DVD Review: FROM ASIA WITH LUST Vol. 1 [CAMP & HITCH-HIKE]

FROM ASIA WITH LUST VOL. 1 [CAMP & HITCH-HIKE]
Directed by Ainosuke Shibata
Distributed by:  Troma Entertainment

  Troma recently released this nice double feature of two Asian rape/revenge films by director Ainosuke Shibata.  The DVD contains the director's two films, CAMP and HITCH-HIKE.   Both films are centered on the theme of the strong female, who is raped and beaten, but comes back to inflict revenge on their predators.   Here are the more formal plot synopsis' from the Troma website:

CAMP: A camping trip will turn into a nightmare for sisters Akane and Kozue when they become trapped by five men who abuse and torture them. Kozue is brutally murdered but her sister manages to escape. Now, with the help of Misaki, a mysterious female vigilante, Akane is ready for her vengeance. And nothing will stop her until her sister's murderers pay for their crime!

HITCHIKE: The brutal Yoshio and his quiet young wife Saeko are on a road trip. Their drive will take a wrong turn when Yoshio decides to pick up a hitch hiker along the way. When the man reveals himself as a deranged bank robber and serial killer, the couple will be forced to cooperate in his getaway. Now it's Saeko s turn to take revenge on the man who drove her through hell!

  I am a huge fan of rape/revenge films.  As hard as it is to watch a woman being abused and raped, the payoff is always good when we get to see our strong female lead rise up and take revenge on those that did here wrong.  I love seeing the bad guys get what's coming to them!  Both of these films have that strong female character that do just that.  

  These films are very similar and star some of the same people. Both contain some great gore, although HITCHIKE relies on some CG gore in some scenes that just doesn't work.  It looks very fake and unrealistic.  Both films are very entertaining, though, with good stories and some great action.    This is a great double feature DVD at a great price, I highly recommend picking this one up.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
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DVD Review: BIG DRIVER (2014)

BIG DRIVER
Directed by Mikael Salomon
Distributed by Lionsgate

 Here is another film I had never heard of before it arrived on my doorstep for review.   The first thing I noticed was the description on the cover that said "From a story by Stephen King".  I was immediately intrigued and then was even more so after reading the plot synopsis.    Here is the basic plot of the film from the Lionsgate website:

  From best-selling author Stephen King comes BIG DRIVER, starring Maria Bello, Olympia Dukakis, Joan Jett, and Will Harris. Tess Thorne, a famous writer, faces a long drive home following a book signing. On a lonely New England road, her tire blows out, leaving her stranded. Relieved when another driver stops and offers assistance, Tess quickly discovers her savior is actually a serial killer who assaults her. Left for dead, Tess escapes, determined to find her attacker and seek revenge...

  I love rape-revenge films.  I always have, ever since I watched THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE years ago.  I love seeing the bad guys get what's coming to them, so when I read that this was a rape-revenge film, I was really looking forward to checking it out.  I am glad to say that this film did not disappoint!  In fact, I am really surprised I haven't heard more buzz about this film. 

  First off, the acting in the film was excellent.  There was  not a bad performance in the entire film, which is always a bonus.  Maria Bello does a remarkable job as the main character and was a perfect choice for the roll.  

  The film was shot very well and was paced extremely well.  Clocking in right at 90 minutes, the film was the perfect length that never had much of a dull or slow moment.  The film kept me entertained the entire running time.

  Another great thing about this film, is that not only was  it rape-revenge style horror film, it also had a very interesting and unique twist to it.   In the film, the main character in an author and throughout the film she is constantly seeing and conversing with characters from the books she has written.   This really come into play as she is in the midst of her revenge sequence.  This gave the film an almost supernatural/psychological feel to it.

  BIG DRIVER was a big hit in my book.   I would highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a fresh, new take on the rape-revenge sub-genre of horror films.  The film is available now on DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.


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

DVD Review: AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST

AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST
Directed by Chris Woods
Distributed by Icon Film Studios/The Sleaze Box

  I have seen some brutal movies before, but this one is among the most brutal film I have ever laid eyes on.   The film is called AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST and is about two of the worst serial killers in American history.   What we see is the videotape that the killers made as they documented all the women they kidnapped, tortured, and killed.  

  Obviously this is going to draw comparisons to the cult AUGUST UNDERGROUND series.   While they are very similar in nature, AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST steps it up a notch (or two) in terms of violence and perversion from the AU films. While we don't just see women kidnapped and tortured, AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST goes all out and adds cannibalism and some of the most grotesque gore I have seen in a film in quite some time.   The acting is extremely good by Bob Glazier and Jules Sceiro who play the parts of the serial killers.  They give very extreme performances and are very believable in their roles.  Most of the female actresses playing the victims do a great job as well, especially for the tough role they had to play.  A couple of them seemed a little too calm in nature considering their circumstances, but overall the acting was very good.

  Again I have to mention the gore.  At one point, a woman is murdered and then cut open while one of the killers begins to eat her intestines and then do naughty things with her spleen.  I'll leave that up to your imagination...until you actually watch the dvd, of course, then the exact image will be stuck in your head forever like mine! Ugh! 

  If you are looking for a scary horror movie with a great plot and scares, this is not the film for you.  If you are a fan of the AUGUST UNDERGROUND trilogy, SCRAPBOOK, SCHRAMM, or similar films, then this is the DVD for you.  AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST is truly shocking, something you don't see much these days with the normal, mainstream horror films.  Kudos to the filmmakers for such an incredibly realistic view on this subject matter.  Knowing that people like this actually exist in the world make this even more shocking and hard to believe.  

AMERIKAN HOLOKAUST and all their other DVD's (except newest releases) are on sale for only $5 (plus S&H) for the entire month of October!  Click the links below to watch the trailer and purchase the DVD!


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