Full Moon High

 



Director - Larry Cohen (It's Alive, Q: The Winged Serpent)
Starring - Adam Arkin (Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, The Twilight Zone), Roz Kelly (New Year's Evil, The Dukes of Hazzard), and Ed McMahon (Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Baywatch)
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "He's today's teenage werewolf...only the rules have changed!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Most of you know I have a soft spot for anything 80s.  I love the 80s and almost any genre of film from that decade is always fun to me.  I've enjoyed comedies, dramas, documentaries, and even romance but my favorite is the horror comedies like Once Bitten, The Monster Squad, My Best Friend is a Vampire, and so forth.  Sometime ago Scream Factory released the 1981 Larry Cohen horror comedy Full Moon High which beat Teen Wolf to theaters by four years.  I've a fan of Cohen but I had yet to check out this one.  Thank you Scream Factory for sending this one my way!

     The film follows Tony (Arkin) who travels with his father to Romania where he is bitten by a werewolf before his big football game.  He doesn't suspect he will be become a werewolf but when the full moon rises before the game he is forced to go into hiding before he can hurt anyone leaving behind a school who was relying on him to win the game and a woman infatuated with him.  He goes into hiding before returning to his hometown 20 years later still looking like he did way back then.  He tries to go back to school to make up for lost time but is thrust back into the football team why pretending to be his own son.  Soon his former friend and classmate suspects he is his father Tony and his former flame knows he is not who he says he is.  The hassle of hiding his secret becomes too much and he attempts to reveal to everyone that he is a werewolf.
     I love the light hearted horror comedies like My Boyfriend's Back, Boltneck, Once Bitten, and so on so I was looking forward to this one.  Cohen has made several unforgettable classic during his career and I'm shocked Full Moon High doesn't get the credit it deserves.  I really enjoyed it and I loved the type of humor it delivered.  The acting in this one is fun and fits the film very well but no one in the cast is winning any awards.  The film is meant to be whimsical and silly so the cast take on the difficult role of appearing goofy.  They do a great job and hit perfectly with the humor.  The story for this one is fun but not that original in terms of werewolf films.  Cohen knew this and added the heavy humor to make an unoriginal story appear more fun for the audience.  The laughs work and the originality is severally masked by the cleverness of the jokes but the film does suffer from slow scenes that are a struggle to make it through.  Finally, if you want the blood and gore you find with most werewolf flicks you will be very let down.  This is one of those horror comedies where it is heavy on the comedy and light on the gore which I am fine with.  I do like the classic look of the werewolf and the effects team took a simple design and made it look awesome.  Overall, Full Moon High may not be a gory horror flick but it works very well as a horror comedy.  I love the style of humor and what the story had to offer.  Fans of Cohen will need to grab this fantastic release from Scream Factory. 

    

Cyborg

 



Director - Albert Pyun (Dangerously Close, Captain America)
Starring - Jean-Claude Van Damme (Street Fighter: The Movie, Kickboxer), Deborah Richter (Cheers, Airwolf), Vincent Klyn (The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Baywatch)
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Action/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "He's the first hero of the 21st Century...and he's our only hope"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of you may have noticed that I have been on a Jean-Claude Van Damme lately.  MVD Rewind hooked me up with two JCVD flicks on blu.  About the time I received those I got the Scream Factory release of Cyborg in on blu.  The two JCVD flicks from MVD was hit or miss with me.  Black Eagle was a very lackluster film but Lionheart was amazing.  I really enjoyed it.  I couldn't wait to turn this into a triple feature so I tossed in Cyborg.  Thank you Shout and Scream Factory for sending this one my way to check out!

     The world has been destroyed by a plague and most of the human population has been wiped out.  The landscape is now a dangerous place with groups of pirates killing and raiding as they please.  A group of scientists discover a cure and put the information in a cyborg in hopes it would make the journey across the country so the cure can be manufactured.  When a group of pirates hear of the news they strop to stop her before she can get there so they can use the cure for themselves.  What they don't count on is her crossing paths with a slinger named Gibson (JCVD) who has the skill to get her to where she needs to go.

