BLU-RAY REVIEW: The Beyond (1982)

THE BEYOND (1981) Blu-ray

LABEL: Arrow Video
REGION: Region Free, Region 0 PAL
DURATION: 88 min.
DIRECTOR: Lucio Fulci
CAST: Catriona MacColl, David Warbeck, Cinzia Monreale
TAGLINE: Only death awaits in The Beyond!

PLOT: If your new business venture is sited on the cursed gateway to the hell dimension of The Beyond, then maybe it’s time to move elsewhere but Liza (Catriona MacColl) is determined to make her New Orleans hotel work, until strange things start happening, people vanish and her waking thoughts are haunted by a ghostly blind woman who seems to hold the answers to the whole bizarre fever-dream. As reality breaks down and the plot explodes, Liza must journey far from everything she understands and descend in The Beyond...

FILM: Italian gore-master Lucio Fulci's THE BEYOND (1981) is pt.2 of the unofficial Gates of Hell trilogy which began with CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980) and ended with insanity that is THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981).  The connective tissue that bind this gruesome trio seems to be the apocalyptic effects of the dead entering the world of the living.  The film was heavily censored for it's outstanding gore sequences upon release and was granted a release here in the states under the lesser title SEVEN DOORS OF DEATH, which was also substantially edited.

The pre-credit sequence opens in 1927 as an angry mob enter the Seven Doors Hotel where they apprehend a painter named Schweick who's dabbling in the dark arts has led to the discovery that the hotel is built upon one of the seven gates of Hell as written about in a cryptic tome known as Eibon . They torture him, nail him  crucifixion-style and throw quicklime upon his body and watch as it eats away his flesh, it's truly grotesque. Their need for vengeance sated the mob don't realize their acts have set in motion a chain of events that will bring apocalyptic ruin upon the Earth. Fifty years later a young woman named Liza (Catriona MacColl) inherits the hotel and has plans to renovate the property but as you can imagine renovating one of the seven portals to Hell is fraught with problems. For starters the water in the basement is waist high - enter a rather unfortunate guy aptly named Joe the Plumber who is the first but certainly not the last in this film to receive the patented Fulci eye-trauma, it's a scene that nearly bests the infamous eyeball vs. splinter scene from Fulci's own ZOMBI 2 (1979). Other characters figuring prominently into the story include an apparition of a blind woman named Emily (Cinzia Monreale) whom only appears to Liza warning her to leave the hotel and not return but Liza isn't easily frightened despite the strange happening at the hotel. Following the near-death accident of a day laborer Liza also meets Dr. John McCabe (David Warbeck) who while skeptical of all things supernatural joins forces with Liza until the intensely eerie Hell on Earth finale.

The Beyond is truly thin in the plot department and has a few confusing non-linear bits that will surely dismay some folks but not me. It's as simple as woman moves into a haunted hotel which rests upon one of the seven gates of hell and nightmarish crazy things happen - 'nuff said. Fulci's signature eye mutilation, tense atmosphere  and sickening gore are all accounted for as the typical quirky dialogue exchanges, the usual classic Italian to English dub stuff. My favorite bit of dialogue has Emily screaming to her dog to "Attack! Dicky! Dicky Attack! Attack Dicky!" shortylt before it turns it's teeth on her which always makes me sequel with delight. We get the aforementioned eye-trauma, a truly gnarly tarantula attack, the vicious canine encounter, sulphuric acid to the face, a full on zombies assault and a heinous head, it's great stuff. The special effects work of Giannetto de Rossie is mostly superb throughout with the exception of some piss poor tarantuals and are on par with his work on Zombie 2. Thin though the plot may be The Beyond is an effectively chilling film, very eerie and steeped in dark atmosphere helped no doubt by the setting of the film in Louisiana. It's a great looking feature with fantastic cinematography that just happens to be stuffed with outstanding gore. Fulci was a true filmmaker and The Beyond is a very technically accomplished film.

I've only seen a handful of Fulci films outside of the Gates of Hell trilogy; THE PSYCHIC (1977), ZOMBI 2 (1979), and THE BLACK CAT (1981) and each is a wonderful excursion into the realm of Italian cinema that I can easily recommend. I'm far less familiar with his early 70's output like  DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972) and A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN (1971) and look forward to discovering each in it's own time. It's comforting to know that there's so much more to discover from Fulci.

BLU-RAY: The Beyond gets a brand new HD restoration and is presented completely uncut in it's original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9) anamorphic with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and original English and Italian mono audio options with English subtitles for both the Italian and English language tracks. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is immersive with a surprising amount of depth to it. Frizzi's score sounds brilliant and the effects really leap out of the surrounds. The films appears quite crisp with vibrant colors and great black levels with a healthy amount of film grain present but not distractingly so. It should be noted that I am reviewing a pre-release screener that may not be representative of the film final release. As an example; the prologue is errantly presented in monochrome black and white and not the intended sepia tone.  Arrow Video are aware of the issue and have taken action to correct this on the commercially available release.

Disc 1 special features include a fun commentary with stars Warbeck/MacColl. They have a playful rapport with each other as they remember fun facts from the shoot. This commentary is a carry-over from the Grindhouse Releasing DVD.  There's also a commentary featurng Fulci's daughter and Calum Waddell speaking about not just THE The Beyond but her father's films and legacy. The 1st of 2 featurettes is AKA Sarah Keller: Cinzia Monreale remembers ‘The Beyond’ (25:04) which features the still stunningly gorgeous Monreale fondly recalling her work with not only Fulci but director Joe D'Amatto on the film BEYOND THE DARKNESS. She also speaks to her perceptions of violence in cinema and her memories of shooting the film in Louisiana and Rome. Rounding out disc 1 is Catriona MacColl Q+A from the Glasgow Film Theatre (20:08) that is moderated by Calum Waddell as the star discusses several of her collaborations with Fulci, the script and her relationship with the director and there's also an easter egg.



The proper sepia-tone pre-credit sequence.



The errant monochromatic pre-credit sequence.

Disc 2 special features begin with One Step Beyond: Catriona MacColl Remembers a Spaghetti Splatter Classic (29:09)  a conversation in English as the star recalls being on set and working with Fulci. Beyond Italy – Louis Fuller and the Seven Doors of Death: Interview with US distributor and editor of ‘The Beyond’ Terry Levene (20:21) is a fascinating interview with the film's American distributor as he describes his life in film distributing grindhouse classics CANNIBAL FEROX, ZOMBI FLESH EATERS and THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE among many others. This is essential stuff, fans of Italian cinema are in for a real treat. Equally fascinating is Butcher, Baker and Zombiemaker: The Living Dead Legacy of special effects wizard Gianetto Di Rossi (30:32) as the Italian effects master Rossi recalls his most famous works including the trademawk eye-trauma in both ZOMBI 2 and THE BEYOND as well as the tarantula attack. Fulci Flashbacks: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi, Sergio Stivaletti, Antonella Fulci and others remember The Godfather of Gore (25:08) is a collection of fond Fulci memories from many familiar face including Argento and Nicolodi who is always a great interview. Finishing off disc 2 extras are an interesting Alternative Colour Pre-Credits Sequence (16:02)  which presents the pre-credit sequence in color from the German cut of the film and the Original International Trailer (3:15).

