Night of the Damned

Director - Filippo Walter Ratti (Crazy Desires of a Murderer, Mondo Erotico)

Starring - Pierre Brice (Star Maidens, The Valley of Death), Patrizia Viotti (Amuck!, Death Falls Lightly), and Angela De Leo (Zorro in the Court of England, Julliette de Sade)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It looks like my trip through 60s and 70s cinema is still going strong after watching Terror-Creatures from the Grave along with Sexomania, Lady Desire, The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  I had just finished Terror-Creatures from the Grave in the Danza Macabra Volume 4 set and decided to keep on going with the next film in the set which happened to be the 1971 film Night of the Damned which was originally titled La Notte Dei Dannati.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a man who receives a strange letter from an old friend.  Fearing he may be in danger, he quickly makes the trip to his castle where he finds him on his deathbed.  He is convinced that he has been cursed but his new bride doesn't believe that to be the case.  He starts to investigate his friend's property and uncovers something rather strange.  Several centuries before, his ancestor had a woman burned at the stake for being a witch and had his family line cursed.  Sadly, he soon dies and those close to him starts to die gruesome deaths and are drained of their blood.  As he keeps investigating, with the help of the police, he uncovers the truth and the true evil stalking the property.

     Night of the Damned was a new one for me and I was really looking forward to checking it out.  Terror-Creatures from the Grave set the bar pretty high for me in regards to Italian gothic horror and, sadly, Night of the Damned did fall short.  It has some solid moments but the overall film was a bit of a drag if I'm being honest.  The acting in this is solid enough and is what you would expect from an early 70s film.  The cast is a bit dramatic and most of the scenes have that theatrical flair that is a bit cheesy in film but I dig it.  It fits the film and makes it feel like a slightly sleazy play.  The story for this one has a lot going on for such a simple plot.  The movie is basically a guy is cursed and the curse eventually kills him.  However, we have a Countess Bathory angle, so much character development, and a lot of backstory.  However, the film's pacing and extremely drawn out scenes with painstaking dialogue makes the movie feel a lot longer than it really is.  The movie could have used a little tighter writing and even tighter editing.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a blood bath.  The death we do get mostly take place off camera and leave the rest up to our imagination or we get the aftermath which is not that impressive by any standards.  Overall, Night of the Damned is a movie that has a fantastic story but just doesn't live up to it.  It's too long for it's own good and could have used a lot of editing in my opinion.  This is one I would recommend skipping.  

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay

Director - Bruno Gantillon (Highlander, The Hitchhiker)

Starring - Dominique Delpierre (School Falling Apart, Julia), Alfred Baillou (Steppenwolf, Cop or Hood), and Mireille Saunin (Le Mariage de Figaro)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Trapped by the queen of evil with only her body to save her"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been collecting movies for a long time.  I started with VHS and DVDs when I was in high school and made the jump to blu and UHD when they became readily available.  During all those years I've added a lot to my collection with films ranging from the silent era all the way to modern classics.  I love adding new films to my collection and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon.  Several years back I snagged a bunch of DVDs from Cheezy Movies when they were running a sale of some sort.  I think it was around Halloween but I'm not completely sure.  Anyway, I snagged a bunch of them to add to my collection and one of those films was the 1971 erotic horror flick Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay.  I watched it not long after and didn't remember shit about it.  Recently, my friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over a copy of their release of the film on blu for review.  I decided to double feature it with their UHD release of the sexploitation classic Cafe Flesh.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way!

    The film follows two young women who find themselves lost in the forest which happens to be the domain of Morgana (Delpierre).  She promises that they would keep their youth and beauty if they stay with her and be her lovers but if they refuse then they will rot in her dungeons.  

     Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is one of those films that would be a lot of fun if it was 45 minutes or less.  However, it becomes a bit dull once you hit the hour mark.  I would have loved this one if some of the more slower scenes were trimmed down but, as it is, I found myself watching the clock more than the film.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  We do have a few scenes where the cast struggle with where they should be looking along with awkward hand gestures but these scenes are few and far in between.  Instead, most of the film is very well done with this gorgeous cast delivering some solid performances even when baring it all.  The story for this one is one I could really get behind if it was trimmed down.  An erotic folk horror film with beautiful women and the promise of eternal youth if they pledge their bodies to her is something out of every genre fan's dreams.  Sadly, the long, drawn out scenes and dialogue that tends to go nowhere makes this film feel a lot longer than it is.  I often found myself losing track of time and the story as we progressed through the run time.  A lot of trimming should have been done in the editing room.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  The film's main focus is the beautiful women and the fantastic locations.  Honestly, you can pause the film at any time and find yourself with something you could frame and hang on the wall.  While I would have loved some blood and guts, these beautiful locations almost make up for it.  Overall, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay is a movie I thought I would love but found myself somewhat bored with it.  It does have a few memorable moments but the overall film is one that doesn't really stick with you.  Collectors will want to grab the Mondo Macabro release but genre fans looking for something new to watch will want to check out many of Mondo's other releases.  

I Am a Nymphomaniac

Director - Max Pecas (Sweet Taste of Honey, Brigade of Death)

Starring - Sandra Julien (House of Cruel Dolls, Freddy), Janine Reynaud (Two Undercover Angels, Operation White Shark), and Yves Vincent (Surprise Party, Knights of Terror)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "You have read about it.  The Sensuous Teenager is now a motion picture"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Exploitation cinema is one of the main reasons behind why I started writing reviews.  I wanted to cover forgotten direct to video action flicks and the thousands of exploitation films lost to time.  I've always been fond of exploitation flicks with blaxploitation and hixploitation being my favorite sub-genres of it.  When I started my run writing reviews I never expected to find sexploitation flicks sent to my mailbox for review but over the years I've reviewed dozens, if not hundreds of them.  Hell, I've actually enjoyed most of them when I reviewed them.  A few weeks ago Mondo Macabro sent over a double feature of I Am a Nymphomaniac and I Am Frigid...Why?  The first one of the chopping block was I Am a Nymphomaniac which was originally releases as The Sensuous Teenager.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     This one follows a beautiful young woman who sees a man for the first time and finds herself becoming hot and bothered.  Not paying attention to where she is going, she falls down some stairs and hits her head.  She walks away from the accident with minor injuries but the incident forever changes her.  A once prude woman, she is now consumed with sex and tries frantically to screw everyone she can while trying to live a rather normal life.

     I went into this one completely blind aside from the fact that it was an erotic drama.  It wasn't until I wa putting my review together that I saw that it was directed by Max Pecas who also directed Brigade of Death, or Death Squad, that was also released by Mondo Macabro.  I was lucky enough to review this several months back and really enjoyed it and was surprised to see that he helmed both of these films.  I Am a Nymphomaniac is a solid sexploitation flick that does rely heavily on the sleaze but still delivers a decent enough story.  The acting in this one is great.  You will see several familiar faces from genre films and they all give it their all.  With that being said, no one in this film will be winning awards for their performances but they are still solid especially for a skin flick.  The story for this one id so fucking clever for a sexploitation flick.  A stuck up woman hits her head and becomes sex crazed.  That's absolutely brilliant and instead of that being the end of the film we get the added stress and drama you would expect from a person obsessed with sex as they try to hold down a real job and so on.  It's a well written film that does a great job holding the viewer's attention.  Finally, no blood in this one for you sick fucks.  Instead, a lot of skin and some moaning for the other sick fucks.  Overall, I Am a Nymphomaniac is a surprising fun skin flick that has one of the most fitting stories I've seen this far in my writing career.  I highly recommend snagging a copy from Mondo Macabro.  

Don't Deliver Us from Evil

Director - Joel Seria (Charlie and His Two Chicks, Black Sequence)

Starring - Jeanne Goupil (Cookies, Fresh Bait), Catherine Wagener (One Mystery a Day, Desirella), and Bernard Dheran (Escape to Nowhere, Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’m a huge fan of exploitation cinema. I was introduced to them at a young age when my dad bought a box of VHS tapes from a peddler at a gas station when we were traveling out of state. I convinced him to buy them when I saw a few movies that caught my eye. This was my introduction to blaxploitation. I never fully explored exploitation cinema until I was an adult, but I find myself getting more and more excited to review exploitation over horror. I’ll never turn my back on my beloved genre but watching movies that go against normal cinema is so rewarding. Several weeks ago, I received three releases from Mondo Macabro. All three looked like great international horror releases. Before I could watch them, I received another Mondo Macabro release several days later. This was 1971 French exploitation flick looked right up my alley. The film, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil is a movie I was familiar with but had never seen before and couldn’t wait to check it out. Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over. 

