Tahkhana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Neighbours) and Tulsi Ramsay (Purana Mandir, Telephone)

Starring - Hemant Birje (Smart Killer, Tarzan's Daughter), Kamran Rizvi (Main Hoon Sherni, Din Dahade), and Arti Gupta (Saamri, Haadsaa)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was bitten by the horror bug in middle school and found myself fully embracing the genre by high school.  These years really shaped my taste in horror as I found myself becoming obsessed with no budget and indie productions.  However, as I grow older, I find myself becoming surprised by just how diverse my taste in the genre has become.  Several years back I found  a copy of Mahakaal from Massacre Video.  This movie is known to genre fans as the Indian or Bollywood Freddy Krueger.  I fucking loved it and watched it many times.   This opened me up to more Bollywood horror with companies like Mondo Macabro spearheading this passion.  Sometime ago Mondo Macabro released the Hindi horror double feature with the first film being the 1986 film Tahkhana which was also known as The Dungeon.  I couldn't wait to check it out and like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.

     The film follows an evil man who dabbles in black magic as he vows to end his family's lineage when his dying father leaves everything to his brother.  He tries to kidnap his niece and nephew but is unable to get them both.  We jump forward several decades and his niece, unaware of her evil uncle, sets out with some friends to investigate a local legend unaware of how close she is to it.

     There is nothing on this planet like Hindi/Bollywood horror and that is something I will stand by the rest of my life.  These movies seem to follow a formula but they are just so much fun especially when compared to their western counterparts.  Tahkhana is another solid and memorable horror outing that is almost as enjoyable as some of the others that I've fell in love with.  The acting in this one is extremely campy in the very best way.  The characters are colorful and very dramatic with the cast doing a wonderful job with their performances.  With that being said, some of the later scenes don't have the energy as the earlier scenes which does take away from the camp. I don't know if everyone was tired or directing was ore laid back but this part of the film just doesn't have what the first two thirds had.  The story for this one is exactly what I would expect from a Hindi horror flick.  We have an evil relative who does black magic, a collective of colorful characters and that wonderful 80s flare.  We do have some pacing issues and the ending not being as energized as the rest of the film but it's still very enjoyable as it is.  Finally, I love the make-up in this one.  The kills have some of the red stuff an simple practical effects but the make-up for the evil uncle just looks awesome. Overall, Tahkhana is great entry in a severally underrated regional genre that many horror fans will never experience.  I highly recommend this film and this release from Mondo Macabro.  Check it out.  

Kliwon Friday Night

Director - Sisworo Gautam Putra (Wolf, Primitif)

Starring - Amit Abidin (The Stabilizer, Revenge of the Ninja), Soendjoto Adibroto (White Crocodile Queen, Pact with the Forces of Darkness), Ali Albar (Diskotik DJ, Satan's Slave)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    The Suzzanna: Empress of Darkness set from Severin Films is one hell of a ride that I was not expecting.  I considered Putra one of my favorite directors for the sole reason that I absolutely adore his film Satan's Slave.  However, after watching a few of the films in this set I can safely say that he may not be my favorite but I still respect the hell out of him.  I've reviewed a few of his films in this and I have to say they are the true definition of what it means when people say a movie is a roller coaster ride.  The movies have so many ups and downs but that doesn't mean they are good.  Hell, by western standards, these films are not that great but I still have fun with them.  I was still excited to check out the next film of his in the Suzzanna set, Kliwon Friday Night.  

     The film follows a struggling author who rents a supposedly haunted house to work on her next piece of fiction.  However, the spirit in the home refuses to give her a chance to write as it immediately starts attacking her and anyone that comes near the property.  

     I knew it wasn't going to be but in the back of my mind I was hoping that I would be in the same vein as Satan's Slave.  I know you are probably sick of me saying it but I fucking love this movie.  Kliwon Friday Night was not like it but it had some of the weirdest moments I've ever seen in a movie.  The acting in this one is pretty consistent with the other films in the set.  We have a lot of campy performances with a lot of energy and unforgettable characters.  While I don't really have a lot more to say about it, I don't necessarily hate the acting but it wasn't what I was hoping for.  The story for this one feels like the movie was shot without a finished script.  We have the basic premise which features the author and a haunted house but the remainder of the film is random scenes, a dance number, and that is about it.  It was fun so don't take that the wrong way but it doesn't really make sense.  Looking back, I bet I would have loved this one a lot more if I had popped a 100mg edible.  Finally, we get some make-up effects but those looking for gore and memorable deaths will be very disappointed.  However, if a dance number with a little person is more your speed then this one is for you.  Overall, Kliwon Friday Night is a mess of a film but if you dig cult cinema like I do then you can appreciate this weird ass movie.  Check it out.  

