Mulva 2: Kill Teen Ape!

Director - Chris Seaver (Ski Wolf, Geek War)

Starring - Debbie Rochon (Killer Rack, She Wolf Rising), Meredith Host (Return to Blood Fart Lake, Evil Night), and Lauren Seavage (Moist Fury, The House on Bonejack Hill)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Action/Comedy

Tagline - "Mulva is back... and this time she's kicking monkey ass"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've met a lot of genre fans that love Chris Seaver and his films.  I've also met several people who don't care for his style of films.  I can understand that because some people like horror to be on the serious side while others love to blend horror and comedy.  I love goofy horror and Seaver's brand of comedy works for me but there has been a few of his films that just didn't work for me.  After watching Mulva on blu it only made sense to hit play on Mulva 2: Kill Teen Ape!  

     The film takes place five years after the first films where Mulva is considered a hero of Tromaville after the zombie attack.  However, Teen Ape is jealous of her new found popularity and tricks her into meeting him at a secluded location with the promise of treats.  When she arrives she is brutally beat and left for dead by Teen Ape and his henchmen.  Now, Mulva is out of her coma and ready to even the score. 

     I know my initial viewing of the first Mulva film was not a fun experience but I enjoyed it more revisiting.  However, this is the first time I've seen this sequel and I have to say that I'm not really a fan of it.  I found a good bit of it funny but some of it felt forced and repetitive.  I wanted to love it but I just can't.   The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from a Low Budget Picture's release.  The characters are extremely colorful, funny, and charismatic.  They stand out and definitely deliver some memorable moments.  A lot of the characters are parodies of some of the Kill Bill characters, which the film is a parody if you didn't pick up on it.  The cast really goes all in and it shows in each scene.  The story for this one is a Seaver spin on Kill Bill.  It almost works but it does feel like a lot of the gags are a bit of stretch.  I loved how wild the characters are and the dialogue is funny but the scenes fall a little short.  There is so many different possibilities with a story like this but the way Seaver approached it left so much on the table.  Finally, the film has some blood here and there and the typical no budget effects that most indie films like this utilize but nothing that really stands out.  The focus of this one is on story and the character development but not so much the effects.  Overall, Mulva 2 was a bit of an ambitious film for an indie production but I wasn't really a fan.  It has some laughs and a few familiar faces but that's it.  I can recommend more entertaining Seaver films to enjoy.  

Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! (Revisited)

Director - Chris Seaver (The Weirdsies, Evil Night)

Starring - Missy Donatuti, Chris Seaver, and Mike Nicolai 

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago, almost a decade ago now, I was collecting as many Brentwood DVD sets as I could find.  I loved these no budget S.O.V. horror sets and was spending entire pay checks on them for my collection.  One of the sets I snagged was called Ghoul School and it featured two Chris Seaver films.  I can't remember which one I watched first but Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! and Filthy McNasty was my introduction to the world of Seavage.  I remember Filthy McNasty really impressed me but Mulva was a bit of a let down.  Fast forward almost a decade later and Tempe Digital and Makeflix has released 13 of Seaver's films on blu in an amazing box set.  I needed this for my collection so I was quick to nab one.  As soon as it arrived I tossed in Mulva for a revisit to see how it held up.

     The film follows Mulva (Donatuti).  Mulva is a sugar addict who is looking forward to Halloween.  This year she plans on embracing the holiday and getting as much candy as possible.  However, bullies and a horde of the undead stand in her way.  

     Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! is not a great film.  It's crudely done and very cheap but it does have a charm about it that I never noticed during my first viewing.  Maybe my years of reviewing no budget films has changed my tastes in films but I did enjoy it in all it's flaws.  The acting is fun and typical of Seaver's style.  The cast is having a lot of fun on set and that translates very well on camera.  The cast does a fantastic job at creating memorable characters that stand out from other genre films.  The story for this one is a fun spin on a typical zombie flick.  It's more of a comedy with zombies dashed throughout.  It works, especially if you are familiar with Seaver's work, but if you are looking for a traditional horror flick then you will be disappointed.  We get a plethora of characters that stand out and work with the film but the story does lack some action.  The movie is an hour long and even at that length the story is stretched a little too thin.  It is predictable but it has some cheap and fun moments.  Finally, the film has some blood and cheap practical effects but as I stated earlier, the horror takes the backseat in the film.  Seaver did the best with what he had but he could only go so far.  Overall, Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker! is a cheap and crude film that has a lot of the humor that makes Low Budget Pictures so much fun.  It's not one that you can watch over and over again but it's fun for an occasional watch.  It's something I can appreciate.  

The Weirdsies (Revisited)

Director - Chris Seaver (Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker, Death O'Lantern)

Starring - Meredith Host (Evil Night, Taintlight), Desiree Saetia (Moist Fury, Zombie Babies), and Kate Lewis (Phantom of the Grindhouse)

Release Date - 2015

Genre - Comedy/Fantasy/Adventure

Tagline - "Four geeky virgins, one dead body, use your imagination"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to indie filmmaking very few filmmakers can say they have been making movies for three decades.  Chris Seaver, the mad man behind some of the craziest indie films to ever be filmed, has been making movies in one compacity or another for almost 30 years.  I discovered his films about 10 or 15 years ago when I started collecting the Brentwood Entertainment DVD sets.  When I scored their Ghoul School release I found Seaver's horror comedy Mulva: Zombie Ass Kicker.  I was fucking hooked from that point on.  His movies are unlike anything I have ever seen and I'm constantly recommending his movies to new genre friends.  Several years ago Seaver sent over his comedy adventure film The Weirdsies to review.  It was by far my favorite Seaver film and easily the most polished.  It has been some years since I last seen this one and when I saw that Makeflix was releasing it on blu I decided to snag a copy and revisit it.