DISC 1 SPECIAL FEATURES (Region Free Blu-ray)
- Introduction by star Cinzia Monreale
- Audio Commentary with Antonella Fulci and Calum Waddell
- Audio Commentary with David Warbeck and Catriona MacColl
- AKA Sarah Keller: Cinzia Monreale remembers ‘The Beyond’ (25:04)
- Catriona MacColl Q+A from the Glasgow Film Theatre (20:08)
- Easter Egg

DISC 2 SPECIAL FEATURES
(Region 0 PAL)
- One Step Beyond: Catriona MacColl Remembers a Spaghetti Splatter Classic (29:09)
- Beyond Italy – Louis Fuller and the Seven Doors of Death: Interview with US distributor and editor of ‘The Beyond’ Terry Levene (20:21)
- Butcher, Baker and Zombiemaker: The Living Dead Legacy of special effects wizard (30:32)

- Fulci Flashbacks: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi, Sergio Stivaletti, Antonella Fulci and others remember The Godfather of Gore (25:08)

- Alternative colour pre-credits sequence (16:02)

- Original International Trailer (3:15)

VERDICT: When one thinks of the films of Lucio Fulci it's either Zombi 2 (1979) or The Beyond (1981) that spring immediately to mind and for good reason. These films are wonderful examples of gruesome Italian horror cinema and are both excellent films to jump into for the uninitiated. An equally gorgeous and grotesque example of Fulci's nightmarish imagery and surreal atmosphere. As with many Arrow Video editions of beloved genre classics it is easy to give this a high recommend without reservation. Transfer error aside the numerous bonus features are truly outstanding and give fans of the director a true appreciation for his work as well as the talented folks who made it possible. A stunningly gore-geous masterstroke of Italian cinema. 4.5 outta 5

My collection of theatrical one-sheets

Greeting Mausoleum visitor. Today I was going through a storage space when I found a small collection of original one-sheet film posters from the 1970/80's I rescued a few years back. A few years ago the campus theatre at the Unoversoty where I work was dumping massive amounts of one-sheets into the trash bin. I jumped on the chance to save a few from the landfill. Not 5 minutes into my dumpster dive I was asked to leave rather rudely. Seems the theatre proprietor didn't want me sifting through this treasure trove of film memorabilia even though it clearly meant nothing to him. I was pissed, it made me sad and angry that someone would dump 30 years worth of one-sheets in the trash. Later that night I returned but it seemed the trash had been picked-up beforehand. Anyway, here's what I was able to salvage. I love the one-sheets but my current living space and life don't allow for me to properly display them. Sooner or later these will be making their way to eBay. I apologize for the poor qaulity of the picture, a photographer I am not. Also, I guess I forgot to snap two of 'em so the images for SLEUTH and THE PURSUIT OF D.B. SWEENEY are missing. Enjoy.  

SEPTEMBER 30, 1955 (1977)

Directed by James Bridges (The Paper Chase, The China Syndrome)
Cast: Richard Thomas, Susan Tyrell

THE BIG BUS (1976)

Director: James Frawley

Cast: Joseph Bolgna, Stochard Channing, John Beck, Larry Hagman

TOMMY (1975)
Director: Ken Russell
Cast: Roger Daltry, Ann-Margaret, Oliver Reed, Elton John

SMALL CHANGE (1976)

Director: Francois Truffaut

Cast: George Desmouceaux. Philippe Goldman, Nicole Felix, Chantal Mercier

BACK TO SCHOOL (1986)
Director: Alan Mettier
Cast: Rodney Dangerfield, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Sally Kellerman

I love Rodney Dangerfirld and this film is one of my favorites from the 80's!

RESURRECTION (1980)

Director: Daniel Petr

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Sam Shepard, Richard Farnsworth

THE SERPENT’S EGG (1977) 780001
Director: Ingar Bergman
Cast: David Carradine, Liv Ullman, Heinz Bennent

  CLAUDINE (1974)

Director: John Berry
Cast: Diahann Carroll, James Earl Jones

SILENT RUNNINGS (1972)
Director: Douglas Trumball
Cast: Bruce Dern, CDliff Potts, Ron Rifkin

BLACK MOON (1975)

Director: Louis Malle

Cast: Cathryn Harrison, Theresa Giehse, Alexandra Stewar, Joe dallesandro

REMEMBER MY NAME (1979)
Director: Alan Rudolhp
Cast: Geraldine Chaplin, Anthony Perkins, Moses Gunn, Berry Berenson

THE PURSUIT OF B.D. COOPER (1981)

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Cast: Robert Duvall, Treat Williams, Kathryn Harold, Ned Flanders

S.O.B. (1981)
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Julie Andrews, William Holden, Marisa Berendson, Larry Hagman

PRIEST OF LOVE (1981)

Diercetor: Christopher Miles

Cast: Ian McKellan, Janet Suzman, Ava Gardner, Penelope Keith

 COMA (1978)
Director: Michael Crichton
Cast: Douglas, Rip Torn, Genevieve Bujod

DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (1972)

Director: Robert Fuest

Cast: Vincent Price, Robert Quarry, Valli Kemp, Peter Jeffrey

Sadly, I have never watched any of the Dr. Phibes films, yet.

DUEL (1971)
Director: Stephen Spielberg
Cast: Dennis Weaver, Eddie Firestone, Gene Dynarski

I love Stephen Spielberg's DUEL - who doesn't, right? This is one fantastic chase film. Dennis Weaver is amazing.

SHOCK TREATMENT (1981)

Director: Jim Sharman

Cast: Jessica Harper, Cliff de Young, Richard O’Brien

STEEL YARD BLUES (1973)
Director: Alan Myerson
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Howard Hesseman, Morgon Upton, Mel Stewart

 THE OTHER (1972)

Director: Robert Mulligan

Cast: Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, Chris Udvarnoky, Martin Udvarnoky

THE ONE AND ONLY (1978)
Director: Carl Reiner
Cast: Henry Winkler, Kim darby, Gene Saks, William Daniels

  BLACK CHRISTMAS

aka SILENT NIGHT, EVIL NIGHT (1975)

Director: Bob Clark

Cast: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon

This proto-slasher is a great film and the poster is equally great. This poster has a fun quirk to it. The "Black Christmas' logo is a later  addition. Underneath it you can clearly see the original title "Silent Night, evil Night" has been poster glued over with the revamped title. Cool!

SUSPECT (1987)
Director: Peter Yates
Cast: Cher, Dennis Quaid, Liam Neeson, John Mahoney

HANDLE WITH CARE (1977)

Director: Jonathan Demme

Cast: Paul LeMat, Candy Clark, Bruce McGill,. Roberts Blossom

SLEUTH (1972)
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Alec Cawthorne

THE BIG RED ONE (1980)

Director: Sam Fuller

Cast: Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Caradine, Bobby Di Cicco

ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
Director: Mark Rydell
Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda



THEATRICAL REVIEW: Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES ( 2011)

STUDIO: Sony Pictures
DURATION: 116 mins

RATING: PG-13
DIRECTOR: Jonathan Liebesman
CAST: Arrron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Will Rothhaar, Bridget Moynahan, Nzinga Blake,

On Thursday night my 10 year-old son Zachary and I attended an early screening of BATTLE: LOS ANGELES.  Zachary was very anxious to see it, the TV spots had definitely peaked his curiosity and mine as well. My initial thoughts on the trailer were ID4 meets BLACK HAWK DOWN. Zachary's first impression was RESISTANCE: THE FALL OF MAN video game he plays on his dearly beloved PS3 gaming system.

