead Jewish activist. He also mentions Dorothea, who will be using her hypnotic powers (what? exactly.) to kill Lorenzo, the son of a Nazi general. When told this, the assassin is responded with: "We can't be squeamish about this matter, right?" I wish he was. Despite the scant 77 minute run time, the film is constantly incoherent, poorly filmed as you can see the person filming in the shadows or in some car reflection.

The plot takes a turn focusing on Dorothea and her hypnotic killing methods and her odd relationship with a red haired woman who comes into play later on in the film. Is she working for the Jewish activists or the Nazis? Will they have their revenge against the Nazi criminals in hiding? Really, this film is a mere notch in the belt of Nazisploitation and not worth the price of admission. Actually, the scene of Lorenzo's father having his feet licked to death by a goat for his war crimes as an unethical and anti-Semitic scientist is worth viewing. If you could find the film for a real cheap price, that is. This weak Nazisploitation film is for completists only. Released by DVD Network, this all region disc is made from a widescreen, Dutch subtitiled VHS. The image is watchable, but poor during the scenes that are in the dark. For those who feel the urge to see it, here's a clip.

Oy vey! It's your call. Despite some hilarious dialogue, brief bits of sleaze and violence, its presentation as a whole falls flat. Make sure you have either legal or illegal substances (your choice, I'm not here to judge) to make the film more tolerable. To be honest, I wish I had some booze or wine during this movie to make time fly. They can't all be winners, right?

The Hellishly Horrific Hypnotic Frightful Foursome of Fear Trailer!

2008-06-17T17:06:00.000-05:00

Stare deep into the hypnotic wheel, if you dare. No, I won't dig into your repressed memories or make you act stupid. All I want to do is share some trailers. These feature the following four films:
"Blood and Black Lace" (1964)
"The Night Vistor" (1971)
"Bird with the Crystal Plumage" (1970)
"Gargoyles" (1972)

As Count Floyd would say: "Oooh, That's scary stuff kids!" Enjoy!

"Fugitive Girls" (1974) review and trailer

2008-06-12T17:44:00.000-05:00

Being the last movie Ed Wood wrote and starred (cameos?) in (playing the sheriff and as the gas station attendant, 'Pop') this is just one three features that is enclosed in the 3-disc collection called "The Lascivious World of A. C. Stevens & Ed D. Wood, Jr." released by S'More Entertainment. A.C. Stephens directs this low budget, tough and sleazy women in prison film. It starts off with Dee and her lover getting hot and heavy in a motel, and despite the eroticism (or lack thereof) he takes a break to request more booze. Dee goes along with him, oblivious to the fact he's about to rob the liquor store.

The loathsome creep shoots the cashier for trying to be too smart for his own good, and goes ahead and forgets the booze and the money during the chaos. Being the classy gentleman that he is, he pushes Dee out of the car and she's on the frozen with fear on the street while people are gathered around her to see what happened. By simply being an accomplice, she gets sent to an off season summer camp that is supposed to be a prison. How can you tell? Simple, the cabin has a spotlight flashing by every few minutes just to remind you that it's a minimum security prison.

Dee is introduced to her new cellmates, including the tough lesbian leader, Kat (Played by perfection by exploitation kitten Talie Cochrane, star of such films as The Centerfold Girls, Candy Tangerine Man, Love Thrill Murders and Sassy Sue) along with 70's cutie pie exploitation and porn princess Rene Bond as Toni. A total of five pretty nice cellmates makes for an easy welcome until it's lights out and Dee is broken in by Kat. An awkward jump cut later, and it's morning. Dee wants to be no one's property and wants out. The girls make a run for it, and the fuzz is on their trail.

During their escape, they meet some topless hippy chicks dancing around with their male companions feeding the music to enhance the girls to enjoy the vibes. Our girls on the run are welcomed by the commune, drink wine and sleep over only to get angry at the fact they drink organic tea, not coffee. The male longhairs get uppity when the girls verbally attack them and they defend their right not to bathe and enjoy the nature mother earth has provided them.

Getting hostile, they respond with: "Name calling like that can only lead to broken bones and cracked skulls, lady!" Then the males try to score with the convicts, Kat sets them straight by kicking ass. They leave and take their clothes, complaining about the garments being stinky and lice-ridden whilst still being followed by cops. During the chatting while running away, they deliver such fine jibes to one another such as: "You'd screw a cockroach if it turned you on!" Pops, the gas station attendant gets a call about the girls on the loose then is suddenly attacked by bikers just for the pure hell of it!