      The film follows two young girls who attend a catholic school. Their parents are wealthy and very strict but they find themselves going against everything they were taught. The pair are very mischievous and often pulling mean pranks on their classmates. They started turning their back on their school teachings and believe they are in league with Satan so when one of them finds themselves alone in their home for some time the other secretly moves in with her where they go on a rampage through the countryside. They tease an older man with an eye for school aged girls before pranking him. They then prank the school’s groundskeeper and eventually find their way up to murdering a tourist who breaks down near their home. 

      I went into Don’t Deliver Us from Evil excited. It’s not often that Mondo Macabro releases a movie that I’ve heard about so I was really looking forward to finally seeing a film that has been on my radar for some time especially after seeing how many of my movie friends have liked it. Sadly, I was not a fan of this one. I found myself liking the idea behind it but not fully committed to the story. I wanted to like it but it was just too dull and long winded for my taste. The acting in this one is very well done. The cast all look very comfortable in front of the camera and the young female leads are great as well. They work so well together and the characters you bring to life are what makes the film as enjoyable as it is. I liked their energy and the characters they portray when compared to the other characters. The story for this one should be so much more fun. I think the story would have had a bigger impact on the viewer if the girls were much older and it fully embraces the whole sinning for Satan aspect. As it is, it just doesn’t shock or hit like it could have been. Also, the drawn-out scenes with little to no dialogue with the two girls scheming just didn’t work for me. It was a dull watch. Finally, this is not a violent film or a sleazy one for that matter. If you are looking for blood or skin, you will be surely disappointed. Overall, Don’t Deliver Us from Evil wasn’t what I was expecting but I couldn’t help but think of the movie it could have been. It was decent for a first time watch but I really want to see the movie I thought I was going to watch. Check it out if you dig other Mondo Macabro releases.

The Horrible Sexy Vampire

Director - Jose Luis Madrid (Lucecita, Seven Murders for Scotland Yard)

Starring - Wal Davis (Love Camp, Red Rings of Fear), Barta Barri (Horror Express, Terror Island), and Anastasio Campoy (The Things of Love, Novela)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Mondo Macabro announced Love Brides of the Blood Mummy, The Other Side of the Mirror, and The Horrible Sexy Vampire I was fucking pumped. I knew I would be starting my Mondo Macabro marathon with Love Brides of the Blood Mummy but I was torn between which film I would follow that up with. I decided to keep the bloodsucking theme going and toss in The Horrible Sexy Vampire. Like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a coroner and a police detective who are covering a string of murders. The coroner’s family has lived in the same home for centuries and he has read his ancestor’s diaries. He suspects that a baron in a nearby castle who died in the late 1800 is responsible for the murders when he awakens from his coffin to feed on fresh blood for several days after a few decades of sleep. Coincidentally, the baron’s ancestor movies into the castle prompting the baron to seek him out and beg him to end his life before he takes another. 

      This is one of the most misleading titles I have ever seen. I was expecting a sleazy vampire flick with gorgeous vampires seducing men. Instead, it’s a dude that looks like an extra from an episode of CHiPS dressed up as Dracula for a Halloween party while the story feels like it’s trying to go in two different directions. I really wanted to like this one, in fact I somewhat enjoyed the first 30 minutes or, but it became such a chore to finish. The acting in this one is pretty fucking solid. I liked the characters, the personalities the cast brought to life, and how grounded most of their performances were. There was a few weak links but most of the cast did a fantastic job. The story for this one is a bit of a mess. It starts out as a fairly decent yet generic vampire flick before going off the rails around the midway point. Here the story starts to make very little sense and is extremely goofy. If the film would have kept the steady pacing and built upon the story that was created at the beginning of the film it would have been a hit but once we hit the midway mark it becomes a struggle. Finally, the film has several death scenes but they don’t really have any blood. In fact, the lack of blood was very disappointing considering it’s a film about a vampire. Overall, The Horrible Sexy Vampire was nothing like I was expecting. In fact, it was a pretty big let down. I wanted to like it but it has a lot going against it. Sadly, this is one I can’t recommend.