The film  throws you into the action pretty quickly following some news reports of meteorite clusters entering the Earth's atmosphere rather unexpectedly catching the scientific world with their pants down. The media of course is all over this and we see news reports from around the world indicating that meteors are landing just off the coast of pretty much every country in the world.  It's a great visual as the meteors rain from the sky and plummet into the ocean sending up plumes of water and smoke hundreds of feet in the air, it's a good apocalyptic visual on par with anything in ID4 or 2012. A news crew covering the situation amidst the commotion on the coast catches video of a meteor striking and destroying a Coast Guard cutter off the coast in Santa Monica and then suddenly creatures begin emerging from water.  In an even worse turn of events they turn out to be heavily armed aliens and they immediately begin blazing a trail of  death and despair from coastline working their way inland. Enter Staff Sgt. Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), the guy just signed his retirement papers but when the shit hits the fan he's assigned a young platoon of fresh faced Marines. The platoon is briefed rather quickly that the world is indeed under attack by an unknown alien threat. Their mission is to recover and evacuate civilians to a safe zone before the military forces starts a massive bombing campaign that will hopefully stop the alien menace in the L.A. area. Once on the streets they are pretty much ambushed right away and the non-stop action begins and nearly never ends throughout the entire run time of the film. There's not much in the way of back story or character development  aside from Eckhart's hero-character Sgt. Nantz. Everyone else are one dimensional and pretty thinly developed caricatures of soldier-types.  I must say that the action is quite well rendered but it's a case of too much too fast. The film is shot handheld and shaky as shit, it's hard to latch onto what's going on and the alien menace is never fully appreciated as they are caught in brief snatches of shaky cam and even when one is taken alive and dissected in an effort to determine it's weakness the creature remains mighty ambiguous. Call me simple, but I wanted to see 'em up close and see the nitty gritty underneath their armaments, didn't happen.

Battle: Los Angeles is a chaotic, action-packed ground war view of a massive alien invasion. It's thrilling at times, it's played for realism and the action is gritty but the beats are very familiar, particularly ID4. While the shaky-cam aesthetic is not a make or break for me it was a bit much as every scene is an amped up mess of frantic editing and dizzying third-person perspective. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the film were the large-scale scenes of mass destruction as L.A. is laid waste to, great visual effects throughout the film. Leaving the theatre I didn't dislike the film but I wasn't satisfied either. Perhaps I was expecting some DISTRICT 9 level genius but whatever the reason I walked away from the film with a sense detachment and no emotional investment. There's no emotional center to the film. On the other hand my son Zachary was quite enamored with the film and kept saying "wow, that was a LOT of action" and for some I'm sure that will be more than enough, it's a popcorn flick at it's heart. It's got great visual effects, tons of carnage but no gore - it's PG-13 afterall - and while it never commits the ultimate sin of being a bore the characters just didn't strike a chord with me enough to care. That said, my son has already informed that we'll need to buy the Blu-ray as soon as it streets, he loved it. 2.5 outta 5

Sergio Martino's giallo classic THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH coming soon from Shameless

Shameless Screen Entertainment have a few hot pokers in the fire these days, don't they? We can look forward to a blu-ray of Lucio Fulci's THE NEW YORK RIPPER (1983) which while containing some BBFC cuts will also feature footage not seen in any other edition. Then on March 28th Sergio Martino's giallo THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH (1971) coming to DVD (details below). Then just this week I heard they're working with Ruggero Deodato on an all-new edit of his most infamous film, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Apparently Deodato himself is overseeing production of a new HD master from which the DVD and Blu-ray will be produced.

 

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH (SHAM030)

Release Date: March 28th 2011

REGION: Region 0 PAL

DURATION: 96 mins

DIRECTOR: Sergie Martio

CAST: Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimoc, Albert de Mendoza, George Hilton

Shameless Screen Entertainment is proud to present The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh, an absolute, acknowledged classic of giallo cinema. Influential, provocative, and intoxicatingly erotic, this descent into depravity showcases the voluptuous sensuality of the most alluring star of 70’s Italian cinema – the exquisite Edwige Fenech.


Sexy sophisticate Julie Wardh (Fenech) endures a stifling marriage to a distant diplomat (Alberto de Mendoza) in the hope of repressing her perverted past – a sadomasochistic relationship with the sadistic Jean (Ivan Rassimov). Disillusioned with her empty, unloved existence, she succumbs to the amorous advances of suave playboy George (George Hilton) and embarks upon a torrid and passionate affair.

But her happiness may prove short-lived – as Jean makes an unwelcome reappearance, a brutal razor-slasher is making short and very bloody work of the nubile nymphets of Vienna. Could Jean be the sick maniac responsible for the psychosexual slayings? Or does the answer lie somewhere closer, deeper and darker than she could possibly perceive?

Fearing that she too may fall victim to the killer’s blade, tormented, blackmailed and deceived, she spirals into an uncontrollable emotional maelstrom where her deviate desires threaten to reawaken in a welter of sex, sadism and slaughter…

Directed with feverish intensity by genre favorite Sergio Martino (Torso), scribed with serpentine precision by Ernesto Gastaldi, and romantically enriched with the soaring sounds (re-appropriated by Tarantino for Kill Bill 2) of Nora Orlandi The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh marked the coronation of the undisputed Queen of giallo herself, Edwige Fenech, who melts the screen with burning, unbridled carnality. Lashed with all the unabashed nudity, delicious twists and searing sadism that would define the genre’s excesses of sex and violence, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh is an unmatched pinnacle of giallo cinema.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- English audio and optional Italian with English subtitles.
- All-new 20 minute interview with director Sergio Martino.
- Introduction by director Sergio Martino.
- Shameless Fact Track by Justin Harries.
- Theatrical trailer plus complete Shameless Trailer Park.

- Edwige Fenech bio presentation

DVD REVIEW: Aphrodisiac! The Sexual Secret of Marijauna (1971)

APHRODISIAC! THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA (1972) DVD

LABEL: Impulse Pictures
REGION: All Region
RATING: Unrated
DURATION: 76 mins
DIRECTOR: Dennis Van Zak
CAST: Harry J. Anslinger, John Holmes, Fiorello Laguardia, Billy Curtis, Levi Richards

SYNOPSIS: APHRODISIAC! THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA, is a tripped-out, sex-filled documentary “dramatization” about the benefits of using marijuana. Mixed in with the history of harvesting weed, the seedy side of drug trafficking, information on the medical benefits and even a recipe for pot brownies, are titillating sexual scenes sure to make you “high” with excitement. Shot with tongue planted firmly in cheek (and maybe elsewhere, too), this flick even features an early appearance by adult film actor John Holmes as a businessman who gives his secretary a bit of “dick-tation” in his wonderfully wood-paneled office. Heck, even midget Billy Curtis (THE WIZARD OF OZ, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER) shows up to give his thoughts on pot.

FILM: Can smoking weed turn you from three-pump chump to an everlasting gobstopper of love? Will getting a woman stoned turn a frigid femme into an inhibition free nympho with a predilection for fellatio? This crazed documentary definitely answers yes on all counts and sets out to prove the benefits of the leafy green as a stimulating sexual aid and social lubricant by delivering a ramshackle assortment of  hardcore sex vignettes interspersed with man-on-the-street interviews, weird reenactments, skewed factoids and some fantastically dry narration. The interviews are priceless and most will have you choking mid-toke with lines like "Marijuana is the greatest sexual stimulant since the 12" penis ...and easier to find". One of the four porno sequences features the departed genital giant John. C. Holmes while another features two college protesters on a college campus who take a moment to share a spliff. Sure 'nuff the two end up fucking as the woman looks back on her sexual experience with "my first black" and equates him to yummy chocolate and other candy goodies. There's so much to enjoy here, its got a bit of everything from pot brownie recipes to somehow managing to squeeze in footage of Jack Ruby assassinating Lee Harvey Oswald. Could weed have stopped that, too? I'm not sure but seeing the Munchkin City Father himself Billy Curtis get his cheek pinched by what seems like an anonymous passerby during one of the man on the street segments is just the one of many reasons you need to see this film for yourself for none of my meandering word strings can appropriately describe the pure unadulterated awesomeness that awaits you.

