The Designated Victim

Director - Maurizio Lucidi (Vampire in Venice, Hot Blooded Boarding School)

Starring - Tomas Milian (Massacre Play, The Devil and Holy Water), Pierre Clementi (Hideous Kinky, Massacres), and Katia Christine (Spirits of the Dead, Margin for Murder)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "It was the perfect crime... but who was the victim?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started reviewing Mondo Macabro's releases several years back I found myself liking most of the releases but I will be completely honest when I say not all of them are for me.  When MM releases films do typically do so in 3 or 4 film increments.  Typically I'll dig one or two but one or so just don't work for me.  When I received It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game, Human Animals, and The Designated Victim in to review a few months ago I honestly wasn't too interested in The Designated Victim.  It looked like an Italian crime film which just wasn't something that I typically enjoy.  However, once I tossed it in and hit play I realized that I was a damn fool.  It was a fantastic Italian spin on the Strangers on a Train story.  I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a married man who is wanting to sell his wife's assets and move to another country but she refuses.  All of their business ventures is under her name and she's not ready to cash in just yet.  He gets the idea to forge her name but before he does so he meets an eneigmatic man who is often beaten and bruised by his older brother.  He tries to convince him to kill his brother and he will take care of his wife but he refuses.  However, his wife is found murdered after he forges her signature and he is moved to the top of the suspect list.  His new "friend" is hiding evidence that provides his innocence but is blackmailing him into killing his brother before he can get it.

     I'm being completely honest when I said I wasn't looking forward to The Designated Victim but the movie was quick to impress me and after just a few minutes I was honestly hooked on it.  I can't recall the last time that MM released as many well rounded titles as this did with these three film.  The Designated Victim was a great film to finish out my Mondo Macabro marathon.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  Milian and Clementi are fucking fantastic together.  I really enjoyed how different their characters are and how well they work together to make the story what it is.  These two have fantastic on screen chemistry and they both carry the film on their back.  The supporting cast is solid for what it is but the characters are nowhere near as entertaining as what these two give viewers.  The story for this one is Strangers on a Train with a little Italian crime spin on it.  It's a murder mystery without the mystery and follows a police investigation and a man who is being fingered for a murder he did not commit.  I really enjoyed the spin on this classic tale that we get and you think it's predictable because of the set up but you never truly know what is going on.  It's some clever writing and not just a scene for scene rip off of that known story.  Finally, the film has a little blood it's not a movie with a body count.  The deaths are off screen with no practical effects.  Genre fans looking for blood will be disappointed with this.  Overall, The Designated Victim doesn't look like a movie that most horror fans would enjoy but I fucking loved it.  I highly recommend snagging this release from Mondo Macabro!  You will not be disappointed! 

Human Animals

Director - Eligio Herrero (Jane, Mi Peguena Salvaje)

Starring - Carole Kirkham (Panic Beats, I Love Hitler), Geir Indvard (Jane, Mi Peguena Salvaje), and Jose Yepes (The Sea Serpent, Revenge of the Black Wolf)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Tagline - "Two men... one women... and a dog.  It's the end of the world"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro has brought some strange and unique films to genre fans and film collectors over the years but I think I found their oddest release to date. Several weeks ago I received the film Human Animals from CAV and Mondo Macabro to review.  I immediately fell in love with the artwork for the blu and my mind immediately started racing.  My imagination was running overtime thinking of possible scenarios for the film.  I wanted to start my MM marathon with this one but decided to go with Beyond Erotica.  As soon as I finished it I went ahead and tossed in Human Animals.  Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a brother, sister, and a man who awaken in a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust.  They begin a trek to find civilization and soon cross paths a dog before eventually coming to stop in an oasis.  With plenty of vegetation, wild game, and shelter they make a home for themselves.  Incest, bestiality, and jealousy all become a part of their lives and eventually they start tearing themselves apart.

     Human Animals is one of the weirdest post-apocalyptic films I have ever seen.  It's completely void of dialogue and the story itself is still able to be told without uttering a single word.  It's a different spin on the end of the world and a movie that I think exploitation fans would fucking love.  The "acting" in this one is a little different than traditional films.  The cast has no dialogue but they are able to communicate with facial expressions, body mannerisms, and with sounds.  I really enjoyed the casting and how they approached such a strange and unusual film.  The cast is small but their on screen chemistry is insane.  The story for this one is simple but is explores so many themes that are never explored among other post-apocalyptic films.  We follow three young adults who have survived a nuclear holocaust.  Isolation leads to incest, beastiality, and jealousy as they scavenge, farm, and hunt to survive.  I fucking loved the unique spin on this style of story.  It made the film very unpredictable, overly sexual, and very enjoyable.  I couldn't imagine a film like this being made today but as an early 80s exploitation film it's amazing.  It has solid pacing and the scenes work for the film even though there is no dialogue.  Finally, the film has some gruesome scenes of animals being field dressed but that's honestly about the extent of the blood.  A few spots here or there throughout the film but don't expect bloody or gruesome deaths that most of us crave.  Overall, Human Animals is a fucking wild and weird film that is an unusual take on the end of the world.  I highly recommend it and the Mondo Macabro release is the only way to watch it.  

Beyond Erotica

Director - Jose Maria Forque (Game of Murder, The Second Power)

Starring - David Hemmings (Deep Red, Eye of the Devil), Alida Valli (Suspiria, The Killer Nun), and Francisco Rabal (Moonfish, Devil's Hill)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Tagline - "The climax is only the beginning."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I respect the hell out of Mondo Macabro and what they've been releasing over the years.  Even if they release a film that I necessarily cared for I was still excited to add these strange and unusual films to my collection.  I never really got into MM when they were primarily releasing DVD but when they migrated to blu I found myself drawn to their titles.  I've been fortunate enough to review most of these releases over the last few years and it's been an amazing journey.  Several weeks ago CAV sent over a couple Mondo Macabro release for me to check out.  The first that I decided to check out was the 1974 film Beyond Erotica.  The film was released under the alternate title It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game.  I was very interested in the release and I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way to review!

