Blood Lake



Director - Tim Boggs
Starring - Doug Barry (Street Creatures), Angela Darter, and Mike Kaufman
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "A quick dip in the lake turns into a bloodbath of horror"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (Out of 5):

 

     I can't turn down a slasher.  They are definitely one of my favorite horror sub-genres especially if it was made in the 80s.  The style, the gimmick, and the formula of the golden age of slashers are always fun.  Another thing I really love about slashers is that you will never watch them all.  There is always a company searching for lost S.O.V. and indie slashers from the 80s that was never released for various reasons.  Sometime back American Genre Film Archive released the 1987 S.O.V. slasher Blood Lake on DVD.  The artwork fucking sold me on it.  When I was finishing out my collection for the AGFA releases I went ahead and grabbed this one. 

     Blood Lake follows a group of teenagers ranging from barely 13 to almost early twenties who are going to the lake to party it up for a few days.  What they don't know is that the former owner of the property they are staying at is bitter about the deal he received on the property and is now planning on taking it out on those staying there.  One by one he grabs them and takes him to his secret shed where he plans to kill them all together.

     I always go into a slasher with high expectations.  For as long as I remember they have been a huge part of my life.  With that being said, I do come across some that just don't flow well.  They miss their marks and completely fall short on entertainment.  Blood Lake was one of those films.  I really wanted to like it but I couldn't.  The acting in this one is laughable.  The best performance comes from the young teenage boy who speaks his mind and cusses like a sailor.  He did provide some humor but by the 30 minute mark I was ready to drop kick him.  His one liners would have been funnier if they were used sparingly.  the rest of the cast is awkward to watch for the most part and their reactions to the situation is laughable at times.  The story for this one had it's head in the right place but didn't have the heart to get there.  We follow a group of very unlikable teens who sit around all day and small talk before we get to the few minutes where a very un-menacing killer is stalking them only to be denied bloodshed.  The movie has a clichéd slasher story but just can't get it together.  Finally, if you want a slasher with a body count you are looking in the wrong spot for it. The movie doesn't have a death toll really a few deaths is all we get.  Hell, I think only one person dies and that death is extremely lackluster with absolutely no practical effects visible.  Overall, Blood Lake was not the fun slasher I was looking for.  I'm glad I have it in my collection but I don't see myself revisiting this one. 





Ninja Zombie

 



Director - Mark Bessenger (Bite Marks, The Last Straight Man)
Starring - John Beaton Hill (Deadly Famous, Let There Be Peace), Michael Correll, and Kelly Anchors
Release Date - 1992
Genre - Action/Horror
Tagline - "Guts. Gore. Blood. Babes. All in a day's work for... Ninja Zombie!"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months back I saw a post on social media for the 1992 S.O.V. horror action film Ninja Zombie.  Those of you that know me know that I love movies that are out there so this was one I had to own.  While I was completing my American Genre Film Archive collection I went ahead and grabbed a copy of Ninja Zombie on DVD that was a joint release with Bleeding Skull.  I'm so glad I did because this movie was fucking bonkers.

     The film follows an archeologist who is being harassed by a kung-fu cult to find an ancient relic they need.  He turns to his martial arts friend for protection and accidentally gets him killed.  He turns to the dark arts and uses a spell to raise him back from the grave.  He then uses his undead friend to fight the evil before they can get the relic.

       I really enjoyed this one.  Sure, it was a fucking train wreck for the most part but I really liked how much fun it was.  The story was predictable, the acting was very backyardish, and the effects were laughable but I can't deny that the movie entertained.  The acting in this one is pretty laughable but you can really tell the cast had fun with it.  The characters are very bold and unforgettable.  The cast tries but their performances in some of the scenes falls very short which will leave the viewer laughing.  The story for this one is very predictable especially if you just read the title of the film.  A martial arts master dies, is reanimated and forced to protect his friend and loved ones from an evil cult.  Pretty predictable but still a fun no-budget ride.  Finally, the effects are very poor.  I've seen films made with no budget by a group of teenagers in their grandma's backyard have better effects than this.  I did like the prosthetics on the ninja zombie's face but that's the extent of it.  Overall, Ninja Zombie is another one of those films you can really enjoy with some friends and a few beers.  The film is bad but it's still fun.  I highly recommend checking out this release from AGFA and Bleeding Skull.  