DVD: Impulse Pictures (a imprint of Synapse Films) offers the film in it's original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with English 2.0 mono audio and is the first time the film has been properly released uncut with all it's naughty explicit bits intact. The look of the print would appear as though it enjoyed a continuous run for several years at the local grindhouse cinema, it's a real warts n' all presentation with all manner of print damage. It's a scratched-up and dirty affair with an equally dismal audio track that snap, crackle and pops like an amplified bowl of rice krispies. No matter, the film benefits from a presentation that emulates a grindhouse  screening. No subtitles or supplemental materials or are included.

VERDICT: Wowie Zowie. APHRODISIAC! THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA(1971) is crammed with non-stop tokin' up, shitty 70's fashion, awesomely bad hairy 70's porno and a nearly endless parade of unintentionally hilarious dialogue - how can it not be awesome? Few films have elicited such laughter from me and I watched it straight. A must-see for fans of drugged-out stoner films, exploitation cinema and campy 70's porno. If this film isn't mentioned in the same breath as the unintentionally hilarious cautionary tale REEFER MADNESS (1936) it definitely should be.  3.5 outta 5

DVD REVIEW: Ozploitation Volume 3 Boxset

OZPLOITATION VOLUME 3 (6-Disc Set)

Umbrella Entertainment / Region 0 PAL

Super-cool Australian label Umbrella Entertainment's third installment of the Ozploitation series is a feast of crazy Australian exploitation. It's chock full of wacky and weird films glorifiying murder, mayhem and sexual depravity as only the Aussie's could muster. The 1970's and 80's were an outstanding period for Australian cinema and seven of the era's finest are well represented here with wonderful presentations and hours of fantastic bonus features. If like me the documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD wetted your appetite for Australian ozploitation these sets are truly essential purchase. I've not seen Vol. 1 and 2 but I know I will be acquiring them shortly because with each successive viewing of Not Quite Hollywood my need to see STONE (1974), TURKEY SHOOT (1982), ROAD GAMES (1981) and RAZORBACK (1984) continues to grow by leaps and bounds. These sets are treasure troves of ozploitation and Umbrella's  repsect for the films and their presentation is quite evident, this is an Australian label that obviously celebrates it's country's colorful cinematic history. Here's what is available on the two previous installments of the series: 

OZPLOITATION VOL. 1 - The Naked Bunyip (1970), Night of Fear/Inn of the Dammed (1972/74), Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972), Harlequin (1980), Road Games (1981)
Turkey Shoot (1982)

OZPLOITATION VOL. 2 - Stone (1974), The True Story of Eskimo Nell (1975), Fantasm/Fantasm Comes Again (1976), Long Weekend (1978), The Chain Reaction (1980), Razorback (1984) 

Anyway, enough with Vol. 1 and 2 here's what goodness awaits you in the 3rd installment of the series....

BARRY MCKENZIE HOLDS HIS OWN (1974)

DURATION: 93 mins

RATING: M
DIRECTOR: CAST: Barry Crocker, Barry Humphries, Donald Pleasance

PLOT: Aunt Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) is returning from London with her hapless loud-mouthed, sex crazed nephew, Barry McKenzie (Barry Crocker), when she is mistaken for the Queen of England by a couple of Eastern European ratbags. She is kidnapped and taken to Transylvanian in a bid to boost their struggling tourist industry. Excitement brews and Fosters flows as Bazza sets out to rescue the Dame-to-be in distress from the clutches of Erich Count Plasma (Donald Pleasence), the sinister head of the Transylvanian Tourist Commission. Can Bazza pull it off?

FILM: Australia had a nearly non-existent film industry prior to the early-70's and when vulgar comedies like the Barry McKenzie series made a splash the culturally elite of Australia were mortified by the exploitation of the unsophisticated ocker image. Obviously bereft of a funny bone these folks don't understand that you gotta be able to laugh at yourself once in awhile and while the elite balked at the outlandish depictions of the Aussie everyman director Bruce Bedeford's sequel to THE ADVENTURES OF BARRY MCKENZIE (1972) reveled in it. Much as with LES PATTERSON SAVES THE WORLD (1987) this sequel to finds the frosty Fosters swilling Barry 'Bazza' McKenzie in France where his Aussie-centric mannerisms offend people of all nationalities and persuasions. This time out McKenzie (Barry Crocker) and his Aunt Edna (Barry Humphries) are in Paris, France on a stop over from London en route to Australia when Barry runs into his sky-pilot twin brother Reverend Kevin McKenzie at a Catholic seminar entitles 'Christ and the Orgasm". The encounter leads to Barry standing in for his brother in front of a Catholic seminar performing a colorful song describing what the term "ratbag" means, it's a very fun musical number. While there Aunt Edna is confused for the Queen of England by henchmen of the Transyvanian Tourist Commissioner, Count Erich Plasma (Donald Pleasance) who has hatched a misguided scheme to boost tourism in his obscure little province by kidnapping the Queen of England. The henchmen grab the old gal and take her to Transylvania where she seems to think she is merely a VIP guest of the Count's leading to some humorous miscommunication between the two. Can Barry McKenzie save her before Count Plasma realizes his error and drains Edna of her precious bodily fluids?

Bazza as played by Crockers is a naive, misguided oaf of a man completely oblivious to his wrong-thinking ways not unlike Jay from Kevin Smith's Clerks films and it's easy to forgive his terrible ways. The twin brother plot line was quite extraneous and added very little aside from a great musical number early on. It was nice to catch Barry Humphries' Dame Edna as well as several character throughout including Senator Douglas Manton whom introduces the film similarly to the Mortimer Young DVD intro of THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998). Pleasance so good in so many films including RAW MEAT (1972) and HALLOWEEN (1978) is just too eccentrically corny as Count Plasma, the character seems beneath him to be honest.

If you're a fan of irreverent comedies there's a lot to like here, some of the gags run on a bit long as there's only so many "poofter" references you can take in one sitting. The physical comedy is entertaining including a great kung fun fighting sequence and a few gross-out scenes, one having Bazza "cry ruth" which is Aussie speak for throwing up aka "chundering" aka "technicolor yawn" from the height of the Eiffel Tower with a great delayed impact that just plasters the Transylvanian agents. The Aussie wordplay is vibrant and wonderful though most of it would be unintelligible if it weren't not for the Bazzaspeak in-film subtitles. For me the oddest and most wonderful scene involves Bazza try to smuggle dozen of cans of Fosters into the country but is caught by airport security who rip off the bullet-belt of ale and throw it to the ground and machine gun the suds into oblivion and the fending off a the Count via a crucifix of Fosters's cans. Not a great comedy but appropriately silly and fun.

