DVD Review: Skin Eating Jungle Vampires (2011)

I am very pleased to put up the first in a series of guest DVD reviews from none other than Christopher Kahler of THE 42 STREET DRIVE-IN podcast. I would hope your familiar with the podcast, it's definitely one of the most entertaining cult and exploitation podcast going right now, and that's a fact. The show is hosted by Chris and Shawn Hunt with a steady parade of awesome guest hosts that have included repeat appearances from Vaughn from MOTION PICTURE MASSACRE, Patrick from SCREAM QUEENZ, and El Goro from TALK WITHOUT RHYTHM among others. Their recent 10th episode was a bonus sized Dusk Til Dawn show covering Amando de Ossorio's  BLIND DEAD movie series. So check out the podcast, subscribe through iTunes and enjoy the review: http://www.wix.com/42ndstdrivein/the-42nd-street-drive-in

 SKIN EATING JUNGLE VAMPIRES (2011)

Label: Chemical Burn Entertainment
Region Code: 1 NTSC
Rating: Not Rated
Duration: 80 mins
Video: 1.33:1Fullframe
Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
Director: Timothy Green Beckley
Cast: Carla Anderson, Violet Sweet, Persephone, Jenifer D. Jackson, Linda Martinez, Soozee, and Mellissa
Tagline: First Class Exploitation Film in Every Bite

There are good movies, bad movies, and then there are the "so-bad-it's-good" movies whose guilty pleasure viewing over a beer on a Friday night is a class all it's own. Something titled 'Skin Eating Jungle Vampires' screams that kind of weekend entertainment to me and I was looking forward to this review. Unfortunately, after viewing it, a new category of "why was this even made and released ?" came to mind.

The majority of this movie is compiled from 4 different sources: 1) Someone's house and backyard where the "jungle vampire" scenes take place 2) The lead actress's vacation footage from Costa Rica 3) Wild life footage from a National Geographic type series 4) Still photos of outer space where a plastic toy UFO is moved across to show interstellar space travel (I am not making this up). If any 2 of these worked together at any time, the movie might've been a bit of fun, but it felt like I was watching 4 bad movies consecutively.

The movie opens with a series of beautiful footage of Costa Rica and it's wildlife. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their layout since some shots are at sundown while others are midday. The only thing certain is this footage was pulled from a VHS tape because the tracking static on the bottom of the screen. Suddenly a Betty Page looking girl stumbles out through the plant life that looks nothing like any of the Costa Rica vegetation. (I should also point out this footage has a particular blur along the screen edges common from zooming in while using a wide angle lens and is going to be the plot footage that was actually shot to tie the movie together). The girl has some plastic toy she dials and is immediately set upon by a pack of 5 savage women (all of whom look like they are from a local burlesque show by their outfits, haircuts, tattoos, etc). They attack her by pinning her down, spanking her, and generally pawing at her. It sounds sexy, doesn't it ? It's not. The attackers are dubbed in with lion growls, take turns mugging for the camera, and unintentionally giggle before carrying away their "victim".

The title sequence explains that Mr. Creepo and his band of women had to escape their doomed planet of Clitoria (complete with a plastic toy UFO !) and they crashed into the jungles of earth where they became vampires. We're treated to some of the women rubbing blood on each other and rehashed footage of them mugging for the camera with added video fx straight out of an 80's music video.


Next is 2 of the most painful minutes of improv to suddenly explain the entire plot of any movie. A blond woman (Carla) explains to a friend that her sister Tiffany (the Bettie Page girl) had a stalker, is now missing in Costa Rica, they have a psychic bond, they have matching tattoos, her mother's maid is Costa Rican, the maid's friend there is a shaman, she got some weird mask art from Costa Rica, and her plane leaves tomorrow to find Tiffany. I apologize for the bad run on sentence structure, but it still flowed better than the actual dialogue. Carla now sleeps on the plane where we see flashback footage of her and Tiffany comparing their tattoos.

We are now in beautiful Costa Rica where most of the footage actually shot there has a dark curve around the corners from an inexpensive wide angle lens. Carla gets a mysterious note explaining there is danger so she takes a dip in the pool, frolics along the beach, enjoys the view, and sunbathes. Most people would consider this vacation footage, but that is not the case here (supposedly) as Carla's voice over narration explains her thoughts and this is all done while looking for Tiffany. Oddly, Tiffany's inner thoughts sound like they were recorded on an answering machine from a missed telephone call.

There is a lot of driving footage filler to establish her in Costa Rica (which is broken up with a flashback of her sister in a cheerleader uniform sans bra) before she ascends a hill in the jungle. The next shot, she walks up to a house that is quite obviously where the stateside footage was done (thanks to the recycling bins in the yard). This is the shaman's home because a sign that says "shaman" is hanging on the wall. Another of the burlesque women answers wearing a Xena costume and another painful scene of improv ensues.