 



Take It Out in Trade

 



Director - Edward D. Wood Jr. (Night of the Ghouls, Plan 9 From Outer Space)
Starring - Edward D. Wood Jr., Michael Donovan O'Donnell (Dick Tracy, Cheers), Nona Carver (Revenge of the Virgins, Terrified)
Release Date - 1970
Genre - Comedy/Crime
Tagline - "Down and dirty!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     My tastes in films is very eclectic.  My passion lies with horror but I would be lying if I didn't admit that a huge portion of my life revolved around exploitation.  My taste in horror was shaped by many filmmakers ranging from George A. Romero, Joe Dante, Lloyd Kaufman, and many more but one that gave me the appreciation for the bad side of cinema is iconic filmmaker Ed Wood.  His eye for exploitation mixed with his quick filming style always made for a fun experience.  One film I had never seen of his was the 1970 erotic comedy Take It Out in Trade.  When American Genre Film Archive announced their partnership with Something Weird to release the film on blu I knew I had to have it.  Sadly, I forgot about it until the release of Blood Lake recently.  While getting a copy of that I went ahead and snagged this one.

     The film follows a half-asses private detective with an eye for young women who is tasked with finding his new client's daughter.  His investigation takes him to the seedy side of town where he encounters several nude women and a woman in drag (Ed Wood) before he carelessly continues on to find the girl.

     I love the films from the beginning of Wood's directing career.  They are rushed with completely disregard for their surroundings.  The sets are always just tossed together and most of the time the cast was unaware of what was going on.  His later films definitely fit in the exploitation category for various reason with Take It Out in Trade being the perfect example of what it meant to be an exploitation film of the time.  Honestly, the humor in this one made the film enjoyable.  Without it the film would be completely unwatchable.  The acting in this one is funny.  The cast seems to really enjoy themselves on set and they work very well together.  With that being said, Michael Donovan O'Donnell  carried the film on his sleazy shoulders.  His character was extremely fun and he looked like he was born to play Mac.  The story for this one works in a exploitation sense but would have been a boring watch if it wasn't for the humor.  The nudie film was a huge hit in the cinematic world in the late 60s so Ed Wood took part of the craze by writing several screenplays for other directors, as well as, making his own.  He cashed in on the craze in 1970 with this film which uses the nude aspect to carry the story without actually having a story.  It doesn't work because it is extremely bland.  The addition of the humor made it the movie very tolerable.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you are obviously an idiot because this is not that kind of film. If you want awkward nudity and some fun characters then you are in the right spot.  Overall, Take It Out in Trade is far from Wood's best but it was still enjoyable.  Fans of sleaze and trash will want to grab this release from AGFA.  

 



The Legend of Bigfoot

 



Director - Harry Winer (ABC Afterschool Specials, SpaceCamp)
Starring - Ivan Marx (In the Shadow of Bigfoot), Peggy Marx (In the Shadow of Bigfoot), and Yukon Frida
Release Date - 1975
Genre - Documentary
Tagline - "Startling new motion picture footage of the elusive creature"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I would give anything to have been a young teen in the 70s.  There was so many amazing movies being released and there was so many drive-ins to watch them in.  This is just my opinion, but this was the best time for movie fans.  The 70s was a fantastic time for movies centered around sasquatch.  One film has become infamous since it's release and that is the 1975 The Legend of Bigfoot.  This stock footage film with a narrative was released as a bonus film in the AGFA release of Godmonster of Indian Flats.  I finished Godmonster and was very underwhelmed with it so I decided to go ahead and check out The Legend of Bigfoot and was surprised by how much I enjoyed this weird documentary. 

     The film follows Ivan Marx who is a self-proclaimed tracker.  He is often contacted to go out into the wilderness to track down things ranging from bears that are killing livestock to other wildlife.  He has lived his life in the woods and backs science but one trip changes that when he suspects something is out of the ordinary.  After speaking with others in his profession and convinces himself that there may be claims to bigfoot.  He then sets out to track it and suspects that it may be a migratory animal.  His hunch pays off and he is able to predict when and where they will be.  He is even able to capture evidence of the creatures foraging in the swamp.  

     I heard of this film for sometime but I never took the time to see what it was about.  The documentary aspect actually distracted me at first but as it progressed I actually enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is non-existent.  We follow a man recording himself in the wild while narrating the footage.  This is nothing memorable.  He is confident in himself and his adventures and that confidence works well for the film.  The story for this one is bold if anything but it holds the viewers attention.  The movie could have been 30 minutes long and be just as effective.  I'm glad it wasn't because I actually enjoyed watching it.  I'm sure some will believe this to be a genuine documentary but it is not.  Finally, this isn't a blood film as you could tell.  It does have some footage but the suits are out of scale for the rest of the film. The viewer doesn't get a look at the detail to really enjoy the creature aspect.  Overall, The Legend of Bigfoot is a different bigfoot film but it was fun to watch.  In fact, I could see myself checking this one out again.  Check it out now on the special features for AGFA's release of Godmonster of Indian Flats. 

