DVD Boxset Review: Blood Bath 12 Movie Collection (2010)

BLOOD BATH - 12 MOVIE COLLECTION (3 DVD SET) (2010)

Mill Creek Entertainment

ANGST aka PENETRATION ANGST (2006) “Some Girls are to DIE for” Directed by Wolfgang Buld/Starring Paul Conway, Fiona Horsey, Phil Hayden/Color/R

ANGST is a low-budget British horror/comedy from 2003 starring the quite attractive Fiona Horsey (TWISTED SISTERS, THE CHAMBERMAID) as Helen, a young woman afflicted with a carnivorous vagina, a real man-eater in the vein of TEETH(2005). Helen is on a date, making out in a car it's getting pretty heavy and she gives in to the gents sexual demands. Not happy enough to just have at it as she positions herself in the compact car the asshole roles her head up in the window. She's stuck there hanging out of the car as he stands through the sunroof, and basically date-rapes her from behind. She's screaming away in protest and THWAP! - he's gone. Only a pile of clothes left behind, apparently absorbed into Helen's twat, I kid you not.  Shaken and disturbed by what has transpired Helen goes to the her OBGYN to have it checked out, he’s skeptical but offers to give her a pelvic examination. The creepy doc the proceeds to sedate and rape her unconscious body, and you guessed it - THWAP! …more flesh for the angry snatch. She wakes hours later, still strapped to the exam table, to a pile of clothes and a condom. I really enjoyed this madcap film, her pussy is like Belial from BASKET CASE, constantly imploring her "Feed Me!". To satisfy her murderous coochie's blood lust she takes up prostitution which leads to more zany hungry-hole action. Sadly, the budget did not afford the filmmaker the effects that could have enhanced the scenes in which the would-be partners are “devoured” offer no blood nor gore, only the clothes left behind, the process of which is never explained. While we follow her and the hungry snatch we meet a colorful cast of side characters including Dennis (Paul Conway, THE LAST HORROR MOVIE), who’s madly in love with Helen, conjoined twins Sonia and Silvia, and a stripper turned murderous robber. This was a fun film, and I highly recommend it to fans of madcap horror/comedies. Horsey is an attractive gal, and if you are a fan of horror films with a decent amount of nudity you shant be disappointed. RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

A BRUSH WITH DEATH (2006) "Your blood will run cold" Directed by Wolfgang Starring Seanna McDonald, Missy Sturges, Nicholls Melancon Color/Unrated/83 Min.
Five cheerleaders hit the road and head to a countryside mansion for a weekend getaway. Because they’re dumb and they run out of gas (it’s a plot device so that can meet…) and are assisted by a passing gas station attendant and his stuttering sidekick Caleb. The disgusting old man is licking his lips, making lewd suggestions and generally being a creepy pervert. While Caleb is making conversation with one of the girls we are treated to a poorly edited flashback of the old man back at the gas station blowing the head off of a young man, knocking out his female companion and then coercing Caleb into posing with her unconscious body and while he takes a series of lewd pictures. It’s the first of several bizarre and confusing flashbacks throughout the film. So, the creepy dude tops off the girls Jeep with gas and leaves them on their way. The gals arrive at the mansion and head straight for the pool and the film promptly misses the first of several opportunities for some nudity, cause this film needed a diversion, and nudity would’ve really helped right about now. Once there they meet a creepy neighbor who tells them the tale of a nearby house where thirty years earlier a family was slaughtered by their son. The film is fairly incomprehensible after this and were inundated with confusing flashbacks, fully clothed actresses, and mind numbing dialogue. The script is atrocious, the acting is abysmal, and the cinematography terrible. How do you fuck up a film about five cheerleaders in peril being killed off? This film fails on every level imaginable. Fail, fail, fail. RATING *1/2 (1.5 out of 5 stars)

THE CHAMBERMAID aka LOVESICK: SICK LOVE (UK)(2004) "Who can you turn to when you can't even trust yourself?" Directed by Wolfgang Buld/Starring Fiona Horsey, Paul Conway, William Rowsey/Color/R

Another film from director Wolfgang Buld (TWISTED SISTERS, ANGST) and his collaborators Fiona Horsey and Paul Conway. Horsey is Julia, and chambermaid at a hotel managed by Michael (Paul Conway), his mother owns the hotel, however, she has taken ill and has been hospitalized. Julia is dating Istvan (William Rowsey), Michael has a crush on Julia, Julia is a bit of a slut. She is fired when it is revealed that she has performed sexual  favors for the hotel's clientele for money. Istvan runs into trouble with the a loan shark and lays low, the rents not being paid and Julia finds herself evicted from their apartment. It's at this time that she takes advantage of Michael's infatuation, getting her job back and moving into his home in the process. Michael is a strange, awkward fellow, and I love Conway's depiction of the character, aloof and obsessed. Julia is only faining interest in Michael to serve her needs and is still seeing Istvan on the side. Paul puppy dogs after her, unknowing of the betrayal, while Julia denies him sex for a myriad of reason. Eventually, Michael suspects Julia is up to something, that's when things get super dark. Horsey is fantastic in her role, I've only seen her in the three films in this collection, and I was sad to hear she's left genre film making to pursue acting on a Colombian soap opera ...WHAT!?! THE CHAMBERMAID is a highly satisfying dark comedy/thriller. Recommended!  

RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

 DEATH ON DEMAND (2008) "Turn On. Log On. Watch Out." Directed by Adam Matalon/Starring Jerry Broome, Elisabeth Jamison, Suzannah Lawson Matalon/Color/R/90 Min.

Sean Mcintyre is a mountaineer having just returned from the Hymalyas where he apparently killed two people, believing them to be Yetis. Apparently, if you go out of your mind  in Tibet and kill people under the assumption their Yetis its all right, cause next we know its 3 months later and he's at home having Thanksgiving dinner with his family, snaps, and brutally kills them all before hanging himself. A few years go by and a young internet entrepreneur arranges a contest wherein 6 people, the usual array of college-aged douchebags, including a porn actress, spend the night in the haunted house while being filmed and broadcast via the internet for a $5,000 prize. Uh-oh ...this sounds a bit similar to HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION doesn't it? I almost forgot, one of the contestants is psychic, so we get a bit of FRIDAY THE 13th PT. VII: THE NEW BLOOD feel as well ...oh Lord.  Okay, so this isn't a good film, but it is stacked heavily with breasts and gore, and for your average teen it will be a lotta fun.  The acting is uniformly sub-par throughout, the characters are of the worst kind of cliches, and the film is just generally lazy in it's generic set-ups. I'll say I enjoyed Jerry Broome's portrayal of Sean Mcintyre, the murderous mountaineer who returns from the grave after the contestants reach-out to him via Ouija board. On the plus side, the kills are surprisingly brutal, not for the squeamish. My problem here is that there's no tension, even by slasher standards, it's a line 'em up, who's next sorta affair. RATING **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

DEMONIC aka FOREST OF THE DAMNED (UK) (2006) “Thrown out of heaven …they’ll take you to hell…” Directed by Johanne Roberts/Starring Tom Savini, Daniel Maclagan / Nicole Petty/Sophie Holland/Color/R/83 Min.

A young couple are parked in a wooded area, making out. The woman hears a rustling in the forest, we see quick moving shadows dart through the trees, and the man goes to investigate. Personally, I say "honey, get in the car, we’re leaving", but few horror films are based on good decision making. He’s confronted by a gorgeous naked woman, apparently bewitched by her unearthly charms. they embrace and deeply kiss. It is revealed that the woman’s mouth is toothed with gnarly razor sharp teeth as she tears a chunk of flesh from the young man’s neck. A great start, well done, I was on board immediately. From there we are introduced to five friends on a road trip to a countryside lake. Along the way they get lost, as youngins are apt to do in films such as this. They pull into a darkened gas station to get directions and are accosted by a crazed fella spouting warnings about fallen angels who were banished from heaven for having been infected by an earthly lust and how they now prowl, seduce and kill people in Miranda Forest. A total “It’s got a death curse” moment, right outta FRIDAY THE 13th. No one ever believes the crazy guy, and the group tears outta there quickly and proceed down the road through the forest. After a bit the driver is getting sleepy, he notices something strange in the woods. Momentarily distracted he doesn’t see a woman in the road, violently striking her. The van is damaged beyond drivability, the woman in need of immediate medical attention, and the cell phones don’t work (OF COURSE!). Miles from anywhere, on a desolate road, the group splits into three groups in search of assistance. Once separated the groups each encounter the nymph-like creatures and a mysterious man named Stephen (Tom Savini, GRINDHOUSE, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, DAWN OF THE DEAD) who is aware of the creatures and has a sinister agenda of his own. A promising start, not a bad idea, but the film is spoiled by shoddy stylistic decisions regarding editing, cinematography and film score, and a thin script. A particularly poor choice is the night vision camerawork which pulled me out of the film and the painful electronic score. On the plus side, this film is genuinely eerie at times, there’s an abundance gorgeous naked woman from start to finish and the special effects are well executed for a low budget affair, not gory but pretty bloody. ** (2 out of 5 stars)

HALLOWED (2005) "Say your prayers" Directed by Rocky Costanzo/Starring Corey Foxx, Rosslyn Roberson, Andrew Martin Color/R/80 Min.

Witnessing the murder of his mother at the hands of his father causes 10 year-old Gabriel to lose his sanity and be institutionalized. Twenty years later, the now-grown boy leaves the clinic and sets out on what he believes is his sacred duty in life. Seeking out those around him who he feels is in need of spiritual help; Gabriel alleviates their woes through murder. Wow, talk about a film steeped in HALLOWEEN homages. This murderous bible thumper rides past several key locations from HALLOWEEN, including the Doyle House, the Meyers House, and the Strode house. Quite a few of the shot selection are also obvious homages to the film as was the score. It was a lot more interesting spotting the homages in this film than actually watching it. Not to be unfair, but this slasher was none too original, it's a tribute to the classic slashers of the 80's and it has its share of decent kills and effective atmosphere but the terrible acting destroyed it for me.
RATING *1/2 (1.5 out of 5 stars)

HARVEST OF FEAR (2004) "Terror is growing" Directed by/Starring Ryan Deal, Justin Ament/Color/R/95 Min.