Meanwhile, back at the volcano where Tiffany is being held captive, the vampire queen roughs her up, then communicates to her via telepathy (and bad dubbing) that she will be a sacrifice. Carla has some drinks back at her hotel, Mr Creepo sneaks into her room to put an obviously fake snake in her bed, and the next day it's a lot more of the same driving/ vacation/ answering machine voice over nonsense for the next 40 minutes. A few National Geographic wildlife shots or the "vampires" are inserted to attempt to break up the monotony to no avail.

Carla manages to get to the volcano and is captured as well. The Clitorians force her into some sort of bloody incestuous get together with Tiffany and Mr Creepo arrives to announce telepathically that he is the God of The Underworld, Lord of Darkness, Last of The Males from The Planet Clitoria, etc, etc, ad nauseum and will choose one of the sisters to be his bride. Why he doesn't repopulate with any of the Clitorian women isn't explained and thinking it would be was wishful thinking on my part since nothing in this movie makes sense (ie "why am I still watching this ?"). He chooses both and a floating Mexican Dias de Los Muertos mask appears to announces more nonsense about sacrificing the 2 virgins to put their plan into effect. The sisters break out into laughter since neither are virgins. The volcano erupts, the sisters escape, and Mr Creepo's UFO flies past some outer space stills. The End. Seriously. That was the whole damn movie.


DVD Special Features:

Behind The Scenes Outtakes - Mostly footage of the Clitorians women that was a lot more fun than the actual movie itself.

Blood, Blood, and More Blood! - A trailer reel of Mr Creepo has lot of shots of naked women covered in blood with outlandish movie titles. This ends with 2 women taking a shower together while squirting a blood on each other from a hospital IV bag.

Verdict: I'll be honest - this movie is a disaster on every level and I won't recommend it. Had 'Skin Eating Jungle Vampires' stuck with the Clitorians and National Geographic footage, it would likely pass as some hokey fun I'd expect from the title. Even the cheesy David 'The Rock' Nelson like UFO sequences would be tolerable at that rate. However, I got no joy from watching the mass amount of badly shot vacation footage and using it with slapped on voice overs to try to convince me this was the actual movie is just an insult. I know this was done to try to add some production value, but it was all just padding that made an already bad movie completely unwatchable. Why this movie got a re-release after it's initial 2001 run is beyond me. 0 of 5 stars

http://www.chemicalburn.org/sexploitation.html

DVD Review: The Real Cannibal Holocaust (1974)

THE REAL CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1974)

LABEL: One 7 Movies

REGION CODE: All Regions NTSC

RATING: Unrated

DURATION: 99 mins

VIDEO: 1.33:1 Fullscreen

AUDIO: Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono with English Subtitles

DIRECTOR: Akira Ide

SYNOPSIS: In 1975, Papua New Guinea obtained its long desired independence from the British Empire. A movie crew traveled to the island in order to shoot a film that would allow the Queen to better understand the laws and traditions of the natives. Looking for reality and truth, the cinematographers eventually got a lot more than they had bargained for...

 

FILM:  'The Real Cannibal Holocaust' is an exploitative re-titling of the film alternately known as 'Guinea Ama' and 'Nouva Guinea L'isola Dei Cannibal' by the upstart cult and exploitation DVD label One 7 Films. It's a mondo documentary along the lines of 'Faces' of Death' (1980) or the grandaddy of shockumentaries 'Mondo Cane' (1962). It's definitely not the preeminent film of this sub-genre of films but it  manages to offer up some unsettling imagery lacquered with the typical narration that tends to condescend towards it's subjects. The film is set in Papua New Guinea and focuses on the ethnocentricities of the indigenous tribes and their strange-to-us customs beginning with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II who plasters on a plastic smile and waves like she's at a beauty pageant the way you might expect royalty to. The narrator tells us that the natives don't seem to understand why the Queen is so revered, and why would they? She doesn't parade around in exotic feathers and animal bones to signify her mighty stature, she merely condescends to the primitive people in the most polite way possible. 
 

'The Real Cannibal Holocaust' is pretty typical of mondo filmmaking in that it is crammed with shocking footage, nudity and exotic locations. Even some thirty-six years later I found watching that it still holds a few nasty surprises. In fact, a few bits had me gagging with repulsion and I have a fairly strong stomach for disgusting imagery. There's a woman shares a hut with the body of a deceased family member. The body is fetid with decay as she snatches maggots from it's face and consumes them. Perhaps all is not what it seems though as it would appear that the film has been intercut with footage to make it appear as though the woman is feasting on the fly larvae from the rotting flesh when in truth perhaps not. It may surprise you to learn that it's not beyond the mondo filmmakers to manipulate and misdirect us, or it may not. In a similarly grotesque scenario mourners approach the corpse of a tribesman, his belly is engorged like an gut-stuffed balloon, his penis and testicles are similarly distended, it's grotesque stuff. It was right about here my imagination kicked-in with the purely imagined scent of decay and it tripped my gag reflex causing me to  endure a short spasm of dry heaves. Mind you this was before we see that the mourners scoop handfuls of the fermenting corpse's juices and rub the rotting liquids onto their own flesh like a moisturizer in a ritual that is said to help maintain the memory of the departed. Yeah, that's definitely not something you would soon forget.
 

