DVD Review: SEXCULA (1974)

  
SEXCULA
Directed by  John Holbrook
Distributed by Synapse Films / Impulse Pictures

  I have seen some weird movies in my time, heck, I love weird movies.  The weirder the better!  But I don't know if I have ever seen anything like the 1974 erotic horror film, SEXCULA.   This is the pinnacle of weird horror movies.  Actually it is more adult film than actual horror movie.  It is an adult film with a horror movie theme.  Here is the description of the film and the plot from they Synapse Films website:

  SEXCULA is a skin flick of legendary lost status. Shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, it was screened once before disappearing and sought after by cult aficionados for decades. Now, Impulse Pictures is proud to bring you the world premiere of SEXCULA. Sex film fans can finally get a look at this elusive crazy Canadian erotic/horror hybrid for the first time ever.
  Starring a Marilyn Chambers lookalike in dual roles as Countess Sexcula, a buxom cutie with no qualms about lying nude on a table for the entire movie, and a horny bride who can’t wait for her ring. The nudity and sex are delivered nonstop in this campy horror romp. Watch in amazement at the naked picnic, the “girl-on-gorilla” strip tease, and stare in awe as a female pleasure-robot puts the plot into a time warp!
  Bizarre only begins to describe… SEXCULA!

  I can't really say this was a "good" movie.  It is just weird.  It is a fun film and has a certain charm to it...you just don't see movies made like this anymore.  If any director went to a studio head and said he or she wanted to make a film about a female doctor that makes a man  (a 'la Frankenstein) to use as her pleasure toy, then at some point a woman has sex with a gorilla, and a sex-robot comes into play...well, I don't see a studio greenlighting that project.  But luckily in 1974, a studio did and SEXCULA was created. 

  I can't really recommend or steer you away from this one....this is one you just have to see to believe and then decide for yourself if you liked it.  I do feel the need to warn you though, unlike most "erotic horror" films that just show some T&A, this film shows more than that...a lot more.  I was really caught off guard when the first sex scene was shown, they leave nothing to the imagination.  This film is for ADULTS ONLY for sure! 

  SEXCULA is available now on DVD from Synapse Films and contains the following special features:

*  Digital (1.33:1) Transfer from the Rare Theatrical Print Stored in the Basement of the Library and Archives of Canada
*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  Liner Notes from Porn Archaeologist Dimitrios Otis


CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out today, 5/28
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  9 DAYS
*  ATTACK OF THE JURASSIC SHARK
*  THE CORPSE GRINDERS 3
*  DARK SKIES  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  DEAD MINE  [DVD & Blu-ray]
*  FERSEIN'S GATE
*  A HAUNTING AT SILVER FALLS
*  NAILBITER
*  SHANKS  [DVD & Blu-ray]

Happy Birthday To Me, and Happy Memorial Day!!

  Just a quick post today as it is my 37th birthday today, so I have a lot going on and don't have too much time for a real post today.  So my gift to you is the trailer for the 1981 slasher film, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  Here is the basic plot of the film from it's imdb page:

Virginia is proud that she belongs to a clique. The best students at a private school. But before her 18th birthday, a grueling set of murders take place and her friends are the ones who are falling prey. Could it be her? She suffers from blackouts due to a freak accident one year earlier. We soon learn the truth behind her accident and what is going on.

I have to admit, I have never seen this film, which is odd considering my love of 80's horror films.   I will have to watch this soon and do a review as part of my "Classic Horror Movies I've Never Seen" series of posts.

Also, more importantly than being my birthday today, it is Memorial Day, so I want to take a moment to thank all those who have served in any capacity in our Military, and say a special "Thank You" to those families who have lost loved ones who died while fighting for our country and our freedoms. Thank you!!!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for "Happy Birthday To Me"

Check out director Eric England's upcoming film, CONTRACTED

 Director Eric England has begun filming on his newest feature film titled, CONTRACTED.  You may remember director England from his last film, MADISON COUNTY, which was reviewed here on the 4H website.  MADISON COUNTY was a very well made film and I posted that I look forward to future projects from Mr. England. 
Not much is known about this new project yet in terms of specific plot, but here is the basic plot from the film's imdb page:

A young girl has a one-night stand with a random stranger and contracts, what she thinks is, a sexually-transmitted disease - but is actually something much worse.

