Terrifier 3

Director - Damien Leone (Frankenstein vs. the Mummy, All Hallow's Eve)

Starring - Lauren LaVera (The Well, Chestnut), David Howard Thornton (Gotham, The Mean One), and Antonella Rose (Fear the Walking Dead, Candy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Twisted Christmas"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Terrifier films have gained a lot of fans over the years and it's impressive to see a film series with a moderately small budget gain the success that it has.  Art is a prominent figure at Spirit Halloween and can be found on shirts at various stores like Spencer's and Hot Topic.  He's also featured as an operator in Call of Duty.  However, I'm not a fan.  I watched the first two films sometime back and while I was impressed by the gore, the films themselves were lacking.  I wanted to love them but both films are like the Scream franchise to me.  They are widely popular but I can barely finish them.  When news about the third Terrifier broke, I figured I would skip it,  The first two did nothing for me and I would almost bet the third would be the same way.  However, my interest in it was peaked when it was revealed to be a Christmas flick.  I have a soft spot for Christmas horror and knew I would need to see it eventually.  I became even more interested in the film after Umbrella Entertainment announced an UHD release of all three films in a nice box set.  I snagged it and after wait forever, it was finally time to check it out.  

     The film once again follows Art the Clown who is back after Victoria Heyes becomes possessed by the little girl from part 2 and grows a new head for him inside her.  The two are reunited and begin their killing spree 5 years later and once again set their sights on Sienna and her family.

     I went into Terrifier 3 hoping it was as good as the general public lead me to believe but at the end of the day it was just like the first two films.  It's full of amazing gore, some humor (intentional and unintentional), and unlikable characters with painstakingly dull dialogue.  I wanted to love this one so I could have a new Christmas flick to enjoy during the holidays but this one wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is exactly what I expected.  The cast does a decent enough job but the characters themselves are not likable at all.  Thornton has become a pop culture icon with his portrayal of Art.  He really does get into the character and I couldn't imagine someone else donning the make-up.  With that being said, I'm glad the film embraced a second killer with Victoria.  Art's silent killing and miming is a bit dull to me while the Heyes character brings much more personality.  In fact, I would much prefer this character having her own film over Art.  The story for this one is just a vehicle for the kills.  I love a good horror film with brutal deaths and amazing practical effects but I need a story to get me there.  Terrifier 3 was severely lacking in this department.  Art and Victoria awaken after a 5 year nap to kill Sienna and her brother.  While the story may be similar to a Friday the 13th sequel, unlike a Friday the 13th sequel, the unlikable characters in Terrifier makes this one a difficult one to finish.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Terrifier film if there wasn't over the top blood and gore.  The deaths in this one will become just as iconic as the Art character.   They are brutal, violent, and look absolutely amazing.  The practical effects are top notch and easily the best of the trilogy.  Overall, Terrifier 3 is consistent with the other films but don't offer up much to the diehard horror fan but if you don't watch a lot of horror or only watch theatrical releases then you may enjoy yourself if you are not accustomed to the amount of gore that this one delivers.  While I did enjoy the deaths and effects, I can name several other films that offer just as impressive death scenes with stories that are worth your time.  

100 Tears (Revisited)

Director - Marcus Koch (Bad Blood, Rot)

Starring - Georgia Chris (The Punisher, Vampire Biker Babes), Joe Davison (Stranger Things, Sorority of the Damned), and Raine Brown (Psycho Street, Plasterhead)

Release Date - 2007

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Everyone loathes a clown"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I reviewed the indie clown slasher 100 Tears from effects artist/director Marcus Koch.  I remember thinking that the film was amazing but wasn't a fan of the music and how loud it was compared to the rest of the film.  I remember watching the film several times that week while I prepared my review and couldn't get passed the ridiculously loud music that was very distracting.  Fast forward several years and Unearthed Films is putting the film out on blu and they were kind enough to send me a copy.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for sending this one over!

     The film follows two journalists who are investigating the murders committed by a prolific killer.  However, their investigation has lead them straight into the path of the clown killer Gurdy (Jack Amos) who is leaving a pile of bodies in his wake.  

     Horror has always been masked slashers, vampires, zombies, and werewolves to me and I know most genre fans feel the same way.  However, clowns have always had a chokehold on the genre with films like It, S.I.C.K., Camp Blood, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Killjoy, Blood Harvest, and many more.  In recent years the clown sub-genre has been flipped on it's head with the release of the Terrifier trilogy.  The first film caused a stir when released but the second and third films went on to catapult Art the clown to pop icon status.  With that being said, I was never a fan of Art and the Terrifier films though I have yet to see the third installment.  The films have tremendous gore but the story is so fucking weak.  Even the second installment, which is overflowing with story, tries too hard to be something it's not.  However, 100 Tears was Terrifier before Terrifier was a thing.  It's a killer clown film with amazing gore but it does something the first film could not and that delivers a decent story.  The acting in this one is a bit inconsistent.  It's not what I would call bad but some of the scenes is a bit stiff while others are better acted.  I don't know if it's inexperience or the rushing of scenes but they are not consistent from scene to scene.  Also, what happened to Raine Brown?  I loved to watching her when I started my writing career and haven't seen her name appear in anything in years.  Her imdb shows her most recent film credit is 2017.  I'd love to see her make a come back to the indie horror community.  The story for this one is pretty basic but it works and is just enough to get us from kill to kill without boring us to tears.  Not to compare this one to Terrifier, but that is my biggest complaint with the film.  It has very little story, unlikable characters, and amazing gore while being released a few years after 100 Tears.  100 Tears does delivers what most horror fans are looking for.  It's a coherent story with somewhat likable characters and crazy deaths.  The pacing is a bit on the slow side when people are not dying but we have a death scenes frequently to offset that.  Finally, this film has some of the most brutal and graphic deaths I've seen.  I reviewed this film in 2012 for the first time and I can probably count on one hand the amount of films that has surpassed it in regards to carnage.  The effects are top tier and these deaths set the standard for the films I've reviewed since my initial viewing.  Overall, 100 Tears isn't as polished as most films with the quality of kills that this one is.  While the music is still distracting, the film is a must see for genre fans.  I highly recommend this blu release from Unearthed Films.  

