The Hunters of the Golden Cobra

Director - Antonio Margheriti (Killer Fish, Death Rage)

Starring - David Warbeck (Breakfast with Dracula, Sudden Fury), Almanta Suska (The New York Ripper, The Gravy Train), and Luciano Pigozzi (Strike Commando, Robowar)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "The Mission: Recover the world's most priceless treasure.  The odds: impossible"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I'll be completely honest here when I say I didn't know what to expect when I took a dive into this box set from Severin Films.  I was familiar with Antonio Margheriti and his horror titles so I knew I was going to see some campy writing and a rushed story that somehow finds a way to be cheap fun.  So far that has been exactly what these Indiana Jonesploitation films have been in this set.  Movies, much like the women I love, are a lot of fun when they are cheap and these three films are just that.  After Jungle Raiders and The Ark of the Sun God, I was left with the final film in the set which was the 1982 flick The Hunters of the Golden Cobra.  I once again want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows an American soldier who partners with a British officer on a mission.  Things happen and the American soldier is left for dead.  Fast forward a few years and the British officer finds the American soldier in an Asian country.  After a quick scuffle, the pair make ammends an agree to once again team up to retrieve an ancient artifact said to have a supernatural power.

     The Hunters of the Golden Cobra is the only film in the set where we have well written characters but lacked story.  This one was shot in 1982 and I would almost wager that it was rushed into production to cash in on the Indiana Jones craze while writing it as they went.  It's the weakest in the set but does have it's moments.  The acting in this one is easily the most inconsistent but my favorite of the set.  David Warbeck delivers my favorite performance of the three films.  It looks like he is having a lot of fun on set and that shows in each scene.  His on screen chemistry with John Steiner is fantastic.  The pair feed off each other and make the film as enjoyable as possible.  The supporting cast is hit or miss with some showing zero acting experience while others were clearly locals paid to fill space in front of the camera.  The story for this one, like the other three, starts out promising enough but does run it's course fairly early on.  We once again encounter rush stories with everything from Indiana Jones and other like it tossed at the viewer hoping something sticks.  It's clear it was only made to make a quick buck off fans.  Finally, the action is fiarly enjoyable in the early portion of the film but it's nothing original or memorable.  Those of us looking for fun deaths will be disappointed as well.  Overall, The Hunters of the Golden Cobra got my hopes up at the beginning with the fun characters but was once again a cheap watch with some fun moments but is easily forgettable.  It's worth a watch especially if you bring some beer.  

The Ark of the Sun God

Director - Antonio Margheriti (The Last Blood, Treasure Island in Outer Space)

Starring - David Warbeck (The Beyond, Razor Blade Smile), John Steiner (Tenebre, Sinbad of the Seven Seas), and Susie Sudlow 

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "He is looking for action..."

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I didn't know what I was getting into when I tossed in the first film in the Antonio Marghertiti - The Jungles of Doom: His 80's Adventure Films.  Jungle Raiders was a decent watch but didn't offer up anything original.  Honestly, all it did was give us stuff we had seen already in Indiana Jones and the copycat films that followed.  That didn't stop me from wanting to dive deeper into this set where I tossed in 1984's The Ark of the Sun God.  Once again, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a professional thief working a big score when he realizes that he has been set up.  Someone far more influential knows about him and his talents and plan on using him to get an ancient relic with unlimited power.  He is then forced to steal the Ark of the Sun God which is the sceptre believed to have belonged to Gilgamesh.  

     I went into this expecting to find a painfully generic Indiana Jones clone but found myself really interested in the story even though it did fizzle out.  With that being said, it was still a little fun fora first time watch.  The acting in this one is just as uneven as Jungle Raiders but the unintentionally funny moments are not there.  Honestly, I was looking forward to some of the laughs that I enjoyed in Jungle Raiders and was a bit disappointed that they were not here.  The main cast does a decent enough job with their roles while the supporting cast and extras were clearly locals plucked to be in the film.  The story for this one was surprisingly intriguing for the first half of the film but it does run out of gas before we hit the hour mark.  When you toss in the unlikable characters and bland action you are left with a film that just doesn't go the distance.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a lot of action and memorable deaths.  We have some quick deaths with no effects and low budget action scenes but that is the extent of it.  Overall, The Ark of the Sun God is an easily forgettable film but it does have it's moments.  Stick with it and enjoy it.  

