Come Play

Director - Jacob Chase (Larry, Amy)

Starring - Azhy Robertson (Rough Night, Beyond the Night), Gillian Jacobs (Community, The Box), and John Gallagher Jr. (Jonah Hex, 10 Cloverfield Lane)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't let him out"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year may have been a shit show but the fact that some companies were able to push through quarantine and social distancing laws to make any sort of a movie is pretty spectacular.  These movies may not be movies I enjoy but they deserve some sort of credit when they are able to finish production, editing, and find distribution during a year when the entire country was shut down.  A few weeks ago I received the horror film Come Play for review.  This 2020 title is one I had heard about a few months prior and was amazed that a film of this caliber was able to pull off a release in 2020.  After watching Versus I decided it was the perfect time to give this one a spin.  

     The film follows a loving mother and her autistic son.  He's non-verbal and struggles with finding friends at school.  He's often bullied for being different.  However, he soon finds an unlikely friend in an app named Larry.  However, Larry is actually a monster that is using his iPad as a window to getting into our world.

     I went into this one really excited to check it out but was quick to discover that it was actually pretty similiar to another film I recently reviewed, Z.  Both films followed similiar stories but Come Play was a little bit better.  Not by a lot but was some better.  The acting in this one is pretty good and consistent.  The cast does a great job in their roles and the characters really stand out.  They are very genuine and fit the story perfectly.  With that being said, Azhy Robertson does a phenomenal job at the non-verbal autistic child.  My degree is in education with emphasis on special education.  I had seen so many children just like the one he portrays and he does an amazing job.  The story for this one is a solid horror feature BUT is too similar to the Shudder exclusive Z.  In Z a family is haunted by their child's imaginary friend.  The similarities are there which makes it very difficult to see passed them.  Though they both feature a similar story, Come Play's execution makes this one a little more enjoyable than Z.  The characters, action, and scenes are much more enjoyable.  With that being said, a lot of the scenes we get are repetitive which results in a bit of a boring experience.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  In fact, if you are looking for fun and inventive death scenes then you will be very disappointed.  There is some visual effects with the creature that I was not digging.  The monster itself was very disappointing and funny to look at.  It definitely took the tone of the film away.  Overall, Come Play was alright for a first time watch.  It has a solid cast but an unoriginal story.  From my understanding, this one is based on a short from the same director so Z could be inspired by it.  Regardless, both share the same story and both are very forgettable.  

Versus

Director - Ryuhei Kitamura (Godzilla: Final Wars, The Midnight Meat Train)

Starring - Tak Sakaguchi (Yakuza Weapon, Deadball), Hideo Sakaki (Alive, Red Blade), and Chieko Misaka (Midnight Ghost Story, Suicide Club)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Beware the past.  Fight the present.  FEAR THE FUTURE"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I was an active member of the Upcoming Horror Movie's forum.  All my spare time at home was spent there and my obsession with the forums spilled over into school.  I would often sneak onto them in classes that we had internet access in.  UHM and the members were vital for me discovering so many amazing horror titles that I would have never found other ways.  I grew up in the poorest county in the US so I couldn't just go out and talk with some of the locals about horror.  Anyway, it was during this time that Japanese horror films were introduced to me.  Versus was one of the first films I looked into and I absolutely loved it.  Sometime later I found it on a double feature DVD release and picked it up to add to my collection.  Honestly, I forgot all about this film over the years and was caught off guard when Arrow Video announced the blu release of it.  It was the perfect time to revisit this one so I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.

     The film follows a prison escapee and the person he is chained with who wander through the woods until they meet the people helping them escape.  The organized crime ring is instructed to wait on their leader but soon find themselves overrun by the dead who are resurrected by the forest.  An unknown woman that was kidnapped and forced to be there seems to be the key to it all but because of the way she is treated by the gangsters the prison inmate takes up for her creating a fight amongst them all.  This forced them to fight for their lives through the woods while the goons are giving chase.

     I never realized just how much I enjoy Versus.  After revisiting it on blu I decided to watch it again the following the day.  It really is a fun and cheesy action horror film that is able to accomplish something that many have failed to do.  First and foremost, this is one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen.  If you don't find yourself laughing throughout this one then you are clearly not paying attention.  However, the cheese mixes very well with the story.  The acting in this one is very over the top.  All the character deliver memorable roles and bring to life unforgettable characters.  The humor and comedic parts are spot on with some serious laughs being delivered at unexpected times.  However, the action oriented and fight scenes are nothing to scoff at.  The cast does an absolutely brilliant job in the fight scenes with a lot of the stunts really impressing me even though I have seen this one numerous times.  The story for this one has so much going on but still never over-complicates things.  We have the organized crime aspect that starts the film before moving head first into the horror aspect.  This is a smooth and fun transition.  We then have the angle where the fighters are ancient enemies and the forest is one of the many portals to hell.  It works and really pulls you in.  I do have a problem with the 2 hour run time but I also hate seeing the movie end.  An hour and a half is the perfect length for a film but I love Versus so much I really hate when the credits rolls.  Finally, this is one bloody action flick.  We get buckets and buckets of blood with some seriously fun practical effects.  The gore and dismemberment scenes are fabulously done and the make-up effects on the undead is great as well.  The most dedicated horror fans will really appreciate the death scenes here.  Overall, Versus is an absolute must for genre fans.  The movie has so much to enjoy that I would be here all day picking it apart if I had to.  This blu release from Arrow looks absolutely amazing.  The video and audio transfer is leagues above the DVD release I bought all those years ago.  Collectors will want to snag this one while you can.  