     The film follows a wealthy young man who lives with his mother on a plantation that has come under hardships in recent years.  He's a troubled man that is known for playing macabre games with the females that his mother employs on their property.  He falls for a young woman from the village and brings her on to the property where he plays his sadistic games with her. Before long he convinces her to marry him but things take a surprising turn and she becomes the owner of a small fortune when her husband kills his uncle.  

     I didn't know what I was getting into when I tossed in Beyond Erotica which is typical for most of the Mondo Macabro releases.  The original poster and the blu release artwork both referenced David Hemmings and how this is his most controversial role which only stirred my imagination.  I couldn't help but wonder what kind of movie this was and once I had finished watching it I would have to say that this may be in the running for one of my favorite MM releases.  The acting in this one is great.  Hemmings and Andrea Rau are fantastic together.  Hemmings emotionless character and Rau's abused character are fucking fantastic together.  They are written damn near perfectly and they both slowly change over the course of the film.  Their performance perfectly shows these changes and makes the film as fun as it is.  The remainder of the film is filled with great characters and the cast does a phenomenal job bringing those characters to life.  The story for this one is a little erotic, a little disturbing, and a lot of drama.  Beyond Erotica makes the viewer think they are getting their hands on a sexploitation film with a lot of sex and nudity while the title It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game makes you think the film is more centered on the demented character and his perverse games but it's a little of both.  The film is not as perverse as you would expect and the games are not as big a part of the story as you would led to believe.  I really enjoyed it.  It has great pacing, well written characters, and the story itself very entertaining.  It's a well put together exploitation film with some great growth and changes throughout.  It's not predictable and has some great replay value.  Finally, the film has some nudity and a little blood but don't expect a bloody flick.  It's not a gory mess but if you want some skin and some blood then you are in the right spot.  Overall, Beyond Erotica is one of my favorite Mondo Macabro releases to date.  It's a great cast and a great story.  I feel that the title's are a little misleading but still very enjoyable.  I highly recommend snagging this release especially if you are fans of early 70s exploitation.  

Superman: The Complete Animated Series

Creator(s) - Joe Shuster (Peacemaker, Krypton), Jerry Siegel (Harley Quinn, Supergirl), and Bob Kane (Titans, The Death of Superman)

Starring - Tim Daly (The Sopranos, Justice League: Doom), Dana Delany (Tombstone, Camp Hell), and Clancy Brown (SpongeBob SquarePants, Dexter: New Blood)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The last son of Krypton" 

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in elementary school I was on a one way ticket to horror when I discovered the Goosebumps and it's cheaper clones like Shivers and Deadtime Stories.  However, I was a typical kid as well and loved shows like Batman Beyond, The X-Men, and the wildly more popular Superman: The Animated Series.  This show was huge at my school and I'm sure it was just as popular at every school across the world.  I absolutely loved it and remember snagging episode collections on VHS when I would visit stores like K-Mart and so on.  It was a huge part of my childhood but as I got older and the show was no longer airing on cable I found myself completely forgetting about it until I received a press release from Warner Bros. about the blu release.  I couldn't pass up this trip down memory lane so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  I had been sitting on it for a few weeks but after a tiring work week last week I decided to spend my Sunday relaxing and revisiting this classic series!

     The series follows Clark Kent, who was born Kal-el on Krypton, who is sent to Earth as an infant when his planet was destroyed.  The sun gives him super strength along with other unbelievable abilities and he uses those to save Metropolis and, on occasion, the world. 

     Superman: The Animated Series was a top tier animated show when I was a kid.  I had so many different toys from this series and would often trade then with other kids at school.  Everyone, regardless of socio-economic standing or background, had toys from this show, and a lot of them were rocking shirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, and so on.  It's was a popular series that would only be overtaken by the likes of NWO and Goosebumps.  It was great to revisit it and show my kids this show even though they had no interest in.  My daughters are typical girls who don't care about superheroes and my son only like dinosaurs.  They might not have enjoyed it but I had a blast.  The voice acting in this one is just as entertaining now as it was the first time I watched these episodes.  Tim Daly is great as the voice of Clark Kent and Clancy Brown is Lex Luther in my opinion.  The supporting cast fit their characters very well but these two make the show for me and their work here is fucking legendary.  I know Brown is mostly known for SpongeBob now but he's fucking amazing as Luther.  The story for this one spends two episodes on his origin story before spinning into classic encounters and adventures.  Some are new to animation while others are retelling of now famous encounters and struggles.  Honestly, each episode is great and it's hard to find some that just wasn't fun.  It was great story telling that I think is fun for all ages.  Even as an adult I was finding themes, like organized crimes and so forth, that went over my head as a child.  Finally, the animation is fantastic and almost iconic now.  It's similar to Batman Beyond in looks but the style of Superman combines that classic 50s and 60s "retro futuristic" style with modern settings.  I absolutely adore the look of this series.  Overall, Superman: The Animated Series is essential viewing for millennials and fans of the modern DC animated films.  It's fucking fantastic and a must own for collectors!  I highly recommend it.  

