The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story

Director - Jeremiah Kipp (Slapface, The Mortuary Assistant)

Starring - Typhena Wade (Secrets of an Influencer, One Night Stand Murder), Nikelola Balogun (Disco Inferno, Time Stamp), and Stephen Cofield Jr. (Terrifier 3, Harlem)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Tubi)

Rating (out of 5):

     Social media is a valuable resource for genre fans.  I love indie productions and often look through Instagram tags and indie movie groups for movies that I've never seen before.  I've found several fantastic movies that way.  A few weeks ago I was looking through an indie horror group when I found a post for Jeremiah Kipp's folk horror film The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story.  I grew up in southern Appalachia and had heard stories about boo hags but I wasn't too familiar with them so the film really peaked me interest.  It was shared in that same post that the film was now streaming on Tubi.  I absolutely love Tubi and how they give indie films such a big voice.  I added it to my watchlist and as soon as I could I hit play on it!

     The film follows a couple, Leah (Wade) and Asa (Cofield), who return to Asa's childhood home after the unexpected death of his mother.  Asa's father is leaving his family land with plans of leaving it to Asa and his wife.  However, a fresh start for the couple isn't exactly how it seems.  Leah becomes haunted by visions, fainting spells, and night terrors.  She soon learns about a local hoodoo legend and suspects that Asa's mom was cursed which was why she died unexpectedly and now she is cursed as well.  Asa, who grew up in the area and knows almost all of the locals, doesn't believe her which caused a strain on the two until tensions come to a boil.

     As I stated earlier, I went into this one with a vague idea of what a boo hag is and this movie didn't really deliver on the preconceived notions as to what I thought a boo hag was.  I always thought a boo hag was a cross between a witch and a vampire that would crawl out of their skin at night and slowly drain the life/steal the breath of people as they slept.  The area where I grew up in Appalachia called them haints or blue ghosts.  The Geechee Witch doesn't really follow the idea of what I thought a boo hag was but still delivered a solid hoodoo/voodoo story with steep southern lore.  The acting in this one is the film highlight.  The characters are fairly generic and flat but the cast does the best with what they had.  Their performances are very grounded and show a wide range of emotions.  Honestly, I feel like this story wouldn't have been as enjoyable if anyone else took over these roles.  The story for this one starts out fine and turns into a slow burn with a lot of great hoodoo and southern lore scattered throughout but the last leg of the film falls apart.  I loved the long burn the film tries to establish with the wife being cursed and how it tied to the late mother.  However, the story becomes painfully dull before the big reveal.  The last leg is very uneventful for the most part and the viewer finds themselves tuned out by the hour mark.  The movie has some serious writing and editing issues.  Finally, the film is not a bloody or gory flick.  I liked the look of the "witch" and we get some light make-up effects but that is the extent of the red stuff.  Overall, The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story is not a bad movie.  Hell, I even enjoyed it but it's not without it's faults.  It is a bit tough to finish once you hit the hour mark but if you stick with it you will enjoy it.  Check it out.  

A Man for Emmanuelle

Director - Cesare Canevari (Killing of the Flesh, The Nude Princess)

Starring - Erika Blanc (Kill Baby... Kill!, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse), Adolfo Celi (The Phantom of Liberty, Madly in Love), and Paolo Ferrari (Nero Wolfe, Married to a Cop)

Release Date - Drama/Erotic

Tagline - "The queer... the erotic... the hippie... all turned her on!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I went into the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection, I thought it was four films featuring Sylvia Kristel as the title character.  However, that was not the case at all.  The first three films in the set did feature Kristel in her iconic role but the fourth film really caught me off guard.  The final Emmanuelle film was actually the 1969 Italian drama A Man for Emmanuelle starring Erika Blanc as Emmanuelle.  I became very interested in the film especially when I realized that it was not one of the films starring Kristel.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows Emmanuelle (Blanc) who has her eye on someone.  Instead of approaching them like a rational human being, she starts sleeping with everyone she crosses paths with regardless of gender.  

     I went into this one not knowing what to expect.  Was this a film that would later inspire the Emmanuelle series that I know or would it just be a film that shares a common name?  I don't know the back story behind this one but I did like it as a film but it wasn't near as sleazy and enjoyable as the Sylvia Kristel films.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part and pretty consistent which is something you can't really say about the previous three films I reviewed.  Blanc doesn't really carry the scene like Kristel can but she is a hell of a lot better actress.  The supporting cast does a solid job as well but it's Blanc that's the focus of the film.  The story for this one is nowhere near as sleazy as the first film but does have some sexy moments.  With that being said, it does lack in the story department with what feels like an anti-sex message.  We have a woman bouncing from sexual partner to sexual partner as she explores her sexual freedom.  The further she goes into these encounters, the more her life is turned upside down.  The film seems to have a completely different message than the subsequent Emmanuelle films.  Finally, the film doesn't have the amount of skin as I was expecting but there is some.  Those of you wanting a sleazy watch may be disappointed just like those of you wanting some blood and gore.  Overall, A Man for Emmanuelle is nothing like I expected but it was still an enjoyable film.  While it doesn't live up to the Emmanuelle name, I can only assume that it inspired the now legendary franchise.  Check it out especially if you dig the other films.  