      

His Motorbike, Her Island

Director - Nobuhiko Obayashi (House, Turning Point)

Starring - Kiwako Harada (Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, The Drifting Classroom), Noriko Watanabe (Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., True Horror Stories), and Riki Takeuchi (Battle Royale II: Requiem, Tokyo Tribe)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Romance/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It was about 10 years or so ago that I found myself binging as many Japanese splatter films that I could find on Netflix.  I had always knew that Japan had releases a lot fantastic genre titles over the years but I never ventured into them until then.  Now, I'm always on the lookout for an Asian horror I can find but I rarely take the plunge into other genres because of my obsession with horror.  A few weeks ago my friends over at Cult Epics sent over the 1986 Japanese romantic drama His Motorbike, Her Island to review on blu.  I knew it wasn't a horror release but I was still curious if I would like it or not so I added it to my watch list.  I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over.  I really enjoyed this one and look forward to checking out other Japanese non-horror titles.

     The film follows a young man who breaks up with his girlfriend and uses his motorbike to travel around Japan.  He finds himself on a small island where he meets a young woman who is very much different than his ex.  He falls for her but soon worries that she may be more interested in his motorbike than him.  

     I went into this one completely blind not knowing what to expect and was greeted with a beautifully shot film that may not be a movie that I would typically watch but enjoyed it just the same.  I know a lot of my readers will quickly skip over this review but fans looking for something a bit different will not be disappointed.  The acting in this one is a bit inconsistent at the beginning but as the film progresses we get some great performances from the cast.  I didn't care for the characters, to be honest, but the cast did the best with what they had and delivered some grounded performances.  The story for this one is more of a drama than anything but the romance aspects do show up from time to time.  The film has great pacing and with the story we have we get a lot of dialogue heavy scenes that does work for the most part.  However, my lack of interest in the genre mixed with the unlikable characters made a few of these scenes feel like they were a lot longer than they were.  Finally, this is not a bloody one for you looking for the red stuff.  This character driven romantic drama is more about the story than anything else.  Overall, His Motorbike, Her Island is not something I would normally review but Cult Epics was nice enough to send it over and I was interested in checking it out.  It's not horror but I enjoyed it and the blu from CE looks great.  I highly recommend checking it out.

Trick or Treat

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

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

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

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

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

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

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

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

The Abomination

Director - Bret McCormick (Blood on the Badge, Children of Dracula)

Starring - Scott Davis (Roller Blade, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants), Jude Johnson (Tabloid, Broken Promise), and Blue Thompson (The Real American, Highway to Hell)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Tumorous parasitic beasts are nesting in the bowels of their victims..."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school, I frequented the message boards at Upcoming Horror Movies. By frequented I mean I fucking loved on that message board. I met some of my closest friends there along with so many films that I love. It was a huge part of my high school years, and a good chunk of my collection came from recommendations and suggestions of other members from the message board. One film I was suggested was the 1986 Bret McCormick flick The Abomination. I had tried for years to snag a copy of this film on any format and failed miserably. I was constantly getting reminded of it from various horror groups I'm in and so forth but never found a copy for a decent price. That changed recently when Visual Vengeance was able to put the film out on blu. I had to finally see this one, so I reached out to them, and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review. I want to thank VV for sending this one my way. 

      The film follows a young man who takes care of his ill mother. She is extremely religious and seeks the help of her preacher instead of modern science. Her preacher tells her that she has a tumor in her lungs, and they pray for her. That night she coughs up the tumor and places it in the trash where it proceeds to crawl out in order to look for a new host. It finds her son and crawls inside where it lays more "spores" which drives him to murder all those around him so he can feed them. 

      I knew The Abomination wasn't going to be a horror film that was well put together with the best acting I had laid my eyes on with a story that would leave me in tears. I knew it was a no budget S.O.V. flick from Bret McCormick but I couldn't stop my imagination from running wild. After finally seeing the film all these years later I can safely say that it was worth the wait. While it may not be for every horror fan, I absolutely loved it. The acting in this one is far from the worst I have seen but it's pretty standard for no budget S.O.V. horror films of the late 80s. The cast is really into the film and the characters are pretty one dimensional, but they really try. It is shown in each scene, but it is easily forgettable. The story for this one is something that feels like it was written specifically for me. An extremely religious mother infected with some sort of tumor-like creature that lays its spawn in her son is nothing short of brilliant. The film doesn't go on for too long and ends when it should. Finally, the effects in this one make the film. The tumor, the death scenes, all of it look great especially when you consider the film's budget. That was the most impressive aspect of the film and the thing that sticks with you days after watching it. Overall, The Abomination is a must own for genre fans and this release from Visual Vengeance needs to be on collector's shelves. Check it out.

