Bloody New Year

Director - Norman J. Warren (Prey, Satan's Slave)
Starring - Suzy Aitchison (Midsomer Murders, Mr. Bean), Nikki Brooks (The Fear, Inspector Morse), and Daniel James (The Machine Gunners, Last Tango in Halifax)
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "The last day of the year...of the last day of your life?"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I was with a friend of mine and we were doing some movie hunting.  We had stopped at several video stores going out of business along with some pawn shops and normal big box stores.  When we were done we both had several boxes full of DVDs and VHS.  As we were going through our spoils he showed me a copy of Bloody New Year he had picked up at the pawn shop we were at.  Upon closer inspecting it was clear it was a bootleg but for the price we couldn't complain.  This was one I had never seen before and we made plans to check it out but never got around to it.  Several years later and the fine folks over at Vinegar Syndrome has released the 1987 Norman J. Warren film on blu.  I reached out to them and was lucky enough to get a copy for review.  Thank you Vin Syn for hooking me up with a copy for review.

     The film follows five teenager who flee from a madman and take to the seas for a good time away from him.  They find themselves taking on water and make it to an isolated island with a hotel near the beach.  The soon discover that the island is seemingly abandoned and is decorated for Christmas with New Years approaching.  Soon they get the impression that the island is haunted but they soon discover the real reason the hotel is vacant and that they are not along on the island.

     Bloody New Year is a movie I about for some time but never got around to seeing.  I always thought this was your typical holiday slasher but I was way off on that one.  Bloody New Year is one that is difficult to label but slasher is not it.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a low budget horror flick from the late 80s.  The direct to video market was taking off so many companies were rushing to make as much content as possible.  Quantity over quality.  They tossed together any story they could get with any cast and in this case the cast just does not seem to care.  The characters are painfully generic and bland which does not mix well with the lukewarm performances from most of the cast.  I did enjoy the crazy homeless looking man that terrorizes them.  He is one of the only supporting cast members to give it their all.  The story for this one mixes a little sci-fi with some supernatural elements and wraps it in the slasher atmosphere.  Honestly, the concept for this film is fucking brilliant and done correctly could be something I would really be behind.  However, this story was not properly approached and feels choppy.  As soon as the viewer finds themselves getting sucked in something else is added in such a way that the viewer has a hard time accepting.  Finally, this one has some blood but nothing to write home about.  The practical effects are decent enough but the make-effects are pretty rough to look at.  In fact, I remember rolling my eyes a few times throughout the film at the make-up effects.  The deaths are nothing imaginative and are rather lackluster but feel right at home with most slashers of this time.  Overall, Bloody New Year is not the film I was expecting.  I'm all for cheesy 80s cinema but this one just felt like a rushed mess from start to finish.  As an avid Vin Syn fan I'm stoked to have it in my collection but I doubt I'll be knocking the dust off this one anytime soon.   The blu looks great and fans of this one will want to check out the restored edition.  Check it out now on blu from Vinegar Syndrome.  

Weirdo: The Beginning

Director - Andy Milligan (Fleshpot on 42nd Street, The Ghastly Ones)
Starring - Steve Burington, Jessica Straus (Black Jack, Shaolin Soccer), and Naomi Sherwood
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "First love should be a dream...theirs is a nightmare"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

    I love getting old obscure horror and exploitation flicks in for review.  That's why I'm a huge fan of AGFA and Vinegar Syndrome.  They bring so many of these forgotten classics to the masses.  That is why I've been digging some of these Garagehouse Pictures releases.  I've got some solid releases from them over the years and I've really been impressed with their two Andy Milligan releases.  I had never seen Monstrosity before I have to admit that I am now a fan.  The next film on the chopping block is the Garagehouse release of the 1989 Milligan film Weirdo: The Beginning which was originally released as The Weirdo.  This one would become my favorite of the two.  Thank you Garagehouse for sending this one my way!

