Picasso Trigger

Director - Andy Sidaris (Malibu Express, Hard Ticket to Hawaii)
Starring - Steve Bond (The Incredible Hulk, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), Dona Speir (Savage Beach, Fit to Kill), and Hope Marie Carlton (Hard Ticket to Hawaii, A Nightmare on Elm St. Part 4: The Dream Master)
Release - 1988
Genre - Horror/Crime
Tagline - "Killing is an art form"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Andy Sidaris action marathon is winding down and I'm saving some other releases for a different time.  I want to get one more in before moving on to something else and this time I'm going with the 1988 action flick Picasso Trigger.  The film is a sequel of sorts to Sidaris' 1987 film Hard Ticket to Hawaii.  I tossed this one in with hopes that it would deliver the sleazy action like the previous two films did...and it did for the most part.  I want to again thank Mill Creek for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review these highly entertaining films.  

     The film follows a group of agents who are being hunted by a crime lord who lost his brother to the same agents sometime before (events in Hard Ticket to Hawaii).  They band together and pull in additional support to stop him before the agents can be brought down but soon realize that they are not as safe in numbers as they originally thought when one of them has switched sides and is working for the enemy.
   
     I don't think another Sidaris film will entertain like Malibu Express did but Hard Ticket to Hawaii and Picasso Trigger sure fucking tries.  When I say I had fun and loved them I don't mean they are good movies...because they are not.  The acting is very b-level along with cliched or overused plot devices with nudity carrying the film.  However, as negative as that sounds those same reasons are the reasons I love these films.  Picasso Trigger is definitely the weakest of the three I marathoned but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun because I definitely enjoyed myself.  The acting in this one is more of the same as the previous two films.  The cast portrays some over the top and highly cliched action characters but their personalities make them so much fun to watch.  I really enjoy these types of characters more than your typical action characters.  They make light of dangerous situations and their use of humor really sets these films apart.  The story is another take on an overused action story.  It had it's moments but this one was not as fun as the previous two films.  The characters carried the film but the story itself was somewhat boring with the nudity and humor picking up the slack.  Finally, this one doesn't have the blood and gore most of you are accustomed to.  However, if you love boobs and explosions then you will find your fill here.  Overall, Picasso Trigger offers up some fun and camp action with plenty of skin but doesn't make itself as memorable as other Andy Sidaris releases.   The blu looks solid from Mill Creek but once again lacks new special features and includes previously released features.  It's worth adding to your collection.  

Malibu Express

Director - Andy Sidaris (Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Picasso Trigger)
Starring - Darby Hinton (Wacko, Days of Our Lives), Sybil Danning (Halloween, The Panther Squad), and Art Metrano (History of the World: Part I, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment)
Release Date - 1985
Genre - Action/Crime/Comedy
Tagline - "Packing heat from Texas to Malibu Beach"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      My Mill Creek Entertainment action marathon continues!  After watching the unexpected Double Team starring Dennis Rodman and JCVD and Andy Sidaris' Hard Ticket to Hawaii I decided to keep the Sidaris train rolling.  This next film was an easy one to pick.  After watching the 1987 film it only made since to follow it up with Malibu Express.  During this mini marathon I've seen three films from Sidaris and this release is my favorite by far.  I once again want to thank Mill Creek for sending this one my way!

     The film follows Cody Abilene (Hinton) who is a private eye that has a knack for the ladies.  In fact, he is so well liked by the opposite sex that it often renders him from doing his job.

He is hired by an old friend to investigate a wealthy family who may be leaking U.S. tech to the Russians but his investigation uncovers a bigger conspiracy.