Devil Story

Director - Bernard Launois (Pigalle Story, Sacres Gendarmes)

Starring - Veronique Renaud (Escale a Nanarland), Marcel Portier (Black Sequence, The Man Without a Face), and Catherine Day (Two Orphan Vampires, Jean Tonic)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

    If you follow my reviews at all then you may have noticed that I typically post several reviews a day.  However, the last few days I've barely posted a review a day and that's because COVID has finally reached my home.  My wife became ill last week and her results came back as positive.  A few days later I took ill and was finally able to get tested today.  I haven't really felt like sitting around in front of a computer so I put my reviews on the backburner.  With that being said, today I felt a little better and decided to knock out a review or two.  The first I decided to tackle was Vinegar Syndrome's release of the 1986 film Devil Story.  

     The film follows a couple who are having car trouble while traveling through a small, coastal town.  They stop at an old castle and hear the story of a group of brothers that would lead ships into the bay with fire only to have them crash on the rocks so they can look the wreckage and kill the survivors.  What the young couple doesn't know is that there is a deformed man tearing through the countryside killing everyone he meets while wearing a an old Nazi SS uniform...and that's by far not the worst thing to be found there.  

     Like most of Vin Syn's releases, Devil Story was one I had never heard of prior to their announcement but that is what I love about these releases.  They often bring us films that have been lost to time or went without notice during their original release.  Devil Story is the kind of movie that you will enjoy or you are too self-absorbed to allow yourself to have fun with something so goofy.  The acting in this one is nothing that would stand out to most movie goes.  The cast is a mix of experienced actors and some with little to no experience.  This doesn't really matter because the characters are not that well written and their performances are very unenthused.  Performances like this doesn't necessarily drag the film down.  In this instance, it gave us some unintentional humor that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The story for this one has a lot going on but doesn't feel like it's overbearing.  We have a disfigured mutant that eats human flesh and lives in his mother's barn.  His wardrobe of choice is an old Nazi SS uniform.  We also have a mummy, a fantastic castle location, and a backstory that just works well enough to tie it all together.  The movie does have pacing issues but the story itself is perfect for those of you that enjoy campy horror tales.  Finally, this one has some nasty deaths that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The practical effects are great in most cases but there was a few deaths where the effects look a bit rushed.  They are inconsistent but still very enjoyable.  Overall, Devil Story is a wild trip and one of the oddest releases in Vinegar Syndrome's catalogue.  It's strange but very entertaining.  I highly recommend it especially for genre fans that like the strange side of horror.  

Transformers: The Movie

Director - Nelson Shin (My Little Pony, Dennis the Menace in Mayday for Mother)

Starring - Orson Welles (History of the World: Part 1, Shogun), Robert Stack (1941, Airplane!), and Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek, The Outer Limits)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Sci-Fi/Action

Tagline - "Beyond good, beyond evil, beyond your wildest imagination"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was born in 1986 and lived through the end of the 80s and up through the 90s.  I'm a product of the 90s but I'm very much obsessed with the 80s.  When I was little, around 5 or so, my uncle introduced me to the cartoons he watched in the early 80s.  Cartoons like He-Man and Transformers.  He-Man is a phenomenal show but the Transformers really stuck with me.  So much so that I'm still slightly obsessed with it to this day.  I was in middle school when I first saw Transformers: The Movie and it absolutely gutted me.  Watching my favorite Transformers die was gutwrenching but I still loved the movie.  I bought the DVD when it was released and still toss it in on occasion.  When Shout Factory announced the UHD release of the movie I had to jump on it to revisit.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows the Autobots who are waging a war with the evil Decepticons for control of the planet Cybertron.  As their war wages on they find themselves outnumbers and outgunned.  To make matters worse, a giant planet eating robot names Unicron has set it's sight on Cybertron and the keeper of the Matrix of Leadership.  The last surviving Autobots flee Cybertron to regroup while Unicron transformers dying Decepticons, including Megatron, into heralds of his own chaos to hunt down the Autobots.