     The film follows the socially awkward and highly unstable Donnie (Burington) who lives in the shed of the elderly Miss Martins (Sherwood).  He likes to spend his time in the woods in solitude but a gang of muscle bound stereotypes like to go there as well and beat him up.  One day he meets a young woman and the two hit it off but the people in his life, Miss Martins, his estranged mother, and the local preacher, don't think a man as unique as Donnie should be seeing her.  This makes the highly volatile Donnie even more unstable and they push him too far he finally snaps killing those that get in his way of love.

     I wouldn't call The Weirdo a horror flick but It's rather difficult to call it an exploitation film as well. Regardless of what you would classify it I was still a fan and I can see myself revisiting this one occasionally.  It was extremely fun and I loved the wide array of characters.  The acting in this one is far from perfect or amazing but the cast does a phenomenal job bringing unforgettable characters to life.  The characters we get in this one reminded me a lot of characters we would get from earlier John Water's films.  That is why I enjoyed this film so much.  The story for this one is romance wrapped in exploitation with a little horror mixed in.  The romance is not overly sappy and not enough to kill the film.  It's part of the story but not overpowering.  We get a lot of character development which is something I thoroughly enjoy in a film.  With that being said, the film does hit a bit of a dry spell where we get some painfully dull dialogue heavy scenes that have little to nothing to do with the story.  Finally, we get a few deaths.  One is extremely funny with some sub-par practical effects while the other was a bit of a let down.  The film clearly had budget restrictions and one of those was the effects department.  The one death scene is still highly enjoyable but mostly due to the unexpected humor.  Overall, Weirdo: The Beginning is an over looked and underrated exploitation film from the late Andy Milligan. The blu looks decent enough but does have some room for improvement.  I highly suggest that fans of cult cinema pick this one up for their collections.  The film is definitely worth it.

           

Monstrosity

Director - Andy Milligan (The Weirdo, Surgikill)
Starring - Hal Borske (The Ghastly Ones, Adventures of Red Rooster), Carrie Anita, and Michael Lunsford (Trashy Ladies Wrestling, Surgikill)
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Meet our hero.  Wait 'till you see the bad guys"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I've reviewed more movies than I care to count over the years and I've watched even more than that.  I love finding a movie I had never seen before or uncovering a filmmaker that has made a name for themselves decades prior to me discovering their work.  I've reviewed a few of Andy Milligan's films but most of them never clicked with me.  They were not bad films but I just didn't find enjoyment in them like others did.  Sometime ago Garagehouse Pictures sent over a Milligan double feature on blu.  The first was the 1987 horror comedy Monstrosity.  If all his movies were this entertaining I would have become a fan years ago!  Thank you Garagehouse for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a man who lost his girlfriend when a group of street thugs killed her.  He partners up with some friends and decide to build a Golem out of cadaver parts.  They never actually expected to succeed but when they do they seek out those that hurt her and fight crime along the city.  A wrench is tossed in their plan when Frankie, the Golem, falls in love with a junkie.  Without their muscle they poison her with drugs in hopes of regaining Frankie back but this sends him over the edge and he kills his creators.  

     I had no idea what Monstrosity was about but the artwork did paint the picture that I was getting into some man-made monster type mayhem.  I typically enjoy those types of films and really enjoy them when they are more horror than sci-fi.  Monstrosity was fun and one I can see myself revisiting late at night with a few beers.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a late 80s no budget schlocker.  In fact, I could see this cast taking on roles in early Frank Henenlotter flicks.  They are dedicated to their roles but they do lack experience.  There is a few scenes where they struggle with their volume and just scream their dialogue like a kid at their Christmas play.  With that being said, some of the characters are extremely funny and very memorable.  You gotta love those late 80s no budget horror comedy characters.  The story for this one takes the mythology of the golem and mixes it with the more contempary legend of Frankenstein's monster.  It works but does, at times, remind the viewer of Young Frankenstein when the zany characters and humor is delivered.  There is plenty of dialogue in this one that is a bit on the awkward side but if you stick with it you will enjoy it.  Finally, this one has some blood.  The film has several scenes where we get some blood flying.  The practical effects are far from perfect and at times laughable but the blood is plentiful.  Overall, Monstrosity is a movie you know has problems but it still entertains. I liked the story and the characters but the effects were a little bit of a let down.  The blu looks good but still has room for improvement.  Check it out now from Garagehouse Pictures! 