Who knows what this could be....could it be a zombie virus she contracts.  I am always happy to see a new zombie film, and that poster does remind me of the virus zombies from films such as 28 DAYS LATER or the REC/QUARANTINE films.   Or, maybe it is something totally different.   Whatever it is, I look forward to seeing this one.   It will be a while before we get a chance to see it, though, as filming just began earlier this month.  I will keep you posted with details as I get them!

Check out VCI Entertainment's Huge 50% OFF Memorial Day Sale!!

  Check out this great message I just got in my email!  The great folks over at VCI Entertainment are having a huge 50% sale on their website!!   For those that don't know, VCI Entertainment is a distributor of some great classic films on DVD and Blu-ray (click HERE to see the list of their horror films). They have some great movies, including films from Dario Argento, William Castle, and Mario Bava, just to name a few! 
Here is the message I just received about this great sale:


  In honor of our troops, VCI Entertainment is offering all DVDs and
Blu-rays at 50% OFF our suggested retail price. Click here to visit our homepage.

  Enter the code VCIMEMDAY to receive the additional savings from our already discounted price. This code expires at 11:59 pm CST, Monday, May 27, 2013.
 

Thank You,

Christopher Rowe
Public Relations DirectorVCI Entertainment

 

All sales over $50.00 qualify for free ground shipping for any U.S. address.
This is a "website only" special, only available at vcient.com.
Offer valid once per customer and may not be combined with any other offer.

No, thank YOU Mr. Rowe and to all the great people at VCI Entertainment for honoring our troops and giving us movie buffs a great deal on some great DVD's and Blu-rays!

Check out the upcoming film, FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY

 









  Check out these awesome teaser trailers for the upcoming film, FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY, directed by Richard Raaphorst. I love a good Nazi zombie movie, and this one looks like it is going to be a lot of fun! Here is the plot summary from the film's imdb page:

Toward the end of World War II, Russian soldiers pushing into eastern Germany stumble across a secret Nazi lab, one that has unearthed and begun experimenting with the journal of one Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The scientists have used the legendary Frankenstein's work to assemble an army of super-soldiers stitched together from the body parts of their fallen comrades -- a desperate Hitler's last ghastly ploy to escape defeat

 

  FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY premiered last month in the U.S.A. at the Tribeca Film Festival. It is listed as having a "limited" national release this July. 

CLICK HERE to watch the teaser trailer #1
CLICK HERE to watch the teaser trailer #2

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out 5/21
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)

*  THE ABC'S OF DEATH  [DVD and Blu-ray]
*  ALIEN ENCOUNTERS OF THE 4TH KIND
*  AWESOME KILLER AUDITIONS
*  THE BURNING  [Blu-ray/DVD combo pack]
*  CASTLE FREAK
*  COLD EYES OF FEAR  [DVD and Blu-ray]
*  COOL AIR
*  DARK CIRCLES
*  DARK DEALER
*  DON'T LET THE RIVERBEAST GET YOU
*  HAUNTING
*  AN IRISH VAMPIRE IN HOLLYWOOD
*  LAST KIND WORDS
*  MOLD
*  OOGA BOOGA  [DVD and Blu-ray]
*  PROPHECY
*  THE SINFUL NUNS OF ST. VALENTINE  [DVD and Blu-ray]
*  S.S. HELLCAMP
*  THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN  [Blu-ray/DVD combo pack]
*  TRUE BLOOD:  THE COMPLETE 5TH SEASON  [DVD and Blu-ray]
*  VAMPIRE JOURNALS
*  VAMPIRES AND OTHER STEREOTYPES

Check out the trailer for the film FAMINE

  FAMINE is another crazy film from director Ryan Nicholson and his production company, Plotdigger Films.  Mr. Nicholson has directed some of the craziest and nastiest films out there (that is a compliment, I promise), including the films TORCHED, LIVE FEED, HANGER, and GUTTERBALLS  (all of which have been reviewed here on the 4H website).  FAMINE looks to be another great film in the tradition of these other films, full of great gore and looks to have a cool grindhouse feel to it. Here is the basic plot of FAMINE from the Plotdigger Films website:

  Two years after a high-school prank involving flesh-eating acid nearly kills popular teacher Mr. Balszack, the graduating class of Sloppy Secondary holds a ’24-Hour Famine’ charity event on school grounds. But there’s an uninvited guest at this event, masquerading as the school’s handyman mascot, and he’s got an insatiable hunger of his own. The power’s cut, the doors and windows are chained shut, and now it’s not just cheerleaders who are getting nailed! Has Mr. Balszack come back for revenge? Is his sad tale just a cover for a brand-new psycho? Can the Nailer be stopped before the whole Class of 2011 goes six feet under?