     Transformers: The Movie crushed the childhood of so many children when it was released.  I was late to the party by sometime when I finally watched it but the impact was still the same.  It's a phenomenal film but that story line really hits viewers, especially Transformer fans, extremely hard.  The 80's was the decade for Saturday morning cartoons and a lot of those cartoons founds themselves landing several movies like My Little Ponys: The Movie, Masters of the Universe, and so on but Transformers: The Movie has everything fans of the cartoons of the time could ask for.  The voice acting in this is leagues above the animated series.  We have Orson Welles voicing one of the biggest animated villains in cartoon history along with Leonard Nimoy knocking it out as Megatron's upgrade Galvatron.  Robert Stack tackles Prime's replacement Ultra Magnus while Judd Nelson voices my favorite of the G2 Transformers, Hot Rod.  We get some familiar voices returning for the original run of Transformers but the new additions are what sticks out the most.  The story for this one brings out a wide range of emotions.  The point of the film was to transition American audiences from the first generation of Transformers and the toy line to the second generation.  This G2 run included Unicron, Hot Rod, Galvatron, Kup, and others while ending fan favorites like Starscream, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and so on.  While this made sense from a marketing standpoint it was crushing to many fans as they watched their favorite characters die.  Aside from that, the film is an absolute blast.  We have so many new characters with memorable personalities along with a lot of action on a much bigger scale than the show.  Finally, the animation is better in some aspects than the show.  This is the UHD release so you can expect to see some great imagery as colors pop and a lot of the more darker scenes are much more enjoyable with this release.  I know the DVD release I've had for some time had some dark scenes that forced me to adjust the brightness a few times during my many viewings.  Overall, Transformers: The Movie is one that has stuck with me for many years and still delivers.  I wasn't around during the film's initial release but I can only imagine how hard it hit fans.  This is a must own release from Shout Factory that I highly recommend you grab.  It's essential for fans of Transformers.  

The Wraith

Director - Mike Marvin (Hamburger: The Motion Picture, Sunstorm)

Starring - Charlie Sheen (Red Dawn, Amazing Stories), Nick Cassavetes (Assault of the Killer Bimbos, Quantum Leap), and Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks, Thrashin')

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "He's not from around here"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I made friends with a few guys that liked horror as much as me along with someone who mostly liked the same type as music as us but wasn't so much interested in the movies.  However, there was one horror film that he went on and on about.  He was a car guy and would always beg us to find The Wraith for him so he could watch it.  We snagged a DVD, that I still have to this day, finally watched it.  While most of my friends were not impressed with it I found myself loving it.  I'm not a car guy but this cheesfest was an absolute blast.  It's been years since I've seen it and when Vestron Video announced a blu release of the film I was absolutely ready to revisit it and upgrade my copy.  

     The film follows Jake (Sheen) who is new in town and finds himself fascinated with local hottie Keri (Fenn).  However, Keri is off limits because locally goon Packard (Cassacetes) has laid claim to her.  Packard will do anything to make her his even if it means kill any guy that stands in his way.  Packard is also the leader of a car gang that forces men to race for slips.  Shortly after Jake's appearance a mysterious man appears in an all black car and starts racing the gang one by one resulting in their deaths.  Soon Packard is left to face the wraith in the car alone and confronting the man he murdered sometime ago.

     The Wraith is an unconventional slasher that fucking works.  Sure, some horror fans will bitch and complain about it but as someone who doesn't have a stick up my ass I believe this is one of the most original and unique slashers ever made.  The acting in this one is fun but I found it to be a little uneven.  Sheen, Fenn, and the rest of the cast does a solid job.  Their characters are rather generic but they are fun and work great with the film.  I really enjoyed the casting in this one but Cassavetes and Clint Howard steal every scene they are in.  Their character stood out from the rest and offered some great entertainment value.  The story for this one is basically a classic slasher underneath the street racing theme.  We get someone that was wronged who comes back to seek revenge against those that wronged him.  We then add the Dodge concept car that kills people and you have The Wraith.  It's fun and cheesy as fuck at times.  It does drag in a few place but the action scenes more than make up for it.  Finally, don't expect blood and gore.  We get a little bit of make-up effects and tons of explosions.  The red stuff was replaced with flames and fumes.  Overall, The Wraith is a great mid-80s horror/action hybrid that may not be everyone's cup of tea but I enjoy it.  The release from Vestron looks great as well.  If you have not seen this one then I highly suggest picking up this release.  

