Scott Kenmore's novel Zombie, Ohio - a Shocking Tale of the Undead out now!

Greetings visitor to the Mausoleum. Haven't read this one myself but for those craving some fresh zombie fiction you may want to check out Scott Kenmore's zombie murder-mystery ZOMBIE, OHIO - A SHOCKING TALE OF THE UNDEAD (2010). It sounds like a fun read that blends traditional zombie action with humor and the mystery of a detective novel, cool.

ZOMBIE, OHIO

A Shocking Tale of the Undead

By Scott Kenemore

Skyhorse Publishing Paperback Original

Price: $16.95

What’s scarier than an invasion of mindless, brain-hungry zombies? The creation of highly intelligent ones! In Zombie, Ohio, wildly successful zombie-humor author Scott Kenemore takes a stab at a zombie murder-mystery that will make you gasp, squirm, and guess whodunit until the very end!

When rural Ohio college professor Peter Mellor dies in an automobile accident during a zombie outbreak, he is reborn as a highly intelligent – yet somewhat amnesiac – member of the living dead. With society crumbling around him and violence escalating into daily life, he finds that the humans who he once called friends, family, and even lovers, are now trying to kill him! What’s worse is that even though he knows it’s wrong, he can’t kick the constant cravings to cut their heads open and eat their brains!

As if all this wasn’t bad enough, Peter soon learns that his car accident was no accident! Since zombies are immortal, and require no sleep at all, Peter decides to devote the increasingly eternal amount of time on his hands to solving his own murder!

Skillfully combining the genres of horror and humor, Zombie, Ohio weaves an enthralling and innovating tale that fans of the current zombie craze and detective-story addicts are sure to relish! Will Peter get his friends and girlfriend back? Will he find out who killed him? Will he join the brain-eating zombies against the humans? Will he help them fight back? There’s only one way to find out!

About the Author:
SCOTT KENEMORE is the author of The Zen of Zombie, Z.E.O, The Art of Zombie Warfare and The Code of the Zombie Pirate. He is also the drummer for the Chicago–based rock band The Blissters. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. This is his first novel.

http://scottkenemore.wordpress.com/

DVD REVIEW: BMX Bandits (1983)

BMX Bandits (1983) DVD

Label: Severin Films
Region Code: 0 NTSC
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 91 Min.
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Cast: Nicole Kidman, David Argue, John Ley, Angelo D'Angelo, James Lugton

Synopsis: The future Academy Award® winner made her movie debut at 16 years old as the pouffy-haired star of this action/comedy about a cache of stolen walkie-talkies, three BMX-riding friends, and the ruthless bank robbers who will pursue them through every graveyard, shopping mall, construction site and water park in New South Wales, Australia. It’s a high-flying ride to adventure filled with wild stunts, cool BMX outfits, creepy innuendo, cheezy synth music, an obnoxious fat kid, and gobs of fast and furious fun. John Ley (Mad Max), David Argue (Razorback) and Bryan Marshall (The Long Good Friday) co-star – with thrilling cinematography from future Oscar® winner John Seale (The English Patient) – in this Down Under ‘80s cult classic from ‘Ozsploitation’ master Brian Trenchard-Smith, the legendary director of Turkey Shoot, Dead End Drive-In and Stunt Rock!

Film: The early to mid 1980's were a fantastical era filled with neon-dreams and new wave synth pop, a time when every kid on the street either owned or desired a BMX. Atari hadn't yet dulled the natural instinct of children everywhere to congregate in the great outdoors. It confounds me that while the BMX figured so prominently in my youth somehow this film eluded me 30+ years. Circa 1983 prior to THE GOONIES or MONSTER CLUB this would have undoubtedly been a Top 5 film for me.

This is a classic 80's kids vs. criminals action/adventure film from Brian Trenchard-Smith, the director of the Ozploitation classics STUNT ROCK (1980), TURKEY SHOOT (1982) and DEAD END DRIVE-IN (1986) which are featured prominently in the documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION! (2008) which if you haven't seen I would suggest you definitely check it out, it's a blast. Trenchard-Smith also directed NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 (1994) which was a good bit of bloody fun but on the other end of the spectrum he also helmed LEPRECHAUN 3 (1995) and LEPRECHAUN 4: IN SPACE (1997) so obviously something went terribly wrong for him in the mid 90's which truly were a bland cinematic wasteland.

The film begins on a surprisingly dark note featuring a bank heist perpetrated by four men in pig masks. It's a bizarre and tightly edited intro that gets the film on it's feet right at the start. You gotta show some love for the crazy 80's cuz these shenanigans just wouldn't snag a kiddie friendly rating today. Our three adventurers are P.J. (Angelo D'Angelo), Goose (James Lugtion) and Judy, a super-cute and never curlier Nicole Kidman whose efforts to scrape up some scratch for BMX bikes puts them in the sights of the bank robbing duo of Moustache (John Ley) and Whitey (David Argue) who are out to recover some walkie-talkies the trio have happened upon. There you have it, and so the chase begins in a world where parents just don't seem to physically exist.

