Check out the first release from Unearthed Films new TOO EXTREME FOR MAINSTREAM line!

  If you are a horror fan, then I'm sure you are well aware of the production/distribution company known as Unearthed Films.   Owned by Stephen Biro, Unearthed Films puts out some of the most disturbing and extreme horror DVDs and Blu-rays.  Well, if that wasn't good enough, they are now rolling out a new line of films called TOO EXTREME FOR MAINSTREAM which will only be available through the Unearthed Films website.   These are films that Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. would refuse to carry due to the nature of the films.   I am super excited about this new line of films, and the first release in this new line has been announced and will be available to pre-order today!

 The first release is the John Wayne Gacy serial killer film, TORMENT.  The film was directed by Adam Ford  and is a great choice for the TOO FXTREME FOR MAINSTREAM film line!  Here is the basic synopsis from the UF website:

Based on the John Wayne Gacy Murders. A young man wakes up after a one night stand and finds himself in the clutches of one of the most notorious serial killers to ever stalk the earth. 

 
There will be 3 different purchasing options for TORMENT, including a super rare "Gacy Bundle" limited to only 20 sets!  The DVD and Blu-ray will also be limited.  They will only be available for pre-order from 4/13 through 5/11.   They will only produce as many copies as they sell during this pre-order time frame.  See below for the different purchasing options:

Option1:
DVD (limited to the number of units sold): $25+shipping

Option 2:
BLU-RAY (limited to the number of units sold):  $30+shipping

Option 3:
THE INFAMOUS GACY BUNDLE  (limited to only 20 sets!):  $395 +shipping

Item included in the Gacy Bundle:

* A one-of-a-kind 9" x 12" painting of John Wayne Gacy by artist Lou Rusconi: Each painting is wrapped and signed by Lou and it will be a mystery which one you will get.

*One letter signed by John Wayne Gacy sent to Merle Allen of The Murder Junkies

*One Novel: "Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders" written by Terry Sullivan with Peter T. Maiken

*The DVD "SERIAL KILLER CULTURE" directed by John Borowski

*A Limited Edition Blu-ray of "TORMENT" based on the Gacy murders with a limited edition blood painting cover by artist Ryan Almighty (limited to 20)

*A Limited to 50 signed print of a painting, painted in blood, of Pogo from artist Ryan Almighty 

*A hand painted patch of Pogo the clown made by Jeremi Cruise of ToeTag EFX

 Yes, you read that correctly....the Gacy Bundle will contain a letter hand signed by John Wayne Gacy himself! 

 Unearthed Films has hit a home run with this first release in the TOO EXTREME FOR MAINSTREAM film line.  Pre-order your copy starting tonight at 8pm Eastern time! 


CLICK HERE to visit the Unearthed Films website and pre-order TORMENT on DVD or Blu-ray
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for TORMENT

Blu-ray Review: LOVE CAMP 7 (1969)

LOVE CAMP 7
Directed by  Lee Frost
Distributed by Blue Underground & CAV Distributing

 I have seen a lot of sexploitation and more notably, Nazisploitation films in my movie reviewing career, but somehow had never seen this 1969 gem, which actually ushered in the wave of Nazisploitation films of the 1970's.   While later films of this genre might have improved upon this one, you can't deny the impact this film had on an entire decade of film.   Here is the basic plot from the CAV website:

  The story of LOVE CAMP 7 is based on fact! During the darkest days of World War II, two young American WAC officers volunteer to infiltrate a Nazi Love Camp on a desperate rescue mission. Once inside, they are subjected to horrifying humiliations at the hands of their captors. Can they survive long enough to complete their objective and escape with their lives intact?
  Launching the Nazisploitation craze of the 1970s, LOVE CAMP 7 was the dream child of Writer/Producer/Star Bob Cresse (THE SCAVENGERS), Producer Dave Friedman (BLOOD FEAST), and Director/Cinematographer Lee Frost (THE BLACK GESTAPO). Blue Underground presents the original version of LOVE CAMP 7 in a brand-new 4K restoration from its recently discovered camera negative!
 
  This film will probably seem pretty tame by today's standards, and probably even by standards set by later films of the 1970's in this same genre of film.   I can imagine though at the time of it's release back in 1969, this was probably horribly upsetting and shocking to audiences.    There are still some shocking parts to the film, but overall it is one of the tamer exploitation films I have seen.  

  While not horror by any means, the film does have a crazy scene at the end where the women get their revenge on the Nazi officers.  I don't want to give too much away, but lets just say one of the greatest kills comes from the use of a wine bottle opener! 