The Designated Victim

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

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

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Crime/Thriller

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

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

The Psychedelic Priest

Director - William Grefe (Death Curse of Tartu, The Hooked Generation) and Terry Merrill (Beach Boy Rebels)

Starring - John Darrell (The Wars of the Roses, Whoops Apocalypse), Carolyn Hall, and Joe Crane

Release Date - 1971/2001

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I heard that Arrow Video was releasing He Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefe I was curious about the release for several reasons.  I was looking forward to revisiting Death Curse of Tartu and Sting of Death but I was also interested in checking out two other films for the first time.  One of those films was The Psychedelic Priest.  This one really caught my eye because it was originally filmed in 1971 but wasn't released until 30 years later.  I've seen it mentioned in different movie groups over the years but never had the chance to actually see it until now.

     The film follows a priest who is drugged by some teenagers when he shares a drink with them.  This moment opens him up and he realizes that he is meant for more than just preaching sermons.  He still believes in his faith but wants to explore his mind and the world more.  On his adventure he tries many different mind altering drugs and meets different people from varying backgrounds before he goes too far down the rabbit hole.  After an accidental overdose, he finds himself back in religion.  

     The Psychedelic Priest is the highlight of this box set so far and I fucking loved it.  It's not a complicated film but it is a story that has a few layers that you may not pick up on as the film progresses.  This is the kind of film you can watch several times and still find something new to appreciate.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast is rather small and unexperienced but John Darrell carries the film.  His performance was fantastic and I fucking loved his spin on a religious character that finds recreational drugs.  The supporting cast is solid but it's Darrell and his character of the priest that makes the film as enjoyable as it is.  The story for this one is follows a priest who explores his own faith while opening his mind to psychedelics.  Controversial, especially for the early 70s, but it works on several ways.  It not only works as a drama about religion and counter culture but it also works as a film handling political and social topics of the time.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story and can see myself revisiting several more times before I get tired of it.  Finally, the film does have a little blood but this is not one with a body count.  It's a character driven piece that focuses more on story than gore.  Overall, The Psychedelic Priest is one of the highlights of the He Came from the Swamp box set.  It's a fantastic film that fully embodies the counter culture cinema of the time.  I highly recommend this one.  

The Fourth Victim

Director - Eugenio Martin (Horror Express, The Ugly Ones)

Starring - Carroll Baker (Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt), Michael Craig (Tales of the Unexpected, Doctor Who), and Miranda Campa (Winged Devils, Grog)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror/Mystery

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin has been surprisingly a lot lately with their releases.  The one title that I was the most excited for this year was Midnight and that release did not disappoint but Severin has released a few other movies that I did not expect to like as much as I did.  A Day of Judgement was a real treat and a film that I have talked about in great lengths in a few horror groups after my initial viewings.  I fucking loved it and I'm so glad Severin took the risk of releasing it.  It's not a title that most horror fans would rush to but I feel that it is one of their most underrated releases.  The same can be said about their release of the 1971 mystery The Fourth Victim starring Carroll Baker and directed by Carroll Baker.  I was under the impression that this was going to be a fun giallo but that was not the case.  It really did catch me off guard and I fucking loved it.  I want to thank MVD and Severin for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a wealthy business man who has been married three times and all three marriages ended in his wife's death.  The police suspect he is behind their deaths but can't pin it on him.  He meets a strange blonde and the two reluctantly become a couple and marry a month after the death of third wife.  However, his new bride is rather strange and he soon learns that she was institutionalized before.  the deeper he digs into her past the stranger it becomes including the fact that she may not be the woman she claims to be.

     I went into The Fourth Victim expecting a giallo but what I was greeted with was an usual mystery that pulled me in and didn't let go.  The movie doesn't really feel like a horror or thriller but it is a fantastic mystery and drama.  I know most of the horror hipsters will not care for this one but if you like the a captivating story that is not predictable then this one is for you.  The acting in this one is great.  Baker is wonderful in her role and the character has so many layers.  She does a fantastic job at bringing the amazingly written character to life.  Craig was brilliant as well as the womanizing wealthy man who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a hunt for who it was he actually married.  He was great in the role and his performance is one of the highlights.  The supporting cast is just as well done but these two characters are the best written.  The story for this one is not like your typical murder mystery.  In fact, the murder aspect kind of takes the back seat while the character driven aspect takes over.  It works if you allow it but if you are expecting a horror thriller then you will be disappointed.  The film is well written and the story unfolds damn near perfectly.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  This mystery is more focused on story and character development than it is blood and gore.  Overall, The Fourth Victim is a great film that may go under looked by most genre fans.  However, if you are open to a more unique experience then you will really enjoy it.  The release from Severin is a must own in my opinion.  I highly recommend it.  