Jungle Raiders

Director - Antonio Margheriti (Yor: The Hunter from the Future, Cannibal Apocalypse)

Starring - Christopher Connelly (1990: Bronx Warriors, Night of the Sharks), Marina Costa (The Final Executioner, Greggio e Pericoloso), and Lee Van Cleef (Escape from New York, For a Few Dollars More)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "In the heart of the tropical rain forest lies a world of endless danger, mysterious romance, and wild adventure"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The 1980s was a wild ass time and I hate that I was born halfway through the decade.  I would have loved to have lived through the entire 80s as an adult so I could truly appreciate everything as it was being released.  The first Indiana Jones film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released in 1981 and immedately became a hit.  So much so that it inspired a series of copy cat films which really took hold in Italy.  Director Antonio Margheriti helmed several of these films and my friends over at Severin released three of them in a box set.  They were kind enough to end it over for me to review and when I could I tossed in the first film that I pulled out which was Jungle Raiders from 1985.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows Captrain Yankee (Connelly) who scams rich adventurers into thinking they are exploring uncharted jungle for undiscovered treasure.  His easy meal ticket is thwarted when a real adventure presents itself and he is forced to uncover an ancient ruby for someone else. 

     I watched a few of these action adventure films growing up but I never realized that they were Jonesploitation.  However, now I can totally see that these films are and kind of appreciate them more than I originally did.  Jungle Raiders was a new one to me and I was excited to see it but it was a film that lost it's steam fairly early on.  The acting in this one is fairly inconsistent and unintentionally funny at times.  Connelly and Van Cleef deliver solid performances but the remainder of the cast is comical for the most part.  I went into this one sober and still found myself laughing during a few of the scenes due to the acting.  The story for this one borrows all the fun stuff from movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark but forgets to add a protagonist that the viewer can get behind along with something new for the viewer to enjoy.  The film starts out strong enough with the fake tours scamming the rich but soon loses it's gas as the film progresses.  The unlikable characters and predictable story makes this one difficult to finish.  Finally, the film is not one that memorable deaths or fun effects.  We have some cheap effects here and there but nothing that really stands out.  Overall, Jungle Raiders is a alright if you want something to watch but don't have access to Indiana Jones.  I wanted to like this one but it wasn't for me.  

Cradle of Fear

Director - Alex Chandon (Inbred, The Perv Parlor)

Starring - Dani Filth (Baphomet, Dominator), Emily Booth (Doghouse, Evil Aliens), and Stuart Laing (Halo, Silent Witness)

Release Date - 2001

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "It's not if they die, it's how..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I had a friend that was really into Cradle of Filth.  I couldn't get into their music but it wasn't without giving them several tries.  Anyway, that same friend was a huge genre fan and was telling me about a British horror film that starred Dani Filth.  I found that pretty interesting at the time and was able to snag a copy of the DVD super fucking cheap from eBay.  Sadly, I didn't care for the film at the time and over the years I completely forgot about it.  A few weeks ago I was sent a copy of Unearthed Film's release of the film on blu for review.  Honestly, I don't remember a damn thing about the film aside from Dani Filth starring in it.  I decided to revisit it with this release and I would like to thank Unearthed for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows the unexpected spirals of several people with one unknown connection.  We follow a detective investigating a string of brutal murders.  A young woman hooks up with a goth guy at a club and soon discovers that she is carrying his child and can see visions of demons.  The detective's son works for an internet company who finds himself becoming obsessed with snuff films.  A amputee finds a leg and has it sewn back on with unexpected results.  Two women break into a home to steal some cash where they are confronted by the owner resulting in a bloodbath.

     I went into this viewing with an open mind because I absolutely hate giving a movie sent my way for a review a negative score.  I didn't remember a lot about my initial viewing of the film except I wasn't really a fan at the time but I had hoped that the film would sit with me a second time.  Sadly, that wasn't the case and I found myself not enjoying it the second time around.  The acting in this one is extremely stiff and flat.  Most of the cast delivers their dialogue with little to no conviction.  We have no emotional range and most of the dialogue delivery is extremely awkward to watch.  It's almost as if we are watching a high school play for most of the film.  There is a few scenes where we get some decent enough performances but not enough to make up for the akward ones.  The story for this one looks great on paper but wasn't executed that well.  I like the idea of all these people and the suffering they encounter is connected to a serial killer.  However, the film itself jumps from person to person which can be a bit confusing at times.  I wish the film was shot like a typical anthology as to make it easier to watch.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood and there is a few moments that try to be shocking but does not have the impact they wanted.  While they effects look decent, they are not that memorable.  Overall, Cradle of Fear has a fantastic idea but the way they went about it made it a bit difficult to finish. I seriously wanted to like this one but it's not for me.  

CarousHELL 4

Director - Steve Rudzinski (A Meowy Halloween, Amityville Christmas Vacation)

Starring - Steve Rimpici (Shingles: The Movie, Easter Casket), B. Barnabei (I: Scream - A Minty Musical, The Survivors), and Aleen Isley (Head Case, A Cheesy Christmas)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It has all led to this"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     About a decade or so ago I was asked to review the indie slasher CarousHELL by director Steve Rudzinski.  It's not a by the numbers slasher but it still did thing very well and is one  I often referenced when I would review other films of his.  Since then he has released some seriously fantastic movies ranging from family friendly holiday films to several sequels to CarousHELL.  While the sequels were solid entries, they just didn't scratch that itch like the first one did.  Steve recently hit me up to review his latest installment in the CarousHELL franchise with part 4.  I couldn't pass up this opportunity and agreed to check it out.  I want to thank Steve for sending this one over for review.