  While these films were used mainly as an excuse for showing lots of female flesh, I never really understood how or why these types of movies were so popular. As much as I enjoy seeing these beautiful women, I don't enjoy the story line and plot aspect of them being treated as love slaves for the Nazi officers.   I guess that was part of the point of these films, to make you uncomfortable.  It also serves to make the ending more enjoyable when you see the women get their revenge.  

  The film is well made and well paced, with hardly ever a dull moment.   The new transfer from Blue Underground is excellent, with a very crisp and clear picture.  It looks amazing for a film that is 48 years old!  

  LOVE CAMP 7 is available now on a 2-disc limited edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Blue Underground and CAV and contains the following special features:

• NAZITHON: DECADENCE AND DESTRUCTION
• Theatrical Trailer
• Poster & Still Gallery
• BONUS Collectable Booklet featuring The History of Nazi-Exploitation by Paolo Zelati


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack

 
 
 

Blu-ray Review: HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 (1985)

HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5
Written & Directed by  Richard Casey
Distributed by Vinegar Syndrome

  I love old grindhouse and exploitation type films, and HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 is a great example of this type of film.  The film is not without it's flaws, but it was very enjoyable to me.   Here is the basic plot from the Vinegar Syndrome website:

  A mysterious killer, wearing a Nixon mask, terrorizes and murders a young couple. A professor assigns his students a project investigating the strange events connected to a possibly dead Nazi scientist, Dr. Fredrick Bartholomew. The doctor's assistant kidnaps students, holding them hostage and torturing them. Meanwhile, Nixon stalks the night!

 Ha!  If that plot synopsis sounds confusing, it's because it is.  Let's get the few negative things out of the way.  The plot is kind of all over the place in this film, but that doesn't take too much away from the enjoyment of the film in my opinion.   The acting is downright atrocious...and that does take a little bit away from the film, unfortunately.

  Now to the good stuff, which is the most important part of any horror film....the kills.  While overall pretty tame by today's standards, there were a couple of kills that were very well done.  The main one was the metal garden rake to the guys head.  This is a great effect that looked extremely realistic.  The films also has a nice grindhouse vibe to it, as well as a slasher and almost Giallo feel to it in some parts.  In other parts, it's more of a capture/torture type film. Hey, as I stated before, the movie is a mess plot wise!  Ha! All this gives it a very unique and fun character, though.

  While the movie is far from perfect.....and I mean extremely far, it is still fun film and worth a watch in my opinion.

  HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 is available now on a Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo  (only 3,000 units made) from Vinegar Syndrome.  Special Features include the following:

*  All extras on both formats
*  Region free Blu-ray and DVD combo pack
*  Scanned and restored in 2k from 16mm archival elements
*  “Return to Horror House on Highway 5” – making of featurette
*  Commentary track with director Richard Casey
*  “Beach Party with Vom” – music video directed by Richard Casey (the impetus for Horror House on Highway 5)
*  Alternate full frame presentation of Horror House on Highway 5
*  Reversible cover artwork by Kevin Thomas


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Limited Edition Blu-ray

 

DVD Review: DEAR GOD NO! (2011)

DEAR GOD NO!
Written & Directed by James Bickert
Produced/Distributed by Big World Pictures

 This film is nasty, and extremely offensive....so needless to say, I loved it!!

 If you are a fan of crazy, weird, and wacky exploitation horror films, then you are in for a treat with the film, DEAR GOD NO!  I've had this one for a while and just realized I had never done a review of it.  I popped it in the DVD player with very low expectations to be honest.  This is a very low budget independent film which we all know can go either way.  Usually these types of films are pretty bad, but I am happy to say that this film doesn't go down that road.  This film goes down a completely different road, one filled with bikers, babes, Nazis, and Sasquatch!   Ha!  It sounds crazy, I know, but somehow it all comes together and works!   Here is the official synopsis from the Big World Pictures website:

  Grab some popcorn, gas up the jalopy and grab your favorite girl. Big World Pictures presents the retro Bikers vs. Bigfoot feature film DEAR GOD NO! A thrill ride here to save cinema by delivering all the carnival fun of a 1970’s drive-in movie.  A vicious gang of thrill-kill bikers invades a home after a bloody shoot-out in a strip club. Humiliation and murder follow, but there is something in the basement and in the woods… Sasquatch! This shot on film politically incorrect exploitation throwback is a fun grab bag of biker film, home invasion flick, Bigfoot monster movie, stag loops, and even some Nazisploitation.