For a film rather conspicuously re-titled 'The Real Cannibal Holocaust' any connection to Deodato's 'Cannibal Holocust' (1980) is tenuous at best. For one this is a documentary and not a film of fiction (more or less) and there's no actual cannibalism on display though we do see what appears to be the apprehension of a man accused of cannibalism. The one true connection between the two films would seem to be the footage of cruelty to animals. What we get here is the killing of wild boars as the swine squeal and convulse after being brutally clubbed upside the skull. Killed not for sport but for a wedding banquet, the narrator sensationally informs us that the natives think the swine flesh is rather chewy and cannot compare to the taste of human flesh. Of course this film is meant as an exploitation of the Papua New Guinea tribal customs and not an educational document by any mean, this is pure stomach churning exploitation in all it's leering glory. While this may not one of the better mondo films I'll say that my appetite has been suitably whetted to further explore the jungles of mondo cinema.

DVD: This is definitely one of those transfers that puts you right in the seat of a 42nd Street grindhouse theatre. It's a nicely worn print with plenty of grain, fading and print damage throughout, and it's probably the better for it to be honest. The film is presented in a 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio, not sure if that the original framing or not. The Italian language 2.0 Mono audio is on par with the video, it's rough with optional English subtitles. The lack of fidelity and pristine print do little to detract from the film though and may actually enhance it. There's a new wave of exploitation films that pay good money to look this shitty.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Nada.

VERDICT: If you're the type to gravitate towards shockumentaries that stir your morbid curiosities and that more or less degrade the indigenous people it documents while sensationalizing their cultural curiosities 'The Real Cannibal Holocaust' may just be a mondo movie for you. I wouldn't say this is a purchase for there are better mondo films out there but if you've seen the rest One 7 Movies have dug this outta the vaults for your viewing pleasure. 2.5 outta 5

Cult classic SAVAGE STREETS gets competing releases from ARROW VIDEO and CODE RED

It was back in April that we posted the news that the Linda Blair revenge cult classic 'Savage Streets' (1984) was coming back to DVD via the UK's Arrow Video. It's no secret we're Arrow Video enthusiasts but we're also quite enamored with the releases of Code Red who've just announced a US release of the film. That's pretty fantastic news for fans of the long out-of-print cult classic. The way I see it the more options for the consumer the better.


Code Red announced via it's blog last week that it had acquired the North American rights to the cult classic 'Savage Streets' (1984). Code Red's release will feature a brand new HD transfer of the film that will be progressively scanned unlike the previous BCI release. The special features will be ported over from the previous BCI release and will include some yet unannounced extras. It will be the first release to feature the complete uncensored commentary track which was edited on the previous edition. Thus far no release date has emerged for the DVD.


Here's a quick comparison of the two titles special features. Typical with Code Red titles there's some controversy around the internets in regard to the transfers. Code red states there's is a new HD transfer while Arrow Video's press materials only claim a new transfer and some have speculated it's from a standard-definition master. Don't look at me, I don't have the answers but I've included some screenshots courtesy of the Code Red blog for your enjoyment. No screenshots from the Arrow Video edition were available at this time. The Arrow DVD os Region 0 PAL while I suspect that the Code Red DVD is Region 1 NTSC.

[This is the BCI artwork. No Code Red artwork available yet.] 

SAVAGE STREETS
Code Red Edition

Release Date: TBA

SPECIAL FEATURES

- New interviews with stars Linda Blair, Linnea Quigley, Johnny Venocur, Robert Dryer and producer John Strong

-  Commentary One with actors Sal Landi, Robert Dryer and director of photography Stephen Posey

- Commentary Two with director Danny Steinmann

- Commentary Three with producer John Strong, actors Robert Dryer and Johnny Venocur

- Trailers

- More TBA

SAVAGE STREETS

Arrow Video Edition

Release Date: June 20th 2011

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork
- Double-sided fold-out poster
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Savage Streets by Kier-la Janisse, author of ‘A Violent Professional: The Films of Luciano Rossi’ and ‘House of Psychotic Women’
- Brand new transfer of the film presented in original 1.85:1 anamorphic aspect ratio
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with stars Sal Landi, Robert Dryer and Director of Photography Stephen Posey
- Audio commentary with director Danny Steinmann
- Audio commentary with producer John Strong and stars Robert Dryer and Johnny Venocur
- Video interviews with Linda Blair, Linnea Quigley, Robert Dryer and John Strong
- Original Trailer

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: Vamp (1986)

VAMP (1986) DVD
Release Date: February 21st 2011

LABEL: Arrow Video
DIRECTOR: Richard Wenk
CAST: Grace Jones, Robert Rusler, Dedee Pfeiffer, Sandy Baron
REGION CODE: Region 0 PAL
RATING: 18
TAGLINE: The Lady is a Vamp!