     The film once again follows Duke (Rimpici) and his son Robbie (Barnabei) who looking for a little getaway so the pair can bond.  They rent a cabin but learn on the ride to it that it has a tragic history.  They ignore the warnings and go anyway only for Robbie to read from the Nekkomeownicon in order to speak with his late mother unleashing waves of the undead with ties to Duke and his bloody rampage.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about CarousHELL 4 prior to reviewing it but I never expected it to be a damn near perfect tribute to Sam Raimi's masterpiece Evil Dead II.  I had just returned home from watching Evil Dead II at my local theater as part of their Flashback Cinema series when I decided to check it out which is kind of a coincidence in a way.  I was not prepared for what I was about to watch and while I've always said his film Captain Z and the Terror of Leviathan was my favorite film of his,  this film has surpassed it.  The acting in this one is great all around.  The voice acting is top notch.  I couldn't imagine anyone other than Rimpici voicing Duke and Barnabei will forever be Robbie.  They brought these characters to life and made them iconic.  The supporting cast is solid as well with some returning faces reprising roles from previous Silver Spotlight films.  They do a great job getting back into character which makes this one so much fun.  The story for this one does a great job at continuing the connection between several other Silver Spotlight films while furthering the story for Duke and Robbie.  It's not a return to the slasher sub-genre that I enjoyed in the first one and was hoping for but it does everything it can to surpass my expectations.  The occult angle and heavy influence of Raimi's classic really caught me off guard the first time I watched it.  The second rewatch while I wrote this was just as fun.  I loved seeing the returning characters and how they were incorporated perfectly into the story following their horrific deaths in previous films.  With that being said, the movie does get a bit repetitive with the character reveals.  We really only needed a few instances of this before moving on.  Finally, the film makes great use of some practical effects and a lot off make-up effects.  The effects are absolutely fantastic and easily the best I've seen from Steve's films.  The undead deadite things look fantastic and the deaths we do get fit the film perfectly.  While it's not the goriest film I've seen, it still looked fantastic by indie movie standards.  Overall, CarousHELL 4 is not the slasher follow up to Steve Rudzinski's CarousHELL that I was hoping for but it was so much fucking fun.  This is a loving tribute to Evil Dead II and easily my favorite indie horror release of the year.  I cannot recommend this one enough.  

Sasquatch Within

Director - Gregory Hatanaka (Beyond Files, Jeffrey Epstein: The Bad Sleep Well)

Starring - Sofia Papuashvili (Robot Girls, Body of Nurses), Jamie Grefe (Sasquatch Attacks, Maid Robot), and Dawna Lee Heising (Dick Reno: Monster Slayer, The House That Zombie Built)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

      I tend to review anything that catches my eye regardless if it's horror or horror adjacent.  I don't care if it's a thriller, sci-fi, sci-fi thriller, or so on.  I love indie horror and I'm always looking out for the next thing to review.  Several weeks back I received a press release for the 2026 survival thriller Sasquatch Within from director Gregory Hatanaka.  The press release was announcing the film's release on Tubi.  The title caught my eye and I made a note to check it out when I could.  I wish I would have skipped it instead.

     The film follows two assassins who awaken in a room they are unfamiliar with.  While they try to collect themselves, they look around the room only to discover that they are locked inside.  They star reminiscing about former missions they had together but before long they soon learn that in order for one of them to survive then the other must die.  

     I went into this one expecting what I'm sure a lot of disappointed viewers did and that was a sasquatch centered horror film.  Instead, what we get is a claustrophobic film with one of the laziest written stories I have ever seen.  I went into this one very excited but found myself very disappointed.  This is easily one of the worst films I had seen during my time here at Horror Society.  The acting in this one is extremely flat and one dimensional.  The cast is fairly small and the two leads have zero emotional range.  The dialogue is delivered in a way that it almost felt like they were reading their lines off something out of the the sight of the camera.  They do seem very comfortable together but there is very little attempt as creating or establishing a character.  The story for this one is basically nonexistent.  We follow two women, with no memory of how they got there, try to figure out how to escape and what the motive is for locking them away together.  The title is very misleading and what we are given is a feature length film about two unlikely assassins reminiscing before a cat fight breaks out.  It's painfully dull and damn near impossible to finish.  I have no idea what the point the director originally had in mind for this one but it couldn't have been this.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting campy kills and someone in a bigfoot costume.  You will not find a body count or memorable deaths here.  Overall, Sasquatch Within is not what I expected at all and was an experience I hope I never have to relive.  Skip it.  

