Harm



Director - James Bell (Nutsack, Manuer)
Starring - James Bell and Mae Bell (Tantrum, Guardia de Male)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     My horror marathon continues on!  After wrapping up a handful or so of releases from Vinegar Syndrome I went through my movies looking for the next movie to review.  While looking through what I have out I remembered that I had picked up James Bell's newest horror short Harm on DVD at the last Cinema Wasteland.  James and his wife Mae are two fantastic human beings that I always enjoy talking with but their movies are anything but sweet.  James' movies are hard to describe but if I had to try I would call them experimental splatter flicks.  I had waited too long to check this one out and had to finally see it. 
     The film follows a loving wife (Mae) who arrives home only to meet the fist of her abusive husband (James).  He is very violent with his wife and needs no excuse to beat her.  When he's not beating her he is raping her.  One night she had enough and beats his head in with a hammer before cutting his head off.



    
     You can always expect a wild ride when you toss in a movie from Very Fine Crap Video.  James is a very talented filmmaker and effects artist that accomplishes so much with so little.  You can't give him all the credit though.  He has an amazing wife that is always there with him and extremely supportive.  The two work so well together and they will accomplish great things as a team.  Harm is another great movie they can add to their list of already great films.  The acting in this one is great for the most part but there was a scene that made me giggle a little.  James and Mae are a real couple and that chemistry is on screen.  They work so well together.  Mae is great as the battered wife and James does an outstanding job as the horrible husband.  With that being said, I did laugh when James was getting hit with the hammer.  His actions are not realistic at all and very unnatural.  The story for this one is simple but works perfectly for the 11 minute film.  Its fast paced and full of drama for those that dislike longer films.  It makes great use of it's time and we quickly get to the gruesome death scene that makes the film so enjoyable.  Finally, blood and gore freaks will love this splatter short.  There is one death scene but the viewer gets to enjoy every second of it.  We get lots of blood and the effects are fucking fantastic.  Overall, Harm is short but fucking brutal.  Extreme horror fans will really enjoy this gruesome 11 minute horror film.  Check it out!



Mountaintop Motel Massacre

Director - Jim McCullough Sr. (Video Murders, Charge of the Model T's)
Starring - Bill Thurman (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Gator Bait), Anna Chappell (The Man in the Moon), and Will Mitchell (The Aurora Encounter)
Release Date - 1983
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Please do not disturb Evelyn.  She already is"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     When I was first getting into horror I found myself renting or buying everything I could from the 80s.  My obsession with this decade runs deep and for the longest time this was the only films I would watch.  I remember all the awesome tapes my local video store had when I was a kid and how I never made it through all of them before the owner sold it to someone else.  One tape that I never got around to renting was the 1982 horror flick Mountaintop Motel Massacre.  When the new owner of the video store was selling the tapes I went through them all looking for select tapes I wanted but someone had already nabbed it.  I got the DVD some years later but never watched it.  It's gathered dust on my shelf for sometime now but I never could find the time to check it out due to the films I needed to see for reviews.  I got lucky when Vinegar Syndrome announced the film on blu.  I forgot to reach out for a review copy but I did order a copy a few weeks back because I needed it for my collection. 
     The film follows a cheap motel centered deep in the woods during a bad storm. A tree is blocking the road into town so many motorists are seeking refuge at the cheap establishment.  What they don't know is that the owner, Evelyn, is mentally unstable and thinks that everyone that has checked in is out to get her.  She sets out to kill them one by one before the storm breaks.
     I wasn't expecting a perfect 80s horror movie when I tossed this one in but I was expecting a fun trip back to my favorite decade.  Mountaintop Motel Massacre did not disappoint.  Sure, there was room for improvements but the film is just fine the way it is.  The acting in this one is solid and fits the film.  I really enjoyed the cast and the characters even though several were painfully clichéd.  By 1983 we have seen hundreds of slashers using the same type of characters.  With that being said, I really enjoyed the cast and the characters they gave the viewers.  They were fun and you really enjoyed each scene with them in it.  The story for this one is a bit of a stretch even for an early 80s horror flick but if you just roll with it you will find yourself having some fun.  It slows down in several of the scenes but the "what happens next" holds you to the screen.  The movie trades excitement for mystery and it works for the most part.  Finally, the film has some on screen kills and some blood but don't expect gore.  The kills are what you would get in the slashers of the time and they were fun.  They worked very well with the movie.  The effects are minimal but they work for the movie as well.  Fans of early 80s slasher will enjoy these kills and effects.  Overall, Mountaintop Motel Massacre is a very enjoyable early 80s slasher.  It may not be your typical slasher but many of the elements are there.  I highly recommend grabbing a copy on blu from Vinegar Syndrome. 