     I absolutely loved Lionheart which has become one of my favorite JCVD flicks right along Hard Target, Timecop, Street Fighter: The Movie (I was a kid when it was released and loved the games), and Double Team.  They are all cheesy action flicks that are 100% the product of the time.  Cyborg was cheesy but not in the clichéd action movies of the late 80s and early 90s kind of way but more in the lines of an early 90s low budget sci-fi epic but it all made sense when I saw Albert Pyun's name flash across the credits.  The film was fun and I'm glad I was able to review it.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a JCVD flick.  His character is emotionless but still carries the film.  His emotional range falls flat but he once again showcases some world class martial arts skills and impressive stunts.  The supporting cast is fun.  Their characters are very clichéd as well but they made them their own which resulted in a fun experience.  The story for this one is one we had seen before but not as often as we do now.  There has been countless films set in the post-apocalyptic landscape where a scientist discovers a cure for the virus/disease that wiped out most of the world's population and is then tasked with a difficult journey to get it where it needs to go.  However, by 1989 this was only done a handful of times.  Pyun and companies take on it was very fun.  The pacing flows very well and we get plenty of action scenes to hold our attention.  It is predictable but in 1989 I'm sure it felt new.  Finally, this wouldn't be a JCVD flick without some violence.  The fight scenes are fun and a little better choreographed over some of his other films and there is a solid amount of practical effects and blood.  The effects are decent but some, especially the cyborg scene, is a little goofy to look at.  Overall, Cyborg may not be perfect but god damn is it fun.  If you are looking for a post-apocalyptic film without zombies then be sure to check this one out.  I highly recommend it!

The Sandman

 



Director - Peter Sullivan (The Flight Before Christmas, Summoned)
Starring - Haylie Duff (Addams Family Reunion, Napoleon Dynamite), Tobin Bell (Saw, Manson Family Vacation), and Shae Smolik (The Hatred, Trafficked)
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Don't fall asleep"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):



       Anything can be turned into a horror flick when enough creativity is applied.  I've seen horror films inspired by Disney flicks, children's fairy tales, and even inspirational stories from the news.  Horror can be found in every aspect of life if you have a big enough imagination.  Sadly, most bigger budgeted flicks lack creativity and sometimes is left at the door and the title alone is left to sell the film.  Several months back I reviewed the Walmart horror flick Crooked Man.  This was a wreck of film that relied on the title alone.  A few weeks back I was sent a press release for the 2017 horror film The Sandman which gave me the same vibe as Crooked Man.  I was a little curious when I saw it was produced by Stan Lee and starred Tobin Bell.  Once I received the film for review it I remembered how Stan Lee was in the news recently because family and friends was taken advantage of him due to his age.  Any hopes I had for this film went out the window knowing that Stan Lee was not in the right mindset for this. 

     The film follows Claire (Duff) who gets custody of her niece when her father, Claire's brother, is found dead.  The state suspects abuse and keeps a close eye on the child but Claire knows her brother would never hurt her.  What Claire doesn't know is that her niece has a special ability.  She can summon The Sandman to protect when she needs to and this has caught the eye of a secret government agency who wants to capture it and train it to work for them. 

