Blu-ray Review: A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE (1977)

 

A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE

Directed by:  Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi

Distributed by:  Severin Films / MVD

 Severin Films has always been one of my favorite distribution companies.   They put out some amazing releases of classics that are well known, but then they release some very obscure, hidden gem type titles that you may have never heard of.   Such was the case for me with the recent release of the 1977 film, A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE!   Here is the plot synopsis from the Severin Films website:

  Less than two years after the end of Spain’s oppressive Franco regime, Goya Award winning filmmaker Antonio Isasi (THEY CAME TO ROB LAS VEGAS, SUMMERTIME KILLER) co-wrote and directed the action blockbuster that shocked European audiences and became one of the most culturally-charged survival thrillers of the decade: Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nominee and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Jason Miller (THE EXORCIST, THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON) “gives a fantastic performance” (This Is Quiet Cool) as a political prisoner who escapes custody, only to be relentlessly pursued by a military dictatorship dog driven to hate, hunt and kill. Donatello Award winner Lea Massari (L’AVVENTURA) and Goya Award winners Marisa Paredes (HIGH HEELS) and Juan Antonio Bardem (THE CORRUPTION OF CHRIS MILLER) co-star in “one of a master director’s most significant films” (Madriz), now scanned in 2K from the original camera negative.

  While not a horror film in the regular sense of the word, I feel this film is definitely a close cousin to the horror genre.  While is is definitely more of an Action/Thriller, there are some horror elements to it for sure, including a bit of gore.  You could classify this as a creature feature for sure, in the likes of JAWS, or any other film where animals attack and kill humans.  The dog in this film is trained to kill, and does not give up until he gets his man!   

  At the very beginning, when the star of the film, Aristides, is shown, I knew I had seen that actor somewhere.  After looking on IMDb, I kicked myself for not realizing this was the actor that played Father Karras in 1973's THE EXORCIST.   I don't recall ever seeing him in anything other than THE EXORCIST before, so that was fun to see him in completely different role.   He does some things in this film that Father Karras would definitely not be proud of!

 The action in this film is great, with the intensity of the dog chasing right behind Aristides throughout the film.  There were some very cool camera shots, making it look like we were seeing what was happening through the dog's eyes.  The intensity never lets up, until the film comes to the end with a bang!   Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean!  

 The film is unique in that it starts like a typical 1970's grindhouse type film, but then transitions to more of a political drama/action film in the 2nd half.   That being said, I did feel in 2nd half of the film dragged on a bit in some sections, and the 115 minute run time could have been trimmed down a bit in my opinion.   That is my only complaint with this film, though, as overall I found it very enjoyable and am happy to have discovered this one!  

 One thing I must note, is that this film does depict some violence against the dog, but that dog did his fair share of damage as well!   I know violence against animals bothers some people, so just wanted to throw that out there before you watch it.  Rest assured, through, that no animals were harmed in the filming of this movie.   There is even a disclaimer from the director before the movie starts letting you know this.  

 If you like creature feature type horror films, and action/ survivalist films, you'll want to check this one out for sure!

A DOG CALLED...VENGEANCE is available now from Severin Films and contains the following Special Features:

• A Film Ahead Of Its Time – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival
• Memories Of A Guerilla Woman – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes
• Daughter Of Titans – Interview With María Isasi, Daughter Of Director Antonio Isasi And Actress Marisa Paredes
• Trailer

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

DVD Review: DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2: THE NAKED DEAD (2017)

DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2:  THE NAKED DEAD
Written & Directed by Sean Donohue
Distributed by  The Sleaze Box

  A couple of years ago I had the privilege of reviewing an indi horror film called DEATH-SCORT SERVICE.  You can read that review HERE.   The film was from a company called The Sleaze Box and from that name, you should know what's in store for you when you put in one of their DVDs!

 The Sleaze Box is now back with  DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2:  THE NAKED DEAD, and unlike some sequels, this was just as fun of a film as the first one.   Here is the basic plot of the film per the film's imdb.com page:

 Deep in the heart of Las Vegas a new killer has emerged. Having survived the previous psycho's last wrath (Michelle) Krystal "Pixie" Adams is left behind to start anew and forget about her black past. Problem is this new murderer is unstoppable!!. A new group of up and coming hookers are on the streets left to pick up the pieces and start fresh. Will they survive, or will they become prey to this maniac slasher!