Hellmaster

 



Director - Douglas Schulze (Dark Fields, Dark Heaven)
Starring - John Saxon (A Nightmare on Elm St., From Dusk Till Dawn), David Emge (Dawn of the Dead, Basket Case 2), and Amy Raasch (Voodoo, Momma's Boy)
Release Date - 1992
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "He'll show you the way to hell and meet you there"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     I'm diving deep into movies that I really need to review.  I've been watching three or four movies every evening for a week or so and I have to admit that I'm loving it.  I've been working through a stack of Vinegar Syndrome releases and just finished up a fantastic hardcore sexploitation flick and needed some horror to set myself straight.  This was the perfect time to toss in the 1992 John Saxon film Hellmaster.  This film was unique for also starring Dawn of the Dead's David Emge which did not go on to do that many films after DotD.  Thank you Vin Syn for sending this one my way. 

     The film follows a group of college students that stumble upon a dark secret hiding within their university.  Over 20 years ago a college professor started a cult and was using a special serum to control them.  Another professor found out about it and burned that portion of the college to the ground.  The evil professor never died in the fire and continued his experiments in silence until a reporter on a quest for revenge poke the bear forcing the professor to reveal himself and his mindless minions under his control. 
     When I put my stack together of Vinegar Syndrome movies I needed to review I was the most excited for this film.  I remember seeing the VHS pop up in a few of the horror groups over the years and hated the artwork.  That made me want to watch the movie as strange as that sounds.  Sadly, the film was the same quality as the artwork and did not deliver.  The acting in this one is a mixed bag.  We get solid performances from Saxon and Emge.  Both give us highly entertaining characters but their supporting cast and the mindless minions were rough to watch at times.  The scenes are not consistent with the cast and a lot of the movie suffers from that.  The story for this one has so much fucking potential but does borrow heavily from the horror film The Dead Pit with an evil doctor experimenting on patients in an attempt to become immortal while Hellmaster follows a college professor experimenting on college students and becomes immortal.  Also, in both films we see the doctor/professor turning his "patients" into mindless drones that do his bidding.  With that being said, Hellmaster struggles with it's pacing.  The movie is extremely slow and the few actions scenes we do get are very underwhelming.  They lack suspense but I do give them credit for the atmosphere in the film.  Finally, those of you wanting blood will find it here.  The film is not gory but we do get plenty of blood and some nice practical effects.  I was not let down when it came to the deaths.  Overall, Hellmaster is a film that struggles to impress but still deserves at least one watch.  Horror fans will want to pick this up on blu from Vinegar Syndrome for their collections.       

 



Mascara

 