  One thing to take note of here is how well the filmmakers capture the look of an old 70's grindhouse flick.  Upon further research, I found out they shot this movie on 16mm film using vintage cameras, resulting in a sincere and unique dated look to the film.  This is a perfect throwback film and really makes me miss those old sleazy grindhouse films of the 1970's.  Thank goodness filmmakers like James Bickert are around to bring us new films that take us back to this great film era and genre.

  DEAR GOD NO! is not a horror movie per say, but it does have some horror elements throughout it.  It contains a good amount of gore, which all us horror fans love, and all of it seem to be practical effects.  This is crucial in making a throwback film, and the filmmakers did an excellent job with the blood and gore. 

  This film won't be for everyone.  It is pretty tasteless and offensive, so some viewers might be turned off by that.  For me, I loved every second of this film and hope to see more like it in the future.  It looks like that wait wont' be long, as director James Bickert has made a 2nd feature, a sequel to DEAR GOD NO! titled, FRANKENSTEIN CREATED BIKERS!   It just premiered at the 40th annual Atlanta Film Festival, and will be making the festival rounds in the coming months.  Expect a review of this new film right here on the 4H Blog as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of this film.   Until then, check out DEAR GOD NO! available now on DVD and Blu-ray!


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

 
 

Blu-ray Review: ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX (1983)

ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX
Directed by:  Enzo G. Castellari
Distributed by:  Blue Underground

  A couple of months ago I posted my review of Director Enzo G. Castellari's 1990:  THE BRONX WARRIORS.  You can see that review HERE.  Castellari is back with his sequel to that film, ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX.   As much as I enjoyed the original film, I think this might be one of the few times when the sequel is actually better than the first film.   Here is the basic plot of ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

 The year is 2000 and the Bronx has been reduced to a decaying, desolate wasteland infested with swarms of vicious street gangs and outcast scavengers. When an imperialistic mega-corporation plans to rebuild the doomed "No Man's Land" into a perfect metropolis, they unleash their secret army of sadistic death squads to wipe out the few remaining inhabitants. But beneath the twisted rubble, fierce legions of resistance fighters arm themselves for the final onslaught - ready to die for their homeland. And ready to kill for it. 

  As I mentioned above, I think I actually enjoyed this film better than the original.  This film was action packed throughout the entire running time, and even had quite a few instances of some good gore, which is a always a plus in my opinion!  The film is very bloody and violent, and in fact, boasts a body count of 174 deaths!   That's more than any horror movie I think you could find! 

  Now I have to admit, it had it's faults, including some pretty silly dialog and some laughable action scenes.   Some of these include our lead character Trash blowing up a helicopter with about 3 or 4 shots of his pistol!  He also shoots at a van (with what seems like unlimited bullets) until it explodes as well.   Maybe vehicles back in the 80's were just highly explosive compared to today's vehicles and our safety standards!   Although these scenes are a bit silly, they actually give the movie as certain charm and definitely don't take away from the enjoyment of this film.

  I highly recommend this one for all fans of exploitation, grindhouse type cinema.

  ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX is available now on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Blue Underground.  As always, Blue Underground has done an amazing job with this package with a beautiful Blu-ray transfer and some great special features including:

*  Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari
*  Enzo G. Castellari and Fabrizio De Angelis In Conversation Part 3
*  The Hunt For Trash - Interview with BRONX WARRIORS Superfan Lance Manley
*  Theatrical Trailers
*  Poster & Still Gallery


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA (1973)

BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA
Directed by:  Eddie Romero
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

 Arrow Films continues to keep putting out some of the greatest releases of classic horror, exploitation, and grindhouse flicks.   One of their latest releases is BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA, a great exploitation film from the early 70's.  Here is a synopsis of the film courtesy of the MVD website:

  Before her iconic turn in Coffy, Pam Grier starred alongside Margaret Markov in a grindhouse spin on Stanley Kramer's The Defiant Ones, fusing the Women in Prison film with the emerging Blaxploitation movement for a riotous romp of bullets, babes and blood! Lee (Grier), a tough prostitute and Karen (Markov), a revolutionary, are admitted to a tough women's prison where almost immediately (after some playful showering that prefigures Porky's) they clash. Packed off to a maximum security prison, their transport is ambushed by Karen's guerrilla friends and the two escape into the Filipino jungle. Chained together and with differing escape plans their clash intensifies as Lee wants to retrieve a stash of stolen cash to get her off the island and Karen wants to re-join her revolutionary group. Escape isn't easy as they come up against a series of obstacles including a corrupt cop, a bounty hunter, a sadistic Drug Lord and guerrillas who threaten to turn everything upside down. Chock full of girl fights, gun battles, nudity and humour, Black Mama White Mama, which was also known as Women in Chains and Hot, Hard and Mean, lives up to all its titles as well as featuring a brilliant Sid Haig (Spider Baby, House of 1000 Corpses) as a cowboy bounty hunter and Lynn Borden (Frogs, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry) as a lesbian guard from a script co-written by Jonathan Demme (Caged Heat) and a score sampled by Quentin Tarantino for Kill Bill.