     I wanted to like The Sandman.  I mean, who wouldn't?  It was produced by the man, Stan Lee and stars Tobin Bell.  But I knew that it wouldn't be that great considering the state of Lee's mental health and Bell hasn't been in a good horror flick outside of the first three Saw films.  I went into it with an open mind and was severely let down.  The acting in this one isn't bad but I've seen better from lesser known casts.  Haylie Duff delivers a decent performance but her emotional range does not make her an effective lead.  This film is also an example of giving horror icons small roles and then billing them as the star.  Tobin Bell is second across the top of the poster but isn't in the film a fraction of the time as most of the cast.  It was cool to see him in the film but you could tell he was not that invested in his role.  The supporting cast tries their best but their characters are not that well written.  The story for this one is the same as Firestarter by Stephen King except the pyrokinetic is replaced with summoning The Sandman.  In both films we follow a small girl with special abilities as she tries to avoid a government.  Not much in the way of creativity and what we get is a slow moving film that is predictable and painful.  Finally, if you want gore you will need to go elsewhere.  The creature does look cool but he is not that menacing.  In fact, it acts like an old man instead of this deadly creature.  Overall, The Sandman was a let down.  The cast was not that involved, the story lacked, and the effects was not where they needed to be.  This one was a huge let down.  Skip it. 

A Meowy Halloween



Director - Steve Rudzinski (CarousHell, The Survivors)
Starring - Amie Wrenn (The Survivors, Red Christmas), Aaron Fletchersmith (A Meowy Christmas), and Ben Dietels (Everyone Must Die!, The Slasher Hunter)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "New York has a mew problem"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Director Steve Rudzinski and myself often see eye to eye.  We both have similar tastes film and television.  To say I'm a fan of his would be an understatement.  His movies have always found their marks with me and I look forward to every new project he announces.  With October just around the corner I was looking forward to some Halloween flicks.  I'm not like most horror fans that binge watch horror movies every night in October.  I watch several horror films a day all year long so October isn't a month for horror to me.  I prefer to watch movies centered around Halloween instead of the clichéd horror flick that barely makes mention of the holiday.  I believe Steve is the same which is why he made the kid friendly Halloween tale A Meowy Halloween which is also a sequel to his A Meowy Christmas.  Steve was kind enough to reach out to me to check it out knowing how much I enjoyed the first installment.  Thanks Steve!
     The film follows Wally who is a clueless detective that is tasked with saving his small town during Halloween.  What he doesn't know is that his home is haunted and only his pet cat and mouse can stop the evil forces before they are consumed by it. 




     Right out the gate I have to say that A Meowy Halloween fails as a horror movie.  Thank god Steve did not set out to make a horror flick.  Instead, he made a kid friendly holiday film that really does work as a Halloween flick.  The acting in this one is fun.  Steve takes on the duty as lead and he is fantastic.  I've seen almost all his films and its amazing how much more comfortable in front of the camera he is now compared to his earlier films.  He is a solid lead and makes his character stand out.  The supporting cast, physical and vocal, is solid as well.  They do fantastic jobs and make the film even more enjoyable.  The story for this one is full of classic horror and Halloween references.  If you grew up in the 90s then you saw several films centered around animals but very few, if any, are set against Halloween.  This was a fun take on those types of films but Steve didn't make it just for children.  The horror references were a nice touch and you catch yourself getting caught up in them all.  Finally, if you are looking for blood and gore you wont find any here.  The film is story heavy and relies on the cast to keep it moving.  If you were looking for gore you should have went with something not titled A Meowy Halloween.  Overall, A Meowy Halloween is the treat for any trick this year.  If you want a film about Halloween instead of another horror film that has nothing to do with the holiday then check this out. 



Hereditary

 



Director - Ari Aster (The Strange Thing About the Johnsons, Basically)
Starring - Alex Wolff (My Friend Dahmer, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Gabriel Byrne (Vampire Academy, Marco Polo), and Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Fright Night)
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Evil runs in the family"
Format - Ultra 4k (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      A24 is a company that has made a name for itself the last few years.  Not only in horror but in several other genres.  Sure, they have released a few duds here and there but several of their films were top notch.  Just off the top of my head I recall their release of Swiss Army Man, The VVitch, Green Room, and It Comes at Night.  Several months back A24 released Hereditary in theaters and the film seemed to go over well with horror and movie fans a like.  Sadly, I had to miss the theatrical showings but I was lucky enough to a copy of the Ultra 4K release of the film to review.  Was the film as good as everyone had said?

