The People Who Own the Dark

Director - Leon Klimovsky (The Marihuana Story, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse)

Starring - Nadiuska (Conan the Barbarian, Black Commando), Alberto de Mendoza (Horror Express, The Case of the Scorpion's Tale), and Teresa Gimpera (The Spirit of the Beehive, Creation of the Damned)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror/Sci-FI

Tagline - "Now... there is nothing between you and... "

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

 Rating (out of 5):

     The People Who Own the Dark is the only movie in this set that I had previously heard of prior to receiving this collection for review.  The film was released on blu a few years back by Code Red as part of their Post-Apocalyptic Collection.  What caught my eye about this release was that it featured Paul Naschy and was produced by Sean S. Cunningham.  I was surprised at the time that this was the first time I had heard of this one starring Naschy and produced by the creator of the Friday the 13th franchise.  I didn't snag this release at the time due to the controversy involving owner Banana Man and how he was being taking advantage of by the owner of Dark Force Entertainment.  Thankfully, this one was included in the Exorcismo set from Severin.  I hate that it took me so long to check it out but I'm grateful that my first time viewing it was on a Severin release.  

      The film begins with a group of wealthy sadists who meet occasionally to act out their most perverse fantasies.  Sadly, their De Sade like cult meeting did not go as planned when their power is knocked out before it got to the good part.  When they leave the cellar to look into the issue they discover that it was a nuclear attack.  With only a few days worth of food left on the property, they venture into the local village where they learn that everyone that was outside during the initial attack is now blind and seeking refuge in the local church.  Instead of helping them, they kill a couple and start stealing all their food.  They return to their mansion on the hill to possibly get back into their sadistic fantasies when the blind rise up and take matters into their own hands.  

     The People Who Own the Dark is surprisingly the second post-apocalyptic film in this set and was surprisingly well done.  While I do prefer Creation of the Damned more, this one was a lot of fun especially for what it was.  With that being said, there was a few things I didn't care for with this one but what film is perfect?  The acting in this one is very uneven but not bad.  I expected to see more from Paul Naschy and was pretty disappointed in what little screen time he was given.  He does a decent job in his role but I would have loved for his character to have a bigger part in the story.  The rest of the cast is decent as a whole but some of the performances are very intense while others are fairly flat.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting.  It has a lot of layers but not all of them are fun as others. I loved the idea of the wealthy in a Marquise de Sade cult.  I also liked the idea of the nuclear war wiping the sight from all of those that were in the open when the bomb went off.  That is about the extent of the story that I care for.  The blind attacking like a lumbering page from The Last Man on Earth leaves a lot to be desired.  While I did enjoy the film, it almost lost me on this last leg.  Finally, the film has several deaths.  They are not that impressive or all that memorable.  The practical effects we do get is very minimal and not that noticeable.  Overall, The People Who Own the Night was a solid post-apocalyptic flick from the late 70s.  It's not that graphic and the story was lacking in a way but I still enjoyed it for what it was.  It's another one worth checking out from the Exorcismo set!  Check it out.  

Wan Pipel

Director - Pim de la Parra (Lost in Amsterdam, Rubia's Jungle)

Starring - Borger Breeveld (The Obsessed One, Wiren), Diana Gangaram Panday, and Willeke van Ammelrooy (The Killer is on the Phone, Paradise Lost)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "At last a movie with heart"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I never know what will show up for review but each and every film I receive makes me excited.  Is this going to be a new favorite, something historical that will stand out in the history of cinema, or will it be something that I don't care for?  I never know until I pull the trigger on the play button.  Most of the time the films are horror or, at the very least, have some sort of horror theme within.  However, that's not always the case.  A few weeks ago I received the blu release for the 1976 drama Wan Pipel, or One People, from my friends over at Cult Epics.  This was a new one to me and even though it wasn't a horror flick, I was still excited to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young man who is studying in Amsterdam when he receives a call that his mother was dying in his home country of Suriname.  His girlfriend gives him the money  to return home and he does.  However, once he returns home he begins to become enthralled with his heritage and country.  He even goes as far as to fall in love with a local woman and refuses to go back to the Netherlands to finish his studies.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about Wan Pipel prior to watching it but I actually enjoyed it.  It's not a movie I can se myself revisiting anytime soon but it was solid for a first time watch especially for something that wasn't horror-centered.  The acting in this one is solid but there was a few scenes where the acting was very forced and the cast didn't show a lot of experience.  The cast is fully submersed in their roles but the scenes are not consistent.  The story for this one is a fantastic character driven story about patriotism and embracing where you are from.  However, this story does somewhat run thin once you see the direction the film is actually going.  A little more character arcs or an interesting dilemma would have made the film much more enjoyable.   Finally, those of you looking for blood or memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  The film is a strict drama with focus on character development and growth.  Overall, Wan Pipel is a solid foreign drama that is a fun first time watch.  This is a great release from Cult Epics that I highly recommend checking out especially if you are a collector.  

Up!

Director - Russ Meyer (Motorpsycho!, Vixen!)