Goodbye, Emmanuelle

Director - Francois Leterrier (The Hippies, The Bodyguard)

Starring - Sylvia Kristel (The Swing Girls, Sexy Boys), Umberto Orsini (The Bible Collection: Esther, Beyond Good and Evil), and Jean-Pierre Bouvier (The Divorce, Mail from the Sky)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Drama/Erotic

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Severin sent me the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection, I had already seen the first two films in the set.  However, this collection features two Emmanuelle films that were new to me.  I do enjoy the first two films and had a lot of fun revisiting them which only made me even more excited to see these final two!  The next film in the set is the third Emmanuelle film from 1977 titled Goodbye, Emmanuelle or Emmanuelle III.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows Emmanuelle (Kristel) who is once again in an exotic location with her husband living the swinging life.  However, after Emmanuelle gets close with a filmmaker, her husband starts to become jealous and wants to keep her all to himself.  

     I know there is a lot of these Emmanuelle films but I wonder how many of them recycle the same stories?  Goodbye, Emmanuelle doesn't really bring us anything new but god damn was it still a lot of fun.  I went into this one thinking it was going to be the turning point in the series but I was wrong.  This is one of the instances where if it's not broke then it doesn't need fixed makes complete sense.  The acting in this one is more like the first film with Kristel really finds her groove as Emmanuelle.  She carries every scene she is in with her sultry sex appeal and natural charisma in front of the camera.  Sadly, the supporting cast is hit or miss in this one.  In some of the scenes the cast delivers stiff dialogue with zero emotion while other scenes are decently acted by the same cast members.  I don't know if these scenes are rushed, poorly written, or the cast is just over it by that point.  I can only assume but it's clear something is off.  The story for this one is just the same rehashing of the first two films with a little change.  We follow Emmanuelle and her husband in a different country as they get busy with different people.  However, this time we have the addition of the jealousy angle that takes up a very small portion of the film.  This little change does bring something new to the story but it's nothing that truly stands out when you sit back and compare it to the other films.  Finally, this one offers up just as much skin as the previous films.  Lots of beautiful women baring it all for sleazy movie fans to enjoy.  Overall, Goodbye, Emmanuelle is a solid entry in the iconic Emmanuelle series.  It's not a revolutionary sequel but it's still a fun watch.  Check it out.  

Emmanuelle II

Director - Francis Giacobetti

Starring - Sylvia Kristel (Private School, Private Lessons), Umberto Orsini (The Damned, Solomon), and Frederic Lagache 

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Romance/Drama

Tagline - "The erotic masterpiece"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm only assuming here but over the course of a decade or longer I think I've reviewed close to 100 sexploitation films thanks to companies like Mondo Macabro, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin, Synapse/Impulse Pictures, and so on.  These boutique labels really care about preserving cinema.  While most have an eye for horror and exploitation, they do frequently release films that are on the sleazy side of cinema.  A few years back I was lucky enough to review an Emmanuelle double feature from my friends at Umbrella Entertainment.  I can no longer find those reviews for some reason but I do remember really enjoying those films thanks to the salacious performance from Sylvia Kristel.  A couple weeks ago I was sent the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection by Severin to check out.  This was a great reason to revisit these historic films in 4K.  I want to thank Severin for sending it over!  

     The film once again follows Emmanuelle (Kristel) who travels to Hong Kong to find her husband.  On the way she has sex with a woman who professes that she was once raped by several women and enjoyed it.  She then meets a young man and his mistress.  She quickly becomes close friends with them both and starts sleeping with her before she moves on to exploring Hong Kong where she will continue to explore her sexuality.

     A lot of the sequels I review never live up to the original film.  However, Emmanuelle 2 is one of the few instances where the sequel is just as good.  This is wild when you think about how this is the directors only film and it's an erotic drama from the mid-70s.  Most of these films rarely gain traction yet the original film spawned almost a dozen sequels.  I remember liking Emmanuelle 2 when I first watched it several years back but I really appreciate it as a film after revisiting them both.  Between the two films, this one is not as enjoyable but as a film it is leagues above the original.  The acting in this one is very well rounded.  Sylvia Kristel once again shines as the sexy star of the film.  Her character is what makes these movies so enjoyable and her performance here once again shines.  The supporting cast delivers performances that are just as good making the acting in this one more consistent than the previous film.  The story for this one does expand on the previous film some but doesn't really bring anything new to the table.  What made the first film so much fun was the way in which Emmanuelle was reluctant at first to the sexual exploits she was in.  In this follow up we have her more than willing to dive head first into these encounters while giving viewers a similar story as the first film where we follow her in a different country as she experiences new sexual situations for the first time.  A little drama in this one would have went a very long way.  Finally, there is a lot of skin in this one with some gorgeous women baring it all for us to take in.  There is no blood or gore for us horror fans but fans of exploitation will really dig it.  Overall, Emmanuelle II has better acting and cinematography but the story doesn't really give us something new.  It's still a fun watch but don't expect something that will stick with you like the original.  