Saurians

Director - Mark Polonia (Four Nights in Fear Forest, Trail Cam Sasquatch)

Starring - Mark Polonia, Maria Davis (Feeders, Peter Rottentail), and Matthew Satterly (Church of the Damned, Night Crawlers)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The age of the dinosaurs is reborn"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films from Mark Polonia and his late brother John.  Some of their films are cult classics that many genre fans adore while others are what I would consider barely watchable.  The movies from the pair that I like, I really like, but those that I don't are extremely difficult to finish.  Over the years I've seen dozens of Mark's films and I always look forward to checking out one I haven't seen before so I jumped at the chance to see the sci-fi adventure film Saurians from 1994 when my friends at Visual Vengeance asked if I wanted to review.  I want to take a moment to thank my VV for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a group of amateur archeologists who find themselves running for their lives when a nearby construction site accidentally unleashes two prehistoric creatures hellbent on eating everything they cross paths with.  

     I went into Saurians knowing a little about the film and how it spawned several sequels.  Sadly, I never had the opportunity to check any of them out until now.  I went into this one very excited to check it out but once the film started rolling I found myself not enjoying it like I would have liked.  The acting in this one is rough around the edges but the cast is dedicated to their roles.  I know I often say this with no budget genre flicks when the cast has no experience but it sums up a lot of these films that I review.  The cast struggles with their dialogue and the intended emotion that the scene calls for but they are giving it everything they have.  I wouldn't call this the worst acting I've seen but a few of the scenes had me laughing with unintentional humor.  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the dinosaur flicks from the drive-in era.  We have a group of archeologists who find themselves face to face with the dinosaurs they are hunting the very fossils of.  It's a simply enough story but the slow scenes and tough dialogue makes it difficult to finish.  Finally, the film uses a lot of classic filming techniques that was a little bit of fun but the lack of fun deaths and memorable effects makes it easily forgettable.  Overall, Saurians is not the fun no-budget film from Mark Polonia that I was looking forward.  I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.  I can recommend so many other Visual Vengeance films for you to check out.       

Projection

Director - Ari Groobman (Snapped, I Solve Problems)

Starring - Preslea Elliott (Growers, Nine), Diego Garijo (35, The Long Way Home), and Mikey Gray (Under the Bed, Totally Becky)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I go through spells where I never get to review a short but then I'll find myself with several to check out.  Sometime back, a month or so now, I was asked to review the horror short Projection from director Ari Groobman.  I tried to check it out in a reasonable amount of time but the end of the school year and life got away from me.  I was able to recently check it out and I hate that it took so long to see it because I actually enjoyed it.  I want to thank Ari for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a young woman and her sister who find themselves renting a new apartment after leaving their parents behind.  However, a fresh start for the pair takes a deadly turn when someone takes a sinister liking to them resulting in a hostile confrontation their first night. 

     I went into this one very blind and found myself very surprised by what I saw.  It was visceral and sort of straight to the point.  I love when a short doesn't waste my time and this one did not.  The acting in this one is very well done.  It's a rather small cast with the supporting cast doing a solid job while the film's protagonist, Mikey Gray, delivers a pretty intense performance during the short's last leg.  I really enjoyed her performance and I hope she returns to the genre again.  The story for this one fits the title perfectly and doesn't over stay it's welcome.  We follow a woman leaving an abusive home life where she finds herself at what could be a potential home invasion.  However, once her life is threatened she projects her abuse onto her potential abuser.  It's a clever short that has great pacing and a fitting title.  With that being said, the title itself is not that appealing which could prevent it from getting the views it deserves.  Finally, the film does have a very bloody moment during the film's final minutes before ending.  It's not gory but the effects work for the film.  I enjoyed it and appreciate how it was handled.  Overall, Projection is a fun little short that doesn't waste your time.  It's got some blood and solid acting but it doesn't really deliver enough to make it memorable.  It's fun but not something you will want to revisit again anytime soon.  Check it out.  

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1

Creator(s) - Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Chapter Two), Andy Muschietti (Mama, It), and  Barbara Muschietti (Mama, They Will Kill You)

Starring - Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger, Brothers), Jovan Adepo (Overlord, Watchmen), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil, Luke Cage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Go back to where IT all began"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've read a lot of Stephen King's work over the years.  His novels and short stories, along with Goosebumps, was one of the reasons I fell in love with the horror genre.  He's a titan in the horror and literary worlds but I would be lying if I said I was an expert in his work.  Sure, I've read a lot of his work and watched many adaptations over the years but I can't verify how close these adaptations are to their source material.  What I can say is that a lot of his written work and their adaptations are a lot of fun.  Sometime back I was sent word that IT, specifically Andy Muschietti's two films starring Bill Skarsgard, was getting the television treatment.  I didn't follow it closely but I knew I would eventually be checking it out.  Fast forward to a few weeks back and I was lucky enough to get the blu release sent over for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made time for it as soon as I could.

