My Best Friend is a Vampire

Director - Jimmy Huston (Final Exam, Death Driver)

Starring - Robert Sean Leonard (House, The Manhattan Project), Evan Mirand (Se7en, Fight Club), and LeeAnn Locken (Carter High, Broken Vessels)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Vampires and teenagers are a lot alike.  They're just misunderstood"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I started my horror journey as a fan of zombie films when I was introduced to Tom Savini’s remake of Night of the Living Dead. I was hooked from that moment on. I was snagging any and every zombie movie I could find but a late night viewing of Fright Night II sent me down the path of vampires. From then on I was hunting for any 80s and early 90s vampire films I could find. This was my favorite time for vampire flicks and there was several worth mentioning like Fright Night, The Lost Boys, Vamp, Children of the Night, Once Bitten, and 1987’s My Best Friend is a Vampire. My Best Friend is a Vampire, or I Was a Teenage Vampire, is one of several films I snagged on VHS when my local video store was going out of business. It’s a fantastic film that I never saw get the DVD aside from those multi-film releases where each movie is compressed to hell to put more titles on each disc. That changed recently when Vestron Video released the film on blu. I love this campy late 80s vampire flick so it was a no-brainer when I saw it on store shelves. I couldn’t wait to revisit this one and even though I wasn’t sent this one for review I still wanted to check it as part of my October horror binge. 

      The film follows high schooler Jeremy who finds himself on the run from a vampire slayer and his minion after a late night date with a mysterious woman. She bit him before they were interrupted and in the mean time he has noticed his body is changing. To make matters worse, the vampire slayer and his goon is hunting his best friend because they believe he is the vampire. While adjusting to his new life, he befriends another vampire who takes him under his wing and uses his new powers to get the girl of his dreams. Things start to look up for him but the vampire hunter and his persistence has to be stopped before his best friend and girl friend is killed by them. 

      My Best Friend is a Vampire is not something that I would call traditional horror. It’s more of a coming of age comedy that just happens to be centered around a vampire. I know many fans of this film are going to attack me when I say this but The Twilight Saga is more horror than this movie. With that being said, I fucking love it. It’s one of my favorite 80s films and I’m so fucking stoked to have it on blu. The acting in this one is great for the film but the cliched characters and the paint by numbers story doesn’t leave a lot of room for memorable performances. I like the cast but if you’ve seen any comedy centered around high schoolers or a vampire film of the time then you have seen characters exactly like this. I liked the cast and their performances but the characters are not as memorable as other films. The story for this one is a heavy mix of so many films from the early to mid-80s. We have the awkward high school kid who has a crush on someone with the rather loud and outspoken friend that is the source of humor for the film. Can be easily compared to Teen Wolf in that regard. We then throw in the vampire aspect with the mentor and vampire slaying which is a bit of a reversal from Fright Night. I love the story but I’m also not blind to how it was tossed together for a quick buck. Finally, the film isn’t really that bloody or violent. We do have “blood” products in the film but you don’t really see the red stuff. The film is more focused on the comedy aspect over the blood and violence. Overall, My Best Friend is a Vampire may piss off some horror purists but I fucking love it. It’s a fantastically 80s film that I’ve paired several times with films like Vamp and Fright Night. I highly recommend snagging this blu from Vestron Video

Cross of the 7 Jewels

Director - Marco Antonio (Riecco Aborym)

Starring - Marco Antonio, Annie Belle (House on the Edge of the Park, Lips of Blood), and Gordon Mitchell (Nightfall, Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several months ago I saw posts in horror groups going around about the blu release of the 1987 Italian horror film Cross of the 7 Jewels. The image on the poster looked very familiar so I did some looking and discovered that this was actually a film, in a round about way, that I had previously seen under the title Talisman during a Halloween watch party several years ago. The film was notable for having random shots from another film that currently escapes me. A few weeks back Tetrovideo reached out to me to review their blu release of the film. I was actually looking forward to seeing the original cut of the film instead of the one I had previously seen. I want to thank Tetrovideo for sending this release all the way to me for review. I truly appreciate it. 

      The film follows a man who is cursed with lycanthropy that uses the Cross of 7 Jewels to suppress his transformations. However, while traveling to Milan to visit an estranged cousin he finds himself robbed by a gang of mini-bike thieves. He get’s the police involved but they are unable to retrieve the cross. This doesn’t bare well for him and he soon finds himself at the mercy of the moon. 

      I didn’t know what to think about Cross of the 7 Jewels when I was asked to review it. I had watched the weird cut some time back but I didn’t remember anything about it aside from it featuring scenes from another well known horror title. I liked the idea behind the film but the execution made this one extremely difficult to finish. I hate being negative especially about a film that was sent over for review but this one was rough to sit through. The acting in this one is not the worst I’ve seen but most of the cast does feel like they have short attention spans and wondering eyes. The characters are wonderfully written but a lot of the scenes just feel forced and a lot of the emotional reactions do not feel genuine. I don’t know the behind the scenes of the film here but I get the feeling the cast was allowed to do as they wish with very little guidance. The story for this one really peaked my interest. A werewolf using a sacred charm to hold back the transformation only to have it stolen while visiting family by a group of street thugs is actually pretty fucking brilliant if you think about it. It has so much promise but the execution is all wrong. The film has one of the best premises for a horror film but it feels like a dull drama with horror influences. I would have loved to see more werewolf action along with a little more backstory but the way it was made for a very daunting film to finish. Finally, the film has a few scenes with seriously impressive practical effects. One scene in particular really stands out but I won’t go into too much detail for fear of spoiling this amazing gag. With that being said, I wasn’t really feeling the werewolf. In promotional images I thought I would but once you see it in the film you can’t help but laugh at it. Overall, Cross of the 7 Jewels really isn’t what I was expecting. I saw that it was called the worst Italian horror film from several critics and I somewhat agree with them. I wanted to love it but I just couldn’t. The release from Tetrovideo is a seriously awesome release but the film is not.

