Bermuda Island

Director - Adam Werth (Rancher's Kin, The Hunt on Bar-Neth)

Starring - John Wells (They See You, Tales from Parts Unknown), Sarah French (Pretty Moon, Death Count), and Tom Sizemore (Vampfather, Night of the Tommyknockers)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Stranded in paradise... until the sun goes down"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year I watched my very first Mahal Empire release when Sonny Mahal sent over Night of the Tommyknockers for review. I was very interested in the film because I grew up in a mining community and was familiar with the legends surrounding Tommyknockers. I was very surprised by the film and found myself really enjoying it. I know Mahal Empire is a busy production company with many films in various stages of production but one that caught my eye was their newest film Bermuda Island. As I stated earlier, my experience with Mahal Empire is very limited but I’ve enjoyed what I saw so when Sonny hit me up to review Bermuda Island I quickly said yes. Thanks, Sonny, for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a group of people who are boarding a flight to a tropical island. However, a freak electrical storm kills their engines and they find themselves crashing into the ocean. After several hours some survivors find themselves stranded on an island with something carnivorous hunting them at night. The survivors split after another survivor, who has been trapped there since World War I, forming two factions with the same goal in mind but something much more sinister is waiting for them as the day turns to night. 

      Bermuda Island started out on the goofy side. In fact, I thought I was watching a SyFy original film. The first 20 minutes or so of the film makes absolutely no sense but once the ball gets rolling the movie is able to find its footing. It’s not perfect but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy. The acting in this one is very inconsistent. In most of the scenes we get solid performances from a good portion of the cast. However, several scenes, some of which would be considered key scenes, felt flat with no energy or enthusiasm. I don’t know if working in the sun zapped them or tension on set was a factor but some of the scenes felt like high school plays with the cast as stiff as cardboard. The story for this one starts out poorly but does work its way into something enjoyable. The first twenty something minutes is a way to shoehorn Noel Gugliemi and Tom Sizemore into the film and kill them off quickly. It doesn’t really make sense in the film as to why they would put a hardened criminal on a plan headed to a tropical island, but it happened. However, after that the movie finds its own story to tell and its fun for the most part. People fighting with each other and monsters that hunt at night is a great blend of action and horror. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and fun effects. The make-up and practical effects look great and the deaths we do get to see on camera are enjoyable. With that being said, the kills are not that imaginative and the gore was not as fun as it could have been. Overall, Bermuda Island will be skipped by a lot of you but for those of you that are open to it you will find something fairly decent. It’s not the best genre film I’ve ever seen but it does hit the spot especially if you are looking for something a little different.

Heartland of Darkness

Director - Eric Swelstad (Frankenstein Rising, The Curse of Lizzie Borden 2: Prom Night)

Starring - Dino Tripodis (Criminal Minds, The Funny Man), Nick Baldasare (Road Meat, They Bite), and Shanna Thomas 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An evil place between Heaven and Hell... the sanctuary of death"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     I’m a huge fan of Wild Eye Releasing so it was a no brainer when they announced their sister company Visual Vengeance to release S.O.V. horror flicks. I’ve worked with Wild Eye in the past and love their dedication to the genre, so I was looking forward their new label. So far, I’ve been very impressed with the releases. Most were first time watches for me and the special features and additions in the releases are fantastic for collectors. Back in October or so it was announced that the Visual Vengeance would be releasing Heartland of Darkness starring Linnea Quigley. I had never heard of this one but the press release and trailer sold me on it. I tried to secure a review copy around the time it was released and was unable to but last month Wild Eye sent a copy over to check out. After watching the classic Bubba Ho-Tep on UHD I decided to follow it up with something I had never seen before. I decided it was the perfect time to check out Heartland of Darkness. I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a man and his teenage daughter that move to a small town to run the local newspaper. Within the first few days he is responding to a mutilated body found in the woods near town. He meets the shady priest that is very pushy and suspects something is going behind closed doors but is unable to prove it until his new journalist, who is actually and undercover agent investigating Satanic cults, starts pointing it out to him. When he stumbles into a shrine in the back room of one of the businesses he quickly finds himself at the center of the cult, who is parading as a Catholic church, and must fight to save his daughter before she can be their next sacrifice for the dark lord. 