Tent Burner

Director - Steven Reifsteck (McMurderer, Fish Piss)

Starring - Michael Atkinson, Justin Cottingham (Attack of the Killer Potatoes, Blood Pizza), and Doyle Dow (Shrek Crack)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films by the indie collective Janice.Click over the years.  Starting with the insanely odd McMurderer and followed by Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, and Shrek Crack.  Since then they have released several other films but I let these releases get away from me.  I decided to snag a couple of their releases to finish the collection.  When they arrived I quickly added them to my watch list and the first on the chopping block was the 2024 flick Tent Burner.

     The film follows two aspiring Satanists who decide to kill a hermit that has been camping deep in the woods in a tent with his dog as a sacrifice.  They loot the tent after killing him where they find an old VHS tape and then set fire to it to cover up their heinous act.  When they get back to their home they decide to give it a watch and discover the atrocities that were on it.

     Tent Burner doesn't have the parody style humor that makes the previous films so enjoyable.  Films like Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars and Fish Piss mock horror trends and parody a lot of stereotypes that many horror fans are very familiar with now.   While Tent Burner does poke fun as some horror tropes, it's a more serious film that I enjoyed.  It's not my favorite Janice.Click film but I loved it and hope this is a new direction for them.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from this group.  The characters all fit the stories fairly well with some standing out a bit more than others.  The Juggalo styled story probably had my favorite characters in it and I love how it parodied their lifestyles and stereotypes.  The stories for these vary in quality but they all have a more serious spin to them than previous Janice.Click releases but still poke fun or parody many sub-genres and genre cliches.  The segment that serves as the film's bookend is inspired by V/H/S/ where people watch "disturbing" videos before something bad happens.  The segments shown from the VHS are not consist but they do work for shorts.  I mentioned it before, but the segment with the aspiring trailer rapper really made me laugh and worked for the most part.  None of them over stayed their welcome but I could see them being expanded upon at a later time.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some very cheap effects.  While a lot of the deaths and effects we do get are forgettable, they fit the film very well.  It's clear that the film has a very low budget and they did the best with what they had.  Overall, Tent Burner doesn't really feel like a normal Janice.Click release but I really enjoyed it.  It continues their parody of horror tropes but is much more serious in tone which I enjoy.  I definitely recommend this one to indie horror fans so check it out!

Rumpelstiltskin

 

Director - Mark Jones (Leprechaun, Triloquist)

Starring - Max Grodenchik (Six Feet Under, Tales from the Crypt), Kim Johnston Ulrich (Supernatural, Highlander), and Tommy Blaze (Viewer Discretion Advised, The Newz)

Release Date - 1995

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Tagline - "When the fairy tale ends, the nightmare begins"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror has always been a genre of trends.  When something finds success you can expect find several copy cats along with others using the idea and making it their own.  In the mid 90s there was a trend where horror fully embraced the classic fairy tales.  Blending these fantasy stories and nursey rhymes with horror was something that made trips to the video store so much fun.  Seeing the titles and artwork often made my mind race with imagination.  Leprechaun was the first of these films that I remembered seeing in the video store and one that stuck with me through all these years.  However, it wasn't the only one.  Rumpelstiltskin was released by the same director in 1995 and Snow White: A Tale of Terror was released in 1997.   All three were at my local video store and I remember checking them out over the course of a few years.  While Leprechaun was a favorite of mine, I still remember enjoying the other two.  A few months back Terror Vision announced the release of Rumpelstiltskin on blu and UHD.  It had been decades since my last viewing so I quickly snagged a copy and when it arrived I added it to my watch list.

    The film follows a recent widow who is raising her daughter alone.  While antique shopping with her sister she finds a unique sculpture and decides she has to have it.  Unbeknownst to her, the sculpture is actually the prison for Rumpelstiltskin and the old tale about him doesn't warn them about the bloodshed that is about to follow.