The Kindred

Director(s) - Stephen Carpenter (The Dorm that Dripped Blood, The Power) and Jeffrey Obrow (Servants of Twilight, Legend of the Mummy)

Starring - Rod Steiger (American Gothic, The Amityville Horror), Kim Hunter (Two Evil Eyes, American Playhouse), and David Allen Brooks (Manhunter, The Doors)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Anthony didn't ask to be brought into this world"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I’m a huge fan of 80s horror but I’ve only seen a miniscule amount of films from the decade. I cut my teeth to classics like Evil Dead II, Return of the Living Dead, Monster Squad, Night of the Creeps, Night of the Comet and so on but there is thousands of films that I’ve missed out on for various reasons. That’s why I love these boutique labels like Arrow Video, Vinegar Syndrome Scream Factory, Severin, and Synapse Films. Synapse really impressed me when they released Massacre at Central High. They have been behind some of my favorite blu releases in recent years and when they announced the standard edition of 1987’s The Kindred I was fucking pumped. I had never seen this one before and I couldn’t wait to see it. I quickly reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send over a review copy. 

      The film follows a scientist who visits his mother’s home after her passing to search for her experiments and lab notes before her competition could along with his assistants. However, what they don’t know is that her experiments resulted in an abomination living in the basement that has a knack for killing. Now, they are forced to not only fight for their lives at the hands of this creature but the other scientist that wants to use her work as his own. 

     The Kindred was not what I was expecting at all but I fucking loved it. As a parent I often find horror films centered around mutant babies, like The Suckling, It’s Alive, and The Kindred, to be extremely effective. Not only is it playing on fears of parents that something could be wrong with their child but it also has that element that humans could create something so heinous within their own biological makeup. The Kindred uses a little from both of these to make something that was pretty fucking fun. The acting in this one is uneven but it’s not bad. Some of the cast acts as very well. They get into character, carry the scene, and do a fantastic job with their co-stars. However, some of the cast delivers decent performances in some scenes while other scenes are flat and very unenthused. It’s not consistent but isn’t the worst thing I’ve seen. The story for this one is slasher like but with some fun monster mayhem. It is predictable but that doesn’t stop it from being enjoyable. I really enjoyed the mutant offspring and the possibility of sequels with the jars in the basement. I also liked how it reminded me a lot of the scientists gone too far films from the 60s. I would have never expected this type of story to work so well with slasher elements but it did. The dialogue is a bit of a stretch but I don’t know how much of that was written and how much of that was improv. Finally, the film has plenty of blood and one hell of a monster. The effects are great and they drive the film over the time. Overall, The Kindred really impressed me. I enjoyed the creature and the story behind it. The transfer from Synapse looks great as well. This is one of the few horror films that seems to be firing on all cylinders.

The Lighthorsemen

Director - Simon Wincer (The Phantom, Harlequin)

Starring - Peter Phelps (Baywatch, Point Break), Nick Waters (Fortress, The Flying Doctors), and John Larking (E.A.R.T.H. Force, A Cry in the Dark)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - War/Action

Tagline - "They did what they were told... they didn't know it was impossible"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     With each release that I get from Umbrella Entertainment I find myself becoming more and more impressed with ozploitation cinema.  While a few were not something I enjoyed I did find several films that truly impressed me.  Hell, some of these films quickly became some of my favorite flicks.  A few weeks back I was sent the war drama The Lighthorsemen from Umbrella and was slightly curious as to why the film was available for me to review. This is not your typical ozploitation flick.  In fact, it's not really a traditional ozploitation film as we know them.  It is an Australian film but it was part of a much bigger production.  It looked like something I would have enjoyed as a kid when I was on a drama kick.  Regardless, when I was starting my Umbrella marathon I decided it would fit in perfectly after Child's Play and Harlequin.  I want to thank Umbrella for sending this one over.  It's an amazing film that truly deserves your time.

     The film follows the Australian Light Horse regime and their involvement in the first World War andthe battle between the British and Turkish forces over the control of Gaza.

     The Lighthorsemen is a fantastic film that I've never heard anyone speak of.  I know a lot of my regular readers will bitch and moan about this one not being a horror flick but I don't give a rat's ass.  It's one of the best war dramas I have ever seen and its easily one of the best written films I've laid my eyes on.  The acting in this is absolutely amazing from each and every cast member.  Like most movies, some of the cast has bigger roles than others but this one has absolutely no weak links.  The characters are so well written and the cast does an amazing job bringing them to life.  The story for this one is drama filled and action oriented but I can't vouch for it's authenticity.  As an American, we are never taught other countries history.  However, from a film standpoint, it's a fantastic film that kept me glued to the screen from beginning to end.  You find yourself completely enthralled with the story.  Finally, the film has a few bloody moments but the body count is not the focus of the film.  It's a story rich movie with great characters that holds the viewer's attention.  Overall, The Lighthorsemen is not going to be for everyone and not for some of you looking for a horror flick to relax to.  However, if you want a period piece with a war flare then this one is for you.  I highly recommend this release from Umbrella.  