To be honest the acting on the part of our trio is not worth a lot of praise except for maybe James Lugton whose wryly delivered humor is rather awesome. Also worth mentioning is David Argue as Whitey who supplies many of the films physical gags to great effect. He stole the show for me, he's an intense and irrational character who early on passes himself off as an officer of the law and at some point it's quite clear to me that he actually believed he was. I also love that there's a "fat kid" character who's one part Francis Buxton from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and one part Chunk from The Goonies. What film is not made that much better by the addition of a fat kid?  The film plays as a series of fun action sequences featuring our trio evading the crooks as they give chase through a dark cemetery, a construction site, a wharehouse and what self-respecting 80's film didn't feature a chase though a mall prominently featuring an escalator? Highlights for me were an extended night chase through an eerie cemetery featuring the crooks in goblin masks and a wonderfully wacky chase down a waterslide. It's a mostly harmless film meant to entertain the kiddies but with Brian Trenchard-Smith at the controls you know the film will be littered with fun chase sequences and a few large explosions. BMX Bandits it's just retro-80's goodness and the foam fight finale is appropriately nutty in a REAL GENIUS (1985) mountain of popped kernel corn kinda way. I don't know if the youth of today are gonna go ga-ga for this but being a child of the 80's myself it was hard not to commandere my sons BMX and pop a wheelie.

DVD: BMX Bandits gets a pleasing 2.35:1 (16x9) anamorphic transfer and it looks pretty great for a 30 year film. There's minimal print damage, vibrant 80's colors and fairly sharp details. We get Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio with no subtitles. Not a ton of bonus features but what we do get are pretty entertaining. There's an Trenchard-Smith commentary that is both congratulating and a bit self deprecating at the same time with numerous anecdotes about the making of the film, the actors and the beautiful locations throughout the film. BMX Buddies is a compact featurette with interviews from writers Patrick Edgeworth and Russell Hagg, actor James Lugton, producer Tom Brodebridge and plenty of Brian Trenchard-Smith. Notably missing is Nicole Kidman who from what I gather is a bit embarrassed by the film. Like Kevin Bacon she needs to get over it and embrace her humble beginnings. The special features are rounded out with a teaser trailer and three Severin Film trailers. Like I said, not a ton of bonus features but between the commentary and the featurette there's a lot of great content.

Extras:
- Audio Commentary With Director Brian Trenchard-Smith
- BMX Buddies: Featurette with Cast and Crew (38:02)
- Nicole Kidman on Young Talent Time (2:32) 
- Theatrical Trailer (0:32)
- Severin Films Trailers: INGLOURIOUS BASTARDS (1:47), EAGLES OVER LONDON(4:38), BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR (2:31)

Verdict: Having just watched the film for the 1st time it's difficult to rank this alongside my favorite 1980's kids flicks without the benefit of the inherent nostalgia factor but my initial thoughts are that it's right there alongside THE GOONIES (1985), MONSTER SQUAD (1987) and CLOAK AND DAGGER (1984) as an 80's cult classic, that's no small praise and it's totally warranted here. Fantastically frivolous and awesomely 80's
3.5 outta 5

BLU-RAY REVIEW: The Beyond (1982)

THE BEYOND (1981) Blu-ray

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



The proper sepia-tone pre-credit sequence.



The errant monochromatic pre-credit sequence.

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

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

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

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

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

- Original International Trailer (3:15)

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

My collection of theatrical one-sheets

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

SEPTEMBER 30, 1955 (1977)

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

THE BIG BUS (1976)

Director: James Frawley

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

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

SMALL CHANGE (1976)

Director: Francois Truffaut

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

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

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

RESURRECTION (1980)

Director: Daniel Petr

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Sam Shepard, Richard Farnsworth

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

  CLAUDINE (1974)

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

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

BLACK MOON (1975)

Director: Louis Malle

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

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

THE PURSUIT OF B.D. COOPER (1981)

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

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

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

PRIEST OF LOVE (1981)

Diercetor: Christopher Miles

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

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

DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (1972)

Director: Robert Fuest

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

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

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

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

SHOCK TREATMENT (1981)

Director: Jim Sharman

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

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

 THE OTHER (1972)

Director: Robert Mulligan

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

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

  BLACK CHRISTMAS

aka SILENT NIGHT, EVIL NIGHT (1975)

Director: Bob Clark

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

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

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

HANDLE WITH CARE (1977)

Director: Jonathan Demme

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

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

THE BIG RED ONE (1980)

Director: Sam Fuller

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

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



THEATRICAL REVIEW: Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES ( 2011)

STUDIO: Sony Pictures
DURATION: 116 mins

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH (SHAM030)

Release Date: March 28th 2011

REGION: Region 0 PAL

DURATION: 96 mins

DIRECTOR: Sergie Martio

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

- Edwige Fenech bio presentation

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

APHRODISIAC! THE SEXUAL SECRET OF MARIJUANA (1972) DVD

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

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

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

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

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