      I absolutely loved Heartland of Darkness. I know trolls and edgelords will be scurrying to the comment section ready to throw down about how I was paid to write this, and the film wasn’t that good. The thing is, the film is that good. It was a lot of fucking fun especially if you dig S.O.V. horror. Hell, even if you don’t it still hits the spot if you are looking for a late-night horror fix. The acting in this one is was surprisingly well done. When I toss in a classic S.O.V. title I expect to find a film made by friends or family in their backyard with the family camcorder. Not all S.O.V. flicks are like that but that’s the mindset I often find myself in. This one has a fantastic cast and sizeable amount of screen time from Linnea Quigley. I was expecting to only see her in the film for a few minutes, but she is actually in the film for a bit and doesn’t disappoint. With that being said, the rest of the cast really surprised me. The film’s stars Dino Tripodis, Nick Baldasare, and Shanna Thomas really make the film. They are fully invested in the film and do a fantastic job. The same can be said about the supporting cast. Some inexperience rears it’s ugly head from time to time but that doesn’t ruin the experience. I really liked the story, but I did find it to be a little too goofy at times. The idea of a cult parading around as Christians killing those that get in their way while offering sacrifices to Satan in a small town really pulled me in. I liked the idea of the small town coming together to form an evil cult especially when you consider that this was made during the waning years of the Satanic Panic scare that left suburban parents trembling. With that being said, parts of the story, like the part where the government is investigating clusters of cults in small towns across the U.S. I found the Satanic cult aspect to be a little far-fetched and that’s coming from someone who was raised in the tail end of the Satanic Panic and know several people in the Satanic Church. Regardless, I liked it but a different type of cult would have been more enjoyable. Finally, the film has a few death scenes but nothing that would stick out to avid genre fans. We get some weak make-up effects and the kills rely mostly on the viewer’s imagination rather than practical effects. Overall, Heartland of Darkness is a must see for fans of S.O.V. horror. I fucking loved it and I love this release from Visual Vengeance. I can’t recommend this one enough. Do yourself a favor and check out this early 90s Satanic fun.

Bubba Ho-Tep

Director - Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, The BeastMaster)

Starring - Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Maniac Cop), Ossie Davis (Baadasssss!, The Stand), and Bob Ivy (Near Dark, Sorority House Massacre), 

Release Date - 2002

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You know the legends... now learn the truth"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     There was so many fantastic genre films release during my high school years. We had films like George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead, Zach Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead, Edgar Wright’s horror comedy Shaun of the Dead, the horror comedy Dead and Breakfast, Freddy vs. Jason, Blade II, and the oddest of them all, Bubba Ho-Tep. Beast Master and Phantasm director Don Coscarelli adapted the Joe Lansdale story in 2002 and it became an instant cult classic. I bought the DVD on release day and I’ve watched it numerous times since then. Scream Factory released the film on blu several years back and I was reluctant to upgrade my DVD copy. Sure, I would have liked to upgrade the picture and audio quality of the film, but that DVD release held a lot of memories from high school and college. When Scream Factory announced the UHD release of the film I was still on the fence. A crispy new release of a film that I have such a nostalgic love for would be great to add to my collection, but I don’t really want to get rid of my DVD. After some internal debating I decided to look into upgrading my copy when Scream Factory sent over a copy of the UHD release for review. I was not expecting it and I couldn’t wait to revisit this one in high definition. Like always, I want to thank Scream Factory for hooking me up. 

      The film follows an elderly Sebastian Haff (Campbell) who lives in a south Texas nursing home. He tells people that he is the real Elvis that traded the spotlight for a more relaxed life with an Elvis impersonator. However, a bum hip and too much gyrating left him in a coma after a horrible infection. Now, he’s alone with some of the other elderly people in the home while an ass sucking mummy in a cowboy hat works his way from room to room at night sucking souls. He teams up with an elderly black man claims to be former president John F. Kennedy in order to stop Bubba Ho-Tep. 