     The Weirdsies follows four young adults who want to lose their v-cards.  When they hear tale of a recently deceased body a days walk away near the train tracks they set out to make use of dead man's rigid bone.  However, along the way they encounter local bullies, aliens, and others that stand in their way of their sweet lay.

     The Weirdsies is unlike any other film from Seaver.  It still has his trademark dialogue and unforgettable characters but the overall look and feel of the film is by far his best.  The film doesn't look cheap and rushed like a lot of his films and the cinematography is leagues above his previous films. Though his remake of Evil Night comes close to looking this good this is still his best film and one that I highly suggest fans of cult cinema to check out.  The acting in this one is great.  Even though I had seen this one before I still found myself laughing at these performances.  The entire cast delivers some memorable one liners and hilarious dialogue.  Meredith Host once again knocks out a seriously funny performance and her masturbation scene is the stuff of legends.  Desiree Saetia and Kate Lewis are great as well.  All three work great together and their comedic timing is perfect.  We also get another hilarious performance from Josh Suire.  He always brings high energy to his performance and this is no exception.  The story for this one is a black comedy approach to a group of people wanting to lose their virginity.  It's American Pie meets Nekromantic and it fucking works.  The humor, the disgusting desire to get vaginally and anally wrecked, and the weird encounters along the way all work.  The film pulls the viewer in and hits you with a lot of what the fuck moments and tons of humor.  When I say that this is Seaver's best yet I truly mean that.  Even the writing for this one is the best he has done yet.  Finally, this isn't a bloody horror flick like most of you are expecting.  We get a little bit of practical effects and some visual effects but the film is more focused on the characters and the story instead of blood and gore.  Overall, The Weidsies is a fucking wild ride that only someone with thirty years experience could deliver.  I highly recommend snagging this loaded blu from makeflix.com.  You will not be disappointed.  

Scanner Cop II

Director - Steve Barnette (Mindwarp, Cop Files)

Starring - Daniel Quinn (Scanner Cop, The X-Files), Patrick Kilpatrick (The Stand, The Cellar), and Khrystyne Haje (Bates Motel, Raven)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Nowhere to hide, not even in your mind"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was expecting the first Scanner Cop to be a cheesy cop flick based on the Croneneberg concept created in his Scanners film.  However, as cheesy as it was, I fucking loved it.  I'm kicking myself for not watching this one soon.  Hell, I didn't know about the film until Vin Syn announced it which is a fucking shame.  It's cheesy but a great mix of Cronenbergian and sci-fi inspired cop drama.  As soon as I finished the first Scanner Cop I was quick to toss in the sequel which was equally as entertaining.  

     The film once again follows officer Sam Staziak (Quinn) who has made a name for himself on the force with the help of his scanner ability.  When other scanners turn up dead and horribly mutilated he is asked to work the case.  He soon discovers that the murders are the work of another scanner her put away some years back for murder and he has learned how to steal the "essence" of other scanners to make himself stronger.  Now Sam is tasked with stopping him before other innocent scanners are murdered.

     Scanner Cop II was not what I was expecting at all but I did enjoy it just as much as the first film.  I had some issues with the story but the cheese and practical effects more than made up for the terrible choices with the story.  The acting in this one is more of the same from the first film.  We get solid performances from most of the cast but Quinn and Kilpatrick's scanner faces leaves me in stitches.  I struggle with the acting in these films because I'm too busy laughing at their strained shit faces.  They are completely ridiculous and takes the tension out of the scenes.  The acting in any other scene is great and enjoyable.  The story for this one builds up a character that has a past history with Sam but it's new to us.  Bring in an established character would have more of an impact that creating one and having him "return."  Aside from that we get a continuation of the original film with several new aspects introduced.  It's a shame this film never received a follow up film capitalizing on some of the new things introduced like the scanners stealing each other's essence and the new form of the drug that Sam takes.  Finally, the film once again delivers some fun practical and make-up effects that fit nicely in the Scanners universe.  I really enjoyed the way the corpses looked and how the scanners melted when their abilities were being drained from them.  Overall, Scanner Cop II is a fantastic follow up to the first film.  It continues the story while delivering something new while showcasing some great practical effects.  Sure, the actors do ham it up but that's just part of the charm.  