Emmanuelle

Director - Just Jaekin (The Story of O, Girls)

Starring - Sylvia Kristel (Dracula's Widow, Red Heat), Alain Cuny (Don't Touch the White Woman!, Cross of the Living), and Marika Green (Pickpocket, Rider in the Rain)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Romance

Tagline - "X was never like this"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing exploitation for sometime now.  I started my writing career reviewing forgotten exploitation and action flicks.  Over time I was introduced to sexploitation and found myself truly enjoying them for the most part.  More genre fans would be open to them if they would get out of the mindset that these films are just porn.  These movies are story rich and highly entertaining even if you fast forward through the softcore dry humping.  Sometime ago I was sent the quintessential sexploitation film from my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment.  I reviewed the film at the time but it had been years since my last viewing so I was excited when Severin announced the release of their Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection.  I had only seen the first two films and really wanted to revisit them while seeing the other two films in the set.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send this set over.  I want to thank Severin for letting me check it out.  

     The film follows Emmanuelle who is married to a diplomat currently in Bangkok.  She visits him and when they finally see each other after several months apart, he is sad to learn that she has not explored their open relationship.  This soon changes after she meets several beautiful women and men who open her up to the world of sexual desire. 

     Sexploitation is a sub-genre that is often hated on by movie fans that tend to only watch popcorn flicks.  They hear nudity and instantly form an opinion about a film without seeing it.  These people are truly missing out.  As I said earlier, these films are a lot of fun and if nudity makes you feel uncomfortable, you can just fast forward through these scenes.  Emmanuelle is a fantastic movie that is a part of cinema history and one of the more popular sexploitation flicks.  Personally, I enjoy it but it's not one of my favorites but I can see why it became as popular and as important as it has.  The acting in this one is great.  Sylvia Kristel is a gorgeous actress with a lot of talent in front of the camera which is why I think the Emmanuelle movies are so much fun.  She's a great actress on top of making the sex scenes extremely hot.  Normally, I would fast forward through the sex scenes in sexploitation flicks but I can't do it here.  I have to watch.  The supporting cast is a bit uneven but in all fairness, no one watches these films for the acting.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and clearly written to be an erotic film.  What stops this one from falling into obscurity as another skin flick lost to time is the character development and the performance from Kristel.  It works and is just as enjoyable the second and third time around.  Finally, this one doesn't have any of the red stuff many of you genre fans may want.  Instead, it's got plenty of skin and a lot of sexy scenes even for a film that is pushing 50.  Overall, Emmanuelle is not a film you toss in because it has a thought provoking story with passionate performances.  It's a skin flick with a gorgeous leading lady and a lot of skin.  It's fun and should be seen especially if you did exploitation.  This release from Severin is a must see! 

Ssssstoner Snake

Director - Daryl Hook (Mr. MeatHook's Shitty Video Reviews, Sharkoween)

Starring - Mel Heflin (Darbie's Scream House, Pigshit), Clint Beaver (Onlyfangs, Orgy of the Dead 2), and Henrique Couto (Smart House, Found Footage: The Series)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most indie productions are passion projects from dedicated genre fans.  No one goes into a no budget film with dreams of getting rich or becoming famous.  These filmmakers love the genre and have a vision.  That's why I love reviewing no budget horror flicks.  Sure, they are far from perfect but I love seeing the wild ideas and, in some cases, how far a filmmaker can grow between films.  Sometime back I befriended Daryl Hook after several friends of mine shared a few posts of his about his horror comedy Ssssstoner Snake.  I fucking love stoner comedies and horror so I quickly added him.  I shared the trailer on the site and followed the film for sometime but never had the chance to see the film until recently when Daryl messaged me to review it.  I want to thank him for sending this one over!

     The film follows an extraterrestrial snake that finds itself on Earth where it crosses paths with a stoner.  He shares his joint with the snake before he is brutally murdered by it.  This sends the snake on the hunt to get fucked up and murder every human he crosses paths with.

     Director Daryl Hook had mentioned several times on Facebook that some may consider Ssssstoner Snake to be one of the worst movies ever made.  While it is bad in several aspect, it's still a fun movie experience.  I love the being bad on purpose style of filmmaking that was made popular by filmmaker Chris Seaver and the films of Dire Wit Films.  Ssssstoner Snake truly embraces the no budget schlock and delivers something that fans of no budget madness can truly appreciate.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  We have characters that are over the top and theatrical while other characters are more grounded and natural.  The acting required for each does clash in several scenes which is a bit awkward to watch.  As a fan, I wish the movie would have embraced the characters with crazy wigs and costumes that delivered the overdramatic performances.  It's a great way to cover up inexperience while delivering on some laughs.  The more serious performances feel out of place at times and the forced dialogue makes a few of the scenes fall short on the humor that it's going for.  The story for this one is a loving tribute to bad cinema.  We have a snake from space with a knack for murder and a nose for good weed.  We then have a horror trope loving guy tossed in the middle of the intergalactic reptile mayhem.  It's a lot of fun in an intentionally bad way.  With that being said, the film is a bit too long.  Some scenes are not necessary and could be trimmed down some to make it a bit more enjoyable.  It's not bad as it is but the pacing can be improved upon with some snips here and there.  Finally, the film is clearly a no budget affair so don't expect to see memorable blood and gore.  We get a snake plushie killing people with what resources the crew had available at the time.  This only adds to the charm the film has but some of you with a taste for blood may be disappointed in it's lack of memorable deaths and gore.  Overall, Ssssstoner Snake may not be winning any awards or making year end lists but it will be infamous among no budget genre fans.  I refuse to use the term "so bad it's good" because it honestly doesn't make sense.  This is not a bad movie.  In fact, it's pretty clever for what it is.  It's funny and has endless potential.  I highly recommend it especially if you dig movies like Filthy McNasty and anything riffed by MST3K.  