PLOT: At school, getting into the right fraternity can be a matter of life or death. Keith and AJ need to hire a stripper to entertain the brothers or their college days are over. In a shady after hours joint they find an adult entertainer like no other when they step into the world of sharp-fanged Katrina. Have these two freshmen bitten off more than they can chew? Stuck on the wrong side of town, on a dark night and surrounded by a plague of alien blood suckers... The answer is definitely yes!

FILM: Typically when an Arrow Video releases something I've seen it, it's been a part of my cinematic life and I've owned it several times over and the Arrow edition is an easy upgrade due to the superior audio and visual presentations plus the amazing extras; booklet, posters, art options. In the case of BATTLE ROYALE (2000) and DEADLY OUTLAW: REKKA (2002) they were titles I've long heard about and intended on catching up with eventually and the Arrow editions just sped up my viewing of these films. Then there's VAMP (1986) a film I've seen time and time again in the used bins at my favorite haunts for years and never once have I ever had the inclination to snag it. Full disclosure: I didn't seek this out either, it's a screener but that's neither here not there. Why didn't I want to see this film initially? I think it was a combination of perceived cheese and the novelty of 80's icon Grace Jones. I think that's what made me shun this title for so long. Was it worth the wait?

Two fun-loving and very 80's fraternity pledges Keith (Chris Makepeace) and A.J. (Robert Rusler) are taking part in a ridiculously over-the-top Gothic-themed college fraternity initiation when things go awry, it's very silly stuff. The frat seems pretty lame but they want in cuz what better place to meet girls and have a blast than in the den of inequity that is a frat house and it beats living in the dorm, right? To procure their entrance into the hallowed halls of keggers A.J. promises to procure some a stripper for a party. Why, cuz it's the 80's man, that's what college kids do! Problem is the campus is located quite a distance from the city and our duo have no wheels. They hit up young college entrepreneur Duncan (Gedde Watanabe) who will let them borrow a car but only if they pretend to be his friend for a week - such an 80's conceit, love it. The trio hit the road headed for the Big Apple and find themselves at a diner where they run into a gang of hoods led by an albino Billy Drago. After a brief confrontation the trio make for the suitably sleazy After Dark Club where Vic (Sandy Baron) the doorman/MC who makes sure they have the proper credential - cash and credit cards, meeting his criteria they are allowed in. Once inside they meet a cocktail waitress named Amaretto (Dedee Pfieffer) and then witness a very quirky striptease by Queen Katrina (Grace Jones) and what an avante-garde performance piece it is, not your usual titty jiggle that's for sure. Katrina comes out decked in a bright-orange fright wig, chrome brassier, piercing blue eyes, her entire face pained ghostly white and her body is painted with intricate markings. I can't say I was turned on but I was definitely weirded-out by it. After the stunning performance A.J. goes back stage to approach Katrina about stripping at the college kegger. This is when we discover that the strip club is a cover for a coven of vampires and Vic the MC is really a Vegas-style Renfield. Katrina seduces and drinks the blood of A.J.  leaving  Keith and his new found friend Amaretto to try escape the vampires or survive until dawn, whichever happens comes first.
 

The cover art of the previous Anchor Bay edition of Vamp featuring Grace Jone's Queen Katrina has always turned me off which is unfortunate because Vamp is a really enjoyable 80's horror comedy. Keith and A.J. exemplify the wise cracking bosom buddies of the 80's, they have great chemistry particularly Robert Rusler as Keith. He's the very likable asshole from every eighties film ever. Dedee Pfieffer as the cutesy Amaretto is an adequate love interest and Grace Jones as the exotic Queen Katrina is both sexual and frightening. I loved Sandy Baron's as the Renfield character though I think the film could have done without the character of Duncan as portrayed by Gedde Watanabe who displays none of the charm of his Long Duk Dong character from SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984) and is relegated to third-wheel Asian sidekick in a comedy here, it just didnt work for me. The humor is pure camp and borders on being satirical at times. The film definitely screams 80's with eighties music, zebra striped jackets, leggings, 80's fashions. The atmosphere is enhanced by the some garish 80's neon lighting that swaths nearly every scene in reds, green and purples. Not sure if they were going for Italian giallo feel or an EC Comics inspired visual here but it worked either way. I think the tone of the film is a bit uneven, it's comedic, then the horror ramps up and back to a comedy. It could have used a more even-handed approach bit it's still a fun watch.
 