      Bubba Ho-Tep is a film that relies heavily on the writing for several different reasons. We have one of the wildest stories outside of 70s exploitation cinema and when you combine that with the amazing dialogue you get something that should have the cult following that it does. It’s movies like Bubba Ho-Tep that got me into horror. It’s an all-around fun watch that appeals to more than just horror fans. It’s not perfect but it tells a story which something is a lot of movies, especially now with the rise of extreme horror, forget to do. The acting in this one is so much fun ranging from the film’s stars, supporting cast, and even a few cameos. Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis carry the film and the characters they brought to life are legendary now. Especially among horror fans who quote the movie regularly. This movie was released 20 years ago and I often think about Campbell’s portrayal of Elvis and quote his dialogue at the most inopportune times much to my wife’s chagrin. We also get some performances from Phantasm’s Reggie Bannister and Ella Joyce along with a funny cameo from Daniel Roebuck. I love this cast and what they were able to do with the script placed before them. The story for this one is really fucking weird even by today’s standards. A man claiming to be Elvis, with a growth on his pecker, befriends a black JFK in a south Texas nursing home and is terrorized by a mummy in a cowboy hat. I’ve never read Lansdale’s novel but I could only imagine it’s even stranger with stuff they couldn’t pull off on the budget. When you mix this with the fucking amazing dialogue you get something that is still enjoyable all these years later and still unlike anything you’ve seen. Finally, this is not a bloody film. We have a cool looking mummy, some make-up effects, and some visual effects and that’s the extent of it. The film is not bloody but some gore would have been a lot of fun. Overall, Bubba Ho-Tep is not for everyone and I’ll be completely honest about that. It’s bonkers and out there but for those of you that like the serious side of the genre then you will be very disappointed. However, fans of wild stories and character pieces then you will love this. I highly recommend snagging this UHD release from Scream Factory. It’s worth every penny.

Legion of Super-Heroes

Director - Jeff Wamester (Green Lantern: Beware My Power, Guardians of the Galaxy)

Starring - Meg Donnelly (The Winchesters, Z-O-M-B-I-E-S), Harry Shum Jr. (Greek, Mortal Kombat: Legacy), and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, My Blood Valentine)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Tagline - "The future of justice"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been watching the DC animated films for a few years now and most of the time they do not disappoint. I haven’t watched a lot of the older animated films but the ones from around 2016 or so on are mostly phenomenal films. A few weeks back I received the press release for Legion of the Super-Heroes. This particular group of heroes from DC are ones I’m not too familiar with but I was still open-minded about checking it out. Not long after that press release, I received a copy of the film on UHD for review. I was very interested in it to begin with but after receiving it for review I was even more intrigued after looking over the images on the back of the cover. After watching the disappointing crime thriller Mindcage I decided to take a step away from my beloved genre and check out this animated feature. 

      The film follows Kara, aka Supergirl, who arrived on Earth several months ago and is still struggling to live with the loss of her home planet Krypton. Her little cousin, Kal-El, was just a baby when his planet was destroyed and was able to grow up not knowing who he was while Kara was already a young woman who was lost in space before finally arriving on Earth. Kal-El notices her struggling to adapt and offers her an alternative. He sends her to the 31st century to train at a superhero academy. Unbeknownst to her, there is an evil organization known as the Dark Circle is scheming through both timelines and it’s up to her and a group of other super students to stop them before they can take over. 