Slimebox

Director - Raymond Cara

Starring - Artemis Luperealia and Jordan Quinn

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A waste of good slime"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Social media and an extremely valuable resource for fans of indie horror.  I rarely hear other fans mentioning indie horror releases and because of that I never see these titles unless I actively dig through hashtags on sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  It's then that I can see these releases posted by those involved.  #indiehorror is one that I often find myself searching through for new films.  A few nights ago I came across the poster for the new short Slimebox from Satan's Lovebox Productions.  The poster (shown above) really made my imagination race.  I followed the page that posted the poster and was soon messaged by them to review the short.  I quickly agreed and was sent the link not long after.  Keep up the good work Raymond!

     The film follows a man wondering the streets where he finds a mysterious slime.  He does what any sane person would do and immediately rubs his hands in the slime.  Soon he becomes a flesh eating zombie wondering the streets in search of his next meal.

     I didn't know what to expect when I hit play on Slimebox.  I knew it was a short with no budget but I had no idea what direction it was going to take me.  It was a fun one that was short and sweet but I could see it being a little longer and still enjoyable.  The acting in this one is solid but nothing that really stands out.  The short is over as soon as it starts so the cast doesn't really get a chance to "act" in a traditional sense.  We see someone become infected and then see another character as they are attacked.  Nothing that will really stick with the viewer in way of the acting here.  The story for this one is super short and goes straight to the point.  It's an urban take on Redneck Zombies that does have a little bit of a nod to Slime City. It's fun but the fun is over as soon as it starts.  I love a short film because there is never room for bullshit scenes.  However, the short running time is this one's biggest drawback.  I need more!  Finally, this one has some slime and some make-up effects with some fun no budget practical effects.  I enjoyed the one kill we do get but as I stated earlier, I want a lot more!  Overall, Slimebox is a cheap horror short that fucking works.  It's a straight forward short that reminds me of the days when I would rent some direct to horror titles from the local video store.  No bullshit, just horror.  Check it out.  

Full Disclosure

Director - Michael Strode

Starring - Rebecca Turner, Alexandra Bayless, and Gregory Shelby

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't leave the call"

Format - Streaming

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year was one of the toughest years I've ever lived through and I know it was that way for many of us.  However, some people were able to turn that negative time into something productive.  Several filmmakers, and first time filmmakers alike, used their time to work on new films and shorts.  A few weeks ago filmmaker Michael Strode reached out to me to review his new horror short Full Disclosure.  I wasn't able to right away but I was able to finally check it out.  Thank you Michael for reaching out to me to check this one out.

     The short follows a group of friends who meet up once a week for a zoom call to drink and catch up after quarantine.  However, someone in a plague mask invades their zoom meeting.  Those that leave the call die and those that stay on the call have their darkest secrets revealed.  

     I love getting to check out new indie horror features and shorts from filmmakers that love the genre.  Even if I don't care for the film it's amazing to see what people can accomplish.  It's even more of an accomplishment when they are able to film something during a pandemic and current social distancing guidelines.  Which is why a movie like Full Disclosure was a great attempt at making a movie during these times.  I can see some genre fans enjoying this one but it was one I didn't really care for.  The acting in this one is solid and very well done.  The characters are very grounded and genuine.  The cast was mostly acting alone while filming themselves, which is a result of Covid, but they were authentic in their roles.  They did the best they could with what they were given.  The story for this one is simple, straight forward, and works very well within the "new normal."  However, it is very much inspired by the Blumhouse snoozfest Unfriended which follows a group of high school students on a video call as they are haunted and murdered by the ghost of a young girl that killed herself.  Sadly, I found both of these stories to be extremely boring and difficult to finish.  Watching people talk to each other through a video call is not my type of entertainment.  Finally, this one has a little blood but the death scenes are off camera.  The practical effects are very minimal which is a bit of a disappointment for those of us looking for some fun and memorable deaths with our horror.  Overall, Full Disclosure is not one I really cared for.  I respect any filmmaker that takes the time to make their own film and I couldn't imagine the struggle of making one now but Strode and company did it.  Personally, I didn't care for it but for those of you that enjoyed Livescream and Unfriended will really enjoy this one.  

Tesla

Director - Michael Almereyda (Deadwood, The Eternal)

Starring - Ethan Hawke (The Purge, Daybreakers), Eve Hewson (The 27 Club, Robin Hood), and Kyle MacLachlan (The Flintstones, Twin Peaks)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Drama/Comedy

Tagline - "My achievements and conquests will be evaluated in the future"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The IFC Midnight and IFC Films releases lately have been absolutely amazing.  Rent-A-Pal is a contender for my favorite film of the year even though 2021 has just started.  It was a thriller that also made me feel nostalgic taking a deep dive into VHS and the trends that the late 80s and early 90s saw.  They recently released the Russian sci-fi horror film Sputnik which was another amazing release that deserves to be seen.  I received a third IFC release for review but it wasn't a horror title.  Instead, it is a biographic dramedy about Nikola Tesla starring Ethan Hawke.  This was the one I was looking forward to the most but this one was the only real regret.  The movie couldn't figure out what kind of film it wanted to be which resulted in a pretty rough watch. 