DVD: Barry McKenzie Holds His Own comes to us from Umbrella Entertainment as part of the 6-disc OZPLOITATION VOL. 3 set. Presented in "Chunderama" which translates to a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that does not look pristine by any means but is probably better than the film has ever look in previous editions. It's grainy, soft and non-too vibrant but given the age of the film and it's better than you might think. The audio is mono and no subtitles are offered aside from the in-movie subtitles which help translate some of Bazza's more challenging Bazzaisms.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Audio Commentary by actor Barry Crocker - A decent commentary with plenty of anecdotes from the star of the film.
- Barry Humphries Gives Us the Good Oil (24:07) - An interview featurette (filmed in 2003). Humphries gives us the comic strip origins of the McKenzie character as well as a great story about pitching an idea about a 3rd film wherein McKenzie would travel to America. The film never did happen but he recounts how familiar the premise of Crocodile Dundee seemed just a few years later. Humphries is always a great interview, very unapologetic and wry.
- Barry McKenzie: Ogre or Ocke? (50 mins) - an interesting made for Australian TV documentary with film footage, footage of the film's premier, it's censorship and some great interviews with the always enjoyable Barry Humphries and a film critic whom truly seem to despise the film and Humphries inparticular.
- Behind the Scenes Footage (32:17)- very raw BTS b-roll footage.
- Teaser Trailers (3:46) - three teaser trailers featuring either Edna or Bazza introducing the films to theatre goers.
- TV Spots (2:21)

VERDICT: Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974) is a bit of a slog at times but is still an amusing ozploitation comedy. The adventures of the uncouth Australian making a spectacle of himself while abroad is a fun time, if extremely uneven. There's an over abundance on insensitive racial humor, gay-bashing and plenty of crudity for the sake of comedy but these characterizations are stereotypes of the perceptions of Australians at the time; crude, smutty people descended from British penal colonies, more so than any true celebration of racism and bigotry. Barry McKenzie Holds His Own will never be mistaken for great cinema but it will most definitely elicit a few chuckles. Not a whole-hearted recommend but I think it's worth a watch with at least 3-4 beers. 2.5 outta

FELICITY (1980)
DURATION: 90 mins
RATING: R
DIRECTOR: John D. Lamond
CAST: Glory Annen, Chris Milne, Joni Flynn, Jody Hansen
TAGLINE: She ain't Mama's little girl no more!

PLOT: Felicity (the gorgeous Glory Annen) is a sheltered teen who surrenders her blossoming body to a world of bold sexual adventure in this homegrown erotic sin-sation from sexy Ozploitation auteur John D. Lamond. From taboo-breaking pleasures at an all-girl Catholic school to wanton delights in the exotic underground of Hong Kong, come join Felicity as she finally liberates her libido in the Far East with the help of Penthouse pet and Bond girl Joni Flynn (Octopussy).Plot: Felicity (the gorgeous Glory Annen) is a sheltered teen who surrenders her blossoming body to a world of bold sexual adventure in this homegrown erotic sin-sation from sexy Ozploitation auteur John D. Lamond. From taboo-breaking pleasures at an all-girl Catholic school to wanton delights in the exotic underground of Hong Kong, come join Felicity as she finally liberates her libido in the Far East with the help of Penthouse pet and Bond girl Joni Flynn (Octopussy).

FILM: My own experiences with the wonders of softcore erotica began and ended with late-night viewings of the Emmanuel films on Cinemax at far too young of an age. When my folks would retire to their room for the evening I would stealthily make my way to the family room where I would stand directly in front of the TV with the volume turned WAY down, obscuring it from view so as if my parents caught me by surprise I could snap the TV off (with my free hand) without them glimpsing what naughty nocturnal activities might have been transpiring. Our home didn't have the premium cable channels but I was somehow able to hear (not clearly see) the adult programming by holding down several buttons on the cable box in tandem. The image would appear a scrambled blur but occasionally would reveal a nipple or some other delicate part of a woman's anatomy. Pathetic, I know, but that's the unstoppable drive of adolescent sexual curiosity for you. Not coincidentally it was around this time that I discovered the answer to Rusty Griswold's question to his cousin Dale in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), "How do you use a magazine?"....

The softcore-cinema of late-night skinemax came and went during but a brief period of my adolescence. Shortly after I was more enamored with 80's slashers and the supernatural terrors of horror cinema which offered both blood, guts and boobs, the best of both worlds. Sex cinema fell to the wayside for many years until just this past year a blu-ray screener of Radley Metzger's Score (1972) unexpectedly came by the office and what a treat that was. I'd nearly forgotten how fun and sexy these late-70's films were. Erotic cinema like Score offered stylish adult fare that wasn't out and out sleazy like cheaply made pornography. Likewise there's Felicity (1979) directed by Aussie sexploitation pioneer John D. Lamond whom began his film career with a pair of fun shockumentaries The ABC of Sex and Love: Australia Style (1977) and Australia After Dark (1975). His approach to erotica comes from a place of humor, sensuality and sexiness - not just hardcore fucking for the sake of gratification, which has it's place but this is something more all together.

The film tells the tale of the gorgeous young woman named Felicity (Glory Annen) who's coming of age in a private Catholic school where she's been quietly developing a strong sexual curiosity and has on occasion acted on these curiosities with her equally libidinous roommate. When school let's out for Summer break Felicity heads to Hong Kong where she stays with family friends. It's here that she meets a beautiful local girl named Me Ling (Joni Flynn, Octopussy) and begins to explore her overflowing sexual curiosity with numerous partners until she meets a fun photographer named Miles (Christopher Milne, Thirst). The film is equal parts erotic fairytale, Orient travelogue and a sensual coming of age story and while there's no shortage of pants-tightening titillation it is a surprisingly tender film in it's handling of sexuality and the act of sex. Lamond is a stylish director and the film is beautifully composed, particularly the shots of Hong Kong, good stuff indeed. I enjoyed the fairytale nature of the film which is enhanced not only Annen's classic beauty but by the the accompanying running narration and the loads of sex didn't hurt either. That said, this is not merely a male sex fantasy and is very much geared towards portraying Felicity as a sexually empowered young woman.

DVD: Felicity is featured on the 6-disc Ozploitation Vol. 3 set from Aussie DVD label Umbrella Entertainment. The film is presented in a 16:9 enhanced widescreen transfer with 2.0 English language audio. It's a remarkably good looking print with few blemishes to be seen. The audio while not overly impressive is adequate enough to firmly implant the film's saccharine easy listening theme song "Mama's Little Girl No More" into your skull for weeks. From what I can tell the bonus features replicate Umbrella stand-alone disc minus the original theatrical trailer. It should be noted that this DVD can only be operated on machines capable of playing Region 0 PAL format software.

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Audio commentary with Director John D. Lamond and star Glory Annen. A nice commentary as the two reminisce about their experiences on the set of the film, plenty of interesting factoids. It's a lighthearted commentary and both are in good spirits and fondly recall the film.
- Confessions of an R-Rated Movie Maker (8:10) - an interview with Lamond talking about his film and how they're viewed by the Australian elite.
- Stills and Poster Gallery - a series of 37 behind-the-scenes and promotional still.
- Umbrella Entertainment Trailers: a pleasantly lurid collection of softcore and sex comedy trailers: Laura (2:33), Emmanuel in Bangkok (1:33), Pacific Banana (2.55) and Private Lessons (1:78)

VERDICT: John D. Lamond's Felicity (1979) is a fantastic example of the late-70's erotic cinema exemplified by Justin Jaeckin's Emmanuelle (1974). It's light-hearted, witty and nearly every frame is filled with gorgeous scenery and the perky beauty of star Glory Annen. A high recommend for those exploring sensual cinema. So grab your lady, a mid-range bottle of wine and let the erotic good time roll. Classy though it may be if you're just a lonely guy looking for a good wank spankin' good time it's that, too. 4 outta 5

MAD DOG MORGAN (1976)
DURATION: 98 mins
RATING: M
DIRECTOR: Philippe Moira
CAST: Dennis Hopper, Dennis Gulpilil, Frank Thring, Jack Thompson

PLOT: Set in gold rush-era Victoria, and based on a true story, this violent, rollicking portrayal of infamous Irish outlaw Dan Morgan (a bravura performance from an intense Dennis Hopper Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now) is a classic of Australian 70s cinema renaissance. A prospector who turns to crime and opium after failing at gold mining, Dan Morgan spends six brutal years in prison before terrorising country Victoria with a young Aboriginal, David Gulpilil (Walkabout, The Tracker). Having escaped into NSW, the bushranger and his accomplice easily dodge the police and mercilessly intimidate the wealthy land owners; but wracked by madness and a lust to avenge an earlier attack from an irate squatter, the notorious Mad Dog makes a perilous journey back into Victoria. Combining an all-star Australian cast, including Jack Thompson, Bill Hunter and John Hargreaves, with a brilliant Dennis Hopper who called the role one of his great life experiences - director Philippe Mora (Communion) creates one of the great period action dramas.