      I will be completely up front and honest about Legion of Super-Heroes. It’s the weakest DC animated film I’ve seen to date but it’s not unwatchable. In fact, it was alright for a first time watch but I will not be throwing this one on again any time soon. It’s a cast of characters most people will not care for in a story that is pretty fucking lazy even for an animated film. It has its moments, but you really have to stick with it to find them. The voice acting in this one is probably the highlight of the film. No one really stands out, but the performances are very consistent. Honestly, I was expecting a little more out of the voice cast but what we do get is still great. I was just hoping they would have a little more personality and intensity at times. I’m more accused to the previous DC films and shows but not everything can be Teen Titans. The story for this one is an interesting premise but it’s a stretch at how we get there and then we have some questionable moments that doesn’t fully make sense. I had to continue reminding myself that I’m not really the intended audience for this one. The first big eye roll moment is how Superman just pulls a time traveling grenade out of his underwear and casually takes her into the future. Then, 1000 years apart, the Dark Circle is up to no good. It leaves you with more questions than answers but if you are a kid you may not think of these things. Finally, I really liked the animation in this one. It’s leagues above the previous DC animated film I reviewed. It’s more of a traditional style that I think fits the film much better than Battle of the Super Sons. Overall, Legion of Super-Heroes is not like the previous DC animated films that I had previously reviewed. The story takes big leaps without explain itself and the characters are not that likable but it’s something different and alright for a first time watch. DC fans will want to check it out but casual viewers may want to skip over it.

Mindcage

Director - Mauro Borrelli (The Ghostmaker, The Recall)

Starring - Martin Lawrence (House Party, Blue Streak), Melissa Roxburgh (Star Trek Beyond, Supernatural), and John Malkovich (Con Air, Shadow of the Vampire)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - "The art of the kill"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the last few years there has been a huge influx of serial killer documentaries, dramas, shows, and films appear on various streaming giants and television which has helped create the meme that white people are obsessed with them. As funny as these memes are, they are still true. I love films and television shows about serial killers, but I do prefer the ones about the real ones, but some fictional films have impressed me over the years. Most genre fans love films like Se7en and Zodiac and I’m one of them. These two gritty crime thrillers are fucking classics and I wait patiently for the next film to join their ranks. A few weeks ago, I received the press release for the crime thriller Mindcage starring John Malkovich and Martin Lawrence. This unusual pairing really caught my attention. We know Malkovich can tackle the role of a serial killer but Martin Lawrence in a thriller really peaked my interested. I was quick to request a copy and soon had one to check out. I couldn’t wait to check it out. 

      The film takes place several years after a serial killer known as The Artist was apprehended after killing several people and leaving them in different poses as pieces of his macabre art. With the real killer behind bars, a copy cat killer has appeared using the same method of preserving the body and displaying them as The Artist. The police reluctantly speak with the original killer who is lock away and he helps them get inside the new killer’s head. His hint begin to be too on the nose and they suspect something else is going on until they learn something more supernatural is at play here with the original Artist killer behind it all. 

      Mindcage had me sold on the film until we reached the last leg then I found myself rolling my eyes in frustration. The film would have been the perfect pairing with the gritty and grounded crime thrillers Se7en and Zodiac. However, they threw everything it help to build in the first three quarters of the film out the window within minutes of the film’s conclusion. It felt cheap, rushed, and did not pair well with the rest of the film. After rating the movie on Letterbox’d I can quickly see I was not the only one who felt that way. The acting in this one is great. Malkovich is absolutely fantastic as The Artist who is toying with the police. His performance is so much fun and the character he gives viewers is one of the highlights of the film. With that being said, I wasn’t feeling Martin Lawrence and Melissa Roxburgh. They both deliver decent enough performances, but their characters are painfully generic and forgettable. Honestly, I wish someone with a little intensity was cast in one of these roles to carry the film a little further than it was. The story for this one is the biggest dropped ball in cinema history. The movie starts out so fucking good. It’s not predictable and pulls you in with each passing scene. However, the film really fucks itself when it comes to the ending and the killer’s reveal. Instead of working in something clever and imaginative, we get a supernatural angle that doesn’t fit in the film at all. The movie has been grounded and realistic throughout most of it’s run time but they toss all that out the window with this shitty and unclever ending. Finally, the film has some beautiful make-up effects and props but if you are looking for a beautiful morbid and bloody film then you will be very disappointed. The kills do not take place on camera and all we see if the “bodies” as they are made up and placed into position. Also, these bodies are not as gruesome and shocking as you would expect especially if you are a regular fan of horror. Overall, Mindcage had a phenomenal start but the ending completely ruins the experience. It tries to be something it’s not which takes so much away from the film. I wanted to love it but that last leg of the film just left a bad taste in my mouth. Skip it.