HARVEST OF FEAR opens with a couple camping in the woods, perhaps making up for the lack of nudity in A BRUSH WITH DEATH, we are treated to some gratuitous breasts right from the start. A masked killer takes out the boyfriend and chases the woman through the woods. It’s a cliched and unimaginative beginning to a cliched and unimaginative film. The annual Harvest Fest is about to begin, but the killings are eerily similar to the unsolved murders that happened two decades earlier, a retired police officer fears the killer has returned, but the authorities won’t listen to him, of course. There’s little I can say positive about Harvest of Fear. It holds little intrigue and fewer scares, the characters are one-note clichés, that acting it terrible across the boards, the FX are of little interest. 
RATING **(2 out of 5 stars)

THE HAUNTING OF REBECCA VERLAINE aka GARDEN OF LOVE (2003)
 Directed by Olaf Ittenbach/Starring Natacza Boon, James Matthews, Daryl Jackson/Color/Unrated/86 Min.

This film was fantastic right out of the gate as a clown-masked killer enters a hippie compound and just starts hacking hippies to shreds. Chock full of gore galore, nudity and flashy editing, fun stuff and a great intro. The lone survivor is young Rebecca (Natacza Boon, AEON FLUX), whom falls into a coma after the attack.  Awakening 2 years later she is adopted by her aunt and uncle. All seems to be well, then ten years after the massacre she begins seeing grotesque visions of her dead father and dead hippies, they're out for revenge and bloodthirsty. I don't think I've ever seen ghosts portrayed  as such violent, revenge starved spirits, let alone hippie ghosts, man. Peace, Love and Bloody Fucking Revenge! They tell her she needs to bring the killer to the compound so they may take their revenge. The kills are completely over-the-top splatstick, almost comical in a DEAD ALIVE kinda way. What this film has working in its favor is German special effects maestro turned director Olaf Ittenbach. He gets the most possible gore for the low-budget buck, the FX look amazing. What doesn't work?  I thought the ghost story/murder mystery aspect of this film was overly convoluted and it's slightly derailed by the flat acting, trite dialogue, and overly convoluted storyline, but the over-the-top gore held a lot of sway for me. Not a great film, but this supernatural horror-thriller was a lot of fun when it was on it's game.

RATING **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

RED RIDING HOOD (2004) "Don't tell this tale to your kids" Directed by Giacomo Cimini/ Starring Kathleen Archebald, Susan Satta/Color/R/92 Min.

Jenny (Susanna Sattas) is a precocious 12 year-old girl residing in Rome. She tries to deal with her father's murder and her mother's abandonment by becoming a twisted vigilante. Jenny and her mysterious companion torture and kill their victims to punish them for their perceived crimes, and the punishments are extremely brutal. I adored Susanna Satta's portrayal of the 12 year-old psychotic child with a mad sense of justice. When pursuing the guilty Jenny dons a black shroud, red gloves and boots, the RED RIDING HOOD persona she inhabits while on the prowl. This is a twisted fairy tale indeed, it's brutal and blood splattered, full of gore, much more than I expected. We get beatings, decapitations, limb severances, stabbings and even a nail gun to the eye - this film does not shy away from brutality. When her grandmother (Katheen Archibald) arrives to take her to New York City, Jenny must find a way to stay in Rome by keeping her grandmother incapacitated, and does she ever. She drugs and restrains her grandmother throughout the better part of the film, and these scenes are quite brutal, even I squirmed a bit. Sadly, I looked up Susanna Satta and she's not acted in any other films. RATING ***1/2 (3.5out of 5 stars)

SHADOWS OF THE DEAD (2004) "We'll be together, 'til the end" Directed by Carl Lindberg/Starring Jonathan Flanigan, Beverly Hynds, Nick Schirmer/Color/R/92 Min.

In a typical horror film set-up, a couple is driving to the countryside for a weekend getaway and instead find a horrific nightmare when they bust a tire and end up staying the night in the foggiest wooded area I've ever seen. They discover a "dead" body not far from where they busted their flat, they choose to ignore it and grab a few winks 'til morning comes. Later that night they notice the body has disappeared and the man goes to investigate and is bitten by something while taking a piss. The next day they seek medical attention for the infected bite and are alarmed to discover that the man's heart has ceased to beat. The Dr. suspiciously excuses himself and the two bolt from the hospital in fear of being made lab rats. The two sequester themselves in a cabin,  it seems the bite carried a mysterious virus that infects the couple and ravages their bodies. Their skin begins to discolor and blister, so much so that they bandage their faces like mummies, and they describe (not show, a budgetary decision, no doubt) how their skin is tightening around their skulls, we also see his eyes turn opaque. Soon they discover that their bodies are rejecting food and are developing a lust for human flesh. The woman adamantly refuses to kill, and this causes tension between the two. So, this sounds pretty good as I'm writing it, and it's not without merit, but the films is slow moving and heavily dialogue driven, which is not always a detriment, but in this case ...yawn. The films comes across as more an examination of the lovers relationship than a horror film, and the ending is highly unsatisfying. RATING *1/2 (1.5 out of 5 stars)