 



Godmonster of Indian Flats

 



Director - Fredric Hobbs (Alabama's Ghost, Roseland)
Starring - Christopher Brooks (Jack and the Beanstalk, The Mack), Stuart Lancaster (Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns), and E. Kerrigan Prescott (Fiend Without a Face, Danger Man)
Release Date - 1973
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Wanted! Have you seen this sheep?"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I love modern technology and the thought of turning old scares the living shit out of me but I would have loved to live through the golden age of drive-in cinema.  The movies at this time were so much fun and I couldn't imagine watching this as part of a double feature at the drive-in.  I may not get to enjoy these at the drive-in but AGFA is doing a fantastic job with their blu line.  They are releasing some classic sleaze and trash on blu and these releases usually have a second film as a bonus feature that works very well as a double feature.  Sometime back they released the 1973 what the fuck creature feature Godmonster of Indian Flats.  I had owned the Something Weird DVD release of it for some time but I never got around to watching it.  I'm glad I held off checking it out because it was so much fun watching it as a double feature with The Legend of Big Foot.

     The film follows a small town in the middle of nowhere where a wealthy mayor is trying to turn it into a tourist spot by using an old west gimmick.  What they don't expect is a primordial gas to seep out of the ground and into a nearby sheep farm turning one of the innocent creatures into a bloodthirsty primal beast.  Now the mayor and one of the wild west actors must stop it before it ruins everything they had tried to build.

     I wasn't expecting a life changing experience with Godmonster of Indian Flats.  I wanted something extremely campy, dated, and fun.  The film was fun for a one time watch but I won't be revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is actually pretty good.  Some of the cast needed some work and better direction but most of the cast is actually surprisingly great on screen.  Their characters are fun and their performances make the dry scenes actually tolerable.  The story for this one is mirror image of the mad scientist run amok type films except this time we get mother nature creating the oddity and not science.  With that being said, I liked the creature and how weird it is but the film itself is just too damn long.  The movie could have ended several times before it actually did which would have worked better than the way the film actually ended.  The movie had a great start and solid middle but the ending was half assed.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you are barking up the wrong tree.  However, if you want to see a horrible sheep monster you are in luck!  Overall, Godmonster of Indian Flats is not a movie I will see myself revisiting but it was fun to pass the time.  With that being said, the bonus film on this release is worth picking this one up from AGFA and Something Weird.  



Lady Street Fighter

 



Director - James Bryan (Jungle Trap, Hell Riders)
Starring - Renee Harmon (Frozen Scream, Night of Terror), Jody McCrea (Major Dundee, Bikini Beach), and Trace Carradine
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Action/Crime
Tagline - "She makes the good guys happy.  She makes the bad guys bleed"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

    

     I don't know if its my age or just my tastes changing but I find myself getting more and more obsessed with exploitation than horror.  This is a kick started by Vinegar Syndrome but other companies were around before them.  Companies like AGFA and Something Weird.  Sometime ago AGFA start releasing strange exploitation flicks on blu and DVD.  I was sent some to review and I was instantly hooked on their weird and sleazy exploitation flicks.  Sometime ago I got the AGFA blu for Lady Street Fighter from MVD.  I had heard of this one but I never had the opportunity to check it out until now.  Thank you MVD for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a European kung-fu beauty who visits LA to hunt the group responsible for murdering her sister.  In her hunt she befriends a federal agent who may not be who he claims to be. 