FILM: I know fuck all about Australia and it's colorful history other than it was claimed by Britain as a colony in 1770 and primarily settled through penal transportation by which a country transports it criminal populace to another continent. In this instance it's England sending it's outlaws to the continent of Australia. I've supplemented my knowledge of Australia with tidbits I've gleaned from MAD MAX (1979) which led me to the assumption that it was a scorching wasteland populated by roving gangs of biker punk and rape-y men in souped-up muscle car death machines. Obviously my perception of Australia is colored more by the high-octane ozploitation films more so than surreal grandeur of Peter Weir's THE PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (1975). Mad Dog Morgan is a film that's been on my to-see list for quite some time and was recently further fueled by the NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION (2008) documentary, a superbly entertaining doc covering the the madcap ozploitation genre. Having recently acquired OZPLOITATION VOL. 3 6-disc set from Umbrella Entertainment I was pleased to find the film on the set along side another film I've long sought out, the Aussie exploitation shocker PATRICK (1978).

The film tells the true tale of the notorious Irish immigrant Daniel "Mad Dog" Morgan who was a "bushranger" (that's Aussie speak for outlaw) in the mid-1800's whom migrated to Australia during the gold rush. The film is not excessively gruesome by today's standards but one of the earliest scenes features Morgan at an opium den in a Chinese encampment when the place is raided. The attackers kill nearly everyone and burn the village to the ground, the violence is shocking and includes a splattery headshot. Morgan just barely makes it out alive. Shortly thereafter Morgan falls on desperate times and resorts to some clumsy highway robbery ending in him being sentenced to prison where he endures rape and a vicious branding with a hot iron, you know the usual prison stuff. Hopper with a thick Irish brogue pleads for help during the rape and the desperation in his voice made me wince, it's harsh stuff. Released after six years for good behavior he immediately begins his life of crime anew swearing vengeance against the corrupt colonial government. This time he aligns himself with an Aborigine tracker named Billy played by David Gulpilil (Peter Weir's THE LAST WAVE) who saves his life. The relationship between the two is fantastic and their camaraderie is the highlight of the film for me as Billy nurses him to health and helps him build his strength back up. The two outlaws become the torment of the wealthy landowners and are seen as Robin Hood type figures by the locals and quickly draw a bounty on their heads leading to Morgan shooting and killing two officers of the law in pursuit of him.

Morgan's anti-hero status in Australia seems a natural fit for Hopper who at the time was a bit of a loose-nut in Hollywood himself during what is known as his "lost years". Crazy though Morgan may be Hopper portrays the Irishman as fair and just in his own way , sympathetic and haunted by personal demons and insanity. This may be my favorite performance from Hopper, it's right up there with Frank Booth from BLUE VELVET (1986). The film is definitely pushing the sympathetic anti-hero status of the outlaw. The narrative style is a fragmentary assembly of highlights from Morgan's life, it doesn't flow well to be honest, but the episodic nature of the film paints an overall portrait that works and the ending of the film packs a powerful wallop as Morgan is gunned down thus cementing his legendary folkloric status. One of the last lines of the film comes from Superintendent Cobahn played by the venerable Frank Thring (MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME) who says to the mortician as Morgan lays there on a slab "By all means, off with his head... and don't forget the scrotum" which he has claimed for his own tobacco pouch. Thring is perfectly cast as the sleazy as the epitome of British colonial rule.

The film is visually striking and Australia's natural beauty is on full display throughout. Great locations and set-pieces keep you in the period from start to finish. Mora's documentarian background helps maintain a stark realism to the film with the exception of a surreal nightmare sequence that's brief but fantastic. The film is just immensely watchable and deserves a wider audience. It shares a lot in common with American western films; the anti-hero aspect, the rugged setting, indigenous people and the gold rush. I think Mora really gives us a what if Peckinpah made an Australian western here and Hopper's performance is outstanding.

DVD: Mad Dog Morgan is presented in a 16:9 2.35:1 aspect ratio with 2.0 Dolby Digital audio. The transfer comes from a restored print from National Film and Sound Archive and Mike Molloy's cinematography looks great, the black levels are nice and deep and the Australian panoramas are exquisite. The stereo audio is adequate and the filmscore and dialogue were crisp and clear. To my knowledge the only Region 1 edition was a Troma release that was cropped and cut so I'm pleased to have this Region 0 PAL Director's Cut from Umbrella Entertainment. Aside from a great audio and visual presentation this edition is loaded with bonus content and is a true treasure for fans of Hopper, Mora or ozploitation in general, great stuff. .

SPECIAL FEATURES
- To Shoot a Mad Dog: Making of Mad Dog Morgan documentary (23:37) - a behind-the-scenes look at the film narrated by Mora with on-set interviews with Hopper and some great footage of legendary Aussie stuntman Grant Page shooting the "man-on-fire" stunt that appears in a hallucinatory dream sequence in the film. There are several times during the featurette that you bare witness to Hopper's eccentric behavior.
- Dennis Hopper interviewed by Philippe Mora (27:48) - a 2008 sit down interview with Hopper and Mora who seem to not have seen each other since the filming. It's great to see the late hopper looking back at the film as the two reminisce.
- Audio Commentary by Director Philippe Mora (98:44) - a great commentary from Mora who delivers a ton of colorful anecdotes throughout plus his experiences working with notoriously difficult Dennis Hopper
- Radio Interview from 1976. Philippe Mora talks about Mad Dog Morgan (14:23)
- Mad Dog Morgan script PDF
- Mad Dog Morgan programme - PDF
- Stills Gallery (63 images)
- Mad Dog Morgan Film Excerpts x 16 (7:35)
- Umbrella Entertainment Trailers: Picnic at Hanging Rock (4:42), The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (2:25). Robbery Under Arms (1:32) and Jessica (2:38)

VERDICT: Mad Dog Morgan is a stirring watch. Hopper's performance is a touching, often brutal, portrait of a disturbed man pushed to his limits and it's a gritty piece of Australian western cinema. On top of that the the film is ideally presented with great picture quality and a wealth of bonus content. Highly recommended. 4 outta 5

PATRICK (1978)
DURATION: 108 Min.
RATING: M
DIRECTOR: Richard Franklin
CAST: Susan Penhaligan, Robert Helpmann
TAGLINE: He's In a Coma... Yet He Can Kill

PLOT: In room 15 of the mysterious Roget clinic lies a young comatose murderer named PATRICK. His doctor thinks he's nothing more than 170 pounds of limp meat hanging off a comatose brain, but a young nurse, Kathy (Susan Penhaligon from THE UNCANNY), knows very differently. Patrick has burgeoning psychic powers and a crush on Kathy - and his affection is about to turn into a deadly and bloody obsession!