     The film is a narrative following the life of underappreciated inventor Nikola Tesla (Hawke).  The film goes through his upbringing, struggling with money, friction between him and Thomas Edison, and love interests.  

     I couldn't wait to spin this one but the movie was nothing like I was expecting.  The quote on the front of the film painted a Drunk History type of biography and, though there was a few moments that was reminiscent of the show, the film was nothing like it.  Instead, the movie struggled to find it's footing.  The acting in this one is extremely underwhelming.  The characters and performances are very dry with the comedy coming in at the wrong time.  I was so fucking excited to see Ethan Hawke take on Tesla but everyone in the film was very underwhelming.  They have no energy and no one can hold the scene.  The cast makes the film extremely heavy and difficult to follow.  The story for this one is a bold attempt at creating a comedic biography on Tesla.  The sad part is the humor completely misses it's mark and the scenes are painfully drawn out.  The humor, when it does hit, is not funny and makes the scenes even more difficult to follow.  When you toss that in with the random narrative, and lackluster acting you are left with a film that is barely unwatchable.  I found myself watching the clock more than the television.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory flick.  It has a fun soundtrack but aside from that this is a movie most horror fans would want to skip.  Overall, Tesla was a huge disappointment.  The movie was nothing like I was expecting and feels like it was a complicated production from beginning to end.  It doesn't know which way to go which is a very inconsistent experience.  Skip it.  

Sputnik

Director - Egor Abramenko (Polaroid Love, The Passenger)

Starring - Oksana Akinshina (Sister, Hipsters), Fedor Bondarchuk (Invasion, Stalingrad), and Pyotr Fyodorov (The Blackout, The Departed)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror

Tagline - "The only survivor did not come back alone"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime late last year I saw some genre friends talking about the Russian sci-fi horror flick Sputnik.  The images and trailer for this one looked really entertaining so I did a little looking and saw that it was primarily VOD only but an official release from IFC Midnight and Scream Factory was coming up early in the year so I decided to wait.  When Scream Factory sent the press release for this one I immediately jumped on it.  I requested a review copy and they were kind enough to send it over.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows the only survivor of a space mission when they suffer a catastrophic disaster.  When he returns back to Earth he is quarantined and they learn that something is living inside him.  They bring in a scientist to run some tests and she learns that it is a carnivarious in nature and leaves his body at night to feed.  The miliatry wants to use it as a weapon but she wants to separete the two in order to save the cosmonaut's life.

     I was really excited to check out this period piece sci-fi horror flick centered around Russia and the cold war.  It had a lot of different aspects that really interested me and the movie did not disappoint.  I did feel that the movie was way too long but it was still a genuinely entertaining watch.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast does a phenomenal job in their roles and really brings their characers to life.  They hold every scene and does a fantastic job at making the story progress.  I really enjoyed the characters and the cast's on screen chemistry is great.  The story for this one is a blend of horror and sci-fi that works very well.  The atmosphere just doesn't feel right for me which does affect several of the scenes and how the horror aspect is impacted.  The movie is  pretty solid and straight forward but the atmosphere and lack of tension really makes the darker and horror aspects feel out of place.  I'm sure if the film was able to actually build up some tension then these scenes would have had more impact.  Finally, the film has plenty of bloody but went the visual effects route for the more graphic scenes.  Honestly, the visuals don't look bad but the kills are definately lacking dementions.  With that being said, I was not a fan of how the creature looked.  I was thinking the entire time about how it looked like some sort of mucus monster.  It just didn't fit well with me.  Overall, Sputnik is not perfect but I really enjoyed it.  It's a pretty solid late night creature feature.  I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon but it was still entertaining for a first time watch.  

Happy Times

Director - Michael Mayer (Fireworks, Out of the Dark)

Starring - Shani Atias (Shameless, Devil's Night), Stefi Celma (Lost Bullet, The Squad), and Michael Aloni (Temporarily Dead, Out of Sight)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I decided to be more aggressive with my reviews when I went into this new year.  Not aggressive as in picking apart movies and being disrespectful.  Instead, I wanted to stop wasting time and actually be more productive with it to ensure I review movies in a timely manner.  A few days ago I received the Israeli American horror comedy Happy Times from Artsploitation Films to review.  This one looks extremely fun and instead of sitting on it for weeks on end I decided to make time for it as soon as possible.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.  

     The film follows a family get together that starts out innocently enough but soon egos, infidelity,  greed, and cultural differences comes to a boil resulting in bloodshed.

     I went into this one thinking it was something like The Perfect Host meets Funny Games but I was wrong.  Instead, it was something a little different.  A good different that I was not expecting but very different.  The acting in this one is very consistent and even.  The cast works together very well and they do phenomenal jobs in their performances.  Some of the scenes were pretty intense and the cast did a fantastic job in those scenes.  However, some of the characters look and act very similar.  It's as if the writer of this one only had one person in mind when they were writing the characters.  The story for this one has a lot of layers but is fairly straight forward.  More or less, we are given a dysfunctional family and friends on the verge of collapsing.  We then watch the accidental and intentional deaths of them all unfold.  Sure, there is some family drama, secrets revealed, and so on revealed throughout but the story is pretty straight forward.  With that being said, the film does get rather repetitive and by the 40 or 50 minute mark you are ready for the film to wrap it up.  Finally, this is a bloody one.  We have plenty of practical and make-up effects that look fantastic.  The kills are extremely violent and fit the film so well but they are fairly forgettable.  They are still fun to watch but they don't stick with you like other horror films.  Overall, Happy Times is a bloody and entertaining horror comedy.  It does stretch a little thin at times but still well worth the watch.  Check it out!