Hobocop

Director - Sean Donohue (Death-Scort Service, Naked Cannibal Campers)

Starring - Bob Glazier (Amerikan Holokaust, Die Die Delta Pi), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Sushii's Sex Seance, Kill-Cam), and Joe Makowski (Zed's Dead, Fatal Desires)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "It's a cop with nothing to lose"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews at Horror Society for almost 15 years now and during my first few years on the site I befriended Florida based filmmaker Sean Donohue when he was promoting Death-Scort Service.  I instantly became a fan and he became one of a handful of filmmakers that I actively follow. I've loved most of his films and always look forward to his next project.  A few days back he messaged me to review his newest film Hobocop.  This spinoff from his Death-Scort Service film starred frequent collaborators Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Bob Glazier.  I knew this wasn't a horror film but I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Sean for sending this one over!

     The film follows a hobo (Glazier) who finds a murdered cop.  Instead of reporting the death to the authorities, he snags the officer's badge and gun where he becomes a vigilante of sorts.  This puts a strain on a corrupt detective who has partnered with a drug pusher and pimp when hobocop tries to shut them down.

     Hobocop is a movie I knew Sean was working on but I knew very little about the project.  Over the years I've learned that it's best not to get too deep into films that I plan on watching because it's just more fun to go in blind.  This was no exception.  It was very entertaining but nowhere near my favorite film from the GatorBlade Films' catalogue.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not the worst I've seen.  Glazier and Makowski deliver solid performances.  While the characters they portrayed are not their most memorable, they still did a great job.  We also get some seriously impressive performances from Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Katie McKinley.  I've seen them in several films before and, though they never disappoint, I was not expecting such serious performances from the two.  They made the film for me and I really hope they get more serious roles in the future.  The supporting cast is where we get the uneven performances.  It could be from inexperience but some of the scenes were a bit awkward to watch.  With that being said, holy hell are the women in this movie gorgeous.  I've heard a lot of bad things about Florida but god damn do I want to visit.  The story for this one is a little spin off of the Death-Scort Service series and it works as a straight forward crime flick.  It's basically a vigilante film with a crooked cop, drugs, and a lot of nudity.  It has some humor that works for the most part and while I did enjoy it for what it is, I would rather watch one of the Death-Scort Service films before I revisit this one.  Finally, the deaths in this one are not as memorable as some of the other GatorBlade Films I've reviewed in the past.  We get some blood and some practical effects but that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Hobocop is another fun one from Donohue and company.  It's got beautiful women and some fun performances.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you are fans of GatorBlade's previous releases.  

I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season

Director - Elliott Scott (Frog Monster, Snow Beast: Blood Massacre)

Starring - Nur Alan, Elise Anderson, and Emily Antonyk (Gustov)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love all horror but I have a soft spot for no budget creature features.  Seeing a filmmaker turn something out of nothing is truly remarkable even if the film is not one that I found enjoyable.  A few weeks back I was browsing hashtags on Instagram when I came across the page for Splatter Films 69.  I decided to follow them and after a few days I found a message from the page with a link to I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season.  A no budget cryptid flick was just what I needed in my life so I decided to check it out.  I want to thank Splatter Films 69 for sending this one over!

     The film follows a small town cop who has arrested someone in connection to a string of murders.  However, they have the wrong guy as the real murderer is the infamous bigfoot.  With a knack for murder, he is still killing in the woods when the FBI gets involved which only gives him even more opportunity to murder.

      I went into I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season completely blind.  I knew absolutely nothing about it but that wouldn't have mattered.  I have no idea who this movie was made for but I would love to meet them so I can pick their brains because this movie is something else.  I don't mean that in a good way.  The acting in this one is the most confusing thing I've ever tried to review.  I'm a huge fan of Chris Seaver and his films so I'm very accustomed to acting being bad on purpose as a way to get laughs or cover inexperience.  However, this film features some of the stiffest performances I've seen in film.  The dialogue is flat and the cast shows zero emotion.  I can't tell if this was done on purpose or is the lack of experience and direction.  With that being said, if it was on purpose then it failed to deliver any laughs.  The story for this one is a sequel to I Believe in Bigfoot which I was unaware of at the time.  In this sequel we follow incompetent FBI agents as they scour the woods for clues to a murder investigation as they get picked off one by one by the elusive bigfoot.  I could really get behind a movie this simple around bigfoot especially if it was meant to be a horror comedy but I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season had zero laughs and the story went nowhere.  I plan on watching the first film in the next few weeks to see if that will help me with some of the questions I have.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting fun effects.  We have a bigfoot Halloween costume, a gun that looks like it's from a high school auxiliary team, and several lazy deaths with no imagination.  Overall, I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season is a film that has left me confused.  I hope it was meant to be funny but I couldn't find any humor in it.  I love a good bad movie but this one was damn near impossible to finish.  I can't tell you to skip it because I feel every genre fan has to sit through this one at least one time.  

Paula Takes the Stage

Director - Eric Albert Branstrom (Instant Life, At the End of the Hall)

Starring - Christopher Prentice (Butterfly, Break a Leg), Belle Eclair (Sex-Positive, Nobody Fucking Leaves), and Dawn Michel Killing (Dispatches from Elsewhere, Tattletale)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love how broad horror can be.  You can have a serious film about a serial killer and immediately follow that up with a movie about a living placenta.  Horror is a genre of imagination and creativity or it can be a genre of stale cliches from producers wanting to make a quick dollar.  Sometime back I was asked to review the short Paula Takes the Stage.  I agreed to check it out and was not prepared for how much fun it was.  