     

Scanner Cop

Director - Pierre David (Serial Killer)

Starring - Daniel Quinn (The X-Files, Dead Bang), Darlanne Fluegel (Pet Sematary II, The Twilight Zone), and Richard Grove (Army of Darkness, Point Break)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Sci-fi/Horror

Tagline - "Imagine a cop who can read your mind... then blow it away"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Scanners is an iconic body-horror film that blends the gory side of horror with sci-fi making it not only an enjoyable film but one that shows just how effective a movie can be if you combine certain genres.  Scanners is probably my favorite Cronenberg film and I know that I'm not alone by saying that.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the UHD release of Scanner Cop and it's sequel I was beside myself.  I love when Vin Syn brings me a movie I had never heard of before I quickly snagged them and when I finally tossed them in I was shocked to see it was based on characters based on Cronenberg's Scanners' characters.  I quickly rushed to Google and discovered that it was a Scanners' spin-off.  Now, I was really excited to dig into this one.

       The film begins with a young Sam who is living with his delusional father when two officers arrive.  Sam's father is a scanner and has not been able to take his meds for several days.  He snaps and attacks the police before the landlord puts him down.  One of the officers takes Sam in and raises him.  We jump forward and Sam is now an officer who finds himself called to duty when officers from around the city become the center of attacks by an unknown person who is drugging people and "suggesting" they attack the cops.  Sam has to act quick to discover who is behind the attacks and why.

     Scanner Cop is nowhere near as good as Scanners but god damn was it a fun time.  The movie blends in sci-fi and horror with a dash of cop drama.  It's a great start to a new series featuring a familiar story.  The acting in this one is alright but there is plenty of room for improvement.  I liked Quinn in his role as a young cop but his "scanner" face is fucking hysterical.  I understand the point of it and how this pertains to the story but it was just so silly.  The supporting cast is great and everyone does a fantastic job but any scanner scene had me laughing my ass off.  The story for this one is a great beginning to a new series of films that had endless possibilities.  We get the basic premise set forth in the original three films set against the backdrop of a city cop who uses his scanner powers to prevent crimes and so forth.  I really enjoyed the premise for this one and how it was handled.  It's a fun mix of cheese and daytime drama that slowly moves into sci-fi and horror.  I really enjoyed that but as much as I liked it I don't think I could revisit it.  Finally, the film has a lot of practically effects.  I was impressed by some while others were underwhelming.  I wanted to love them all but they were very inconsistent.  Overall, Scanner Cop is a mid-90s direct to video madness that I really enjoy.  This is the kind of film that I grew up on and I'm glad Vin Syn put the work into this release.  It was fantastic.  

  

Spiral

Director - Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Repo! The Genetic Opera)

Starring - Chris Rock (New Jack City, Dogma), Samuel L. Jackson (Captain Marvel, Pulp Fiction), and Max Minghella (The Social Network, Horns)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "From the book of Saw"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school the first Saw film was released and became the biggest horror film of my teenage years.  I'm not going to pretend like I didn't like it.  I fucking loved it and to this day I absolutely the DVD releases and marketing for these films.  Honestly, I probably watched the first Saw flick at least two dozen times the year it was released.  It was fun but after revisiting it after the UHD release I can safely say that it didn't age well.  It's not a bad film but what was considering pushing the boundaries of horror and edgy is just dull and boring now.  When Spiral was announced I was on the fence about it but when I saw the cast I was all for it.  Sure, casting Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson in a horror film is unconventional but it was intriguing to me.  When the press release went out for the physical release I was quick to request a review copy.  

     The film follows Detective Zeke Banks (Rock) who is shunned by his fellow officers after he turned in his partner for murdering a witness.  When a fellow cop who is close to Banks is murdered he is partnered up with a rookie and requests to lead the investigation.  What looks like a Jigsaw copycat quickly turns into a mad dash to find the new killer before more officers, including his own father, dies at the hand of this new mastermind.  

     Spiral is a bold reboot of the Saw series with a new direction that works but I can't help but reminded how similar to Scanner Cop it is especially since I watched both these films back to back.  I liked Spiral and enjoyed the characters but it is predictable.  I wanted to love it but it had too many hang ups.  The acting in this is great.  I love seeing Rock take on a serious role and having him tackle a horror film is unusual but great.  I did laugh when he raised his voice just because I'm so used to funny man Chris Rock.  I also liked his little New Jack City reference which he starred in.  Jackson was not in the film nearly as long as I would have liked.  He delivers a great performance when he is there but I would have loved to see more of him.  The supporting cast is just as great.  This one is probably the best acted of all the Saw films.  The story for this one is a great beginning for a solid spin off that is impossible to compare to Scanner Cop.  Both films begin a new series with characters from an established series into a police drama setting.  Scanner Cop is a spin-off of the classic Cronenberg film Scanners.  With that being said, I liked this story a lot but the killer reveal is painfully predictable which does take away a huge hit from the story.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Saw film if it didn't have amazing traps and memorable kills.  The traps and how unique they are is what makes this series so enjoyable with Spiral being no exception.  They don't have the impact of the first few films but they are still fun and satisfy.  Overall, Spiral is an enjoyable beginning to what I'm sure will be another memorable run from a popular franchise.  Go into this one open minded and you will not be disappointed.  