The Young Seducers 2

Director - Erwin C. Dietrich (Caged Women, Rolls-Royce Baby)
Starring - Evelyne Traeger (Angels of Terror, The Innocent Abroad), Rena Bergen (Bed Bunnies, The Sinful Bed), and Melitta Tegeler (Nurses Report, Overnight Models)
Release Date - 1972
Genre - Erotic
Tagline - "They do anything to get what they desire"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's Christmas Eve and I've reviewed four movies now.  I've worked my way through a couple holiday themed horror flicks before returning to some Erwin C. Dietrich sleaze.  Not too long ago I had a Dietrich double feature with Swedish Gas Pump Girls and The Women of Inferno Island.  Both were sleazy fun with more nudity than plot.  After watching a few horror flicks I decided to toss in another Dietrich flick from Full Moon.  This time it was a follow to an erotic anthology that I previously reviewed.  Thank you Full Moon for sending over the 1972 film The Young Seducers 2 for review!

     The film follows an author who gets a new assistant who will help him write some new stories.  The two collaborate and we follow several women who find themselves in some strange and usual sexual situations.






     I never expect to watch a sleazy film with a compelling story when I toss in a sexploitation flick.  What I do expect is to see some cheesy acting, awkward softcore dry humping, and a unintentionally funny story.  The first Young Seducers was full of skin but the story was somewhat interesting.  The Young Seducers 2 follows in it's predecessor's footsteps.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from an international skin flick.  The cast, for the most part, struggles to find their footing but seem more natural in the nude in front of the camera rather than fully clothed while acting.  The story for this one works for a softcore skin flick.  We follow an author and his assistant as they work together on several stories all featuring sexual situations.  It works to hold these segments together and offers up some entertainment value aside from the breasts.  I actually enjoyed this aspect of the film and wished more anthologies took this approach.  Finally, no blood and gore in this one.  However, there is more breasts than a man could eat for those seeking out the finer things in life!  Overall, The Young Seducers 2 is a worthy follow up to the original sleazy classic.  I highly recommend checking this one out the next time you need some skin.  It's available now on DVD from Full Moon!

Amerikan Holokaust (Revisited)

Director - Chris Woods (Chaos A.D., Make Them Die Sleazy)
Starring - Jules Sceiro (Taste Me: Death-Scort Service Part 3, Necessary Evil), Bob Glazier (Ouija Mummy, The Hart-Break Killer), and Cyndi Crotts (Die Die Delta Pi, The Awakening)
Release Date - 2013
Genre - Horror
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many moons ago I came across the Facebook page for the unreleased Sleaze Box film Amerikan Holokaust.  I was really interested in the film so I reached out to director Chris Woods and writer John Miller about news on the film so I could share it on the site.  I covered the film several times before the release and then one day they hit me up with a review copy of the film.  The movie has since went on to gain a following but I was one of the few that did not care for it.  I've kept in touch with Chris over the years and reviewed his other releases but this is one of the few that I delivered a negative review for.  Recently Chris released the film on blu and asked me to check it out.  I knew where I stood on the film with my original review but I was more than open to check it out again to see if I still felt the same.  Thanks Chris for sending this one my way!

     The film follows two Vietnam Vets that returned home from the war with a warped sense of ownership and moral obligations. The two kidnap young women and have their ways with them sexually. The two live out their sexual fantasies with these young ladies regardless how perverse the act is and record every second of it with stolen video cameras. During the entire film they spill out speeches about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket and they are the only ones who can liberate us from the coming storm. The two meet their match when they pick up a super hot hooker and have their way with her just like normal except this time they do not actually kill her. She tricks them into thinking she is dead and bites off one of her captors dick of and force feeds it to him before killing them both like the dogs they are.