Strike Commando

Director - Bruno Mattei (The Other Hell, Hell of the Living Dead)

Starring - Reb Brown (Howling II, Captain America), Christopher Connelly (Night of the Sharks, Airwolf), and Louise Kamsteeg (Bloody Psycho, Fashion Crimes)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Action/War

Tagline - "A one man war machine"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I absolutely love 80s action movies.  They are just as fun and campy as any horror movie from the decade.  I originally set out to review 80s action flicks but my love for horror and exploitation quickly took over what I was reviewing.  With that being said, anytime I get the chance to review an 80s action flick you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I'm going to try like hell to review it.  When Severin announced the release of Bruno Mattei's 86 action flick Strike Commando I knew I had to review it.  I reached out to MVD who was handling this release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film begins with a mission during the Vietnam war when an entire squad of commandos is sacrificed for a mission...except one, Michael Ransom (Brown).  He survives and finds himself behind enemy lines with a price on his head.  As he fights to get to the rendezvous he soon realizes that the man calling the shots for the U.S. army is actually a Russian spy and Ransom must die in order to keep his secret.  

     There was so many Rambo clones to come out of the 80s.  Strike Commando was released just four years after First Blood and where First Blood offers a gritty look at post-Vietnam vets returning back to civilian life where Strike Commando takes us deeper into the Vietnam action.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy but so much fun.  Reb Brown is not one to win awards for his performances but he does deliver fun performances.  He goes all in with Strike Commando and delivers an unintentionally funny but entertaining performance I've seen from him yet.  The supporting cast is nothing compared to Brown's characters.  They were either added during filming or poorly written but the overall focus is on Ransom with very little character development beyond that point.  The story for this one is like 100s of other action films to follow in Rambo's wake.  We get a Vietnam soldier who is a one man army and can't be stopped as he fights his way through the rice fields and jungles of Vietnam only to discover that he was betrayed.  Honestly, it's nothing we haven't seen before but we get plenty of explosions, gunfire, fighting, and goofy characters.  It's great fun for a first time watch but I don't see much of a replay value.  Finally, we get plenty of explosions and some gunfights but don't expect to see a bloodbath here.  Not a lot of blood to be found aside from some make-up effects.  Overall, Strike Commando is exploitation filmmaker Bruno Mattei's contribution to the mid-80s action film that is surprisingly fun.  Mattei may be known for his sleazy and sometimes lackluster exploitation flicks but Strike Commando is a must see.  This release from Severin looks absolutely fantastic and one I would highly recommend to collectors.    

Hallucinations

Director(s) - John Polonia (Peter Rottentail, Night Crawlers), Mark Polonia (Land Shark, Amityville Exorcist), and Todd Michael Smith (Splatter Farm, Lethal Nightmare)

Starring - John Polonia, Mark Polonia, and Todd Michael Smith

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I continue to push through some SRS Cinema releases that has stacked up I find myself really enjoying it even if a few of the films were duds.  I've come to realize that Ron Bonk is a well rounded filmmaker that is fairly consistent with his films.  I'm glad he released his earlier films as part of his retro line.  I've also realized that I'm more of a Polonia Brother's fan that I had realized.  Bad Magic didn't work out too well for me but these "lost' Polonia flicks are so much fun.  Mark Polonia found some unedited and unfinished films from their youth and cut them for SRS to release.  Church of the Damned was a fun watch and I wanted to keep the Polonia marathon going so I tossed in 1986's Hallucinations.  

     The film follows twin brothers (Mark and John Polonia) and their adopted brother (Smith) as they are home alone while their mother works a late shift.  One of the twins is often picked on for being a little slow so that causes animosity between the adopted sibling and the other twin.  The day starts out normal but soon all three succumb to strange hallucinations when they suspect that something supernatural is preying on them.

     Hallucinations, much like Church of the Damned, is a very rough film from some very young filmmakers but it's fun.  It's so strange and odd, even for a Polonia film, but it is still fun in a cheap late night creature feature kind of way.  I enjoyed and could confidently recommend it to other genre fans but I don't see myself revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is rough at times but still far from the worst that I've seen.  If I'm not mistaken, the Polonias and Smith were all high school age here.  Their lack of experience and budget does not stop them from trying.  They give the roles the best that they could and it was just enough to make the scenes work.  It's awkward at times and funny when it shouldn't be but it works.  The story for this one really pulled me in even more so than Church of the Damned.  The "hallucinations" was a very interesting concept especially for a no-budget flick but the editing is extremely choppy.  The film was abandoned and only edited for SRS to release which would explain some of the inconsistencies and poor editing but I would love to see Polonia allow a fan to remake this one.  Finally, this is not the splatter fest that the Polonias and Smith are known for but there was a few practical effects that really surprised me.  The film isn't really about deaths but we get a few memorable moments with some fun practical effects.  Overall, Hallucinations isn't for those of you that are looking for big budget or well polished horror films.  Pop horror fans may not appreciate it but fans of no-budget or backyard horror flicks should check it out.  