Cinderella

Director - Michael Pataki (Mansion of the Doomed, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries)

Starring - Cheryl Smith (Up in Smoke, The Incredible Melting Man), Yana Nirvana (Brewster's Millions, Another 48 Hours), and Marilyn Corwin (Mortuary, Doctor Detroit)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Comedy/Musical

Tagline - "What the prince slipped Cinderella was not a slipper"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was originally brought on to review for Horror Society I was fully prepared to review movies that I had in my collection or movies that I picked up from store shelves. I never expected indie filmmakers, distribution companies, and PR firms would reach out to me to review their films. Every day I write for Horror Society is a day I never take for granted. This has been an opportunity of a life time and one that has opened the door to so many amazing films that I would have never seen on my own. Recently, Full Moon announced the release of the 1977 erotic musical Cinderella on blu. I was very familiar with Charles Band’s Fairy Tales and knew he has produced a few erotic films centered other fairy tales but had no idea there was one about Cinderella. As soon as I saw it was getting a blu release I quickly hit up Full Moon and MVD who was kind enough to send a copy my way for review. Like always, I want to thank them for supporting myself and Horror Society. 

      The film follows a beautiful peasant who finds herself blessed by her “fairy” godmother with great sex appeal and prowess. She attends the prince’s sex party and when she puts it on him she becomes his newest obsession. He begins a quest to fuck every woman in the village until he can find her and fuck her again. 

      I had no idea what to expect from Cinderella but I was not prepared to laugh like I did with this movie. Is this what getting old is like? Just sitting around watching erotic musicals and laughing like an idiot. I was laughing until I couldn’t breathe. It has been a long fucking time since I’ve seen a movie that had me light headed with laughter. The acting in this one is not the best I’ve seen but it was easily one of the most enjoyable. The cast is really having a blast in their roles which does reflect on camera. We get a lot of energy and positivity in the film. However, the dialogue delivery at time is extremely flat and at times it’s unintentionally funny. I had a few laughs at the expense of the cast and their stiffness delivering their lines. It doesn’t ruin the film but does bring a certain sense of humor to it that they were not expecting. The story for this one is the basic premise around the popular fairy tale Cinderella with sex smeared all over it. Honestly, it’s impressive how they were able to turn the iconic story into something so filthy and funny. I love the sense of humor the film has but the musical numbers did wear me thin at times. Finally, the film has a lot of skin and solid wardrobes but those of you looking for blood or gore will be very disappointed. Overall, Cinderella is a fucking must see especially for exploitation and sleaze fans. This release from Full Moon is a must have.

End of the World

Director - John Hayes (Grave of the Vampire, Garden of the Dead)

Starring - Christopher Lee (Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, The Wicker Man), Sue Lyon (Alligator, Crash!), and Kirk Scott (Quantum Leap, Heathers)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "There is everything to look forward to...except tomorrow"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been a fan of Full Moon Entertainment for a couple decades now. It’s weird to say that but as I get older I find myself now referring to things in regards to years and decades. I was born in ’86 and lived through the video store age which was how I discovered Full Moon. Now, it’s been an easy 25 years or so since I first found the movies Side Show, Subspecies, Puppet Master, and so on. I absolutely love Full Moon’s original films and a good chunk of their distributed films but sometimes they get their hands on something that looks cool but isn’t. I’ve owned their DVD release of 1977’s The End of the World starring the late Christopher Lee for years now but never got around to checking it out. Lee is a fucking legend so a film he is in that never gets mentioned by genre fans is a huge red flag for me. However, when I saw that Full Moon was putting it out on blu I decided it was time to finally check it out. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a copy for review. Like always, I want to thank Full Moon and MVD for hooking me up! 