     I've seen some pretty brutal flicks over the years and since my first viewing of Amerikan Holokaust I often compare them to this flick.  The film does bring a lot to the table and no matter how much I want to like I just can't find myself getting into it.  Chris and John are both outstanding people that I will always support any way I can but this is just one film I don't care for.  I can't say it's a bad movie because it's not but it's just one that doesn't jive well with me.  The acting in this one is great.  I've always liked Jules Sceiro and Bob Glazier's performance in this one.  Both deliver unforgettable performances and I do believe this is probably Glazier's best performance to date.  The supporting cast does a great job as well but Sceiro and Glazier are fucking fantastic.  The story for this one is shocking and disturbing but doesn't do much to hold my attention.  Most people that know me know that I'm not one to get off on extreme horror films and this is a prime example of extreme horror.  It's shocking for the most part but the story is one that could be told in 30 minutes or so.  Chris Woods and John Miller take the horrendous crimes committed by serial killers Charles Ng and Leonard Lake and turns it into an extreme horror film worthy of the notoriety it has received.  With that being said, the found footage style and the heavy dialogue "confessional" style scenes were a bit boring.  Finally, this film does not shy away from the gore.  We get some decent practical and make-up effects with some serious gore scattered throughout.  If that's not enough for you then you can watch Bob Glazier fuck some intestines for good measure!  Overall, Amerikan Holokaust is a rough watch for some but fans of extreme horror fill find some serious enjoyment out of it.  The film is now available on blu from The Sleaze Box so grab it now for your collection!

Season's Greetings II

Director(s) - Brittany Blanton (Breaking Vera), Rob Collins (Mr. Buzzkill), and Travis Wilson
Starring - Brittany Blanton, Anthony Brownlee (Don't Fall Asleep), and Courtney Clark (Slaughterhouse: House of Whores 2.5)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I know my reviews the last few days has been mostly me bitching about not being in the Christmas spirit and so forth.  I'm not trying to be negative but between being sick and everything going on with work and at home I just don't feel much like celebrating Christmas.  I know this is the opposite of how I am at this time in previous years but this year I'm just not feeling it.  That doesn't mean I'm going to pass up a chance to see the new Christmas themed anthology from Concept Media!  A few years ago Concept Media released Season's Greetings which, if I'm remembering correctly, was a sequel to their anthology Watch This.  When they announced a sequel I couldn't wait to check it out.  Thanks Shawny-poo for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a man who is reading three Christmas themed horror stories to the viewer.  The first, The Manger, follows a young woman who is tossed in the middle of a cult attempting a sacrifice.  The second tale, Merry Fucking Christmas, follows a recently single woman who is trying to keep to herself during the holidays only to find a deranged man has made his way into her home.  The third and final tale, The Naughty List, follows an evil elf sent to kill those that found themselves on Santa's naughty list.

     I enjoy Concept Media's anthology films.  Hell, Watch This! was probably my favorite release of theirs until recently when they released Don't Fuck in the Woods and Betsy.  Season's Greetings was another hit in my book so I was very open to a sequel and this one did not let me down.  I was a little hesitant at first when I learned that Shawn Burkett and Ryan Stacy was not helming the three shorts but Brittany Blanton, Rob Collins, and Travis Wilson did not let us down.  The acting in this one is solid and pretty consistent across the board.  Everyone dedicates themselves to their roles and deliver some pretty solid performances.  No one really stands out from the rest which works with the film and what the three filmmakers were really going for.  This solid casting really makes these segments as strong as they are.  The stories for these are fun as shorts but a few of them could have been bigger than what they were.  The first segment is from Brittany Blanton and is the one that really pulled me in the most.  I love cultish films and I liked where this one was going.  The story is bigger than the short itself and I feel some stuff may have been left out in order for it to fit in the anthology.  The second story is from Rob Collins and fits in the anthology very well.  I liked the simplicity of the story and how a simple cat and mouse story was incorporated into the anthology.  It doesn't deliver anything knew but it is fun and works.  The final segment is from Travis Wilson and is very similar to a Christmas themed horror short I recently reviewed from Josh Miller called Hell on a Shelf about an elf on a shelf that comes to life when a drunken Santa sends him to kill those on the naughty list.  Where Hell on a Shelf gave us a horror comedy this segment is void of humor.  We get a slasher like short that delivers on the carnage.  Finally, this film does not shy away from the blood.  We get several amazing kills with some top notch practical effects.  In fact, I was thoroughly impressed by several of the gags in the film.  Overall, Season's Greetings 2 is a truly entertaining holiday horror anthology worthy of the Concept Media name.  I highly recommend adding this to your Christmas viewing list!

