The Assassinator

Director - David Kent-Watson (Firestar: First Contact, G.B.H.)

Starring - Sam Barker, Anna Cachia (Cutthroat Island, Final Justice), and Geraard Campbell 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I hate that I was sent this Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection and I've had to write negative reviews for most of the films in the set.  I really wanted to like them but these films were not for me.  In fact, I don't know who these films are for.  I'm sure they are fun to watch with a group of people and some beer but fans of direct to video or S.O.V. action will struggle to find enjoyment with these.  Anyway, as I work my way through the set I find myself about to set sail with the 1992 action flick The Assassinator, aka The Hitman.  

     The film follows a hitman that works for a covert organization who finds himself forced to kill his superior when his wife is kidnapped by his long time rival.  

     The Assassinator, or The Hitman, was a film that almost had it.  It wasn't as bad as some of the previous films in the set.  In fact, I found myself somewhat enjoying it for the most part but was ready to turn it off by the time the film hit it's very predictable final act.  I seriously wanted to like it, and did at first, but found the predictability and horrible acting to be too much after the hour mark.  The acting in this one is probably the stiffest out of all the films in the set.  The cast isn't that bad but it consisted mostly of people with no experience or someone that joined just so they could get an exotic vacation out of the deal.  With that being said, I was very surprised to see the late Ronald Lacey appear in a role as big as it was.  While most of you may remember him for his iconic face melting scene in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, some of us (myself included) may remember him for his roles in several British series like Masterpiece Mystery and The Ray Bradbury Theater.  He was a phenomenal actor and he stole every scene he was in here.  The story for this one is very predictable but it starts out strong.  However, once you hit the midway mark you find yourself predicting each scene before it plays out.  It's a fun game to play at first but any game with cheat codes enabled, it becomes boring as you progress.  I liked the hitman working for a secret group forced to kill his superior.  It's a fun angle especially for a no budget S.O.V. action flick but that seems to be the extent of all that they had written.  The film seems to be fly by the seat and was written as they were filming once they found locations abroad.  It becomes even more predictable than it already was while being extremely dull.  This "action" film has a little more action than previous films in the set but it doesn't have enough to be considered that.  Finally, those looking for some action flicks with explosions and fun fights will be very disappointed.  You get a few "fight" scenes that reminded me a lot school plays along with a lot of talking.  Overall, The Assassinator is not an action packed "action" flick that is predictable and dull for the most part.  The lack of story really hurts this one.  I did like it for a brief moment but that wore off before too long.  Like most in this set, I'd skip this one unless you are like me then may like to see movies that are often overlooked.  

The Eye of Satan

Director - David Kent-Watson (The Assassinator, Firestar: First Contact)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Target Eve Island), Ginette Gray (The Ibiza Connection, Stay Lucky), and Max Beesley Snr (Shameless, The Sleeper Effect)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Is he man, beast or both?  Kane is the soldier of Satan"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My journey through Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection has been an interesting one.  While I may not have liked these films, I still have fun watching these wild flicks from the 80s and early 90s.  One of the few disappointments I have with the set is the actual lack of blood.  It's a phenomenal time for fans of late 80s and early 90s action flicks but those wanting some decent horror will be very disappointed.  The next movie on this strange trip is the 1982 supernatural horror film The Eye of Satan.  I had high hopes that this one would offer up some blood.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a body guard who is tasked with protecting someone.  However, he is betrayed and sets out to get revenge with the help of his supernatural panther while he recovers an ancient jewel known as The Eye of Satan.  

     The Eye of Satan is the only film in this set that I had heard about previously but I knew nothing about it.  Sadly, it was not the bloody flick that I had hoped for.  It did have some fun S.O.V. moments but the overall film was just didn't do it for me.  The acting in this one is probably the best in the set.  While that isn't saying much, I found myself really digging the characters and the way the cast brought them to life.  The cast seems to be dedicated to their roles here unlike previous films where it felt like the cast was only involved to get a free vacation out of the deal.  The characters are generic but the cast does the best with what was written for them.  The story for this one is meant to be a horror film but it feels more like an action flick with a little espionage added.  I've seen so many movies featuring spies, special agents, and the link hunting for a rare priceless artifact stolen by a secret organization and so on.  Hell, isn't that the basis for most of the James Bond flicks?  Anyway, we have a former body guard endowed with special powers who is killing people in search of The Eye of Satan which is a priceless jewel.  On paper it sounds like a slasher but on film it does not feel that way.  It's slow, dialogue heavy, and difficult to finish.  Finally, the film features several deaths but they are not that enjoyable.  We see some broken necks and so on with no need for practical effects.  Those of us wanting to see some gnarly kills with be very disappointed.  Overall, The Eye of Satan is an odd film that feels like it was written to be a slasher but feels like a sci-fi cat and mouse.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't bring myself to.  Skip it.  