 I have to admit I've always loved the women-in-prison films from the 70's and 80's.   This film is has many elements of that type of film, along with elements of the more extreme ILSA films of the 70's.  The film is also a revenge flick, and an action flick with tons of gun fights and explosions.  Part of this film reminded me of the old Charles Bronson DEATH WISH films.  Pam Grier was excellent as the no holds barred, strong leader of the women.  She never backed down from a fight with fellow prisoners or from the many people after her and her partner once they escaped.

  A special treat for horror fans will be the appearance of genre vet, Sid Haig.   A lot of horror fans these days might only know Haig from his more recent films like HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, and THE DEVIL'S REJECTS.   If that's how you know him, you will hardly recognize him as Rueben the bounty hunter in this film.  He is always a great actor and brings a certain charm to any character he portrays, and this is no different.

  While not a horror film by any means, it's an exploitation/sexsploitation film at it's finest.  I highly recommend this one to all genre fans!

  BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA is available now from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
*  Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Commentary by filmmaker Andrew Leavold, director of The Search for Weng Weng
*  White Mama - An interview with star Margaret Markov
*  Sid’s Filipino Adventure - An interview with star Sid Haig
*  The Mad Director of Blood Island - A previously unseen archive interview with director Eddie Romero
*  Trailer
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: ISLAND OF DEATH (1976)

ISLAND OF DEATH
Directed by  Nico Mastorakis
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment

   This might be one of the sleaziest, nastiest, filthiest movies I have ever seen, and I loved every minute of it!  Let's not take too much time thinking about what that says about me, instead lets talk about one of the craziest films to come out of the 1970's, ISLAND OF DEATH.   Here is some plot info from the MVD website:

THE LUCKY ONES GOT THEIR BRAINS BLOWN OUT!! Welcome to Mykonos, the holiday destination of choice for sun, sea and slaughter! From cult director Nico Mastorakis, Island of Death is a travelogue of atrocities with scenes so strong that the British Government was once compelled to ban it as a "video nasty". Arriving on the idyllic Greek island, Christopher and Celia appear to be every inch the perfect, handsome young couple. Little do the welcoming locals realise that they are in fact a pair of murderous degenerates, determined to spread their own particular brand of perversion across the island. DIY crucifixions, opportunistic bestiality, sexual peeing and murder by all conceivable forms ensue - including death by makeshift blowtorch, samurai sword, dump truck and more! Shocking, brutal and totally politically incorrect in its outlook, Island of Death is a gruelling cinematic experience devised by director Mastorakis to out-do the excesses of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which he was hugely inspired by. Now fully uncut and newly-restored from the original negative, fans can enjoy Island of Death in all its sleazy, lurid glory.

  This film has been hard to find on DVD lately, only being available in an out of print DVD from Image Entertainment. Luckily, the wonderful folks at Arrow Films have got their hands on this film and have released it as a beautiful Blu-ray/DVD combo pack which is being distributed through MVD Entertainment.  This new 2K restoration of the film is pretty amazing.  From the film quality there is now way you could guess that the film was over 38 years old!  Arrow always does a remarkable job with their releases and this one is no different. 
 
  The film itself is one that is really hard to explain.  The only real story is that a couple go on vacation to a Greek island and then just kill people at random. That's about it!   But, the way they go about it is what makes this movie.  They take pride on killing people in pretty unique ways, many times after just seducing them and/or having sex with them.  To say this is a strange movie would be a remarkable understatement.  

  The movie is very hard to categorize as well.  While it's horror for sure, it has elements of a giallo, exploitation, and sexsploitation film as well.    If you have never had a chance to see this wonderfully messed up film, now is the time to do so with this wonderful Arrow release.