Slaughterhouse Rock

Director - Dimitri Logothetis (Jiu Jitsu, Dark Realm) Starring - Toni Basil (Rockula, Easy Rider), Nicholas Celozzi (Tiger Claw III, The A-Team), and Tom Reilly (Married... With Children, Valley of the Dolls) 

Release Date - 1987 

Genre - Comedy/Horror 

Tagline - "Alcatraz, for 39 years it held society's most depraved killers.  Now it's home to something even worse"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was hitting up my local pawn shops and thrift stores when I came across the DVD release of the 1987 horror comedy Slaughterhouse Rock.  I had never seen the film before and after a few weeks of owning it I decided to check it out one weekend with a few beers.  Sadly, I was unable to finish it and tossed it on my shelf.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of the film om blu I wasn't really interested in it until I saw that it was a double feature with Hard Rock Zombies.  I decided to give it another shot after I watched Hard Rock Zombies.

     The film follows a group of friends who visit the infamous Alcatraz prison after one of them continuously has dreams about it.  They hope to find answers but soon find themselves face to face with a demon that possesses one of them while the ghost of a hair metal musician helps them find a way out.

     Slaughterhouse Rock was not for me and I hate to be that negative about it.  I wanted to love it but it was so fucking dull and damn near impossible for me to finish.  It was just as bat shit insane as Hard Rock Zombies but the pacing was all wrong for me.  Some smoother editing and better acting would have made this one a lot more entertaining.  The acting in this is far from perfect and several of the scenes felt lazy.  The cast has no enthusiasm in some of the later scenes and just spat their dialogue out with no conviction.  The earlier scenes are better acted but it was still awkward at times.  I love the dry acting that most early 80s slashers had but these characters blend in with others and it's often confusing trying to figure out who is who.  The story for this one is right up my alley but the lazy acting and editing makes it extremely difficult to follow.  I loved the demon possessing the group that is trespassing along with the ghost of the female hair metal victim but the remainder of the film is long, drawn out scenes with miserable dialogue as we bounce from scene to scene with no reason or explanation.  I could have loved this story but it doesn't work the way it is.  Finally, the film is not as gruesome as it could have been.  We get some generic deaths with some blood and unimaginative practical effects.  Overall, Slaughterhouse Rock is not one I can recommend but if you are eyeing the Hard Rock Zombies then it's worth the price.  However, if you want it just for Slaughterhouse Rock then I would skip this release.  

Steel Dawn

Director - Lance Hool (One Man's Hero, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning)

Starring - Patrick Swayze (Road House, Donnie Darko), Lisa Niemi (Super Force, Max Headroom), and Brion James (Bladerunner, Spawn)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Action/Adventure 

Tagline - "He is the desert warrior, carving the future with his sword"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was first getting into movie collecting and spending hours at the video store I became obsessed with Conan the Barbarian and it's sequel.  This started a lifelong love for these fantasy films with swords, creatures, and epic villains.  I rented so many of these film from my local video store and since then I've acquired as many as I can on DVD, blu, and VHS.  However, the 80s was a wild time and a lot of films that made their way to VHS never received widespread disc pressing until recently.  Sometime back Vestron Video announced the release of the 1987 Patrick Swayze film Steel Dawn.  This Mad Max meets Conan the Barbarian film was one I had never seen before but I had heard about it over the years.  I snagged a copy when I could and while I was having a mini Vestron Video marathon I decided it was time to finally check it out.  

     The film follows a mysterious traveler (Swayze) as he walks through the desert wasteland after civilization has crumbled.  The world is lacking water and the last few pockets of humanity are in turmoil fighting amongst themselves for the last bit of drinking water available.  He arrives at a small settlement where a group of survivors are treating water but they are constantly harassed and attacked by an evil man and his gang of ruthless savages.  The traveler is a former soldier and works with the settlement to purify water while fighting off the goons sent by the evil man who wants the land they are on.  

     Steel Dawn is painfully generic but it's not a bad film.  It combines the more memorable story elements from post apocalyptic films like Mad Max with the adventure fantasy films like Conan the Barbarian.  It's a middle of the road film that is a lot of fun for a first time watch or to spin every few years but it does not stand out like many of the other films like it that was released years before.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  I'm all for any film that utilizes Brion James.  He's always fun to watch and I loved that he has such a big role in the film.  Swayze doesn't disappoint as well.  His character is not as memorable as his other films but he does deliver that emotionless and stoic performance that he is popular for.  The supporting cast is solid as well but all of the characters are fairly generic and forgettable.  The story for this one doesn't really offer up anything new but I do like the combining of fantasy sword and the sandal elements with the post-apocalyptic elements.  It could have been done in a much bigger scope but the way it is delivered to us is still enjoyable but the thought of what it could have been it a travesty.  We get a lot of long, drawn out scenes with some roughly choreographed fight scenes with some fairly solid story.  The fight scenes had me laughing but it doesn't take away from the overall film.  Finally, there is a little blood but don't expect a high body count or carnage.  The deaths are quick with no practical effects.  Overall, Steel Dawn is a lesser known Patrick Swayze film that is rather unforgettable.  It is fun if you give it a chance but it's not one you can revisit often.  I recommend snagging it especially if you are a collector.  