     Rumpelstiltskin, though directed by the same director, is nowhere near as enjoyable as Leprechaun.  It's still a fun movie with great characters and some laughs but it borrows a lot from what made Leprechaun so enjoyable.  It's obvious Jones wanted a repeat of the success but didn't put in the work to give viewers something different that would stand out from Leprechaun in the 30 some years after it's release.  The acting in this one is solid.  We get some fun characters and others that blend into the background.  Ulrich and Blaze were my favorite performances by far.  Their chemistry on screen makes the film for me and I loved watching their personalities clash from early on.  Grodenchik does a decent job as the title character but you can't watch this film and not think about Leprechaun and the performance was nothing memorable.  His one liners don't always find their mark and his dialogue is a bit forced.  The story for this one is is exactly what you would expect.  We follow someone who mistakenly unleashes Rumpelstiltskin and is forced to flee for her life as he chases her because she has something he wants.  Desperate, she seeks out the person who sold it to her to stop him.  The exact same story as Leprechaun.  We follows a group of people who unleash a leprechaun and run for their lives as he chases them because they have something he wants.  When they can't defeat him they turn to the person that imprisoned him.  Wildly similar stories but this one has a lot more action and it feels like the budget is much bigger.  Don't get me wrong, I love the film but it doesn't have the charm as Jone's previous effort.  Finally, I love the look of Rumpelstiltskin.  He's a menacing looking creature that adds a lot of atmosphere to the film.  We get a few deaths with some blood and decent enough effects but they lack imagination and creativity.  Overall, Rumpelstiltskin is a solid direct to video horror flick that works for a late night monster movie but falls a bit short from what it could have been.  With that being said, the release from Terror Vision is easily my favorite in my collection.  I cannot recommend this one enough.  Check it out.  

Coven of the Black Cube

Director - Brewce Longo (Pumpkinman Lives, A Corpse for Christmas)

Starring - Morrigan Thompson-Milam (Bl0od and Breakfast, Crackcoon), Zoe Angeli (LoveDump, Flesh Eater X), and Josh Shafer (Busted Babies, Slaughter Tales)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing indie horror for over ten years and during that time I've reviewed everything from living placenta, killer condoms, gay Jesus, and even a haunted vibrator.  Horror is filled with endless possibilities especially when genre fans get behind the camera.   I love slashers, zombies, werewolves, and witches.  The later two don't get the love the other two sub-genre get.  A few weeks back I found a horror flick starring Morrigan Thompson-Milam.  Those of you that read my reviews know that I'm a huge fan of hers so when I saw that she was in Coven of the Black Cube I had to grab it.  The witch sub-genre doesn't get the love it truly deserves and seeing a witch flick with a bit of an unusual story made me extremely excited to see it.

     The film follows a young woman, named Vi (Milam) who finds herself on the shit end of a bad relationship.  She finds herself in a shop owned by a group of witches who sell potions, incantations, and any other word you can use to associate magic to witches.  She finds a potion she uses to make her former lover fall in love with her but it backfires.  It kills her ex-girlfriend but not all hope is lost.  The gorgeous witch at the shop has her eye on her and the two start dating.  What Vi doesn't know, is that her new lover and her coven secretly help women in abusive relationships remove their abusers from the equation.  As the two lovers get to know each other, bodies start to pile up.

     Coven of the Black Cube is a film that a lot of genre fans will immediately dismiss.  It's a film that tries to capture the VHS look which a lot of horror fans will dislike.  The modern era of films getting polished, remastered, and restored to be released on formats that provide the best possible picture quality available has many of us forgetting about the quality of films we used to watch growing up.  I don't mind the grainy, gritty looks like this one and others like it but there was a few scenes that needed a bit more light.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not what I would call bad.  The cast is really into their roles and you can tell it was a fun project by their character's interactions on camera.  With that being said, experience does vary from person to person resulting in a few scenes where the cast felt a little stiff.  The story for this one doesn't over stay it's welcome and gives us just enough to hold our attention.  We have beautiful women as witches, beautiful women that are not witches, unique deaths, and solid enough pacing.  With that being said, the story we do have is stretched a bit thin.  The movie could have about 10 to 15 minutes trimmed from it.  Some of the scenes are a bit bloated and it does pull the pacing down some.  The movie is fine as is but this would help the story move along much better.  Finally, the film has some deaths with a bit of blood and some limited practical effects.  The film did the best with the resources they had but don't expect a film with gore that will stick with you for days after watching it.  Overall, Coven of the Black Cube is a solid no budget witch flick that surprised me.  A lot of genre fans will not appreciate the film as it is but the select few that still live in the VHS age will enjoy the aesthetics.  Check it out.  

The Substance

Director - Coralie Fargeat (Revenge, The Sandman)

Starring - Demi Moore (Ghost, Tales from the Crypt), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Poor Things), and Dennis Quaid (Jaws 3-D, Great Balls of Fire!)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "It'll change your life"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of pop horror in recent years that has truly impressed me.  I've been a champion of no-to-low budget indie cinema for decades now but the recent surge in big budget horror that isn't shitty has created a bit of excitement from genre fans who are now returning to theaters to see their beloved genre.  I've been more open to big budget horror after films like X, Last Night with the Devil, Longlegs, The Black Phone, and Nosferatu.  Another bigger budgeted horror film that I heard a lot about was The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.  This is one that came out of nowhere but some horror friends that I highly respect suggested it.  I quickly added it to my watch list after ordering a copy from Amazon.  