Erotic Ghost Story III

Director - Kai-Ming Lai (Daughter of Darkness, Ghost House)

Starring - Pauline Chan (Hunting Evil Spirit, Spider Force), Tak-Bun Wong (Hard Boiled, Mystery Files), and Shing Fui-On (Queen of the Underworld, Fist of Fury 1991)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm deep into it now.  Four films out of the six in the Supernatural Shockers box set from Shout Factory and I have to admit that I'm glad I bought it.  The films are nothing like I was expecting but I am having a lot of fun with them especially the Erotic Ghost Story films.  After watching the first two films I took a look at the box and realized that there was a third Erotic Ghost Story in the set that needed to be immediately watched which is exactly what I did!

     The film follows a young man who has an assigned marriage that he does not want.  He flees from his home and seeks refuge in some old ruins with his bride to be chasing him.  The pair is soon swept into the afterlife where they are used a pawns to kill other gods so one can take control of Earth.

     I went into Erotic Ghost Story III with the same mindset that I went into the other two films with and I have to say that it continues the nudie mayhem that the first two films had but it doesn't go the same distance.  The film has the same wild story, beautiful women, and fun action scenes but it goes full softcore flick instead of a sexploitation comedy.  It was still fun but nowhere near the same level as the first two films.  The acting in this one is consistent with the second film.  The characters are fairly generic and the cast doesn't have an opportunity to act in a traditional sense due to the film's heavy focus on the softcore aspect over story telling.  The story for this one is a more straight forward.  The movie wants the viewers to focus on the nudity which puts the story in the backseat so to speak.  It does offer up a little more supernatural aspects than the previous two films but the comedy is replaced with sleaze.  I love sleaze but it is a bit overdone here and the story suffers because of it.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun sets and locations with some wild make up but those wanting blood will be very disappointed.  Overall, Erotic Ghost Story III is the weakest of the trilogy but still enjoyable especially if you want some late night sleaze.  I wanted to love it but I did like it for what it is.  Check it out.

Kung Fu Rascals

Director - Steve Wang (Guyver, Drive)

Starring - Steve Wang, Troy Fromin (Shrunken Heads, Return of the Living Dead II), and Johnnie Saiko (Hell Comes to Frogtown, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action/Comedy

Tagline - "It's not just another day of kung fu fighting"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of martial arts and kung fu flicks for as long as I can remember.  I watched them growing up with my grandmother and when I hit my teenage years I watched them with some friends of mine.  I've watched a lot of the "bad" kung fu movies over the years and I absolutely love them.  The campier the better.  Sometime back Visual Vengeance, the blu ray oriented sister company to Wild Eye, released the 1992 kung fu comedy Kung Fu Rascals on blu.  I had to add it to my collection so I ordered a copy and added it to my watch list to check out as soon as I could.

     The film follows three young kung fu masters who are on a quest to find a power that can restore their village to it's glory days.  However, an evil man and his gang of kung fu goons are after the same power and will stop at nothing to get it before them.

     I went into Kung Fu Rascals expecting to see some cheesy humor and a lot of fun kung fu.  Instead, what we have is an extremely campy film with a lot of dialogue filled scenes and not that much martial arts action.  I seriously wanted to like it but it wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  The film features a big cast of characters with memorable personalities but a lot of the scenes drag on and on for far too long.  This creates a lot of time with these characters delivering dull dialogue.  The story for this one has so much potential but struggles with the pacing.  At it's hear its a film with a story we had seen many times during the early 90s with films aimed at children with a select group of people (often teenagers) go on a quest of self-discovery to find something sacred that will save them while an evil villain and his army of soldiers is trying to stop them.  I could get behind it if it spent more time focusing on fights and setting the scenes instead of the quick jokes and dialogue heavy scenes.  The humor is clearly a parody to the martial arts films of the late 70s except the jokes run their course fairly early in the film resulting in a film that moves at a snails pace with not enough action to hold the viewer's attention.  Finally,   isn't a blood one but there is some fantastic creature designs that I was seriously impressed by.  In fact, I loved them so much that I wish the film was centered more around them instead of the film's lead.  Overall, Kung Fu Rascals might be a bit more fun if you pop an edible or crush some beers.  However, it's not enjoyable as a sober watch and could use a lot of trimming to fix the pacing.  