TWISTED SISTERS (2006) "Nobody get in her way..." Directed by Wolfgang Buld/Starring Fiona Horsey, Andrew Southern, Paul Conway/Color/R/97 Min.
Who's excited? Another partnering between director Wolfgang Buld and actors Fiona Horsey and Paul Conway. This time out the always attractive and more often than not nude Fiona Horsey portrays both Jennifer and Norah, twin separated at birth. Jennifer lives a good life, a good family, and a loving fiance. Things are great until one day she's fingered as the suspect of a brutal slaying. Someone's going around picking-up men at bars and slicing off their wieners after banging 'em. It is revealed to Jennifer that she indeed has an evil twin sister who's escaped the asylum, it all very Brian DePalma-esque (DRESSED TO KILL). Her twin is out to frame her for the murders, hoping to steal her identity as she takes the fall. This is a very dark thriller, the comedy is not as prevalent as previous Buld films, but then again, can lighting a rocket up a man's arse and blowing his intestine out through his abdomen NOT be funny? RATING ***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

 UNINVITED (1993) "Only the brave would dare to awaken the guardian of the dead" Directed by/Starring Christopher Boyer, Bari Buckner, Jack Elam/Color/R/90 Min.

 This is the last film of the legendary Jack Elam (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST), a man known for his western persona, he gets top billing, and he's in the film for maybe 3 minutes. UNINVITED is that most rare of horror sub-genres the western-horror, most recently visited by THE BURROWERS. This is the tale of several disparate folks who've pooled their money and to lay claim to a goldmine, intending to split the profits. A good cast of characters; the hooker with a heart of gold, the couple looking for a down payment on a homestead, a priest with a past, and a cagey survivor of the Donner Party. Along the way they disturb an ancient native American burial site, and that's never a good idea. Afterwards, violence and tension erupts between the group as one by one they die off at the hands of angered spirits and each other. I feel the filmmaker overstepped the films meager budget trying to capture the look and feel of a gold rush-era western here and it hurts the film and it feels thin in parts, but the film is steeped in mountain mist and a sense of doom for all involved. It works to a point, but the film is too slow moving. RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars)

DVD: These 12 films contained in this set are presented in their original non-anamorphic widescreen aspect ratios with stereo sound. The image quality is good throughout, a sight better than most of Mill Creek's public domain collection without a doubt. It's great to see Mill Creek Entertainment licensing films and releasing them, as I think a lot of people assume they only release public domain films from inferior source materials, and this is a misconception.

VERDICT: A definite buy in my estimation. While I rather disliked A BRUSH WITH DEATH and HARVEST OF FEAR I was pleasantly surprised by the three Wolfgang Buld films starring Fiona Horsey and Paul Conway. The other highlight for me was RED RIDING HOOD, really interesting stuff. Great titles I'd never heard of 'em til now. That's the beauty of the budget box sets, it's a give and take proposition, but it only takes a few gems to make a collection shine.  OVERALL RATING *** (3 out of 5 stars)

-McBASTARD

Blu-Ray Review: Total Terror Double Features Vol. 1 (2010)

TOTAL TERROR DOUBLE FEATURES VOL. 1 (2010)
DEMONIC (2005) / UNINVITED (1993)

Mill Creek Entertainment

DEMONIC aka FOREST OF THE DAMNED (2006) “Thrown out of heaven …they’ll take you to hell…” Directed by Johanne Roberts/Starring Tom Savini, Daniel Maclagan / Nicole Petty/Sophie Holland/Color/R/83 Min.

SUMMARY: In England 5 friends are travelling to a countryside lake when they have an accident. They soon discover that the woods are prowled by beautiful nymph-like creatures that seduce then kill their victims.

FILM: A young couple are parked in a wooded area, making out. The woman hears a rustling in the forest, we see quick moving shadows dart through the trees, and the man goes to investigate. Personally, I say "honey, get in the car, we’re leaving", but few horror films are based on good decision making. He’s confronted by a gorgeous naked woman, apparently bewitched by her unearthly charms. they embrace and deeply kiss. It is revealed that the woman’s mouth is toothed with gnarly razor sharp teeth as she tears a chunk of flesh from the young man’s neck. A great start, well done, I was on board immediately. From there we are introduced to five friends on a road trip to a countryside lake. Along the way they get lost, as youngins are apt to do in films such as this. They pull into a darkened gas station to get directions and are accosted by a crazed fella spouting warnings about fallen angels who were banished from heaven for having been infected by an earthly lust and how they now prowl, seduce and kill people in Miranda Forest. A total “It’s got a death curse” moment, right outta FRIDAY THE 13th. No one ever believes the crazy guy, and the group tears outta there quickly and proceed down the road through the forest. After a bit the driver is getting sleepy, he notices something strange in the woods. Momentarily distracted he doesn’t see a woman in the road, violently striking her. The van is damaged beyond drivability, the woman in need of immediate medical attention, and the cell phones don’t work (OF COURSE!). Miles from anywhere, on a desolate road, the group splits into three groups in search of assistance. Once separated the groups each encounter the nymph-like creatures and a mysterious man named Stephen (Tom Savini, GRINDHOUSE, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, DAWN OF THE DEAD) who is aware of the creatures and has a sinister agenda of his own. A promising start, not a bad idea, but the film is spoiled by shoddy stylistic decisions regarding editing, cinematography and filmscore, and a thin script. A particularly poor choice is the night vision camerawork which pulled me out of the film and the painful electronic score. On the plus side, this film is genuinely eerie at times, there’s an abundance gorgeous naked woman from start to finish and the special effects are well executed for a low budget affair, not gory but pretty bloody. **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