     The series takes place in the town of Derry in 1962 where a young boy went missing.  Several months later three more were brutally murdered in a theater where only one girl survives.  One of the theater's employees, a black single father, is arrested for the murder.  His daughter, the lone survivor, and two other students start looking further into the missing student and the blood soaked history that Derry shares where they uncover the truth about Pennywise.

      I know I paraphrased a lot with the show but it throws a lot at us without over doing it.  It did take some time to gain some traction with me and it wasn't until episode 3 or 4 that I actually started getting into it but once I did I was really hooked.  The acting in this is great for the most part.  Some of the characters are very unlikable and it's not because they were written that way.  The cast is really dedicated to their role and deliver some seriously impressive performances especially from the young cast.  As the series progresses we have some intense performances that shows why everyone was cast in their respective roles.  The story for this season serves as a prequel of sorts to It and It: Chapter Two.  We get a lot of insight into some of the previous feeding cycles of Pennywise along with why he took on the appearance of the clown.  We also get a lot of social commentary from the early 60s mixed in with the character development.  It's very well written and works well but my biggest issue with the show was how long it took to get going.  The first three or so episodes could have been condensed to give the viewer more to grab onto.  Finally, this series doesn't hold back with the visual effects.  I know practical effects can be pricy especially when you have a show with eight episodes   However, a good deal of the visual effects look like shit.  They are very noticeable which was good for a laugh the first few times but they do become eye rolling as the show moves on.  Overall, It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 was a great continuation of what the 2017 film and it's sequel established.  While I can't remember exactly how accurate those films are to the written work, I can safely say that I enjoy it very much.  I do hope we have a season 2 eventually but until then I highly recommend checking out season 1.  

     

House of Seven Belles

Director - Andy Milligan (Blood, Dragula)

Starring - Dolores Barcia, Peter Barcia (Legacy of Blood), and Elaine Boies (Legacy of Blood)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Drama/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I prepared to toss in the final film in this set from Severin Films, I wondered if it would be a film that could be followed or another abysmal watch.  The movie was a bit different than the previous films in the set as it was shot in the late 70s before he ran out of money to finish it while the other unfinished films were shot in the 60s and fell on the cutting room floor as he moved on to other projects.  The film, House of Seven Belles, s a period piece horror drama that did not have an ending.  This intrigued me and made me think that it would be watchable until the last leg of the film.  I was mostly right.

     The film follows seven southern belles whose family was once prosperous but has since fell on hard times since the civil war.  However, they are all fighting for the little bit of inheritance that is left and along their journey is a various characters ranging from rapists, wounded soldiers, and a murderer who is stalking the property killing people one by one.

     I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it besides the fact that it was completely shot aside from the ending.  I had no idea it was a period piece about the deep south and filmed in New York but I found myself really enjoying it.  The acting in this one is very loud and stiff.  The cast is inexperienced and not really into their roles in a lot of the scenes.  We have a lot of screaming, flat dialogue, and no emotional range.  I really wanted to like these characters but it felt like a stage play with an anger management group.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting and found myself really drawn into it.  It's a period piece drama that has some slasher elements tossed in randomly.  It does not make a lot of sense and some of the scenes left me scratching my head but it held my attention which says something.  On the opposite side of the same coin, the lack of an ending is a bit disappointing.  Finally, the film does have a few deaths but they are not that memorable.  Honestly, I enjoyed them in the film itself but they don't really stand out and use minimal practical effects.  Overall, House of Seven Belles is not the film I was expecting from Andy Milligan.  It's an odd period piece set after the civil war with slasher tones and a lot of unlikable characters.  It's the biggest surprise in this set and one I would recommend watching.  It's still far from perfect and a movie I will never revisit but it's still wild for what it is.  

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me!

Director - Andy Milligan (Legacy of Blood, Fleshpot on 42nd St.)

Starring - Natalie Rogers (Tricks of the Trade, The Very Naked Canvas), Don Williams (The Ghastly Ones), and Peter Ratray (The Abyss, Walls of Glass)

Release Date - 1968

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "No one man could satisfy her"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I didn't know what to expect when I started diving into this Gutter Auteur set from Severin.  I was familiar with Andy Milligan's work prior to this but it was limited to a handful or so films that I had added to my collection over the years.  He was a very polarizing filmmaker that was not very consistent with his films but the few that I do like, I really like.  I started this marathon with The Degenerates because it was one I had wanted to see for some time but soon followed that up with the documentary about him and Compass Rose.  I was not a fan of Compass Rose but that didn't stop me from immediately throwing in Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! from 1968.  