  ISLAND OF DEATH will be released this coming Tuesday, May 26th.   The Blu-ray will be loaded with tons of special features, which include the following:

*  Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, approved by writer-director-producer Nico Mastorakis
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
*  Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Exploring Island of Death – film historian Stephen Thrower on the making of a cult classic
*  Return to Island of Death – Mastorakis returns to the original Mykonos locations
*  Archive interview with Mastorakis
*  Alternative opening titles
*  Island Sounds – five original tracks from the Island of Death soundtrack
*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  The Films of Nico Mastorakis – four-part documentary charting the director’s filmmaking career [Blu-ray only]
*  Nico Mastorakis Trailer Reel [Blu-ray only]
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
*  Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by academic and film historian Johnny Walker


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  (WARNING - Red Band Trailer - Contains Nudity - NSFW)
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

DVD Review: BLOOD OF 1000 VIRGINS

BLOOD OF 1000 VIRGINS
Distributed by Full Moon Features

  I am loving the Grindhouseflix line of films that Full Moon has put out recently!  BLOOD OF 1000 VIRGINS is another great title from that line of films.  Here is a description of the film from the Full Moon website:

  The young and the innocent have their lives threatened by sick degenerates, evil creatures, and the devil himself! Will they escape with their virginity intact? Will they get revenge on their pervy attackers? Will our host make it out alive?  All these questions and more will be stripped down and explored in the sultriest series of trailers hosted by "Playboy Playmate" Nikki Leigh.
Bare witness as our host guides you through topics like MALE and FEMALE VIRGINS, learn as she explains the many REASONS FOR STAYING A VIRGIN, run in fear while being chased by those WHO HUNT VIRGINS, and watch the blood fly when the tables are turned with the REVENGE OF THE VIRGIN.
So stay intimately close to our host as you wade ankle deep through the BLOOD OF 1000 VIRGINS!

  First off, I was amazed that there were so many films about this subject!  I guess it was a pretty hot topic back in the 70's which is when most of these trailers look like they are from.  There are tons of exploitation films on display here, some you will have heard of probably, but a bunch that I have a feeling you might not have ever known existed.  I know there were plenty on here that I didn't know about.   Some of the films are your mainstream sex comedies, and party/teenager flicks, but there are a few that are just totally out there.  Take for instance the film CHATTER BOX, about a woman with a talking vagina!  Or, DEADLY WEAPONS about a woman with huge, um...weapons, that she uses to kill the bad guys with!  This is crazy stuff that you just don't see anymore these days.   It is awesome to have all of these films preserved in a trailer compilation like this.

  This is one of the most enjoyable of the Grindhouseflix in my opinion.   I love trailer compilations like this.  I enjoy seeing all these old films and discovering new ones that I have never heard of.

  BLOOD OF 1000 VIRGINS is available now on DVD and at fullmoonstreaming.com, and contains the following special features:

Special Features Include: -Charles Band Grindhouse Intro
-Nikki Leigh Interview
-Mike Diva's Grindhouse Megamix
-Blood of 1000 Virgins Trailer
-Six Grindhouse Trailers


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

DVD Review: DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION (1976)

DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS  SPECIAL SECTION
Written & Directed by  Rino Di Silvestro
Distributed by Intervision Pictures/Severin Films

 Wow, they just don't make movies like this anymore.  I am a huge fan of exploitation films, and the naziploitation sub-genre.  If you are not familiar with the Naziploitation films, read about them here. I love that Intervision Pictures is re-releasing some of the best naziploitation films ever made.  Last month I reviewed Intervision's release of GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY  (see review here).   Now I am getting to review another of their great releases, DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION!

  This is one of the crazier Naziploitation films I have seen, but still not the craziest.  That title goes to 1976's SALON KITTY.   This one is close second, though, and probably better overall.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the Severin Films website:

  One of the first Italian ‘Nazisploitation’ shockers is also one of the strangest: John Steiner stars as the depraved Commandant of a camp where beautiful women are brutalized, degraded, forced to submit to female officers, and trained to be prostitutes for the Reich. But will a mass escape attempt unleash the most sadistic tortures of all? Lina Polito, Erna Schurer, Sara Sperati and Solvi Stubing co-star in this rancid slab of über-sleaze from writer/director Rino Di Silvestro, now presented totally uncensored including the notorious ‘cork & razor’ scene!

  I think this is one of the better made Naziploitation films from all the ones I have seen.   This one brings something new to the table with some very disturbing scenes, including a "shaving" scene were the actresses actually had their heads  (among other things) shaved.   I can't imagine being an actor in one of these films.  These women went through a lot during the filming I assume.  That really helps with the realistic feel of the film, though.   Don't worry too much about the ladies,though....they get their revenge in the end!  