Director(s) - Henri Pachard (The Black Aces, Sabotage) and Roberta Rindlay (Prime Evil, Lurkers)
Starring - Lisa de Leeuw (Dixie Ray Hollywood Star, Raw Talent), Lee Carroll (Arch Enemies, Lipstick Lesbians), and Ron Jeremy (Class of Nuke' Em High Part 3: The Good The Bad The Subhumanoid, The Bite)
Release Date - 1983
Genre - Drama/Erotic
Tagline - "The expectation.  The experience.  The climax!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     I've struggled with time management over the last few years.  When I started writing reviews I could knock out two or three a day.  Then the kids happened and I became addicted to the survival game Ark: Survival Evolved and found myself reviewing two or three movies a week.  I had to stop this because I was falling farther and farther behind on reviews.  I recently had a movie marathon where I watched five or six horror flicks and needed to mix it up  I thought this would be the perfect time to toss in something a little sleazy so I went with the 1983 sexploitation flick Mascara that was recently released on blu from Vinegar Syndrome who was kind enough to send me a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows secretary Harriet (de Leeuw) who is stuck in a boring routine.  She has a sex life but it just isn't doing it for her anymore.  That changes when she meets high class call girl Lucy (Carroll) who takes her under her wing and shows her that there is more to life.  She finds herself soon getting paid to fulfill her wildest fantasies but as her sexual desires are satisfied she finds herself questioning if this really was the right choice for her. 

     Mascara is one of the many releases from Vin Syn that I had never seen before receiving the movie for review.  I knew it would be sleazy but I had no idea it would be as awesome as it was.  Honestly, I beleive that this one is my favorite sexploitation which was what I considered another de Leeuw flick, Dixie Ray Hollywood Star, to be.  The acting in this one is great which is something I rarely say when reviewing a film with hardcore scenes.  The cast does a fantastic job and some of them deliver unforgettable performances even though their characters are extremely cliched.  de Leeuw is fantastic as always.  She's an amazing actress and sexy as hell.  She was the perfect lead for this film.  The story for this one works with the hardcore scenes but does wear a little thin as we near the middle mark.  It picks back up around the third portion of the film.  The hardcore scenes does very little to save these slower scenes.  Finally, those of you wanting blood will be disappointed.  The film focuses on the sex and the characters with no carnage to be had.  Overall, Mascara is a hardcore sexploitation flick that you will enjoy.  You will still find joy in the film even if you fast forward through the sex.  I highly recommend checking this one out from Vinegar Syndrome.  

 



Satan's Slave

 



Director - Norman J. Warren (Horrorplanet, Bloody New Year)
Starring - Michael Gough (Batman, Sleepy Hollow), Martin Potter (The Outsides, Doctor Who), and Candace Glendenning (Flesh and Blood, Angels)
Release Date - 1976
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "It's Catherine's Birthday.  You're invited to her torture party"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     My heart will always belong to 80s cinema but I do have a soft spot for the Satanic cult films of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s.  The British really took the idea and ran with it.  They created so many unforgettable films Satanic horror films with my favorite being The Devil Rides Out.  A few months ago Vinegar Syndrome released the 1976 film Satan's Slave on blu.  I was distracted by life and completely forgot about the release and was sad to discover that the film release with the sleeve had sold out.  I was just about to buy the regular blu when a friend of mine gave me his copy because he knows I collect Vin Syn releases.  Glad to add this one to my collection with the sleeve. 

     The film follows Catherine (Glendenning) who is visiting her estranged uncle with her father and mother.  When they arrive at his estate they are involved in an automobile accident resulting in the car exploding with her being the only survivor.  He uncle and cousin take her in and everything seems fine at first but soon her uncle begins acting weird with her while her cousin shows interest in her sexually.  When she tries to leave she finds herself constantly being stopped from leaving until her uncles real intentions are revealed and they need her to be part of a human sacrifice. 

     I was very excited to check this one out as I said earlier.  I have a huge soft spot for Satanic cult flicks and this is one I had never seen before.  The movie was not as fun as I was hoping but it still entertained.  The acting in this one is hit or miss.  I liked Candace Glendenning and Michael Gough's characters and their performance.  These two really made the movie as fun as it is but the remainder of the cast was a little goofy to watch.  I really did not like Martin Potter's performance.  His character was extremely bland and lacked personality.  I get the type of character he was going for but his performance fell flat.  The story for this one is has a lot of potential but it just doesn't reach it.  We get a movie with great atmosphere but no thrills.  We get a weird cousin loving cousin angle with a much darker uncle sacrificing niece story but they both fail to reach their full potential.  Then the movie ends with the cheapest ending in horror movie history.  It was like they ran out of time or funding to give the viewer a proper ending with closure.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you wont find it here.  The film has great atmosphere and I loved the sets and locations but the effects are minimal if we get any at all.  A little bright red blood here and a glass shard in the eye gag there but that's it.  Overall, Satan's Slave is an entertaining late 70s Satanic panic flick but does have plenty of room for improvement.  I suggest grabbing this one on blu now from Vin Syn.  