Seance

Director - Simon Barrett (V/H/S 2, The Nothing Deal)

Starring - Suki Waterhouse (The Bad Batch, Pride & Prejudice and Zombies), Madisen Beaty (Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Inanna Sarkis (College, |Boo 2: A Madea Halloween)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "New friends, old haunts"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It seems like with every passing day I am becoming more and more impressed with Shudder and their partnership with RLJE Films.  There has been a few of their releases that I didn't care for but for the most part their collaborative releases have been extremely fun.  A few weeks ago I received the press release about for the 2021 horror film Seance.  RLJE was handling the physical release of this one while Shudder would be premiering it on their streaming platform later in the year.  The film looked interesting enough so I reached out for a review copy.  I want to thank the folks over at RLJE for sending this one my way to check out.

     The film follows an all girl boarding school and a new student who arrives sometime after the apparent suicide of one of the girls.  As with any school, there is a bully and her clique who set their sights on the new girl.  After a fight they are all sent to detention where they decide to hold a seance to speak with their dead peer.  The next day one of their own goes missing before her body is found sometime after.  They suspect that their dorm is haunted but something more sinister is lurking in the halls.

     I can safely say that Seance is not the film I was expecting.  I assumed the movie was going to go one way but it switched it up on me and kept me on my toes.  I really enjoyed it and think a great deal of the horror community will like it as well.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are going to be quick to remind viewers of The Craft but I enjoyed the casting and the characters they portrayed. The cast was very natural in their roles and their on screen chemistry is great.  Their performances really sell the story.  The story for this one is not complex but it's not as it appears.  I don't want to go too deep into it for fear of spoiling it BUT I really did enjoy it more once we know what was really going on.  I was fully prepared to write a negative review up until the 40 to 50 minute mark and then the film switched gears on me.  I really enjoyed the way the film ended but I am a little disappointed that the movie was not what I was expecting.  It would have been cool to see the story unfold like it was marketed.  Finally, the film doesn't take it's death scenes seriously at first but as the film hits that final act I keep mentioning it revisits them with a little more detail while giving us one last death that makes the entire film worth watching.  The film does use practical and visual effects with them both complimenting each other very well.  Overall, Seance was a clever and fun horror tale that caught me off guard.  I enjoyed it but I can see many viewers will want to compare it to The Craft and for obvious reasons.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Flight to Mars

Director - Lesley Selander (Left Handed Law, The Tall Man)

Starring - Marguerite Chapman (Coroner Creek, Frontier Circus), Cameron Mitchell (Crossing the Line, Easy Kill), and Arthur Franz (Monster on the Campus, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man)

Release Date - 1951

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The most fantastic expedition ever conceived by man!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s are legendary.  A lot of them get mocked and made fun of but, honestly, so many modern day sci-fi and horror titles owe these films a lot.  Without these films a lot of the movies and television shows wouldn't exist.  Getting old sucks but I would have loved to live through the drive-in era when all these classic sci-fi and atom age titles were hitting the big screen.  When I saw that Film Detective was releasing the 1951 sci-fi classic Flight to Mars I had to see it.  This is one I had never seen before but I was very familiar with the title after watching the trailer some years back.  I want to thank MVD and Film Detective for sending a review copy of the film on blu my way.  I really appreciate it.

     The film follows the first manned flight to Mars.  When the ship crash lands they find themselves created by what appears to be humans that live under the surface of Mars.  The astronauts and the Martians work together to repair the ship but the Martians have other plans.  Their planet is dying but they are unable to create a ship capable of space travel.  They want to steal the ship from the astronauts once it's completed but the astronauts are soon able to realize what is happening and trick the Martians before leaving the planet to return to Earth.

     Flight to Mars is a fantastic mid-century sci-fi story that doesn't really feel like a movie.  I enjoyed it so don't take that the wrong way.  It's a lot of fun with some beautiful sets but it felt more like an hour long television episode rather than a movie.  Regardless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any sci-fi fan.  The acting in this one is enjoyable.  The characters are very stiff and cliched but they fit the film nicely.  With that being said, there was a few occasions where the flat characters with similar wardrobe would blend together creating some confusion.  The film would have benefited from different wardrobes and characters with defining features or personality traits.  The story is barely an hourly long but we get a great science fiction based drama that works. I really enjoyed the dramatic twist we get from the Martians and the entire plot of the film works but it feels like an episode of a much bigger project.  Finally, no blood and gore here.  Instead we get gorgeous painted backdrops and scale models.  It's a lot of old movie magic showcased and I thoroughly enjoyed that.  Overall, Flight to Mars is a great release from Film Detective.  Fans of classic sci-fi will not want to sleep on this one.  It was a great time.  

Black Water

Director(s) - David Nerlich (Dark Sun) and Andrew Traucki (The Reef, The Jungle)

Starring - Diana Glenn (My Life is Murder, The Slap), Maeve Dermody (The Beast Must Die, Ripper Street), and Andy Rodoreda (Cargo, The Tunnel)

Release Date - 2007

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What you can't see can hurt you"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen some pretty fun alligator/crocodile films over the years.  Lake Placid, Rogue, Crawl, and several more that I've seen were pretty fun but not something I would go out of the way.  I like a good when nature attacks flicks so when I saw that my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment was releasing the 2007 film Black Water I was very interested in it.  Australia has surprised me with their other nature horror films before so I reached out to Umbrella and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.