UNINVITED (1993) “Thrown Only the brave would dare to awaken the guardian of the dead” Directed Michael Derek Bohusz/Starring Jack Elam, Christopher Boyer, Bari Buckner, Jerry Rector, Zane Paolo, Dennis Gibbs/Color/R/90 Min.

SUMMARY: Seven strangers, led by a mysterious stranger, have come together to stake a claim on a gold mine. Once there they discover that there may be more than gold is buried on the mountaintop.

FILM: This is the last film of the legendary Jack Elam (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST), a man known for his western persona, he  gets top billing, and he's in the film for maybe 3 minutes. UNINVITED is that most rare of horror sub-genres the western-horror, most recently visited by THE BURROWERS. This is the tale of several disparate folks who've pooled their money and to lay claim to a goldmine, intending to split the profits. A good cast of characters; the hooker with a heart of gold, the couple looking for a down payment on a homestead, a priest with a past, and a cagey survivor of the Donner Party.  Along the way they disturb an ancient native American burial site, and that's never a good idea. Afterwards, violence and tension erupts between the group as one by one they die off at the hands of angered spirits and each other.  I feel the filmmaker overstepped the films meager budget trying to capture the look and feel of a gold rush-era western here and it hurts the film and it feels thin in parts, but the film is steeped in mountain mist and a sense of doom for all involved. It works to a point, but the film is too slow moving. 
RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars) 

DVD: This DVD is the 1st of two entries into the blu-ray market for Mill Creek Entertainment. A company primarily known for releasing budget collections of public domain films and television series. There are no special features included for either film. The films are presented in anamorphic widescreen. The image quality is good, purportedly 1080p high definition, but visually appears little better that standard definition, which is appropriate. Mill Creek’s DVD’s have VHS quality images, it is logical that their blu-ray editions would have DVD quality images.  

VERDICT: Both these film are also available on Mill Creek Entertainment’s BLOOD BATH 12 Movie Collection DVD set, which is worth a purchase if only for the Fiona Horsey films alone, but there's some other good stuff on there, too. These films were fun, but for the budget minded, I can't see committing to blu-ray when the standard-def version look just as good. OVERALL RATING **1/2  (2.5 out of 5 stars)

-McBASTARD

Film Review: Necromentia (2009) at Loft Cinema, Tucson

NECROMENTIA (2009)
FREE Screening / Local Feature Premiere
Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson , AZ 85716
When: Tuesday, September 7th at 7:00 p.m.


"Join us for a free screening of acclaimed filmmaker Pearry Teo's stylish new shot-in-Tucson horror film NECROMENTIA, which premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles and was screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival! Pearry will discuss the challenges and possibilities of filming in Tucson, and will also present a pair of locally made short films and trailers for upcoming local productions before the feature. Pearry will introduce the film and join members of the NECROMENTIA cast and crew for a post-film Q&A session." - from the promotional e-invitation sent out by The Loft Cinema

NECROMENTIA (2009)

"Hell Await the Foolish"

Eslinger Joyce Entertainment

RATED: R

RUN TIME: 82 Min.

DIRECTOR: Teo Pearry
CAST: Layton Mathews, Chad Grimes, Santiago Craig, Zeileann Rivera,  Cole Braxton

SUMMARY: This dark, twisted tale of erotic tortures and shocking torment dares to open the gates of hell for three men desperate to transcend the boundaries of death. One harbors a lingering passion for his dead girlfriend, another is a professional sadist determined to save his troubled brother, and the third hungers for the most brutal kind of revenge. But to open the portals of hell, an ancient map of the occult must be carefully carved into one man's flesh. From the acclaimed director of GENE GENERATION, NECROMENTIA is a disturbing nightmare that will haunt your dreams long after it's over.


THE FILM/SCREENING EXPERIENCE: I love free movie screenings especially when afforded the rare opportunity to see one filmed in Tucson, Arizona - the place I've called home for 16 years. I'd not heard of the film or the director prior to an email from The Loft Cinema the day before, so kudos to them for getting the word out. The event was a well attended, though not too crowded. I love the Loft Cinema, it is a true Tucson institution of arthouse and indie cinema. I have fond memories of seeing WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE (1995) , CEMETERY MAN (1994), and THE CITY OF THE LOST CHILDREN (1995) when I first arrived in Tucson, as well as seeing more recent screenings of The Loft's CULT CLASSIC series, including DR. STRANGELOVE (1964), BRAZIL (1985), CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) and upcoming this week, a brand-new 35mm print of the Sam Raimi classic EVIL DEAD (1981). The main auditorium is cavernous, the seats are comfy and the beer on tap is awesome, this months beer is Green Lakes Organic Ale, tasty stuff. Also, the film was an HD Digital presentation on the brand new Loft Cinema screen replaced just last week and it looks great. Longtime patrons may miss the old screen's unique character, including a nice tear dead center at the bottom of the screen, but we'll make due with perfection. 