The Devil in Maddalena

Director - Jerzy Kawalerowicz (Night Train, Mother Joan of Angels)

Starring - Lisa Gastoni (Sacred Heart, Invasion), Eric Woofe (A Challenge for Robin Hood, The Avengers), and Ivo Garrani (Black Sunday, The Slave)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Drama/Romance

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started writing reviews for Horror Society back in early 2013 I was excited to check out all the genre titles that would be coming my way.  For the most part I have not been disappointed in the wild horror and sci-fi flicks that show up for review almost daily.  However, sometimes I get in movies that I had never seen before or would even expect to review.  Case in point, a few weeks ago I received the 1971 romantic drama The Devil in Maddalena from director Jerzy Kawalerowicz and starring the beautiful Lisa Gastoni.  What caught my eye with this one was not the fact that it wasn't a horror film but it featured a score from the legendary composer Ennio Morricone.  I was extremely shocked by this and was very curious to see how this one would play out.  I want to think One 7 Films for sending this one over.  

      The film follows a beautiful young woman who is looking for someone to call her own but she soon falls in love with a handsome priest.  The two are unable to copulate due to his celibacy and this causes friction between the two while the priest questions if being in the priesthood is what he still wants to do.  

     I can already hear the comment section of this review blowing up by people crying about how it's not a horror movie.  However, I don't care.  One 7 was kind enough to send this one over for review and review it is what I'm going to do.  The acting in this one is solid.  The film has two characters that stand out while the rest of the cast blends into the background.  It's got some seriously great acting but a lot of the characters are dull.  The story for this one is a strict dramatic romance with nothing really redeeming for those of you looking for something along the lines of sleaze.  The artwork made me think this was going to be a fun sexploitation but that was not the case.  It was a solid romantic film that wasn't bad but not what I was expecting.  Hell, I enjoyed it and the score from Morricone made it fun.  Finally, the film has some blood, which was surprising, but it's nothing that will stand out for horror fans.  Overall, The Devil in Maddalena is not the movie you expect but it's not a bad movie.  I even recommend it but don't let the films artwork deceive you.  It's a straight forward romantic drama.  The blu looks good and as much as I think it's fun I still can't see a majority of you checking it out which is a damn shame.  

The Point

Director - Fred Wolf (Strawberry Shortcake, The Wuzzles)

Starring - Ringo Starr (Alice in Wonderland, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Paul Frees (The Return of the King, Wonder Woman), and Mike Lookinland (The Brady Bunch, The Towering Inferno)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the years I've talked about my childhood in my reviews.  I like to connect with the movies before I review them that way the reader can get some sort of connection with me and why I felt the way I did with the film I'm reviewing.  As a child I grew up in front of the television.  Cartoons, movies, documentaries, it didn't matter.  I watched anything and everything as a kid.  I remember being very little when I watch The Point for the first time.  It was a fun little animated flick but as I got older I didn't remember a lot about it.  Hell, I forgot about the film until MVD announced their release of the film on blu as part of their Rewind Collection.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Oblio (Lookinland) who was born with a round head in the village of people with pointy heads.  He's often picked on and bullied and eventually forced out of the village for being different.  On his adventures through the pointless forest he discovers many different types of people, as well as, his sense of worth.