The girls move the plot along by trying to hitch-hike, only to take a dumb driver's car and beat him for his troubles then immediately rape him due to sheer sexual fustration. Running low on gas, they visit pops for info on the lay of the land and he catches on quick to their scheme, then calls the sherrif only to be found out by Kat and gets beaten for his troubles. They then tango with the bikers for a epic display of karate action so underwhelming, the credit given to their trainer was probably there to make up for the fact that he wasn't paid for his "training skills." What will happen to the girls? Will they make it to freedom, terrorize people for kicks and cash or duke it out amongst one another? There's only one way to find out!

For those worried about the quality of the film? It's presented full frame, clear tranfer despite the fact the film is pretty dark in certain scenes. This isn't due to the transfer of the film, but the way it was shot. Also, if you really want to talk about a "Grindhouse Experience" on dvd, this is it. Cigarette burns are evident in the print, while scenes that are too sexy have jump cuts that suggest it was cut out for this print or ineptly edited. Still, these films would have gone under the radar of lost VHS or imply forgotten, but this is a great job for a simple, yet enjoyable film. Bonuses on this disc include a photo gallery that is compiled from Lobby Cards, the original trailer and an Ed Wood bio as well.

Trailer:

"The Redeemer: Son of Satan" a.k.a. "Class Reunion Massacre" (1976) review and trailer

2008-06-07T17:57:00.000-05:00

Three stages of fright, on VHS from Continental, Genesis and VCI.

In my youth, there was this oversized VHS case that seemed to stare me down from the rental stand and by its gazed, appeared to taunt me for not renting it. The cover featured a grim reaper of sorts with one eye staring out and despite not having lips, seemed to be smirking. That image stuck in my head and was a sign to steer clear from that movie. During one trip to Lalo's Video, my mom was buying a battery for her watch, (our store had something to fall back on in case renting movies went out of style: overpriced jewelery) and the intimidating VHS artwork didn't seem to be so creepy. It was called "Class Reunion Massacre" and maybe I was high on soda and felt brave, or wanted to stay up all night from the potential scares, but I mustered up the courage to look at the back of the box and was treated to an image of a creep in a clown mask attacking a girl. No gracias! I was glad the piece of velcro on the front of the box was missing the rental button.

Foreign? Horror? Watch Batteries and Bracelets? Only at Lalo's!

I also stumbled across the movie twice under its original title of "The Redeemer: Son of Satan" by two different companies. The covers didn't seem too inviting, but what a movie it was! Portentous text starts off with: "From out of the darkness the hand of the Redeemer shall appear to punish those who have lived in sin..." then goes to a child coming out of the water. Baptism, you say? I think not. He ends up killing the janitor and usurping his face. He then rides off to church alongside other kiddies and we're treated to the now grown up kids going to a high school reunion via flashback. They're all sinners in some way, and including the dead janitor make up Seven. Deadly sins? Religious propaganda or subtle satire? Who cares! The creepy (now grown up) water boy is really into dress up, and impersonates the janitor welcoming the kids. Despite the windows being barred, they happily comply. Now they're locked up and are treated to the janitor's cadaver. The guests get scared and want to go. The killer's dressed up as a grim reaper, complete with scythe. He also has puppets. Not the the kind that have appeared in such films as "Deep Red," "Devil Doll" or "Magic." These buggers are Papier-mâché facsimiles when the killer isn't dressed as one. Blowtorches, shotgun, swords and more puppet scares are in store for the guests. Is the killer seeking revenge or does he work for the great one up above/down below? The music only helps the murky mood of the movie. It's one worth watching.

Trailer:

Film Clip:

Coming out (maybe?) on DVD from Code Red eventually, but until then it's a part of a unofficial and most likely underwhelming presentation in a double feature disc from east west entertaiment with an Andy Milligan feature of all things!

Films that fell through the cracks: "Banned" trailer

2008-06-05T18:11:00.001-05:00

Oh, I'm serious about uploading stuff here. Even started a fancy youtube account to do so. I'll be keeping focus on many films that are simply forgotten or are held up in some damp room, never to see the light of day again. If anyone knows the slightest info on the films, I'd be grateful if you'd share it on the site. Here's the first entry:

Kent is a dork in a new wave band that's trying to make it in the music scene, but isn't. Until he heads to the toilet for some reason and comes across the vocoder voiced spirit of punk never-was Teddy Homicide. After giving the protagonist a face full of toilet water, he magically becomes "punk" (the best scene in the trailer) and his body is occupied by the spirit of Teddy Homicide. Kent/Terry goes on a rampage shooting and missing a rocket launcher by merely skipping, not jumping, then flying through the air occasionally. Why was this gem obscured from the public? I'm intrigued already. It's not gold, it's dung! My kind of exploitive dung.