The Amazing Mr. X

Director - Bernard Vorhaus (Bury Me Dead, Winter Wonderland)

Starring - Turhan Bey (The Mummy's Tomb, Babylon 5), Lynn Bari (Earthbound, China Girl), and Cathy O'Donnell (Perry Mason, Ben-Hur)

Release Date - 1948

Genre - Horror/Mystery

Tagline - "In his eyes...the threat of terror!  In his hands... the power to destroy!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the course of the last week or so I've been fortunate to review some older horror releases.  Typically, I review a lot of newer indie releases plus the rerelease of 70s and 80s genre titles from companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow Video, Severin Films, and so on.  It's not often that I get films much older than that but I've recently received some films from the 40s through the 60s thanks to Warner Bros. and The Film Detective.  I've enjoyed my time in these forgotten decades and the films have been very entertaining even if I didn't care for the movie itself.  I see each movie as an experience and seeing some of these older releases really is like opening a time capsule.  Sometime back The Film Detective released the 1948 mystery horror film The Amazing Mr. X on blu.  I had never seen this one before so I reached out to MVD for a review copy.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and The Film Detective for sending this release over!

     The film follows a window and her sister who is coping with the death of her husband.  She is reluctant to date again and one night she thinks she hears her late husband's voice on the ocean breeze.  When she goes out to investigate she meets a spiritualist who seems to know about her late husband.  He cons her into a séance and other rackets to gain money from her.  However, his gimmick is uncovered when the husband appears revealing he had faked his death.  He blackmails the spiritualist to continue his con but soon his widow and her sister uncover both plots before getting the police involved.  

      The Amazing Mr. X had the look and feel I was really looking for.  It's not often I get a classic horror film in with amazing atmosphere, tension, and that amazing score that has lost since been forgotten.  However, the movie tries to overcomplicate things which doesn't work well in my opinion.  It was a bit chaotic, messy, and underwhelming at times but it did have a few eerie moments that I enjoyed.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  The characters are very cliched but the cast does a fantastic job with what they were given.  With that being said, there was several occasions where I was getting the characters mixed up with one another.  It's not often that something like this happens but I do see it from time to time with old black and white films with generic characters.  The story for this one has some great ideas that has the potential to be a chilling film that fit with the time.  The 30s and 40s saw the rise in spiritualism during the wealthy and elite with a hotbed in L.A.  It makes sense that a few genre films popped up with this being the basis for them.  However, the chaotic spree of the story and the lack of memorable characters makes it difficult to follow.  Finally, the film is moody and atmospheric but don't expect to find any blood and gore.  The film is reliant on the story itself to get to the viewer instead of the deaths.  Overall, The Amazing Mr. X is a dropped ball especially for it's time.  The story could have been more welcoming of spiritualism and less like a petty crime film.  I wanted to love it but I couldn't bring myself to it.  The blu looks good and collectors will want to check it out but this is one film I cannot recommend.  

Kill-Cam

Director - Chris Woods (Chaos A.D., Amerikan Holokaust)

Starring - Katie McKinley (Zed's Dead, Earth Girls are Sleazy), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Naked Cannibal Campers, Death-Scort Service Part 2: The Naked Dead), and Cayt Feinics (Her Name Was Christa, Wrestlemassacre)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started my reviewing adventures, almost a decade now, I crossed paths with two filmmakers with a love for horror and exploitation.  The pair created the YouTube channel The Sleaze Box where they would rate, rank, and discuss genre films and the actors and actresses often found in them.  It was a solid channel while it lasted.  Soon their ambitions outgrew their channel and they branched out into film with their movie Amerikan Holocaust.  Chris Woods, the co-directed, had previously worked on other films prior to and continued to do so under The Sleaze Box since.  Last year he announced a new film title Kill-Cam starring Katie McKinley and Sushii Xhyvette Holder and written by himself and Lixy Lestat.  I was really interested in this one.  I shared the crowd funding campaign on the site and kept on an eye on it until a few days ago when a copy of the film arrived for me to review.  I didn't want to sleep on it so I made time for this one.  I want to once again thank Chris for always supporting Horror Society!

     The film follows an aging horror starlet named Samantha Styles (McKinley) who is struggling with finding jobs in recent years.  Her failing career mixes with childhood trauma which results in her turning her love for filmmaking into a bloody new project where she has been picking up prostitutes and killing them on camera with the help of her ventriloquist doll.  As the bodies stack up so does her ambition and she recruits a new starlet that has shot to fame to be in her snuff film with unexpected results.  

     Kill-Cam was a tribute to the "roughie" films of the 60s with The Sleaze Box twist.  Honestly, I feel like Chris Woods has made the most Sleaze Boxiest movie to date.  I absolutely loved it.  In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I watched it a second time before I wrote this review.  The acting in this one fits the film perfectly.  A lot of the cast in this one are familiar faces from other Sleaze Box and GatorBlade films.  McKinley is great as the film's lead.  She beautiful, demented, and when she goes off the rails you really enjoy watching her act insane.  It's also nice to see Cayt Feinics, Sushii, Ashley Lynn Caputo, and Lunathyst in another Sleaze Box release.  I liked the characters they portrayed and they were all in for their performance.  I'm all for Cayt Feinics getting more screen time and she has a decent size role in this one.  The story for this one is a faux snuff inspired film with large amounts of nudity, blood, and style.  This one doesn't look like your typical Sleaze Box release but all their stereotypical tropes are there.  The film has a little more artistic approach to the cinematography which made the nudity even more enjoyable.  I liked the spin on the aging star turning to snuff as a way to express herself and get even with an industry that glorifies youth and beauty.  The doll angle added another layer to the story but didn't really overshadow it.  The twist it delivers was effective and not what I was expecting.  It was nicely written in and works very well with the story.  My only complaint with the story is the flashbacks were a little excessive.  One or two would have been enough to get the point across without having to stop the pacing of the film to show how disturbing Style's childhood truly was.  Finally, the film wouldn't be a Sleaze Box release if it didn't have tons of blood and boobs.  We get a lot of nudity, probably more than any other SB release, along with some fun kills.  The effects worked for the kills and they fit the film very well but this is not the goriest film to come from the mind of Chris Woods.  With that being said, it still satisfies even the most dedicated of gore-hounds.  Overall, Kill-Cam is a new favorite indie film of mine and easily the best Sleaze Box release to date.  It's sexy, crude, and brilliant.  I hope that Woods and company keeps churning out films like this one in the future.  I highly recommend this slice of sleazy gold!