Retribution

Director - Guy Magar (Werewolf, Children of the Corn: Revelation)

Starring - Dennis Lipscomb (Roswell, The X-Files), Leslie Wing (The Frighteners, Return to Halloweentown), and Suzanne Snyder (Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Return of the Living Dead II)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "The ultimate nightmare!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     What I love about boutique labels is how they are often bringing movies to our attention that we had never heard of prior to their releases.  Companies like Severin Films, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow Video, and so on have built large followings by releasing forgotten and little known genre films from yesteryear.  When Severin announced that they would be releasing the 1987 horror flick Retribution.  I had never heard of this one before so I was quick to rush to google to see what I could find on the film.  I checked out the trailer and then rushed to MVD to request a review copy.  I didn't care for the title but the artwork and trailer sold me on the film.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Severin for continuing to support Horror Society!

     The film follows struggling artist George (Lipscomb) who flings himself off the top of his apartment building.  Luckily, he survives and his psychiatrist, Dr. Curtis (Wing), works with him to get his life in order.  Also, one of the residents of his building, Angel (Snyder), starts showing interest in him.  Things are looking up for George, that is until he falls asleep.  When he sleeps he has nightmares that he is killing random people and the following morning he learns that those people were actually murdered.  He starts investigating those that were murdered and finds one connection between them all.  A local gangster died the moment George tried to kill himself and George suspects that he is possessing him while he sleeps in order to tie up loose ends.  

     I went into Retribution blind aside from what I had seen in the trailer and I was completely surprised.  In fact, I fell in love with the film and feel like I've been missing out.  This is the kind of movie I could see myself watching over and over on VHS if I would have discovered it when I was younger.  It quickly became one of my favorite releases from Severin and if this review doesn't inspire you to check it out then I failed at my job.  The acting in this one is very well done but a lot of the characters do bleed into the background.  Lipscomb was great as George while Wing was fantastic as the doctor trying to help him through this living nightmare.  However, I wanted to love Snyder especially after I had recognized who she is and the amazing films she had been in but she was very underwhelming.  Her character was very well written but she acts like she's not invested.  The story for this one is fucking wild and goofy but I fucking loved it.  I loved the shy and reluctant painter finding his way through life after a suicide attempt only to have a former mobster take control of him as he sleep causing chaos.  It's a wild story that sounds goofy as I type it but if you are open to it you will enjoy it.  It has great pacing, awesome atmosphere, and some of the scenes were wild to watch.  Finally, the film has plenty of outdated visual effects that I actually enjoyed along with some great practical and make-up effects.  Some of the deaths scenes were a little more enjoyable than others but they all are fun especially when you see the late 80s visual mixed with them.  Overall, Retribution is a film that I wish I would have seen years ago.  I loved the characters, the story, and the look of the film.  It's campy at times but it's also a lot of fun.  I highly recommend snagging this blu from Severin.  It's well worth the money.  

Dirty Laundry

Director - William Webb (Delta Fever, The Banker)

Starring - Leigh McCloskey (Inferno, Hamburger: The Motion Picture), Jeanne O'Brien, and Robbie Rist (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sharknado)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "It'll take more than soap and water to clean this mess up"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few years back MVD announced that they would be releasing films on blu as part of their new line called the MVD Rewind Collection.  The label was meant bring films that died on VHS to a more modern format.  I was all about this announcement and closely followed all their releases.  Some are horror titles that many of us were waiting for a boutique label to snag along with some long forgotten sci-fi flicks, some action cheeseballs, and the occasional comedy.  When MVD announced the release of the crime comedy Dirty Laundry as part of their Rewind Collection I was hooked.  I jumped as quickly as I could to my email so I could request a copy.  I fucking love 80s cinema and this was one I had never seen before and I was extremely stoked to check it out.  I want to thank MVD for sending this one over for me to review.

     The film follows a young man who visits his local laundromat where a big scene is made when a young couple starts fighting loudly.  A man with a sack full of cash is doing a drug drop at the same time in the laundromat and the two bags get mixed up.  Soon a local drug pin is on the hunt for the young man and a female reporter when they discover he has the bag of cash instead of the bag of his dirty underwear. 

     Dirty Laundry is not going to be the title that many collectors will be wanting to add to their collections but fans of 80s cinema, specifically comedies, will want to check this one out.  I grew up during the video store age and loved renting 80s and early 90s comedies at my local video store, Dewey's Video.  These were some of my fondest memories.  Leaving school on Friday before swinging by the local grocery store for some snacks and then hitting Dewey's to grab a stack of movies and games to get me through the weekend.  I could totally see myself renting this one if I saw it on the shelf at Dewey's when I was younger.  It was a lot of fun but it did feel rushed at times and not thought out.  The acting in this one is great.  I really enjoyed Leigh McCloskey's character even though he was like every male lead in the 80s.  He's arrogant, comical, and overflowing with personality which made the film as fun as it was.  His character reminded me a lot of Grant Cramer's character in Hardbodies.  He's generic, especially for an 80s comedy, but it was a lot of fun.  The supporting cast is solid as well with several cast members delivering some seriously fun performances.  The story for this one is one that has been done several times in comedies.  Hell, if you are my age you may even compare it to the early 90s children's comedy Blank Check and even Dumb and Dumber to some extent.  Comedies centered around organized crime losing money for a teenager or twenty-something to find has been the center of comedies since the 70s or so and I'm sure there was some in the 60s that I'm not familiar with.  My point is, it's not knew or original BUT it still delivers some fun performances and the humor does work.  It doesn't have much of a replay value but it's a great watch if you are looking for something you have never seen before.  Finally, don't expect blood or a body count because you won't find it here.  However, if some light-hearted laughs are more your speed then you are in luck.  Overall, Dirty Laundry is not the release most fans are looking for from boutique labels but I fucking love it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm always open to a new slasher or forgotten zombie flick but films like Dirty Laundry are what I grew up on.  It's fun, well acted, and genuinely entertaining.  I highly recommend this release from MVD.  