Doom Patrol: Season Two

Creator - Jeremy Carver (Supernatural, Being Human)

Starring - Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin), Timothy Dalton (Hot Fuzz, Flash Gordon), and Abi Monterey (Broadway Kids Against Bullying)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Early last year I reviewed both seasons of Titans along with the first season of Doom Patrol and Swamp Thing.  Doom Patrol quickly became my favorite show but all the other shows that were part of the DC Universe was fantastic.  Though these series do bleed into the Arrowverse they are still highly entertaining as stand alone shows.  A few months ago season two of Doom Patrol was released on HBO Max.  I wanted to set up a subscription so I could watch it but time and work got away from me and I soon forgot about it.  Fast forward and a few days ago I saw some mutual friends that review as well had mentioned that they received season two for review on blu.  I quickly rushed to my email to request a copy and was lucky enough to get one.  I couldn't wait to dig into this season.

     This season follows the Doom Patrol as they try to work through their anger with Chief who has now included his daughter Dorothy and her slew of imaginary friends.  As they all struggle with their own problems a bigger problem is brewing as Dorothy reaches womanhood which could bring about the end of the world.

     The first season of Doom Patrol is absolutely amazing.  I loved the characters, the story, and the aesthetics.  It really did become one of my favorite shows after that first season.  Season two wasn't as great as the first season but god damn was it still a lot of fun.  The acting in this season is just as amazing as the first season.  The characters are so much fun to watch and the cast really gets into them.  Some of the characters have their own way of expressing different emotions but the cast does an amazing job making the characters their own.  I would be here all day if I was to give everyone in this show the much deserved credit but I'm too lazy for that.  The story for this one really lacks that sense of dread and disaster the first season had.  The show is more focused on each member of the team as the cope and adjust to their own situations.  Along the way we have a few episodes that are not really focused on the season's story arch but they were fun and really worked.  With that being said, the series ended on a cliffhanger and with the uncertainty of film production during this pandemic I'm concerned it could be years before we get any sort of conclusion.  Finally, this season is heavily based in sci-fi so we don't get any blood and gore.  However, we get some great props, sets, and wardrobe.  I absolutely love the look and feel of this show and you really need to see it to appreciate it as well.  Overall, Season two is a must see for DC fans or someone looking for their next television show to binge.  It's funny, looks amazing, and the characters are unforgettable.  This season doesn't have the same punch as the first season but it's still amazing.  Check it out.  

Rent-A-Pal

Director - Jon Stevenson 

Starring - Wil Wheaton (Into the Dark, Star Trek: The Next Generation), Brian Landis Folkins (Tales from the Vault, Hoax), and Amy Rutledge (Neighbor, Eyes of the Dead)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - "He talks to you.  He listens to you.  He understands you"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago I received a press release from IFC Midnight with a few of their upcoming titles in it.  One of those titles was Jon Stevenson's directorial debut, Rent-A-Pal.  I was born in the mid-80s and grew up in the 90s with a huge part of my childhood spent in the video store.  I remember all these VHS fads like visiting the zoo on VHS, dating schemes, and so on.  So when I saw that this movie was set in the early 90s and based around the Rent-A-Friend tape series I had to see it.  Lucky for me, my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment was kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows David (Folkins) who lives with his mom who is suffering from dementia.  All the care she requires prevents him from dating so he has resorted to video dating as a way to find love.  As he waits to find a match he finds a tape called Rent-A-Pal.  The film follows host Andy (Wheaton) who begins a friendship with the viewer.  David is skeptical of this as first but soon becomes obsessed with his new friend Andy.  His friendship even gets in the way of a match that is seemingly perfect with David.  The friendship takes a deadly turn when Andy insinuates that he should kill his mother which he does...

     I was really interested in this one because I remember seeing videos like this when I was younger.  Putting a horror spin on something like Rent-A-Friend was something rather unique but not unexpected.  Videos like this were rather creepy in a way and most of the people who participated in them were rather sad.  I love how this film was able to combine the creepiness of those tapes with the sad and lonely people that these tapes were aimed for.  The acting in this one is absolutely phenomenal.  I've seen praise for Wheaton in his role for Andy.  Though he does a fantastic job as the film's creepy Rent-A-Pal host it's Brian Landis Folkins that really sells the film.  Wheaton deserves all the praise he gets but Folkins is the star of the show and deserves the credit he truly deserves.  The supporting cast is great as well.  The performances are all amazing and everyone really carries their weight here.  The story for this one is a time capsule full of nostalgia and grounded horror.  Seeing the video dating network, the VCR and tapes, and a man approaching middle age desperate to find love is a solid foundation for a horror film that wants to be more real that fiction.  Tossing in the weird tape to build friendship and having a lonely and desperate man snap really brings real life horror to the screen.  We don't have monsters, mutants, and other things that go bump in the night.  What we have is human doing human things and that's scary enough.  We have great pacing, plenty of character and story development, and just enough tension at the end to make the story work.  I really enjoyed how this one was put together.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  We do have a scene at the end that shows a small bit of blood but nothing that you gorehounds would be looking for.  The film is story driven with more focus on the characters than deaths.  Overall, Rent-A-Pal would have been my top pick for 2020 if I would have seen it last year.  It's an absolutely amazing film that I recommend to any genre fan.  It's well worth your time so check it out.  