     Hard Ticket to Hawaii was sleazy and action filled with some amazing one liners and cheeky dialogue but Malibu Express really sold me on Andy Sadaris.  Malibu delivered some great characters, a story that is really fun and not just another action cliché, and boobs.  Plenty of boobs.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  The characters are very enjoyable and the cast is having fun which reflects well on screen.  Some of the characters are more entertaining as others but that doesn't mean the cast is doing a poor job.  Some are just written with more enthusiasm than others.  With that being said, Darby Hinton made the film.  The character and his portrayal is what made this film so much fun.  He may not look the part of a playboy private eye but his humor and mannerisms worked.  The story for this one blends action, crime, and a little mystery into a movie that keeps the viewer glued to the boobtube so to speak.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you will be disappointed.  However, if you want an action flick with explosions, big guns, boobs, and a fun story that fully embraces 80s action stereotypes then you are in luck.  Overall, Malibu Express is cheesy action dialed up to 11.  Beautiful women, big guns, quotable one liners, and action makes this one a must see for fans of b-movies.  The blu looks great from Mill Creek but the lack of new special features does make it fall short of perfect.  Regardless, I highly suggest grabbing this one for your collection for your next trashy marathon.

Hard Ticket to Hawaii

Director - Andy Sidaris (Picasso Trigger, Malibu Express)
Starring - Ronn Moss (Six Feet Under, The Boneyard Collection), Dona Speir (Savage Beach, Fit to Kill), Hope Marie Carlton (Bloodmatch, A Nightmare on Elm St. 4: The Dream Child)
Release Date - 1987
Genre - Action
Tagline - "Pay the price for paradise"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Mill Creek Entertainment action continues!  After watching the rather underwhelming 1997 action film Double Team I decided to take it back a decade and check out a few 80s action flicks from Andy Sidaris.  Mill Creek started late last year releasing the 12 films from Andy Sidaris on blu.  I had never seen these films before so I was excited to check these out.  The first one I went with was the 1987 flick Hard Ticket to Hawaii.  I once again want to thank Mill Creek for sending this one my way to check out.  

     The film follows a government agent and her friend who accidentally cross paths with a lucrative and highly organized drug ring.  When the drug lord behind the operation targets them they turn to their friends for help who just happens to be highly skill martial arts practitioners and experts in heavy weapons.

    

     I love cheap action flicks.  When I say cheap I mean those action flicks with unknown male stars acting next to former adult film stars with no budget and plenty of boobs.  These films where what inspired me to write reviews.  I wanted to review movies that people had forgot about but you could find at any Wal-Mart discount movie bin.  Hard Ticket to Hawaii is the perfect example of the action flicks I loved growing up.  Tons of nudity, unforgettable one-liners, and cheesy action fun.  The acting in this is on the same level as no budget softcore porn.  We get a cast that is over enthused which makes the scenes so much fun to watch.  The cast really hams it up which makes the one liners work.  Their interactions are and dialogue among one another is far from perfect but you can tell the cast is really enjoying themselves.  Their fun in front of the camera does transfer well into the scene and you can't help but enjoy yourself with the horrible dialogue and inexperienced acting.  Finally, the film has a little blood here and there but nowhere near as a bloody as the action films before it.  However, if you are looking for boobs and explosions you are in the right place.  Overall, Hard Ticket to Hawaii is classic cheesy action.  I know horror gets the rep for being sleazy but this action comedy brings some serious skin.  I cannot recommend this film enough!  The blu looks great but the fans are not given anything new in terms of special features.  We get an intro from director Andy Sidaris which was filmed for the original DVD release of his films along with a few other features that were included in the releases or found on YouTube.    

Double Team

Director - Hark Tsui (Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame, The Swordsman)
Starring - Jean-Claude Van Damme (Bloodsport, Kickboxer), Dennis Rodman (3rd Rock from the Sun, Baywatch), and Mickey Rourke (Sin City, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man)
Release Date - 1997
Genre - Action/Comedy
Tagline - "They don't play by the rules"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last week I took a week off work.  Covid-19 has wrecked the world and left many of us in uncertainty.  I took the vacation so I could help my wife with housework and the children where she has been stuck at home for several weeks with schools shut down.  Looks like I took vacation at the wrong time due to the changing work climate at the company I work for.  My job was taking safety precautions before when all this started but has now shifted to focus more on sales.  I needed to take my mind off all this so I tossed in some cheesy action flicks that was sent over from Mill Creek Entertainment.  The first I put on the chopping block is the 1997 action comedy Double Team starring the unlikely paring of action super star JCVD and Bulls legend Dennis Rodman.  I remembered renting this on tape as a could and was looking forward to spinning it again.