DVD: Arrow Video's gives VAMP a brand new 16:9 enhanced 1.85:1 aspect ratio transfer with 2.0 mono audio which is adequate but I could not help but want for a sweet 5.1 surround sound mix if only for the filmscore. Vamp may be a 80's b-movie but Arrow have given it a generous amount of supplemental materials as well as including Arrow's great packaging extras; four panel reversible sleeve art options with new artwork and original posters, double-sided fold-out poster and a collector’s booklet written by Jay Slater critic and author of ‘Eaten Alive’.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT RUSLER (0:28)
- VAMP IT UP – Dedee Pfeiffer Remembers The After Dark Club(27:00)
Actress Dedee Pfieffer talks about the film, she's clearly affectionate about her experiences on the film, her feature film debut. She speaks about the director, her co-stars and Grace Jones plus her life after acting.
- VAMP STRIPPED BARE– An Interview with Richard Wenk (17:08)
- BACK TO THE 80's– Producing a Campy Cult Classic (21:41)
- SCRAPBOOK SCARES- Richard Wenk looks over his collection of Vamp memorabilia (8:08) Moderator Callum Wadell lokks though some scrapbooks with Wenk who apparently is an accomplished scrapbooker.
- EASTER EGG
- BEHIND THE SCENES REHEARSALS (6:39)
A rare look at the rehearsals for the film featuring Grace Jones and director Wenk as a stand-in for Robert Rusler. Jones is manhandling and licking and biting Wenk.
- BLOOPER REEL (6:14)
- DRACULA BITES THE BIG APPLE - short film by Richard Wenk (21:08)
This is the short film by director wank that aired on HBO and is credited with bringing him to the attention of producer Borchers, a good campy watch.
- ORIGINAL TRAILER (1:24)

VERDICT: I sat down to watch VAMP (1987) assuming the worst and was pleasantly surprised at the film I found, an underrated campy 80's horror-comedy. It's goofy, very light-hearted and has some decent special effects. Not quite on par with FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) but in right behind it. Definitely a lower-level b-movie but with a few beers and a bowl full of popcorn this is a Hell of a watch. If you love kooky 80's horror-comedies this is for you.  *** (3 out of 5 stars)

DVD Review: Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated (2010)

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED (2010)
"Art is Dead... Yeah It's All messed Up"
Wild Eye Releasing


RATED: Unrated
RUNNING TIME: 101 Min.
ORIGINAL DIRECTOR: George A. Romero
PROJECT CURATOR: Mike Schneider
CAST: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley


SUMMARY: Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated is a mass collaborative artistic re-envisioning of George A. Romero's 1968 cult classic Night of the Living Dead. International artists and animators were invited to select scenes from the film and reinvent them through their artwork. Open to all styles, media and processes the results ran the gamut with scenes created in everything from puppet theater to CGI, hand drawn animation to flash, and oil paintings to tattoos. This cacophony of works was organized and curated across the original film's time line in order to create a completely original video track made entirely out of art. (from NOTLDR.Com)

FILM: It's generally known that George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead fell into the public domain immediately following it's theatrical release in 1968 due to a copyright snafu. So unfair, right? This is the man that created a seminal piece of cinema history. The visionary who ushered in the modem-age of the flesh-eating zombies to the masses. As the result of this unfortunate error pretty much anyone has been able to duplicate and distribute the film and profit from the Romero's labor. There've been hundreds of home video releases of this film throughout the years spanning the spectrum of quality from unwatchable to pretty decent. We've seen it recut as fan edits, rescored with new music, colorized and given fan commentaries. It's available on nearly every budget horror collection out there and Romero sees not a penny from 'em. Romero has had a hand in a few director approved editions including Elite Entertainment's Millennium Edition or the more recent 40th Anniversary Edition from Dimension Films. Both of these releases offer pristine transfers and great bonus features, additionally the Dimension release includes a great feature-length documentary called 'One for the Fire', a must-see for fans of the film. On the more novel end of the spectrum there is a colorized version that's been given the Mike Nelson Rifftrax treatment which is a fun time. One release I would suggest you steer clear of is John Russo's blasphemous 30th Anniversary Edition released by Anchor Bay Entertainment that went so far as edit in newly filmed additional scenes and provided a new film score, really terrible stuff, a true atrocity.
 So, here we have Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated, the massive collaborative efforts of 150 international artists each of whom chose their favorite scenes to animate in style, medium or process they desired. There's a bit of traditional animation, claymation, CGI, pen and ink, charcoal, stop-motion, machinima, and yet still more. Project curatorMike Schneider then assembled these snippets and edited them together laying the visuals down and syncing them over the existing sound elements from NOTLD. As per the original NOTLD this film is full frame and black and white. It's an original idea, I'll give it that.