Shallow Grave

Director - Richard Styles (Midnight Tease II, Sorceress II: The Temptress)

Starring - Tony March (Ghoulies IV, Demolition High), Lisa Stahl (Sliders, Invasion U.S.A.), and Tom Law (Masterblaster, Mr. Wonderful)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't turn your back on the law, the road might lead to a... shallow grave"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Every month when Vinegar Syndrome announce their new releases I'm always caught off guard by the titles they deliver to fans.  You can speculate all you want about what they will release but you will never truly know until they officially announce it.  Each and every month when they announce their releases I always find myself drawn to one release.  Either the title, artwork, or cast catches my eye and I become fixated with it until I finally watch it.  When Vin Syn released Shallow Grave it became the film that I was looking forward to the most.  I loved the original poster and the new blu artwork for the film.  Those are the two things that really peaked my interest but once I read the synopsis I was sold on it.

     The film follows four Christian college students who are traveling through Georgia on their way to Florida for break when they encounter a flat.  They split up where one walks into town looking for help and another goes into the woods to relieve herself when she witnesses a man and woman who just finished having sex.  They begin bickering and then the man kills the woman.  The young girl panics and hides.  After some time the other two go into the woods looking for her when they encounter the murderer trying to hide the bodies and opens fire on them killing one in the process.  He eventually kills the other one leaving just two of them alive.  They are arrested soon after by they town deputy and once they meet the town sheriff they realize who the murderer is and their lives are on the line.

     Shallow Grave is not a brutal or bloody horror film but it does work as a late 80s genre effort.  It flows more like a made for television dark drama than a horror tale but I still enjoyed it for what it's worth.   Hell, if you cut out the nudity it would have been a great cable flick.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The characters are exactly what I was expecting and it seems like the cast has a lot of fun in their roles.  We have a mix of small town yocals and Christian school party girls which doesn't clash like you would expect.  They are very cliched characters but I love how the cast brought them to life.  They are very enjoyable and it's a damn shame most of this cast didn't find themselves in other genre releases.  The story for this one follows a man killing a woman in a heated moment resulting in more bodies turning up as he tries to cover it up.  It's has a small body count but not as violent as most horror efforts.  However, it's the "what's going to happen next" that pulls the viewer in.  You are hung up on whether or not the killer is going to get the surviving women.  It's well written but more horror elements could have been thrown in.  Hell, it could have been an unforgettable slasher if it was just written a little differently.  Finally, the film has some blood, a few boobs, but that's the extent of it.  If you are looking for some wild gore and awesome effects that correspond with the shallow graves aspect of the film then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Shallow Grave is a mild horror effort from Vin Syn but it's one that I greatly enjoyed.  It's not a bloody or gory mess like most of the films I review but I enjoyed the story and could see myself spinning it several more times before I become tired of it.  Vin Syn fans will want to snag this one for sure.  It's worth every penny.  

Maniac Killer

Director - Andrea Bianchi (Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror, Strip Nude For Your Killer)

Starring - Bo Svenson (Curse II: The Bite, Kill Bill: Vol. 2), Chuck Connors (Tourist Trap, Werewolf), and Robert Ginty (The Exterminator, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school a friend of mine bought Andrea Bianchi's Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror on VHS so we could have a Italian horror marathon with Zombi, Cemetery Man, and Deep Red.  All of them were first time watches for me and they all would go on to become some of my favorite films.  Nostalgia aside, I really enjoyed them all and for various reasons.  Burial Ground mixes great atmosphere and locations with a solid zombie story and some great "what the fuck" moments.  Sadly, that was the only Bianchi film that I had seen for some time until I was sent Strip Nude for Your Killer a couple years back for review.  Until now, these were the only two of Bianchi's films I had seen until I saw the post from Full Moon announcing the release of the 1987 horror film Maniac Killer which they were releasing under the title Mania Killer.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a scientist who stays to himself and conducts studies on various animals brought to him by the mentally stunted Matthieu.  When a string of women go missing the locals suspect that he is responsible for their disappearances.  However, the real culprits is a cult of extreme Christians who are killing these women due to their loose morals in hopes of "saving their souls."

     I was really looking forward to Mania Killer especially after how much I enjoy Andrea Bianchi's Burial Ground and Strip Nude For Your Killer.  However, this movie was a real chore to finish.  The movie felt like it was a mess of idea that were thrown onto paper with no real direction or reason.  I didn't mind the acting and I actually liked some aspects of the story but the overall execution of the film is a big miss for me.  The acting in this one is fairly well done.  We get some well written characters that stand out against the story along with a cast that does not hold back in each and every scene.  I really enjoyed the casting in this one with some underrated names tackling characters I would never associate with them.  I enjoyed the acting and the way the characters were written.  The story for this one pulls together several different aspects.  I really enjoyed the religious cult that was Christian fanatics killing sex-workers.  I wish the film was focused more on this aspect of this instead of the scientist using computers to speak with a man who is mentally ill.  It would have been a cool moment in a heart-warming drama but in the middle of a horror film it feels out of place.  Also, the pacing is all wrong.  On the scenes that we get some fun tension and atmosphere, the pacing is just too fast.  These scenes feel rushed and not fully appreciated while the dialogue heavy scenes are slowed down.  Inconsistent pacing and uneven story made this one one seriously tough film to finish.  Finally, the film has some pretty cool occult scenes with dark, cave like settings and wardrobes but if you are looking for a seriously bloody and gory film you will be very disappointed.  It doesn't have those iconic gory scenes or what the fuck moments like Burial Ground does.  Overall, Mania Killer was not the wild ride I was expecting.  Hell, it was nothing like I was expecting and I fill like that's how most of the cast and crew feels about the film as well.  The blu looks good but the film is not going to have a big fan base.  Collectors may want to snag it but, sadly, I can't recommend it.  