     The film follows secret agent Jack Quinn (JCVD) who is unable to capture an international terrorist and is demoted after a horrible fight has left his body broken.  When a series of terrorist attacks shocks the globe he discovers that the man that escaped him before is back and now has his wife who is due any day now with their son.  Jack teams up with arms dealer Yaz (Rodman) who agrees to help him for a substantial sum of money.

     I remembered liking how crazy and over the top this film was when I was younger but after revisiting it some 20 years later I can safely say that it did not hold up.  In fact, the cheap action and cheesy dialogue is far from fun and just comes across as cringy.  Regardless, the movie was not as entertaining as I remembered but it did have a few cool moments.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a JCVD flick co-starring the most eccentric man in sports.  The dialogue is given unemotionally and unenthused while the action is dialed up to 11.  It makes the scenes feel uneven and off balance.  The cast is clearly there for the check and make no attempt at delivering memorable characters and unforgettable performances for the viewer.  This was on the back end of JCVD's popularity and his head was bigger than his acting skills.  The story for this one is one we have seen countless times before.  We follow an agent trying to stop a global terrorist from killing thousands, if not millions, of people.  We've seen the Bond films tackle this same story along with action stars like Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Dolph Lundgren, Stallone, and so on.  It's a popular action story but Double Team doesn't deliver anything new or authentic to make it their own.  Just shove mediocrity down our throats along with one liners that were not funny.  Finally, those of you looking explosions, gun fights, and some martial arts fights you will find them but you will also find that they are done in such a manner that they bring very little joy to the viewer.  Overall, Double Team is a cash grab and that's about it.  I love cheap action flicks with boobs and bad acting but this one is a struggle to finish.  The humor does find it's mark, along with the unintentional humor, but the overall film is a tough watch.  

The Grudge

Director - Nicolas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother, Piercing)
Starring - Tara Westwood (Ed, Rescue Me), Junko Bailey (Category 6: Day of Destruction), and David Lawrence Brown (Fargo, Hell on Wheels)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "It'll never let you go"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I was already head deep in horror.  I couldn't get enough but I was sure trying.  It was around this time that some modern horror classics was released.  The Ring and The Grudge were huge hits in Japan that gained a cult following all across the world so it made sense for America to remake them.  Both were solid films but were overhyped in my opinion.  Over the years both films spawned sequels and then nothing for several years.  Not long ago news broke that The Grudge was getting another American reboot but soon it was revealed that it wouldn't be a reboot but a sequel of sorts.  It has been a long ass time since I watched the first American remake of The Grudge but I thought it would be fun to check out this follow up film.

     The film follows a house with an evil past.  A nurse leaves Japan after witnessing a horrifying event and becomes possessed.  When she arrives in her home she kills her husband and daughter.  The curse of that house continues as multiple people live in or visit the home and soon find themselves succumbing to the curse of the little girl from Japan that followed the unsuspecting nurse home.     

     I wasn't expecting a genre defining film but I was looking for some supernatural fun with this one but what I was given was an unusual anthology of sorts that was painfully boring.  Fans of the other films went into this one with excitement only to be extremely disappointed with what feels like a tossed together film with little to no redeeming qualities.  The acting in this one is underwhelming to say the least.  The characters are very generic and flat with no personality for the cast to work with.  Their do their part but most of the scenes are still boring and, at times, very trying to finish.  The viewer makes no connection with the characters so the viewer doesn't care if they live or die which ruins the sense of dread the film tries to capture.  The story for this one consists of several different shorter segments centered around the home and the people that occupy it or enter it.  These short scenarios are non-linear and could be confusing at times.  Aside from that, these stories are predictable and not that fun to watch.  The horror is lacking and the scenes lack atmosphere.  They are dark but they do a horrible job building tension and atmosphere.  Finally, the film has blood and some make-up effects but those of you wanting gore will be very disappointed.  The blood and practical effects we get are solid, along with the make-up effects.  Sadly, they just blend in with the rest of the film and are forgettable.  Overall, The Grudge: The Untold Stories is a poor excuse for a follow up to a film that has left it's stamp on horror cinema.  The movie is clearly a cheap cash in on the name established almost 20 years ago.  I highly suggest skipping this one.  