     I knew this one was going to be a bad but fun experience and I was right for the most part.  The movie hit all the rights notes that I was hoping it would hit but there was some things that just didn't sit well for me.  I loved the acting in this one.  Most of the cast did not give a fuck.  Renee Harmon had no idea what she was doing and it was fucking brilliant.  Her sexy kung-fu fighting was absolutely laughable but it was still entertaining to watch.  She may be a lot of things but coordinated in bellbottom jeans is not one of them.  The rest of the cast is the same way.  They awkwardly spit out their dialogue and I fucking love it.  They give zero fucks at establishing a character and it makes the movie just that much more better.  The story for this one is a bit of a mess but fits the film.  The late 70s we saw several vigilante films where we follow a someone avenging the death of a loved one.  This started in the early 70s with Death Wish but once we hit 78 we were given hundreds of clones.  I'm surprised a film with a similar story was being released in the early 80s especially with a kung-fu feel.  I liked the story but there is several scenes that did not fit the story and create confusion.  Finally, This one has a few fight scenes with horrible choreography but doesn't have blood for you real gorehounds out there.  We have a little blood here and there but nothing that really adds up.  Overall, Lady Street Fighter is a fucking gem for fans of trashy cinema.  I recommend checking this one out with a few friends and a bunch of booze.  Its going to be a blast.  

 



Date From Hell

 



"Date From Hell" Horror Short Teaser Trailer from Amadon-Shannon Media Group on Vimeo.
Director - Ven Scott
Starring - Ava L'Amoreaux (Couples Night, Apple Seed), Samuel Brett Lee Howard (Pretty Bad Shape), and Jason Zentner (Meet Me There)
Starring - 2018
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

 

     I kind of took a break from watching movies for a few days.  I went a little overboard with some of the AGFA releases lately which are double feature in some cases.  I watched a handful of these releases and decided to spend the next few days playing some Xbox and spending a little more time with my family.  As the weekend approached I was sent a press release for the horror short Date From Hell.  The poster had me hooked so I reached out to see if I could review it.  I'm glad I did because this was a fun one. 

     The film follows a young couple who have a disagreement at a local bar and leave.  They head down a back alley but they are not alone.  A man sitting by himself watches them leave and follows with bloodlust in his eyes.  He attacks the man forcing his girlfriend to flee.  He chases after but when she trips and falls he is able to claim his second victim.  As he ended her life he is greeted with a huge surprise when he discovers they are more than just his ordinary victims.

     I went into this one not knowing a damn thing about it other than I absolutely loved the artwork for it.  I enjoyed the short for what it was.  It was a bit predictable and the ending is a little bit of a head scratcher but it was fun.  The acting in this one is great.  Samuel Howard and Ava L'Amoreaux are fantastic together.  Their characters feed off each other and they really move this short along.  I enjoyed their performance and the characters they created.  The supporting cast is great as well.  They are extremely comfortable on screen and do a great job.  The story for this one is solid for the film's running time.  It is a little predictable and you can see the twist coming a mile away but that doesn't take the entertainment away.  With that being said, the ending did leave me scratching my head.  Spoiler following - If they are the things they are and returned to the bar covered in blood why is no one freaking out?  Are the people there just like them?  If so, why was the killer who is not like them there at the beginning of the film?  Maybe I'm looking too far into this.  Finally, the film does not shy away from blood.  We get some fantastic effects with a ton of blood.  The effects are top notch and I love the beast at the end of the film.  Overall, Date From Hell is a highly entertaining short.  A feature length film would have been very underwhelming but the short time is plenty enough to get the point across.  Check it out. 



 

     



Marrtown



 



Director - Rich Rule (No Knock List, Khange Tha Game)

Starring - Kristen Mitchem (The Axeman of Henderson County, The Last Witch Hunter), Toni Marie Perry (Khange Tha Game), and Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3, Neighbors)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The monsters are inside us"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

 

Rating (out of 5):