 

 

The Lost Realities of Hog Caller



Director - Tom Richards (Dec 2666)
Starring - Jim Hollenbaugh (Cecil B. Demented, Each Time I Kill), Logan Hulstine, and Tom Richards
Release Date - 2011
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

    When I was first getting into the review business I reached out to Wild Eye Releasing.  I was new to the whole press release and screener game but I really enjoyed their releases so I thought it wouldn't hurt to speak with them.  They quickly responded and were extremely kind with me.  A few days later I received a massive box from them full of movies I had never seen but were on my wishlist.  This was sincerely a massive box of movies.  It was so many movies that I lost track of a few of them in my collection and they never were reviewed.  A few weeks back I saw a post that a company was releasing the film The Lost Realities of Hog Caller which was one of the films I was sent from Wild Eye to review.  I found out then that Wild Eye no longer was releasing the film which reminded me that I needed to review it...five years later.  So I tossed it in and gave it a go. 
     The film follows reporter Skip Jenkins who is tasked with doing an investigative piece on the grindcore metal band Hog Caller that has gone missing in recent years.  His search takes him down many dark paths before finding himself before the band and their wild antics.



     I had no idea what this film was about.  Hell, I didn't know there was a grindcore band called Hog Caller before this film.  I do have to say that that is a pretty fucking metal name for a grindcore band.  The film was nothing like I was expecting and I have to say that I'm not a fan.  I'm sure fans of this band enjoy it but someone looking for an indie horror movie will not have a good time.  The acting in this one is rough even by no budget backyard horror standards.  The characters are goofy but not in a fun Troma way.  Instead, it feels like they were told to act crazy on camera with no direction.  I rolled my eyes more at this movie than I have my entire life.  Honestly, I didn't even realize I roll my eyes until I started watching this.  The story for this one is a found footage approach to turning the band's music videos into an anthology.  This is a sound idea when on paper but the execution is all wrong.  The movie has no backbone in terms of plot.  The music numbers is covered in blood before moving on to the next forced "interview" with a random character that just aimless spits out dialogue. Finally, the practical effects are actually pretty fucking fantastic.  I don't know if they are using guts from a slaughterhouse or what but they look fucking intense.  If this much ingenuity was applied to a film with an actual plot they would be setting the horror community ablaze.  Overall, The Lost Realities of Hog Caller may appeal to fans of the band (if they really are a band) but for those wanting a horror flick to watch will be very disappointed.  I was not a fan of this one but I do respect what they were going for.  If the band is a real band then this was a great way to get their music together collectively.   

 



The House of the Dead

 



Director - Sharron Miller (Knightwatch, The Outsiders)
Starring - John Ericson (Murder, She Wrote, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), Ivor Francis (Dark Shadows, Nero Wolf), and Judith Novgrod (Bare Knuckles, Nightwing)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Don't you dare go in there"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     My 70s and 80s horror and exploitation kick is still going strong.  After taking a break to watch a few movies starring Ellie Church I decided to dive right back into it.  This time I decided to go back to some Vinegar Syndrome blus that I've been needing to review.  As I looked over the stack one caught my eye and I went ahead and tossed it in.  This was the 1978 horror anthology The House of the Dead which was originally released under the title Alien Zone.  The movie looked interesting but I have to admit that neither title interested me though The House of the Dead is more fitting.  Thank you Vin Syn for sending this one my way. 