Hell on a Shelf

Director - Josh Miller
Starring - Fred Munkachy, Tim Hale, Kinsley Funari, and Delaney Kolarick
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's Christmas Eve and I feel like hammered shit.  I've been sick for two days and just don't feel much like celebrating the holidays.  Normally I'm Clark Griswald during this time of year but this go around I'd rather be sleeping or watching some sexploitation flicks.  I put the sleaze on hold when actor turned director Josh Miller reached out to me to check out his Christmas themed horror short.  I'm not one to turn down a holiday themed horror flick so I graciously accepted to review it.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed this 7 minute short.  Thank you Josh for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out!

     The film follows Santa who, while drinking heavily, visits the home of a naughty little girl to leave behind Elfie.  Elfie is an elf on a shelf that has a purpose and that purpose is cut out the naughty kids.  Elfie is good at his job and soon finds his intended target which is a spoiled little girl with a potty mouth.  Elfie introduces her to his knife and while carving up the little girl her mother walks into the room.  Elfie is delighted to see that the mother is ecstatic that he murdered her daughter.  After they hide the body the two soon parties it up.

     So, I'll be the first to admit I had no idea what to expect from this short from first time director Josh Miller.  The story was written by Time Hale and it works for the 7 minute run time.  The acting in this one is solid from a cast that I am unfamiliar with.  In fact, I didn't know who any of them were so I had to do some creeping on social media to properly name the characters due to the film lacking an official imdb page.  Tim Hale does a fantastic job as Elfie.  He works in the role because he does look innocent but the second he shows the knife then you know he means business.  Fred Munkachy is solid as well but he doesn't portray a convincing drunk.  I'm sure this is because I grew up in southern West Virginia and know what real drunks look like but his performance is fun but forced at times.  Also, Kinsley Funari...woah.  Why am I just now seeing her in a horror movie?  Her performance, though short, was extremely funny.  I really need to see her in more horror and not just because she is gorgeous. The story for this one works for a short but stretched any further and the viewer would lose interest.  I really like the idea of the creepy elf on a shelf turning bad and killing people.  This is not the first time this story has been done.  A few years ago Concept Media released a short with a similar premise.  Where their short followed the doll itself this one takes a very different approach and mixes it with some comedy.  It works and I found myself laughing several times during the 7 minute run time.  Finally, those of you looking for a bloody horror flick will not find it here.  Sure, we get a little blood but nothing memorable in that regard.  Overall, Hell on a Shelf is a fun short with a solid cast and a decent story.  I may be struggling to find my Christmas spirit but this short is not.  Check it out this holiday season and add a little holiday cheer to your horror viewing this time of year!

The Women of Inferno Island

Director - Erwin C. Dietrich (Six Swedish Girls in a Boarding School, She Devil of the SS)
Starring - Karine Gambier (Voodoo Passion, Private Nurse), Brigitte Lahaie (The Night of the Hunted, Dacula's Fiancée), and Nadine Pascal (Zombie Lake, Jailhouse Wardress)
Release Date - 1980
Genre - Erotic
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've made mention in several reviews but I'll make note of it again.  Back in January I had a house fire that resulted in several rooms being damaged from the fire and a few others were damaged by water from the fire department.  Because of the fire I was forced to put my movie collection into storage.  Christmas is just a few days away and all the films I typically enjoy this time of year are in totes.  I just don't feel very Christmassy this year so I ventured in to the sleazy world of sexploitation.  After watching Full Moon Entertainment's release of Swedish Gas Pump Girls I decided to keep the Full Moon train rolling.  This time I decided to go with another 1980 Erwin C. Dietrich release.  Caged Women is a title that many fans of the women in prison sub-genre have heard of but they may not know of it under it's alternate title The Women of Inferno Island.  Hell, I didn't know this was Caged Women when I tossed it in but I'm glad I do now!  Thanks Full Moon for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows the wife of a politician who has a plan of ridding the local brothels with the prostitutes.  She convinces him to round them up and take them to an abandoned island with an old building not in use and use it as a prison for them.  He agrees and has his army round them up.  Soon she is wardress over the prison and those locked up is taken advantage of in more than one way. 