  If you have never seen a Naziploitation film, this is a good one to start with.  DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION is available now from Intervision Picture Corp.  Intervision has been releasing some great DVD's lately, and I love the retro looking cover artwork they have been using for these films.   The DEPORTED WOMEN OF THE SS SPECIAL SECTION DVD contains the following special features:

*  A Brief History of Sadiconazista- Interview with Film Historian Marcus Stiglegger
*  What Does John Steiner Think?
*  Camp Rino- Interview with Director Rino Di Silvestro
*  Theatrical Trailer


CLICK HERE to buy the DVD

DVD Review: GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY

GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY
Directed by Cesare Canevari
Distributed by Intervision Pictures/Severin Films

  I have always been a huge fan of exploitation films.   I can really appreciate a film that shows something different, something you aren't expecting, and something truly shocking.   There are many different sub-genres to the exploitation films, one of my favorite being the naziploitation films of the later 70's.   GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY is by far one of the craziest of the naziploitation films.  Here is the plot synopsis from the film's imdb.com page:

  Lise Cohen is taken to a special prisoner-of-war camp for female Jews, a camp run as a bordello to entertain the German officers and troops going in to battle. The camp is run with an iron fist by Commandant Starker and his minion Alma. Starker becomes frustrated when Lise demonstrates no fear, and devises cruel experiments to scare her, to no avail. Once she realizes her guilt is unfounded, Lise begins to play Starker's game, but even though she begins living a better life, she doesn't forget the atrocities she has seen and experienced.

  This is one of the better films in the Nazi exploitation film library in every way.  The film is well made and shot well, even if what we are viewing on screen is not a pretty subject.    The movie is hard to watch, of course, and reminds viewers that atrocities such as this actually happened during Hitler's Nazi reign.

  The filmmakers didn't hold anything back when it comes to showing the horrors that the Nazi soldiers put upon the women of the camp.  The women at the camp were basically sex slaves, and were treated very inhumanly, all for the enjoyment of the Nazi Generals and the wicked warden, Alma.   One only has to watch the scene where Alma throws a menstruating woman to a pack of hungry dogs to see just how cruel this woman is.

  The main character Lise figures out quickly that the best way to survive is to form a special sexual relationship with one of the head Generals.  She plays this game the entire time which makes life easier for her inside, even though she has to watch and even participate in some of her fellow inmates deaths.

  GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY is not for the squeamish.  It has some scenes that are extremely hard to watch, but if you like films like SALO, SALON KITTY, and ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE S.S., you will definitely like this one.

  GESTAPO'S LAST ORGY is available now on DVD from Intervision Pictures and contains the following special features:

*  A Brief History of Sadiconazista- Interview with Film Historian Marcus Stiglegger
*  Theatrical Trailer

  Also, I want to point out the super cool retro looking cover art to this new release.  This DVD cover art is much more fitting to this film than that of previous DVD releases.  This release is totally uncut and uncensored, so you are getting the best cut of the film with this release. 


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Double Feature Blu-ray Review: ZOMBIE LAKE (1981) and OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES (1982)

 
OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES
Directed by:  Jesús Franco
Distributed by Redemption Films/Kino Lorber, Inc.

ZOMBIE LAKE
Directed by:  Jean Rollin
Distributed by Redemption Films/Kino Lorber, Inc.

The great folks over at Kino Lorber, Inc. have just released two classic European zombie films onto DVD and Blu-ray.   Jean Rollin's ZOMBIE LAKE and Jess Franco's OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES aren't the best zombie movies ever made, but they both have a certain nostalgic feel to them that makes them sort of "cult classics" when it comes to foreign zombie films.  The films are very similar in many ways, and both have their good points and bad.  Here are the basic plots of the films from the Kino Lorber website:

OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES
In telling the story of a cache of German gold—lost in the desert, sought by a group of teenagers, protected by the walking dead—Franco demonstrated his characteristic lack of restraint, shamelessly inserting stock footage from a bigger-budget war picture, allowing his camera to dwell on the worm-eaten orifices of the shriveled undead and, of course, lacing the action with his trademark style of lyrical eroticism. The resulting film is a decadent exercise in grindhouse filmmaking that is more audacious than frightening, illuminating one of the more peculiar facets of Jess Franco's uniquely warped cinema.