    The film follows aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) who finds herself removed as host of her long standing fitness show.  The television exec cut her due to her age and is looking to hire someone much younger.  Afraid of falling into obscurity, she finds herself with a once in a lifetime opportunity to try The Substance.  The glowing, green serum states it will bring out the better version of yourself but you have to "switch" every seven days.  She reluctantly tries it and finds her inner beauty manifesting into a much younger woman.  Her younger self, Sue (Qualley), auditions for her show and gets the job.  Soon she is skyrocketing into popularity and quickly making a name for herself as an up and coming celebrity.  The more popular she becomes, the less likely she is to switch out with Elisabeth resulting in the original body aging even more rapidly.  Once the body is beyond repair, she is forced to try The Substance for herself in hopes of creating another younger version of herself.  This fails and something far more sinister crawls out of her.

     The Substance is one of the few big budget films that left me thinking about it for days after my initial viewing.  As of the time I'm writing this, I've watched it three complete times and certain scenes about 4 or 5 times.  It may be my favorite film of the last 10 which is not something I would say lightly.  It's an amazing body horror film that not only holds the viewer's attention the entire time but it has a powerful message about Hollywood and what it demands from women looking to make a living.  The acting in this one is amazing.  Demi Moore is one hell of an actress and this is easily my favorite role of hers.  She bares it all for the camera and holds nothing back.  This is a career defining film and one that will make her a genre name for decades to come.  The Substance is my introduction to Margaret Qualley and she is most definitely a name I will be looking for in future genre titles.  Her performance rivals Moore's but in a good way.  Just like their characters are cut from the same clothe, so is their performances.  Also, Dennis Quaid delivers another fantastic performance.  His political opinions may have caused controversy in recent years but god damn was he fantastic in this one.  This is another performance from the film that will be remembered for decades to come.  The story for this one is so fucking brilliant.  The medical treatment that spawns a younger and better version of you to rip itself from your spine forcing you to share your life with them every 7 days or the body ages rapidly.  You then mix in the beauty standards of Hollywood and how easy it is to throw away women because they have been fortunate enough to age another year.  It's a fantastic story that will age as gracefully as Moore herself.  Finally, the effects in this are absolutely mesmerizing.  We have some of the best practical effects I've seen with some great bloody moments.  We also have a monster costume that I was not expecting and was so impressed by it.  Overall, The Substance is one of the best body horror flicks since Cronenberg's Videodrome.  It's a must see and I can't recommend this movie enough.  Please do yourself a favor and watch it!

MacWolfen

Director - Megan Brock

Starring - Megan Brock, Eric Dollich (Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, Fleischwolf), and Steven Reifsteck (Fish Piss, Tent Burner)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I say this often but we need more werewolf flicks in the indie horror community.  We get dozens, if not hundreds, of slashers and zombie flicks a year but we rarely get werewolf or witch flicks.  Both sub-genres just happen to be favorites of mine and due to the lack of films in these sub-genres I often jump on any that I cross paths with.  Several weeks back I was placing an order at Janice.Click when I saw they were releasing the short MacWolfen on DVD.  This was a new one to me so I had to snag it.

     The film follows two horror nerds that volunteer to watch over a junkyard late at night.  A night of pizza and b-grade horror films turn deadly when a werewolf decides to use the junkyard as it's hunting ground.

     MacWolfen was a 100 percent blind buy and I don't regret it at all.  It's far from perfect and was clearly a passion project from a genre fan wanting to dip their toes into filmmaking.  While the movie missed it's mark with me, I appreciate the effort that went into the film and look forward to their next horror outing.  The acting in this one has a lot of room for improvement but it's not the worst I've seen.  In fact, it's somewhere in the middle especially for a no budget flick.  The cast does the best they can in their role but they show clear signs of inexperience.  The story for this one is simple but the way the film unfolds makes it a tough one to finish.  The short implements several scenes that do absolutely nothing to the story itself.  If these were removed the short would run around 15 to 20 minutes and would be more effective.  I loved the idea of watching horror movies while eating pizza before a werewolf attacks and that should have been the main focus of the film.  

     

Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend

Director - Jeff Werner (Die Laughing, Kicking It)

Starring - Kristine DeBell (Meatballs, Trophy Heads), Jason Williams (Flesh Gordon, Danger Zone), and Anthony Lewis 

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "Take them away for a weekend... then try and let them go!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     You can never judge a book by it's cover especially when you often blind buy movies like I do.  Sometimes movies paint a specific picture with it's cover art and name only to completely blow your mind when you finally watch it.  This just happened to me when I ordered a copy of Cheerleader's Wild Weekend from MVD.  This is part of their MVD Rewind Collection and looked like a fun late 70s or early 80s sec comedy.  However, once the film arrived and I tossed it in, I quickly realized that was not what this was.  Regardless, I still enjoyed it.

     The film follows two rival cheerleading squads on a bus to a competition when they find themselves kidnapped by a group of former football players for ransom.  However, as the police fumble to find the lost bus, the captors decide to host a sleazy beauty pageant with the cheerleaders while they wait for the ransom money.