     The film follows stage actress Paula (Eclair) who is set to make her big return.  However, as she counts down the minutes for her return, madness takes over and blood starts to flow.

     Paula Takes the Stage is a short that really impressed me.  It's not a film that will really stick with you or will inspire a flood of cheap knockoffs but I seriously enjoyed it for what it was.  It's not perfect, but it was entertaining.  The acting in this one is the highlight of the film.  The entire cast is phenomenal and the characters they brought to life are absolutely brilliant.  The way everyone is able to feed off each other and create these larger than life characters is something truly remarkable.  This short has to be seen for the acting alone.  The story for this one is a little underwhelming but works for the film's short run time.  We have a woman preparing for her return to the stage who meets with some cast and crew before her call time.  During these interactions things take a deadly turn with severe harm and even death.  The short doesn't really explore the why for this but it works as it is.  Finally, we get a lot of blood.  We have some make-up effects that works for the gag and a lot of blood but nothing that would really stand out especially to those of us that have an eye for blood and gore.  Overall, Paula Takes the Stage is a short where the acting surpasses all expectations.  While the story is lacking, it was still a fantastic short that many genre fans will appreciate.  Check it out.  

Jacker 3: Road to Hell

Director - James Panetta (Doomsday Stories, I Slay on Christmas)

Starring - Phil Herman (Amityville Zombies, Psycho Night), Debbie D (Phil Herman's Unearthed, Return to Bloody Creek), and Christopher Kahler (Sundown on Black Waters, Return of the Corn Zombies)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "The end is coming"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing movies here at Horror Society for almost 15 years now and I still find it funny when something I reviewed all those years ago comes back to me.  In March of 2016 I reviewed the Jacker double feature from my friends over at The Sleaze Box.  These S.O.V. crime thrillers looked like a lot of fun so I snagged a copy from them and added them to my watch list along with another Phil Herman S.O.V. film, Burglar from Hell.  It's almost ten years later and I was recently asked by filmmaker Phil Herman to review a couple of his newest films with one of them being a sequel to his S.O.V. classics.  I want to thank Phil for sending over Jacker 3: Road to Hell for review.  

     The film takes place 30 years after the notorious carjacker turned serial killer Jacker (Herman) went missing with no leads as to where he could be.  However, after a body is discovered murdered in a similar fashion to the way Jacker did his victims, the police start to suspect that the notorious killer was back.  Things take an even more unusual turn when former lover turned victim Gloria (Debbie D) reveals that she is alive and well before turning to news and podcasts to discuss her terrifying encounter with the Jacker.  

     When I originally watched these films from Phil Herman, I really liked Burglar from Hell but the two Jacker films were not for me.  I can see why S.O.V. fans would enjoy it but it was a little underdeveloped in the story department in my opinion.  I went into the third film with an open mind and a hope that this one would be a bit more enjoyable.  Sadly, this is probably the weakest of the three.  The acting in this one is very uneven. The cast in some of the scenes spit out their dialogue with absolutely no conviction.  It's almost as if they are reading their lines instead of acting.  Other scenes may feature a little better acting but it is awkward with unnatural body movement and delivery.  I've seen a lot of no budget genre films over the years and this one features some of the most awkward scenes I've had to review.  The story for this one is a rehashing of the first two films after a 30 year break.  The first two Jacker films were released in 1993 and 1996 before going dormant for 30 years with the Jacker randomly picking up where he left off.  By this point the Jacker has reached an almost cult like status with people cowering at the mere mention of him but the character himself is not that menacing.  There is nothing about him that makes him stand out or sends chills down the viewer's spine.  He looks like everyone's uncle that only shows up around the holidays with a buzz offering up unsolicited life advice.  We then add Debbie D as Gloria where she retells her story before we get back into a story almost identical to the first two films.  Finally, there is several deaths in the film but most of them are gunshots with very little effects.  The kills are not that imaginative and get lost in the shuffle of things.  Overall, Jacker 3 is not what I was expecting.  I was hoping the film would turn the killer into something a bit more terrifying instead of looking like the dude that hangs out at gas stations revving up his truck.  Sadly, I can't recommend this one.  

Phil Herman's Unearthed

Director(s) - Derek Braasch (Torture the Flesh, The Ties that Bind), Will Devokees (Morbid Stories, Macabre Medicine), Marcelo Fabani (I Slay on Christmas, Doomsday Stories), Phil Herman (Burglar from Hell, Jacker), Christopher Kahler (Around Midnight, Hobo with a Trash Can), and James Panetta (Death From Beyond, Death in the Dark)

Starring - Butch Patrick (The Munsters, Bite School), Tina Krause (Bloodletting, Side Effects May Vary), and Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 13 Fanboy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I find myself bitching and moaning with every horror anthology that I review about how almost every indie anthology lacks a wraparound segment that ties everything together.  Most of these anthologies are just shorts that role from one segment to the next with no reasoning behind it.  I know it's no easy task to make a movie especially when you have zero budget and using the bare essentials in regards to equipment but an anthology without a segment to bookend everything is not an anthology in my eyes.  A few weeks ago I was speaking with director and producer Phil Herman about a few of his projects that I was sharing on the site when he offered me two of his most recent films to review.  One of them just happened to be an anthology film simply titles Phil Herman's Unearthed.  The title intrigued me some but it the was film's poster that really made me curious about the film.  I want to thank Phil for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows an unfortunate character named Doom (Christopher Kahler) who is doing a bit of graverobbing when he finds an old book.  He takes us back to his humble abode where he begins reading us tales from inside which range from a detective who may have locked up an innocent man, a young bride and her father in law searching for her missing husband, and a woman who suspects her home might be haunted.