  FAMINE does not have a distribution deal yet, but it is only a matter of time I am sure. I personally can't wait to check this film out.  I have enjoyed all of Mr. Nicholson's previous films, so I have high hopes for this one as well!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official facebook page
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Plotdigger Films

Horror author spotlight: Brian Moreland

  While I don't have all my pics yet from my trip to the Texas Frightmare Weekend, I do have a pic I got of me with the great horror writer, Brian Moreland.   Brian has written a couple of great horror novels, with more on the way this year!  The two available now are DEAD OF WINTER (which was reviewed on this website here) and SHADOWS IN THE MIST.   Here is a description of each book from the Samhain Publishing website:

DEAD OF WINTER
  At a fort deep in the Ontario wilderness in 1870, a ghastly predator is attacking colonists and spreading a gruesome plague—his victims turn into ravenous cannibals with an unending hunger for human flesh. Inspector Tom Hatcher has faced a madman before, when he tracked down Montreal’s infamous Cannery Cannibal. But can even he stop the slaughter this time?
  In Montreal exorcist Father Xavier visits an asylum where the Cannery Cannibal is imprisoned. But the killer who murdered thirteen women is more than just a madman who craves human meat. He is possessed by a shape-shifting demon. Inspector Hatcher and Father Xavier must unravel a mystery that has spanned centuries and confront a predator that has turned the frozen woods into a killing ground where evil has come to feed.

SHADOWS IN THE MIST

  During World War II, Germany’s Hürtgen Forest was a killing field. But there was something worse than the enemy in the mist. An ancient power was waiting to prey upon those who opposed the Third Reich.
  Jack Chambers survived the war, but even after all these years, he still has nightmares about Hürtgen—and the unholy horrors he battled there. Now he is determined to reveal the truth behind his platoon’s massacre and entrusts the task to his grandson, Sean. But Sean’s quest sets him in a deadly race against those who wish to bury the truth forever—and those who plan to use it to unleash hell on Earth.


Also, check out Brian Moreland's upcoming titles.....

THE GIRL FROM THE BLOOD COVEN
  In this short story prelude to The Witching House, the year is 1972. Sheriff Travis Keagan is enjoying a beer at the local roadhouse when a blood-soaked girl enters the bar. Terrified and trembling, Abigail Blackwood claims her entire family was massacred at the nearby hippy commune in the woods. But when Sheriff Keagan and his deputies investigate the Blevins House, they discover there’s more to Abigail’s story than she’s told them. Much more.
(Available this July as a FREE e-book)

THE WITCHING HOUSE
  In 1972, twenty-five people were brutally murdered in one of the bloodiest massacres in Texas history. The mystery of who committed the killings remains unsolved.
  Forty years later, Sarah Donovan is dating an exciting man, Dean Stratton. Sarah’s scared of just about everything—heights, tight places, the dark—but today she must confront all her fears, as she joins Dean and another couple on an exploring adventure. The old abandoned Blevins House, the scene of the gruesome massacre, is rumored to be haunted.
  The two couples are about to discover the mysterious house has been waiting all these years, craving fresh prey. And down in the cellar they will encounter a monstrous creature that hungers for more than just human flesh.     
(Available this August)          


If you are a fan of horror novels, check out these books by Brian Moreland.  If you want a little taste of his writing style, you can get THE GIRL FROM THE BLOOD COVEN as a FREE e-book coming this July! 

CLICK HERE to visit the Samhain Publishing website
CLICK HERE to visit Brian Moreland's official website
CLICK HERE to read Brian Moreland's bio and purchase his books (paperback and e-books)

 

Fangoria's GOREZONE magazine is returning this year!