Sky Sharks

Director - Marc Fehse (The Power of Soul, Killerbus)

Starring - Eva Habermann (Lexx, Cyst), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, Planet of the Apes), Tony Todd (Night of the Living Dead, Candyman)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "The sea is not enough"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Everyone can agree that 2020 was a shit show of a year.  Almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong but it wasn't a complete bust.  We did get a few amazing movies even though many had to be finished under new and strict guidelines due to covid.  Late last year I heard that Umbrella Entertainment was releasing the film Sky Sharks in Australia on DVD while the US is getting a blu and VOD release from Dark Sky and Capelight.  The trailer for this one looked absolutely insane and I couldn't wait to see it.  Lucky for me, not only did Umbrella send a DVD all the way over for review but Dark Sky and Capelight hooked me up with a blu.  Once I got these in I couldn't wait another second before digging in.  

     The film follows a group of explorers who discover a once thought lost Nazi warship frozen in the artic.  Inside they learn that the Nazi's were never truly defeated and retreated to the artic to work on their most fiendish weapon yet...sky sharks that can fly and are piloted by undead Nazi soldiers.

       I went into this one with a big ass smile on my face ready for some of the most ridiculous on screen action and Nazi puns that hasn't been seen since Iron Sky.  That smile lasted for maybe 15 minutes before I realized how broken this film was.  It went from being a brilliant genre bending comedy to seeing how many cameos it could toss into the story.  It's chaotic, uneven, and extremely difficult to follow.  The acting in this one is rushed and nowhere near the quality of acting most of this cast is known for.  The film feels as if they were trying to get as many people into the film as possible so lines were either improved or written on the spot while doing very little for the story.  The cast is very underwhelming here and the characters, as crazy as this sounds, is very forgettable.  The story for this one is a fucking mess.  We have so many sub-plots trying to bring in new faces while the main storyline is distracted by unnecessary scenes.  The film starts out in amazing fashion with the plot reveal and some seriously fun scenes but after 15 or 20 minutes it's evident how messy the film really is.  If the filmmaker would have cared more about his story more than the people in it we could have been given a seriously fun shark flick.  Finally, the film is full of bloody moments and visual effects.  The kills are quick but very entertaining while the film delivers some cheesy but fun visual effects. The film will put many fans in mind of Iron Sky in way of it's look and style but the visuals are not as impressive as the previously mentioned film.  Overall, Sky Sharks is the biggest disappointment of the year by far.  I've never seen a movie have such promise only to fall so short.  It's one of the messiest films to follow I have ever seen and the scenes with random characters really distract viewer's from the story itself.  Some serious editing needs done.  Skip it.  

Guncrazy

Director - Tamra Davis (Billy Madison, Halfbaked)

Starring - Drew Barrymore (Firestarter, E.T.), James Le Gros (Wildling, Constantine), and Billy Drago (The Hills Have Eyes, The X-Files)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Crime/Romance

Tagline - "Love made them crazy.  Guns made them outlaws"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was browsing the MVD page sometime back I saw a list of some of the new MVD Rewind Collection releases.  The Bolo Yeung double feature really caught my eye but another one that really peaked my curiosity was 1992's Guncrazy directed by Tamra Davis.  Davis is also the director behind some of my favorite movies growing up like Billy Madison and Halfbaked.  I knew it wasn't a horror oriented released but I had to check it out.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows the teenage Anita (Barrymore) who lives with her mother's ex-boyfriend who sometimes sleeps with her.  Her morally loose home life has bled over into her school life as she often sleeps with some of the guys in her school.  However, her life forever changes when her teacher has her find a pen-pal to write to.  She finds someone on prison, Howard (Le Gros), and they begin a relationship.  She eventually kills her mother's boyfriend before helping Howard get released.  Howard's love of guns, along with his sexually promiscuous girlfriend, puts Howard in a heated exchange between some former lovers of hers where he accidentally shoots one of them.  To cover his tracks he kills the other one and eventually more bodies begin to pile up.

     I went into Guncrazy knowing nothing about it and I found myself really fucking enjoying it.  We get a performance from Barrymore that I was not expecting, some amazing deaths, and any movie that has snake handling is going to pull me in.  I really enjoyed it and I'm glad MVD sent this one my way.  The acting in this one is solid.  No one is going to be winning awards from their performances here but they still fit the film very well.  Barrymore is a little underwhelming at times BUT I was not expecting her to tackle a role like this.  The wet t-shirt shower scene along with the sexual energy she brings is unlike any other film of her's that I've seen.  Le Gros delivers a pretty solid performance.  I really liked his character and how he approached it.  With that being said, my favorite character was portrayed by Billy Drago.  Drago has made a name for himself in the genre for his characters he brings to life on screen and seeing him as a preacher at a snake handling church sold the film for me.  I grew up near Jolo, WV near the famous snake handling church so seeing him tackle this character was fantastic.  Maybe I'm biased but I loved seeing him in this role.  The story for this one is a modern spin on Bonnie and Clyde two years before Natural Born Killers.  Bonnie and Clyde were known for their admiration for each other along with their crime spree ending in bloodshed.  This one mixes that story up a little and the crime spree is replaced with several accidental and forced murders before the bloodshed.  It works and the romance angle is not overbaring.  I really enjoyed it and how the film ended.  Finally, this one has several bloody on screen deaths.  All the deaths fit the theme of the film with guns but they are perfectly executed.  In fact, one of those deaths is still sticking with me all this time after watching it for the first time.  Overall, Guncrazy was a fantastic film and a fucking great release from MVD as part of their Rewind Collection.  The transfer looks great and the features included add to the experience.  Be sure to check this one out and add it to your collection.  