     I went into this one expecting a Porky's/Malibu High type film. Instead, it was a raunchy crime thriller was still entertaining but not what I was really in the mood for.  I was expecting some cheap laughs and a lot of skin but a lot of skin and a bit of late 70s crime wasn't that bad.  The acting in this one is a bit better than I was expecting.  The characters are 100% forgettable but the cast is clearly having a lot of fun on set which translates very well to the scene  While the characters are one dimensional, it doesn't stop the cast from delivering decent enough performances.  With that being said, some of the cast is very inexperienced and it shows in several of the scenes.  The story for this one is not to be expected by the film's alternate title.  However, it's original title is more accurate to the film but it isn't as sexy.  The original title, The Great American Girl Robbery, perfectly sums up the actual film.  As for the story itself, the film has an average run time but the story could have been done in less than 40 minutes.  It's the random top less scenes that drags the time out.  I'm all for looking at beautiful women in next to nothing, or nothing for that matter, it does become a bit dull after the 20th or 30th time in the same film.  We needed more to it.  Finally, the film doesn't have a body count or any of the red stuff.  However, there is a lot of nudity and some raunchy puns for those interested.  Overall, Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend is a bit misleading but still enjoyable.  While the poster paints a much different picture, it still delivers on the beautiful women which is all that matter.  Check it out on blu from MVD now.  

Trick or Treat

Director - Charles Martin Smith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Air Bud)

Starring - Marc Price (Killer Tomatoes Eat France!, Little Devils: The Birth), Tony Fields (Monsters, Werewolf), and Lisa Orgonlini (Paper Dolls, House of Glass)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What are you afraid of?  It's only rock and roll"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Horror fans have always loved Halloween which is one of the many reasons there is so many films centered around the holiday.  I've been collecting horror films for years, damn near 20 years now, and I always snag any horror film I find that takes place on Halloween.  Many years ago I remember I was traveling with my brother when I found a copy of Trick or Treat on DVD at a random store with a picture of Gene Simmons and Ozzy on the front.  Many of you have seen this DVD and probably made fun of it because of how shitty looking it is.  Regardless, I snagged the movie and watched it as soon as I could.  Honestly, I loved it and have watched it a few times since then but time has moved way too fast for me.  Before I knew it, it had been years since my last viewing.  A few weeks back I received a copy of the new UHD release from Synapse Films which gave me the perfect reason to check it out.  

     The film follows metal fan Eddie (Price) who is an avid follower of rocker Sammi Curr (Fields).  Eddie is often mocked at school and his social life is nonexistent.  It's because of this that he has attached himself to Curr and his lyrics.  Things take a dark turn when Curr is found dead before the release of his next album could be released.  He visits a local DJ (Simmons) who just happens to have the only copy of the album in existence and offers it to him.  Eddie doesn't see how odd this is and takes it with him.  Things start to take an even stranger turn when the record becomes a way for Eddie to communicate with the late rock star.  The rock star starts to instruct him on what to do to handle his bullies but after a near death run in with one of them he reluctantly listens.  This results in Sammi seeking another unfortunate soul to be used a pawn for his true endgame which is to kill as many people as he can.

     Trick or Treat is one of those films that I always love watching but never willingly throw in to watch for myself.  It's like the films Cemetery Man, The Beyond, From Beyond, and Teen Wolf.  These are all films that I absolutely love but I never watch unless I have a reason to.  I own many collectables, shirts, posters, and so on for all these films.  Hell, I can quote huge parts of them but I never watch them unless a new release hits shelves or something happens to sparks a watch.  Honestly, it's a great movie and one that I can watch over and over again without tiring of it.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  Marc Price brought to life one of my favorite movie characters and after all these years I still find myself associating with his character.  He makes the film for me and I've always wondered why he never made a name for himself in the horror community especially after the release of this film.  Also, the late Tony Fields is phenomenal as the maniacal musician Sammi Curr.  It's a shame that his performance here didn't become as iconic horror villain with the likes of Freddy and Jason.  The supporting cast does a knockout job as well but it's these two that makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is not only great for the Halloween season but fans of metal and horror in general will appreciate it.  While the movie does take place leading up to Halloween, it's not an important part of the story.  In fact, the film could literally take place at any other time during the year and still be effective.  We have a lot of fun dialogue, two cameos from rock royalty, and great pacing.  Finally, the film does have a body count but the deaths are the film's weakest aspect.  We get a lot of visual effects that did not age well along with some fantastic make-up effects on Curr but that is the extent of it.  Those of you seeking blood and gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, Trick or Treat may not be your go to horror film for the Halloween season, but it is one of the most underrated horror films I've reviewed.  It's a fantastic horror flick that does a fantastic job at blending rock and pop culture with horror.  I highly recommend checking out this release from Synapse!  