FILM: PATRICK (1978) comes to us by way of Aussie director Richard Franklin whom is noted for several films; the slasher ROAD GAMES (1981) starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Stacey Keach, one of the more Hitchcockian Psycho sequels PSYCHO II (1983) and a film near and dear to my heart - CLOAK AND DAGGER (1984) starring Dabney Coleman which I caught a screening of at the Willard Psychiatric Center in Willard NY when I was 13 years of age. Before your imagination runs wild dear reader you should know that I wasn't committed to the institution but my father worked there and was privy to the fact that the institution screened 35mm prints of films for the patients once a month in a great old auditorium and somehow a few of us neighborhood kids were allowed inside to watch while seated quite literally next to the clinically insane. I saw a ton of great stuff there and a lot of it I wouldn't consider appropriate for the venue but whatever. On yet another aside the book 'The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic' is a great read and tells the haunting stories of several patients whom lived and died at the Willard Psychiatric Center in Willard, New York. It's a poignant and slightly disturbing read about the perceptions and treatment of those who may or may not have been afflicted with mental illness. On a lighter note, the show Ghost Hunters also recorded an episode at the institution. Here's are a smattering of films I recall watching at the venue: GREYSTOKE THE LEGEND OF TARZAN (1984), FOUL PLAY (1978), SPIES LIKE US (1985), GANDHI (1982), 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968), GOONIES (1985), KING KONG LIVES (1986) and many others I seem to have forgotten. It's a matter of some debate but I swear I saw ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST (1975) there but that can't be, can it? I would love to find out who programmed that theatre. What a weird venue for film but I can trace my love for cinema to that nutty place during a special time in my life.

Well, the long and short of it is that it's appropriate that I discovered the films of Richard Franklin through a viewing of CLOAK AND DAGGER (1984) at a psychiatric center when the film PATRICK (1978) takes place at the Roget Clinic which a bit of convalescent nut house. At the start of the film Patrick (Robert Thompson) is forced to endure the sounds of his mother and her lover as they have a bit of nasty fun in the tub. This is just too much for the disturbed young man to bare and he interrupts their frolicking by tossing a space heater into the tub which lands squarely on his mother's back searing her flesh like a steak on the grill, sizzle sizzle. While gruesome this was not the intended outcome. When her lover tosses the heater out of the tub Patrick throws it in again electrocuting both with nary any sign of emotion on his face. Now it's three years later Patrick is at the Roget Clinic in a vegetative state. It's not quite clear why but perhaps psychological trauma from the event. The clinic is staffed by the cantankerous physician Dr. Roget (Robert Helpmann) and the creepy Matron Cassiday (Julia Blake) who have just hired a new nurse named Kathy Jacqaurd (Susan Penhaligon) who's new in town and recently separated from her husband Ed (Rod Mullinar). She's been assigned to room 15 where the coma stricken Patrick is sustained by life support. Right away she is struck by the fact that Patrick's eyes are wide open, they stare intensely off into the distance and it's pretty unnerving stuff. He also reflexively spits on occasion (which I think Tarantino homages in KILL BILL VOL. 1. As she goes about her routine bathing and caring for him she comes to realize that he is somehow aware and quickly things get weird from there beginning with him being able to pass her alarming notes through the typewriter. Not only has Patrick developed a crush on the attentive nurse but when the hunky Dr. Wright (Bruce Berry) hits on her at a party he is nearly drowned by an invisible force, Patrick is using newly developed psychokinetic powers to ward off any would be suitors. Angered by her interactions with other men Patrick trashes her small apartment which she blames on her estranged husband. Eventually Kathy comes to realize that Patrick is somehow manipulating her and influencing those she cares for building to a final shocking psychokinesis fueled crescendo.

One of PATRICK's best qualities is the tense and atmospheric pace but I fear it may be too slow for younger or impatient audiences. The dialogue is well-written, the acting is great and there's no denying that director Richard Franklin is a true Hitchcock devotee with some great homages throughout. Even the late composer Brain May's score recalls Bernard Herman's iconic themes. The film's special effects are pretty minimal to be sure, there are only 3 moments of minimal grue throughout the film. It is a credit to the direction of Richard Franklin that PATRICK is an effective a shocker given the limiting nature of the film's comatose protagonist.

DVD: The film is presented in a 16x9 enhanced 1.85:1 aspect ratio transfer with English 2.0 Mono audio. No subtitle options are provided. There's a good amount of grain present stemming from inferior film stock from what I've read but not distractingly so. The image is soft and lacks detail but looks quite good nonetheless. A very fine disc indeed, and this is just one of 6 films on the OZploitation Vol. 3 set. Things I would have liked to seen on this disc are the making of featurette from the Patrick: Ultimate OZploitation Edition and I think the filmscore used in the Italian market by frequent Dario Argento collaborators Goblin would have made a fantastic alternate audio option. Legend tells of the original cut of the film being a whopping 140 minutes. Perhaps someday someone will find the missing 32 minutes of film and a truly special edition will emerge. That would truly be the METROPOLIS of OZploitation films.

SPECIAL FEATURES
- A Coffee Break with Antony I. Ginnane (15:55) - a 2008 interview with producer Antony L. Ginnane who relates several colorful recollections of the film and Franklin.
- Archival on-set interview with Richard Franklin (7:27)
- Audio commentary with Director Richard Franklin - an interesting anecdotal commentary with Frankin filled with references to Hitchcock
- Excerpt from dubbed US version (3:29)
- The Man Who Wasn't There: Story outline for the unproduced PATRICK sequel (PDF)
- Original Australian Trailer (2:57)
- US trailer (1:38)
- Stills and poster gallery
- Antony I. Ginnane Trailer Reel: Snapshot (2:11) 16:9, Thirst (1:37), Harlequin (2:43) 16:9, The Survivor (2:50) , Turkey Shoot (2:40) 16:9, The Time Guardian (1:29)
- More Umbrella Ozploitation Trailers: Road Games (2:12) 16x9, Long Weekend (2:02) 16:9, Razorback (2:21) 16:9, The Chain Reaction 3:23) 16:9

VERDICT: Richard Franklin's PATRICK (1978) is a high recommend from me. This Aussie exploitation gem is deliberately paced, well-acted and truly wonderful. The concept sounds limiting but trust me on this it's a great watch. While this 6-disc set is an Australian exclusive it should be noted that the discs are region free and playable worldwide, so dig in!
3.5 outta 5

AUSTRALIA AFTER DARK (1975)

DURATION:  83 mins

RATING: R

DIRECTOR: John D. Lamond

TAGLINE: Behind the bright lights and the strip clubs is a very different Australia!


PLOT: At Last! The Australia you've always wanted to see - but until now have never DARED! Umbrella Entertainment invites you to taste a cocktail of erotic and exotic Aussie happenings in this kinky collection of 37 unusual and titillating stories. You ll encounter sexy witchcraft, black magic, body painting, sadistic sex rites, mud freaking and famed bondage queen Madam Lash. It's all here... the beautiful, the unusual, the gorgeous, the super and the supernatural. Australia in the raw!