     The Point isn't the pinnacle of animation and it's not the most original story but it's fun for what it is.  It's a children's story written by a man tripping on acid.  That's pretty fucking wild if you ask me.  It's even better when you consider that the film has three different versions with different narrators.  The video release of the film has Ringo Starr while the cable cut of the film has Alan Thicke narrating.  When I watched this for the first time I was watching the Alan Thicke version.  Regardless, it's not the most amazing animated film but it's still a fun watch.  The voice acting in this one is fun.  The voices match up pretty well for the characters but having the same voice actor portraying different characters without changing their voice was a little confusing and lazy.  Several of the cast members voiced multiple characters but they never tries to change their voice.  A lot of different animated films and shows recycled voice actors for different characters but they used their voices to create different characters.  The Point doesn't do that.  We get the same voice for different characters.  The story for this one is a solid enough children's adventure tale following a kid that's different as he learns his place in life.  It may have been inspired by an acid trip but it still speaks to children.  It's perfect for kids that are bullied, born different, coming to terms with their sexual identities, and so forth.  It's very relevant but it's not the most original even for 1971.  There has been countless other shows and movies aimed for children with similar stories.  Finally, the animation for this one is unique but not something that sticks with you.  I like the animation style used for the film but a lot of the younger generations would not appreciate it as much as us older generations do.  Overall, The Point is a fun watch especially if you've never seen it before.  The blu from MVD looks great and I love that they took the time to put this release together.  Their work as preserving underrated and obscure films is top notch.  Be sure to add this one to your collection.  

The Other Side of Madness

Director - Frank Howard 

Starring - Brian Klinknett (Slime Town Blues), Erica Bigelow, and Paula Shannon

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Drama/Crime

Tagline - "A nightmare of TERROR!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    While most people know me for my love of horror but not many people get to know my exploitation side.  I absolutely love exploitation cinema, especially blaxploitation.  I've collected hundreds of exploitation movies over the years and I've often wondered why there was never exploitation flicks centered around serial killers.  Sure, we have the gritty Zodiac from the 70s but most films centered around serial killers are horror.  Exploitation films are literally that...they exploit trends and fads.  Serial killers has always fascinated American audiences so it would make sense that exploitation filmmakers would exploit that as well.  A few weeks back I received the press release for The Other Side of Madness.  I was shocked to see that it was an exploitation flick about the Manson Family Murders.  This was the first time I had heard of this film so I reached out and was able to snag a review copy of the film on blu.  

     The film follows members of the Manson family as they appear in court.  The judge asks them to retell certain parts of their lives living with Manson before having them go into detail about the night they commited the heinous murders. 

     I've seen several horror movies centered around Manson and the Tate murder.  Some were very entertaining while others tried too hard to be shocking and deplorable.  The Other Side of Madness is somewhere in between.  There is several things I really dug about the film and there was a few things I didn't like.  The acting in this one is all over the place.  Some of the characters are grounded and well done while others showed no signs of attempting to act.  They just spit out their dialogue, which was obviously improvised, and then stood idly by while the other cast members did their thing.  There is a clear inconsistency when it comes to the acting.  The story for this one tries to blend documentary, court room drama, and true crime.  Honestly, I could have lived without the court room angle but it did have it's moments.  With that being said, if the film would have been a traditional movie telling the same story it would have been an unforgettable film.  Finally, this one is not a bloody flick.  The ending of the film does have some pretty uncomfortable scenes but it's still not a bloody film.  The movie relies on the murders themselves to get across to the viewer rather than shower them with blood.  Overall, The Other Side of Madness is a very interesting movie about one of the most gruesome murders to ever take place in the U.S.  The movie gets some things right and missed it's mark on others. It deserves a watch but don't expect something you will revisit.  The blu looks pretty solid as well.  The video and sound quality is sharp but it's nowhere near the best that blu can produce.  I recommend that fans of exploitation and true crime check this one out.  

Daughters of Darkness

Director - Harry Kumel (The Legend of Doom House, Paradise Lost)

Starring - Delphine Seyrig (A Doll's House, Diary of a Suicide), John Karlen (Dark Shadows, House of Dark Shadows), and Danielle Ouimet (Vital Signs, Dominique)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They hunger for your blood!"

Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few days before Halloween I walked to my post office to check the mail when I found a good sized package from my friends over at MVD.  Mail has been somewhat slow the last few weeks with Covid, which is understandable, but I was real excited to see what they had sent my way.  The first film was Live Feed from the late Ryan Nicholson.  However, the second film in the box was the movie I was the most excited for.  This was the 4K release of Daughters of Darkness from Blue Underground.  I absolutely love BU and this one I had never seen before.  Their previous 4K releases were phenomenal so I couldn't wait to dig in.  I want to thank MVD and BU for sending this one over!