Come to Daddy

Director - Ant Timpson (Crab Boy)
Starring - Elijah Wood (Cooties, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), Stephen McHattie (Pontypool, Watchmen), and DC's Legend of Tomorrow, Ant-Man)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last few days I've found myself watching some rather lackluster cinema.  After watching the funny, yet stretched thin, Corona Zombies from Full Moon and the predictable Superman: Red Son I wanted something fun.  I needed a movie that would bring some fun back to watching movies after being let down by my previous two views.  I looked at my review stack when I remembered I had just received the new Elijah Wood film Come to Daddy.  I had heard great things about this unusual horror comedy and I couldn't wait to toss it in.  

     The film follows Norval (Wood) who is visiting his estranged father after he receives a strange letter from him.  Norval hasn't seen his father for almost 30 years and uses this invitation as a way to reconnect with him.  However, things don't go as smoothly as Norval would have liked.  His dad is distant, rude, and at times strange to him.  One night during a drunken altercation Norval's father dies of an apparent heart attack.  He stays in his home for a few days to get things taken care of when he hears a knock coming from the basement.  When he climbs down the ladder he finds his real father and discovers that his old friends have abducted him in order to collect a debt that he has owed them for some time. 

     Come to Daddy was nothing like I expected.  I knew it was going to be an off beat horror comedy with a solid cast but I wasn't expecting a movie to have such a wild story and such memorable characters.  I can't call this one my favorite of the year so far but it is definitely in the running for top 10.  The acting in this one is great and the cast is top notch.  Wood delivers a great performance.  I wasn't expecting him to portray a character like this but as the film progressed it was clear why he was taking on the role of Norval.  He was so natural in the role and really brings in some humor to the scene.  My favorite performances come from Michael Smiley and Stephen McHattie.  Both their characters were hard ass and rough around the edges but their antics and dialogue brought some intention and unintentional laughs.  They were both scene stealers when they were present and made the film as fun as it was.  The supporting cast was solid but their characters did not have the depth that these three did.  The story for this one is continuously changing it up on the viewer.  Just when you think you know the direction in which the movie is going you quickly find yourself thrown somewhere completely unexpected.  The mix of humor, crime thriller, and horror works so well together especially the off brand humor that would normally cripple a film of this nature.  I was pulled in and I didn't look away until the credits were scrolling.  Finally, the film has some blood and a lot of practical effects that will make your skin crawl at times but don't expect a gore filled splatterpiece.  The kills we get fit the film and work with the story with great practical effects but it's not as messy as I was expecting.  I was hoping for more blood and more memorable kills.  Overall, Come to Daddy is funny, violent, and highly entertaining.  The cast does a great job and the story will hold your attention from beginning to end.  You can pick it up now on DVD and blu.  

Superman: Red Son

Director - Sam Liu (Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, Batman: Gotham By Gaslight)
Starring - Jason Isaacs (The Patriot, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Amy Acker (The Cabin in the Woods, Angel), and Diedrich Bader (The Drew Carey Show, Dead and Breakfast)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Action/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "The Cold War is heating up"
Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last year or so I've found myself falling in love with the DC animated movies.  This started with Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and soon after I found myself grabbing everyone I came across.  Since then there has been several DC animated movies hit store shelves that I was lucky enough to review.  Most were very impressive but there was one or two that just didn't work for me.  Regardless, I always go into these things excited to see what they are going to give me next.  A few days back I received the newest DC animated film Superman: Red Son for review.  The trailer looked awesome and I couldn't wait to dive into it.  