     I wasn't expecting a film that would stick with me the rest of my life.  I went into this one expecting some nudity, a weak story, and rough acting and that's exactly what I got.  The film is far from perfect but I can honestly say this is one I will not be forgetting any time soon.  The acting in this one is pretty even with other Erwin C. Dietrich films.  The cast is meant to be pretty and seduce the viewer with little or no on screen experience.  However, a few of the tantalizing beauties do have on screen experience which is strange considering how awkward several of the scenes are.  The story for this one is standard fair for a women in prison flick.  We follow a sadistic women, following in the Isla footsteps, that imprisons women only to subject them to sexual torture and abuse.  Most of the time these stories deliver a rather boring experience but this film is able to bring some character to life that you somewhat want to follow.  Finally, those wanting blood and gore will not find it here.  However, if female flesh is what you are after you will find it in abundance.  Overall, The Women of Inferno Island is a simple and sleazy good time.  This is one of those movies you toss in and don't have to pay attention to follow.  Check it out if you want beautiful women and some classic exploitation on DVD now from Full Moon.  

Swedish Gas Pump Girls

Director - Erwin C. Dietrich (Caged Women, Rolls-Royce Baby)
Starring - Brigitte Lahaie (The Night of the Hunted, Two Orphan Vampires), Jane Baker (A Foreign Girl in Paris, Sweet Young Girls), and Nadine Pascal (Zombie Lake, Caged Women)
Release Date - 1980
Genre - Fantasy
Tagline - "Their body works the best"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     After watching a few Christmas themed movies and not finding the Christmas spirit that I usually have this time of year I decided to toss in some sleaze.  I have plenty to pick from at this point.  I have several from Vinegar Syndrome needing my attentions, as well as, a few new Impulse Pictures that just arrived for review.  Instead, I wanted to check out some Full Moon Entertainment releases that was sent my way sometime back.  Sometime back Full Moon sent over a few sexploitation flicks for me to check out.  As I looked through them one stood out so I went with it.  I decided to go with the 1980 Erwin C. Dietrich film Swedish Gas Pump Girls which was released previously in the U.S. under the title Hight Test Girls.  Thanks Full Moon for sending this one my way!

     The film follows 6 Swedish blondes who run a full service gas station.  The full service also includes taking the paying customers up to their room for a little fun game of in and out.  The local officials in town want their establishment closed down when they come under pressure from their jealous wives.  However, when their current building they use to practice their brass band in becomes unstable they work up a deal with the girls to use their building and they can remain open.

    I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into but I have to admit that I had a lot of fun with this one.  Mostly laughing at the unintentional humor, but fun none the less.  Regardless, I had fun with this extremely cheesy sexploitation flick.  The acting in this one is on the awkward side.  The cast may work in front of the camera but acting in not their main concern.  Hell, their sex on camera is not their main concern as well.  They are here purely to be eye candy for the viewer and to get awkwardly dry humped but their male counterparts. The supporting cast is equally as awkward to watch but this did add some very entertaining moments.  The story for this one would be a plot for a 20 minute sexploitation flick but here it is stretched to a feature length film running time.  In order to meet that running time we get several of the same scenarios done multiple times but with different cast members in order to drag it out.  However, the humor we get is well worth subjecting ourselves to the lengthy dry humping scenes.  Finally, no blood or gore in this one.  This sexploitation flick remains true to it's sexy nature.  Overall, Swedish Gas Pump Girls is far from perfect but does offer up some laughs and late night entertainment.  I recommend checking out this strange little film on DVD now from Full Moon!