     The film follows a newlywed couple who vacation to an extravagant hotel.  The newly married husband has a taste for the macabre with a little flair for sadism.  Their honeymoon takes a weird turn when a stranger, Countess Bathory, arrives at the hotel with her beautiful servant.  A string of murders coincide with the countess' arrival and soon the young couple is thrust in the middle of a bloody nightmare.

     When I talk about Blue Underground with genre fans films like Zombie, Maniac, and House by the Cemetery are movies that usually come up in conversation.  Blue Underground has a knack for releasing some of the more bloodier horror films but I knew Daughters of Darkness wouldn't be like those.  I was right but I was not expecting a horror film with such an amazing atmosphere and tone.  I was really impressed by this gothic horror tale set in a more contemporary setting.  The acting in this one is a little uneven but solid.  Delphine Seyrig steals every scene she is in.  She does a fantastic job as the countess and makes the movie what it is.  The supporting cast is decent but no one delivers the performance that she does.  The scale is definitely tipped in her way.  The story for this one is a little on the weak side but it does play on the classic vampire mythos while dating itself to the 70s instead of the typically gothic era like other vampire films of the time.  What makes this film so entertaining is the how the characters drive the story.  The plot points are scattered throughout the film and the characters, along with their interactions with one another, are what moves the story along.  This is how a movie should be told instead of events taking place and having the cast react to it.  Finally, the film has some light blood but for those of you looking for amazing practical effects and unforgettable gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, Daughters of Darkness is a well made horror tale about social class and vampires.  The movie does have a few dull moments but the characters make it worth watching.  This 4K release from Blue Underground looks fantastic and the new artwork for the film is gorgeous.  The video and audio quality is damn near perfect.  I highly suggest grabbing this one for your collections!

The Lady Kills

THE LADY KILLS - coming soon to Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.
Director - Jean-Louis van Belle (Made in Sex, Forbidden Paris)
Starring - Carole Lebel (The Golden Claws of the Cat Girl, The Hand), Claude Beautheac (One Two Two, The Bear and the Doll), and Paul Descombes (Fernand, Hamlet)
Release Date - 1971
Genre - Thriller
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been working hard on horror reviews over the last few weeks.  I recently wrapped up reviews for two indie slashers from Tennessee and decided to review the newest blu release from Mondo Macabro for Shin'ya Tsukamoto's Gemini.  When I was done I wanted something a little more sleazy than horror.  Lucky for me I had also received The Lady Kills from Mondo Macabro as well for review.  This was not going to be the typical sexploitation flick that I'm accustomed to but I didn't mind.  Thanks Mondo for sending this one over!

     The film follows the beautiful Françoise Frémont who travels around Europe expressing her sexuality with random Johns.  However, sex with strangers is not the only thing she is good at.  She has murder on her mind and several men meet their demise as her sexually charged hands.

     I knew The Lady Killer was not going to be the normal sexploitation flick that I usually review for companies like Vinegar Syndrome.  I knew it was going to be sleazy to an extent but I, honestly, had no idea that it was going to be like it actually was.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy but what would you expect from an early 70s film that has so much nudity?  The characters work for the film but the characters don't really stand out from other films like it.  The story for this one is a little uneven and is a bit too long but it's fun.  The thriller aspect of the film is not as thrilling as I would have liked but the nudity portion is very entertaining.  Finally, there is a little blood but if you are looking for tons of gore you will be very disappointed.  However, if beautiful women and men writhing is pain is more your speed then you will enjoy this.  Overall, The Lady Kills is a fun late night watch.  The story is not that compelling and the acting is far from perfect but it's still a fun watch for what it is.  The image quality on this blu from Mondo Macabro is gorgeous.  I highly suggest checking this one out.  

Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return

Director - Addison Binek (Movies to Watch on A Rainy Day)
Starring - Addison Binek, Johnathan Gogoleski, and Andrew Barber
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Comedy
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I rarely get to watch movies for my own enjoyment.  I get a fair amount of films in for review so my spare time is usually spent on watching movies that I need to review.  That doesn't stop me from adding movies to my collection.  For several years now I've collected compilation collections of Addison Binek's Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day.  I may have never got around to watching them but I love having them in my collection.  I've met Addison several times at Cinema Wasteland and he is one of the nicest people you could ever meet.  Aside from his Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day series he is also the director and star of Tromasterpiece Theatre.  Those of you that know me knows that I absolutely love Troma and a Mystery Science Theater 3000 inspired showed catered to Troma fans is right up my alley!  Addison recently wrapped up his second episode and reached out to me to review it.  I was unable to watch the first one so I thought now was the best time to remedy that!
     The film follows Addison who works for a local theater.  During his unusual shift he meets a bag of popcorn named Corny and a film reel named Reely.  The three decide to pass time watching Lloyd Kaufman's 1971 comedy The Battle of Love's Return.  The film proves to be very underwhelming for the three so they make up some puns and one liners to pass the time.  

     Tromasterpiece Theatre looked fun but how would it play out?  Would the jokes be funny or would they be a sad attempt at a fan who was trying too hard?  Answer: it was funny.  My review is for the portion of the film that Addison brought to life and not for The Battle of Love's Return.  The acting in this one is solid.  The voice acting in this one is fun but could use some improvement.  The voices do fit the characters but there was a few times where the dialogue was very unenthusiastic.  With that being said, I really enjoyed Addison's performance.  He is extremely comfortable on screen.  His character really fits his personality and you can tell he loves his character.  The story for this one is simple and works on a MST3K level.  The theater setting is absolutely perfect for the film and the MST3K approach works.  It doesn't over do the gimmick and it works.  The humor finds it's mark and the jokes would make any father proud.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you will not find it here.  However, if felt is more your speed then be prepared for some puppet fun!  Overall, Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return is fun way to experience one of Lloyd's earlier films.  The movie is a bit of a bore but Addison brings some fun to a rather dull flick.  I doubt I will be revisiting this any time soon but it was entertaining.  Troma fans will want this for their collection!

The Devil's Nightmare

 



Director - Jean Brismee (Forges, Jean Rouch)
Starring - Erika Blanc (Kill Baby...Kill!, A Man for Emmanuelle), Jean Servais (Donkey Skin, Black Jesus), and Daniel Emilfork (Babel, Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!)
Release Date - 1971
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Nothing in your wildest imagination can prepare you for what happens"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

     My Mondo Macabro marathon is coming to an end.  The movies I watched were very entertaining, sleazy, and fun but the last blu I tossed in just didn't sit well with me.  Up until this point I have watched 6 films on 5 blus.  The first three were fantastic.  I can see myself revisits a few of them.  Sadly, the last three were not up to my speed so to speak.  They missed their mark with me and I just did not have fun with them.  The last film in my Mondo Macabro is The Devil's Nightmare.  This 1971 Belgium production is another new one on me.  I hoped it was better than the previous two Greek exploitation flicks and I was lucky because this one was fun.  Once again I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way.

     The film begins with a German general who discovers that his wife has given birth to a girl.  His family is cursed and the first daughter is to become an evil succubus so the general kills his daughters.  We move forward sometime and that general is living in a secluded castle with his servants when a bus full of tourists arrive seeking shelter.  He lets them in and they make themselves at home.  When some of them are found dead the rumors of the general and his family curse surfaces and the succubus becomes the talk of the tourists.  Many dismiss it as nonsense but are soon face to face with something far more sinister than they could have imagined.

     I love a good gothic horror film from the 70s.  Hammer killed during this time but there was still so many amazing gothic horror films from all around the world.  The Devil's Nightmare is a great period piece with some great atmosphere and characters.  I'm a little disappointed that I'm just now getting to check this one out.  The acting in this one is great.  I absolutely loved the characters.  Some were extremely clichéd but the film balances those out with some unforgettable characters.  The cast does a phenomenal job at bringing these characters to life.  I'm honestly impressed by the cast and what they were able to accomplish.  The story for this one works for the film but it does have several extremely predictable scenes that you will see coming from a mile away.  I loved the dark atmosphere the film is able to capture along with the gothic scenery.  It works for the film and really makes the story that much more fun.  It does move on the slower side but the viewer will enjoy the character's interaction especially those involving the priest.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you will be disappointed.  We do get a few death scenes but they use camera tricks with minimal practical effects.  Overall, The Devil's Nightmare is a fantastic late night horror watch.  The characters are very entertaining and the story does have it's moments.  Don't let the predictable story ruin a fun late night movie watch.  Check it out now on blu from Mondo Macabro.