Amazing Stories: Season Two

Creator(s) - Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Jaws), Joshua Brand (A Year in the Life, The Americans), and John Falsey (Northern Exposure, I'll Fly Away)

Starring - Patrick Swayze (Road House, Dirty Dancing), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), and David Carradine (Death Race 2000, Kill Bill)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Fantasy/Crime/Drama

Tagline - "As one experience ends another adventure begins"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple weeks ago I started watching season one of Amazing Stories that was sent to me to review from Umbrella Entertainment.  I really enjoyed myself with it but I wasn't able to binge the second season immediately after due to to my work schedule.  I didn't want to start it and have to stop it between episodes so I waited a few days to toss it in until I had a few days off together.  I recently found those days off and jumped on season two.  I seriously want to thank Umbrella for sending me this set because I really enjoyed myself with it.

     This season, much like the first, follows amazing stories following broad way murders, getting back at mean spirited teachers with magic, and rings that possess the wearer just to name a few.

     Season two is similar to the first season.  We have some seriously entertaining stories that is fitting of the Amazing Stories title but some of the other not as spectacular.  The yare still great episodes but not as memorable as others.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  We have amazing performances from some of the most iconic actors of the 80s.  I was shocked to see Patrick Swayze, Danny DeVito, Chrisopher Lloyd, and David Carridine in this.  They deliver unforgettable performances and the supporting cast is just as memorable.  Amazing acting all around in this season.  The stories in this one range from amazing to not so much.  They are very inconsistent but not disappointing.  I really enjoyed the episodes so don't take it the wrong way but some are so amazing that you are thinking about them days later while others were forgotten as soon as the episode ended.  Finally, this one has a few visual effects that are really out dated by this point and a little blood but nothing memorable.  If you are looking for blood and gore you will be very disappointed and barking up the wrong tree.  Overall, Season Two is just a fun as the first season.  I highly suggest making time to binge both seasons on DVD from Umbrella Entertainment.  It was a great experience to finally watch the entire show.  

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Director - Tom McLoughlin (Freddy's Nightmares, Friday the 13th: The Series)

Starring - Thom Mathews (Return of the Living Dead, Return of the Living Dead Part II), Jennifer Cooke (Deadly Nightmares, V), and David Kagen (Freddy's Nightmares, 21 Jump Street)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Kill or be killed"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     There has been many milestones with previous Friday the 13th films.  The second film introduced Jason, the third introduced his iconic hockey mask, the fourth was Jason's death and the introduction of Tommy Jarvis.  Part V continued the Tommy Jarvis saga but did not introduce anything new to the film.  However, Part VI: Jason Lives would be the turning point for the franchise while establishing Jason as the undead slasher that he is known for.  The film is a lukewarm entry to the series but is still an important one.

     The film follows Tommy Jarvis (Mathews) who is still obsessed with Jason after killing him at the end of The Final Chapter.  He finds his grave and unearths it with plans to burn his body to set his mind at ease.  He stabs the body with an iron spike before setting it blaze but lightning strikes it reanimating Jason and sending him on another bloody rampage through Crystal Lake that has been recently renamed Forest Green.

     Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is the turning point in the series where the films no longer feel like a slasher like the first five films.  Instead, it recreates Jason and an undead and unstoppable force that can't be stopped.  Personally, this is where the franchise took a bit of a dive for me but it is still fun and has plenty of fans out there.  The acting in this one is probably my second favorite in the series.  Thom Mathews is an amazing actor that not only kills it as Tommy Jarvis but has fans quoting him from his peformances in the first two Return of the Living Dead films.  Feldman brought the character to life when he portrayed him as a child but Mathews is the Jarvis most of us think of.  It's a real shame he was not cast as Jarvis in the previous installment.  The supporting cast is just as good with most of the characters more down to earth and serious.  I do enjoy the more out there characters but this darker story would have fell apart if those comedic performances were delivered.  The story for this one takes Jason in a new direction and this portrayal is more well known among horror fans.  When most people think of Jason they immediately think of the undead version.  His rotten and broken hockey mask is just as iconic as his rotting body.  Fans, at the time, loved this Jason which is why the franchise would have several more installments.  With that being said, the film does start the beginning of stories that are little more out there and far fetched.  Compared to the following films, this one is pretty grounded.  Finally, this film has several death scenes that features some top notch practical effects along with make-up effects.  Jason looks amazing which would be one of the many factors that contributes to this look being his most iconic.  Overall, Jason Lives is another solid entry in the Friday the 13th franchise.  It re-established Jason in a different manner than the previous films but still delivers the slasher-esque kills that slasher fans enjoy.  With that being said, the look and tone of the previous films is absent which does turn some of the fans off.  I recommend it but it's not among my favorite installments.  

The Eleventh Commandment

Director - Paul Leder (Murder by Numbers, The Baby Doll Murders)
Starring - Bernard White (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Magical World of Disney), Marilyn Hassett (Deadly Nightmares, Rock-A-Die Baby), and Dick Sargent (Teen Witch, Bewitched)
Release Date - 1986
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Thou shall not rape, steal or murder"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Every month I rush to my mail box in hopes that today is the day that I get Vinegar Syndrome's monthly releases in.  This company quickly became one of my favorites and you never know what they are going to announce next.  Their monthly releases are usually equal parts exploitation and horror.  Sometimes the exploitation is sleazier than most but they are always consistent with their releases.  Back in July Vin Syn released the sexploitation period piece The Naughty Victorians along with the 1986 religious thriller The Eleventh Commandment and the often ignored Larry Cohen film Perfect Strangers.  After giving The Naughty Victorians a spin it only made sense to follow it up with The Eleventh Commandment.  Thanks again Vin Syn for sending this one over.

     The film follows Robert (White).  Robert is the son of a wealthy business owner who was murdered by his own brother.  To make matters worse, Robert watched his uncle kill his father before raping his mother.  Now, years later, Robert is locked up in a mental hospital where he has turned to Christianity as a way to cope.  His wealthy uncle is trying to convince Robert to sign over his father's business to him and is using the doctor at the mental asylum to get this done.  However, a weakness in the nursing staff allows Robert a chance to escape and begin his killing spree.  He will stop at nothing to get his uncle back for killing his parents and locking him away for all those years.
     Vinegar Syndrome is a great company for finding movies that you would never hear about other wise.  Most companies focus on popular films to re-release because they know they can make their money back on these titles.  I love The Evil Dead and Phantasm but I can only buy the same movie so many times before enough is enough.  A lot of times with Vin Syn their blu releases are the film's first release since VHS.  The Eleventh Commandment is one of the many films they've released over the years that I had never heard of until their press release was sent around.  With that being said, I enjoyed it for what it is but it wasn't without it's own flaws.  The acting in this one is the high point of the film.  Aside from a stellar performance from Dick Sargent and Lauren Woodland, I really enjoyed Bernard White's performance as the gentle killer.  He is unlike most madmen you would find in a horror film and he really pulls the viewer in.  You feel for him and want him to kill those that wronged him.  Such an amazing performance from a virtually unknown actor.  The story for this one has slasher elements but plays out more like a religious thriller.  The slasher elements follows a man that was wronged (Robert) who then seeks to kill those responsible for wronging him.  This is similar to slasher stories found in Prom Night and Friday the 13th.  However, the style in which it was done flows more like a made for television religious thriller.  It works if you are wanting something different but I don't see much in the way of replay value.  Finally, the film has several on screen kills but they lack originality.  Most of the kills follows Robert as he stabs people in the gut.  We get some bright red blood but nothing out of the ordinary.  With that being said, we do get two kills from gun shots that was exceptional.  Not that original but they were very well done.  Overall, The Eleventh Commandment is one you don't hear people talk about but it does deserve at least one viewing.  The story works well but it will not be making anyone's top ten lists.  The blu from Vin Syn has a great transfer with clear images and consistent audio.  I highly suggest checking it out.     

Battle for the Lost Planet

Director - Brett Piper (Bite Me!, A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell)
Starring - Matt Mitler (The Mutilator, Deadtime Stories), Denise Coward (Sudden Death, The Edge of Night), and Joe Gentissi
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Adventure/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "Invasion...Devastation...The ultimate alien force"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been working hard to dig myself out of the review hole that I've created for myself.  I had a tendency of always saying yes when asked to review a film regardless of how many movies I have ahead of it.  I've been looking through the movies I needed to review when I spotted the Vinegar Syndrome release of Brett Piper's Battle for the Lost Planet and Mutant War.  Piper is no stranger to my reviews and his film The Screaming Dead is the movie that introduced me to Misty Mundae.  I had never seen these two films but knowing Piper's filmography I couldn't wait to toss them in.

     The film follows a thief who steals a disc containing high profile plans for something he knows will make him some serious cash.  However, the security guards catch him and he's forced to lock himself inside a group.  While the guards call for back up he uncovers a space ship and uses it to flee but it's damaged during take off forcing him to fly off planet.  Once he reached outer space he spots a death ship that soon attacks the Earth wiping out most of the population.  He's unable to land and is forced to cycle the planet for five years.  When he lands he learns that the aliens are hunting humans while experimenting on others turning them into braindead mutants.  He is able to pull together a few survivors and with their help use the plans on the disc to wipe out the aliens.