     The film follows a family that recently lost their grandma.  She was a recluse of sorts and their whole family had dealt with mental illness resulting in their death.  The grandmother's daughter is struggling with her death because they had a broken relationship but things take a dark turn when her grave is disturbed and her body was taken.  Over time they try to cope with her lose and work with police to retrieve the body.  One night her grandson Peter takes his sister Charlie to a party where she has an allergic reaction to cake resulting in her throat swelling shut.  He tries to take her to the hospital but has an accident and Charlie is decapitated.  Her death begins a series of events where they learn their grandmother's dark secret. 

     I went into this one with high hopes and found myself struggling to finish it.  The movie was not what I was expecting and was a rough one to finish.  I have no idea what everyone else saw but it couldn't be the same movie I had to sit through.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire cast did a phenomenal job in their performances and did something great with their characters.  With that being said, Alex Wolff is the real star of the film.  The trailer and artwork makes you think he is a secondary character, which is true until the 30 or 40 minutes mark and then he takes center stage.  He did a fantastic job and I cant wait to see where his career goes from here.  The story for this one is a slow burner but fails to gain any traction.  Fans of The VVitch know what a slow moving film is like that can still be effective but Hereditary is so dull and bland that the viewer may find themselves falling asleep like I did.  It took me three viewing to finish the film in it's entirety.  The writing and pacing is all wrong.  Finally, isn't a bloody masterpiece like your gorehounds enjoy but there is a few gags that are amazing.  The effects are top notch and the scenes are fucking gruesome.  Well worth for you sick fucks.  Overall, Hereditary has a great cast and superb effects but they fail to pull together an uninteresting story.  Sadly, this is not one I can recommend. 

     

Lionheart

 



Director - Sheldon Lettich (The Order, Double Impact)
Starring - Jean-Claude Van Damme (Kickboxer, Bloodsport), Harrison Page (Quantum Leap, Bad Ass), and Deborah Rennard (Kazaam, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues)
Release Date - 1990
Genre - Action
Tagline - "When the streets are a jungle...there can only be one king"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The world of cinema has saw the rise and fall of several action stars from the likes of Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, and so many more but few had the rapid rise and sudden fall like the Muscles from Brussels, Jean-Claude Van Damme.  When it comes to actions films of the late 80s and early 90s its hard to top Van Damme's work.  Sadly, he let a bad coke habit and his bad attitude almost ruin his career.  I was a fan of Van Damme's growing up as I stated in my review for Black Eagle but there was a handful of his films that I was never lucky enough to watch.  One of those films is the 1990 classic Lionheart.  I had always heard a lot of great things about this one but I never had the opportunity until now.  MVD Rewind recently put this one out on blu and was kind enough to send one my way!
     The film follows Lyon (Van Damme) who abandons his post in the French foreign legion to go to America to visit his dying brother.  When he arrives in the U.S. he takes part in a fight for cash and when he winds he is taken to an underground fighting promoter who uses him as her next big thing.  When he expresses interest in going to L.A. to visit his brother she is reluctant to do so but agrees seeing this as her opportunity to make even more cash on the west coast.  Once he arrives he learns that his brother passed away and now his wife and child are about to become homeless.  He uses his winnings to help them keep their home but his problems are far from over.  The foreign legion has tracked him down and they are working with the promoter to stop him from supporting her and staying in the U.S.
     I love the action and fighting in the JCVD flicks but some are a lot better than others.  Black Eagle was a huge disappointment in that aspect.  However, Lionheart was not that kind of film.  Lionheart had plenty of actions and some pretty fun fight scenes scattered throughout.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a film starring JCVD.  He, more or less, portrays the same character and does very little acting.  He relies heavily on his martial arts skills and very little acting is done.  The supporting cast is fun.  The characters are a little over the top like most late 80s and early 90s action flicks but they do a solid job at making them fun and memorable.  The story for this one is your typical underdog sports film except the focus of the film is not an underdog.  JCVD is established as a rough and touch fighter with exceptional martial arts skills early on in the film but the fights he is in is promoted as if he is the underdog except he is never concerned with the fights.  In fact, he approaches them all the same even with a broke rib.  His confidence completely destroys that underdog approach.  With that being said, the story holds the viewer's attention very well and the action is timed perfectly.  Finally, this isn't a bloody one.  There is a few scenes with a little blood but the focus point of this one is the fight scenes.  Some of these scenes has better fight choreography than others.  Overall, Lionheart may be a cheesy early 90s action flick but no one can deny how fun it is.  MVD Rewind's release of this film is a must own for any cult film fan or fans of JCVD.  Check it out. 