Frankenstein's Daughter

Director - Richard E. Cunha (Giant from the Unknown, She Demons)

Starring - Sandra Knight (The Terror, Tower of London), Donald Murphy (Hands of Mystery, Strange Intruder), and Felix Locher (Curse of the Faceless Man, Star Trek)

Release Date - 1958

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "It reaches from the grave to relive the horror"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few reviews back I mentioned that I have a huge soft spot for the campier side of horror from the late 50s through the 60s.  I love modern technology but I would have loved to live through this era in movie history watching all these classic films at the drive-in.  Even if the movie sucked it was still an experience that you would always remember.  These movies, regardless of budget, always seemed to have big stories that always left the viewer laughing or in shock.  Frankenstein's Daughter is one of those films that has left viewer baffled but a certain breed of horror fan has kept this film alive at a cult classic over the years.  I remember watching this one when I was little on cable but I can't remember the situation around the viewer yet alone how I felt about the film.  Over the years I would get random scenes stuck in my head from the film but that's about all I remembered.  When I received the press release from The Film Detective about their blu release of it I was very curious about revisiting it.  I don't remember my initial impressions on it but it's always fun to spin this type of film late at night.  I reached out to MVD, who was handling the release, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a older scientist who is working on an experiment in secret with the help of the mysterious Dr. Frank (Murphy).  Frank is often rude to the older man and refuses to divulge information about his past or who he really is.  However, Dr. Frank is really the grandson of mad scientist Dr. Frankenstein and is using his partner's research to further his family's legacy of reanimating the dead.

    Frankenstein's Daughter is not a good movie, and it's not a movie that I would consider to be so bad it's good, but it is an experience.  It's not a movie that I could rewatch over and over again but every couple years if I wanted something bad to watch with a few beers it would be a good choice.  The acting in this one is decent for the most part.  A few scenes are a little awkward but most of the film is solidly acted.  The cast does a great job at getting into character and they make the film that much easier to follow.  I do wish the monster and Dr. Frank had a little bit more personality but it's not something that breaks the film for me.  The story for this one could work as an unofficial sequel/ continuation of the Frankenstein story that most of us already know and love.  It was an interesting idea but the film itself peaks way too early and then you are left with an hour long of pointless scenes and a climax that is very uneventful.  It feels as if the film was shot and written on the fly or some of the scenes were edited out of order which threw the flow of the film and the story off.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  We do have some make-up effects for a monster in the film, as well as, the creature and both look ridiculous.  It was funny the first time around when I saw it but subsequent scenes left me rolling my eyes.  I've seen other films from this time with a smaller budget and they were able to accomplish so much more than this.  Overall, Frankenstein's Daughter is a cult classic and for good reason.  It's goofy, weird, and fun with a group of people and some alcohol.  It's not a good movie but it's a movie that is still fun to watch.  Just turn your brain off and hit play.  The blu from The Film Detective looks great.  I wouldn't recommend double dipping with this one but if you don't own a copy at all then I would suggest snagging this release over the DVD.  

Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge

Director - Richard Friedman (Monsters, Friday the 13th - The Series)

Starring - Rob Estes (The Twilight Zone, Uninvited), Kimber Sissons (The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Martial Law II: Undercover), and Pauly Shore (Encino Man, Bio-Dome)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror/Romance

Tagline - "There was a nightmare at the mall.  Eric the phantom struck."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     What could be more 80s than turning a classic tale about love lost, revenge, and mystery into a slasher set inside of a mall?  By the late 80s the slasher was dying.  Franchises has killed the sub-genre that came into it's own in the declining years of the 70s and peaked in the early 80s.  However, as the 80s were coming to a close the sub-genre was getting over looked for other horror flicks.  That's is one of the many reasons that Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge is such an oddity.  You have a late 80s slasher, with a wild cast, and a story that doesn't belong there yet it somehow comes together to create a campy gem that doesn't deserve to be as enjoyable as it is.  When I heard that Arrow Video was releasing this one on blu I had to see it.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send over a copy for me to check out.  Like always, I want to thank them for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review it.

     The film follows a wealthy real estate developer who bought up property to turn into a shopping mall.  One house refused to sell and sometime later it mysteriously burns down killing the owner named Eric.  His girlfriend tries to go on with her life and eventually finds work at the new mall built on the ground where he died on.  Life has moved on but a journalist covering the opening of the mall also covered the fire that killed Eric.  He recognizes Eric's girlfriend and a relationship sparks between them with the pair trying to uncover the truth behind the fire and it's connection to the new mall.  The closer the two come to uncovering the truth they discover that something sinister is happening behind closed doors at the mall when employees turn up dead.  Is the mall haunted or is Eric still alive and seeking revenge?