     The film follows a man who is having an affair with a married woman.  He leaves her hotel to return to his own but the cab drops him off on the wrong street in the middle of a downpour.  He seeks refuge in a building nearby and learns that it is a mortuary and the mortician lets him in.  He insists that he shows the man around and takes him to the parlor with several caskets on display.  The man tries to leave but the mortician refuses.  Instead, he forces him to hear the stories of how these people got here.  One followed a school teacher that hated children.  One day after school she is terrorized by children in Halloween masks but when the masks are removed they are not the innocent children one would expect.  The second casket belongs to a photographer who has an obsession with bring attractive women to his home and recording himself killing them.  The third casket is centered around the tale of the world's best detectives.  One is from Scotland Yard and the other is in the U.S.  There is animosity between the two but they try to remain professionals but when one of them received a mysterious letter prompting an investigation he learns more about his rival than he really wanted to.  The next to last coffin belongs to a business man who was greedy and refused to help the homeless.  This comes back to bite him in the ass after a series of unfortunate events befall him and he is trapped in a building where he suffers several injuries.  When he exits he finds himself looking homeless and being neglected by those walking the streets.  The last coffin is then revealed to the man's which forces him to flee the mortuary.  In the alley he in then confronted by the man whose wife he has been sleeping with.

     I had no idea what I was going to expect when I tossed in a movie that was originally titled Alien Zone but it was quickly apparent that the title did not match the film.  However, that doesn't make this a bad movie.  I rather enjoyed it for the most part but when you expect some 70s alien action and don't get it you can be a little disappointed.  The acting in this one is solid and very consistent throughout.  Every story has a great cast that works very well with each other.  They make the stories very enjoyable and hold the viewer's attention.  The stories for these are cheesy but fun.  Several of them are very predictable but the predictability doesn't ruin the film.  With that being said, one story really held its own in the film and had my full attention.  The two detectives story was nothing short of amazing.  Hands down the best segment in the entire film.  Finally, this is not a bloody horror film.  We get a little blood here or there but nothing that really stands out.  The movie focuses mostly on the characters involved more so than the horror aspects.  Overall, The House of the Blood is actually a pretty enjoyable film that is not exempt from it's own flaws.  It does struggle in several of the stories and a few of them are just cut short.  It still offers up some very enjoyable moments and it is definitely worth a watch.  Check it out now on blu from Vinegar Syndrome.   

 



Space Babes from Outer Space

 



Director - Brian K. Williams (Play Me, Time to Kill)
Starring - Ellie Church (Amazon Hot Box, Harvest Lake), Brian Papandrea (The Big F, Gay for Pray: The Erotic Adventures of Jesus Christ), and Allison Maier (Spring Break Zombie Massacre, Frankenstein Created Bikers)
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "Truly out of this world...likely out of your league"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     I love movies and I love watching movies I've never seen before.  As a reviewer I often don't have time to revisit movies because I constantly have new films coming in for review.  With that being said, I hardly have time to watch movies that I want to watch because of the laundry list of movies I have that I need to review.  I've recently decided to take a break from the movies I should be reviewing and review a handful of movies that I really want to see.  One of those films is the 2017 sci-fi comedy Space Babes from Outer Space.  This is one I was really excited to check out when it was first announced but I was unable to really work it into my viewing schedule and I forgot about it until now.  Wish I would have checked it out before now because I loved it. 

     The film follows three space babes; Carrieola (Church), Vanassa (Maier), and Ragyna (Alyss Winkler), who are being chased by the evil Scrotes.  They land on Earth and meet the lonely farmer Charlie (Papandrea).  They are low on fuel and discover that when Charlier gets an erections their sensors detect that it can be used to fuel their ship.  Charlie and Carrieola brainstorm ideas and Charlie suggests that they visit the local strip club to harness the energy they need to power their ship.  The plan works and they get enough energy to power their ship but the Scrotes arrive and throws a wrench in their plans forcing them to change their plans.  Now, they will take Charlie with them to power their ship and take him to Titty City. 