ZOMBIE LAKE
Conceived by one master of erotic horror (Jess Franco) and pseudonymously directed by another (Jean Rollin), ZOMBIE LAKE weaves the tale of a contemporary French village haunted by water-logged Nazis slain by the Resistance. With little regard for narrative subtlety, the film veers from the shamelessly exploitive (as when a women's volleyball team skinny-dips in zombie-infested waters) to the tearfully sentimental (depicting a young orphan girl's psychic connection to one of the walking dead). Beneath its garish surface, however, ZOMBIE LAKE embraces several themes that run throughout Rollin's body of work, showing that this eclectic artist could not help investing even a playful film such as this with his personal sensibilities

As I mentioned before, both of these movies have their good and bad points.  OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES is just very strange, and the plot is hard to follow. I saw this movie years ago on DVD under the title of BLOODSUCKING NAZI ZOMBIES, and the film was extremely hard to watch in terms of a technical aspect.  The film was very dark and grainy and almost hard to make out certain scenes at some points.  I will say that the film is much improved on with this release, especially on the Blu-ray.  The lighting issues are fixed and it is very good picture quality overall.  Also, I think the zombie makeup effects are better in this film compared to those in ZOMBIE LAKE.  They are not great zombie effects by any means, but compared to ZOMBIE LAKE, they are superior.

ZOMBIE LAKE is my favorite of these two films by far.  The zombie effects are not nearly as good in this film.  Basically, the zombies are just regular men with green face paint.  But, even so, seeing a bunch of green faced zombie soldiers rise out of the lake is a very cool image.  There are also numerous underwater shots of the zombies attacking people who go swimming in the lake (usually young, attractive, naked women).  These underwater scenes are fun, especially considering the lake is dark brown, but the underwater scenes are pretty blue water like you would find in a swimming pool...hmmm.  Ha!  You gotta love low budget films!  ZOMBIE LAKE is a lot of fun and I recommend you check this one out.  

Both films are available now from Kino Lorber and are packed with special features!  I am proud to add these films to my zombie movie collection, and you should to!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES
CLICK HERE to purchase OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES on DVD or Blu-ray


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for ZOMBIE LAKE
CLICK HERE to purchase ZOMBIE LAKE on DVD or Blu-ray

DVD Review: ZOOM IN: SEX APARTMENTS (1980)

 
ZOOM IN:  SEX APARTMENTS
Directed by:  Naosuke Kurosawa
Distributed by Impulse Pictures / Synapse Films

 As most of you know, I love Japanese horror films.  Not the mainstream Japanese films (Ringu/Ju-On, ect.), but the lower key, independent films from Japan (THE UNTOLD STORY, EBOLA SYNDROME, etc).  Another horror sub-genre that I love is exploitation films, and once again, the Japanese filmmakers really outdo our American counterparts.  The Japanese always turn it up a  notch and just go a little further than we would here in the States.   Proof of this is  the subject of my latest review, ZOOM IN:  SEX APARTMENTS.   It's a crazy title for an even crazier film.  Here is the basic plot of the film from the Synapse Films website:

Saeko, a woman with a mysterious past, is hit with a rock and brutally raped by a man wearing a dark mask and black gloves. Her life is spared, but soon brutal murders befall the residents of the Kibougahara Apartment building. The victims are beaten, killed, and their genitals are set on fire. Saeko has her suspicions about the killer’s identity, but will she live long enough to unmask the pyromaniac?

  The first thing I realized after watching this film is that I had just watched a Dario Argento movie, had Dario Argento been Japanese.   The movie had that feel to it, like an early giallo film of Argento's from the early 1970's.  Even the killer has the classic look with the black trench coat and black gloves.   Dario Argento would be proud!

 As I mentioned, the Japanese always seem to take it a step further, so instead of a mystery man just killing the women of the apartment complex, he goes one step further and lights their genitals on fire.  Not in the sexy sense of the term, but literally pours lighter fluid on their genitals and ignites them.  Crazy stuff for sure.  

If you are a fan of Japanese horror/exploitation films, this is one you will want to check out for sure.


ZOOM IN:  SEX APARTMENTS is available now on DVD and contains the following special features:

*   Newly Translated Removable English Subtitles
*   Original Theatrical Trailer
*   Liner notes from Japanese film scholar, Jasper Sharp



CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
 

Check out the crazy trailer for HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN!

Back in July of '09, I posted about a fake trailer called HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. The trailer was made as a means of getting funding to make a full length feature, and it looks like it has finally paid off!! HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN has been made into a full length film, and the new trailer is up for your viewing pleasure!

CLICK HERE to watch the awesome trailer for HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN!!