     The film follows Superman if he would have landed in Russia as a baby instead of the U.S.  He grows up into Superman during the Cold War with Stalin in power over the Soviet Union.  When he discovers that Stalin has secretly been using slaves to mine he kills him and takes over as ruler molding the country into his own vision while Lex Luthor, now POTUS, and the American people worry that his power will some day be used to take over the entire world.  

     I was very excited for this one but when it was all said and done I found myself very disappointed with the end product.  The same can be said about the horror film Brightburn.  Both films suffered the same fate due to the popularity of the Superman origin story.  The voice acting in this one is strange but fits the film.  It's so strange hearing Diedrich Bader as a DC character especially one as well known as Lex Luthor but he works for the film.  The same can be said for Jason Isaacs with a Russian accent.  It's out of place for that actor but it definitely fits the film.  The supporting cast is very similar.  Amazing talents taking on strange roles.  The story for this one is different but predictable especially considering how iconic the Superman origin story is mixed with the Cold War that has also found itself engrained in pop culture.  However, the story still works if you put the predictability aside.  Seeing Superman as the villain and Luthor as the hero of sorts is refreshing but not enough to actually carry the film.  By the 40 minute mark you are waiting for Luthor to win like we know he will and for the movie to end.  Finally, the animation is what you would expect from a DC animated movie.  I was more impressed by some of the older releases but this one has nice color and crisp images which makes it easy for the viewer to follow.  Overall, Superman: Red Son is a solid watch that is painfully predictable and no rewatch value.  The film does dive deep into the Cold War which is a plus for those of you that are history inclined but aside from that the film is rather dull.  If you dig the other DC releases you will appreciate this one but don't expect something mesmerizing.  

Day of the Ax

Director - Ryan Cavalline (Mountain Devil, Demon Slaughter)
Starring - Dustin Ardine (Uncovered, The Grail), Eddie Benevich (House of Carnage, The Great American Serial Killer), and Adam Berasi (Demon Slaughter, Dead Body Man)
Release Date - 2007
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "The ax is family"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years back I started collecting the Pendulum Pictures box sets.  Most of these sets comes with 10 flicks but there is a handful that has 50 or 100 films in them.  These sets are out of print but I'm a sucker for late 90s and early 00s no budget indie flicks.  These sets usually follow a theme but you can typically find the works of Bill Zebub, Eamon Hardiman, and Ryan Cavalline in several of them.  It's because of these old Brain Damage Films released in these sets that I've become accustomed to the name Ryan Cavalline.  I've only seen one of his films to date but I have several in my collection so he is a name I'm very familiar with due to these box sets.  Sometime back his film Day of the Ax, which I believe is in one of these sets along with Demon Slaughter, was released by my friends over at The Sleaze Box.  This 2007 slasher got a new updated cover for the film and a few new special features courtesy of TSB.  With work taking the slow dive due to the Covid-19 outbreak I decided to venture into my indie horror stuff and it was time to toss this one in to finally check out.

     The film follows a masked madman who mutilates people with his trusty ax and along the way he has gathered a group of followers that believe he is the chosen one of sorts.  When he's not butchering people in the woods he is looking for attractive women with healthy wombs to carry his off spring so he can keep the family business going for generations.  

     This is one of the many Sleaze Box releases I had never seen prior to their release.  I remember seeing the title somewhere, possibly in one of those box sets I previously mentioned, but I never got around to watching it.  Now, after checking out this release I can say I'm kind of glad I put it off.  This one wasn't for me.  I've seen my fair share of backyard no budget horror films over the years but this one just couldn't hold my attention.  Maybe if they would have followed through with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre fan film I think it was originally intended to be but the way it is now was not fun.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but for a cast made up of mostly people with no prior acting credits I have to say I'm somewhat impressed.  Most of the characters were painfully generic especially for an indie horror flick in the mid 00s, however, we do get a few stand out performances.  The story for this one mixes backwoods cultists with the classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  We get an ax wielding maniac wearing a mask with Leatherface mannerisms, a Great Value Choptop, and several more nods to TCM.  With that aside, the story could have worked as a short but it is stretched so thin to meet that feature length running time that we are given a film that moves at a snails pace and leaves so much on the table.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood but it's not much of a saving grace like most slashers.  The deaths are quickly tossed in and the viewer doesn't get to really enjoy them like they do in most slashers.  The effects are minimal and the kills are very lackluster.  Overall, Day of the Ax could have been a solid TCM short fan film but as a feature length film with so much taken from TCM it just feels like a thrown together mess.  I hate writing a negative review for someone's hard work but I'm honestly confused as to how this film became to be.  