  Like the first film, if you are a looking for a plot driven,  smart, stylish, big-budget horror film, you might want to keep looking.   But, if you are like a lot of horror fans and just want to put in a fun dvd full of all the things that make horror great, then this is the movie for you!    DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2 if chock full of great kills with some amazing gore!  Add in plenty of sex and nudity and you get a classic grindhouse experience that you just don't see too much of these days.   Another note about the gore and special effects, all is done with practical effects which is definitely something worth mentioning, as most films today go the cheaper route of CGI, which I think we can all agree never looks nearly as good as the real thing!

  If you were a fan of the first film, or any of the other films from The Sleaze Box, you will love DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2!

  DEATH-SCORT SERVICE PART 2 is available now on Blu-ray and DVD from The Sleaze Box.  The DVD includes autographed cover art and a CD soundtrack!  Special features include trailers and deleted scenes.

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

 
 
 

Blu-ray Review: SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS (1977)

SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS
Directed by Greydon Clark
Distributed by VCI Entertainment / MVD Entertainment Group

  I always love coming across films that not only have I never seen, but that I have never even heard of!    SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS  is one of those films.   I'll be honest, as soon as I saw the cover art for this film I had a hunch I was going to like this film!   Here is the basic plot of the film from the VCI website:

  Benedict High School's cheerleaders aren't shy and sweet. The football team knows them well – and Billy, the school's disturbed janitor, would like to. In the locker room, the girls shower and dress, unaware of the evil eyes which secretly watch them. They don't know that a curse has been placed on their clothes. And they don't know that their trip to the first big game of the season might sideline them for eternity. Will the cheerleaders succumb to the dark ritual of sexual sacrifice and death that's been plotted for them? Only those who dare watch will know!

  I'll start by saying that I have a real fondness for 1970's horror films.  There are some really fun 70's horror films and this is definitely one of them.   I do have to admit that this film won't be for everyone, and as much as I liked it, there were some slow parts that even I could have done without.  The running time clocks in at 93 minutes, which doesn't seem to long, but some parts did seem to drag on at times.  I think a little tighter editing and something closer to a 83 minute running time could have really improved this film.  Even so, this is one you'll want to check out. 

  SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS is full of crazy characters and some really cheesy 70's dialog, but that is really what gives it a lot of it's charms.   I was also surprised at the lack of killing and gore...it has very little killing and no gore at all that I recall.  This film is more about the storyline than effects or scares. It's a fun tale that just gets crazier and crazier as the film goes on.

  SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS is available now on Blu-ray/DVD combo from VCI Entertainment and MVD Visual.  Special features include:

*  Behind the scenes Photo Gallery

*  Commentary by Director Greydon Clark

*  Commentary by genre film director David DeCoteau and film historian and journalist, David Del Valle

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

 

Check out GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS, available now on DVD!

 
  If you are a follower of this blog, you might recognize the name Scarlet Fry.  I have reviewed a few films of his in the past, 2 of which are now being re-released in a cool double feature DVD set!   The new DVD is called GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS and it includes the films SCREAM MACHINE  (read my original review HERE) and SCARLET FRY'S JUNKFOOD HORRORFEST  (read my original review HERE).    

  Here is a bit more about the new DVD set from the film's official press release:

 Gutmunchers don't have to be Zombies They can be anything that will get under your skin and eat away at your flesh and your soul! Gutmunchers is two discs worth of horror, gore and more that will have you crying home to your momma. Demented Nurses, Freaky Perverts, Satanic Slashers, Zombies, Vampires & more Grindhouse Gutmunchers is full of Gutmunching Madness, so dive in and get your awesome gore fix on! Scarlet Fry's Junkfood Horrorfest: Scarlet Fry takes you on the thrill of your life with: Blood-Thirsty Cannibals, Satanic Zombies, Demented Nurses, Junkie Serial Killers, Freaky Perverts and More! This Blood Drenched Deluxe Horrorfest isn't for the weak of heart. A drug dealer has made his last deal after he decides to hand a junkie serial killer some bad junk. Scream Machine: As a gift to Dr. Fry from his long lost friend Lloyd Kaufman, comes 5 twisted tales guaranteed to make you faint, puke and quite possibly soil your pants! Not even the Plague can survive the Scream Machine and only a few have made it through to the end of these six twisted tales of Gore Stew!