Evilenko

Director - David Grieco (The Ploy, Borgata America)

Starring - Malcolm McDowell (Halloween, A Clockwork Orange), Marton Csokas (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, Cuckoo), and Ronald Pickup (Doctor Who, Dark Floors)

Release Date - 2003

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The chilling story of the Soviet Union's most notorious serial killer"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Unearthed Films has really impressed me with their releases over the years but it seems they have stepped it up in notch of quality the last year or so.  Unearthed made a name for themselves releasing extreme and underground films.  Movies like 100 Tears, Hate Crime, La Petit Mort, and the Vomit Gore trilogy.  Now, they still release some of the most extreme indie films around, but they are dabbling in more popular titles like The Guyver, Homework, Calamity of Snakes, The Grand Tour, and several more I'm sure I'm forgetting.  I was a bit shocked when I received the press release for the UHD release of the 2003 true crime drama/horror film Evilenko starring the legendary Malcolm McDowell.  This is a film I was very familiar with but never actually seen it.  In fact, I had owned the DVD release for sometime but never took the time to open it and watch it.  Not long after I received the press release for the Unearthed release I received a copy of the film for review.  This was the perfect opportunity to finally check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Unearthed for sending this one over!

     The film follows a former school teacher that is harboring a dark secret.  The devout communist has been going all over the country killing and raping children and young women.  A special task force is established to catch him but they are unable to do so for years until one victim is able to escape.  Once convicted they learn that he possesses some sort of psychic ability but is sentenced to death regardless due to the nature of his crimes.  

     Evilenko is a film that finds its well deserved home at Unearthed Films along with all the other sick and depraved films.  The story, which is based around the real life serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, made me feel uneasy several times but fell short of being as effective as it could have been.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it but it stepped on it's own toes several times.  The acting in this one is great.  McDowell is one of the best to ever step in front of the camera and he is no exception here.  His portrayal as the deranged Evilenko makes the film what it is.  His line delivery is fantastic and seeing him in character gave me chills during certain scenes.  I was also impressed by Marton Csokas' performance.  His character was a great contrast to McDowell's and is probably my favorite performance from him to date.  The supporting cast is hit or miss.  Some have some great performances while a few scenes are a bit tough to watch.  It feels like the cast was in a rush to get through their dialogue and move on.  The story for this one is where the film struggles.  The film is based on the murders committed by Chikatilo which spanned years.  I understand it would be hard to put all that into a film without skipping years but the way it was done leaves out so much.  It's a bit difficult to follow and could have been done better.  In fact, I would rather had stuff omitted from the film rather than cramming everything in and having the story bounce from year to year.  Aside from pacing issues, there is moments in the film that really got under my skin which is saying something.  I don't know if it's the father in me or what but some of the scenes with the children really bothered me.  It's been a long time since I've felt that chill down my spine and I somewhat missed it.  Finally, the film has a few bloody moments but those looking for gore will be very disappointed.  The film uses the story and discussion of the gruesome acts to get a rise out of the viewer without showering them in gore.  Overall, Evilenko is a great film that does bounce around in the story but still delivers.  It has an amazing performance from Malcolm McDowell and Marton Csokas along with a few truly unnerving moments.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially the Unearthed Films release.  

Robotrix

Director - Jamie Luk (The Case of the Cold Fish, The Night Rider)

Starring - Amy Yip (Erotic Ghost Story II, Ghostly Vixen), Chikako Aoyama (Two Punks, Finale in Blood), and David Wu (Devils on the Doorstep, Treasure Island)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action/Comedy

Tagline - "Underneath she's all woman..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers has been a wild ride to say the least.  I knew very little about this set prior to buying it but nothing would have prepared me for the amount of nudity and laughs contained inside the set.  After five films so far, the final film was finally here which was bitter sweet.  While I do look forward to checking out the film, I was not ready to put the sleazy comedies behind me.  Regardless, it was finally time to check out the 1991 sci-fi comedy Robotrix from the same director as Doctor Vampire.  

     The film follows an evil robot with the brain of a human that is killing and raping beautiful women while committing other various crimes.  To combat the robot, a recently slain female office is transformed into a robotrix to stop him.

     Robotrix is probably the most mild of the set but that doesn't mean it's not without the sleaze.  It's raunchy, funny, and the sci-fi aspect makes it a stand out within the set.  However, it's not as raunchy and funny as the previous films which is another reason it stands out from the other Cat III films.  The acting in this one may be the best in the set but that doesn't mean it's stand out performances.  There is some very likable characters but a good portion of the cast blends into the background.  The story for this one is a wild blend of sci-fi, action, and comedy with the uncomfortable rape elements.  The comedy doesn't always find it's laugh but I liked the action and storyline we have.  I wish more time was spent around the building and creation of the robots but you can't expect a film focused on nudity to spend that much time crafting a story.  Finally, the film had some great practical effects for the robots and set design.  However, it doesn't have the blood I was hoping for.  Nudity is a check but none of the red stuff.  Overall, Robotrix is another flick that is very enjoyable but may not have the impact you are expecting especially if you spent the day watching the other films in the set.  Regardless, it's still worth a watch!

Doctor Vampire

Director - Jamie Luk (Ghost in the House, Robotrix)

Starring - Bowie Lam (Hard Boiled, Supercop 2), Ellen Chan (Perfect Match, Exiled), and Sheila Chan (Ghost for Sale, Mortuary Blues)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The main reason I bought the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers was for the 1990s horror comedy Doctor Vampire.  I was looking for this one on Amazon when I found it in a box set recently released by Shout Factory and decided this was perfect.  Not only would I get the film I was looking for but I would get five bonus films that I had never seen before.  I almost started with this film when I started reviewing the set but decided to go in order in which they appear in the box.  After Sex and Zen along with the three Erotic Ghost Story films it was finally time to watch the film I originally wanted to see!