     The film follows a promiscuous house wife that starts going behind her husbands back to sleep around.  He's abusive and doesn't show her the attention she craves but several men, along with her husband's best friend, give her what she needs.  However, when he starts to sever ties with her as to not hurt his best friend, she starts scheming up ways to get him back until her husband ultimately discovers that she is sleeping around and not taking care of their child.

     I went into Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! expecting it to be another unwatchable movie where the story was never finished by Milligan but what I found was a bit of an erotic drama that does have a lot of issues but still works as a coherent film.  It's not the best film I've seen but it was still watchable.  The acting in this one is leagues above Compass Rose but there is still a lot of room for growth.  We see some very well acted scenes sporadically throughout the film but other scenes show inexperience and awkwardness with the dialogue.  The story for this one is a little more straight forward but does have some rough editing at times.  A slutty housewife with a drunk husband going around lookin for strange is nothing we haven't seen before in sexploitation and it's not really done in an original way here.  It works to watch especially if you are going through this set like I am but it's not something I can recommend.  Finally, the film has a little blood but it's not a movie with a body count or great effects.  The movie is focused on the sleazy housewife and that's it.  Those of you wanting memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  Overall, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me! is very middle of the road and forgettable but it's watchable which is more than Compass Rose.  

Compass Rose

Director - Andy Milligan (Surgikill, The Weirdo)

Starring - Anthony Moscini (Seeds of Sin, Gutter Trash), Anne Linden (Hot Erotic Nights, The Vixens), and Candy Hammond (The Promiscuous Sex, Seeds of Sin)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Many years ago I bought The Ghastly Ones and since then I've seen several of his horror titles.  I have seen his more erotic and drama centered films like Vapors and Seeds of Sin when I think it was Vinegar Syndrome released them.  I wasn't really a fan then but I'm really looking forward to checking out some of these other films after watching The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan.  The next movie in the set is the 1967 film Compass Rose.  This was one I had never heard of before and couldn't wait to check it out.

     The film, the best I can tell, follows a group of drag queen performers in an NYC underground theater where they encounter drug addicts, perverts, and other degenerates that inhabit the scene.

     Like all the films in this set, Compass Rose was never completed by Milligan so we have no idea what his final vision was for the film but as it sits currently it is damn near unwatchable.  I went into this one really excited to see some of the things I had learned about him from the documentary but the movie is pieced together the best as possible but that doesn't give us a lot to go on.   The acting in this one is a lot of fun but it is rough.  The cast really gets into their roles and brings a lot of energy in some of the scenes but the dialogue delivery is rough.  Their inexperience is evident but I still had fun with their energy in several of the scenes.  The story for this one is extremely lacking.  I'm sure Milligan had a story or idea in his head when he originally started the film but I have no idea what the end game was without it being finished.  It's extremely difficult to follow and has very little direction as is.  I seriously wanted to get into it but I was confused through most of it.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting deaths.  We do have some nudity and an incoherent story if that's more your speed.  Overall, Compass Rose was a very difficult film to finish.  While I liked the characters and the cast, it was a rough experience.  I wanted to like it but it's not a fun watch as it is.  

The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan

Director(s) - Grayson Tyler Johnson (Toast, Community Service) and Josh Johnson (Rewind This!, Creation is Violent: Anecdotes on Kinski's Final Years)

Starring - John Borske (Bloodthirsty Butchers, Gutter Trash), Alex DiSanto (Nightmare in Psycho Town, Bad Seeds), and Gerald Jacuzzo (The Man With Two Heads, Torture Dungeon)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "Strictly adult entertainment"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed more documentaries this year than I have previously.  Hell, I've probably reviewed more this year than I have the last two or three years combined.  I love documentaries but I'm not really a fan of reviewing them as it entails a lot to cover.  I usually try to simplify it as much as possible which does most documentaries an injustice.  Anyway, I recently watched several documentaries sent over from Severin as part of their various collection sets.  The first was about the films from Spain following the death of their dictator while the second was on the life and career of the legendary Christopher Lee.  As I move over to the Gutter Auteur set from Severin, I find myself watching another one.  This time it's the 2025 doc. The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan.  Milligan is a filmmaker I was familiar with but I'd be lying if I said he was one I admired or genuinely enjoyed.  I did like a few of his films but for every one of his films I liked there was a few that I didn't care for.  Anyway, I went into this set excited and after watching The Degenerates, I figured it made sense to watch this one next.  

     This follows an in depth look at the personal life and career of Andy Milligan featuring interviews from film historians, collaborators, and personal friends.  We see him growing up as an Army brat, to the stage, and filmmaking all while being openly gay before he died of AIDS.  