Travis

Shortly before the start of the film the L.A.based director Pearry Teo came onstage and spoke briefly about his fond recollections of working with the Tucson film crew and then executive producer John Eslinger, who makes a brief cameo in the film, came onstage. Mr. Eslinger was quite a character, in his late-60's from the look of him, decked out in a suit with cowboy boots, thick full mustache and a stetson hat - a real cowboy movie producer type. He recalled working with Teo and the actors, relating what odd but gifted characters they were, and even pointing out that the founder of Old Tucson Studios, Robert Shelton, was in attendance. Old Tucson Studios is where over 300 western-themed movie and television projects have been film, including THE THREE AMIGOS, NIGHT OF THE LEPUS, THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES and Sam Raimi's THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. After Eslinger the two leads in the film Santiago Craig (Hagen) and Chad Gromes (Travis) came onstage and briefly related how much they enjoyed making the film and appreciated everyone coming out to see the Tucson premiere.

Elizabeth - worth going to Hell for?

 The films begins as Hagen (Santiago Craig) is obsessing over his deceased lover Elizabeth's (Zelieanna Rivera) body, caressing her skin and maintenancing her decomposing body. He's a creepy guy, mop of blond hair, spectacles with a shattered lens, groaning on about her returning to him like she promised. Later while at work sweeping up a barbershop he's approached by Travis (Chad Gromes), he knows about his dead girlfriend ...and the necrophilia. Oh yeah, he knows, he's seen it, and he can help Hagen bring Elizabeth back from the dead through necromancy. Travis is a sadist, a professional skin carver and heroin junkie, he's trying to kick the habit using Ketamine, trying to clean-up his act to better care for his autistic younger brother, Thomas (Zach Cumer). While on a Ketamine-fueled  mind trip Travis meets Morbius (Layton Mathews), a demon with a deal. Meanwhile, Thomas is at home seeing vision of Mr. Skinny (Nathan Ginn), a fat man in a pig's head wrapped in barbed wire with a surgical tubing full of blood coming out of his snout. Truly bizarre, a great surreal visual made more eerie by the fact that he has a child's voice and serenades Thomas with a pro-suicide song, encouraging the boy to take his own life. So, there are the main elements, it's a interesting concept, and the story in a labyrinthine anthology design, the strings come together into a surreal knot of nightmarish imagery and terrifying visions.

Morbius

It's a low budget affair, but Teo's eye for visual flair and style is nuanced and pleasing. Some of the editing was a bit much, but not too distracting. The special effects are pretty great for a low budget film, particularly scenes involving a Ouija board being carved into someones flesh, and the demon Morbius is also well done, a black-eyed marble skinned figure. The creature design of a hulking hellbound demon looks like an amalgam of HELLRAISER's Pinhead, RESIDENT EVIL zombie and the ALIEN creature. The overall feel of the film is that of a Clive Barker homage, particularly Barker's HELLRAISER. Budget limitations do show through at times, such as the fact that Hell is depicted as a dingy maintenance tunnel lined with steam pipes and electrical conduit, I'd chalk that up to budget constraints.

Mr. Skinnny

DVD: NECROMENTIA is due to be released on Tuesday Sept. 14 2010 from Image Entertainment. The film will be presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 surround sound. Special features will include a director's commentary, Q&A, and a trailer.

VERDICT: I've not seen Pearry Teo's previous film THE GENE GENERATION but this film interested me enough that I'll be visiting his filmography again. It's not perfect, but it is an interesting Faustian tale of betrayal and revenge. While some of the imagery is a bit cliche the strong storyline kept me rapt. RATING *** (3 out of 5 stars)

DVD Review: The Devil's Backbone (2001)

Today we have a McBastard's Mausoleum event,  our first-ever guest review from noneother than Root Rot. Check out his blog and blogcast The Witch's Hat

Author: Root Rot


About 6 years ago (actually 2weeks ago), I contacted McBastard and volunteered to do a movie review for his blog. I had to think long and hard regarding my film choice, as to ensure that it was on par with the high standards of his blog. Weeks of scanning my mental movie files resulted in the well deserved choice of The Devils Backbone (2001).