     The film follows a doctor who is traveling abroad when he finds himself in the presence of a female vampire.  She bites him on his nether region and leaves him alone for the day.  He leaves to return home unknowing that he was slowly transforming into a vampire himself.  

     Doctor Vampire is one that has been on my radar for sometime after I received a press release for the UK release from Eureka Entertainment.  In fact, that was the release I was looking for when I ventured to Amazon.  I had no idea Shout had put out this set but I'm glad I found it.  I've enjoyed the hell out of it so far.  Doctor Vampire is no exception.  While it's not the film I was hoping it was, it was still a fun one regardless.  The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the set so far.  The characters are wildly enjoyable and the cast has a lot of energy that they bring to every scene.  While the story was a bit lacking, the performances we are given more than makes up for the story.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  I was under the impression it was a film following a doctor who was turned into a vampire but continues to try and practice medicine resulting in funny situations with random interactions with blood.  Instead, it's a doctor turned vampire that is hunted by another vampire because he has a rare blood type.  It's a funny story but I feel like it could have been a lot funnier especially if it took a more slapstick approach.  Finally, the film has some blood and that is about the extent of it.  The blood we get is rather minimal and not enough to really stand out.  Overall, Doctor Vampire is a solid horror comedy with a great cast and some laughs.  It's not a bloody flick, which is a bit disappointing for a vampire flick, but it still works.   Check it out.  

Erotic Ghost Story III

Director - Kai-Ming Lai (Daughter of Darkness, Ghost House)

Starring - Pauline Chan (Hunting Evil Spirit, Spider Force), Tak-Bun Wong (Hard Boiled, Mystery Files), and Shing Fui-On (Queen of the Underworld, Fist of Fury 1991)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm deep into it now.  Four films out of the six in the Supernatural Shockers box set from Shout Factory and I have to admit that I'm glad I bought it.  The films are nothing like I was expecting but I am having a lot of fun with them especially the Erotic Ghost Story films.  After watching the first two films I took a look at the box and realized that there was a third Erotic Ghost Story in the set that needed to be immediately watched which is exactly what I did!

     The film follows a young man who has an assigned marriage that he does not want.  He flees from his home and seeks refuge in some old ruins with his bride to be chasing him.  The pair is soon swept into the afterlife where they are used a pawns to kill other gods so one can take control of Earth.

     I went into Erotic Ghost Story III with the same mindset that I went into the other two films with and I have to say that it continues the nudie mayhem that the first two films had but it doesn't go the same distance.  The film has the same wild story, beautiful women, and fun action scenes but it goes full softcore flick instead of a sexploitation comedy.  It was still fun but nowhere near the same level as the first two films.  The acting in this one is consistent with the second film.  The characters are fairly generic and the cast doesn't have an opportunity to act in a traditional sense due to the film's heavy focus on the softcore aspect over story telling.  The story for this one is a more straight forward.  The movie wants the viewers to focus on the nudity which puts the story in the backseat so to speak.  It does offer up a little more supernatural aspects than the previous two films but the comedy is replaced with sleaze.  I love sleaze but it is a bit overdone here and the story suffers because of it.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun sets and locations with some wild make up but those wanting blood will be very disappointed.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story III is the weakest of the trilogy but still enjoyable especially if you want some late night sleaze.  I wanted to love it but I did like it for what it is.  Check it out.

Erotic Ghost Story II

Director - Peter Ngor (Legendary Couple, The Tragic Fantasy: Tiger of Wanchai)

Starring - Anthony Chau-Sang (The Mad Monk, Lamb Killer), Ichijo Sayuri, and Charine Chan (Happy Ghost 4, Return of the Fox)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     

     I'm three films deep into the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers from Shout Factory and I have to admit that I've really enjoyed it this far.  Sure, the first film was a bit of a dull watch but the second and third films were so much fun.  Erotic Ghost Story may have been a very misleading title but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.  This made me really excited about checking out the sequel that was also included in the set!

     The film follows the demon Wu Tang who has now taken another human form and falls for a human female.  She is then murdered by another god.  Lamenting at her death, Wu Tang turns to a village near his lair and forces them to send him a virgin every month and when they don't he sends down his succubus to destroy the village.  

     Erotic Ghost Story II, like most sequels, is not as good as the first film.  The story is all over the place, the characters are nowhere near as memorable, and the nudity is just there with little pertaining to the story itself.  While it may not be as good, it was still a fun watch especially for a first time viewing.  The acting in this one is solid but the characters are not as fun as the previous film.  The film focuses more on the random acts of nudity and sex over the characters and their development.  It's because of this that the cast doesn't have much to work with aside from baring their assets in front of the camera.  The story for this one is all over the place.  It continues the exploits and evil deeds of Wu Tang but that is about the only real connection to the first film.  The nudity happens for no reason with nothing connecting it to the story and we bounce from one thing to the next without really telling a coherent story.  With that being said, the humor and action really finds it's mark.  I probably laughed more at this one than I did the first film.  Finally, the film has a lot of skin and some blood but not enough to satisfy those of you looking for a body count.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story II fits well in the Supernatural Shockers set. The title is still misleading but it has a lot of skin and some laughs.  It's well worth checking out.