  I was a big fan of these films.  I love the 80's VHS throwback feel and the practical gore effects were a lot of fun!   If you haven't seen these films, I highly suggest you check them out!

  Scarlet Fry's GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS is available now on DVD from World Wide Multi Media...it's a 2 Disc buffet of gore!! 

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

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

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

Check out the first trailer for Billy "Bloody Bill" Pon's upcoming film, CIRCUS OF THE DEAD!

  I have been looking forward to this film for a long time!  Some of you might remember me mentioning CIRCUS OF THE DEAD back when I did my review of Billy Pon's short film, DOLL BOY  (see review here).  Doll Boy is a character that is in the full length feature, CIRCUS OF THE DEAD.   Billy Pon is a fairly new name among horror fans, but soon he will be mentioned among the greats, in my opinion.  You can tell "Bloody Bill" is a fan of the horror genre, and knows what us horror fans want to see in a horror film.  I love the fact that he embraces the old grindhouse style of horror film. 
  I have been eager to see a trailer for this film for a while now, and now we finally have our chance to see one!  Fangoria.com has the exclusive first look at the trailer for CIRCUS OF THE DEAD! 

Here is the basic plot synopsis taken from the fangoria.com article:

Family man Don’s visit to an old, rundown big top circus and chance encounter with a nihilistic group of clowns leaves him fighting for his life and the lives of those he loves. As Don becomes drawn deeper into lead clown Papa Corn’s games, he comes closer to the edge of reason and sanity. Armed with guns, knives and a ’68 Camaro, the clowns lead Don on an all-night crime spree through oil-soaked West Texas. Papa Corn’s wild ride brings blood, gore and mayhem to all he encounters.

Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!  CIRCUS OF THE DEAD will have it's world premiere at this years Texas Frightmare Weekend, May 2-4!


CLICK HERE to ready the Fangoria.com article and watch the trailer!

Then, check out these other great sites:

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of director Bloody Bill
CLICK HERE to visit the official facebook page of CIRCUS OF THE DEAD
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of CIRCUS OF THE DEAD

DVD Review: DOLL BOY (2010)

DOLL BOY
Directed by Billy 'Bloody Bill' Pon

  DOLL BOY is a short film clocking in at just over 26 minutes. It was written and directed by Billy 'Bloody Bill' Pon, and is mainly a marketing tool for the upcoming feature film, CIRCUS OF THE DEAD.  But we'll talk more about that later, for now, let's focus on the wonderful short film, DOLL BOY.  Here is the plot from the film's imdb.com page:

When a brutal daylight massacre leaves them bound and gagged in a remote, abandoned warehouse, eight young West Texans soon realize their minutes are numbered.

  Simple plot, but executed to perfection.   This is a wonderful film that I actually remember seeing a couple of years ago at a Texas Frightmare Convention I attended in Dallas, TX.  Seeing it again on DVD brought back wonderful memories of the killer known only as "Doll Boy".  He wears a creepy doll mask that makes Doll Boy one of the cooler masked killers I have seen in a film in a long time.  His weapon of choice is a sledgehammer and he uses it well!  The film takes place in a very old and creepy abandoned warehouse of some sort, which I assume is where "Doll Boy" has taken up residence.  A creepy clown delivers a truckload of bound and gagged people to the warehouse and locks them in.  I guess this is a favor for "Doll Boy" and gives him a fun game to play....catch and kill!  The film is shot in a form of an old grindhouse film complete with a couple of "fake" trailers for the films "CIRCUS OF THE DEAD" and the grossly hilarious "MR. FISTER". 