Admiring the concept and actually watching the film are not mutually agreeable in my experience. I found the viewing experience fairly jarring and disjointed. There are 150 styles of animation going  fighting for attention and they shift at such a pace that it made it hard to appreciate the classic tale of a small farmhouse and it's random assembly of occupants under zombie siege. As a personal preference I particularly did not enjoy the abstract renderings of the zombie masses. I've enjoyed a few motion comics over the years and what they have that this does not is a consistent and coherent art style that carries the story through.

DVD: The DVD from Wild Eye Releasing is a pretty packed affair. Presented in it's proper 1.33:1 aspect ratio with the original mono audio the image and sound quality are not very impressive but adequate. If you are a fan of the film there are over two hours of supplemental material to dig through. My favorite featurette is the Night of the Living Dead Box Art video wherein a fan of the Romero original has painstakingly collected hundreds of  VHS covers, good stuff. The commentary with Mike Schneider and Jonathan Maberry is also a good listen, very informative and their love for NOTLD is quite evident.


Special Features
-Intro/Outro from horror-host Count Gore De Vol
- 3 Commentaries
       - Commentary with Mike Schneider and genre write Jonathan Maberry
       -"Making of" Commentary
       - NOTLD:R Artists "Call-In" Commentary
- Alternate/Deleted Scenes (5 min)
- Short Horror Films / Horror Comics
- Behind the Scenes: Animation Process (10 min)
- The Zombie Encounter Panel Video (79 min)
- Night of the Living Dead Box Art Video (32 min)
- ...and much more!

VERDICT: While I was intrigued by the concept of a NOTD mash-up of sorts I cannot say I was enamored with it's execution. For my tastes the tapestry was too uneven and I felt the jumbled assembly detracted from NOTLD's strong storyline. I would rather have seen a more traditional animated feature with more fluid animation and new sound elements or even a motion comic. That said I cannot not take away from the spirit and adoration that went into assembling this project and it is a unique take on the film that's been taken advantage of for over 40 years.  Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated is available from Amazon.  **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 Stars)

DVD Boxset Review: Cult Terror Cinema 12 Movie Collection

CULT TERROR CINEMA - 12 MOVIE COLLECTION (3 DVD SET) (2010)

Mill Creek Entertainment http://www.millcreekent.com/

I do enjoy a Mill Creek Entertainment budget collection, I must say. They're a company known for bringing cult, horror and public domain schlock to the dirty, unwashed masses, and this set here is probably one their top five collections in my humble estimation. Do yourself a favor and also check out the following collections: CHILLING CLASSICS 50pk, PURE EVIL 50pk and the GOREHOUSE GREATS 12pk. American International Pictures (AIP), a company primarily known for low budget grindhouse cinema, biker, exploitation, and b-movie drive-in fare has recently been acquired by the fine folks at Mill Creek and the CULT TERROR CINEMA set is comprised of 12 AIP titles, a few of which are DVD debuts; while several others are out of print. So, lets dig in...

THE FILMS: THE BABYSITTER (1969), BLOODLUST! (1959), CARNIVAL OF CRIME (1962),THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER (1977), THE CREEPING TERROR (1964), ESCAPE FROM HELL ISLAND (1963), FLESHBURN (1984), THE HEARSE (1980), HORROR HIGH (1974), LAND OF THE MINOTAIR (1976), LURKERS (1988), THE TEACHER (1974)

THE HEARSE (1980) "There is a door between life and death and now, that door is open!"Directed by Charles B. Pierce/Starring Trish Van Devere, Joseph Cotton/Color/PG. Recent divorcee Jane Hardy (Trish Van Devere, THE CHANGLING) decides to move into her departed aunt’s home; her aunt was a practitioner of the black arts, a witch. Jane finds herself menaced by a mysterious black hearse and its driver. and is almost run-off the road by as she arrives in town. The film contains elements of the THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE CHANGELING, and BURNT OFFERINGS, and they came together quite well. I really enjoyed this film, TrishVan Devere is great and Joseph Cotton (LADY FRANKENSTEIN) appears as a  a drunken attorney. The ending is a bit confusing, but I recommend a watch this haunting tale of possession and witchery. RATING ***1/2 (3.5out of 5 stars)

THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER (1977) "A beast more frightening than your most terrifying nightmare!" Directed by William R. Stromberg/Starring Richard Cardella, Glenn Roberts, Mark Siegel/Color/Unrated. A group of archaeologists, including a pipe smoking professor (of course) discover cave paintings that prominently features a plesiosaurus-type creature, however, before the discovery can be documented a meteor slams into Crater Lake (ironic, no?) destroying this amazing discovery. Shortly thereafter the backwoods community of Crater Lake, Oregon experiences as rash of mysterious deaths. A long buried plesiosaurus egg, buried in the mud of the lake, has been incubated by the searing heat of the submerged meteor, and full grown dinosaur emerges – pure genius. The creature, obviously inspired by the classic Loch Ness creature, is pure schlocky awesomeness, done in true Ray Harryhausen stop motion style. For a schlocky 70’s B-movie the setting is great, making full use of the wooded area and scenic lake beauty, mist rolling off the water, scenic vistas, captivating stuff. Arnie (Glen Robert) and Mitch (Mark Siegel) the comic relief of the film steal the show, providing slapstick laughs and even a bit of emotional gravitas. A forgotten drive-in classic, if you love 70’s schlock and creature features you are sure to love THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER.  
RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

HORROR HIGH (1974) "The man who survived "Precinct 13? is back!" Directed by Larry N. Stouffer/Starring Pat Cardi, Rosie Holotik, Austin Stoker/Color/PG. High school nerd Vernon Potts (Pat Cardi, BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES) is bullied to no end in this film; the school bully, the gym coach, the creepy custodian, even the elderly English teacher Ms. Grindstaff – geesh, what a loser, right?. The only person not shitting on him for some reason is the hot redhead, Robin, whom he has a major crush on. Vernon is performing an experiment on Mr. Mumps, a guinea pig, aimed on transforming the rodent in some way, and does it ever. The guinea pig is transformed into a ravenous beast that kills the janitor’s beloved cat that for some reason he takes with him to work, odd. In a crazed burst of violence the janitor beats the bejeezus outta Vernon, kills the guinea pig, and forces Vern to drink his own chemical concoction, wrong move. The elixir transforms skinny ol' Vern into a violent, super strong nerd bent on revenge ala Jekyll & Hyde. You never really see a clear shot of Vern once he's been transformed, I think it works for this low-budget revenge thriller. As the tagline would indicate, actor Austin Stoker (Ethan Bishop from John Carpenter's ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13) portrays Lt. Bozeman, the man in charge of investigating the string of murders. A really striking revenge thriller, good stuff. 
 RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

THE BABYSITTER(1969) "She came to sit the baby... and ended up with Daddy!" Directed by Don Henderson/Starring Patricia Wymer, George E. Carey, Ann Bellamy/B&W/R. Deputy District Attorney, George Maxwell (George E. Carey) is in the middle of a case involving the prosecution of a murderous motorcycle gang member but has a hard time juggling the case with his complicated family life when he begins a tryst with the much younger girl, the titular babysitter, Candy (the super gorgeous Patricia Wymer). The girlfriend of the biker discovers the affair and blackmails George. What a bizarre film, a male fantasy mingled with a biker thriller of sorts, a lot of fun.
RATING *** (3 out of 5 stars)

BLOODLUST! (1959) "Maniac Hunts Humans in a Jungle Hell!" Directed by Ralp Brooke / Starring Robert Reed, Wilton Graff, June Kenney/B&W/Unrated.
Two young couples set sail for a three hour tour, and much like GILLIGAN’S ISLAND, they end up on an apparently deserted island, however, this island is not home to Ginger or Mary-Anne, the island is owned by Dr. Balleau, an eccentric nut with a passion for hunting humans. The teenagers, led by Johnny (Robert Reed, BRADY BUNCH) must escape Dr. Balleau (a great over-the-top performance from Wilton Graff) if they hope to make it off the island alive. RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars)

CARNIVAL OF CRIME (1962) "At the height of wild, frenzied, sensual pleasures... a murderer strikes and terror grips the city!" Directed by George Cahan/Starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Alix Talton, Tonia Carrero/B&W/Unrated. A architect is attempting to complete his new building project at the expense of his relationship with his wife. After his unfaithful wife mysteriously turns up missing, the police suspect he is responsible for her disappearance. The architect must discover what happened to his wife to clear his name. RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars)

THE CREEPING TERROR (1964) Directed by Vic Savage/Starring Vic Savage, Shannon O'Neal, William Thourlby/B&W/Unrated. A spacecraft lands in a remote area outside of a small California town and a ridiculous looking, shambling alien creature emerges and promptly begins eating people. The Creeping Terror is widely considered to me one of the worst films of all time, giving PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and MANOS HAND OF FATE a run for their proverbial cash. Fun fact: there’s a rumor that a more impressive looking monster was designed for the film only to be stolen mere days before shooting was to begin, thus resulting in the now infamous “pile of carpets” monster. If you love schlock, this is a must-see.
RATING **(2 out of 5 stars)