     I knew Space Babes from Outer Space was going to be goofy as fuck but fun and I was right.  The movie took every joke in a 5th graders arsenal and threw it at the viewer which means everything to the South Park and Beavis & Butthead generation.  The humor did get old by the one hour mark but the movie still did not disappoint.  The acting in this one is fun but no one is winning awards.  The Space Babes were super sexy and highly entertaining.  My new indie horror crush Alyss Winkler does a fantastic job along with Ellie Church and Allison Maier.  They are all sexy and they showed they were capable of doing comedic roles aside from the horror centered ones.  I would say these three ladies are well rounded but the film left no room for sexual puns.  Actor Brian Papandrea delivers another fun performance.  He never disappoints and his comedic timing is always spot on.  When I see his name in the credits I know I'm going to have a good time.  The story for this one works but does wear out its welcome by the one hour mark.  It is a little too long and the plot is stretched a little too thin.  The humor is funny at first but the same jokes are continuously made throughout the film to the point they are predictable.  They lose their comedic punch when you know they are coming.  With that being said, the Space Babes fleeing the Scrotes looking for sexual energy is fun and works.  A little trimming and some of the scenes shortened would help this one out tremendously.  Finally, the film does have some blood but the real focus of the film is the spaceship sets and the costumes for the Scrotes.  I loved how cheap the sets looked and how awesome the Scrotes looked.  The cheap sets was a great nod to the drive-in era space invasion films and I'm a sucker for giant monster suits.  Overall, Space Babes from Outer Space is a sex comedy that is out of this world.  The humor is raunchy and the story is one you really need to see.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  



Secret Sins

 



Director - Allan Lee (Jessica's Place, Casino Sex)
Starring - Jacy Andrews (My First MILF, Tomb of the Werewolf), Gina Ryder (Heartbreakers, Les Vampyres 2), and Taylor St. Clair (Hellcats in High Heels 3, Necro Files 2)
Release Date - 2003
Genre - Erotic
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     I get sent a lot of stuff to review.  Most of which are horror and exploitation flicks but there is the occasional sexploitation or vintage porn that pops up in my mail box.  At first, I used to turn them away or request the senders to stop sending them to me but after one peaked my curiosity I decided to give them a chance.  Now I review everything sent to me because I never know what is going to be another film I'm proud to collect.  Sometime back Full Moon announced their new erotic streaming service that offered viewers plenty of softcore, sexploitation, and sleazy goodness.  When they made this announcement they also announced that they would be releasing the softcore porn flick Secret Sins on DVD.  I was curious about the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!
     The film follows sexually active Diane (Andrews) who finds the man of her dreams and settles down.  She cuts off her wild ways in hopes of living that picture perfect life but quickly discovers that her husbands best friend is a man she once fucked in the woods.  Things get even more hairy when she goes to a cabin with her man and some friends and sexual tensions come to a boil between the entire group.
     I've watched my fair share of sleazy and raunchy movies over the years and I've learned that some of these are actually pretty fucking entertaining.  Some go as far as to give the viewer an entertaining story with the sex scenes only working as filler to make the films longer.  Sadly, this is not the case.  The movie is a romance novel on film which is boring as fuck considering its softcore.  The acting in this one is extremely one sided.  Jacy Andrews was surprisingly great in her role.  She's sexy and extremely confident on screen.  Her performance was great and the sex appeal is unmatched on film.  Sadly, her co-stars did not put forth an effort.  We get amateur porn star acting that made almost every scene awkward to watch.  The story for this one is ripped straight from a middle-aged housewife's romance novel.  We get a free spirit who settles down with her dream man only to be thrust back into the wild world from which she came.  Sexual fantasies and love may work for a romance novel but for an exploitation fan it does not go the distance so to speak.  It was extremely boring which had me dozing several times.  Finally, no blood for those of you expecting it.  However, if you want some very unenthused dry humping then you are in the right place.  Overall, Secret Sins is sexy but a difficult watch.  The story just isn't there and the softcore scenes are not entertaining enough to hold the viewer's attention.  This is one I cannot recommend.