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Origin: Spain

Plot: During the Spanish Civil War, a young boy (Carlos) is dropped off at an orphanage by his father who is leaving to fight in the war. Carlos struggles to adjust to life in the orphanage and away from his father. Loneliness and boredom spark his curiosity, as he eventually sneaks away to explore the orphanage. During Carlos’ midnight adventure he is confronted by the spirit of a dead boy. He is told by the ghost, “all will die”. As Carlos’ and a band of other orphans search the orphanage grounds to once again find the ghost, the orphanage’s handyman and former tenant of the orphanage, catches them. The handyman decides to reprimand the boys the handyman’s way, thus revealing his true nature. The handyman’s mode of operation progressively unfolds throughout the film. To begin, it is exposed that he torments and hurts children, he beats his girlfriend (orphanage’s maid) and fucks his bosses wife in a plot to steal the gold from the orphanage. The doctor that oversees the orphanage begins to discover the handyman’s evil side. The doctor fires the handyman, who then leaves the orphanage with his cronies; however, after a brief time spent plotting their revenge, the handyman and his crew return. While the handyman’s crew is focused on getting their hands on the gold, the handyman himself is more concerned with implementing his revenge. So…this is the point in the movie where the evil doers blow up, shoot up, stab, abuse and kill anyone they can get their hands on. Amidst all the mayhem, this is also where the film reveals the what, who, why, when and where’s of the ghost. Will he help the kids? Is there gold? Why is the handyman such a dick? Why is there a bomb in the orphanage’s court yard? I guess I could tell you , but I wouldn’t want to ruin it for you.

The Devils Backbone concludes with a cohesive meshing of the different story lines that evolved throughout the film, this is one of the film’s strongest attribute. The other highlight of the film is definitely the execution of the handyman character, I mean come on, he torments the orphans, fucks old women, and pimp hands his girlfriend, it doesn‘t get better than that.

On the Root Rot scale of (A+) being the best and (E) the worst, the 2001 The Devils Backbone gets a (B)… I really enjoy this flick.. Thanks for reading my review

VHS Review: TerrorVision (1986)

TERRORVISION (1986)

“People of Earth, your planet is about to be destroyed… We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience”

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 83 Min.
DIRECTOR: Ted Nicolaou
CAST: Diane Franklin, Gerrit Gragam, Mary Warnov, Chad Allen, Jon Gries, Bert Remsen, Alejandra Rey, Randi Brookes, Jennifer Richards, Sonny Carl Davies

SYNOPSIS: When Stanley Putterman installs a brand new, state-of-the-art satellite dish in his backyard, his family ends up getting a lot more than just ESPN. Unfortunately for Stanley, his satellite is a perfect receptor for a load of extraterrestrial garbage that just happened to be converted into energy and zapped into his backyard: a hideous, two-ton alien blob with eyes and a never-ending appetite

Horror-host Medusa

THE FILM: Oh, 1980’s – how I miss your neon glow. Before Full Moon Pictures there was Charles Band’s now defunct Empire International Pictures, of the two I prefer Empire International Pictures body of films; RE-ANIMATOR (1985), FROM BEYOND (1986), DOLLS (1987), and GHOULIES (1985) to name a few. TerrorVision begins as the garish 80’s family the Putterman’s are installing that most 80’s of conventions – the satellite TV. Unbeknownst to them their newly installed satellite dish has picked up an energy beam from the planet Pluton, infecting their TV with a creature from beyond their universe, known as the “hungry beast”. The Putterman’s are comprised of father Stanley (Gerrit Graham, C.H.U.D. II), mother Raquel (Mary Warenov, HOUSE OF THE DEVIL) both of whom are swingers, their daughter Suzy (Diane Franklin, BETTER OFF DEAD) a neon-maned metal chick with a leather and W.A.S.P. t-shirt clad rocker boyfriend, O.D. (Jon Gries, MONSTER SQUAD), Grandpa (Bert Remsen) a heavily armed WW2 vet with a bomb shelter in the basement, and their son Sherman (Chad Allen) is an imaginative horror fan, and the only one who realizes what’s going on. A really great cast, putting Mary Warnov and Gerrit Graham together as the mom and dad was a stroke of pure genius, and Bert Remsen as the grandfather is a lot of fun.

Sherman’s parents and sister both go out for a night on the town, leaving him and gramps to watch some late-night creature feature hosted by the serpentine-haired Medusa. Both nod off and awaken to the “hungry beast” in their living room, narrowly escaping to the fallout shelter in the basement where they arm themselves to the teeth. Gramps is no match for the hungry beast and is absorbed by the creature, leaving behind a slimy cesspool. Soon after Sherm’s parents and a swinging couple they’ve picked-up arrive back at the house, followed by his sister and her rocker boyfriend. No one believes him, despite the pile of slime on the floor, in the movies no one ever believes their kids. When the creature kills it can emulate the deceased, creating decoys and mimicking their voices, thereby conveniently fooling the unaware into believing the victims are alive, but Sherm knows better.

Hungry Beast - Intergalactic pet post-mutation.

Suzy comes to realize that her brother is telling the truth and she and Sherm decide to reach out to TV horror host Medusa (Jennifer Richards), to help destroy the creature, much like Charlie reaching out to Peter Vincent in FRIGHT NIGHT (1985). At the same time here are also transmissions on the TV from the planet Pluton warning Earth of the danger. The transmissions come by way of Pluthar, an extraterrestrial trashman from Pluton whose job it is into atomize the mutated “hungry beast” of his planet and beam them to the edge of the galaxy. He’s made a mistake and the hungry beast has instead been beamed to the Putterman’s home. Pluthar beams himself into Putterman’s home to set things right, however, when Medusa reluctantly arrives she screws up everything by mistakenly identifying Pluthar as the creature. She knocks him upside his head and he implodes.