     

The Night of the Executioner

NIGHT OF THE EXECUTIONER promo trailer from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Director - Paul Naschy (The Night of the Werewolf, Howl of the Devil)

Starring - Paul Naschy, Manuel Zarzo (My Dear Killer, The Two Faces of Fear), and Paloma Cela (A Town Called Hell, A Witch Without a Broom)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Thriller

Tagline - ""O God, to whom revenge belongs, thy vengeance now disclose" - Psalms 94"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I hit a few speed bumps in my October horror binge when I reviewed two films that I thought were horror when they were actually dramas. While they were not the films I was expecting I still enjoyed them. I just finished The Fear blu that was recently released by Mondo Macabro. I thought that it was a horror release but I was wrong. I actually enjoyed the film but it was not something I wanted in my October horror binge. I decided to take a second to make sure another Mondo Macabro release on my list for this month was in fact a horror film. That film was 1992’s Night of the Executioner. I had never seen this one before but I am a big fan of legendary Spanish director and actor Paul Naschy and when I saw that it was a horror title I knew I had to follow up the Fear with it. Once again I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for Horror Society and myself to check out. 

      The film follows a doctor (Naschy) who returns home with his wife and daughter after a day of shopping. What they don’t know is that a gang of thugs followed them. They break in and beat the doctor before raping and murdering his wife and daughter. He survives but the attack leaves him unable to speak. He vows revenge against the group and after working out and training with various weapons, he sets out to take them out one by one for taking everyone he loved away from him. 

      If you take the time to actually read my reviews then you may have noticed that the story description may sound like Death Wish and you would be right. This movie is a lot like the meme “can we get blank? No, we have blank at home.” With that being said, I enjoyed this one a lot. While it wasn’t that originally and features a mostly silent Naschy it was still able to entertain and that’s all I’m looking for. The acting in this one is a bit different than your typical Naschy film. Naschy is no stranger to playing monsters, nobles, royalty, and so on. He’s a very versatile actor with a lot of range. However, playing a silent killer is something I’ve never seen him tackle and I kind of liked it. He’s not that menacing but his character is very ruthless and calculating which fits Naschy very well. The supporting cast is fantastic as well but it’s Naschy that is center stage in this one and he does a wonderful job carrying the film. The story for this one is just a Spanish clone of Death Wish but it is still enjoyable. I don’t mind Bronson but I would much rather see Naschy in these roles and would have loved for him to take on multiple sequels to this one. The film is a bit of a slow burn but some of the scenes have brilliant tension before things come to a boil. It could use a bit of a small trim to help with pacing but nothing that would drastically change the overall film. Finally, the film has several deaths with a slight bit of blood with kills similar to Death Wish. We mostly get gun deaths and some stabbings. The effects are minimal and the deaths are easily forgettable. Overall, Night of the Executioner is the Spanish answer to Death Wish and I love it. While the deaths are not that enjoyable the remainder of the film is. I highly recommend it.

Heartland of Darkness

Director - Eric Swelstad (Frankenstein Rising, The Curse of Lizzie Borden 2: Prom Night)

Starring - Dino Tripodis (Criminal Minds, The Funny Man), Nick Baldasare (Road Meat, They Bite), and Shanna Thomas 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "An evil place between Heaven and Hell... the sanctuary of death"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     I’m a huge fan of Wild Eye Releasing so it was a no brainer when they announced their sister company Visual Vengeance to release S.O.V. horror flicks. I’ve worked with Wild Eye in the past and love their dedication to the genre, so I was looking forward their new label. So far, I’ve been very impressed with the releases. Most were first time watches for me and the special features and additions in the releases are fantastic for collectors. Back in October or so it was announced that the Visual Vengeance would be releasing Heartland of Darkness starring Linnea Quigley. I had never heard of this one but the press release and trailer sold me on it. I tried to secure a review copy around the time it was released and was unable to but last month Wild Eye sent a copy over to check out. After watching the classic Bubba Ho-Tep on UHD I decided to follow it up with something I had never seen before. I decided it was the perfect time to check out Heartland of Darkness. I want to thank Wild Eye for sending this one over. 