DVD Review: SWITCHBLADE SISTERS

I just finished up watching Jack Hill's SWITCHBLADE SISTERS. Also known as THE JEZEBELS, this 1975 films is the definition of a true Grindhouse film. For those unfamiliar with Jack Hill, he is a genre legend, directing such classics as: THE WASP WOMAN, SPIDER BABY, THE BIG DOLL HOUSE, THE BIG BIRD CAGE, COFFY, and FOXY BROWN. Some of these films are considered some of the greatest exploitation films made. SWITCHBLADE SISTERS is a great addition to these classics, and is what Quentin Tarantino says is Jack Hill's masterpiece. Quentin Tarantino released this DVD under his Rolling Thunder Pictures label. Here is the basic plot from IMDB.com:

The "Dagger Debs" are a gang of snarling girls, and Maggie is their newest member. Lace, the ever tooth-gritting leader, befriends her but soon has doubts --it seems Lace's man, Dominic, head of the "Silver Daggers" fancies the new recruit. Lace struggles to keep control of the Debs, and a handle on Nick, as they face off against the rival gang of pushers lead by Crabs.

While some of the older Grindhouse films really show there age and can actually be quite boring by today's standards, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS kept me entertained the entire time. It had a great mix of action, revenge, and wasn't overly full of un-needed gratuitous nudity that some of the films from this genre contain. The character of Maggie is one of my favorites by far. She comes across as nice and sweet, but her vengefullness really comes out at the end, and when she is finally captured by the police, she yells a tirade at the cops that would make Charlie Manson proud. The look on her face..the intensity in her eyes was great as she told the cops, "You can beat us, chain us, lock us up, but we're gonna be back..understand? And when we do cop, you better keep your ass off our turf, or we'll blow it off, ya dig! We're Jezebels cop...remember that name...We'll be back!!!" HA! Classic...they don't have that kind of dialog in movies these days!

The DVD comes packed with special features such as an introduction and a final Analysis of the film from Quentin Tarantino, along with trailers for most all of Jack Hill's classic Grindhouse films. This DVD is a must have for any fans of Grindhouse/Exploitation cinema.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for SWITCHBLADE SISTERS

CLICK HERE to watch the final scene with Maggie's rant to the cops!!

DVD Review: THRILLER: THEY CALL HER ONE EYE

Also known as THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE, THRILLER tells the tale of a young girl who is picked up by a stranger and taken back to his house where he begins to get her hooked on heroin, and forces her to into a life of drug addiction and prostitution. After gouging the face of her first "client" with her fingernails, her captor punishes her by taking a scalpel to her left eye. After this, she seems to have succumbed to the control of her captor, but little does he know, she is using her day off (nice of him to give her a day to rest up) to take classes in karate and marksmanship, learning to use both a rifle and a pistol. She then proceeds to a steal a shotgun, which she saws of to make here signature weapon, and then extract revenge on everyone who has hurt her. She goes after all the clients that used and abused her, and then finally after her captor who drove her into this lifestyle.

This is a great film and a perfect example of a classic 70's Grindhouse film. It is a great revenge flick on par with I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. If you like exploitation films of the revenge sort, this a must see film.

CLICK HERE to go to the THRILLER Imdb page

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for THRILLER: THEY CALL HER ONE EYE

DVD Review: 42ND STREET FOREVER VOL. 5: ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA

For those unfamiliar with the 42ND STREET FOREVER series, these are Dvd's filled with nothing but trailers from the Grindhouse era, when 42nd Street in New York was filled with seedy theaters that ran nothing but grimy exploitation and horror films. This series shows you trailers of these films, some of which you might be familiar with, and many that I'm sure you have never heard of. They are up to Volume 5 of the 42ND STREET FOREVER series, and I have to say that this is the weakest of the bunch in my opinion. Some trailers were so bad I had to skip them and go on to the next one. Now that is bad when I can't even sit through a minute and half to 2 minute long trailer! Volumes 1 and 2 were great with mainly horror offerings, but they have gone downhill since then. There are a few notable trailers that were definitely worth watching, like TERROR IN THE WAX MUSEUM and THE DEVIL WITHIN HER, aka. BEYOND THE DOOR. Click on those titles to watch the trailers.

If you haven't bought any of the 42ND STREET FOREVER films, I highly suggest the first two volumes...all the ones after that are pretty weak. Also, worth noting, they also released a 42ND STREET FOREVER XXX-TREME SPECIAL EDITION, full of nothing but trailers for the trashy adult x-rated films the grindhouse theaters showed along with the horror and exploitation films, so check that out if you are into that. You can purchase all the volumes from Amazon.com buy clicking on THIS LINK.