Starring - Edward Schaaf (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Addams Family), Robert McLane (NET Playhouse, Blue Summer), and Elaine Collins (Fantasm Comes Again, Deep Jaws)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Comedy/Erotic

Tagline - "A robust American fun movie!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I hear the name Russ Meyer I immediately think of classics like Vixens!, Faster Pussycat Kill Kill!, and Motorpsycho!  However, he had a career that spanned almost 60 years and directed over 30 films.  A lot of his films are new to me but I have yet to find one that I didn't like.  A few weeks back I received the press release for two upcoming releases from Severin Films that just happened to be two Russ Meyer's flicks.  One is a film I had seen several times from 1965 titles Motorpsycho! but the other was new to me.  That film was 1976's Up!.  A few days later I received both films in for review from Severin and added them to my watch pile.  I started my double feature with Motorpsycho! because it was one I was familiar with and liked.  However, Up! didn't look that interesting to me.  I was fucking wrong!

     The film begins with the murder of a sexual deviant named Adolf as a busty drifter wonders into town.  What she doesn't know is that everyone in town has their own kinks and the man murdered was a sex warlock hiding a secret.

    I went into Up! knowing absolutely nothing about it and it quickly became my favorite release of the year so far.  The movie was completely batshit crazy and very unpredictable.  The movie is very raunchy and remains off the wall from start to finish.  The acting in this one is very enjoyable.  We get a lot of memorable characters ranging from Adolf to the busty hitchhiker and all the sexual fiends in town.  The cast does a fantastic job while bearing it all in front of the camera.  Some of the scenes are a bit more inconsistent than others but the energy and humor more than makes up for it.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all and held my attention from start to finish.  The film is a comedy first an foremost with the nudity coming in a close second.  Not all the jokes find their marks but most of the film had me laughing.  We then get some quick character development, some mystery, and a lot of soap opera quality love triangles.  Honestly, it's a hard one to describe but it's a lot of fun.  Finally, the film has a little blood and a lot of skin.  The death we get is funny with no effects needed but those looking for beautiful women will appreciate what the film has to offer.  Overall, Up! was one of the most unexpected films I've reviewed this year.  It was so much and I highly recommend checking out this awesome release from Severin Films.  

Carrie

Director - Brian De Palma (Scarface, Phantom of the Paradise)

Starring  - Sissy Spacek (Hot Rod, The Man with Two Brains), Piper Laurie (The Faculty, Twin Peaks), and Amy Irving (Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics, The Rage: Carrie 2)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "If you've got a taste for terror... take Carrie to the prom"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I often review indie productions and new theatrical releases when they hit store shelves. I love my job and I love getting to share my thoughts on movies especially indie productions. However, I often find myself getting over excited when I received a classic horror title for review when it gets a new format release. Several years back I was lucky enough to review the first two Evil Dead UHD releases and recently I was able to review Army of Darkness. It’s an amazing feeling being asked to review classic genre films as they get re-released on a new media so when Scream Factory sent over their UHD release Carrie I couldn’t fucking wait to dig into it. Carrie is not my favorite Stephen King adaptation but it’s a fucking classic that I still enjoy and I want to thank Scream Factory for sending this one over. 

     The film follows outcast Carrie White (Spacek) who is abused by her extremely religious mother and tormented by her fellow classmates as school. As prom season approaches, she finds herself the center of a horrible joke in which she is falsely awarded prom queen before pigs blood is dumped on her. Mortified and betrayed, she lets her anger take control and soon unleashes a telekinetic terror on those that wronged her. 

     Carrie has a lot of offer viewers which is why I think it’s still popular among movie goers and not just horror fans. The cast is what has always impressed me with the film but the story, atmosphere, and character development is among some of the best in genre history which is why Carrie is always lumped in with other classic horror icons. The film truly is a classic regardless of your tastes in cinema. The acting in this one is fucking iconic. If you completely ignore Spacek’s flawless performance, you will see find a film overflowing with talent. We have killer performances from Piper Laurie John Travolta, William Katt, and P.J. Soles just to name a few. The cast is fantastic, and every scene is filled with unforgettable performances. Honestly, I could be here all-day writing about the cast if I had the time to do so. The story for this one has so much going on. We have a popular kid who is not really an asshole, his girlfriend who feels sorry for Carrie and tries to give her an experience in high school that she would miss otherwise, a bitchy high school girl who holds a grudge, and her older boyfriend who orchestrates a horrible prank. We put all these characters, the religious aspect, and pseudoscience angle all come together to work in several different ways. It’s a film that embodies horror but can be enjoyed by others with a fondness for other genres as well. Finally, the film has several on screen deaths and a lot of blood but the deaths are a bit underwhelming. They fit the film and work for the story but the effects and imagery is a bit underwhelming. I’ve always been a bit disappointed in the lack of creativity with the death scenes but I will be the first to admit that I’ve seen this movie at least a dozen times, if not more, so maybe I’ve grown accustomed to them. Overall, Carrie is a fucking classic and Scream Factory is one of the few boutique labels that I would trust with putting this out on UHD. I highly recommend snagging this one especially if you are a collector.

Creatures from Black Lake

Director - Joy N. Houck Jr. (Night of Bloody Horror, The Night of the Strangler)

Starring - Jack Elam (The Norseman, The Cannonball Run), Dub Taylor (Starman, Burnt Offerings), and Dennis Fimple (House of 1000 Corpses, Fangs)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Terror has reached new depths"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for cryptid-based horror films and I especially have a deep love for the bigfoot films of the 70s. The popularity of the Patterson-Gimlin footage lead to a huge influx of no budget bigfoot flicks that flooded the drive-ins for years to come. Most are barely watchable, but they are an experience in their own rights. One film that I had never seen before but was very much aware of was Creature from Black Lake. I snagged the DVD for this some years back but never found the time to watch it and once I started writing reviews for Horror Society I found myself watching films for myself less and less. That’s why I was extremely excited when I read that Synapse Films was releasing the film on blu. I knew the DVD I snagged years ago at FYE used was piss poor quality so I was looking forward to finally seeing the film in decent quality. I want to thank my friends over at MVD and Synapse for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows two investigators who visit a small rural community after news reports that an ape like creature is terrorizing the residents. They encounter a sheriff that warns them about poking their heads around in the woods before setting out to do just that. After recording some interviews and sounds in the forest they find themselves face to face with the beast. 

      Creature from Black Lake is not a good movie. In fact, it’s pretty poor from several aspects. However, I fucking love movies like this. It reminded me a lot of The Legend of Bigfoot which is another from the same period that I enjoy. The faux documentary angle mixed with a lack of budget and cryptid hunting works for me. I know a lot of genre fans will be very critical of this one but I found it enjoyable and charming to some extent. The acting in this one is rough all around. There is a few scenes that was better to watch than others but the overall acting is very forced. The characters were either written on the fly or created on the spot. Regardless, the cast didn’t have much to grab on to and the performances were underwhelming. The story for this one is like others from the same time. The popularity of the Patterson-Gimlin footage sparked an interest for many in cryptozoology. Producers and indie production companies were quick to cash in on the craze with films following people searching for the cryptid before encountering them. This film is no different but, as I stated earlier, I found myself enjoying the low budget aspect and the simplicity of the story. Sure, it has plenty of awkward scenes that is dialogue heavy but I kind of enjoy it if I’m being honest. It’s mindless fun that I can toss in from time to time and just watch. It’s nothing amazing or spectacular but enjoyable for the occasional watch. Finally, the film is rated PG so don’t expect any blood and gore. Deaths take place off screen and the lack of blood is a bit of a disappointment. As for the creature, if you have watched any bigfoot film from the 70s then you know exactly what to expect. Overall, Creature from Black Lake is a forgettable film that is for a specific niche of the horror community. I enjoy it and I know other fans of bigfoot flicks that will appreciate it but for those of you with a hard on for A Serbian Film or foaming at the mouth to talk about August Underground will not enjoy it. I recommend it but you really need to know what you are getting yourself into with this one.

Massacre at Central High

Director - Rene Daalder (The White Slave, Hysteria)

Starring - Derrel Maury (Shazam!, Hobgoblins 2), Andrew Stevens (Munchie Strikes Back, Scared Stiff), and Robert Carradine (Revenge of the Nerds, Ghosts of Mars)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - "You better get those kids the hell out of there"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I feel like Synapse Films doesn't release as many films as other companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Serverin Films, Arrow Video, and Scream Factory to saw a few but when they do release a film you can bet it's going to leave an impression.  One of their most recent releases, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, is one of my favorite films and easily the best release of that film to date.  When they announced the release of the 1976 film Massacre at Central High I was definitely intrigued.  I heard other horror fans talk about this one before but I never had the opportunity to check this one out.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send this one over.  It was another impressive release for a film that has stuck with me for several days after my initial viewing.  Since then I've watched this film three times and still have the urge to watch it again.  I want to thank MVD and Synapse for sending this one over because it was an amazing watch.  One of the best re-releases I've seen in a long time.

     The film follows the students of Central High when new student David (Maury) arrives and begins questioning the school's hierarchy where a group of bullies control the entire school.  No one seems to stand up to them until David arrives.  When David's old friend tries to bring him into the group his refusal prompts retaliation from them resulting in a horrible accident that leaves David unable to use his leg properly.  Soon the group of bullies starts dying one by one until they are gone but the death doesn't stop there.

     Massacre at Central High is not a traditional horror film but it is a dark thriller with slasher-like elements from the mid-70s just years before the slasher boom.  Everyone that made it through high school knows what it was like to bully and be bullied to some extent.  I was a piece of shit my teenage years and found myself on the business end of bullying and took the pain and torment of being bullied out on others.  I never wanted to kill people or go to the extremes this movie does but the damage from being bullied does drive some to such measures.  It's a fantastic film that goes by the saying "real life is more horrifying than fiction."  The acting in this one is pretty decent.  I loved the characters we are given and how well they fit in with the story.  The writer/writers does one hell of a job giving the cast characters like this to work with.  The cast works very well together and their on screen chemistry makes the scenes that more enjoyable.  There is a few moments when the characters should be panicked or terrified but their face would be blank and emotionless but aside from those few scenes I found myself enjoying the casting.  The story for this one isn't as out there as most horror films.  It's grounded and very realistic.  Hell, it's even more relatable now than it was then with the amount of school shootings, bomb attempts, and other hostile attacks on our public school by those that were bullied, tormented, tortured, and pushed beyond the brink.  I'm not making excuses for these monsters.  I'm just simply stating that most of these acts come from those that were often picked on and ridiculed by groups of people.  Seeing a horror film centered around that is enough to give me chills.  It's got a great pacing, the scares work, and is still relevant all these years later.  Finally, the film has several deaths but these death scenes were the weakest aspect of the film.  The deaths don't feature amazing effects and gore.  In fact, they are cheap and extremely cheesy bringing about some unexpected laughs.  The film is such a great film and having memorable death scenes would have sent it over the top.  Overall, Massacre at Central High is a fucking phenomenal film and Synapse did a great job with this release.  I fucking loved it and I can't wait until my next viewing.  Do yourself a favor and snag a copy.  It's worth every penny.  

Deathcheaters

Director - Brian Trenchard-Smith (Night of the Demons 2, Leprechaun 3)

Starring - John Hargreaves (Long Weekend, The Alien Years), Grant Page (Mad Dog Morgan, Stunt Rock), and Margaret Gerard (Out of the Body, The Siege of Firebase Gloria)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Meet Steve and Rod... stuntmen...saboteurs... HELLRAISERS!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     During the last few years I've become a fan of ozploitation.  I had no idea this was a thing until I befriended the fine folks over at Umbrella Entertainment.  This Australian based company started their Ozploitation Classics line and it has been a lot of fun seeing these fantastic films from down under.  Since then I've seen some amazing films that are part of their line.  Sadly, there has been a few that I didn't care for as well.  One such film is 1976's Deathcheaters starring stuntman Grant Page.  The title and original poster for the film really peaked my curiosity.  I went into this one really excited but it just didn't work for me.  Like always I want to thank my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment for sending this one my way.

     The film follows two Vietnam vets who returned home to Australia and are now working at spokesmen and stuntmen on commercials.  However, after a few strange incidents they find themselves being recruited for a special mission by who they suspect is the Australian government.  After some time they agree to the mission and find themselves headed to the Philippines for a major payday.  

     I was so fucking ready to check out Deathcheaters.  The title, artwork, and cast had me fucking sold on this film but after about 15 or so minutes I realized that it was much like Stunt Rock.  Stunt Rock was a vehicle to showcase Grant Page and his stunt work.  Deathcheaters is much of the same but with a story wrapped around it.  Sadly, that story was not as fun as I had hoped.  The acting in this one is solid.  Grant and Hargreaves are great together.  You can tell these two has worked together on countless films previously because their on screen chemistry is amazing.  They have a lot of fun on set and it shows in every scene of theirs.  The supporting cast is great as well but they are more grounded and down to Earth when compared to the characters that Grant and Hargreaves delivers.  The story for this one works almost as a highlight reel for the stunts performed by the two.  The way the story is told is through a series of stunts performed by the two and it's obvious that the story was written around the stunts the two would be performing.  I know Grant was like a rock star during this time due to his stunt work so it makes sense this film would exist.  If you take away the over the top stunts you are given an action film with awkward spy elements that just doesn't make sense.  I love over the top action films but this one fails to pull together any sort of story that actually makes sense.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  If watching stuntmen do insane stunts, at least insane for the mid-70s, then this film is for you but that's about it.  Overall, Deathcheaters was not what I was expecting.  I know it was to cash in on Grant's fame but the lack of a compelling story did not justify the pointless stunts that are not that impressive almost 50 years later.  Collectors will want this one for their collection but for a first time watch I would recommend something other than Deathcheaters.  

Mako: The Jaws of Death

Director - William Grefe (Whiskey Mountain, The Psychedelic Priest)

Starring - Richard Jaeckel (Starman, Killing Machine), Jennifer Bishop (Bigfoot, House of Terror), and Buffy Dee (Nightmare Beach, Super Fuzz)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Sheer terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I took a month or so to review some sharksploitation flicks.  Most of them were Asylum and Sy-Fy releases but I was able to find some films that were released in the months after Jaws which was a lot of fun.  One of the films that I had snagged on DVD with the intent of watching but never made the time was The Jaws of Death which was released under the title Mako or Mako: The Jaws of Death.  Obviously, this was a William Grefe film that I was very familiar with but never really had the time to watch until I received the He Came from the Swamp to review.  This wasn't one of the two films I was looking forward to the most out of the set but I was still interested in finally checking it out nonetheless.  

     The film follows an ocean diver who shares a link with sharks after a shaman gives him an ancient charm.  This connection with sharks alienates him from other people and when spear hunters encroach on his waters he turns to murder to protect the sharks from the humans he has distanced himself from.  

     I wasn't expecting a shark flick that would forever change the way I see shark movies but I was looking for a camp shark flick with plenty of fake blood and cheesy acting.  Mako wasn't the cheesy late night shark movie I was looking for but it wasn't a bad film.  Honestly, I enjoyed it but it is forgettable.  The acting in this one is solid throughout with several great performances shining through in each scene.  A few of the scenes did lack energy and enthusiasm but the overall acting in the film was pleasantly surprising.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all.  We have a mystical power that helps a lonely man communicate with sharks while others exploit and murder them in the choppy waters of the sea.  It's a different spin on sharksploitation but it's not as wild as some of the newer shark films I'm accustomed to watching.  I would have loved a little more insight into the shaman and the mystical side of the story instead of the man feeding people to the shark but that's just my opinion.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and frenzied sharks but don't expect fun shark deaths and great practical effects.  The deaths are very lackluster and not a lot of fun in the grand scheme of things.  Overall, Mako is not the film that will fill any void you have for shark films but if you are looking for something different to watch late at night it will not disappoint.  It's not the best film in the He Came from the Swamp set but it's not one you should skip either.  Check it out.  

Crash!

Director - Charles Band (Prehysteria!, Parasite)

Starring - Jose Ferrer (Dune, The Magical World of Disney), Sue Lyon (The Night of the Iguana, End of the World), and John Ericson (Airwolf, Knight Rider)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An occult object takes possession of a driverless car and causes one spectacular crash after another until fifty cars are pounded into a mass of twisted metal"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was introduced to Full Moon, Empire, and Moonbeam Entertainment at a young age so I thought I had a grip on the films of Charles Band.  However, Full Moon recently caught me off guard when they announced the release of the 1976 Charles Band directed horror film Crash! on blu.  When I saw the blu artwork and the tagline I knew this was going to be a wild one so I quickly reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  I want to once again thank Full Moon for hooking me up with this copy to check out.

     The film follows the young and beautiful wife of an old man who had his mobility taken from him during a car crash.  She finds an old relic on a road side stand and decides to buy it for her husband.  However, the bitter old man is mean to her and eventually kicks her out of his home.  She takes his new gift with her and as she is driving down the road she is attacked by his dog and wrecks her car.  She is taken to the hospital gripping the talisman and is recovering while her car continues to drive around killing anyone it meets.  The man, aware of the power in the relic now, tries to get it back from her without her actually seeing him.

     Crash! looked extremely fun and campy but it struggled actually finding it's footing.  I know it was one of Band's earliest films and it looks like he took a lot away from the experience but it wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped.  The acting in this one is fairly solid.  The characters are generic but fit the story very well and the cast shows a lot of talent in front of the camera but you find yourself focused more on where the story is actually going instead of the cast that is carrying you there.  The story for this one has a fun occult angle and a possessed car but The Wraith like story is not full explored or capitalized on.  It was a seriously underutilized concept that should have been the main focus of the film instead of the connection to the "professor" and the artifact that was found with his wife that is suffering from amnesia.  It could have been so much more enjoyable than what it is.  Finally, the film has a lot of car crashes that are not as exciting as they sound and lacks any blood and gore you would expect from Band.  The car crashes are, honestly, not that fun and almost feel out of place when compared with the remainder of the story.  Overall, Crash! wasn't for me.  It's cool to see some of Band's earlier films but it's nowhere near as fun as the films he would be associate with in the next decade.  Collectors may want this one but fans of Band and Full Moon may want to skip over it.  

Fantasm

Director - Richard Franklin (Patrick, The Lost World)

Starring - William Margold (Hackin' Jack vs the Chainsaw Chick, Portraits of Andrea Palmer), John Holmes (Disco Sex Party, Dracula Sucks), and Rene Bond (Five Loose Women, Country Hooker)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "See it with someone you love... and your relationship will never be the same again"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     With October just a few days behind me I found myself a little burnt out with horror.  I love the genre but sometimes I do over do it and this October I watched more horror titles than I typically do so it makes sense I needed to take a break from it.  A month or two ago Vinegar Syndrome released the Fantasm double feature as part of their Peekarama label.  Of course I had to snag this release and with October now over I decided that this sleazy softcore parody is the perfect film to charge my batteries.

     The film follows a sex doctor who has studied the desires of women for years and introduces several segments of various women exploring their sexual fantasies ranging from rape, incestuous, exhibition, and lesbian.

      Fantasm was pretty funny but the segments were not as fun as most fans made it out to be.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it and laughed a few times but it does deliver the same gimmick over and over again but with a different scenario. It was fun at first but it does run it's course fairly quickly.  The acting in this one is fun.  Margold is the highlight of the film and his introduction to each setting is delightful.  Also, any movie that has Rene Bond in it has my money I don't give a fuck how old she is now.  With that being said, it's a softcore flick so the cast is extremely flat and the characters are painfully generic.  It's not until their clothes come off that they show any sign of life.  The stories for this one are not as fun or as funny as one would expect.  The wraparound segment following Margold as the host was fun and he does a fantastic job at keeping the entire film together.  His segment made it as fun as it is.  With that being said, the scenarios for each segment are extremely dry and dull until the dry humping and that's not enough to actually save the film.  I wish that these scenes featured some more comedy or at least a story that the viewer could grab on to.  I mean, it is softcore so it's not as sexy as a hardcore film.  Finally, don't expect blood and gore in this one.  However, if nudity is more your speed then this one is for you.  Overall, Fantasm was fun and had it's moments but this is not one I will be revisiting.  It has some laughs but the scenes that could benefit from some humor was seriously lacking.  It's fun for a first time watch but that's about it.

     

Born for Hell

Director - Denis Heroux (The Uncanny, Initiation)

Starring - Mathieu Carriere (Quantum Leap, Special Treatment), Debra Berger (The Inglorious Bastards, Dangerously Close), and Christine Boisson (Night Nurse Massacre, The Way Out)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "For these nine young women, opening the door that night meant ending their lives!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Severin has released some of the most impressive films over the years.  They are a company that I greatly admire and I'm always on the look out for their releases.  A few months ago Severin announced the release of the 1976 horror flick Born for Hell, aka Naked Massacre.  This is actually a movie I had heard about before and actually own a copy of it on DVD under it's alternative title but I've never made the time to check it out.  Granted, my DVD is not the best quality so when Severin announced it's release I was ready to upgrade the grainy DVD for a better transfer.  I reached out to my friends over at MVD who were handling the release and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows an American war vet that served in Vietnam who arrives in Belfast.  With the city ripped apart by a civil war he uses the chaos to break into the home of a group of nurses where he meticulously takes them out to rape and murder.

     Born for Hell is not only a truly entertaining film but one that has a bit of history behind it.  The film was met with heavy controversy when it was released.  Several women and feminist organizations felt the film was glamourizing domestic abuse and abuse towards women.  Though this was not the first film to depict violence toward women in this manner it was one of the few to be release during a time when women's rights were being pushed by the various organizations.  With that being said, it's a very powerful that hits hard and pulls emotions.   The acting in this one works for the film and I found myself thoroughly enjoying everyone in the film.  Carriere was fantastic as the murderous Vietnam vet that that has a cold stare and when he smiles you get chills down your spine.  The supporting cast is great with the nurses delivering some intense performances.  They all deserve equal praise but I'm too lazy to sit here and name them all individually.  The story for this one starts out rather slowly but once it picks up it really leaves the viewer feeling uncomfortable.  It's not a movie that will leave you guessing or pulls in heavy emotions but it works very well as a horror film.  The sinister war vet with murder and lust in his eyes as he tortures and slays nurses is truly demented.  If you haven't noticed by now, this one is loosely based on the Richard Speck murders.  Knowing that it is based on a horrible true crime also adds another dimension of to the overall film.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood but that's the extent of the effects in this one.  We don't get gore or memorable kills but the acting and story is just enough to pull the viewer in.  Overall, Born for Hell is an absolutely brilliant slice of horror from the late 70s.  It's very underrated and one of my favorite releases from Severin.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle

Director - Brunello Rondi (Violent Life, The Voice)

Starring - Laura Gemser (End Game, Violence in a Women's Prison), Annie Belle (Forever Emmanuelle, House on the Edge of the Park), and Al Cliver (Zombi 2, The Beyond)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Drama/Romance

Tagline - "The seamy side of paradise will excite you, delight you and ignite you!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Bleack Emanuelle, or Emmanuelle, series is a bit of a confusing franchise that is rewarding but very chaotic to understand.  The Black Emanuelle series has fans all over the world which made Laura Gemser one of the many faces of exploitation cinema of the 70s.  Her beauty and willingness to bare it all for the camera made her extremely popular.  However, the Emanuelle series is unable to connect itself to the character aside from starring Gemser.  I had heard fans talk about Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle several times over the years in movie groups and one thing that is always mentioned is how the title of the film reflects Emanuelle but Gemser does not star as Emanuelle the journalist.  Instead, she is a model named Laura (her real life name).  When Full Moon announced the blu release of this one I was too curious to pass it up so I reached out to MVD to see if I could review it.  They were kind enough to send a copy my way.

     The film follows model Laura (Gemser) and her abusive boyfriend Carlo (Gabriele Tinit) who is also her photographer.  They pair travel to Egypt to meet up with a friend and her lovely daughters who are very open with their sexuality.

     Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle was also released under the titles Velluto Nero, Smooth Velvet Raw Silk, and Emanuelle Black Velvet and is one of the more popular titled in the Black Emanuelle series.  Hell, I enjoyed it but it's a confusing film and a loose entry in the series.  It's obvious that it was not meant to be part of the Emanuelle series with the alternate titles that it was meant to be another sexploitation film starring Laura Gemser but the popularity of the Black Emanuelle character forced the studio change the title.  It's a fun film but should be taken with a grain of salt.  The acting in this one is a little above what you would expect from a sexploitation film.  Gemser delivers a little more timid performance than what most of her fans would expect.  Her character is not as forward and bold as her portrayal of Emanuelle.  With that being said, the remainder of the cast does a great job at bringing their characters to life.  They are fun and make the film what it is.  The story for this one is simple and very basic.  We have beautiful women exploring their sexuality with random men while the movie is set in Egypt.  That's basically the premise.  As I stated, it's the characters that make the film so much fun and not the story.  Finally, if you are looking for blood and gore you will be greatly disappointed.  However, if you are in the mood for beautiful women then you are in the right place.  Overall, Emanuelle Black Velvet is an extremely fun and sleazy treat starring the always gorgeous Laura Gemser.  It's not the best Black Emanuelle film but it's extremely enjoyable.  The blu from Full Moon looks great but the lack of supplemental material is a bit of a disappointment.  

Grizzly

Director - William Girdler (Three on a Meathook, Day of the Animals)

Starring - Christopher George (Whiskey Mountain, Pieces), Andrew Prine (The Lords of Salem, Weird Science), and Richard Jaekel (Starman, Airplane II: The Sequel)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The most dangerous jaws in the land"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was growing up I remember watching a lot of movies with my grandmother and that's where my love for sci-fi and horror originates from.  A lot of the movies I watched with here were on the original Sci-Fi Channel before the rebranding along with the movies I would rent.  Looking back I can't remember if some of these were movies we watched on cable or rented but I do remember watching them with her.  I loved watching movies with her and some of my favorite movie memories were shared with her.  On one of our movie binges I watched the 1976 nature runs amok feature Grizzly with her.  I had never seen this one before but I fucking loved it.  Sadly I never got to revisit it until now.  A few weeks ago Severin announced the blu release of two William Girdler classics with one of them being Grizzly.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review.

     The film follows a park ranger at a state park who is tasked with dealing with tourists, campers, and hunters but that task takes a deadly turn when a giant grizzly bear invades the park shredding anyone it crosses paths with.

     Horror fans and fans of schlocky cinema have laughed and mocked this film for as long as I can remember and I'm sure it was going on for years before.  However, I really enjoy this one.  It is a bit campy and doesn't hold back on the cheese but the films entertains.  The acting in this one is solid but the cast is very uneven.   I really enjoy Christopher George's performance and the character he delivers fits the film so well.  For me, he makes this film.  With that being said, some of the supporting cast is not as fun to watch.  Some of the cast delivers some lackluster performances while other's try to match George.  It's very uneven but I wouldn't call it bad.  The story for this one is a typical nature killing people that was made popular by the film Jaws.  Having animals, especially big animals, attacking and killing people has always been fun and I would have loved to live through the Jaws fame of the mid to late 70s where these Jaws clones were playing in every drive-in across the country.  Grizzly is a fun Jaws clone where the fins were traded in for paws but features a very similar story.  A tourist area is under attack by an animal.  The officials are reluctant to do anything at first but as more bodies pile up they are tasked with stopping it before more blood can be shed.  A Jaws clone, sure, but it's still fucking fun.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood and campy deaths but don't expect to see some great kills.  The deaths are funny and I'm sure this is where a lot of the community's issue with the film comes from but I enjoyed it.  Overall, Grizzly is a fantastic mid-70s horror film that was quick to cash in on the Jaws' craze.  It is a bit campy and restricted but it's a great for a late night horror viewing.  The blu from Severin is gorgeous and deserves to be seen by genre fans.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

Death Has Blue Eyes

Director - Nico Mastorakis (Ninja Academy, Island of Death)

Starring - Jessica Dublin (The Toxic Avenger Part II, Savage Hunt), Maria Aliferi (Taxi Driver, Consumer Society), and Peter Winter (Warship, The Pathfinders)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Sci-Fi/Thriller

Tagline - "Love was her need.  Murder was her deed"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Arrow Video has really impressed me recently.  When I received a package of screeners a few days ago I had only seen two of the film out of the four.  I started my Arrow Video marathon with a supernatural romance flick titled A Ghost Waits that I really enjoyed.  I was not expecting that film to hit like it did and I loved it.  I followed that up with Jack Hill's classic Switchblade Sisters.  This was one I was very familiar with and actually enjoy.  It's an iconic film that should be on everyone's watch list.  When I finished Switchblade I decided to dig into Death Has Blue Eyes.  This is one I had never seen before but it looked very interesting.  As usual, I want to thank Arrow Video and MVD for sending this one my way.

     The film follows two friends who find themselves tasked with protecting a very strange woman and her well to do mother.  However, when not fleeing from gun-toting gangsters and fucking random women, they uncover that the strange woman has psychic abilities and her mother is hiding a very big secret.

     I went into Death Has Blue Eyes knowing nothing about the film and was greeted with a well acted but extremely dull film.  The movie had a lot of interesting ideas and the acting was great but it was a fairly dull movie experience which was strange.  How could a movie with such an interesting story have nothing to say?  The acting in this one is the best aspect of the entire film.  I loved the cast and their performances.  The cast was really into their roles and the characters are enjoyable for the most part.  The random sex scenes are a little on the awkward side but the acting for the most part was really well done.  It's a damn shame the story couldn't carry the cast.  The story for this one has some interesting ideas but their delivery leaves a lot to be desired.  The title lead me to believe that the woman with psychic abilities would be doing a lot more killing than she did.  Sadly, this was not the case.  Instead, we get a lot of chase scenes that are very boring along with awkward sex scenes.  We don't get enough focus on the story.  I would have loved to see more psychic chaos over the horrible motorcycle chase scene.  Finally, the film has several deaths but don't expect a lot.  Nothing spectacular or memorable here.  The psychic deaths are actually funny due to the acting but they will not stick with you.  Overall, Death Has Blue Eyes is a huge disappointment and such a missed opportunity.  The blu from Arrow looks great but the movie is not.  Collectors or fans of this one will want to snag it but for a blind buy I would recommend something else from Arrow.  

Furies Sexuelles

Director - Alain Payet (Dangerous Woman, Fist Party)

Starring - Corinne Lemoine (Sweet Taste of Honey, Once Upon a Virgin), Marie-Christine Guennec (Games for an Ungrateful Wife, Baby Blue), and Richard Bigotini (Where the Sky Begins, Lorna the Exorcist)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced their March pre-orders I quickly rushed to the site to place my order like I do every month.  However, I was quick on the draw and ordered the March package without looking at the stand alone Peekarama release.  When the Vin Syn discord told me about it I quickly rushed back and pre-ordered it.  When these releases finally arrived I was more interested in this Peekarama double feature than the other releases.  After watching a few other blus I needed to review I quickly set my sights on Furies Sexuelles to watch and review.

     The film follows a woman who loses her job but discovers that her beauty and sex appeal could help her make some money.  She finds a local bar to be the best place to find Johns with other beautiful women doing the same.  Here she finds the keys to pleasure and money.