  It doesn't look like DOLL BOY is being sold anywhere, but if you have a chance to get your hands on a copy, you will want to give this one a look for sure.   I can't wait to see a full length film from Bloody Bill....and it looks like we will get to with the previously mentioned CIRCUS OF THE DEAD, which Bloody Bill is turning into a full length film.  "Doll Boy" will be a character in the CIRCUS OF THE DEAD film along with a slue of other creepy demented characters, I'm sure.   I will pass on more info on CIRCUS OF THE DEAD once I have it!  Stay tuned!!  Until then, check out the links below to stay up to date on all that's going on with Bloody Bill and his projects!


CLICK HERE to visit the official website of director Bloody Bill
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of DOLL BOY and watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the official facebook page of CIRCUS OF THE DEAD
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of CIRCUS OF THE DEAD

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

Blu-ray Review: NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS (2010)

 
NUDE  NUNS WITH BIG GUNS
Directed by:  Joseph Guzman
Distributed by:  IMAGE Entertainment

First off, let me start by saying if they gave awards for the best movie titles, this film would
win hands down!    NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS is a title you just can't help but like.  I also love the two tag lines of the film:  "This Sister is one bad Mother" and "She's got a bad habit"!  HA....classic!    For those of you not familiar with the film, here is the basic plot from the film's official website:

Upon taking her vows to become a nun, Sister Sarah is abused, brainwashed and drugged into submission by the corrupt clergy. On the verge of death from a lethal dose of drugs, Sister Sarah receives a message from GOD telling her to take vengeance on all those who did her wrong. Armed with God's will and an arsenal of big guns, she dispenses Judgment Day on her former tormentors. When the church hires the merciless motorcycle gang the "Los Muertos" to track down and kill her they soon realize that this Sister is one bad Mother!

 NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS is shot in an old Grindhouse style.  Many films have done this every since Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez made that genre popular again with their film, GRINDHOUSE, but not too many of these films really get it right.  You can tell it is a new movie just made to look older.   NNWBG does the hole grindhouse bit perfect.   The filmmakers did a perfect job from the font style of the opening credits to the music throughout the film.   If I didn't know better, you could tell me this was a long lost grindhouse film from the 70's and I just might have believed it.

This movie is dirty, gritty, and sleazy....and that is a compliment for this type of film.  That is what the old movies were like that played in those sleazy grindhouse theaters on 42nd Street in New York back in the 60's and 70's.   This movie would fit right in with the best of them all.    The idea of a nun going on a shooting rampage is a crazy idea, and seeing it carried out on screen is even crazier!

There are some hard parts to watch in this film, especially a couple of rape scenes, but the bad guys get what is coming to them by way of this ticked off Sister!   Armed with her guns and her sex appeal, she gets back at all those that have done here wrong, sparing no one in her quest to rid the land of the scum that inhabits it.   

Great action, some good gore, and full of beautiful women showing off their...well...big guns, this film has something for everyone!   Check this one out for sure!   The DVD and Blu-ray is available now.

Special features include the trailer and the NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS original short film that inspired the full length feature film.


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

DVD Review: WOMEN IN PRISON TRIPLE FEATURE

 

WOMEN IN PRISON TRIPLE FEATURE
(CHAINED HEAT/RED HEAT/JUNGLE WARRIORS)
Distributed by Panik House Entertainment/Synapse Films

Panik House Entertainment has put out an excellent release with the WOMEN IN PRISON TRIPLE FEATURE.  This DVD includes 3 classic sexploitation films, all dealing with...well, women in prison!
The DVD includes CHAINED HEAT, RED HEAT, and JUNGLE WARRIORS. Here are the plots of these films from the Synapse Films/Panik House Entertainment website:

CHAINED HEAT
Linda Blair (The Exorcist) stars as Carol Henderson, a woman sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after accidentally killing a man. With the perverted warden (John Vernon, Animal House) seducing the inmates and two rival gangs fighting a race war, Carol struggles to survive her remaining days in the sleazy slammer. Also stars cult film favorites Sybil Danning, Tamara Dobson and Stella Stevens. Newly re-mastered in anamorphic widescreen and presented totally uncut for the first time in North America!

RED HEAT
Linda Blair heads back to prison as American tourist Christine Carlson, a woman wrongly sentenced to three years in a brutal East German penitentiary after being forced to admit to false charges of espionage. Tormented by the evil prisoner Sofia (Sylvia Kristel, Emmanuelle), Christine must fight for her life as her fiancée tries to rescue her from the sadistic hell behind bars. Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen.