     The film follows a group of young adults who miss a boat trip in the swamps of Australia.  One of the guides offers to take them out with his smaller motorboat and they agree.  However, once out in the swampy waterways they find themselves stranded in a tree while their boat is overturned and their guide killed by a very large crocodile.  Realizing quickly they help is not on the way, they frantically search for a way to get out of the water before they are caught in the croc's metal like jaws.

     Black Water is a solid horror film with a great setting and a simple yet effective story but it doesn't have that wow factor that makes the film stick with you after viewing it.  I liked it but I doubt I'll ever watch it again.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast is small and they all work very well together. With that being said, the roles were very demanding and they were fully dedicated to their performances.  I couldn't imagine being in these conditions and expected to remain calm and act on top of it all.  The story for this one is straight to the point and very well done.  We get no twists or turns as the story gets straight into it.  We follow the three as they slowly succumb to the crocodile as it hunts them one by one.  It's a straight forward story that doesn't waste time.  However, the simplicity in the story is it's downfall.  After you watch it once you find yourself not wanting to watch it again.  It's not that memorable but it is fun.  Finally, the film has a great looking crock that works for the film but if you are expecting to see some body mutilations and croc carnage then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Black Water is a fun when animals attack film that is similar to films like Anaconda.  It's enjoyable but it's not making anyone's top ten lists.  The blu from Umbrella looks great.  

Not Quite Hollywood

Director - Mark Hartley (Electric Boogaloo, Machete Maidens Unleashed)

Starring - Phillip Adams (Dallas Doll, Road to Nhill), Glory Annen (Felicity, Prey), and Christine Amor (Chopper Squad, Cop Shop)

Release Date - 2008

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "The wild, untold story of ozploitation"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I never realized ozploitation was a thing until a few years back when I became friends with the fine folks over at Umbrella Entertainment.  I had seen several Australian horror films over the years with my favorite being Razorback but I never realized how different and unique filming in Australia was.  When I saw that Umbrella was releasing the 2008 documentary Not Quite Hollywood on blu I was extremely curious.  I love documentaries so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     The documentary  is a comprehensive look at the history of Australia cinema, aka ozploitation, going from the early films before moving into more sexually explicate cinema, to comedies, and the popular horror titles that came out of there from the late 70s until today.

     I went into this looking to learn a lot and god damn did I.  I had no idea how deep the Australian cinematic history was until I spun this one.  I, also, wasn't aware that Americans were hated.  Regardless, this was a very informative and enjoyable documentary that I wish I would have seen when it was originally released.  The interviews in this one go deep with producers, cast members, and long-time fan Quintin Tarantino.  They go into great detail with all the struggles, dangers, and trends of the times while giving those unfamiliar with the films a lot of basic information that was new to me.  The topics discussed are in chronological order which makes it easy for the viewer to see the whole picture.  For someone who is not too familiar with the history of ozploitation like myself I found myself really enjoying the approach each topic was discussed and how it pertained to a specific year or film from their history.  Finally, the editing and transitioning in this one is great.  We move from topic to topic and person to person very smoothly while still keeping the important information in focus.  Overall, Not Quite Hollywood is a fantastic documentary that not only covers Australia's important horror films but many other films that most of us love.  It's a great look at the history of their cinema and why many of us love these films so much.  I highly recommend snagging this blu from Umbrella Entertainment.  

The House on Sorority Row

Director - Mark Rosman (Mutant, The Magical World of Disney)

Starring - Kate McNeil (Monkey Shines, Sudden Death), Eileen Davidson (The Phoenix, Easy Wheels), Janis Ward (Remington Steele, T.J. Hooker)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sisters in life, sisters in death"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started collecting movies I wanted to snag as many zombie flicks as I could but it quickly spiraled into slashers.  I absolutely loved nothing more than snagging slashers I had never seen before and marathoning them all night.  Many years ago I snagged the 1982 slasher The House on Sorority Row on DVD and watched it with a few other early 80s slashers.  I remember enjoying it for the most part but didn't remember a lot about it.  When MVD announced the film as part of their MVD Rewind Collection I was all about it.  I quickly hit them up for a review copy which they were kind enough to send over.  Thanks guys.  

     The film follows a group of sorority sisters who play a horrible prank on the den mother with a gun.  The prank goes sideway and they accidentally shoot her.  They suspect she is dead and leave her in a pool until they dispose of body.  They try to go on with their lives but one by one they begin to be picked off by an unknown killer leaving the survivors to search for the real killer.  

     It was an enjoyable experience revisiting this one.  It's not the most compelling slasher that I've ever seen but it was enjoyable in it's generic story and kills.  It is especially fun if you pair it was other slashers from the same time.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  The characters are exactly the type of characters you would expect from the sorority based slashers.  We have the sexually promiscuous character, the character that is morally questioning the prank, the one that blends into the background and is just their for the bodycount, and the final girl.  The characters are very cliched and generic but the cast gives the role their all.  A lot of the scenes are really fun and it's because of the cast that makes this one so enjoyable.  Especially the death scenes.  Sometimes they are a little humorous but overall I enjoyed the characters and their death scenes.  The story for this one is the standard slasher formula set against a college backdrop.  We have someone that was wronged and we follow people in the way or associated with as they are slaughtered.  This was the early years of the slasher when they left the woods and landed on college campuses.  I love these type of slashers and the only thing that makes this one stand out was the lack of a masked maniac.  It almost, in the most faintest of styles, feels like a giallo.  It's a slasher on the outside but plays a little like a pulp murder mystery.  It's fun but it doesn't have that iconic killer that many of the others gave viewers.  Finally, this one has some pretty fun kills.  We get some cheesy performances from the cast mixed with effective practical effects and plenty of blood.  The kills are not that iconic but they do fit that classic slasher mold.  Overall, The House on Sorority Hill may be underrated in some aspects but it is a well rounded slasher.  It does have an unusual score that breaks up a lot of the tension but I thoroughly enjoy it and I'm glad it found a new home in the MVD Rewind Collection.   