     Phantom of the Mall is extremely fucking odd but it perfectly sums up the last year of the 80s.  I remember hearing about this film when I was younger when my friend ordered a bunch of older issues of Fangoria.  In one of these issues was an article about the film.  I was really curious about it but I never had the chance to see it.  I'm glad I finally got to see it and it was with an Arrow Video release.  It is campy, weird at times, but very enjoyable.  The acting in this one is decent but the casting is very uneven.  Before I get too far into it I want to mention that the small role from Ken Foree is a huge disappointment.  I would have loved him in a much bigger role than what he was.  He was underutilized and that was a huge disappointment.  Now, as for the cast.  I liked Pauly Shore, Rob Estes, Kimber Sissons, and the gorgeous Kari Whitman.  They deliver solid performances that worked for the film but none were what I would consider memorable.  Aside from them, I was not satisfied.  They were very underwhelming and just hogged the screen.  The story for this one is something else.  Imagine the classic tale the Phantom of the Opera set for a more modern audience with the opera being replaced with a shopping mall and instead of a tale of mystery and romance we get a slasher.  It very much is a typical slasher story. We follow someone that was wronged who returns later for revenge.  Now, toss in a little disfigurement, some light romance, and a body count and you have a film that combines the two visions into a campy late 80s slasher that may not be for everyone.  Honestly, I liked it but I can't deny that it is corny and extremely goofy at times but that is how I love my 80s films.  Finally, the film has some fun deaths.  The death scenes have some decent effects that work for the scene but they are nothing spectacular or stands out for the viewer.  Also, the make-up effects for Eric had me laughing.  I can't believe the production team saw the final product and decided to continue with it.  I love cheesy horror but Eric's face looks like a cheap mask that was used as production was rushed to be completed.  Overall, Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge is going to be a polarizing slasher for genre fans.  Those that enjoy the goofier side of cinema will enjoy it but if you want a more serious slasher then you will be very disappointed.  If this does sound like something you are interested in I would highly recommend the Arrow Video blu.  It's worth every cent!

Sailor Suit and Machine Gun

Director - Shinji Somai (Typhoon Club, Tokyo Heaven)

Starring - Hiroko Yakushimaru (Unnatural, Legend of the Eight Samurai), Tsunehiko Watase (Death Shadow, The Wicked), and Rentaro Mikuni (The Possessed, Escape from Hell)

Release Date - 1981

Genre - Action/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I decided to step out of my comfort zone and binged several Japanese splatter flicks that were on Netflix.  I found myself hooked on Asian cinema and was often searching for any and every release I could find regardless of the genre.  I grew up on Hong Kong kung fu flicks so it made sense that I would be drawn to other genres.  Over the years I've been lucky enough to review some great Asian horror, Cat III, punku, and comedies but I've never had the chance to review an action flick.  When Arrow Video announced the blu release of the 1981 crime action film Sailor Suit and Machine Gun I was extremely interested in it.  It looked like a fun flick with a wild story.  I reached out to MVD who was handling the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review.  I want to once again thank them for always supporting Horror Society and myself!

     The film follows the juvenile Izumi (Yakushimaru) who inherits her father's business.  He is the head of a yakuza family and as his health fails he leaves control of it to her.  Torn between her adolescence and an organized crime family that doesn't respect her, Izumi must pick up a gun and fight for her family's honor.

     Honestly, I was expecting Sailor Suit and Machine Gun to be more comical than it was.  The Arrow release artwork paints a silly, whimsical crime film with a lot of humor and ridiculous moments.  It wasn't.  In fact, it was a pretty serious film with some seriously underrated, at least in the western hemisphere, crime moments.  I liked it but it was not the film I was expecting.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast makes the film as fun as it is.  I enjoyed their personalities and how everyone was their own characters.  No confusion or lazy writing can be seen here and the cast did a fantastic job with what they were given.  The story for this one could have went two different directions.  It could have easily went the comical route with a lot of laughs, humorous characters, and a much more lighter story.  However, it went the serious route which was unexpected considering the releases artwork.  I did enjoy and the fact that it was nothing like I had expected made it surprisingly fun.  I liked this approach to a yakuza film.  It's not predictable, it has unusual characters, but still delivers that gritty and often bloody storyline that we can associate with these types of films.  I liked the writing of the film but it could be trimmed down some.  The movie runs over two hours but 30ish minutes could be cut.  Finally, the film has a few bloody moments that fits the style of the film but they are nothing that would stick with you after your initial viewing.  These scenes fit the yakuza storyline and are mostly bullet wounds but that's the extent of it.  Overall, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun was a pleasant surprise.  It was not the film I was expecting but god damn did I have fun with it.  Like always, Arrow Video handled this release perfectly and I highly recommend snagging it for your collection.  

Eye of the Devil

Director - J. Lee Thompson (Death Wish 4: The Crackdown, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud)

Starring - David Niven (Old Dracula, The Pink Panther), Sharon Tate (The Fearless Vampire Killers, Valley of the Dolls), and Deborah Kerr (Night of the Iguana, The Grass is Greener)

Release Date - 1966

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "This is the climax in mind-chilling terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I watch a horror title from the 60s it's usually the more campier films that you would typically find as a double feature at the local drive-in.  The 60s, much like any decade, have a lot of cheesy horror films but just as many, if not more, series horror titles.  When I was first discovering horror I remember hearing the stories about Sharon Tate, the Manson Family, and Tate's husband Roman Polanski.  The Fearless Vampire Killers is a horror comedy that I seriously enjoy but that is the only contact I've had with Tate.  When Warner Bros. sent over the press release for their release of Eye of the Devil on blu I was extremely excited to check it out.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows mother Catherine (Kerr) who follows her husband back to his ancestral castle from their home in Paris when their vineyard fails to produce.  When she is able to track down her husband with their son she finds that he is acting strange and unusual.  The longer she is with him the more strange he becomes and before long she uncovers a pagan ritual that his family has been doing when they suffer through a dry season that involved sacrificing children.  It's a race against the clock as the whole village works against her to sacrifice her son.