     I grew up on low budget direct to video movies from the video store.  Movies from Full Moon, Moonbeam, and so on were staples of my home when I was a kid.  I didn't care about the film's budget.  All I cared about was the story they told and how well they told it.  I could see my younger self becoming obsessed with this one if I would have watched it during that time.  I really enjoyed it as an adult but my younger self would have loved it.  The acting in this one is what you would expect from a mid 80s sci-fi direct to video romp.  The characters are all cheesy but fun.  Matt Mitler is the center point of the film and he has so much fun with his role.  His character brings some humor as well and he really takes his role and runs with it.  The supporting cast delivers solid performances as well but their characters are nowhere near as fun as Mitler's.  The story for this one would be right at home during the late 60s and early 70s drive-in era.  With that being said I really enjoy 80s sense of future style.  It doesn't age well but its always fun to watch.  The story is more than just a straight forward sci-fi flick.  We do get several different elements that were popular during this time for straight to video releases.  We get an alien invasion, mutants, survivors fighting for supplies while forming gangs, and Harryhausen inspired monsters.  The story does hit a few slow spots with some painful dialogue but it's nothing you can't sit through.  Finally, the film is not a bloody film but we do get plenty of special effects that I absolutely adore.  The Harryhausen style effects mixed with the stop motion melting is shit that I eat up.  If you want to impress me then add these to a film.  Overall, Battle for the Lost Planet is not going to be for everyone but fans of the movies from the video store era will appreciate what Piper delivered.  The transfer on this blu looks fantastic as well so check it out.

Rad

Director - Hal Needham (Smokey and the Bandit, Body Slam)
Starring - Bill Allen (Amazing Stories, Alien Nation), Lori Loughlin (The New Kids, The Night Before), and Talia Shire (Faerie Tale Theatre, Rocky)
Release Date - 1986
Genre - Drama
Tagline - "A hometown kid on his BMX against the best in the world.  At Helltrack...the heat is on"
Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a huge fan of the 80s. I love the styles, movies, music, television shows, and so on.  I can't get enough of it.  It's not an obsession but I'm always on the look out for something from this decade that I had never seen or heard before.  Through the years I had heard friends recommend the 1986 sports drama Rad to check out.  When I turned to eBay I found myself often getting outbid on tapes.  A few years ago I found myself face to face with a stack of bootleg DVDs but the guy selling them said they were horrible quality so I decided to hold off and wait for an official release.  Thank god I waited because Vinegar Syndrome fucking knocked it out of the park with their 4K/blu release of the film.  I want to thank them for sending this release my way for review.

     The film follows Cru (Allen) who is an aspiring BMX racer.  When his hometown builds the world's largest race track, Helltrack, he defies his mother's wishes and joins the race that stacks the odds against him.

     I know it's not a horror flick but I can still see the comments rolling it.  You mouth-breathers really love commenting on the obvious.  I'm sorry that your mom and dad had other things to do and didn't give you the attention you crave but if comments like "this isn't horror" makes you feel better then have at it.  Rad is one I've heard so much about for years and I have to admit that it did live up to my expectations.  I really enjoyed it and it was gloriously 80s.  The acting in this one is cheesy as hell but I loved it.  Bill Allen is an actor I'm not familiar with which is surprising considering how great he was in this.  He does ham it up a great deal but so does the rest of the cast.  His character really sold the movie and I couldn't imagine this with anyone else in the role.  The supporting cast is great as well.  Lori Loughlin was a huge part of most of our childhoods but this is my favorite performance of hers by far.  Her character was great and she brought a lot to the film.  The story for this one is pretty simple but does remind you of other films from the past.  My dad was a lot older than other fathers with kids my age.  He was 45 when I was born and had lived a wild life before he had children.  I grew up watching those older films with him and the story for Rad could be found in so many other sports and racing movies.  What makes this one stand out is that it wasn't afraid to date itself and it doing so it cemented itself as a nostalgic classic.  It doesn't bring something new or inventive to cinema but it's BMX spin really makes it work for someone in the mood for an 80s flick.  Finally, no blood and guts in this one.  It does have some laughs, a little romance, and tons of racing action but no carnage.  Overall, Rad is an 80s experience.  The soundtrack, clothes, story, and sets are all a trip back in time.  The movie is highly enjoyable and Vin Syn did a fantastic job on this release.  Honestly, this release needs to be in every movie collector's collection.  Check it out now if it's not sold out on 4K/blu combo pack!