FILM: This behind the scenes documentary of the Sydney Australia night life is quite sensational and I truly don't believe half of it is true but what a place if it's true, sign me up and I'll be there momentarily. Staged or otherwise we are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the tawdry world of orgies, sexual deviation of every sort and to top it off we have some satanic cult rituals thrown in. This has a little bit of everything and is a breezy watch. If films like the Barry McKenzie mortifies the culturally elite of Australia with it beer swilling; portrayal of the ocke bloke then this semi-lurid depiction of Sydney nightlife after hours must have been quite a hair raising ordeal.

DVD: The film is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo soundtrack. The transfer is pretty grainy and marked with print damage but a sordid film like this doesn't falter any for it.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
-   Confessions of a R Rated Movie Maker (8:09) - an interview with Lamond talking about his film and how they're viewed by the Australian elite. The same featurette is also featured on the Felicity disc in this set.
-  Stills and Poster Gallery
- Umbrella Entertainment Trailers: Felicity (3:36), Pacific Banana (2:49), Fantasm (2:26), The True Story of Eskimo Nell (3:02)

VERDICT:  If my 13 year old self had seen this it would've made a lasting impression for better or worse. Now it's not so shocking but it is most definitely very entertaining. I love these 1970's era documentary style peeks at the forbidden taboos of the era, the styles and the perceptions of sex. A fun watch.  3 outta 5

ABC OF LOVE AND SEX - AUSTRALIA STYLE! (1977)

DURATION:83 mins
RATING: R
DIRECTOR: John D. Lamond

PLOT: A witty look between the sheets at modern sex and love - 1978 style! Take a sin-sational journey through the sexual alphabet, penetrating the A to Z of Oz naughtiness - including bondage, discipline, lesbian love making, orgasms, orgies, spanking and countless other erotic delights! Packed full of fun facts, helpful hints and an endless parade of cheeky Aussie spunks in the buff. THE ABC OF LOVE AND SEX - AUSTRALIA STYLE is not only the ultimate guide to getting it up down under - it's also the holy grail of true-blue retro skinema!

FILM: The ABC of Love and Sex - Australia Style! is a documentary style sexual education film of sorts that uses the letters of the alphabet to introduce sexual topics from A to Z in an "O" is for orgasm kind of way. It's bookended by some fun claymation of a sex ed teacher and his class.  This  comes to us from the mind of Australian soft-core pioneer John D. Lamond who also brought us the classic erotic fairytale  FELICITY. The film throws out some generic factoids about each subject but the film really just serves as a titillating softcore film with a novel premise and humorous approach. It's fun and guilt-free watch, the perversions and taboos are here for you to watch in all their erotic and campy glory but it's not raunchy, it promotes sex and love in the best possible way. Also fun are all the 1970's styles  on display as well as some great 70's era bush, you know what I mean. I didn't see one landing-strip throughout the entire film, this was the real deal.

DVD: The film is presented in 16:9 enhanced 1.851 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio. It looks fairly good, sure it's a soft image and there's some print damage throughout with a fair amount of grain but it gives the film a bit of a raunchy grindhouse, perfectly appropriate for the film in my opinion.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Stills and Poster Gallery- a collection of 93 posters and behind-the-scenes pics
- Theatrical Trailer (2:43)

VERDICT: The films of Australian sexploitation pioneer John D. Lamond are fun and kinky tales of erotic debauchery that'll warm you up on a chilly night. If softcore titillation is what you desire this is a definite good time.  3 outta 5

LES PATTERSON SAVES THE WORLD (1987)
DURATION: 91 mins
RATING: M
DIRECTOR: George Miller
CAST: Barry Humphries, Graham Kennedy, Pamela Stephenson, Joan Rivers

PLOT: The one-time Australian Minster for the Yarts, Sir Leslie Colin Patterson KBE (Barry Humphries), is a lecherous, drunken, chain-smoking slob and vaunted cultural attache. Now, Sir Les has received a promotion, as Australia's ambassador to the United Nations, and is sent to an oil-rich Gulf state to try to make peace after a UN blunder. Embracing his diplomatic duties with devil-may-care aplomb, Les escapes a firing squad before discovering a diabolical plan to hold the world to biological ransom. Meanwhile, undercover CIA agent Dame Edna Everage arrives on a "Possums For Peace' tour and sets out with the Aussie ambassador extraordinaire to save the world!

FILM: Les Patterson Saves the World (1987) is a farcical political/spy satire featuring Australian funnyman Barry Humphries as the drunken and lecherous Sir Leslie Patterson, Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations. The story begins as Les is addressing the U.N. and accidentally sets fire to the leader of Middle Eastern country of AbuNeveah when his alcohol-fueled flatulence is inadvertently ignited by a cigar - so yeah, that's what your in for here folks, don't expect high art just a few good belly laughs and a snicker or two here and again. Seen as an embarrassment to his county Sir Les is sent to AbuNeveah by the Aussie Prime Minister to smooth things over with the vengeful dictator fully realizing Sir Les will most probably be executed in short order upon stepping foot in the country. Les arrives just as a military coup puts Colonel Richard Godowni (Thaao Penghlis) into power who along with French scientist named Dr. Herpes are plotting to spread a viral plague called H.E.L.P. throughout the Western world through the distribution of infected toilet seats. H.E.L.P. is a nasty bit of biological warfare which inflicts it's victim with near instantaneous green puss-filled sores leading to a painful and oozing demise. Les quite obliviously to this fact stumbles upon the plot and with the assistance of the pink-haired undercover C.I.A. super-spy Dame Edna Everage (also played by Humphries) set out to thwart the diabolical plan. The Russians also figure into the equation as this is an 80's political comedy - gotta have some interference from the Soviet Union, right? And the icing on the cake in a brief yet over-the-top performance from comedian Joan Rivers as the American President. Truly some wacky goings-on here. The story arc of the film doesn't hold together but the film still manages to come off as an absurd 80's comedy packed with an unending parade of bawdy humor and sexual innuendo, completely in bad taste and good silly fun if a bit uneven. Humphries as the witty and crass Australian politico is a sight to behold. Mixed-in with the madcap shenanigans are some great gross-out gags involving the H.E.L.P. virus which are pretty decent for a mid-80's comedy.

DVD: Les Patterson Saves the World (1987) comes to us in a 16:9 enhanced original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio and armed with a generous amount of supplemental material. The disc appears to mirror the bonus features from Umbrella Entertainment's single disc edition.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Reflections on My Attempt to Save the World - Interview with Barry Humphries (23:24) - a lengthy and informative interview with Humphries who seems a bit embarrassed by the film. He attempts to dissuade us that the virus in the film is meant in anyway to the allude to AIDS epidemics that was ravaging Australia at the time but it's a weak argument.
- Radio Interview with Barry Humphries with George Moore
- Radio Advertisements
- Alternate Ending (1:51)
- Stills Gallery (52 Images)
- PDF of Feature Film Script
- Umbrella Entertainment Trailer: Barry McKenzie Hold His Own 16:9 (1:17), The Adventures of Barry McKenzie 16:9 (2:19), The Naked Bunyip 16:9 (1:10), The Great MacCarthy 16:9 (3:40)

VERDICT: Les Patterson Saves the World (1987) is an irreverent 80's comedy that will most definitely appeal to fans of AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997) which would seem to owe a debt of gratitude towards the Aussie comedy by my reckoning. Not a great film by any means but definitely a good time in the tradition of other nutty yet imperfect 80's comedy gems like SPIES LIKE US (1985) and WEIRD SCIENCE (1985). Politically incorrect comedies like this just aren't being made today so be glad be have boozy bloke Sir Leslie Patterson to see us through these PC times - NO WORRIES! 
3.5 outta 5

Not a stinker in the bunch. BUY! BUY! BUY!