Corona Zombies

Director - Charles Band (Doctor Mordrid, Prehysteria!)
Starring - Cody Renee Cameron (The Neon Demon, Tosh.), Russell Coker (Punk's Dead: SLC Punk 2, The Gatekeeper), and Robin Sydney (The Gingerdead Man, Masters of Horror)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "The invasion begins"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     We are living in a weird and unusual time.  We are in the midst of a global pandemic and instead of people helping one another through this trying and stressful time, we find them ranting and raving about their political party.  It's hard for people to come together and be supportive when so many people refuse to see people as their equals because they vote differently.  Regardless, life moves on and we find ourselves trying to find ways to keep us entertained when not worrying about our family.  When I was growing up I was a huge Full Moon fan and over the years I've found myself rekindling that love with films like Evil Bong, Killjoy, and The Gingerdead Man.  I love goofy horror flicks and I know people often question my taste in film but I don't give a fuck.  I like what I like.  A few weeks ago Full Moon reached out to me about sharing news of their newest flick Corona Zombies.  I loved the idea while many of you out there were turned off by Band exploiting the pandemic.  I use humor as a way to cope with stressful situations and I was very excited about seeing a horror comedy take on the Covid pandemic which is something I've dealt with on a daily basis because I am considered an essential employee.  I worry from the time I wake up until the time I'm home from work about carrying the virus home to my family.  Hate aside, I couldn't resist checking this one out and I'm glad I did.

     The film follows a beautiful and ditzy blonde who is shocked when she can't score some toilet paper and cleaning supplies from the store.  When she turns on the television she finds news coverage of a soup company expanding their line up with bat soup when something goes wrong.  The bat soup becomes contaminated and those that consume it are turned into flesh-eating zombies.     

     I had no idea what to expect when I went into this one.  Rumor was that Full Moon completed a zombie film sometime back and quickly shot new footage to make the Corona angle stick.  Others speculated that they remastered an older zombie flick, something like The Dead Hate the Living, and renamed it.  It wasn't until the trailer was released that I saw what absurdity that Band was giving viewers.  The acting in this one can be split up into three different parts.  We have the new footage from Band which is a little rough.  The cast is small but you can tell it was rushed into production and the cast did the best with what they were given.  The second part is the Italian classic Hell of the Living Dead that was cut and added to fit Band's story.  These scenes are impossible to judge in this context but if you've seen the original movie then you know what to expect.  The third portion is the dubbing which is the best part of the film.  The dubbing is bad but the crudeness of the dubbed material makes the film fun.  The story for this one is satire in it's purest form.  Band makes fun of the Gen Z's spring breaking, spoiled millennials that ignore the news, and world politics all in one swoop.  We then get the glorious dubbing over the Hell of the Living Dead scenes.  With all that being said, the humor does wear pretty thin by the 30 minute mark.  The film clocks in around an hour but you find yourself waiting for it to end anytime after the 30 minutes.  It would be a lot more fun with friends and some beer but as a solo watch it is way too long the way it is.  Finally, if you've seen HotLD prior to this then you know what to expect.  However, the new additions to the film has some fun make-up effects but the classic zombie gore is void from the film.  Overall, Corona Zombies is tasteless fun.  Full Moon has seemed to out Troma Troma with this one.  It's fun for a first time watch but don't expect a game changer.  Just take it for what it is and let the dubbing and one liners wash over you instead of the wave of anxiety that most of us feel right now.  Check it out.