Tough Guys Don't Dance

Director - Norman Mailer (Wild 90, Beyond the Law)

Starring - Ryan O'Neal (Slumber Party Slaughter, Bones), Isabella Rossellini (Death Becomes Her, Tales from the Crypt), and Debra Stipe (In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Mystery/Drama

Tagline - "A love story haunted by murder"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When most of us think about Vinegar Syndrome we think about often overlooked horror titles and exploitation flicks.  That's one of the reasons I fell in love with them many years ago when I first started reviewing movies for Horror Society.  Their releases are some of my most valued in my collection and I always look forward to the next horror and exploitation release to come my way.  However, I never expected to see a murder mystery with instances of comedy and drama to come to blu from Vin Syn yet here I am watching and reviewing Tough Guys Don't Dance from director and author Norman Mailer.  I was on the fence about this one when they announced the release but I love Vin Syn so I was open minded about it.

     The film follows author and small-time drug dealer Tim (O'Neal) who finds himself recollecting the previous days to his estranged father where he reveals a web of adultery, drug use, betrayal, and murder.

     Tough Guys Don't Dance is not the movie I expected to be reviewing for Horror Society but I also wasn't expecting to like a murder mystery with humor, drug use, and fake southern accents.  I surprisingly enjoyed it but I don't want to watch it again nor will I ever have the desire to hit play while it's in the disc drive.  This is one of the films where once is enough.  The acting in this one is hit or miss with me.  I liked Ryan O'Neal and Lawrence Tierney in their roles but I found myself laughing at most of the rest of the cast.  I don't know what Wings Hauser was on while filming but he had me laughing my ass off through most of the film.  His intensity in his scenes with that mischievous smile was almost out of place but it was fun.  Also, Debra Stipe held each and every scene she was in.  I absolutely loved her weird ass southern accent and how free loving and wild she was.  Her character was so easy to fall in love with.  However, I was not a fan of Isabella Rossellini.  He performance was very lackluster when compared to the rest of the cast.  The story for this one is a murder noir with some intentional and not so intentional humor with a killer twist that I was not expecting.  I'm fairly quick to determine who the murderer is but this one really did leave me guessing until the reveal.  Some of the scenes are little drawn out and dialogue heavy but I actually enjoyed those scenes.  Finally, the film has some blood but the deaths are done off screen.  We don't get any gore and one scene does feature a ridiculous looking dead dog that did make me chuckle.  Overall, Tough Guys Don't Dance was a fun and exciting film with ridiculous characters and some laughs.  It doesn't have much of a replay factor but I still liked it for a first time watch.  I highly recommend it.  

Overboard

Director - Gary Marshall (The Flamingo Kid, Happy Days)

Starring - Goldie Hawn (Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club), Kurt Russell (Escape from New York, Big Trouble in Little China), and Edward Herrmann (The Lost Boys, My Boyfriend's Back)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Comedy/Romance

Tagline - "From opulence... to rags... to love" 

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been sent some seriously weird movies to review over the years.  I've reviewed movies about killer sock puppets, living placentas, killer supernatural turkeys, boobs with tentacles, and demons with penises on their heads.  This has been a wild ride for sure and every day it gets even stranger.  A few weeks back Severin broke the movie collector groups on Facebook when they announced that they would be releasing the 1987 romantic comedy Overboard on blu.  Some fans were genuinely excited to check out this release but some of those that were neglected as kids were a bit butthurt about the entire ordeal.  A few days passed and I received the film in to review.  It was strange to get in to review but I was very excited to revisit this one from my childhood.  Thanks Severin and MVD for hooking me up!

     The film follows the hard working Dean (Russell) who is contracted to remodel the extremely wealthy Joanna's (Hawn) closet on her yacht.  Dean does the best with what he was given but she was not satisfied with his work and refused to pay him.  A few days later she has an accident and falls off the yacht where she is rescued the next day with amnesia.  Her husband refuses to claim her and news of her being picked up made national television where Dean sees her.  He decides to claim her and convince her she is his wife so he can torment her.  Things go exactly as Dean suspected where Joanna is tossed into a household that is below working class and stripped of her luxurious life.  However, she soon adapts to it and becomes a great mother to his four boys resulting in the truth eventually coming out about who she really was.  

     Overboard may not be a movie that I would typically interview but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself here.  Overboard is a movie I had seen several times growing up but I never really took the time to actually watch it.  It is a really fun romantic comedy that doesn't really get sappy like other films in the same category.  I enjoyed it but I can already hear the "why is this on a horror site" comments ringing out once this is posted.  The acting in this one is great.  Kurt Russell never disappoints and this seems like he was genuinely having fun on set.  His character speaks to a lot of viewers and I found myself really connecting with him at times.  I can't say I've seen a lot of Goldie's films but this one is the most iconic for her at least for me it is.  She delivers a fantastic performance that is very layered.  During the first portion of the film she really makes you hate her but as the film progresses you find yourself loving her character.  That is a great sign of a fantastic actor.  The story for this one is a lot of fun.  It's got some seriously funny moments and as you become invested with the characters you find yourself really getting pulled in.  Character development is critically important with this film and the cast is what makes it so iconic.  The film has perfect pacing and every scene fits the film.  Finally, this one isn't a bloody mess.  However, is witty comedy and light romance is your thing then you are in luck.  Overall, Overboard may not be what you would expect from Severin but it's a fantastic release that 80s cinema fans should really check out.  I highly recommend it.  