Black Eagle

 



Director - Eric Karson (Angel Town, The Octagon)
Starring - Sho Kosugi (Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave, The Godfather Part II), Jean-Claude Van Damme (Bloodsport, Kickboxer), and Doran Clark (Quantum Leap, The Warriors)
Release Date - 1988
Genre - Action
Tagline - "There is no armies.  There is no glory.  This fight is one on one"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had a unique childhood which is something I often reference in my reviews.  My dad would often leave for most of the day and night as part of his job.  My little sister and I would often stay with my grandmother who was obsessed with the Sci-Fi Channel before they rebranded.  Its because of her that I have my love for horror and sci-fi.  My dad, on the other hand, was a hardcore spaghetti western fan but would sometimes settle on action flicks if nothing else was on television.  When I would go rent movies on the weekend I would often grab him a 70s or 80s action flick on tape.  Over time they wore off on me to the point I absolutely love them.  Hell, the reason I wanted to review films was to remind people of the long lost action and exploitation flicks that many forgot about over the years.  Several months back MVD Rewind released the odd JCVD flick Black Eagle.  I had never seen this one before which was strange considering how much of a fan my father and brother was.  Thank you MVD for allowing me to review this release!

     The film follows a military group trying to perform a special ops assignment to retrieve a deadly missile from a downed aircraft that crash landed in the ocean outside of Malta.  For fear of the Soviets retrieving it first, the U.S. enlists the help of their best agent who is away on vacation with his two children.  Now his whole family is thrust in the middle of a mission that puts everyone's lives in danger.
      I enjoy the JCVD movies of the 90s and late 80s but it's weird watching one of his films and he not be the star.  Most movies with him are centered around him and his martial arts skills but Black Eagle is not that type of film.  We do have a few scenes where he shows off his muscles and flexibility but this is a Sho Kosugi vehicle all the way through.  The acting in this one is rough.  I enjoy the cheesy 80s action flick just as much as the next guy but the acting in this one is one of the worst that I've seen and I've sat through Miami Connection.  The worst of the film is star Sho Kosugi.  He awkwardly smiles the entire film and has some of the worst delivery I've seen in a moderately sized budgeted film.  I understand that English is not his first language but the smiling and lack of emotional range made the film laughable.  His lack of commitment to the role is contagious.  The rest of the cast does not take their roles seriously as a result.  The story for this one is a solid Cold War era action film that is simple but works for what it is.  It is dialogue heavy and some of the scenes drag on but there is just enough action in there to make it interesting.  Finally, this one does have a few deaths but they are not as bloody and entertaining as we are accustomed to with horror movies.  Overall, Black Eagle is fun for a first time watch but you will find yourself laughing more than anything.  The acting is pretty bad and the story does drag. On the plus side, this release from MVD is fucking fantastic.



Dark Crimes

 



Director - Alexandros Avranas (Miss Violence, Love Me Not)
Starring - Jim Carrey (Kick Ass 2, Dumb and Dumber), Marton Csokas (Into the Badlands, Sin City: A Dame to Kill), and Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist, Nymphomaniac Vol. 1)
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Drama/Crime
Tagline - "It takes a dark mind to solve a twisted crime"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I'm a product of my time.  I was born in the mid-80s and grew up in the 90s so I enjoy the pop culture of those two decades.  I prefer my horror from he 80s but the 90s has heart with their television shows and comedies.  Like most people my age, I love Jim Carrey.  His movies were always on the television when I was growing up.  Most prefer Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar but Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Batman Forever were my go to films for him.  As I got older Carrey took on more serious roles like the film Number 23.  It was a good flick but it was difficult to see a beloved comedian take on a serious role.  Not long ago I was sent another dark drama starring Carrey.  Dark Crimes wrapped production in 2016 but didn't find a proper release in the U.S. until now. 