     I'll be honest and admit that I didn't know a lot about Milligan before this documentary.  I knew he had fought with his cast and crew during filming and died sometime back but I had no idea he was openly gay and died as a result of AIDS.  This was kind of an eye opening documentary in regards to his backstory and how that shaped his films.  This also confuses me as to why I never seen him mentioned among other LGBTQ+ filmmakers.  He more than deserves to be on those lists.  I may not like all his work but making films as long as he did during the decades he did is commendable.  The interviews in this one are insightful and not always one sided.  We get a full look at his up bringing, career, and personal life through several eyes.  These interviews are not sugar coated either.  We get a real look at him and see how he was as a person.  I really dislike films that gloss over the negatives but this one doesn't.  You get to see the real Milligan.  The topics discussed follow his life chronologically and, in some instances, are very informative.  While some are thorough than others, it does offer a wide variety of what made Andy Milligan stand out.  Finally, this one is edited and shot very well.  The transitions look great and the cinematography looks amazing.  I was really impressed by how well this one looks.  I was familiar Josh Johnson's previous docs and knew he would do a great job but this one is easily his best looking doc.  Overall, The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan is an informal and well put together documentary about a true cinema maverick.  While I wouldn't say I'm a fan of his work, the fact he was openly gay and creating movies during a time when this could get you hurt means he was truly passionate about it.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you have no idea who Andy Milligan was.  Check it out.  

The Degenerates

Director - Andy Milligan (The Naked Witch, The Man with Two Heads)

Starring - Bryarly Lee (Omnibus, Studio One), Marcia Haufrecht (The Sopranos, Dog Day Afternoon), and Anne Linden (The Vixens, The All American Honeymoon)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "They always go down to the lowest depths of human sensuality"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     There is a lot of filmmakers that were lost to time over the decades as beta and VHS made way to DVD and blu but many boutique labels have made it their mission to find these films. Director Andy Milligan is a filmmaker I was somewhat familiar with.  I began collecting movies when I was in high school and sometime during my college years I found a copy of The Ghastly Ones on DVD for a decent price.  I went ahead and snagged it for my collection.  One of the campus officers would often borrow this movie and during my last year there I gifted it to him.  Sadly, this was one of the few Milligan films that I had seen until a few years back when Severin released their Andy Milligan set.  I snagged a copy and checked it out.  Not all of his films hit for me but I enjoyed most of them.  A few weeks back Severin announced a second Andy Milligan release and this one would feature several lost films of his along with a documentary.  I quickly shot them an email requesting this one for review and they were kind enough to send it over.  It only made sense to start with the The Degenerates from 1967 which is the movie of his that I had always wanted to see but never had the chance.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film takes place some time after a nuclear disaster.  A group of men are searching for survivors when they cross paths with a group of women barricaded in an old farmhouse.  They soon learn that no everyone wants saved and not everyone is a victim.

     I went into The Degenerates knowing a little about the plot but that is about it.  I knew what to expect from the acting and the story but it wasn't until I was getting ready to put my review together that I learned that the film was originally unfinished and had to be edited together to make it more coherent.  With that being said, I actually enjoyed it for what it was.  It is extremely rough around the edges but it's still fun.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from an early Milligan flick.  The cast is really into their roles and you can see how dedicated they really are in some of the more intense scenes but the overacting and lack of emotional depth made a few scenes really awkward.  Some of the cast would go on to have pretty stellar careers but it's clear that this is some of their first films and used it as a learning experience.  The story for this one fits in with the late 60s sci-fi trend with the cold war in full effect.  However, what sets it apart from the others is the role reversal of the women being the depraved.  The film does suffer from pacing issues and I can only assume that some of the middle portion of the film was never filmed which left some gaps in the story but it still finds a way to work in a sexploitation kind of way.  Finally, those of you looking for a bloody flick will be very disappointed.  The film is very light on the effects and the deaths are not gruesome. The movie is clearly a no budget affair and they did not have money in the budget for memorable deaths.  Overall, The Degenerates could have been a career defining film from a fringe filmmaker but was never finished for various reasons.  I would have loved to see what Milligan really envisioned but this is the best we can do.  This is a must see for any cult cinema fan.  Check it out.  

Pancake Man

Director - Bron Theron (Half Dead Fred, The Crude Crypt Volume One)

Starring - Michael Della Pia (Robot Dracula, Arena Wars), Seth Hart (Cocaine Stepdad, Insomnia), and Sparkle Soojian (Sharks N Da Hood, Among the Willows)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Thriller/Crime

Tagline - "Revenge is served all day"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of press releases in from various marketing firms, producers, indie directors, and production companies wanting me to share any news they may have on the site.  I cover horror but over the years I've shared stuff on exploitation, sci-fi, dark thrillers, crime dramas, true crime, and so on just because of who was attached to it or because it was a good fit for the site.  Sometime back I received a press release for the film Pancake Man.  I didn't ready it but I shared it on the site thinking it was something like a horror comedy slasher.  Over time I completely forgot about it until I received another press release announcing that it was going to be available on Tubi very soon in the future.  Not long after that email I received a message on Instagram requesting me to review it.  I wasn't able to right away but I added it to my list to check out as soon as I could.  The film was not what I was expecting and I'll leave it at that for now.