Ironheart

Director - Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon, Black Belt Jones)

Starring - Britton K. Lee (Fatal Revenge), Bolo Yeung (Legacy of Rage, Double Impact), and Richard Norton (Mad Max: Fury Road, Lady Dragon)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Only the strong will survive"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back I saw that MVD was releasing a Bolo Yeung double feature on blu as part of their MVD Rewind Collection.  Both of these films were films I had never seen before but I had seen a bunch of films with Yueng in them.  After I took a dive into Bloodfight I couldn't wait to spin Ironheart in hopes that it would be a better film than the first.  It was but still not that great.

     The film follows an L.A. cop who just happens to be a martial arts master.  He has targeted a local gang that has a knack for kidnapping beautiful women and uses his martial arts skills to stop them.

     I went into this hoping it would be better than Bloodfight and I was greeted with a superior film but being better than Bloodfight doesn't make this one a good movie.  In fact, it was better than the first one but it was still a tough one to finish.  The acting in this one is absolutely laughable.  Yeung is a secondary character but he, along with the lead and the rest of the supporting cast, delivers some unintentional funny performances.  Their horrible dialogue delivery, cheesy acting, and one sided fight scenes made for a very rough movie to sit through.  The cast, along with the lack of action, made this one funny at time and boring the rest.  The story for this one lacks depth and it painfully generic.  I love no budget action flicks because they are simple and straight forward.  Ironheart is simple and straight forward but the story is so simple it could have been told in 30 minutes.  Instead, it's stretched so thin that the last half of the film is just filler.  The editing and run time really needs worked out in order for this one to be anything other than a forgettable martial arts flick.  Finally, this one has some blood and extremely one sided fight scenes.  In fact, the main character doesn't get hit the first time in any of the fight scenes.  If he did it was out of focus of the camera.  Overall, Ironheart is a better film than Bloodfight but that's not saying much.  Bolo Yeung is billed as star in both of these films but he is not.  Honestly, MVD has released some much better films than these that I would recommend.  Skip them.  

Bloodfight

Director - Shuji Goto (Angel Target, Kings of the Square Ring)

Starring - Yasuaki Kurata (Blood: The Last Vampire, Monster Killer), Simon Yam (Election, IP Man), and Meg Lam (Happy Hour, The Seven Angels)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Action

Tagline - "Enter if you dare"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you grew up when I did you often found yourself renting some seriously entertaing and underrated direct to video action flicks from the late 80s and early 90s.  Horror is and always will be my favorite genre but there was something enjoyable about renting a stack of action flicks on a Friday night with some junk food and watching them over and over until you had to return them Monday after school.  It was in some of these films that I first saw Bolo Yeung.  This imposing martial arts star made a name for himself in the late 80s as a hired goon for different crime bosses in a bunch of action and martial arts flicks.  Sometime back MVD releases a Bolo Yeung double feature as part of their MVD Rewind Collection.  Both films in the set are ones I had never seen so I reached out to MVD for a review copy.  They were kind enough to send one my way and now I'm digging into 1989's Bloodfight.  

     The film follows a martial arts fighter who is too old now to compete in competitions so he trains others to do so.  When he finds someone showing promise he believes he has a winner on his hands.  However, he dies in his match against Chang Lee (Yeung).  After losing his prized fight her finds himself suffering from alcoholism and sinking to a whole new level of depression.  That is until he finds the strength to train so he can beat Chang Lee himself.

     I was so fucking excited to dig into this one but it was quick to show me it wasn't going to be a fun one.  I wanted to love it but I found myself bored out of my mind or laughing at some seriously bad choices the production team made when filming this one.  The acting in this one is very over the top.  I've seen some action films in the past where the cast really hammed up their performances but this one is some of the most overdramatic performances I've seen in a long time.  This is something I never thought I would say but I've seen better acting in a JCVD flick.  With that being said, Bolo Yeung is not the star in this film.  He has some screen time but not nearly enough to bill him as the lead.  It's very misleading.  The story for this one is just like every other martial arts film.  We follow someone who has desires to be on top but struggles to get there only to find himself doing what he wanted to do from the very beginning.  There is nothing really new about the story and the lack of action and interesting characters makes it a difficult one to finish.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments and a really fitting death scene but those are easily forgettable.  I was expecting a lot more bloody fights than what we were given.  Overall, Bloodfight is not as entertaining as I was hoping for.  In fact, I would have rather watched Bloodsport over this one.  With that being said, the blu looks great from MVD.  Collectors will want this one but fans of martial arts will want to look elsewhere for another movie to watch.  