     I didn't know anything about this one when I first heard about it.  I knew it was a horror movie with Sharon Tate but my knowledge did not extend beyond that.  Once the movie began I knew I was going to like it.  A gothic tale centered around paganism and human sacrifice was not what I was expecting but I was greatly appreciative of it.  The acting in this one is great.  Niven and Kerr are absolutely fantastic together.  Their on screen chemistry is great and the characters they bring to life really do connect at the beginning of the film and slowly start to clash as the story progresses.  The legendary Donald Pleasance has a small role in this one and he delivers like always.  I wish his character had a bigger role in the film because I really enjoyed what Pleasance delivered.  The supporting cast is solid as well but I found myself very disappointed by how little screen time Tate had while being plastered on the marketing for this one.  The story for this one works but like many older horror titles it lacks some imagination.  My mind can't help but wonder how much further this story could have drifted.  I loved the paganism, the surroundings, and how well the characters were written.  Honestly, I would love to see this one remade in a more modern setting.  The story is ripe for the picking.  Finally, don't expect a bloody horror tale.  It's got some amazing locations, gorgeous wardrobe, and the tension is damn near perfect but those of you with a taste for blood will be very disappointed.  Overall, Eye of the Devil is a fantastic example of horror from the mid-60s.  It's atmospheric, beautifully acted, and well put together.  The blu from Warner Bros. is a nice addition to any collection but the lack of bonus material is a bit disappointing.  

Bedlam

Director - Mark Robson (The Seventh Victim, Edge of Doom)

Starring - Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy), Anna Lee (Glitter, Picture Mommy Dead), and Billy House (Touch of Evil, The Egg and I)

Release Date - 1946

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - "Sensational secrets of infamous mad-house exposed"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     In the early 30s Boris Karloff was one of the hottest names in cinema thanks to his work with Universal.  His name sold tickets and once Universal had milked him for what he was worth he found himself landing roles in other productions.  From the mid-40s through the 50s he was in several genre productions with his name plastered across the posters but his role in the film was merely a glorified cameo.  Don't get me wrong, there was several films during this time where he was given substantial screen time but for the most part he was there to sell tickets and nothing else.  Bedlam is one of the few films during this time where Karloff was given an actual character to portray and wasn't just another cash grab.  I had seen this film several years before during a Halloween horror binge and remembered liking so when Warner Bros. announced it on blu with The Ghost Ship I was looking forward to revisit it.  

     The film follows Nell (Lee) who finds herself in a living hell when she undermines the head of the local asylum.  He is trying to secure more funding for his institution which is known for hosting events where the elite watch the mentally disturbed for entertainment.  He uses his power and influence to get her committed in order to get his way but eventually the tides are turned and he gets a taste of his own medicine.

     Bedlam, much like Children of the Damned, is a horror film that is scarier in theory than the movie itself is.  It doesn't feel right calling the movie a horror film.  Sure, the theme behind the film is very horrifying but the film itself is more like a dark thriller.  The movie does make the user rely on their imagination.  Regardless, I enjoy this one but I don't feel like it's a horror film in a traditional sense.  The acting in this one is great.  Karloff is so fucking entertaining as hell as the head of the asylum that is as charming as he is manipulative.  I know he is more recognizable from other films but this is probably my favorite performance from him.  The supporting cast is just as enjoyable but it's Karloff's character that stands out throughout the film.  The story for this one is fucking frightening when you think about how common of an occurrence it was during this period.  Women were often placed in asylums for so many different reasons from serious mental issues, to domestic disputes, and even their menstrual cycles.  Thinking about how horrible asylums of this time were I couldn't imagine the real life horror they faced.  Turning that into a horror film is a fantastic idea but in Bedlam's case it flows more like a drama with a little splash of horror here and there.  The pacing is great and the scenes flow very well.  I know it sounds like I'm bitching about this one but I really enjoyed it so much.  Finally, the film has gorgeous sets and costumes but don't expect to see blood or gore.  If you go into a film from this time you wouldn't expect to find gore or blood.  Overall, Bedlam is a fantastic film.  Karloff absolutely nails his performance and I enjoyed the story.  I highly recommend it and it's the highlight of this double feature release.  

The Ghost Ship

Director - Mark Robson (Isle of the Dead, Bedlam)

Starring - Richard Dix (Devil's Playground, The Thirteenth Hour), Russell Wade (The Body Snatcher, A Game of Death), and Edith Barrett (I Walked with a Zombie, Alfred Hitchcock Presents)

Release Date - 1943

Genre - Mystery/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The next few days is going to have me taking a trip to decades long since passed thanks to Warner Bros. and their archive collection releases.  A few weeks back they sent over several releases.  The first I was able to dig into was Night Shift which was a fantastic early 80s comedy that I truly enjoyed.  However, the other releases takes me back even further.  The second release was the early 60s with Children of the Damned before venturing into the 40s with a Mark Robson double feature.  The first film in the set was 1943's The Ghost Ship.  This was a first time watch and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Warner Bros. for sending this one over.  

     The film follows Tom (Wade) who signs on to be third officer of a ship.  At first he finds himself at home among the crew but things take a dark turn when several of the crew members turn up dead with mysterious causes.  As the bodies pile up, Tom suspects that it is active captain on the boat.  This allegations causes tension between the two and with more and more people dying it causes a ripple between the crew and Tom while the real killer is getting away with murder.  