      The film follows a scientist that researching sound waves from space when he receives a repeating message that he translates into “Large Earth Disruptions” that seems to coincide with natural disasters spanning the entire globe. They eventually cross paths with an odd preacher and soon uncover he is from another world with a sinister plan in mind.

     I was quick to see why this film is never mentioned by genre fans and those passionate about Christopher Lee’s body of work. The movie has some promise but looses sight of the film’s endgame fairly on. I really wanted to like it, and I found myself enjoying some of it, but the overall film is a huge waste of time. The acting in this one is one of the few highlights of the film. Christopher Lee is not in the film as much as you would expect considering his name is plastered all over the marketing material. It’s also said that he was not a fan of this film and only signed on as a favor for a friend. With that being said, I really enjoyed Kirk Scott and Sue Lyon’s performances. They carry the film and most of the film that I did enjoy was centered around them. They were so natural together that I had to look up if they were a real couple when the cameras were off. The supporting cast is decent at times but it’s these two that carry the film. The story for this one is fairly generic with that 70s flare. Most of the films featuring a similar story typically take place in the 50s and 60s. However, this one being centered in the late 70s has its own style that I really liked. The aesthetics are cheesy but I’m a big fan, but this could not save the film. At least 90% of the film follows the scientist as he suspects something bigger is at play but is grounded by his wife. It’s a decent set up but not for as long as the film runs. I’m fully convinced that most of the film’s story was left on the cutting room floor. Finally, we get a little blood and some extremely dated and corny visual effects but that is the extent of it. If you are expecting some fun practical effects and props that would fit a story centered around an alien invasion in the late 70s then you will be very disappointed. Overall, End of the World is a big missed opportunity for all involved. We get the wasted use of Christopher Lee and a story that goes nowhere fast. I would love to know what really happened behind the scenes with this one because this cannot be the film they set out to make.

Death Blow

Director - Christopher Leto (Crazy Lake, The Cheerleader Sleepover Slaughter)

Starring - Ken Anthony II (Zed's Dead, Cannibal Claus), Alexis Baca (Stories of the Paranormal, The Sacrifice), and Honeylet Conlu (Ghost Trader, Just Hitched)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Lately I’ve been in a rut. I don’t watch the amount of films and television shows like I used to and I find myself spending most of my free times playing games with the kids. They don’t have the attention span that I had at that age and haven’t taken to film like I did. Instead, we play games in the evening and I couldn’t be happier. However, at random times during the day I find myself wanting to watch something. It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s an indie film. A few days ago director Chris Leto hit me up to review his newest crime thriller Death Blow. Many of you may recognize Chris’ name from other films I’ve reviewed like The Cheerleader Sleepover Slaughter, Crazy Lake, Rough Cut, and The Housewife Slasher. I agreed, and it took me a few days to finally check it out but I’m glad I did. Thank you, Chris, for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a loving husband and father who finds himself struggling financially when he took a gamble on rental property that has not paid off yet. Things seem to take an unexpected turn when his most recent tenant fails to check out at the agreed time. When he enters the home he finds him dead in a pool of his own vomit. He panics, knowing that this could ruin the image but soon discovers a bag full of cash. He decides to keep the money and instead of reporting the death he decides to dismember the body. While he is preparing the body and hiding the money, those that works with the young man that has died has invaded his home and they are waiting on his arrival with what’s left of his wife and son. 