Erotic Ghost Story

Director - Ngai Choi Lam (The Ghost Snatchers, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky)

Starring - Amy Yip (Stooges in Hong Kong, Robotrix), Hitomi Kudo (Rape &  Rape Special 1, Kyosei Waisetsu Shimai), and So  Man (Erotic Ghost Story II, Ghost Story of Kam Ping Mui)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I ordered the Golden Harvest Volume 1: Supernatural Shockers, I thought I was getting into some sleazy horror flicks.  So far, that has not been the case and I'm not disappointed at all.  In fact, I've really enjoyed myself up to this point.  Granted, this is just the second film in the set but it was way better than the first film and even though it was nothing like I expected, it was still a lot of fun.  While Sex and Zen was a extremely dull, Erotic Ghost Story was more entertaining.  While the nudity was a given, the humor more than made up for the lack of supernatural elements that I was looking for.

     The film follows three fox spirits that have meditated for centuries to shed their fur and walk as a human.  However, they are tricked into following their carnal desires resulting in the three of them following for the same man.  After taking turns with the man for several days, they start to revert back to their fox forms before realizing they were tricked into sleeping with him,

     Erotic Ghost Story is not what I was expecting.  Hell, the title is so misleading that I had to check the disc after watching it to ensure I didn't toss in the wrong movie.  With that being said, I truly enjoyed it and while the title doesn't really represent the film, it fits this set perfectly.  The acting in this one fits the film very well but the "performances" are not memorable for the acting.  The three sisters are gorgeous in their own way and are not afraid to bare it all for the camera.  While Yip has her famous cut away, the other two are not afraid of the camera.  We also get some unexpected fight scenes that are well choreographed.  The cast does a fine job with those as well but the main focus is the nudity which isn't overdone like so many films before and after it  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the Witches of Eastwick but in a much more sleazier fashion.  While I enjoyed and found myself laughing, it does run it's course fairly early.  The nudity does help carry it a bit further but the movie could easily be cut down drastically.  Also, the title is misleading.  The erotic part fits but the three sisters are not ghosts in the traditional sense and calling them that takes away from a huge chunk of the story.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We do get some fun zombie props and transitions early on in the film but that is about the extent of it.  The focus on this one is the erotic and not the ghost portion of the title.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story is a fun watch especially if you are wanting some beautiful women and some laughs.  While it doesn't satiate those looking for some horror, it still delivers on the skin and comedy.  Check it out.  

Sex and Zen

Director - Michael Mak (Butterfly and Sword, Marauders on the Train of China)

Starring - Lawrence Ng (Wolf Hiding, The Secret of S), Amy Yip (Stooges in Hong Kong, Queen of the Underworld), and Kent Cheng (IP Man 2, Sleepwalker)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "Banned for 400 years!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started this journey a decade ago I never envisioned that I would be reviewing the films that I do.  I mean, the migration from horror and exploitation to horror only made sense considering how much of a fan I am of the genre.  However, I never expected to be reviewing sexploitation and Cat III films yet here I am.  I started collecting sexploitation flicks several years back when companies like Vinegar Syndrome and Severin Films turned me on to them.  I then found myself reviewing Japanese sexploitation flicks when Synapse Films' sister company, Impulse Films, started sending them my way.  I didn't really learn about CAT III, or category III, films until Unearthed Films started releasing some of these films from Hong Kong.  Since then I've been absolutely hooked.  A few months back Shout Factory released the blu collection Golden Harvest Vol. 1: Supernatural Shockers.  This set really interested me so I snagged it for my collection.  However, I couldn't just put it on a shelf and forget about it.  Instead, I made time to check it out.  The first film in the set is the 1991 comedy Sex and Zen.

     The film follows a young man who is somewhat of a scholar who laughs at traditional thinking.  He takes on a young bride but wants to continue exploring the female body.  He teams up with a thief who promises to supply him with women if he has a surgeon make him more endowed.  He agrees and as he gains more sexual experience, he starts to realize there is more to life than just sex.

     I went into this one thinking it was going to be a bit raunchy and have some supernatural aspect to it.  While it may have a little supernatural aspect and some sleaze, it was a romantic comedy through and through.  I seriously wanted to like it but I found myself extremely bored with it before we hit the halfway mark.  The acting in this one is actually really enjoyable.  The characters are very colorful and full or energy with the cast going above and beyond to make the scene fun.  With that being said, some of them are rather cliched and blend into the background as the film progresses.  The story for this one is more romantic comedy with a married man fucking around until he starts to realize that something more is waiting for him at home.  The humor works at first but it's kind of a one trick pony and the humor wears off fairly early.  It does have it's sleazy moments but the "supernatural" aspect of the story if very, very light.  In fact, it's so light that I wonder why it was included in this set.  Finally, no blood or gore in this one.  A lot of skin and some laughs but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Sex and Zen is not what I was expecting.  In fact, I hope it doesn't set the tone for this box set.  If it does then I may have lost some  money on this one.