ESCAPE FROM HELL’S ISLAND (1963) Directed by Mark Stevens/Starring Mark Stevens, Jack Donner, Linda Scott/B&W/ Unrated. A Florida boat captain loses his license after an attempt to smuggle some Cuban refugees results in a woman dying in the process. When he takes up with the wife of a jealous man, it puts him in great danger when the man charters the captain's boat with the intent to kill him while on the voyage. RATING **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

FLESHBURN (1984) "A new kind of revenge!" Directed by George Gage/Starring Steve Kanaly, Sonny Landham, Karen Carlson/Color/R. Calvin, a Native American Vietnam veteran (bad-ass Sonny Landham, Billy from PREDATOR) escapes a mental institution where he was sent by four psychiatrists, who testified during his trial, having been brought up on charges after he deserted his squad based on spiritual beliefs, resulting in their deaths. After his escape he seeks revenge upon the psychiatrists, whom he stalks and kidnaps, leaving them in the scorching desert to die. The film is advertised as sort of a Native American RAMBO or DEATHWISH-type exploitation flick, and while it isn’t exactly that it is interesting watch. RATING *** (3 out of 5 stars)

LAND OF THE MINOTAUR (1976) "Half man... half beast...trapped in a world forgotten by time!" Directed by Kostas Karagiannis/Starring Donald Pleasance, Peter Cushing, Costas Skouras/Color/PG. In this occult thriller a group of youths disappear while searching a hidden temple dedicated to the Minotaur near a small Greek village. A Catholic priest (Donald Pleasance, HALLOWEEN), a New York police detective, and the girlfriend of one of the missing persons team-up to search for the missing youths and uncover a pagan cult devoted to sacrificing victims to the Minotaur, led by Baron Gordon (Peter Cushing, HORROR OF DRACULA). The pagan statue of the Minotaur in this film is awesome, it’s anatomically correct and shoots flame from its nostrils, very menacing, but overplayed. Pleasance plays the Catholic priest version of his Dr. Loomis character from Halloween, and Cushing is more or less wasted in a thankless role, that of the least menacing villain in recent memory, the elderly cult leader. Unless you’re a Pleasance/Cushing completist it’s hard to recommend a sit through on this one. RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars)

LURKERS (1988) "Cathy's not scared. She should be... she's one of them!" Directed by Roberta Findlay/Starring Christine Moore, Gary Warner, Marina Taylor/Color/R. Cathy is a young woman whom endured a truly nightmarish childhood and is haunted by visions of the dead, including her murderous mother. She sees "lurkers", damned souls warning her of danger, telling her not to go back to her childhood home. The film has a bit of a low-rent THE BEYOND or THE SENTINEL feel to it, but it's a bit too meandering and overly long to keep my attention. Director Roberta Findlay, and husband Michael Findlay were pretty famous for a series of grindhouse-style sexploitation films, after her husbands death in ’77 she went on to direct hardcore pornos and again returned to the horror genre in the mid-80’s. Interestingly, Michael Findlay was killed in a helicopter accident on the roof of the Pan Am Building in NYC, slashed to death by the helicopters spinning rotor-blades during a botched landing.  RATING **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

THE TEACHER "After school... her lessons began with sex and ended in violence" (1974) Directed by Howard Avedis/Starring Jay North, Angel Tompkins, Anthony James/Color/R. Sean (Jay North, DENNIS THE  MENACE) is a recent high school graduate and takes up a sexual relationship with Diane (Angel Tompkins) his married teacher. A psychotic neighbor (Anthony James, UNFORGIVEN) is obsessed with the woman and is out to get Sean. The entire films kinda feels like a fleshed out softcore porn, I ain't complaining, just saying. Who hasn't fantasized about a teacher, and rarely are they as hot as Angel Tompkins, yowza. A crazy, fun exploitation flick that hits a few dark notes along the way.
RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

DVD: Not known for generous supplemental materials Mill Creek has made no exception  here, no special features. The 12 films are presented on 3 dual-sided flipper discs in black paper sleeves housed within the DVD case. I'm sure little money was invested into film restoration here, so I think we’re just lucky that these films are as presentable as they are, most of the films are 16x9 enhanced widescreen presentations, which is awesome. You get the usual array of ghosting, missing frames, digital artifacting, scratches, pops, cigarette burns, pretty standard stuff for theses budget collections, but only minor issues considering the grindhouse/drive-in origins of the films.

VERDICT: Mill Creek Entertainment has done it again, I had a ton o’ fun sifting through the cult, schlock, exploitation and B-movie’s films contained herein. For me the highlights were the gems THE HEARSE, HORROR HIGH, THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER, THE BABYSITTER, FLESHBURN, and THE TEACHER – worth the $10 price tag by themselves. One of the top 5 Mill Creek collections, great stuff, and a good consistent collection of obscure cult, schlock, and horror cinema. OVERALL RATING **** (4 out of 5 stars)

-McBASTARD