Enjoy:

"Poor Pretty Eddie" (1975) review and clip

2008-06-03T17:20:00.000-05:00

DVD Cover

VHS Cover

The 70's gave us many great things such as unforgettable music and mind-blowing films such as "Poor Pretty Eddie." Also known as "Black Vengeance," and re-edited into a less sleazier film under the title "Heartbreak Motel." Liz Wetherly, a famous african american singer is tired of the glitz and glamor of belting out the national anthem for Baseball Stadiums and decides to take a break from it all.

Too bad it's in the deep fried, racist part of the south. She meets Eddie, who suffers from delusion since he thinks he's the second coming of Elvis Presley. The gal's car breaks down, he claims to fix the vehicle but fixes her on staying indefinitely. Shelly Winters is Eddie's current gal and plans to be his one and only. She doesn't care for his inkling to keep Liz around.

Rape and revenge are the order of the day. Sexist and Racist? Indeed it is. How so? For example, townsfolk get real giddy when dogs are having sex, and it's a slow-motion scene that's juxtaposed with Eddie raping Liz. Needless to say, the owner of the dirty doggie is none other than Ted 'Lurch' Cassidy from "The Addams Family!" who later on is fed his own dog for trying to help Liz out.

But the real treat is Slim Pickens as the yokel sherrif is worth viewing alone. Dirty and oh-so good, this movie ranks up there with those 'I can't believe they made this!' exploitation films. A messed up treat. Need proof? There's a choice clip at the end of the review that only scratches the scabby surface that I haven't even touched yet. Available on a watchable, VHS sourced DVD (don't you love the irony?) from Trinity at a mere pittance. The cover art makes it look like to straight to video slasher film, but it's not. Honest!

Intro + "Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror" review

2008-06-02T15:39:00.000-05:00

Aren't movies grand? As a kid, my family would take me to see such films as "Alligator" or "Cujo"at the drive-in or awkwardly subtitled kung fu double features in Chinatown and the many instances I was under watch of my family, my uncles would leave me in the horror section while they rented porn leaving me to ward off the bad vibes and spooky artwork from many lurid VHS cases.

Not caring what I rented (and not knowing how to read English) left me with many opportunities to divulge into such films as diverse as "Blanca Nieves Y Los Siete Churin Churin Fun Flais" to "Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors" without as much as a second thought from the family. I shudder to think how much money was wasted on movie theaters trips to the Bel-Air drive-in and the VHS hits I took in my chubby tv casualty youth.

Despite these flimsy parenting skills and regrets, I've grown to love all sorts of genre/sub-genre films that I hope to get around to review. Since movie review sites are a dime a dozen and people are fickle, so I'll try to add features on here to feature trailer downloads and/or rare vhs uploads for movies that aren't available in these United States. Suffice it to say, I'm ready to ramble on with the first review.

"Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror" (1981) Directed by Andrea Bianchi.

VHS release by Vestron

DVD release by Shriek Show/Media Blasters

Zombies cause panic. This is true. But when your friend invites you to a nice getaway to the country in his mansion-esque palace, you'd have women, wine and song in your mind. Not decapitations, entrails eating or a creepy kid who is a victim of progeria.

Do you see zombies? Yes. An abundance of them. Even zombie monks! The only downside? These poor Italian undead are missing an eye, have teeth in front of their visible lips and are quite chic in stylish robes. Then the panic ensues.

Romantic, on the verge of becoming erotic romps in the park, turn to traumatic runnings of survival. A leg caught in a trap, nails that pierce palms, grey zombie blood and hollowed craniums are the order of the day. These ghouls aren't inept, mind you. They can use a scythe, lumber as a makeshift battering ram and have brute force. Years before zombies were agile and athletic!

Despite all the fun and frivolity, there's a hidden message about class since the Bourgeoisie vacationers are up against decaying and irate working class zombies. Or something like that, but I digress. So, the highlight of this zombie jubilee is the mother/son fear that turns grotesque. The kid gets quite the Oedipus complex and the mother waits it out to see how eerie things get before she slaps some sense into the boy who suffers the accelerated aging disease. The end revisits this to a yummy treat, like an iced coffee. Do not hesitate to procure this film. It does not disappoint!

Trailer: