Creation of the Damned

Director - Jose Ulloa (Twenty Paces to Death, Juventud Sin Freno)

Starring - Craig Hill (Dark Justice, Deadly Deception), Patty Shepard (Rest in Pieces, My Dear Killer), and Teresa Gimpera (Perversion, Crypt of the Living Dead)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The fight for survival has begun"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been going into this Exorcismo set completely blind.  I looked over the artwork but that is about the extent of my knowledge on any of these films.  Some of these look dull as hell on the outside and turn out to be pretty wild by mid-70s standards.  So far in this set I've seen two documentaries and a moody 70s horror film I had no idea what to expect with Creation of the Damned, or Refuge of Fear as it was known, but I really enjoyed this one.

     The film follows a small group of people living in a bunker after the outside world suffers a catastrophic event.  As the outside world becomes polluted and uninhabitable for humans, inside the bunker has become a powder keg as attitudes, sexual tension, and fear of death leaves the survivors at each other's throats forcing one of them to leave the safety of the bunker's walls to seek refuge away from the rest.  

     I'd be hard pressed to find another film in this set that I liked as much as this film.  The movie makes great use of one location and a small cast while giving viewers a great sense of suspense and tension.  Honestly, this is a movie that I could see myself revisiting again sometime in the future.  It was a lot of fun and could have easily spawned a sequel or spin off if the team behind it truly wanted to.  The acting in this one is consistent throughout.  The characters are pretty generic but the cast does a solid enough job with their roles.  They get into their characters and the energy they bring, especially in some of the later scenes, makes the film so much fun.  The story for this one is so fucking simple and leaves so many possibilities for more films to follow.  A group of people in a smallish bomb shelter trying to survive a nuclear attack only to be at each others throats over due to rationing food, sexual desires, and poor attitudes leaves the movie up to go so many different ways.  It could be a drama, horror, sci-fi and even a comedy.  However, what we get is a somewhat dark drama that is character driven and it works.  It makes great use of the small cast and one, or just several, locations.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  The film doesn't really use effects and relies heavily on the characters and their development.  Overall, Creation of the Damned is not a horror title in a traditional sense.  In anything, it's a dark drama set against the apocalypse and I fucking loved it.  I highly recommend snagging this set just for this film alone!  Check it out.  

I Hate My Body

Director - Leon Klimovsky (Devil's Possessed, Strange Love of the Vampires)

Starring - Alexandra Bastedo (Batman Begins, The Ghoul), Narciso Ibanez Menta (The Beast Must Die, The Night of the Werewolf), and Gemma Cuervo (Midsummer Dream, Rain for a Dusty Summer)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The brain of a man... the body of a woman... the sexual horror story of our time!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Boutique labels do a lot for cinema history and preserving it.  They do so much for the horror community by restoring and releasing many forgotten films that either found themselves stuck in VHS or DVD era technology.  These labels also bring long forgotten foreign films to us as well.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro and CAV sent over the press release for the 1974 sci-fi horror flick from Spain titled I Hate My Body.  I was recently sent a box set from Severin featuring films from Spain around the same time so this release from Mondo Macabro really peaked my interest.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a business man who is out of town for work when he suffers an accident.  He soon finds himself in a living nightmare when the doctor, a defacto Nazi doctor, places his brain inside the body of a beautiful young woman.  This completely changes his life for him.  His wife leaves him, he faces misogyny from his former peers, and his sex life is turned upside down.  

     I went into I Hate My Body completely blind and enjoyed the movie for the most part.  I don't typically care for the brain transplant style horror and sci-fi films but this one had some fun moments.  It's not a movie that I see myself revisiting but it was a solid first time watch.  The acting in this one is a bit clunky at times and very overdramatic at others.  The film is not grounded at all and the cast is inconsistent throughout.  The story for this one is more in line of an exploitation flick that points out the injustices that many women faced especially in the early 70s.  It's not really a horror film in a traditional sense but I'm sure it's a nightmare to live through.  The film has some solid pacing but a few of the scenes does drag on due to the stiff and awkward acting.  A little tighter editing would have went a long way.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  The film uses the story to get to the viewer.  With have some skin, a little practical effects for the hospital scenes and that is about the extent of it.  Fans expecting the red stuff going into this one will surely be disappointed.  Overall, I Hate My Body is a strange yet truly unique early 70s sci-fi horror flick that almost feels like a pro-feminism film.  It's not a movie that has great replay value but it's enjoyable for what it is.  Mondo Macabro did a fantastic job bringing this one to us uncultured heathens.  Check it out.  

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! 

Dakota

Director - Wim Verstappen (Black Rider, Alicia)

Starring - Monique van de Ven (Amsterdamned, Daylight), Kees Brusse (Mysteries, Blue Movie), and Willeke van Ammelrooy (The Lake House, Lost Transport)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of the movies I get in for review are horror and I have nothing negative to say about that.  Even if I don't like the movies sent my way for review, I still love watching them.  It's an experience sitting down to watch someone's hard work, seeing actors with little to no experience hope in front of the camera with nothing but love for the genre in their hearts.  With that being said, I do get in the random non-horror title for review from some of the boutique labels that I've became acquainted with over the years.  Most of them send over exploitation flicks or the random low budget direct to video action flicks that have been lost to time.  However, companies like Cult Epics have put a lot of time and focus on bringing international titles to the states in recent years which has broadened my viewing up greatly.  Sometime back they sent me the 1974 adventure drama Dakota from filmmaker Wim Verstappen.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over!

     The film follows a passionate pilot who wants take his DS3, or Dakota, plan across the Atlantic where he encounters several unexpected problems.  

     I knew Dakota wasn't going to be a movie that my typical readers would be interested in but I always feel obligated to review a movie that is sent to me regardless if it was horror or not.  With that being said, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about the film prior to watching it.  It looked interesting to say the least and I love watching movies I had never seen before regardless of the genre.  Sadly, the movie just wasn't for me.  It's not a bad movie but I'm clearly not the target audience for this adventure drama.  The acting in this one is solid for the most part.  The scenes with Brusse alone are very well done.  The setting for the film is very small with Brusse alone most of the time but he is still able to pull off some seriously fantastic acting with one sided dialogue and his mannerisms.  It's when Brusse is with other cast members that we see some stiff dialogue that is a bit awkward coming from the veteran actor.  The supporting cast is solid but Brusse is the main focus of this one.  The story for this one is straight to the point and I'm sure it's overflowing with details that only true aviators will understand.  I am not someone with an interest in planes or flying.  As for the film itself, I enjoyed it for a short time but did find myself bored through most of the film.  The beautiful shots from the pilots perspective and of the plane flying is beautiful but doesn't really hold the viewer's attention like it would someone that has an interest in the topic.  Finally, the film is not one with blood and guts so those of you looking for that type of film will be very disappointed.  The film is solely focused on the flight and how the pilot handles the issues he faces in his flight.  Overall, Dakota is going to be a film that several can appreciate for how beautiful the film is but even fewer can appreciate for the story telling.  I really wanted to like this one but at the end of the day it just wasn't for me.  

Sexomania

Director - Marios Retsilas (Guilty Relationships, I Ora Tou Lykou)

Starring - Maria Ioannidou (The Brightest Star, King of Liars), Vasilis Mitsakis (The Asphalt Fever, The Daughter of the Sun), Stavros Farmakis (Guilty Relationships, The Terrorists) 

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started writing reviews, over 15 years ago now, I never expected that I would be reviewing films from different regions of the world.  I've been fortunate enough to reviews movies from the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Russia, Italy, Spain, and so on.  I've also been fortunate enough to review several titles from Greece thanks to my friends over at Mondo Macabro.  A few months back I was sent the erotic dramatic thriller Sexomania for review.  I had never heard of this 1974 flick before and was really looking forward to checking it out.  I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review!

     The film follows a rich and successful man who has overlooked his wife's carnal needs resulting in her secret infidelity.  He takes her to a doctor to see why she is suffering mentally and everything about her secret life starts to unravel.  

     Sexomania was nothing like I expected but I did enjoy it.  It's not the sexiest film I had seen but it had a solid story, some beautiful cinematography, and the story wasn't that bad.  Sure, it's not a movie that I would normally review for the site but there will be some out there that dig sexploitation and international dramas.  The acting in this one is inconsistent but it's not bad.  In fact, I actually liked it for the most part.  There was a few scenes where the cast was a bit stiff an lacked any emotional range but the overall film was very well acted.  The story for this one is a bit all over the place but I still enjoyed it for what it was.  I liked the idea of the neglectful husband trying to save his wife's mental state with a professional only for her to spill her guts about being unfaithful.  The movie could have used a decent trim and some better editing to make the story a bit more cohesive but sometimes things are lost when you are forced to read the movie.  Finally, don't expect a bloody flick.  We get some skin and a lot of story rich scenes but that is about the extent of it.  Fans wanting some blood and gore should have been more diligent with what they were choosing.  Overall, Sexomania may not be one of those sexploitation films that sticks with you for days after watching but it is a solid first time watch.  Collectors and fans of sexploitation should really check out this release from Mondo Macabro.  

Deathdream

Director - Bob Clark (Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, Black Christmas)

Starring - John Marley (The Godfather, Kolchak: The Night Stalker), Lynn Carlin (Terror on the 40th Floor, The Bionic Woman), and Richard Backus (Another World, The First Deadly Sin)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror/War

Tagline - "Something unspeakable has come home"

Format - Streaming UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Bob Clark is a filmmaker that I hold in high regard.  He is up there, at least for me, with the likes of George A. Romero and John Cherry.  His films Porky's A Christmas Story, Black Christmas, Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, and Dead of Night are absolute classics and I would argue that almost all the films I mentioned have earned their place in cinema history.  Many years ago a friend of mine purchased the Dead of Night DVD release from Blue Underground.  This was one of my favorite releases of the DVD era and one that I have a hard time parting with as I've upgraded from DVD to blu.  A few weeks back Blue Underground once again re-released the film and this time on UHD.  They were kind enough to send over a copy for me to review and this gave me the perfect chance to revisit one of my favorite films.  Like always, I want to thank Blue Underground and MVD for sending this over!

     The film follows a family who just received word that their son had died while fighting in Vietnam. However, their son makes a miraculous late-night arrival to their home much to their surprise. However, he's not the Andy that they remember. Now, he just sits in a rocking chair with a lifeless expression on his face. After a strange encounter with Andy's father and the town's coroner at the local bar, the coroner is convinced that Andy is responsible for the murder of a truck driver that was brutally murdered the night he arrived in town. When the coroner is gone missing and found dead, Andy's father realizes that Andy really did die in the conflict and a monster has came in his place. 

      Deathdream is one of the many films of Bob Clark's that I truly enjoy. However, unlike the films Black Christmas and Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, Deathdream is one of those films that I can't watch over and over again without getting tired of it. It's one of the films that I really enjoy but I can only watch it once or twice a year. I also prefer the original Dead of Night title over Deathdream but I can see the appeal of wanting to use that title over the original. The acting in this one is great and features a lot of familiar faces from previous films from Clark. Most of the Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things cast has roles in the film and they all do a fantastic job. While the cast is well rounded, John Marley and Richard Backus carry the film. Backus does a great job as the shell of a man that returned home from Vietnam. I love how patient and calm his character is before becoming rabid when he attacks his victims. Marley is fantastic as the father struggling with his son and the fact that something is different about him. He shows a lot of emotion with this role and makes the film for me. The story for this one feels like a slasher meets pseudo-vampire in the way it unfolds. The random deaths have that same pacing and tone as the late-70s and early 80s slashers. While we actively know who the killer is we are given the deaths like a slasher of the time. That makes it rather enjoyable even though some of the scenes do tend to drag on. I also love the vampire-like spin they gave Andy. I always appreciated how they incorporated his bloodlust into his aging and night-time stalks. It's a lot of fun if you are open to it. Finally, the film has a lot of bright blood and decent effects. While I would have loved to see more gore and imaginative deaths, I still enjoy what the film does deliver. Overall, Deathdream is a classic horror title that has finally received the UHD treatment. I highly recommend snagging this release especially if you've never seen the film before.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Director - Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist, Lifeforce)

Starring - Marilyn Burns (Helter Skelter, Eaten Alive), Edwin Neal (My Boyfriend's Back, Zombiegeddon), and Allen Danzinger (Storage Locker, Eggshells)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Who will survive and what will be left of them?"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been asked to review some of the world’s most memorable horror films over the years ranging from the classic Universal monster movies to modern films that became instant classics like X and Barbarian. When I started writing reviews 13 years ago I never expected to be asked to review some of the films that has been sent my way. It’s an exciting feeling getting to review some of the movies I grew up with as they find releases on new formats. A few weeks ago I was sent the original 1974 Tobe Hooper classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on UHD for review. This steelbook release gave me the opportunity to revisit this one. While it’s not my favorite film in the franchise I still respect the hell out of it and it is still a fun watch. 

      The film follows a group of twenty-somethings as they travel through Texas after news broke about a series of graverobbers has plagued several southern towns. After they pick up an unhinged hitchhiker, they find themselves at a home isolated from others and inside that home is a family of cannibals with a knack for killing. 

      The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre gave the world the iconic slasher Leatherface along with being one of the most effective horror films of it’s time. I give credit where credit is due and TCM has everything going for it. With that being said, it’s not even in my top three favorite TCM films. It’s an amazing film and a still enjoy watching it from time to time. The acting in this one is one of my favorite parts of the film. The entire cast is firing on every cylinder but my favorite performances will always be Ed Neal’s and Gunnar Hansen. The characters they both portrayed still stand out regardless of how many times you’ve seen the film. The story for this one was shocking for the early 70s but doesn’t really have the impact on viewers discovering the film for the first time now. However, the premise and set up still works regardless of when it was made. It’s a straight forward story that has endless possibilities for sequels which has been tested over the years. Finally, the film is not as bloody and gory as you would expect. Leatherface’s iconic mask looks amazing and we get a few scenes with blood and a few cheap gags but the lack of gore has always disappointed me. Overall, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a huge part of horror history and this steelbook is a must own for fans of the film and genre collectors. While it’s not my favorite film in the franchise I still respect the hell out of it and this release is a must own. Check it out

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Director - Jorge Grau (The Legend of Blood Castle, Violent Blood Bath)

Starring - Cristina Galbo (The Killer Must Kill Again, The House that Screamed), Ray Lovelock (The Last House on the Beach, Queens of Evil), and Arthur Kennedy (Killer Cop, The Tough Ones)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They tampered with nature - now they must pay the price..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago,  while I was in high school, Anchor Bay released a series of box sets with similar themes called Fright Packs.  Some were campy 80s, others were Satanic, and one was a fun set centered around animals.  One that I had to have was the Walking Dead set with Italian and US zombie films.  It was my first introduction to classics like Dead Heat, City of the Living Dead, House by the Cemetery, and my favorite in the set.  That film was Let Sleeping Corpses Lie that was also known as The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue.  I fucking loved this film and watched it several times since I initially bought it.  Synapse Films released the film in a beautiful steelbook but I had to skip on that release.  However, Synapse Films knows that fans wanted a standard edition release and gave it to them.  I want to thank MVD and Synapse for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young man and a woman he is helping get to her sister's home.  However, things are not as peaceful as they would have liked when a man who killed himself a week earlier awakens from the dead with the ability to resurrect the dead.  Now, those reanimated corpses are killing innocent people and the local authorities think it is them.  It's up to them to stop the undead before the police can lock them up for the heinous murders.

     The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is a fucking fantastic zombie film that doesn't get the credit that it truly deserves.  It's eerie, atmospheric, and the story is not another clone of Night of the Living Dead.  What makes this one stand out from others is that it was released just six years after George A. Romero introduced the concept of flesh eating zombies to movie goers instead of the voodoo version that was popular in cinema.  I absolutely adore this movie and I'm glad Synapse gave us this release.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast works so well together and the characters are written very well but the standout stars of the film are the undead.  I love how the undead are in this one.  They really do deliver a chilling performance.  The film for this feels a lot like a loving tribute to NotLD with a little twist.  In the original NotLD they mention that radiation from a probe.  However, in Living Dead in the Manchester Morgue has the dead coming back to life thanks to a piece of experimental farming equipment.  However, the addition of the one zombie making more is not only terrifying but a great addition to a zombie flick.  I love the small twist of originality and how it changes what the film could have been into what it is.  Finally, this one has some seriously fantastic gore and some of the most memorable deaths in horror history.  The tombstone death especially is one of my favorites.  The gore will satisfy the most hardcore of gorehounds and the effects are top notch.  Overall, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is a must see for genre fans especially if you dig the zombie sub-genre.  This release from Synapse is a must own for genre fans and collectors alike.  I can't recommend this film enough.  

Julia

Director - Sigi Rothemund (Summer Night Fever, The Old Fox)

Starring - Jean-Claude Bouillon (A Family Secret, The Hitchhiker), Sylvia Kristel (Dracula's Widow, Emmanuelle), and Teri Tordai (Caligula, House of Pleasure)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My knowledge of 70s cinema is very limited but in recent years I've found myself becoming more and more open to them after falling in love with boutique labels like Vinegar Syndrome, Impulse Pictures, and Severin Films just to name a few.  Since then I've found myself more open to 70s cinema especially exploitation films.  Sometime back Cult Epics announced the release of Sylvia Kristel 1970's Collection on blu.  The four films in the set are all films I had never seen before so I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  I decided to start with the 1974 sexploitation film Julia.  Like always, I want to thank Cult Epics for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this set out.  

     The film follows a young man who is boarding a train when he spots a beautiful young woman.  He tries his luck with her but goes nowhere when she leaves him to have sex with someone else.  Later, he is picked up by his father at the train station and his father also picks up the beautiful young woman.  They go to his home and more sexual tension and adventures follow.

     I've been a fan of sexploitation for a few years now but my knowledge of them is very limited.  However, it is something that I want to continue to watch and enjoy and I have companies like Cult Epics, Vinegar Syndrome, and Impulse Pictures to help me along on this journey.  Julia is not one I had heard about prior to CE's announcement but it was one of two films in the set that caught my eye.  I was looking forward to another sexploitation film starring Kristel and it did not disappoint.  The acting in this one is solid and among the top tier in regards to sexploitation films.  The characters are fairly generic but the cast delivers some decent performances.  Some of the cast, Kristel include, delivers great performances while the rest of the cast delivers a decent enough performance.  The lack of character development does make it a bit disappointing but nothing that takes away from the overall film.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and simple.  It's fun for a first time watch with no over thinking or complicated plot devices.  It's sexy and entertaining but has no replay value.  Finally, no blood in this one.  However, if you are in the market for some skin then this film will not disappoint.  Overall, Julia is not going to be for everyone but if you like sexy exploitation films then I highly recommend it.  Check it out.  

Beyond Erotica

Director - Jose Maria Forque (Game of Murder, The Second Power)

Starring - David Hemmings (Deep Red, Eye of the Devil), Alida Valli (Suspiria, The Killer Nun), and Francisco Rabal (Moonfish, Devil's Hill)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Tagline - "The climax is only the beginning."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I respect the hell out of Mondo Macabro and what they've been releasing over the years.  Even if they release a film that I necessarily cared for I was still excited to add these strange and unusual films to my collection.  I never really got into MM when they were primarily releasing DVD but when they migrated to blu I found myself drawn to their titles.  I've been fortunate enough to review most of these releases over the last few years and it's been an amazing journey.  Several weeks ago CAV sent over a couple Mondo Macabro release for me to check out.  The first that I decided to check out was the 1974 film Beyond Erotica.  The film was released under the alternate title It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game.  I was very interested in the release and I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way to review!

     The film follows a wealthy young man who lives with his mother on a plantation that has come under hardships in recent years.  He's a troubled man that is known for playing macabre games with the females that his mother employs on their property.  He falls for a young woman from the village and brings her on to the property where he plays his sadistic games with her. Before long he convinces her to marry him but things take a surprising turn and she becomes the owner of a small fortune when her husband kills his uncle.  

     I didn't know what I was getting into when I tossed in Beyond Erotica which is typical for most of the Mondo Macabro releases.  The original poster and the blu release artwork both referenced David Hemmings and how this is his most controversial role which only stirred my imagination.  I couldn't help but wonder what kind of movie this was and once I had finished watching it I would have to say that this may be in the running for one of my favorite MM releases.  The acting in this one is great.  Hemmings and Andrea Rau are fantastic together.  Hemmings emotionless character and Rau's abused character are fucking fantastic together.  They are written damn near perfectly and they both slowly change over the course of the film.  Their performance perfectly shows these changes and makes the film as fun as it is.  The remainder of the film is filled with great characters and the cast does a phenomenal job bringing those characters to life.  The story for this one is a little erotic, a little disturbing, and a lot of drama.  Beyond Erotica makes the viewer think they are getting their hands on a sexploitation film with a lot of sex and nudity while the title It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game makes you think the film is more centered on the demented character and his perverse games but it's a little of both.  The film is not as perverse as you would expect and the games are not as big a part of the story as you would led to believe.  I really enjoyed it.  It has great pacing, well written characters, and the story itself very entertaining.  It's a well put together exploitation film with some great growth and changes throughout.  It's not predictable and has some great replay value.  Finally, the film has some nudity and a little blood but don't expect a bloody flick.  It's not a gory mess but if you want some skin and some blood then you are in the right spot.  Overall, Beyond Erotica is one of my favorite Mondo Macabro releases to date.  It's a great cast and a great story.  I feel that the title's are a little misleading but still very enjoyable.  I highly recommend snagging this release especially if you are fans of early 70s exploitation.  

Blood for Dracula

Director - Paul Morrissey (Flesh for Frankenstein, The Hound of the Baskervilles)

Starring - Joe Dallesandro (Cry-Baby, Theodore Rex), Udo Kier (Halloween, Modern Vampires), and Vittorio de Sica (The Hero, Snow Job)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "After Andy Warhol's Frankenstein..."

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been lucky enough to review several dozens of horror films centered around Dracula.  A bunch of them were the classic Universal releases while a good portion of them were the Hammer Horror titles.  The rest were one off films from the 80s, 90s, and 00s and there was even a few indie productions that were not too bad.  Dracula is one of the most iconic horror figures and there has been hundreds of adaptations of the character over the years.  In 1974 Paul Morrissey, Udo Kier, and Andy Warhol once again teamed up almost immediately after filming Flesh for Frankenstein to film Blood for Dracula which was also released under the title Andy Warhol's Dracula.  The film recently received an UHD release from Severin Films.  My friends over at MVD were kind enough to send over a review copy of this amazing release.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a dying Dracula (Kier) who leaves his castle with his servant to travel to Italy in search of virgin blood.  He visits a family with several daughters rumored to be virgins.  The family has came on hard times recently when the father gambled away their fortunes.  They believe that Dracula is the answer to their prayers but he's much worse when he starts feeding on the daughters and discovers they are no longer virgins.  Facing death, Dracula prepares to leave but discovers that their oldest daughter, who was once engaged, is actually still a virgin but the family's hired hand suspects he is a vampire and refuses to let him live once he discovers what he really is.

     Blood for Dracula is nowhere near as entertaining as Flesh for Frankenstein but it is one of the better Dracula films to come out of the mid-70s.  It's sultry, bloody, and rich in story but it does give us a different spin on Dracula which will turn some fans off.  It's a unique spin on the iconic character but what makes it different does make it a bit dull.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  Kier is an absolute legend and this is probably my favorite performance from him.  His portrayal of Dracula is completely different than what I was expecting and he absolutely nailed it.  The same can be said about the supporting cast.  The characters are all memorable with no noticeable weak links.  They are all beautifully written and the cast does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.  The story for this one doesn't paint Dracula is a beautiful man with other worldly powers and an insatiable bloodlust.  Instead, he's a frail man struggling to stay alive as he searches for virgin blood in Italy in hopes that the residents of the country are strict Catholics.  It's a different take on the story and one that I somewhat enjoyed.  It does wear itself thin and watching Dracula whine becomes a bit repetitive as the film progresses.  I understand the need to set itself apart from other Dracula films but this one doesn't really feel like a Dracula flick.  It's still a fun watch but nothing like you would expect.  Finally, the film has some blood, plenty of nudity, and one hell of a death scene during the final moments of the film.  That final death scene is very impressive and one of the most memorable Dracula deaths that I recall.  The film is worth it for that scene alone.  Overall, Blood for Dracula is a must see for genre fans especially if you are looking for a new spin on the old Dracula tale.  It may disappoint some of you that are expecting a true adaptation but if you are looking for something new with blood and plenty of skin then I highly recommend it.  The UHD release from Severin is a must own. 

Lover of the Monster

Director - Sergio Garrone (The Hand That Feeds the Dead, Django the Bastard)

Starring - Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre, For a Few Dollars More), Katia Christine (Spirits of the Dead, War of the Planets), and Marzia Damon (Sex of the Witch, The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back I was sent the blu release of The Hand That Feeds the Dead from Full Moon.  It was a fun Frankenstein inspired tale starring Klaus Kinski.  I really enjoyed it and when news broke that Full Moon was also bluing Lover of the Monster I had to see it.  I reached out to my friends over at MVD who was handling this release and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Full Moon for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to review Lover of the Monster.

     The film follows Dr. Alex Nijinski (Kinski) and his new wife as they move into her father's mansion.  The basement was where her father conducted horrible experiment and soon Alex becomes obsessed with his work which comes at a deadly cost.

     Lover of the Monster was an entertaining film but it was a bit dry at times which made for an uncomfortable watch.  I enjoyed it when it was all said and done but the movie does slow down to a crawl at times.  If the editing in this one was a little tighter I would have enjoyed it a lot more.  The acting in this one is great.  Kinski never disappoints and here we get to watch him become unhinged as his character changes.  He delivers a dual performance with his character going through mental and physical changes.  Just like every other performance of his, he gives it his all and these scenes with him are what makes this film so much fun.  The supporting cast delivers solid performances as well but Kinski doesn't share the spotlight.  The story for this one is a bit confusing.  I was under the impression that this was a Jekyll and Hyde inspired sequel to the Frankenstein inspired The Hand That Feeds the Dead.  Kinski portrays a character with the same name that is also a doctor but that, apparently, is pure coincidence.  Both films were releases in 1974 but as I did some research for the review I discovered that they are not really sequels even though they have the same character and mostly the same cast.  With that being said, I really do enjoy this story but the pacing is very uneven.  We get some dialogue heavy scenes mixed with some horror and action scenes but then we have additional scenes where nothing happens.  We follow the cast as they do dauntless tasks that is rather boring to watch. It's easy to tell that these a filler scenes that is meant to extend the film's running time but they also turn the viewer off from the film.  Finally, the film has some fun make-up effects but if you are looking for memorable deaths and great gore then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Lover of the Monster is a great film to watch especially if you double feature it with The Hand That Feeds the Dead.  Full Moon did a great job with this release.  Collectors will want to snag this one.  

Invasion from Inner Earth

Director - Bill Rebane (Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake, The Giant Spider Invasion)

Starring - Paul Bentzen (The Alpha Incident, The Demons of Ludlow), Debbi Pick, and Nick Holt (Bigfoot and Wildboy, The Next Step Beyond)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror

Tagline - "They've been waiting millions of years for this moment"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It looks like I may or may not have my work cut out for me as I dig through this Bill Rebane Weird Wisconsin box set that was sent my way from MVD and Arrow Video.  I started my Rebane movie marathon with Monster a Go-Go which wasn't too bad but wasn't what I was expecting.  When it was over I immediately hit play on the second film in the second set which was 1974's Invasion from Inner Earth.  What a contrast to the first film this one was.  Honestly, I loved it and this really got my hopes up for the following films.

      The film follows a group traveling by plane when they encounter some strange sites like the air traffic controller telling them that everyone is dead.  They are able to land and make it to a cabin which is remote and located deep in the snow covered mountains.  While they try to peice together what is going on one of them suspects that aliens are responsible but they soon discover that the attack on mankind came from within the Earth and not from space.

      I didn't know what to expect from Invasion from Inner Earth but this one really surprised me.  I grew up on post-apocalyptic horror and sci-fi tales and this one was one of the better ones.  It had a Dawn of the Dead look while having a deep dive sci-fi basis.  I loved it and could see myself digging into it again.  It's the atmosphere that made this one so much fun.  The acting in this one is surprisingly well done.  The characters do feel a little cheesy and cliched for the most part but the cast does a surprisingly solid job in their performances.  It's the characters that make this one so enjoyable.  Though the characters are generic and cliched they still fit with the story very well which makes it that more entertaining.  The story for this one is one we haven't seen before but it does have a unique spin to it.  Decades before the 70s we had horror and sci-fi flicks where the worlds population was wiped out by disease, aliens, comets, and so forth.  However, there wasn't many horror tales before then that featured the hollowed Earth theory.  Though this was just a tiny part of the story it was still the basis for the entire film and I enjoyed that aspect.  I loved the set up of the film following the survivors as they were secluded in the woods surrounded by snow with no food.  It created a very claustrophobic setting that made the film work in my opinion.  I enjoyed it and even though it was simple it was still very story rich.  Finally, the film has some deaths but they are mostly off screen with no blood or gore.  The movie has a made for television quality about it which would explain the lack of blood and gore.  Overall, Invasion from Inner Earth was very enjoyable.  It was cheap and far from perfect but I really liked this one.  Fans of 70s post-apocalyptic sci-fi tales will enjoy this one.  It's well worth it.  

House of Cruel Dolls

Director - Pierre Chevalier (The Panther Squad, Human Cargo)

Starring - Sandra Julien (Dany the Ravager, Nada), Silvia Solar (Danger! Death Ray, Cannibal Terror), and Magda Mundari (The Infamous House of Madame X, The Randy Widow)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Thriller/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon is one of the companies that I cut my teeth to when I was first found a love for horror.  The Puppet Master, Subspecies, Doctor Mordrid, and so on were some of my favorite film to rent from the local ma and pop video store.  Their in house productions were always my favorites but some of their distributed flicks were a bit of a miss for me.  Regardless, my love for this persists to this day and I'm always grateful when I get in a new movie to review from the company that brought me so much joy when I was younger.  A few weeks ago I saw that Full Moon was releasing the 1974 sexploitation flick House of Cruel Dolls on blu.  I had never seen this one so I reached out to Full Moon and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a group of underground flesh merchants that kidnap beautiful women and force them to work in their bordellos.  It follows one woman who is rescued from her sleazy life while an underground investigation is underway to stop them from abducting more women.

     I was pretty excited to check this one out.  I love a good sexploitation flick and it's rare that I get them in for review outside of Vinegar Syndrome.  Sadly, this was one messy film that I'm almost certain that I reviewed several years back under a different title.  I was unable to track the review down but the film was so similar to another film I didn't care for.  The acting in this one is split up into two parts.  The physical acting which was solid.  Their mannerisms fit the sexploitation section and the inserted spy clips (yep, you read that right).  It works but the dubbing is where it lost me.  The dubbing is so bad.  Their voices are like anime characters which doesn't fit the actually cast members at all.  I was fucking laughing my ass off in some of the scenes listening to these characters sound like 80s wrestlers.  The story for this one is several movies spliced together.  The film has the sexploitation story spliced with a spy film.  It makes for a confusing watch which is a bit of a let down.  Both films separated could have been fun but Frankensteining pieces together results in an incoherent story that just isn't fun to watch. Finally, the film has plenty of skin but if it's blood and gore you are after then you will be very disapointed.    Overall, House of Cruel Dolls aka House of Lost Dolls is a big let down.  This hybrid of two films is a diluted watch.  The blu looks good but that's a hard sell when the movie is this bad.  Collectors will want this but I don't recommend watching it.  

The Hand That Feeds the Dead

Director(s) - Yilmaz Duru (Men Don't Cry, Kara Dogan) and Sergio Garrone (Django the Bastard, Lover of the Monster)

Starring - Klaus Kinski (Crawlspace, Nosferatu the Vampyre), Katia Christine (Spirits of the Dead, Knight Rider), and Marzia Damon (Sex of the Witch, The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A 19th-century doctor finds a laboratory and starts dabbling in reanimation"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Late last year Full Moon announced the release of several horror titles on blu.  Two of them were movies I had never seen before so I reached out to them for review copies.  They were kind enough to send me copies over but it did take a little time because the originally pressing had ran into an issue.  Once I finally got them in I couldn't wait to throw in the 1974 film The Hand That Feed the Dead starring film legend Klaus Kinski.  Thanks Full Moon for sending this one over!

     The film follows professor Nijinski (Kinski) who has married the scarred daughter of a brilliant scientist who was killed in an explosion.  Nijinski uses the deceased doctor's laboratory to perform his experiments in skin transplants to give his wife back her looks.  However, in order to make her whole again he needs living skin from beautiful women.  

     Klaus Kinski has been in some of the most iconic horror films of the 70s.  He's one of the best acting to ever step in front of a camera and his performances always overshadow his co-stars.  When I heard that Full Moon was putting The Had That Feeds the Dead on blu I couldn't wait to see him tear up the screen.  The acting in this one is great.  Kinski is known for his amazing performances but here he is more grounded and realistic.  The intense and energetic performance that I was expecting is not here.  Instead, he approaches the role in a more dramatic fashion.  It works and really fits the gothic feel of the film.  His supporting cast does a fantastic job as well.  The characters are rather generic but they still deliver solid performances.  The story for this one is a spin on the Frankenstein mythos meets a gothic romance in away.  A doctor taking the skin from beautiful young women and crafting it to his burned wife is a morbid but deepy romantic but the film still has that Frankenstein like vibe as well.  I really enjoyed it for the most part but some of the scenes do feel a little pointless.  They are well acted and look great BUT they serve no purpose to the story.  These handful of scenes does slow the film down.  Finally, this is not a gory film but we get some seriously fun practical effects and grisly scenes of faceless women.  They are campy by today's standards but I really enjoyed the make-up and practical effects.  Overall, The Hand That Feeds the Dead is not the movie I was expecting but I still really enjoyed myself here.  The story pulls you in and Kinski never disappoints.  The blu from Full Moon looks gorgeous.  The audio and video are crisp and beautiful.  I highly recommend this release for genre fans.  