Pluthar the Intergalactic Trashman prior to implosion.

Hats off to the L.A. band THE FIBONACCI’S who provide several songs for the soundtrack, including the awesome new-wave 80’s theme song, it’s pretty great. The creature effects are low budget but effective for the film, the Hungry Beast and special effects were created by John Carl Buechler who's done special effects work on films such as FROM BEYOND (1986), DOLLS (1987), BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR (1990) and HATCHET (2006). He also directed FRIDAY THE 13th PART VIII: The New Blood (1988) and GHOULIES III: GHOULIES GO TO COLLEGE (1991).


DVD: No DVD release of TERRORVISION is available to my knowledge. Yet another lost 80’s classic not yet released on DVD. There's always VHS, right?

VERDICT: By no means is TERRORVISION a great film, it however incredibly fun and pure 80’s cheesiness in the best possible way. Mary Warnov and Gerrit Graham are great as the parents, and the cheesey 80’s special effects work is very nostalgic for me. Great stuff. A high recommend from me. RATING *** (3 out of 5 stars)

-McBASTARD

DVD Review: Creature (1985)

CREATURE (1985)

“It’s been sleeping peacefully on a moon of Saturn for 2000 centuries …until now!”

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 97 Min.
DIRECTOR: William Malone
CAST: Klaus Kinski, Syan Ivar, Robert Jaffe, Lyman Ward, Wendy Schaal

SYNOPSIS: A group of American scientists are on an archaeology mission to Titan, one of Jupiter’s moons to examine ancient artifacts from an alien civilization. Once there they discover their German counterparts are already on scene. After a botched landing attempt the crew set out to seek assistance from the German explorers. However, a deadly creature is on the loose, killing off the crew one by one.

THE FILM: At 37 years of age I’ve somehow have managed to miss out on the numerous ALIEN (1979) rip-offs. GALAXY OF TERROR (1981), INSEMINOID (1981), and CREATURE (1985), just to name a few. I figured it was time to delve into at least one, so I popped Creature into the DVD player, settled in, and promptly fell asleep …twice. This film comes to us from the director of such lesser genre fare as FEARDOT.COM (2002) and the HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1999), and before these extremely underwhelming entries came 1985’s terrible ALIEN cash-in CREATURE.

On a remote and desolate planet a crew arrives to establish communications with a ship they’ve lost contact with. It features a strong female heroine, a douchebag team-leader, and a parasitic alien stalking the doomed crew picking them off one by one, sound familiar? You got it – ALIEN! Not merely content to rip-off ALIEN the film also borrows elements from John Carpenter’s THE THING (1982). If you’re gonna steal, steal from the best, right?

Well, they steal some ideas, but the inspiration just isn’t here, man. This was a chore to sit through, totally mind-numbingly, terrible. This is a very unoriginal and derivative sci-fi thriller, a complete low-rent cash-in, like what Asylum Films does only not as good.

Two space exploring yahoos uncover a capsule housing an alien creature on Titan. They unleash the creature while sitting atop it posing for pictures. It goes mostly downhill from here as a German and then American exploration teams arrive on planet to examine the alien ruins.

On the plus side, the gore is semi-decent for ‘85, there’s some classic soundstage atmosphere, including miniature ship models and obligatory rolling mist. The great Klaus Kinski (AGGIURE: THE WRATH OF GOD) appears as Hans Rudy Hofner, the only surviving member of the German crew, in a brief and creepy appearance. Seeing Kinski in this b-movie space thriller was unexpected and odd but I loved it, probably the single best thing about the film. We also get Lyman Ward (Ferris’s dad from FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF) as David Perkins, and he’s really quite terrible, but it was a kick seeing him. I really found the film rather a bore, but there are some fun times to be had for fans of schlocky films. For instance, the master plan to defeat the creature is devised by the Ripley character, Beth (Nancy Schaal, THE ‘BURBS, the voice of AMERICAN DAD’s Francine), whom recalls “I saw a movie once, where a group of people were trapped in an ice station by a carrot from another planet”. She’s recalling THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951), and this is the plan they go with? I saw it on TV once, let’s go for it? Why not, right? The final confrontation is right out of ALIEN playbook as you’d expect. Mist is rolling, the creature is fully revealed (unfortunately, it’s super-lame), hazard lights are flashing, let the final showdown begin, yawn.

DVD: CREATURE has never received a proper DVD release as it fell into the public domain abyss shortly after its release in 1985. Theatrically Creature was displayed in 2.35:1 scope aspect ratio, this Diamond Entertainment release sees the film cropped to 1.33:1 full frame with a shitty transfer, seemingly from a fullscreen VHS source. Pretty terrible image quality, so-so audio and the special features are limited to ‘Original Graphics’ and ‘Biography’. I can’t say that the film merits a deluxe edition DVD, but lesser films have, so why not, right.

VERDICT: Even by the standards of an ALIEN rip-off this is pretty weak sauce. Not a lot to recommend here to be honest. It was a novelty seeing the venerable Klaus Kinski and its chock full o’ schlock, if you love bad movies; here you go, have at it. RATING *1/2 (1.5 out of 5 stars)


-McBASTARD

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