     Phil Herman's Unearthed is a movie that I couldn't get behind but it does do a few things right.  I went into this one a bit excited but the overall movie did nothing for me but I there was a few things that really impressed me.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  Some of the segments features some solid performances while others are inconsistent.  I don't know if this is a reflection of the direction or inexperience but each scene within each segment does vary.  I would like to add that it was awesome seeing Tiffany Helm from A New Beginning with a small role.  I would have loved to see her utilized more but it was still cool to see her even if the role was small.  The stories for this one is not what I was expecting.  The segment used as the wraparound segment was my favorite part of the film.  The character that is reading from the old book, similar to From a Whisper to a Scream, was a lot of fun.  It was a solid segment that pulled everything together very nicely.  The other segments were very hit or miss with me.  The one with the husband who was abducted by aliens was probably my favorite of the film but it was far from perfect.  This story had a lot of promise and I'm a huge fan of Kristina Santiago but it failed to really go somewhere worth noting.  The other three segments were very predictable and not that interesting.  I thought the short with the woman seeking help with her home was going to be a lot more fun than it actually was but it was extremely dull and slow paced.  Finally, the film features a wide array of effects.  We have some make-up effects that look fairly decent to some visual effects that do look cheap.  While the film was not as bloody as gory as I would have liked, the make-up effects were impressive.  Overall, Phil Herman's Unearthed had a solid premise with the horribly disfigured grave robber reading stories from an old book.  Sadly, the segments that made up the bulk of the film was not as enjoyable.  This is one that I really wanted to like but it wasn't for me.  Skip it.  

I: Scream - A Minty Musical

Director - Aleen Isley (Curtains for Christmas, Head Case)

Starring - B. Barnabei (CarousHELL 3, Shingles: The Movie), Alex Hazen, and Marie Taylor 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline -  "With 6 original songs"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love how horror is such a broad genre.  You can have something as light hearted as Ernest Scared Stupid or Halloweentown or you can go as extreme as August Underground and Let's Stop at the Morgue.  I love all horror but I do tend to gravitate toward the side of horror that focuses on humor and outlandish stories over gore with no plot.  That's something that I've said time and time again which has often drawn criticism from my peers.  Many believe that a movie with gorgeous gore and nudity is superior to a genre film that focuses more on story and character development.  Honestly, I would rather watch the Olsen Twin's movie Double Double Toil and Trouble over fake snuff flicks.  Sometime back I covered the upcoming horror comedy I:Scream - A Minty Musical from the extremely talented Aleen Isley.  This was her directorial debut and I was very interested in seeing the finish product.  A few weeks back she messaged me a link for the film and asked me to review.  I couldn't right away due to illness but as soon as I was able to, I jumped on it.  I want to thank Aleen for sending this one over!  

     The film follows a scientist who is trying to plan the perfect ice cream date for their friend.  However, things didn't go according to plan and she leaves for a game leaving the ice cream behind where a chemical is accidentally spilled into the delicious frozen treat.  The ice cream is transformed into a treat that begins terrorizing the small community.  As the bodies pile up, grizzled detective Barry Griswold (Steve Rudzinski) starts piecing together the pieces everything together while survivors band together with a former ice cream vendor to stop the mint chocolate menace.  

     I:Scream is a movie that I was not expecting to love as much as I did.  I don't mean any disrespect to Aleen and company but I'm not really a fan of musicals.  I know it's weird but I always feel awkward and embarrassed when I watch a musical.  My wife and kids love them and you can often hear them playing throughout the house but I have a hard time sitting through one.  However, that was not the case with I:Scream.  The songs didn't overstay their welcome, were actually catchy, and the story pulled me in.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not bad.  Director and actor Steve Rudzinski returns as a Griswold character from his highly successful Meowy series.  He brings a lot of energy to the film and the character he portrays is a lot of fun.  Also, we get some enjoyable performances from Alex Hazen, B. Barnabei, and David Dietz just to name a few.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles but there was a few instances where inexperience rears it's ugly head.  These scenes are not what I would consider bad but the dialogue is a bit awkward.  The story for one is very enjoyable.  We have a loving nod to 50s sci-fi with the obvious being the classic genre mash-up of The Blob that blends in musicals, comedy, and the Meowy-verse into something truly unique especially in a time where a lot of the indie productions I've reviewed recently have been inspired by 80s horror.  The movie is funny, has great pacing, and the songs are not overused.  In fact, the songs are somewhat catchy and fit the film very well.  Finally, this isn't a bloody film.  The film doesn't try to give us memorable deaths and buckets of gore.  We have some clever props for the killer ice cream that works for the style of film but those looking for the red stuff may be a bit disappointed.  Overall, I:Scream - A Minty Musical is the most fun I've had with a movie in sometime.  It's not a movie that tries to redefine a genre or wants to be something it's not.  Instead, it's an entertaining film from a very talented filmmaker.  While I do enjoy watching Aleen in front of the camera, I'm looking forward to her next outing behind it.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