      Many years ago I was reluctant to give Vin Syn's sexploitation flicks a shot but after watching a few I've found myself becoming increasingly obsessed with them.  However, not all sexploitation flicks are made equal.  Furies Sexuelles was an interesting premise but the execution and editing made it a bit of an underwhelming experience.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a late 70s French sexploitation flick.  The sex scenes are energetic and lively while the remainder of the scenes are a little flat and unenthused.  If the entire scene had the same energy as the sex scenes then the film may have been a little more enjoyable.  The story for this one would have worked for a sexploitation flick but it uses the same plot device over and over again creating a repetitive and dull experience.  We move from the bar setting to the sex scenes over and over again.  We do get a few "roughie" sequences and some random scenes scattered throughout but it's not enough to make this one stand out or break it up.  Finally, this film is full of skin, fluids, and more skin.  However, if you are looking for blood then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Furies Sexuelles looks great which is exactly what I would expect from Vin Syn.  However, the film is extremely boring and repetitive.  I wanted to like this one but it just wasn't for me.  

Satan's Black Wedding

Director - Nick Millard (Death Nurse, Dracula in Vegas)

Starring - Greg Braddock, Ray Myles (Blood Orgy of the She-Devils, Isla Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks), and Lisa Milano (Cemetery Sisters, A Tribute to Priscilla Alden)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A blood marriage of ghouls!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I went through a Nick Millard phase.  Olive Films had teamed up with Slasher//Video to release a few of his older S.O.V. horror titles like Death Nurse and Cemetery Sisters.  I become absolutely obsessed with these releases and grabbed them to review.  After I reviewed all those releases I turned to Amazon and snagged the Millard triple feature release with Satan's Black Wedding and both Criminally Insane films.  It was time I finally dug into those two releases.

     The film follows a young man who is visits his deceased sister's home after she commits suicide.  The suicide is completely out of her character so he starts investigating her death when he uncovers her severed finger.  After more investigating he uncovers that she is now a vampire and is using her new found abilities to exact revenge on the living.

     You don't turn on a Nick Mallard movie expecting to see the best.  You turn on a Nick Millard movie for some weird no budget fun.  His movies are hit and miss with some but I find myself having fun even if I don't like the movie.  Satan's Black Wedding is another weird but entertaining ride.  It's not going to be for everyone but if you are that particular about the movies you like then you wouldn't be watching this one anyway.  The acting in this one is not bad but it's pretty awkward at times.  The cast really does try to get into their roles but their inexperience and lack of direction does create some pretty cringe worthy scenes.  Not all the scenes are like this but there is some.  The story for this one is pretty simple but is stretched pretty thin.  A man investigating his sister's death to uncover she's a vampire is nothing knew especially by the late 70s.  We have Hammer Horror to thank for similar stories.  However, the way this was approached leaves the viewer with several slow and drawn out scenes that do nothing to further the story along.  Some of this could be trimmed off.  With that being said, it's good cheesy fun.  Finally, there is some blood in this one but nothing memorable.  We get a few generic vampire kills with fake blood and so forth but they fit in with the schlock of the film.  Overall, Satan's Black Wedding is a fun late night watch that's bad but still fun.  I recommend it.  

Things to Come

Director - Derek Todd (Jaws of Death)

Starring - Jim Curtis, Barbara Fisk (The Pyramid), and Neil Fletcher (Creature of Destruction, Deadly Blessing)

Release Date - 1976

Genre - Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Soon...there will be machines that can do anything"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     As long as I'm alive I'll always be drawn to the sleazy side of cinema.  There is just something fun about watching movies that is overflowing with profanities, nudity, and outcasts.  In some of my reviews I referred to exploitation as Outlaw Cinema and to an extent it is.  These films went against the norm all while "exploiting" trends to make a quick buck.  When I heard that AGFA and Something Weird was teaming up for another release I was beside myself.  When I heard that release was being called Smut Without Smut I was even more excited.  This particular release features two films, Things to Come and The Dirty Dolls.  Both films come in an edited, or smut without smut cut, and the original hardcore release.  Things to Come was the first on the menu so it was the first I went with.  

     The film is set in a dystopian future where people work just a few months out of the year and spend the rest of their time in their homes watching television.  One woman longs for something else in life and wants the freedom to do as she wishes.  When she wins a trip to the Pleasure Dome she is met by a friend and tasked with destroying a super computer in order to bring down the authority.  However, once she infiltrates the Pleasure Dome she discovers things are not as they appear.

    I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was really excited to check this one.  I went with the smut without smut cut because that was the point of this release and I found myself bored.  I doubt the sex scenes was adding that much enjoyment to the film to begin with but this one was very underwhelming.  The acting in this one was pretty dull.  The entire cast came across as if they were bored to be there and a good portion of the cast that I looked up had no prior credits to their name.  What we have is a very amateur and unenthused cast just standing around while they spit out their dialogue like some half-chewed steak.  The story for this one really pulled me in for the first half of the film but failed to gain any traction.  The boring dystopian future with a pleasure dome was a pretty great set up for a sci-fi hardcore flick.  However, the film was more focused on the scenery and sets that it forgets to develop the story beyond that point.  If the movie was able to actually progress beyond the woman in the Pleasure Dome then it would have been something truly enjoyable.  However, the way the film is we follow her in, watch her as she tries to complete her mission before she's captured...and then nothing.  Finally, this one does have a few death scenes that are pretty fun.  One part of the story, my favorite part actually, follows motorcyclists as they hunt down the "androids."  The kills were fun with some blood but they are nothing that special.  Overall, Things to Come has an interesting premise and brilliant sets but the acting and ending was unable to pull everything together.  At first I thought the acting was intentional but that quickly proved wrong.  The transfer looks fantastic and the film has some fun moments but not one I could recommend.