      The film follows a man and his teenage daughter that move to a small town to run the local newspaper. Within the first few days he is responding to a mutilated body found in the woods near town. He meets the shady priest that is very pushy and suspects something is going behind closed doors but is unable to prove it until his new journalist, who is actually and undercover agent investigating Satanic cults, starts pointing it out to him. When he stumbles into a shrine in the back room of one of the businesses he quickly finds himself at the center of the cult, who is parading as a Catholic church, and must fight to save his daughter before she can be their next sacrifice for the dark lord. 

      I absolutely loved Heartland of Darkness. I know trolls and edgelords will be scurrying to the comment section ready to throw down about how I was paid to write this, and the film wasn’t that good. The thing is, the film is that good. It was a lot of fucking fun especially if you dig S.O.V. horror. Hell, even if you don’t it still hits the spot if you are looking for a late-night horror fix. The acting in this one is was surprisingly well done. When I toss in a classic S.O.V. title I expect to find a film made by friends or family in their backyard with the family camcorder. Not all S.O.V. flicks are like that but that’s the mindset I often find myself in. This one has a fantastic cast and sizeable amount of screen time from Linnea Quigley. I was expecting to only see her in the film for a few minutes, but she is actually in the film for a bit and doesn’t disappoint. With that being said, the rest of the cast really surprised me. The film’s stars Dino Tripodis, Nick Baldasare, and Shanna Thomas really make the film. They are fully invested in the film and do a fantastic job. The same can be said about the supporting cast. Some inexperience rears it’s ugly head from time to time but that doesn’t ruin the experience. I really liked the story, but I did find it to be a little too goofy at times. The idea of a cult parading around as Christians killing those that get in their way while offering sacrifices to Satan in a small town really pulled me in. I liked the idea of the small town coming together to form an evil cult especially when you consider that this was made during the waning years of the Satanic Panic scare that left suburban parents trembling. With that being said, parts of the story, like the part where the government is investigating clusters of cults in small towns across the U.S. I found the Satanic cult aspect to be a little far-fetched and that’s coming from someone who was raised in the tail end of the Satanic Panic and know several people in the Satanic Church. Regardless, I liked it but a different type of cult would have been more enjoyable. Finally, the film has a few death scenes but nothing that would stick out to avid genre fans. We get some weak make-up effects and the kills rely mostly on the viewer’s imagination rather than practical effects. Overall, Heartland of Darkness is a must see for fans of S.O.V. horror. I fucking loved it and I love this release from Visual Vengeance. I can’t recommend this one enough. Do yourself a favor and check out this early 90s Satanic fun.

Army of Darkness

Director - Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell)

Starring - Bruce Campbell (Bubba Ho-Tep, Evil Dead II), Embeth Davidtz (Matilda, Thir13en Ghosts), Marcus Gilbert (Doctor Who, Rambo III)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Fantasy

Tagline - "Trapped in time, surrounded by evil, low on gas"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of my close friends have heard the stories but my childhood was an unusual time for me. The woman that gave birth to me has severe mental issues and used religion as a way to cope with them. However, her mental issues made her turn fanatical with religion and when I was just a few months old she abandoned me. My father was able to find me safely. Fast forward a few years and she was back in our lives for a short period. I was maybe 4 or 5 at the time and she forced me to sit down and watch several movies over and over again because she believed they had hidden messages from God or some fucked up shit. Honestly, I liked a few of the films that she would force me to watch so I didn’t mind. One of the films was Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II. I watched that tape so much in my youth that it stopped working after becoming snowy in certain spots. I love that movie and it was a stepping stone into the other Evil Dead films. In fact, original Evil Dead trilogy was the first movies I bought on DVD when Anchor Bay was still a thing. One of my favorite DVDs in my collection was Anchor Bay’s release of Bruce Campbell vs. The Army of Darkness. It was such a great release and I loved the artwork for it. I’ve watched it countless times in my life and I’m always looking for an excuse to watch it again. A few days back Scream Factory sent over the UHD steelbook release of the film for me to check out and I was happy to. Thanks Scream Factory! 

      The film follows Ash who finds himself in medieval times after using the Necronomicon to stop the evil that was released in Evil Dead II. Now, the wise man to the king suspects he is the chosen one foretold in the book to stop the deadites. He is sent on a journey to retrieve the book and site the incantation to stop them. However, he forgets the words and accidentally unleashes the deadite hordes on the castle and the innocent lives inside. Instead of fleeing, he stays to train the people and fight the deadites in hopes of returning to his time. 