JUNGLE WARRIORS
A group of gorgeous models flies to a South American country to scout locations for a photo session. When their plane is shot down, the models are imprisoned and subjected to horrible torture and rape by an evil drug lord. In an effort to escape, the girls grab some firepower, take revenge, and try to shoot their way to freedom! Stars Sybil Danning and John Vernon. Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen.

So far, I have only watched the first film of the three, CHAINED HEAT.  I have always heard about this film but had never seen it until this release.   The film is exactly what you expect from this type of movie.  It is a reminder of the great grindhouse days of the 70's and 80's.  All three of these films are from the mid 80's and boy does it show!   This adds to the nostalgia of the film, though.  Big hair and bad music reminds us just how crazy the 80's really were!  
The acting in CHAINED HEAT is actually pretty good for this type of film.  The film is full of action, there are really no slow parts in it at all which is good.  Another good thing is this film actually has a  pretty good story to it.  A lot of these types of films don't have much of a story and were obviously just made to capitalize on the female nudity, but this film wasn't made just for that...although there is plenty of that as well!   Also, there is some pretty graphic violence in this film, particularly a  cringe worthy scene were a prisoner is  hooked in the neck  in a bathroom stall.  They don't call it the pokey for nothing!! 

Fans of this subgenre of exploitation film should not pass up this great DVD set.  3 Great movies for the price of one!   The DVD is out now from Panik House Entertainment/Synapse Films.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for CHAINED HEAT
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for RED HEAT
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for JUNGLE WARRIORS
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!!

GRINDHOUSE finally getting a proper DVD release!! Well...Blu-ray to be exact....

Fans of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez will be happy to know that their collabaertive Horror/Exploitation film, GRINDHOUSE, is finally getting a proper release! For those that don't remember, this was a great "double feature" film that was released in 2007 and was made up of two feature films played back to back with fake trailers played between the films, made to re-create the feeling of the old 42nd Street grindhouse double features from back in the 70's.
When the film came out on DVD, it was sold as the 2 films split up, each on it's own single disk. That is now about to change, as coming out in October is the complete GRINDHOUSE movie the way it was meant to be seen, including all the fake trailers that were left off of the previous DVD releases.
The two pics to the right are the actual Blu-ray cover art and the slip case the Blu-ray will come in.
I am super excited about this...the film didn't do so well at the box office, but those of us that did go were rewarded with an awesome theater experience that you just don't get these days!
This Blu-ray will be released on October 5th.

DVD Review: BLACK DEVIL DOLL (2007)

I finally got around to watching BLACK DEVIL DOLL, and while this movie won't win any acting awards, I must say it was a lot of fun. The film is directed by Jonathan Lewis, and the plot is as follows (from the official website):

Heather thought that a Ouija board was nothing but an innocent child's game. Little did she know, this child's game would open a flaming door to hell and re-animate the soul of a recently executed black militant serial killer! With his spirit now trapped in the body of a trash-talking ventriloquist doll, Heather and her friends must fight off the unrelenting horrors and unspeakable deviant advances of a three foot killer with a taste for young flesh and warm blood. Can they stop the BLACK DEVIL DOLL?

The running time for this film was only 72 minutes, which was perfect for this type of film. It was made to just be plain fun, and that is what it was. It was not too long and never takes itself too seriously...or seriously at all! The movie was full of great one-liners, almost exclusively from the Black Devil Doll himself. Along with the comedy, there was also a nice amount of gore for us horror fans....especially the throat slicing scene. This was done by a special effects team that definitely knows their makeup and effects and how to put them to good use. The movie was made as a throwback film reminiscent of the Grindhouse and Blacksploitation films of the 70's, and they hit that vibe right on the mark.

This is fun film for anyone that likes their movies with lots of blood and a naked chick or two (or 5) thrown in for good measure! Enjoy...just make sure the kids aren't anywhere near! This is definitely for adults only!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for BLACK DEVIL DOLL
CLICK HERE to visit the official BLACK DEVIL DOLL website

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.