     

Return of Eva Man

Director(s) - Zacarias Urbiola (A Dragonfly for Each Corpse, House of Psychotic Women) and Antonio D'Agostino (Eva Man, The Ceremony of the Senses)

Starring - Eva Robin's (Hercules, Tenebrae), Ajita Wilson (Hell Behind the Bars, Passionate Lovers), and Ramon Centenero (The Night of the Werewolf, The Dracula Saga)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was not expecting the wild ride that Mondo Macabro was going to send me on when they sent over the Eva Man double feature.  These two films were new to me and I had no idea how important they were in the world of cinema and exploitation at the time.  However, after finishing the first film and working on the review I quickly learned that this film was very important to movie history which only made me even more excited for the sequel.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review!

     The film once again follows Eva (Robbin's), the professor, and her friend as they fight and evade a group of criminals who are after them.  The professor used the technology from the first film to create a ray gun that when fired at someone awakens intense sexual desire.  

     Return of Eva Man, or El Regreso de Eva Man, is another wild film that does a decent enough job at furthering the already crazy story from the film film.  While it does take the same formula from the first film and makes small changes, those changes are just enough to make it work.  It's not going to win people over like the first film but it is still a lot of fun.  The acting in this one is consistent with the first film.  Robbin's and Wilson make the film.  Their charisma and personality makes every scene they are in.  The supporting cast is solid for the most part but it's these two ladies that makes these two films as fun as they are.  The story for this one is essentially the same as the first film with a few minor changes.  Both films follows a group of bad guys chasing Eva for different sexual reasons.  It's obvious they took what made the first film work and rush it into production while the iron was still hot so to speak.  It doesn't give us something new but it's still a solid sequel with some laughs.  Finally, no blood or guns in this one.  We get some skin, some laughs, and that's about the extent of it.  Overall, Return of Eva Man is no as historic as the original but it still deserves a watch.  It's not that original but still entertaining.  Check it out.  

Eva Man

Director - Antonio D'Agostino (The Ceremony of the Senses, Fashion Movie)

Starring - Eva Robins (Tenebrae, Hercules), Ajita Wilson (Macumba Sexual, Hotel Paradise), and Ramon Centenero (Chocolate, Confessions of a Congressman)

Release Date - 1980

Genre - Action/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm no stranger to sexploitation especially the sexploitation and erotica from Italy.  While I've only been reviewing these type of films for about a decade, there is still plenty of them that I've never seen.  A few weeks back I was sent over the Eva Man double feature from my friends over at Mondo Macabro.  Eva Man is an erotic action comedy from 1980 Italy starring trailblazer Eva Robin's (that is how it's really spelled).   I had never seen this one before and couldn't wait to see what kind of batshit crazy fun I was about to get into.  I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for me to check out.  

     The film follows Eva (Robin's) who is a hermaphrodite with a scientific device planted inside her to make her more potent sexually.   Eva's sexual conquests eventually reaches the ears of an impotent crime boss who wishes to kidnap Eva so he cant obtain her magical genitalia for his own needs.  

     Eva Man and it's sequel were completely knew to me.  I recalled getting the press release for these films previously but didn't really remember a lot about them.  However, after I watched the film and started working on my review I quickly realized that these films, along with Eva Robin's and Ajita Wilson, were revolutionary especially for their time.  Boutique labels are important for many reasons especially in regards to preserving physical media but one of their biggest reasons in existing is to bring obscure films to the masses.  This is a huge release from Mondo Macabro and I'm glad they took it on.  The film is absolutely wild and a lot of fun especially for what it is.  The acting in this one is inconsistent with some high and lows.  Eva steals the show.  She is so charismatic in front of the camera.  Ajita is is great in front of the camera as well but some of the scenes doesn't have the same energy as the others.  The supporting cast is nowhere near as fun as these two and don't bring the charisma like these two ladies.  The scenes need one of these two to work which is a bit of a shame.  The story for this one is a sexploitation gold mine that still blows my mind.  I've lived in the U.S. my entire life and never traveled abroad but I have enough sense to know that the outside world is more open than most of those in America.  I can only assume the said can be said about the world during the late 1970s and early 80s or this film would have never found footing.  Here we are, 40 some years later, and many here in the states would never be open to check this one out now.  That's a bummer because this story is raw sexploitation that is a lot of fun.  While I would have loved a little more of Eva and Ajita outside of the sex scenes but I'm not stupid enough to forget what I was watching.  It's sexy, funny, and chaotic but all in a good way.  Like most sexploitation films, the sex scenes are not my main focus and usually throw the pacing of the film off for me.  The film is an even mix of sex scenes and story so fans of sexploitation cinema who really enjoy the sex will really love this one.  Finally, no real effects for genre fans to marvel at.  The film is all wild story and skin.  If you want blood, gore, or visual effects then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Eva Man is not for those that are closed minded or not open to films that are a bit different.  I'm comfortable enough in my sexuality to enjoy this one.  From that aside, it's an important piece of queer cinema that really needs to be in any movie lover's collection.  Check out the release from Mondo Macabro now!