      Army of Darkness is one of the wildest entries in the Evil Dead series but it’s not as goofy as it sounds. It’s a fun blending of horror and fantasy that other films would never gamble on. Director Sam Raimi took a big risk on this film and it paid off in a big way. In fact, it may not be the most beloved entry in the Evil Dead series but it easily the most popular with many non-genre fans hailing this film as it’s meshing of different genres. The acting in this one is top notch. Bruce Campbell never disappoints, and this is the beginning of the personality that Ash is known for now. In the first Evil Dead film he is a final girl more or less. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is a bit of a baby. In Evil Dead II he is starting to be a bit more of a smart ass but he is still a sweet heart that can carry slapstick humor. However, Army of Darkness shows him as the smartass we know and love. He has catchy dialogue and always carries the scene he is in. Embeth Davidtz and Marcus Gilbert are great as well as Sheila and Lord Arthur. In fact, the entire film is well acted. We have Tom Savini’s Night of the Living Dead’s Patricia Tallman, horror legend Bill Moseley and the iconic Evil Ash, and even a small appearance from Bridget Fonda just to name a few. The story for this one is unlike any other Evil Dead film but would be a prominent point in the comic series that would soon follow. The Evil Dead reboot would be a return to basics in a way but this story will always stand out among fans due to different it is from other films. The backstory of the Necronomicon is further explored here with more lore and deadites added to the fold. We have waring clans, knights, castles, dungeons, deadites, love, and slapstick. The film has perfect pacing and really works. Finally, the film is overflowing with practical effects. It’s not a gory flick but we do get some blood, fantastic creature designs, and plenty of skeletons with decaying flesh on them. The practical effects are phenomenal and still look good to this day. Overall, Army of Darkness is a radical follow up to the classic Evil Dead II that fucking works. Genre fans don’t get a lot of fantasy horror but this one is fun for the whole family. The steelbook release from Scream Factory is a thing of beauty and a must own for fans of the franchise.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Director - Francis Ford Coppola (Dementia 13, The Godfather)

Starring - Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, The Fifth Element), Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice), and Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Romance

Tagline - "Love Never Dies"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Since the initial release of Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula there has been countless adaptations. Most were unofficial adaptations like the classic Nosferatu and the countless indie productions that spring up every Halloween season. However, there has been several official adaptations over the years like the classic Bela Lugosi lead Dracula and the underrated Spanish production that was filming on the same set as Dracula after hours. When I was a kid, I remember my grandmother buying Bram Stoker’s Dracula on VHS one year and we watched it a few times. I remember loving the sets, costumes, creature design, and the suspense the film delivers but thought it was a little too long for my childish brain to focus on for its entirety. Since then I’ve snagged the film on DVD and revisited it ever so often and I find myself loving it more and more with each viewing. Sometime back I received the press release that the film was getting an UHD Steelbook release. I quickly reached out to request a review copy and when it arrived, I had to work it into my month-long October horror binge. 

      The film follows Dracula Oldman), a former warrior for the church, who renounced God when his young bride killed herself thinking he lost his life in battle. We move forward several hundred years and Jonathan Harker (Reeves) travels to Transylvania to finish the process for Dracula to purchase property at Carfax Abbey. However, during Harker’s visit Dracula finds a locket with his fiancé in it. Her likeness to his lost beloved leads him to believe that she is the reincarnation of his lost love. 

     Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a fabulous film. Everything about this movie is amazing aside from the visual effects which I’m sure looked great at the time but did not age well. The locations, scenery, and costumes are amazing while the story delivers some fantastic atmosphere and tension. The acting in this one is legendary. The film has one of the biggest cast of stars that I’ve seen especially for a horror film. We have names like Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Waits, Cary Elwes to name a few. Everyone here delivers a legendary performance and there is no weak links. The cast is absolutely historic and they bring these literary characters to life in big ways. The original Universal Dracula is a great film and known for it’s performance from Lugosi but this film is the best acted Dracula adaptation to date. The story for this one truly fantastic. It’s a horror film but it also has a huge influence from fantasy and romance. The romance and fantasy influence is not overpowering. They leave their marks on the film but it doesn’t take center stage however. Also, it does follow the novel to a certain degree while taking liberties to make the story feel more genuine for film. I love it and think that the stand out changes works. Not only does it throw the viewer that has read the novel but it gives some good eerie moments and a lot of suspense. Finally, the film has a lot of blood, some amazing make-up effects, and dates visual effects that come together to create something that will entertain for generations. It’s not a gory flick but we have some seriously bloody moments and the creature make-up is fucking top notch. I love the looks we get in this film and the blood is just the icing on the cake. Overall, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the most popular pop horror flicks of all time and for good reason. It’s massive budget is noticeable but not wasted. It’s a beautiful horror film that blends in fantasy and romance in a way that it doesn’t feel forced on you. I cannot recommend this one enough. Check it out.

Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki

Director - Izo Hashimoto (The West Tako Cheerleaders, Lucky Sky Diamond)

Starring - Shoko Nakajima (Moribito, Sayonara Color), Rie Kondoh (Doll from Hell, Rasuto Furankenshutain), and Shiro Sano (Godzilla 2000: Millennium, Invisible Man)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A year or two ago Unearthed Films brought genre fans the Asian horror film Evil Dead Trap. This was a film I was very familiar with but had never seen before. I snagged a boot blu sometime back at a horror con because there was no blu release at the time but I never found the time to check it out. However, after finally watching the Unearthed release I was a little underwhelmed. I was expecting something a lot more brutal and gorier. When Unearthed announced the release of Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki I was on the fence about it until I saw the trailer. I was fucking hooked on it so I reached out to my friends over at MVD who were kind enough to send over a review copy. Like always I want to thank MVD and Unearthed Films for always supporting Horror Society. 

      The film follows a plain look female movie projectionist who is friends with a gorgeous business woman who is constantly on dates and the center of attention from the opposite sex. Things are rather bleak for the young lady after she has an abortion. She starts to resent other women and starts murdering women by removing their wombs. 

      Evil Dead Trap 2 is only a sequel to Evil Dead Trap in title only. The film has nothing in common with it’s predecessor but I think I enjoyed this one just a little more than the first. It wasn’t as wild as I thought it would be but it was an enjoyable watch for this Halloween season. The acting in this one really surprised me. I loved how the characters were written and the cast did a fantastic job. I absolutely loved the main cast of characters and would really love to see more with them. I know there is a third Evil Dead Trap but I have no idea if it is a follow up to this installment or is a completely different film. The story for this one is pretty fucking dark in practice. Having a serial killer that murders women and mutilating their insides as a response to her own abortion is a fucking fantastic horror story. It works especially if you are in the mood for something dark. The dialogue is a bit of a drag but if you can sit through those scenes then the other scenes are a welcomed reward. Finally, the film wasn’t as gruesome as I had hoped. The effects and the deaths are fantastic but it’s not as gory as I was expecting. I thought the film would be all out blood and gore. Don’t get me wrong, the deaths we do get are fucking gorgeous but this is not the violent bloodbath I had hoped for. Overall, Evil Dead Trap 2 is another fantastic release from Unearthed Films. If you are looking for something different to watch this Halloween season then you will not be disappointed. Check it out.

Dr. Lamb

Director(s) - Danny Lee (The Eight Immortals Restaurant: The Untold Story, Chak Wong) and Billy Hin-Shing Tang (My Date with a Vampire, Brother of Darkness)

Starring - Danny Lee, Simon Yam (Naked Killer, The Night Rider), and Kent Cheng (Vampire's Breakfast, Dragon's Teeth)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Taxi driver by day, killer by night"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Unearthed Films is no stranger to the violent and grotesque having dedicated most of their time to extreme horror.  Their fan base is some of the most ravenous fans in the horror community.  Sometime back Unearthed started releasing some Cat III titles that never received the proper release here in the states.  Sometime ago Unearthed announced the release of the 1992 crime horror film Dr. Lamb.  This is one I've been looking forward to checking out for some time.  When I received the press release for this one I quickly rushed to my email so I could request a review copy.  After watching Unearthed's release of The Old Man: The Movie I decided it was time to finally check out Dr. Lamb.  Like always I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for sending this one over.

     The film follows the police department when several women turn up dead.  They start investigating the murders and eventually find a lead that takes them to a taxi driver who commits the heinous crimes on rainy nights.