High School Fantasies

Director - James Bryan (Hell Riders, The Executioner Part II)

Starring - Rene Bond (Disco Lady, Girl in a Basket), Larry Barnhouse (Hitler's Harlot, Beach Blanket Bango), and Ric Lutze (Sunny side Up, Video Tramp)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "A fabulous flash of the 50's"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been tearing through a lot of horror releases over the last few weeks.  I love my genre but too much of a good thing can become boring after awhile.  After digging into some no budget features and a horror documentaries I've decided to take a break from horror for a day or two.  In December Vinegar Syndrome released two adult flicks.  The first one is 1974's High School Fantasies from director James Bryan who also directed Hell Riders and The Executioner Part II.  Genre fans should be very familiar with these two titles.  

     The film follows a lonely nerd who is trying to get laid but has a crush on high school hottie Marry Lou (Bond).  She refuses to give him the time of day so he tries to find it elsewhere.  The high school jock sends him on a wild goose chase looking for Spanish fly.  After some mis-adventures he returns empty handed.  This gives the jock the idea to make his own to trick the nerd.  However, their own brand of Spanish Fly seems to work so they use it on the ladies at school.  That is until their little game backfires and the nerd is able to land Mary Lou.

     It had been a minute since my last sexploitation review so I was looking forward to spinning this one.  Honestly, I really was looking forward to checking out a sexploitation flick set in the 50s starring Rene Bond.  The movie was fun, sleazy, and unexpectedly funny.   The acting in this one is pretty solid especially for a sexploitation flick from the early 70s.  When Vinegar Syndrome started releasing these films with Rene Bond I quickly fell in love with her.  She's gorgeous and naturally comfortable on screen but sometimes her performances are a little underwhelming.  She uses her looks to get by on camera instead of actually acting.  Here she uses both which works.  With that being said, the rest of the cast delivers some funny over the top performances with high energy characters that is rather uncommon for sexploitation flicks.  They are fun and you can tell they really enjoyed coming to set.  The story for this one is a little coming of age comedy mixed with 50s stereotypes and lots of sex.  I actually enjoyed it and the humor but it's not something that I could see myself watching again.  Finally, no blood or gore in this one as you suspected but there is plenty of nudity and sex so if that's your thing then this one is for you.  Overall, High School Fantasies is a fun sexploitation flick that has memorable characters and a solid story.  If you are looking for a fun late night skin flick then let this one be it.  The blu from Vinegar Syndrome looks great.  They never disappoint so check it out.  

The Girl in Room 2A

Director(s) - William Rose (The Smut Peddler, Rent-A-Girl) and Dick Randall (History of the Erotic Cinema, Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks)

Starring - Daniela Giordano (Bloody Friday, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), Angelo Infanti (The Godfather, Savage Breed), and John Scanlon (Midnight Caller, Lovespell)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Now you can see it... a bold look at the bizarre world of abnormal sexual behavior"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

    A few weeks ago I took a few days to watch and review Vinegar Syndrome's Forgotten Gialli Volume 1.  This box set is one I had to have so I ordered it the day they launched it for fear of them selling out.  I'm glad I did because that set did, in fact, sell out.  Before I got the second in I wanted to review the first one.  I absolutely loved the set and couldn't wait to dig into this second one.  When I opened up the set I went ahead with 1974's The Girl in Room 2A.  The original poster for this one really caught my attention and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  

     The film follows a woman who was recently released from prison who secures a room in a boardinghouse.  What she doesn't know is that a cult uses that room to lure in beautiful women that they torture and kill for their sadistic rituals.  

     I was so excited to dig into this set and this film but I soon found myself very underwhelmed with this one.  The story really pulled me in with what it was about but the execution of the story and the extremely dull scenes made me lose interest in this one fairly early on.  This made it a real chore to finish.  The acting in this one is decent but the characters are pretty bland and cliched.  I really wanted to like the female lead but her underacting in a lot of the scenes made her an extremely weak lead.  The supporting cast is solid but there was several instances where they over-reacted or undersold the scene.  They all have some serious acting credits to their name so I know they were more than qualified but they just fell short here.  The story for this one really pulled me in.  I'm obsessed with horror films centered around cults.  I know giallo's are a different breed but I was expecting this one to be a little more cult-based than what it was.  The mystery aspect is definitely at the front of this one with the cult taking a back seat.  The pacing is painfully slow as well.  A lot slower than your standard giallo which made it a tough one for me to finish.  Finally, the film doesn't shy away from the blood but the practical effects are non-existent.  The blood is the bright 3M blood, which I love, but those looking for a little more will be disappointed.  Overall, The Girl in Room 2A has so much promise but didn't quite reach it's potential.  If you are binging the box set you can still find some enjoyment out of it but it is the weakest film in the set.