 Fans of the Fangoria spin off magazine, GOREZONE, will be happy to know that Fangoria magazine is bringing back GOREZONE  magazine starting this year!  I was not really into horror much back when this magazine first came out in 1988, but I picked up some back issues off ebay a few years ago and loved it.  I am super excited to hear they are bringing this magazine back.  
  Bad news is it won't be available on the newsstand, you will have to subscribe to it or buy it off the Fangoria website, but as Fangoria Editor In Chief Chris Alexander explains, “By bypassing the newsstand, we are aiming to make GOREZONE the most extreme and exciting horror magazine on the market,”.  So, that sounds promising.  Sounds like by not being on the newsstand, we will get a more R rated version of GOREZONE.  Pretty cool!  Check out Fangoria.com for more details as they are made available.

CLICK HERE to visit the Fangoria website

The Ford Brothers return with.....THE DEAD 2: INDIA !

  If you are a fan of zombie movies (and if you aren't, you are probably reading the wrong blog), then you will certainly be excited about the fact that the Ford Brothers are returning with a sequel to their 2010 zombie film, THE DEAD.   I did a review of THE DEAD back in 2011, and you can read my review here.  I thought THE DEAD was one of the greatest zombie films to come out in years, on par with the early Romero zombie films.  I was super excited when I heard that the sequel, THE DEAD 2:  INDIA was being made and is now in post-production.  Here is the basic plot of THE DEAD 2: INDIA  from the great write-up about the film on the Bloody Disgusting website: 

“The Dead 2: India follows the story of American engineer Nicholas Burton (Joseph Millson) in a race against time to reach his pregnant girlfriend Ishani Sharma (Meenu). Burton enlists the help of an orphan street kid Javed (Anand Goyal) and together they make a perilous 300 mile journey across deadly landscapes as a zombie apocalypse threatens to engulf the entire nation.”

This looks like another great zombie film from the Ford Brothers!  I have not seen any sort of release date, but I will keep you posted once I hear one.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official facebook page

Check out the Spring issue of GIRLS AND CORPSES MAGAZINE, on sale now!!

  For those that have never checked out a copy of GIRLS AND CORPSES magazine, there is no better time than now to start!  G&C is a hilarious magazine, chock full of great articles about horror moves and music, great comics, and some stunning pictorials featuring some of the most beautiful women and some of the most rotting corpses!!  It's like Maxim Magazine for the horror crowd, except with articles that are actually interesting!  The newest issues (Volume 7: Spring) is on sale now, so why not get a copy and check it out today!   Here is a brief description of what you will find in the latest issue from the G&C website:

Catch the bouquet of our rotting VOLUME 7 SPRING issue of Girls and Corpses featuring 18 year old corpse bride COURTNEY STODDEN with her rotting groom Doug Graves. Also, ELI ROTH talks Exorcists and Aftershocks; DANI FILTH updates us on Cradle of Filth's latest album; LAWRENCE R. HARVEY pulls out his Centipede; artist LAURIE LIPTON draws us back; we meet The Wizard of XXX; sexy SASHA PAIN sews her wild oats; Forgotten Boneyard; meet Mr. Dead; Execution Boners; More Fun Ways to Kill Your Children; and for the icing on the wedding cake, Dr. Kevorkian's Deadtime Stories. Yes, it's a honeymoon in hell! So, walk down the aisle with a smile and say "I do" by ordering this issue: Girls And Corpses Store


CLICK HERE for a sneak peak at the new issue!
CLICK HERE to purchase the new Spring issue or any back issues!

This week's Horror related DVD/Blu-ray releases: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Here are this week's horror related DVDs and Blu-rays coming out 5/14
(Click on a title to see a trailer for that film)
 
*  616-PARANORMAL INCIDENT
*  CHANBARA BEAUTY:  MOVIE VORTEX
*  CRIMEWAVE  [DVD/Blu-ray combo]
*  FANGORIA PRESENTS:  GERM Z
*  GRINDHOUSE GALORE:  GUNS, BABES, AND GORE
*  HOME SWEET HOME
*  THE LOCKER
*  MONSTROSITY
*  STRIPPED
*  TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D [DVD &  Blu-ray]
 

Check out the upcoming film HELL BABY from RENO 911 stars Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon...

  Directors Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are probably best known for their starring roles in the hilarious "Cops" spoof TV show, RENO 911.   Well, now they are trying their hand at a horror movie called HELL BABY.   They are not only directing the film, but they also star in the film along side an entire cast of comedy greats, including Keegan Michael Key, Michael Ian Black, Leslie Bibb, and Rob Corddry, just to name a few. 
Here is the basic plot from the film's imdb.com page:
 
An expectant couple who moves into the most haunted house in New Orleans call upon the services of the Vatican's elite exorcism team to save them from a demonic baby.