     They don't make movies like they used to.  A lot of the modern horror and thrillers are often labeled as mysteries but they rarely deliver the mystery aspect anymore.  They are predictable and lack any sort of mystery and atmosphere that these classis films do.  They are more focused on jump scares instead of the mystery aspect.  The Ghost Ship was able to deliver just that but the repetitive storyline made it a bit redundant and dull.  It was solid for the most part but painfully mediocre.  The acting in this one is great.  The characters are not that memorable but this is one of the few instances where I've seen a film that was so consistent throughout.  The cast is fantastic and everyone does an amazing job but the characters are all the same.  It's a sea of faces with no personalities to make them stand out.  The story for this one has so much potential but is stretched way too thin.  It's barely over an hour but in that run time we get a set up that repeats itself without delivering anything worthy to the film.  Once we find the first death we are stuck in a cycle of deaths, that are fairly lackluster, and they do very little to further the story.  Sure, it adds a body count but they are not fun or graphic deaths that makes the film worthwhile.  The only aspect of the film that I appreciate is how it kept the mystery aspect going without ruining the reveal.  The tension and suspense worked very well with the story to make it work but so much needed trimmed from the film.  Finally, the film does have a bit of a body count but don't expect deaths that will stand out to you.  They are mostly done off camera with no real imagination tossed into them.  Overall, The Ghost Ship is a a fantastic looking mystery thriller but the story is like watching paint dry.  It has some moments and is solid for a first time watch but there is a reason this one is rarely discussed in horror circles.  

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Director - David Blue Garcia (Tejano)

Starring - Sarah Yarkin (Happy Death Day 2U, American Horror Story), Elsie Fisher (The Addams Family, Castle Rock), and Mark Burnham (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Low Life)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The face of madness returns"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     My opinions on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series is very controversial.  I respect what the first film brought genre fans and it's influence on history.  However, I prefer the sequels, reboots, and prequels to the original film.  It's not a bad film but after a handful of viewings I find it to be dull.  However, I absolutely fucking love Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II, The Next Generation, and Leatherface: TCM III.  Hell, I even liked the remake and it's prequel.  The newer films, Leatherface and Texas Chainsaw 3D, are fun as well.  They are not perfect films but I enjoy them for what they are worth.  When I heard that Fede Alvarez was producing a new film that was to be a direct sequel to the original I was fucking hooked.  The film was released on Netflix today so before work I woke up early to check it out.  Sadly, it's the first film from the franchise that I didn't like.  Awesome deaths but a story that was blatantly copying from another slasher franchise.  

     The film follows a young entrepreneur and her business partner who visit to a ghost town in Texas where they have purchased it in hopes of selling the buildings to other entrepreneurs.  However, the town is not as vacant as they think.  The old orphanage is currently occupied by an elderly women who has worked there for almost 50 years.  They try to get her to leave and she becomes irate which leads to the police arriving to escort her out.  However, she collapses and her massive son picks her up to carry her out.  The police put him and his mother in the back of their wagon and try to get her to a hospital but she dies along the way.  Her son, Leatherface, becomes enraged and kills the police before returning to town donning a mask made from his mother's face.  

      I was so fucking pumped to watch this before my muggle job today but after 20 or 30 minutes into it I couldn't help but compare it to Halloween (2018).  This direct sequel copies a lot from Blumhouse's film that was also a direct sequel to the original film.  I wanted to love it but I couldn't.  I was very disappointed in it.  The acting in this one was great.  Sarah Yarkin has appeared in several genre releases in her short career.  Fans may remember her from Happy Death Day 2U, as well as, her appearance in American Horror Story.  I liked her character here and she does a fantastic job potraying a character that is not only tough but emotional.  We see her go through some...shit and she does a great job with her performance. She feels genuine throughout the entire film.  The same can be said for Elsie Fisher who portrays her sister.  Her character is written to be a little tougher and she does a great job as well.  The remainder of the cast was great as well but these two made the film as enjoyable as it is for me.  The story for this one takes what Blumhouse did with Halloween (2018) and made it work for Leatherface.  Both films are said to be "direct" sequels to the original film but several decades have passed with the final girl now dedicating her life to killing the monster that took so much away from her.  Sound familiar?  Of course it does.  Now, if you ignore that template you will find a film that spends too much time mocking gen z'ers and plot holes.  At one point we watch Sally Hardesty hold a shotgun to Leatherface and then the scene cuts to him outside with her chasing him.  No explanation as why she didn't blow his ass away.  This is just one instance of many that just doesn't make sense.  It also introduced meta-Leatherface that is impervious to bullets, chainsaws to the face, and being gutted.  So many things are going on and none of it makes sense.  Finally, the death scenes in this one are seriously impressive.  I loved them so much that it's one of the few reasons I didn't give this one a lower rating.  The gore is absolutely fantastic, the deaths are brutal and energizing, and the effects are top notch.  Even though I was not a fan of this film I will still be praising these deaths for years to come.  Overall, Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a great cast and some seriously impressive gore but the story borrowed from Halloween (2018) and the choppy writing makes it hard to love.  I won't be revisiting it anytime soon but I'm still thinking about the deaths.  

Children of the Damned

Director - Anton Leader (The Twilight Zone, Star Trek)

Starring - Ian Hendry (Theater of Blood, Damien: Omen II), Alan Badel (The Agatha Christie Hour, The Medusa Touch), and Barbara Ferris (The Strauss Family, The Human Jungle)

Release Date - 1964

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Beware the eyes that paralyze!!!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up spending a lot of time with my grandmother.  When I was little my mom abandoned me and her step-mom stepped in to help raise my little sister and myself while my dad was out of town for work.  This was a little while after I was almost adopted but that's a story for a different time.  My grandmother lived on the original incarnation of the Sci-Fi Channel.  The nights I would be with her I would snag some tapes from the local video store and if nothing sparked our interests on Sci-Fi we would toss one in.  I can't remember if it was airing on television or it was something that I had rented but it was during one of these many nights at her home that I watched the Children of the Damned.  I remember enjoying it and years later when I found a copy of it on DVD I didn't hesitate to snag a copy.  When Warner Bros. announced the release of the film on blu several weeks back I thought this was a great time to revisit it and get that wave of nostalgia flooding back.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows six exceptional young children who have the ability to speak with one another telepathically and other worldly powers.  Some scientists discover this connection and want to further explore their possibilities but their respective ambassadors want to return them back to their homeland to further their own causes.  However, once news breaks about how exceptional they really are they are immediately deemed a threat to national security forcing the military to act.