Galaxy of the Dinosaurs

Director - J.R. Bookwalter (Robot Ninja, Polymorph)

Starring - James Black (The Burning Zone, Godzilla), Christine Morrison (Ozone, Chickboxer), and Tom Hoover (Dead and Rotting, Ozone)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     It took a few days but here I am at the end of the Tempe Digital SOV Six-Pack.  When filmmaker J.R. Bookwalter announced his SOV Six-Pack I couldn't wait to have it.  The unique set was the selling point but having the films as they were originally released and not part of the Bad Movie Police line was definately a plus.  After watching several awesome, and a few not so awesome, movies it's now time for the last one in the set which is 1992's Galaxy of the Dinosaurs.  This is one I've heard about before from other movie fans.  It's notorious for using scenes from Planet of the Dinosuars with new footage that Bookwalter had filmed.  Honestly, I was still excited to check this oddball film out.

     The film follows a group on a space ship when they learn that their flight has been sabotaged.  They are forced to crash land on a planet inhabited by dinosaurs and forced to fight to survive.  That is until they learn that it was all part of an evil plan by one of their own.

     I tossed this one in expecting a strange shit show of a film but I actually found myself liking it.  Sure, it's a cheap way to make a movie but I'm a fan of cheap movies.  It's fun for a first time watch but it's not a memorable film experience.  The acting in this one is solid but nothing amazing.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles and gives every scene everything they have.  The characters are a little underwritten and they sometimes blend in with the scene but the cast does the best they can with what they were given.  The story for this one was written around inserting those scenes from Planet of the Dinosaurs.  It actually works and is heavily influences by sci-fi television shows and movies of the 60s and 70s.  I really enjoyed this cheesy story even if old footage from another film was used.  I know that turns some people off to it but I liked it a lot.  As I stated earlier, this is not the kind of movie that will stick with you for days but it is good corny fun.  Overall, Galaxy of the Dinosaurs is a cheap movie that is surprisingly fun.  It's not one that everyone will appreciate but I enjoyed it for what it was.  

Humanoids from Atlantis

Director - J.R. Bookwalter (Ozone, Robot Ninja)

Starring - James L. Edwards (Her Name was Christa, Bloodletting), Sandra Wurzer (Midnight 2, Andromina: The Pleasure Planet), and Christine Morrison (Ozone, Galaxy of the Dinosaurs)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "Rising from their watery graves to fulfill their ancient hunger..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     My mind raced with all the possibilities about what this SOV Six Pack would deliver.  A few of them didn't look like they were for me but most of them looked like good cheap fun.  With that being said, there was one film that I wanted to see more than the others.  It was 1992's Humanoids from Atlantis.  The artwork for the original VHS release is far from perfect BUT I fucking love it.  It's simple, campy, and just looks badass in my opinion.  The new artwork for the blu looks cool and all but I love the artwork for the VHS so much.  It really made me want to see this one.  

     The film follows an aspiring filmmaker and his girlfriend.  He is hired to make a documentary about their local lake but while filming he discovers a strange aquatic humanoid and records it.  It tries to attack him but they knock it out with his camera and run.  The police don't believe him but he soon finds a scientist that does.  She predicts that the creature was from Atlantis and wants to use his finding, along with her research, to win the Noble Prize.  However, she has a secret motive that they soon uncover.

    I went into this one looking for a cheesy creature feature that only Bookwalter could do but was met with a film that starts out interesting enough before it completely flops near it's ending.  It had me sold up until the 20 or 30 minute mark but then completely drops the ball.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  It's cool seeing how young James Edwards was in this one.  He always seems comfortable in front of the camera.  The supporting cast is solid as well but their personalities do fall flat with the story.  They easily blend into the background in most scenes.  The story for this one is incomplete.  We follow what feels like the beginning to a Fred Olen Ray film with Bookwalter behind the camera.  We have a creature from Atlantis and an evil scientist.  A solid beginning but as the film progresses it hits a dry spell before just ending with what looks like a staged blooper.  This leads me to believe that something happened and the movie couldn't be finished.  Either funding ran out, time was an issue, or something of that nature.  Finally, this is not really a bloody or gory one.  We do get a pretty cheap costume but that's about the extent of the effects in this one.  Overall, Humanoids from Atlantis is a joke from Bookwalter to viewers.  The movie starts out innocently enough but has no real conclusion for fans.  Out of the set this is one I would skip.  

Maximum Impact

Director - J. R. Bookwalter (Robot Ninja, Ozone)

Starring - Ken Jarosz (Zombie Cop, Chickboxer), James Black (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5), and Michael Cagnoli (Ozone)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I ordered this SOV Six Pack there was a few movies I thought would not be for me but one that I was really excited to see was 1992's Maximum Impact.  I'm a sucker for no budget action flicks and seeing one directed by Bookwalter really excited me.  Sadly, this one was a rough one to finish.  I really wanted to like it but I just couldn't get into it.  

     The film follows a business man who travels away for a business meeting.  That night he visits a friend who works with him and witnesses a woman shoot him in the head as part of a snuff film.  He helps get the woman away from the man recording and goes home to until he can figure out what to do next.  However, the company behind the snuff film knows about him and sends a group of hit men to kill his wife and get the girl back.  What they don't expect is the arsenal he keeps in his home.