Mortuary

Director - Howard Avedis (The Fifth Floor, Kidnapped)

Starring - Mary Beth McDonough (The Waltons, West Wing), David Wysocki (Humongous, Money to Burn), and Bill Paxton (Aliens, Frailty)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "...where nobody rests in peace"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Some movies are made and become iconic upon release while others gain a cult following years or even decades later.  However, some movies are released and the movies themselves may not stick with viewers but their artwork becomes legendary.  When I was in high school a friend of mine got a few movie posters to hang around his house.  Movies like Skinned Alive, Dawn of the Dead, Zombi, and a few others.  One that stood out was the poster for the 1983 horror film Mortuary.  The poster was included in an eBay lot he won but none of us had seen the film.  With that being said, that was easily the coolest poster on his wall and we would often get drunk and make up stories about what the story for the film was.  I never did get to watch Mortuary so when MVD announced the blu release of it as part of their MVD Rewind Collection I had to jump on it.  I want to thank MVD for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a young girl and her boyfriend who suspects that her father's death was not accidental.  She tries to investigate but the closer she gets to answers the more she feels as if she is being stalked and harassed by someone.  She's convinced that someone is trying to scare her to stop her from looking but she soon uncovers that someone has killed her father and they have ties to the local mortuary.

     I've never heard people talk about this film so I always assumed it was bad but the original poster for this one is absolutely glorious.  With that being said, the film does fall a little short.  It has some fun moments but the overall film is a bit of a let down.  The acting in this one was actually very enjoyable.  Paxton was by far my favorite performance.  His character is annoying during the first half of the film but when we enter the last act his character is insane.  I loved the intensity he brought to the film.  With that being said, the main characters of the film are solid but they are not as memorable as Paxton and his final scene performance.  The story for this one feels like a bit of a slasher mixed with a made for television murder mystery.  We get some red herrings tossed in to throw the viewer off while the real story keeps rolling.  With that being said, we get a lot of long and boring scenes that do very little for the story.  The film would have been so much more enjoyable if it would have embraced the slasher style story.  Finally, the film has some red stuff, especially during the final scene, but the "death" scenes are not that memorable or entertaining.  With that being said, that last act with Paxton is bloody and slightly amusing.  Overall, Mortuary is not as fun as the poster but it does have it's moments.  I liked some things and disliked even more.  The release from MVD looks great so fans of this film should really check it out. If you've never seen the film I would highly recommend checking out this release if you want to watch it all.  

Alley Cat

Director - Victor M. Ordonez, Ed Palmos (Campus Beat, Claudia), and Al Valletta

Starring - Karin Mani (Avenging Angel, The Next Step Beyond), Robert Torti (Quantum Leap, She-Wolf of London), Britt Helfer (Raw Force, Street Hawk)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Crime/Action

Tagline - "This lady owns the night"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has been bring exciting releases to us month after month for years now.  They quickly became one of my favorite companies and I've been a dedicated fan for sometime now.  Their horror releases are what brought them to my attention but their exploitation and action flicks are the releases that  really pull me in.  When Vin Syn announced their VSA line I was all about it.  I couldn't wait to get some of these forgotten action flicks in their special edition big box inspired sleeves.  Last month Vin Syn announced the release of the 1984 crime flick Alley Cat along with Champagne and Bullets as the newest additions to their VSA line.  CaB was weird but enjoyable but I put Alley Cat off to check out some other releases.  However, after spinning the first volume of Televised Terror I decided now was the time to check it out.

     The film follows a female martial artist (Mani) who is being terrorized by a group of gangsters.  After she fights them off from stealing her car, they attack and kill her grandmother.  The judge in the case places her in jail after an outburst during their trial and when she is freed she decides to server out her own form of street justice.  

     Alley Cat has a lot going on and I liked it for the most part but I will be quick to say that I will never watch this one again.  It was entertaining for the most part but it's a one and done scenario for me.  I wanted to love it but the film was missing a lot of the elements that made 80s action flicks memorable.  The acting in this one is alright but it's not as fun and cheesy as most of the action films from this time is.  Mani delivers the best performance of the film and absolutely nailed her performance.  I liked her fight scenes and the way she delivers dialogue is great.  With that being said, her character was not that well written or memorable.  Her character's only personality trait was that she could kick anyone's ass.  Aside from that she was very generic and fell into the background of the story.  The supporting cast is similar.  The characters are not that well written and fall into generics.  The story for this one is just cheesy enough to make it fun but so unoriginal that you will not be able to watch it over and over again like you can so many action flicks of the time.  We have a woman who is the target of a group of thugs and must fight to protect herself and her grandfather.  You can switch up the characters but the story is still the same as so many others from the late 70s to the 90s.  The lack of memorable characters and action sequences makes this one a little below mediocre.  Finally, we get some blood and a lot of fight scenes but this one doesn't have any memorable deaths.  We do get a shower scene with Mani and a few other female prisoners that stands out but nothing for you sick horror fans.  Overall, Alley Cat is a fun generic action flick that doesn't have that bang we are looking for but it does have it's own charm.  This release from Vin Syn looks absolutely fantastic and so does the artwork to accompany the blu.  