The directors promise this film to be a hilarious film, but also a very scary one too.  Horror-Comedy films are very hard to pull off, but if anyone can do it, I bet it's these guys! Millennium Entertainment has picked up the rights to the film, but it is not even listed on their website yet, so I don't find any sort of release date or trailer online.  Once I hear about one, I will let you all know.
   
CLICK HERE to watch an interview with the cast of HELL BABY

MONDO CULT MAGAZINE #3 is one sale now! Check out this great cover by artist L.J. Dopp!

  If you are a fan of old, cult, horror films you will definitely want to check out the magazine called MONDO CULT.   The magazine is up to issue #3 which is on sale now, but you can also still purchase the back issues of issues #1 and #2.   The magazine is full of news, info, and reviews of cult horror and sci-fi films from the past, along with news and info about newer cult films and TV shows.
Issue #3 is a truly great issue, containing one of the greatest horror magazine covers of all time.  The cover is a picture of a painting of cult screen legend Rondo Hatton which was painted by L.J. Dopp, one of the most talented commercial artists working today.  In fact, the cover of Mondo Cult #3 earned Mr. Dopp a nomination for "Best Magazine Cover" in this year's annual Rondo Awards! 
   Mr. Dopp is also a movie maker, and directed a film I reviewed on my site back in 2010 called CRUSTACEAN  (see that review here).  
 
  Check out Mondo Cult #3 and also check out L.J. Dopp's website to view all of his wonderful work!

CLICK HERE to purchase your copy of Mondo Cult #3
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of artist L.J. Dopp

Classic horror movies I admit I have never seen....until now! PART 1: THE BURNING (1981)

 Yep, I admit it.  I have known and heard about this movie for years, but somehow never actually watched the classic 1981 summer camp slasher flick, THE BURNING.   I love 80's horror films, so how this one slipped by me all these years is a mystery to me.   Well, I finally watched this movie the other day for the first time.  It was a great slasher film, just what you would expect from a good 'ol 80's horror flick.  One thing that I found fascinating was that one of the main teenagers was played by none other than Jason Alexander, who is probably best known for playing the part of George Costanza on the greatest sitcom of all time, SEINFELD.  Jason was about 21 or 22 when he filmed THE BURNING, but looks the part of a teenager for sure.  For a SEINFELD fan like myself, it was just amazing to see him with a full head of hair! 

  Check out the trailer and look for Jason Alexander....you can see him pretty good in the first part of the trailer.  He is the kid wearing the green and white 96 jersey in the canoe.  If you haven't seen THE BURNING, definitely check it out.  

  I hope to make this a regular feature on the 4H blog, as I'm sure there are quite a few more "classic" horror films that I haven't seen.  What about you?  Any of you care to admit to any classic horror films that you know you should have seen but haven't ever watched for some reason?  Leave a comment below and let us know!  

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

Check out the upcoming film, SORORITY PARTY MASSACRE!

  I stumbled across the trailer to a  new film called SORORITY PARTY MASSACRE while browsing for trailers on Youtube.  The film looks like it will be a lot of fun.   Here is the basic plot from the Highland Film Group website:


When a city detective follows a missing persons investigation to a sleepy mountain town, he finds himself protecting a group of weekend warrior sorority girls from a ruthless and brilliant serial killer.

Any movie that contains sorority girls and a serial killer is one I want to see for sure!  The film was written by Chris W. Freeman and directed by Freemand and Justin Jones.  The cast includes Richard Moll, Leslie Easterbrook, and the infamous Ron Jeremy.  I'm not sure when this movie will be released, but you can keep up to date with news and info by following the official facebook page of the film.


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
(**NSFW** - trailer contains nudity)

CLICK HERE to visit the film's facebook page

The 4H blog is back on the air!

  My computer is back up and running, and I am back from another successful trip to the annual TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND down in Dallas, TX!   I will have a full report and pics posted in the next few days hopefully.   So, expect daily (hopefully) postings to resume starting now!

Also..if any of you have run across my blog by picking up a postcard or business card on one of the swag tables at the convention this past weekend, leave me a comment below and let me know! 

Thanks everyone!
Zombie Hayes