     Dr. Lamb was not what I was expecting.  When Unearthed started bringing Asian horror to us I was extremely excited.  The Untold Story was a fantastic release and Tokyo Decadence had its moments.  However, Evil Dead Trap was hit or miss.  I was expecting a bloody flick with a serious horror element but the film was a surprisingly decent crime film with some fun effects.  The acting in this one is very well done.  In fact, I was really impressed by the cast and the characters.  Not all the characters in the film have detailed development but the cast does a fantastic job in front of the camera.  The story for this one is more of a crime thriller with some seriously amazing effects.  The film, like many other genre flicks of the time, showcases the brutality of the police department as they use force to beat convictions out of suspects instead of using detective work to uncover the real killer.  We do get some of those crime investigations scenes that you expect but the highlight here is the cop brutality and the death scenes.  Finally, the film has some seriously impressive practical effects which is what earned the film the CAT III rating.  For me, this was the redeeming point in the film and really sold me on it.  They look amazing and several scenes had me rewinding several times as I tried to figure out how they pulled the effects off.  Overall, Dr. Lamb is not as extreme or gruesome as I was expecting and the crime aspect really caught me off guard but it's still a film that deserves a watch.  Fans of Unearthed may find it a little underwhelming but it has it's moments.  Check it out.  

Talons of the Eagle

Director - Michael Kennedy (Kids in the Hall, The Possession of Michael D)

Starring - Jalal Merhi (Tiger Claws, Fearless Tiger), Billy Blanks (TC 2000, Expect No Mercy), and James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China, Forever Knight)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action

Tagline - "When you're fighting crime, killing is a way of life"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     I was starting to think that my Billy Blanks Vinegar Syndrome marathon was going to be a bust after TC 2000 and Expect No Mercy let me down.  I was expecting some cheesy straight to video action with some wild and dated stories with lots of choreographed action.  Sadly the action was not as wild as I expected and the stories were nowhere near as compelling as they could have been.  I was finishing my marathon with 1992's Talons of the Eagle.  This one looked like a generic straight to video action flick with a story that blends crime with action hits like Bloodsport and the like centered around martial arts tournaments.  Regardless, i went into it with an open mind and this one ended up being the best of the three.  

     The film follows two federal agents who are tasked with infiltrating an evil crime bosses organization.  That opportunity arises when they protect him from a would-be assassin sent to take him out from a rival crime boss while competing in a martial arts contest.  Now, the two are among his numbers and have to secure the info needed to bring him down or face being caught and executed.

     Talons of the Eagle is painfully generic and unimaginative but it does fill the void for those of you looking for a direct to video action flicks with lots of kicks and corny dialogue.  It was entertaining and unintentionally funny which is something that often comes hand in hand with films like this.  It's an experience to say the least.  The acting in this one is so fucking cheesy.  Blanks is the biggest ham I've seen in front of the camera and this film is no exception. He delivers some extremely corny one liners and his personality is as flat as a cardboard cutout of himself.  The supporting cast tries to make up for it but they all just fall in place with Blanks for the most part.  The story for this one is organized crime meets martial arts.  This was almost standard with any film centered around martial arts from the late 80s to mid-90s.  I did like the set up to this one but I was disappointed in the lack of likable characters.  They are so cliched and poorly written that if the casting was changed half way through the film you would not have noticed.  Writing the story is just a small part of writing a film.  Finally, the action is fun and works for the film but I would have loved a little more bloody deaths and great practical effects.  Overall, Talons of the Eagle is probably the best action film to star Billy Blanks but that's not saying much.  Honestly, I enjoyed it for what it is and the Vinegar Syndrome release looks great on my shelf.  I highly recommend picking it up.     

Candyman

Director - Bernard Rose (Snuff-Movie, Paperhouse)

Starring - Virginia Madsen (Dune, Swamp Thing), Tony Todd (Night of the Living Dead, The Crow), and Kasi Lemmons (The Silence of the Lambs, Vampire's Kiss)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "We dare you to say his name five times"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When it comes to 90s horror there is several titans that battle to be the face for the decade that typically draws scorn from the dedicated genre fans.  Honestly, I'm guilty of dragging 90s films through the mud but I do enjoy a fair deal of films from this decade.   Franchises like Leprechaun, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Tremors, and Candyman and iconic now and perfect examples that horror from the 90s should not be overlooked.  While Scream is probably the most popular franchise of them all I would admittedly say that it's one I don't care for with Leprechaun and Candyman being my favorite overall franchises.  Candyman and it's two sequels are films I remember renting often from my local video store.  I had a lot of fun with it and couldn't wait to revisit it.  When Vestron Video sent over Candyman: Day of the Dead to review I decided to this was the perfect time to revisit the trilogy.  

     The film follows Helen Lyle (Madsen) who is writing a thesis on local legends and finds herself going down the rabbit hole surrounding the Candyman.  Her investigation into Candyman lands her in the slums at Cabrini Green where she learns the backstory about Candyman and who he was.  After saying his name five times like legend suggests, she finds herself at the center of a nightmare that she can't seem to wake.