     I was really fucking excited to dig into this one.  This is one of J.R.'s movies that I've wanted to see for years but never had the opportunity.  Sadly, it was nowhere near as fun as his other films.  He had a great start but fizzled out about mid-way through.  I wish I could like this one but I couldn't.  The acting in this one is solid but there was times where the cast really hams it up.  They overreact during some scenes and underreact during others.  The characters are little more entertaining than a few of the other films in this set but the acting is very inconsistent.  The story for this one starts out super strong and sleazy.  We have a company that specializes in child trafficking and snuff where are lead gets caught up in their illegal actions.  Once this happens the film slows down drastically.  The "action" scenes are pretty plain and uneventful which resulted in a difficult film to finish.  If the story could have kept the energy from the first half it would have been something worth your time.  Finally, this one has some bloody moments with some fun action style kills but the practical effects are minimal.  They work for the scene but they are nothing that memorable.  Overall, Maximum Impact started with a bang but quickly dried out.  I really liked where the story started but not where it went.  The last half of this hour long film is a bit of a tough one to finish.  I think this is my first negative review for a Tempe release but this one just wasn't for me.  

Chickboxer

Director - Scott P. Plummer 

Starring - Julie Suscinski, Shawna Baer (Killer Nerd, Girlfriends), and James Black (Charmed, Malcolm in the Middle)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Her naked fist will be in your face!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I ordered this set I did so only seeing one of the films out of the six and I didn't remember shit about the one film that I had seen.  I wanted it for my collection and because it was a very unique release.  However, I didn't have a lot of high hopes for some of the films that were included in the set.  One movie I figured I would not like was the 1992 Scott P. Plummer action flick Chickboxer.  However, I actually really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any Tempe fan.

     The film follows a small town girl who is obsessed with the television show Chickboxer.  She takes up karate to try and become more like her idle but along the way she witnesses a crime.  The police in town is being wrongfully fired so a crime organization can come in.  With the police of no help, she takes matters into her own hands to bring them to justice.

     When I was watching this I found myself really enjoying but it didn't feel like a movie from Bookwalter.  In fact, it wasn't until I was putting together this review that I realized that this one was not directed by Bookwalter.  I did some digging to see if this was another name used by Bookwalter but it looks like it's not.  This is the only directing credit under Plummer's name which makes it even more impressive considering this was his first and only film in the director's chair.  Regardless, I really enjoyed this one.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  Some of the cast shows their inexperience but I found myself really impressed by Suscinski in the lead role.  She was great in the role and very natural in front of the camera.  She does a phenomenal job and carries this film very well.  The supporting cast is alright at times but there is a few scenes where they are a little underwhelming.  The story for this one pretty straight forward but it's fun.  I typically don't enjoy films with narratives but I liked the lead character so much that I didn't mind it here.  It was well done and not a buzzkill.  The inclusion of the karate and organized crime is not that original but it still delivers some fun for a first time watch.  The film is barely an hourly long so it's not a difficult one to watch and follow.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  The film is very story and character driven and follows the typical action stereotypes so no bloody bits for you sick fucks out there.  Overall, Chickboxer is not your typical Tempe flick but I still enjoyed it.  It's campy as fuck but it's still very fun.  The blu is not much better than DVD quality which is alright considering.  Check it out.  

Zombie Cop

Director - J.R. Bookwalter (The Dead Next Door, Ozone)

Starring - Michael Kemper (Robot Ninja, Chickboxer), Ken Jarosz (Maximum Impact, Midnight 2), and James Black (Godzilla, Detention)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "You rights are hereby waived"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I ordered the Skinned Alive Brentwood Home Video release that had four films in the set.  I absolutely loved Skinned Alive when I was in high school so I went ahead and ordered this four film release for the bonus movies.  When I placed that order I found myself down the rabbit hole of indie releases when I came across the Bad Movie Police release of Zombie Cop.  I had never seen this one before but when I saw it was directed by Bookwalter under a different name I knew I had to have it.  When it arrived I decided to check it out but I found myself absolutely hammered (it was college after all) and I don't remember shit about it.  Sadly, that movie did not make the move from college to my home once I married.  I did replace it over the summer with the Bad Movie Police set but I never revisited it until the SOV Six Pack release.  I can see why I don't remember it but I still enjoyed it.

     The film follows a police officer who is hot on the trail of a crime boss that is a practitioner of voodoo.  He finds him during a drug bust but is unable to get the jump on him.  Instead, he finds himself covered in a strange concoction before he is mortally shot.  Later, he finds himself awakening from his grave with a bone to pick on the drug dealing voodoo priest that turned him into a zombie cop.

      There is only one way to watch a movie titled Zombie Cop and that is to expect a lot of cheap laughs and a ridiculous story.  If you toss in a movie called Zombie Cop and expect a serious film then you will be very disappointed.  The acting in this one is over dramatic and intense at times which is almost like a parody of the late 80s direct to video action flicks.  The cast has some experience but their emotions and actions are very ridiculous but it makes the movie so much fun.  I really enjoy the cast and how much energy they brought into the film.  The story for this one is straight forward and really does parody the action films of years prior.  We have a cop who dies, returns back to life, and seeks revenge on the drug pusher who killed him.  This is nothing new especially by 1991 with dozens of films released with similar stories aside from the resurrection aspect.  However, what makes this one so much fun is the zombie aspect along with the comedic aspects.  It may not be the most memorable films of Bookwalter but it is still fun.  Finally, this one has some blood but those looking for more will be very disappointed.  This one follows the action film tropes very closely and relies on the story and action more than the blood and gore.  Overall, Zombie Cop is a fun one but doesn't really have replay value.  I enjoyed it and could see myself spinning it again with some friends and plenty of beer.  The blu release looks alright but I think the film quality is just a little more improved than the DVD.