     I always look forward to checking out a movie that has something to do with my state.  West Virginia doesn't give a lot of love to independent filmmakers.  It is a real struggle for them due to a number of reasons.   Lack of support is usually the biggest obstacle they will face.  I recently received No Knock List and Marrtown from West Virginia filmmaker Rich Rule.  I'll be completely honest.  I was not expecting to like No Knock List but I couldn't wait to see Marrtown.  The poster sold me on the film while No Knock List looked like a film I would typically skip.  I was wrong and actually enjoyed No Knock List and couldn't wait to toss in Marrtown.  Thank You Rich for sending these two films my way.
     The film follows Theo (Mitchem) who has returned home so she can finish college.  Her father recently passed away and her mother has turned to the bottle to cope.  Theo is struggling as well.  She is about to flunk out of college and now something strange is starting to happen to her.  She suspects she is part of a cursed bloodline and may actually be a witch.  He lives takes an even darker turn when she is given a locket which may be the cause for all her bad luck...or is it?
     I really wanted to like Marrtown.  No Knock List really shocked me by how well it was done and how solid the cast was.  The artwork had me sold on Marrtown but it just did not go the distance.  It has tremendous potential but fell short.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven.  Kristen Mitchem can carry a scene.  She is a very strong lead with some fantastic acting chops and easy on the eyes.  It would be a damn shame if we don't see her more in indie horror.  Sadly, her supporting cast just doesn't offer up as an entertaining performance.  Most of the cast struggles with volume control and spend most of the screen screaming at the viewer.  At first I found this funny but as the film progressed I became a little agitated with turning the volume up and down. Most of the characters are easily excitable and struggle to keep a calm demeanor even among scenes that don't call for it.   The story for this one has so much potential.  I fucking love stories centered around witches and the occult.  We don't see that a lot now but when one of these movies crosses my desk I sure as shit get excited.  Marrtown had a bold and ambitious concept but it was unable to pull all the elements together into an effective supernatural horror film.  The film moves painfully slow and then when the story hits an interesting turn we are then given something extremely predictable.  There is no real consistency as the film progresses.  Finally, gorehounds will not be satisfied with this one.  We get some decent practical effects early on and some very questionable visual effects here and there but nothing that stands out.  Overall, Marrtown had all the makings to be an unforgettable indie production but the pieced together story and inexperienced cast held it back.  After watching Rule's newest film I'm confident to say that if he ever wanted to tackle this film again it would be something that fans would want in their collection. 

          





No Knock List

 



Director - Rich Rule (Khange tha Game, Marrtown )
Starring - James Quinn (Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies, The Dark Knight Rises), Brian Stowell (The Last Witch Hunter, Body Farm), and Maria Olsen (Failing Grace, Ravenwolf Towers)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Evil shall be judged"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

      I'm originally from one of the poorest counties in the U.S.  I didn't seem like a rough place growing up but I realized just how bad it was when I left for college and I refused to go back once I graduated.  McDowell County is known the world over for its high unemployment and drug use which is the topic of a documentary on Netflix.  I don't hate the state I live in just don't want to return to the place I grew up.  I actually love West Virginia and believe that this one county gives the whole state a bad reputation that is does not deserve.  The state is beautiful and full of so many underappreciated artists and creative thinkers.  Sometime ago I befriended West Virginia filmmaker Rich Rule who was promoting his films No Knock List and Marrtown.  Rich recently contacted me to review both these films and I couldn't tell him no.  Thank you Rich for sending these over!

     The film follows two escaped convicts who are on the run for some serious crimes.  They decide to lay low for awhile stay in a wealthy boardinghouse where there is a rumor that the owner, Ms. Vangobels has hidden her fortune.  What should be an easy score turns into much more with their souls now at stake.

     I always get excited when I find a filmmaker from my great state.  There is always a bit of an excitement knowing that there is other fans of the genre from a state that is mainly conservative.  I had no idea what to expect when I tossed in No Knock List but I was surprised by how much I liked it.  There was several things that I would have liked to see done differently but I really enjoyed the finished product.  The acting in this one is solid but the casting is questionable.  The cast did a great job so that's not what I meant.  My problem with the cast is that some of the characters just don't look the part.  Everyone in this film is phenomenal.  Maria Olsen steals the show in every scene she is in.  She does a fantastic job and really brought the heat to this film.  I also enjoyed James Quinn and Brian Stowell's performance but the casting of them seems a little off.  These two are tremendous actors but having them play hardened criminals is a bit of a stretch.  Stowell looks like a physical education teacher in public schools and I'm pretty sure James Quinn has an identical twin that sold me my Kia... which was a solid purchase if you ask me.  I mean no disrespect to either gentleman.  They both did a phenomenal job and worked fantastically together but the role of escaped prisoners just didn't fit them that well.  The story for this one was pretty solid but does feel a bit boring when you put it to paper.  There has been countless films following similar plots.  In fact, it reminded me a lot of a segment in the horror anthology 10/31.  However, what makes this one stand out is the entertaining characters that bring the story to life.  With that being said, there was several things in the film that was a little goofy for a film with such a serious tone.  The one that stands out the most is the demon voice near the end of the film from Maria Olsen.  Her voice is dubbed over but the effect they are looking for does not work.  Instead it comes off as silly and ruins the overall tone of the film.  Finally, the film does have a little blood but minimal effects.  If you are wanting a bloody flick then you will want to go elsewhere.  This film relies heavily on character development and story over special effects.  Overall, No Knock List is a beautifully shot supernatural thriller with some enjoyable characters and a solid cast.  There is a few times where Check it out.