     The film follows detective Tadek (Carrey) who opens up a cold case involving a murdered man and his affiliation with a sex club known as The Cage that has since been closed.  His interest in the case comes when the murder, which was never made public, was described in full detail in the book written by Kozlov (Csokas).  He thinks he has Kozlov where he wants him but learns that this is now a game and he fell right into his trap with no other option other than to play along. 

     I had no idea what to expect when I tossed in Dark Crime.  I knew Carrey could be serious if he had to but would this film follow mediocrity until the credits rolled or would it be a film that I would be proud of to own?  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Jim Carrey has always been a man that carried his emotions in his face so seeing him emotionless and stoned faced gives this film a chilling tone.  I can't say this is a side of Carrey we have never seen before because the Number 23 exists but it is still strange seeing him take on this kind of role.  I love it.  I also enjoyed Marton Csokas performance.  His performance was intense and made the story what it was.  The film would have been a lot less dramatic without him.  The story for this one is very complex.  In fact, it is so detailed that it is difficult to fully follow and some of the details in the story creates more questions than answers.  The story was going in the right direction but someone really needed to go through it with a fine toothed comb.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you wont find it here.  However, if you want seedy locations, sleaze, and a police thriller you will enjoy it.  Overall, Dark Crimes is a stylishly dark thriller that puts you in mind of Zodiac and Se7en.  The story may not be as intriguing but it is still a solid watch.  Check it out. 

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

 



Director - John De Bello (Return of the Killer Tomatoes!, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!)
Starring - David Miller (Speak of the Devil, Ghost Riders), George Wilson (Gas, Love Brewed in an African Pot), and Sharon Taylor
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "You've never seen a film like it"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of my friends and acquaintances in the horror community know that I have different tastes than most when it comes to the genre.  Most want the sleaziest and goriest horror films they can find.  Personally, I want something fun.  I love horror and all the sub-genres but the horror comedies are what I truly adore. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was a huge part of my childhood and I'm sure it shaped my love of the genre.  I was a huge fan of the animated series, the video game, and absolutely adored the movie.  Recently MVD released the film on blu as part of their MVD Rewind Collection.  I was lucky enough to get a review copy.  Thanks MVD.

     The film follows the U.S. as it is in a state of panic when your average everyday tomatoes become sentient and start attacking people all across the country.  The president puts together a team of experts to fight the menace while the press secretary tries to convince the public that there is nothing to worry about.  They try to stop the tomato menace before they claim more lives but a conspiracy around them threatens to stop them.

     Movies are meant to entertain.  Some horror fans want their horror movies to be vile and disgusting but lack story.  I have never fully understood the reasoning behind that but to each their own.  What I like about Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is that is parodies horror films of the time while keeping it light hearted and humor rich.  It holds your attention very well.  The acting in this one is very high-brow and high energy.  The characters are very well written and stand out very well making the humor stand out even more so.  The story for this one is intended for those with a sense of humor and a love of cinema.  You have to appreciate movies to really get all the jokes found within this aside from the obvious puns.  The story moves as a steady pace and the laughs build the way they should.  I love the writing of this film and wish more horror comedies would take their timing from this.  Finally, this isn't a blood and gore flick.  Instead, we get giant paper mache tomatoes and cheesy gags.  Nothing visually stunning.  Overall, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is still one of my favorite films to this day.  I love that it plays out as if Leslie Neilson himself had written a black comedy.  I can not recommend this one enough and the blu release from MVD is spectacular.  Check it out.