     The film follows a man who enters a diner in hopes of scoring some pancakes.  However, the kitchen has stopped serving breakfast 10 minutes early resulting in him becoming extremely hostile.  When another patron to the diner tries to interfere with his order, he is sent over the edge.  Soon the bodies start piling up and his rampage steps on the toes of a gang and a crime boss igniting a war in the streets.

     I went into Pancake Man knowing absolutely nothing about the film and was very surprised by what I saw.  I had high hopes that it was going to be a comedic spin on the slasher sub-genre and was not expecting to see a crime drama with strange deaths. Honestly, the film felt like it was stretched too thin and struggled with identity issues.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't get into it.  The acting in this one is not bad but it is very inconsistent as the film progresses.  The film's lead, Michael Della Pia, does a great job in the opening scenes of the film but as the movie moves along he becomes less and less as intense.  He does dial it back up during a few random scenes later on but it's not as consistent.  The same can be said about the supporting cast.  It seems like everyone came out of the gate firing on all cylinders but the later scenes just don't have the same burning.  I don't know if filming had burned them all out by that point or what but it's evident that they are not attacking their roles like they did earlier in the film.  The story for this one is is listed as horror but it's not what I would consider horror.  It reminded me a lot of Beyond Fury meets Zed's Dead.  It's a crime drama with a small body count that doesn't feel horror at all.  Also, the story itself feels like it was stretched too far.  The movie didn't need to be as long as it is and a lot of the scenes are extremely dull.  The pacing, which is already thrown off, would benefit if it was trimmed down drastically.  Finally, the film has several death scenes but they are not something genre fans are going to really enjoy.  The effects are minimal or not existent but they do look good for what they are.  Overall, Pancake Man is not what I expected and while I wanted to like it, it just wasn't for me.  It is billed as a horror movie but it's more of a crime drama with an unhinged guy going around starting shit that doesn't really make sense.  Sadly, this is one I would recommend skipping.  

Protanopia

Director - Matthew Mahler (What Jack Built, Vault)

Starring - Timothy J. Cox (Creatures of Habit, Friends Forever), Anthony Carey (The Scream of Silence), and Paula Mahler (Dark Romance)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Have you seen this girl?"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate enough to review some wild indie titles over the years here at Horror Society.  I get asked to review a lot of films and some are memorable while others are just not for me.  I hate to be negative but I can't like them all and I refuse to lie or be dishonest in my reviews.  A few weeks ago I was asked to review the indie horror film Protanopia.  I knew absolutely nothing about this one but the title did peak my interest.  I had no idea what it meant at the time which made my mind work overtime thinking about what I was about to see.  I want to thank actor Timothy J. Cox for sending this one over for review.  I truly appreciate it!

     The film follows a young man who suspects his step-sister is missing.  He files a missing person report but the police tell him that typically this sort of thing sorts itself out.  In the town over, a man has just inherited his father's home after his passing and took over as president on the council.  The other board members want to search his property and the surrounding area but he declines to let them out of fear something may happen.  That night he has a dream about his father and when he awakens he starts to suspect that something strange is going on with his home.  While he is becoming obsessed with his home, the step-brother is starting to receive visits from someone instructing him to write his next novel.  Eventually, everything is connected and revealed to the two.

     When I started writing this review for Protanopia I learned that it is the name for those that have red/green colorblindness.  Honestly, I have no idea how that really played into the story itself but it does somewhat fit considering how heaving on the colors the lighting was.  I went into this one kind of excited and was quickly ready for it to end.  It's not a bad movie per sei but it wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is solid with Timothy J. Cox doing most of the heavy lifting.  I'm not just saying that because he sent this one over for review.  I'm saying it because his performance is head and shoulders above the rest which is truly saying something considering everyone does a a solid job.  The characters are not all written equally with some having more time spent on their development.  This doesn't give everyone a lot to work with but the performances we do have are decent.  The story for this one is simple with an experimental/arthouse vibe to it.  A missing woman, a man seeing ghosts, and a stranger telling a writer to write is about the extent of this one.  We have a lot of bloated scenes that do very little to progress the story along and the beautiful lighting and cinematography is meant to enhance the film but is unable to truly do so due to the stale story.  Finally, the film doesn't have any memorable deaths and or practical effects.  It relies heavily on the on the lighting to do all the work which it is beautiful to look at but genre fans want to see the red stuff.  Overall, Protanopia is not for me.  The story didn't go anywhere and it didn't have anything to really hold the viewer's attention.  I did like the cast but that is the extent of it for me.