     Children of the Damned is scarier in theory that it is in execution.  Don't get me wrong.  I think this is a highly effective horror film from the early 60s that has atmosphere, tension, and an amazing location but is not as terrifying as it could be.  I know I often say that about films from this era but the movie definitely doesn't reach it's potential.  The acting in this one is great.  Most child actors from this time often deliver awkward and stiff performances.  However, the young cast made the film very eerie.  They are cold, chilling, and fit the film so fucking well.  The adult cast is great as well but these children really made this movie what it is.  The story for this one is works but leaves a lot on the table in my opinion.  Children with the power of these six could create so much more carnage and chaos than they do but the film paints them are misunderstood while the adults are the monsters.  That's a cool concept that they went with but it's not a chilling of a horror film than a film where kids are mercilessly killing adults who are unable to fight back.  I know it sounds like Children of the Corn and other films but could you imagine a film with that story set again the sets and atmosphere this one delivers.  Such a missed opportunity.  The movie, as it is, is still entertaining and one I could recommend to genre fans but I can't stop thinking about the "what if" aspect.  Finally, there is some deaths but don't expect to see amazing special effects and ton of blood.  I did like the contacts and the camera tricks they used to make them work but that's the extent for that.  Overall, Children of the Damned is a gorgeous horror film with a solid story, great cast, and amazing sets.  I loved the locations used.  I know it sounds like I'm bitching about the movie but I still enjoy it.  I highly recommend it.  

Night Shift

Director - Ron Howard (The Time Crystal, Cocoon)

Starring - Henry Winkler (Little Nicky, Happy Days), Michael Keaton (Batman, Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Shelley Long (Cheers, The Money Pit)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "Ever since two enterprising young men turned the city morgue into a swinging business, people have been dying to get in"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger I was a regular visitor at my local video store.  I loved going up and down the isles looking at all the new releases, along with anything that was released in the 80s.  When I would convince my dad to make a trip out of the county I would visit the stores my hometown didn't have access to like Hills, Roses, K-Mart, and so on.  I would always venture to the electronics department of these stores to browse the VHS they had to offer in hopes of snagging a new tape.  During these years I remember seeing a copy of 1982's Night Shift.  I can't remember exactly where it was but I remember the artwork after all these years.  I always regretted not snagging it when I was younger and when I would see posts about it online I would feel the hot fire of guilt build up in my stomach.  A few months back Warner Bros. announced that they would be releasing the film on blu as part of their Archive Collection line.  I wasn't going to let this one sneak passed me again so I reached out to them to review it.  I was able to get a copy in a few weeks ago and it was one I was really looking forward to check out.  I want to thank Warner Bros. for taking the time to send this one over to me to check out.

     The film follows the timid Chuck (Winkler) who is demoted at his job at the city morgue to working nights.  They soon hire Bill (Keaton) who is the exact opposite of Chuck.  He's loud, risky, and always looking for the next get rich quick scheme while Chuck enjoys the silence working in the morgue brings along with the predictability.  Chuck's home life is not as he would like.  His fiancé is self-conscience about her weight and is constantly dieting.  Because she hasn't hit her own goals she refuses to sleep with him with the lights on and makes him walk through the house to ensure no one can see her.  However, a few doors down from him is a new tenant.  She's a prostitute and when her pimp is murdered Bill comes up with the idea to use the morgue, hearse, and the lack of management at night so the prostitutes of the area can get the respect they deserve.  Chuck reluctantly agrees but soon the money is flowing and the women are happy with them.  Life looks up until he is arrested when undercover cops and the local gangsters angry that they are stepping on their turf, arrive at the morgue resulting in a shoot out.  Chuck's fiancé leaves him but he realizes that the prostitute that has helped him open up is the one he truly loves.  

     I fully enjoyed Night Shift.   In fact, I absolutely fucking loved it.  The movie was funny, has a brilliant cast, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  I noticed that a lot of the people that I follow on Letterboxd didn't care for it but I fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is so much fun.  Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton work so well together.  They both create some seriously entertaining characters and their chemistry on screen rivals any buddy flick.  I also enjoyed Shelley Long a lot more than I have in her other works.  Her character was very enjoyable and I loved how energetic and charismatic she was.  The supporting cast is just as entertaining as well with so many other memorable performances showing up.  Honestly, if I was to recognize everyone that was impressive I would be here all day going through the entire cast.  The story for this one is great.  It's beautifully early 80s with a crime angle.  The underground organized crime aspect is noticeable but not enough to overshadow the romantic and comedic angle.  I found the film funny and loved how well the characters were written but the "trouble" the group faces later in the film is nowhere near as menacing or troublesome as most of the other films like it are.  It seems like a lot of time went into the overall story arc and humor instead of the entire story.  Finally, don't expect a bloody flick.  It's got some laughs, a little skin, and fun antics from a fantastic cast.  Overall, Night Shift is a wonderfully early 80s comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The blu isn't something to write home about but it's better than not having it all.  I highly recommend it.