Child in the Night

Director - Mike Robe (Hollywood Beat, Nightmares and Dreamscapes)

Starring - JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, The Day After), Tom Skerritt (Calendar Girl Murders, Alien), and Elijah Wood (Cooties, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Drama/Mystery

Tagline - "The secret of a grisly murder, locked in a child's mind"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I saw the news of the Televised Terrors from Vinegar Syndrome I was really interested in Child in the Night the most.  Are You in the House Alone? and Child in the Night was the two that caught my eye but Child of the Night was the movie that sold me on the set.  This 1990 made for television flick starring a young Elijah Wood looked really fun and I was digging the original poster for this.  I saved it for last in my movie marathon and coincidentally it was the weakest in the set.  I enjoyed it but the other two films were better in my opinion.

     The film begins with a wealthy business owner and his son visiting his office near the marina when he is attacked and killed with the son witnessing it all.  However, the son tells the police and a child psychologist that he didn't see anything.  When more murders happen by the same modem it's a race against the clock to get the boy to talk before more innocent people are murdered.  

     Child in the Night had a poster that made me think this was going to be a slasher like film.  I love the artwork and really wish the film would have been more grittier and more inspired by the slashers of the 80s.  It wasn't but it was still a well put together murder mystery.  The acting in this one is great.  Skerritt is once again giving us a hardened detective that has to be stern when the times calls for it but also has a softer side.  He's a fantastic actor and I hate that I'm just now realizing that.  It was also great seeing JoBeth Williams in another genre effort.  Poltergeist was one of my first purchases when I started collecting horror films and I've always found her performances to be extremely underrated.  Wood delivers a solid performance especially for his age but it doesn't stand out like Williams and Skerritt does.  The story for this one is decent for a murder mystery but it's not as much fun if you watch it back to back with CCM like I did.  Child in the Night plays out almost like Calendar Girl Murders but with some changes to scenery and the type of characters.  CCM followed Tom Skerritt as a detective who partners with a model to track down a killer who was snuffing out models and anyone else in their way.  Here Skerritt partners with a child psychologist to find a killer who is snuffing out people who are associated with the business that was owned by a young boy's son.  Similar stories but I personally enjoyed CCM over CitN.  Finally, the film has blood but no practical effects or kills that you can enjoy.  Just like the other two films in this collection this one is focused on story and character development over carnage.  Overall, Child in the Night is the low point of the set but it's still a fantastic watch.  I still recommend this one but I wouldn't watch it back to back with the other two films.  Check it out, It's worth your time.  

Calendar Girl Murders

Director - William A. Graham (The X-Files, Death of a Cheerleader)

Starring - Tom Skerritt (Alien, Contact), Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct, The Quick and the Dead), and Barbara Bosson (The Last Starfighter, Murder One)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Mystery/Horror

Tagline - "The fantasy girls of the month.  Knocked off, one by one... January, February, March.  Poor miss April"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced their first Televised Terrors box set I was extremely interested in it.  Made for television horror films tend to be more tame than most other genre titles but their stories typically pull you in better than theatrical and straight to video releases.  I was really interested in Are You in the House Alone? and Child in the Night but Calendar Girl Murders didn't look like one I wouldn't like.  However, I went into this one with an open mind and really enjoyed it.\

     The film follows an adult entertainment business owner who is celebrating the success of his new calendar girls with a huge party when one of the models jumps to her death from atop the building.  However, it was soon revealed that she was pushed.  Not long after this more models turn up dead.  The detective assigned to the case quickly gets to work and partners up with a former model to uncover who is responsible for the murders but the real killer was under his nose the whole time.

     Honestly, Calendar Girl Murders may have been my favorite film in the set.  I loved how it was more of a mystery set against the backdrop of beautiful women in swimsuits.  It's as sleazy as television can get for the mid-80s and I enjoyed it.   The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  Tom Skerritt does an amazing job at an overworked detective who is hard on crime but easy on beautiful women.  I loved his character and how well be brought him to life.  The supporting cast is just as entertaining which made for a very fun and enjoyable experience.  The story for this one is not really horror but it is a fun murder mystery that has that mid-80s slasher like killer reveal.  In fact, this one plays out like a paint by numbers slasher minus the masked killer and memorable kills.  We follow people as they are killed off by an unknown killer all with connections through the calendar models.  If the film would have included bloody and gory deaths along with a memorable killer it would have been a fantastic slasher.  However, the way it is it's still an entertaining film.  Finally, we get some blood and very generic death scenes that fit the story but are very forgettable.  The film focuses more on who is killing than the killings themselves.  Overall, Calendar Girl Murders is a surprisingly fun mid-80s made for television movie that doesn't bring the gore but is still entertaining enough.  I highly recommend it.  