Treasure of the Ninja

Director - William Lee (Dragon vs. Ninja, Demons Rising)

Starring - William Lee, Gary Burton, and John H. Howenstine

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Action/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     By now most of you may have noticed that I have a love for blaxploitation cinema.  I stumbled across blaxploitation when I was a kid and my dad bought some VHS tapes from a random guy at a gas station.  He needed gas money and sold my dad a box of tapes dirt cheap.  In the box was Truck Turner stashed away with other films that you would expect to find in a dusty VHS bin.  Soon I was renting what few the video store had and snagging them up when I would find them in the wild.  A few days ago it was announced that legendary blaxploitation filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles had passed away.  I wanted to watch one of his films but decided to pay tribute to him in another fashion so I decided to check out Treasure of the Ninja.  This 1987 martial arts action flick was directed by and starred William Lee who owed a lot the late Peebles for paving the way for him.  Treasure of the Ninja was recently released on Blu by AGFA and Bleeding Skull.  I had never seen it before but I fucking love what AGFA has been doing so I couldn't wait to check it out.  

     The film follows secret agent and martial arts master Faze (Lee) who is tasked with protecting a scientist as she searches for the lost treasure of the ninja.  However, an evil businessman and his henchmen are searching for the treasure as well forcing Faze to kick, karate chop, and punch his way through a ninja horde and an ancient ninja cursed with protecting the treasure.  

     I absolutely adore no budget backyard DIY movies.  A good portion of my time is spent reviewing horror movies made on spare change in someone's basement.  I can appreciate the hard work that goes into finishing a film even though you lacked experience and a budget.  They are fun for the most part and even though I don't like them all I still respect the hard work that everyone put into it.  I was not a fan of Treasure of the Ninja.  The flow and pacing was off and from scene to scene was so choppy that I found myself getting lost.  There is no consistency at all but knowing that Lee was doing everything behind the scenes, as well as, acting made me greatly admire this man and dedication.  The acting in this one leaves a lot to be desired.  As I stated earlier, I've seen movies made by teenagers in their backyard using only ketchup and and their smartphone so I've seen amateur and understand it.  The cast really does go all in on their roles but their inexperience shines here.  Their dialogue is very heavy with no emotion behind it with most of the scenes being extremely awkward to watch.  The story for this one isn't blaxploitation in a traditional sense.  It does had blaxploitation elements tossed in but the film itself is mostly a martial arts action flick with cliched characters and a lot of action.  The fight scenes are surprisingly well done and a few had me actually rewinding to see if he really knocked some poor mother fucker out.  With that being said, the awkward scenes with heavy dialogue and no action made this film feel like it was a lot longer that it actually was.  Hell, I was barely 30 minutes in and thought, or hoped, it was almost over.  Finally, don't expect a bloodfest with this one.  We get some smooth choreographed fight scenes and thats about it.  Overall, Treasure of the Ninja has a lot of heart and knowing how much time and effort went into this I feel like shit for not liking it.  It was extremely dull for the most part.  The action scenes were fun but the overall film was difficult for me to finish.  The blu release from AGFA and Bleeding Skull looks absolutely fantastic and the special features with it makes it a must own for fans of weird and amateur films.  

The Lamp

Director - Tom Daley

Starring - Deborah Winters (Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo, CBS Playhouse), James Huston (ABC Afterschool Specials, Powder), and Andra St. Ivanyi 

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Make a wish...if you dare"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I snagged a Scream Factory DVD that included four movies for an insanely great price.  The movies were hit and miss but as a collector I found myself over the moon with this release.  One of the films in that release was The Outing from 1987.  The movie was a lot of fun and one that I had watched a few times since originally snagging that DVD.  A few weeks back Vinegar Syndrome announced the blu release of The Lamp which is an alternative title for The Outing.  It was cool owning the set with the film on DVD but I was really looking forward to owning a Vin Syn release on blu.  I quickly snagged it when it became available for pre-order.  

     The film follows a group of students who decide to spend the night in a museum so they can party without being interrupted. However, what they don't know is that an evil djinn has escaped the prison of an ancient lamp and is killing everyone there one by one.

     The Outing is not an amazing film.  In fact, it is as far from perfect as a movie can get but the cheesy 80s dialogue, wardrobe, and choppy story still comes together to create something that I enjoy especially for a late night horror treat.  The acting in this one is nothing spectacular.  The characters are very dull and none of them really stand out.  The cast seemed to be having fun on set and some of the deaths scenes were very well acted but their lack of energy and memorable personalities makes this one fall below the cheapest slasher film from the 80s in regards to acting.  The story for this one is like a supernatural slasher that has some fun elements along with some not-so fun elements.  I really enjoyed the djinn killing the teenagers with the relics in the museum.  It gave the viewer a little something different than your standard cat and mouse horror film.  Also, the ideology and mythos around the djinn is a very under utilized creature for horror film.  In fact, their terrifying mythos has been glamorized over the years especially after the release of Disney's Aladdin.  It's refreshing to see a movie tackle the djinn and keep the horror aspect intact.  With that being said, the film tries to combine layer upon layer with the story which doesn't work as well as they would have liked.  The father and his fiance side story helps with establishing the daughter had lied but having them stalked by her ex-boyfriend and his goon could have been left out.  It does nothing for the story.  The pacing for this one is fairly solid.  We get a few slower scenes but they eventually pick up without throwing away the tension the film slowly builds.  Finally, the film has some fun and bloody deaths.  As I stated earlier, the film almost flows like a slasher so we get some slasher like kills with the murder weapons being artifacts and antiques.  It's fun and the practical effects are good enough to make the death enjoyable.  Sadly, the visual effects are extremely campy.  Personally, I enjoyed them but I know some of you will shit yourself because you refuse to have a good time.  Overall, The Lamp is not going to be for everyone but fans of 80s horror can appreciate what this film tries to deliver.  I love that we get something different with the evil djinn instead of your normal masked slasher or another overused supernatural entity.  The blu from Vin Syn looks great and I'm glad they went with The Lamp instead of The Outing because the artwork for The Lamp is so much better.  Check it out.  