      Death Blow is not the type of movie I’m expected to review for Horror Society but that cool with me. Sometimes I need something not necessarily traditional horror to recharge my batteries. I love horror but sometimes I over do it by watching dozens of genre titles at a time before watching anything else. This can become tiring especially when I spend the next couple hours after watching a film writing my review and putting it together. That’s why I look forward to releases that are not horror specific or a horror film in a traditional sense. Death Blow was exactly what the doctor had ordered. This dark crime thriller reminded me a lot of the early films of Tarantino like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. I really enjoyed it and I think those of you with a taste for cult cinema and crime flicks will appreciate it as well. The acting in this one is very consistent which is something you don’t see too often in indie productions. The cast for this one is very grounded, and everyone carries their own weight. We don’t see anyone outdoing their co-stars. Instead, we have some great on-screen chemistry and people working together to pull the scene off. I really enjoyed this small cast and look forward to seeing them appear in more films in the future. The story for this one is a bit predictable, but the ride is enjoyable. From the moment we follow the home owner finding the large bag of cash, we know exactly the way the film is going to play out. Sure, we don’t know every single detail or what will be the outcome, but we know the direction the film is going to go. That doesn’t ruin the movie and we still get to experience the situation unfold in all it’s gruesome detail. The movie does start out slow but finds itself early on before ending with a bang. The characters are all well written and the last scene really does bring the film on home. Finally, the film doesn’t have a lot of blood and gore but there are a few gags that I found very effective. The film is limited with their practical effects but the ones we do get work. They showed imagination and made the scene work but for those of you expecting a bloody or gory flick will be very disappointed. Overall, Death Blow may not be the horror release I’m known for reviewing but it’s still a violent and enjoyable film especially if you are into crime flicks with a taste for torture. I highly recommend checking this one out as soon as you can

Gore in Venice

Director - Mario Landi (Super Sexy Market, Patrick Still Lives)

Starring - Leonora Fani (Hotel Fear, The House by the Edge of the Lake), Jeff Blynn (Weapons of Death, Blue Tornado), and Gianni Dei (Sex of the Witch, The Angels from 2000)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon is known for their little creature films like Puppet Master, Demonic Toys, Gingerdead Man, Weedjies, and Evil Bong along with monster movies like Subspecies, Castle Freak, and Killjoy. Aside from the occasional sci-fi flick and softcore porn, Full Moon is known the world over for their puppets and haunting horror tales that began with Charles Band and his Empire label. However, Full Moon has released the occasional giallo from time to time. These are fairly middle of the road films that are easily forgettable, but they are still enjoyable for first time watches. A few months back they released Giallo in Venice on blu under the title Gore in Venice. I had never seen this one before, so I reached out to my friends at Full Moon who were kind enough to send a copy my way. 

     The film follows a police detective investigating the murder of a young couple. The woman appears to have drowned while the man was violently stabbed. As they look for possible leads and speculate why they two were murdered, a deranged killer is going around town killing people after they have sex. 

      Gore in Venice is not what I would call a textbook giallo or even one I would consider a classic but the sleazy story and murders are enjoyable if you are looking for something for your late night viewing. I don’t see myself watching this one anytime soon but if some friends wanted to check it out I could sit through it without suffering. The acting in this one is extremely uneven. The film’s leads and supporting cast is done very well. In fact, I really liked Jeff Blynn as the egg eating inspector. With that being said, the performances from the smaller roles are horrible. Their eyes are bouncing all around the scene like they don’t know where to look while remaining emotionless and robotic. I think it would have been cheaper to cast cardboard cutouts instead of the talent they went with for these roles. The story for this one is sleazy and violent at times but the story feels almost like two films playing out simultaneously. The detective investigating the murder of the couple as who runs down leads, drug connections and so one was very giallo like. The mystery aspect is exactly what I would expect from a giallo. We then move over to what feels like a second story following the killer who murders those after they screw. It adds some skin and violence to the film but they never fully mesh until the end. Crossing paths throughout the film would have made it flow so much better. It’s still fun for what it is but the story just doesn’t flow like it should. Finally, the film has some skin and violent deaths. The effects are minimal, yet they find a way to work. They make your mind follow through with the acts while using classic camera tricks and angles. It’s not a gory film but it’s enough to hold your attention. Overall, Gore in Venice is not a gory flick but giallo fans will appreciate it. I liked it and those of you looking for something different would appreciate it as well. Check it out.