Are You in the House Alone?

Director - Walter Grauman (Tales of the Unexpected, The Golden Gate Murders)

Starring - Kathleen Beller (The Sword and the Sorcerer, The Godfather Part II), Blythe Danner (Paul, The X-Files), and Tony Bill (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Barb Wire)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Horror/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A lot of the made for television movies from the 70s and 80s get a bad rep from genre fans but there has been so many films from that time that were very entertaining.  I'm one of the biggest champions of sleazy movies but there is something fun about a horror or thriller that was made for cable.  Even though they lacked nudity and gore they still find a way to entertain.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced volume 1 of their Televised Terrors box set I knew I was adding it to my collection.  The three films in the set were new to me and I couldn't wait to dig into them.  The first one on the chopping block was 1978's Are You in the House Alone?

     The film follows a young high school student who begins to receive mysterious notes on her locker.  At first she suspects a former boyfriend but as the notes grow she suspects it was someone else.  Her suspicions ring true when her a friend of hers makes his way into her house and rapes her.  Forced with being ostracized for telling the truth or catching him red handed she sets out to capture pictures of him harassing other women.

     A lot of movies piggy back off other films and sometimes they are able to do it successfully.  Are You in the House Alone aired in 1978 and one year later the classic When a Stranger Calls was released.  Both films have similar stories but it's easy to see that When a Stranger Calls took one aspect of the film and turned it into every parent's nightmare while AYitHA gives the viewer a dark look into the horrors that almost every teenage girl has experienced to some degree especially during this timeframe.  It's a great film and one that pulls on your emotions.  As a father of two little girls I found myself very unnerved by this one.  The acting in this one is great.  Beller is a fantastic lead and does an amazing job.  She carries emotions very well in the scenes and makes the story so heartbreaking.  I really enjoyed her performance and I don't think the film would be nearly as intense if someone else was cast in the role.  The supporting cast does a decent enough job but the performance that really caught me off guard was from a very young Dennis Quaid who portrays a spoiled rich kid that uses his family's position in society to get away with incredibly vile acts.  I did not see that coming and he did a phenomenal job.  The story for this one keeps the viewer guessing as the story progresses.  We begin the film knowing she is raped but we go back to a time before it happens where the film sets up several red herrings to throw the viewer off.  It works for the most part and is a lot of fun guessing who the scumbag really is.  With that being said, the red herrings and dead ends do get a little dull as the film progresses.  Something new needed introduced to keep the viewers on their toes.  Finally, don't expect to see any blood with this one.  It's character and story driven with no blood or gore for the hardcore horror fans.  Overall, Are You in the House Alone? is a fun one if you give it a chance.  It's not the type of horror most of us would go out of the way for but it's entertaining if you are open for it.  I highly recommend it.  

The Carnivores

Director - Caleb Michael Johnson (Root, Joy Kevin)

Starring - Lindsay Burdge (XX, Tears of God), Tallie Medel (Dick Pics! A Documentary, Basic Witch), and Frank Mosley (The Ghost Who Walks, The Prowler)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Thriller/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I enjoy the trashy side of cinema.  I love indie flicks that have crazy stories with characters that you can find on Saturday morning cartoons and so much blood that you can barely tell what is going on in the scene.  Most people, especially friends of mine in the horror community, say that I love stupid movies and I wouldn't argue with them.  I love sleazy and stupid movies.  However, there is the random film that I get that is a little artsy and beautiful while delivering a story I typically wouldn't enjoy that catches me by surprise.  A few weeks ago I received a press release for the 2020 film The Carnivores from Dark Sky Films.  It looked interesting enough so I requested a copy.  After watching three Shout/Scream Factory releases I figured it was time to spin this one.\

     The film follows a young lesbian couple who have an ailing dog that is prone to running away.  However, when the dog fails to return home one day it puts a strain on their relationship.  The relationship is further strained when one of them begins to sleep walk and suspects that her meat obsession has forced her to eat the dog in her sleep.

     The Carnivores is a movie that I really enjoyed but I can't say I loved it.  It was fun with a quirky and somewhat dark story with a modern couple that a lot of indie horror flicks would ignore.  I really enjoyed but I'll be completely honest and admit that this is one that I don't see myself revisiting.  The acting in this one is pretty fun.  The two leads, Lindsay Burdge and Tallie Medel, were great together.  Their on screen chemistry was very real which really sold the couple angle.  They gave the viewer something fun to watch without feeling like a generic lesbian couple.  They had unique personalities and sold the story.  The supporting cast was just as fun.  The story for this one is not your conventional horror film.  The movie has a simple yet chaotic feel to it that unfolds beautifully before the viewer's eyes.  The character progression works perfectly with the story progression before we hit a weird ending that works with the quirkiness of the film.  With that being said, once you've seen this one you will not have a desire to revisit it.  It has zero replay value.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood but if you are expecting a bloody and gory flick then you will be disappointed.  The final scene is a lot of fun with a lot of the red stuff but that is the only exception.  Overall, The Carnivores was a fun watch that some will enjoy more than others.  It's a unique title that I recommend check it out.