Angel of Death

Director(s) - Andrea Bianchi (Fleshy Doll, Burial Ground: Nights of Terror) and Jess Franco (Bloody Moon, Hell Hole Women)

Starring - Christopher Mitchum (Tombstone, Summertime Killer), Suzanne Andrews (Maniac Killer, The Far Side of Jericho), and Fernando Rey (Blood and Dust, Voyage of the Damned)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Action/Drama

Tagline - "The blood of millions is on his hands... the power of evil is on his side"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's rare that I get a stand alone film from legendary filmmaker Jess Franco.  Typically, when a company releases a Franco film they do so with a second film and as a movie fan that is fantastic.  Over the years I've received Franco flicks from Blue Underground, Severin, and several more with all of them coming in pairs.  Full Moon's Franco releases are the same.  When MVD sent over Night of the Eagles they also sent over the 1987 film Angel of Death which features one of the coolest poster designs I have seen for any film.  Luckily, the film lives up to the artwork.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Full Moon for sending this one my way for review.

     The film follows a young man and woman who meet up with a woman who was once a "working girl" that found an older rich man that took her in to live with her.  However, things are not as glamorous as she had hoped for.  The man became rude and cruel to her at times while forbidding her to go to certain rooms of his giant estate.  Curiosity gets the best of her and she goes into a room where she finds a meeting between secret Nazi members and her older man.  After hearing her tell this story, the young man reports back with what he has heard and is soon putting together a team of Nazi hunters to invade his fortress and capture him as it's suspected that he is the famed Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.

      I always enjoy a Franco double feature but I've never had one like this.  Typically, you toss in a Franco film and expect some sleaze.  However, these two films are centered around Nazis with Angel of Death having that mid-80s action feel where Night of the Eagles is a wartime period piece.  I was not expecting this type of film and I really enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is extremely campy even for a mid-80s action flick.  We get some unintentionally funny one-liners and the cast really hams it up.  The characters are mostly forgettable but you can tell the cast was having a lot of fun on set with this one.  It's such a strong contrast to Night of the Eagles and the cast.  The story for this one mixes Nazi history with 80s direct to video action flicks.  If you are a fan of straight to video action flicks then you will really enjoy the campy action meets horrors of the holocaust.  Taking someone so despicable as Mengele and turning him into an action villain is pretty god damn genius if you ask me.  It gives the story so much more depth than you would normally get from a straight forward action flick.  We still get the cheesy action and gun fights that you would expect but the characters, though forgettable, work very well with the story.  Finally, the film has a little blood and some gunfights but nothing that will stick out to the viewer.  It's focus is the story and it does that very well.  Overall, Angel of Death is a different spin on the 80s action flick that actually works.  I really enjoyed it and the Full Moon release looks fantastic.  As always, it's a damn shame that this one doesn't have any special features to supplement the release.      

Run Coyote Run

Director - James Bryan (Don't Go in the Woods, Hell Riders)

Starring - Renee Harmon (Frozen Scream, Lady Street Fighter) and Frank Neuhaus (Revenge of Lady Street Fighter, Night of Terror)

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Action/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was extremely disappointed in Jungle Trap which can be said for like three or four reviews.  When I ordered the Jungle Trap and Run Coyote Run double feature from Amazon when it was available for purchase I was really excited for this release.  I had heard about this one a few years prior to the blu release and was extremely curious about it.  Sadly, the movie was a mess but I was still optimistic about the second film in the set which was 1987's Run Coyote Run.

     The film follows a cop who is also a psychic who is hot on the trail a killer.  However, the closer she gets she finds herself the target of hitmen who are searching for a mysterious cassette tape.  

     Jungle Trap was an extremely difficult watch but I found myself liking it significantly more than Run Coyote Run which is a loose sequel to Lady Street Fighter.  Sadly, it took me several sittings to finish this one.  No wonder Bryan was in no hurry to release these two.  The acting in this one is bad.  I was laughing when it first started but after watching Jungle Trap and then Run Coyote Run I was at my limit for bad acting.  What I would normally find funny was now becoming a real chore to finish.  The story for this one could have been a little bit of cheap fun but the choppy editing, unfinished story, and rushed filming creates an extremely chaotic movie experience.  If you have read my reviews for sometime now then you know I love nothing more than a no-budget disasterpiece but this is a difficult one to watch.  Finally, the film has some extremely cheesy scenes and very forgettable "death" scenes. Overall, Run Coyote Run doesn't need to be watched by genre fans.  In fact, collectors can toss this one on their shelves and never visit it.  It's a cool talking piece but as a film its horrible.  Skip it.