Purana Mandir

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Inspector Dhanush) and Tulsi Ramsay (Tahkhana, Mahakaal)

Starring - Mohnish (Itihaas, Henna), Arti Gupta (Saamri, Tajurba), and Puneet Issar (Superman, Haar Jeet)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Horror/Musical

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      When I started writing reviews back around 2010 I never expected to find myself watching the movies that I do.  I've always loved horror but when I started writing I wanted to cover long forgotten action and exploitation flicks.  My original blog and the idea behind it was to chase down any direct to video action flicks from the late 80s and early 90s along with any dime a dozen exploitation film I could find.  However, my love of horror quickly took over and before long I was diving deep into my beloved genre.  Over the years I've learned that Bollywood, or Hindi horror, is a sub-genre that I really like.  I had seen these films pop up in random message boards and horror groups over the years but never took the time to check them out until just a few years ago.  Now, I fucking love them and will go out of my way to check them out.  A few weeks back my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent me the 1984 Hindi horror film Purana Mandir on blu for review.  Like always, I want to take a moment to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a wealthy family who has a curse placed on them by a devil worshipper.  Every woman in the line will die during childbirth.  We pick up sometime after the original curse with a man who lost his wife during childbirth and his daughter has grown up.  She is now a college student and is dating someone that is not of nobility.  Her father eventually tells her of the curse but she brushes it off and starts looking into the lineage of her father and the evil devil worshipper.  Through her research she finds his head but mistakes it for a valued solider unleashing his evil spirit.

      I've only reviewed a handful of these Hindi horror films so far but I have yet to find one I didn't like.  They are all so much fun but that doesn't make them all equal.  Some of these are much better than others with this one being the weakest of the others that I had seen.  It's a great movie but it does have it's faults.  The acting in this one is exactly like I expected.  The cast has a lot of energy and brings a lot of charisma to the front of the camera.  With that being said, a lot of the characters, even though they were fun to watch, are rather one dimensional.  This isn't so much the cast's fault but it doesn't really give them a lot to work with.  The story for this one is great but does have similarities to other Bollywood horror films that I've reviewed recently.  We have a family cursed by a supernatural presence and we follow a demon of sorts as it kills people.  It's not the most original story regardless of where it was made but once you dress it up with the Bollywood musical numbers and colorful characters then you get something you will never forget.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody and gory one.  We do have some blood and some rather forgettable make-up effects but that is about the extent of it.  Bollywood isn't really known for their memorable deaths and this one fits into that one as well.  Overall, Purana Mandir is not the most memorable Bollywood horror flick but it's not a bad one either.  It's a lot of fun and one you can rewatch several times without getting sick of it.  I highly recommend checking it out from Mondo Macabro.  

Eye Witness

 

Director - Lamberto Bava (Body Puzzle, Devil Fish)

Starring - Barbara Cupisti (Cemetery Man, Mothers), Stefano Davanzati (Dagger Eyes, The Final Executioner), Alessio Orano (Lisa and the Devil, Summer Affair)

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Horror/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate to review several box sets and collections over the years but this High Tension: Four Films by Lamberto Bava from my friends over at Severin Films has really impressed.  It's not often that you find a set of films where every movie in the set is enjoyable but this one has done it.  You can say that I'm being a bit biased because I am a fan of Bava's but these films really are entertaining but I wouldn't call them all horror.  In fact, some of the films may have some horror aspects scattered throughout, but they are mostly crime thrillers or dark drama.  I just finished the fourth and final film in the set, Eye Witness.  This one, much like the first film, feels a lot like a classic slasher meets a crime thriller.  It was a great movie but not necessarily a horror tale.  Regardless, it was worth it!

     The film follows a pair trying to steal from a department store before closing time.  However, as one of them leaves, the other is left behind to wait for them to fetch the car when one of the employees is murdered.  She is there for the horrible crime but doesn't see it because she is blind.  However, she did hear and smell the killer which is the best the detectives can get for the crime.  The killer tries to cover up their lose ends and suspects that the blind witness can sense them resulting in a game of cat and mouse between the two.

     These four made for television films from Lamberto Bava were really strange to me.  I know every country has different rules and regulations but I can't see how Bava thought any of these films would be able to air on television.  This is not the most gruesome of the four films but it is one with a little more focus on sex.  Regardless, it makes sense why not all of these films aired on television and this one was another fun one to watch.  The acting in this one is very consistent.  I've seen movies and television shows where the cast is visually impaired and it was evident that was not the case here.  It was a bit campy at times watching react while pretending to be blind.  Also, a few of the scenes at the beginning of the film is a bit stiff.  I can only assume that the film was shot in order and the cast slowly became more comfortable in their roles.  The story for this one has some horror elements but it it's base is a crime thriller.  The movie gives you the killer fairly early on with the tension and buildup taking place as this woman who is visually impaired is stalked by the known killer.  It's predictable and while it was enjoyable for a first time watch, it doesn't really have replay value like the other films in the set.  Finally, this film does have a few deaths but they are not as gruesome as I was expecting.  The first film in the set really set the tone for what Bava could do with practical effects but the three films since have not really followed in it's footsteps.  This one has some skin, some blood, and that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Eye Witness feels like it wants to be a giallo of sorts but doesn't fully commit to it.  It's a solid film but it is predictable and doesn't really have any replay value.  Check it out but don't expect it to be your new favorite film.