     The first Candyman film is a fucking horror masterpiece.  It blends urban horror, urban legends, and blaxploitation together to create something that I can argue was not done until this Clive Barker penned story was adapted into film.  Sure, blaxploitation dabbled in horror during it's infancy but nothing this dark and bleak was ever produced during blaxploitation's heyday.  Most of the blaxploitation's horror attempts were usually parodies of specific films and covered in the humor that made the films so much fun.  Candyman is no such film.  It's a movie that spawned in an entire sub-genre of urban based horror that filled video store shelves in the early to mid-90s.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  Tony Todd will always be Ben from the Night of the Living Dead remake to me but he will live in infamy as the iconic Candyman.  Hearing him deliver his dialogue while slowly stalking his victim still sends chills down my spine regardless of how many times I've seen it.  His performance is iconic for a reason and no one could have pulled off this character like he does.  The new installment does a decent enough job but it doesn't have the impact that Todd's performance does.  The supporting cast is great with a lot of stand out performances and colorful characters to make the film have more depth than it does.  Virginia Madsen always felt underwhelming in this one to me and still feels that way after revisiting it.  Her panic and distressed scenes always made me laugh and this go around it just felt forced and awkward.  The story for this one does more than explore an urban legend.  It shows the struggles that many struggling families, mostly minorities, go through in slums in the inner city projects.  It's social commentary on city live in the early 90s still resonates all these years later.  You then have the backstory centered around slavery and the mutilation and murder of a free black man by wealthy white people.  You center a supernatural slasher in the middle of all this and you have yourself a film that is unlike anything at the video store before it.  Finally, the film has plenty of bloody deaths with some great practical effects.  We get some awesome props, make-up effects, and the deaths fit in with the film fucking perfectly.  It's not that gory but the deaths work well for the film and add another layer of enjoyment to an already enjoyable film.  Overall, Candyman is a fucking iconic film and a testimony that not all 90s horror films suck.  I highly recommend this classic if you haven't seen it before.  

     

Tokyo Decadence

Director - Ryu Murakami (Kyoko, Raffles Hotel)

Starring - Miho Nikaido (Fay Grim, Going Under), Yayoi Kusama (Kusama's Self-Obliteration), and Sayoko Amano (Interview with Ryu Murakami)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "Erotic sex or dangerous fantasy"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I can easily credit Vinegar Syndrome and Impulse Pictures for my love of sexploitation films.  I have always been interested in exploitation films with blaxploitation being my favorite.  It wasn't until I started writing reviews that I discovered sexploitation when Vin Syn and Impulse started sending over their releases for review.  This love for sexploitation was further expanded when Impulse Pictures started release the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection films on DVD and blu.  This was my introduction to Japanese Pink, or pinku, films.  These releases are some of my most anticipated.  Recently, Unearthed Films threw me for a loop when they announced the release of the 1992 pink film Tokyo Decadence on blu.  Unearthed is known for their extreme horror releases so this pinku drama was out of place for them.  I was really curious about it so I reached out to my friends at MVD who was handling the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way for review.  Like always, I want to thank MVD and Unearthed for hooking me up!

     The film follows a young woman who enters employment as a call girl following a dramatic break up.  She's a very shy and timid young lady and soon finds herself introduced into the world of sexual perversion, fetishism, and bondage.  

     I was very curious about this release.  I'm not aware of another sexploitation or pink film that Unearthed has released.  I'm a fan of most of their splatter, extreme, and Cat III releases so I wanted to see this one odd release from the bloody label.  Honestly, I really enjoyed it.  Most of the pinku films I've reviewed in the passed was more focused on the sex and torture porn than it was story.  Tokyo Decadence is very much story based film that incorporates the sex into the story instead of writing a story around the sex.  It's strange to see a film so well polished and written when compared to the films I've reviewed previously from Impulse Pictures.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast does a fantastic job in their roles with many of the performances demanding a lot from the performer.  The women in the film are deadly on screen.  Not only can they act but they are absolutely stunning.  The men on film range from demented and bondage obsessed men to wacky and funny characters that almost feel out of place.  I liked the diversity in the cast and the wide range of characters they portrayed.  The story for this one is nothing wild and is one of the more tamer films in the Unearthed catalogue but that doesn't make it a bad film.  It's mostly a sexually charged drama with tons of nudity and self discovery.  The drama doesn't really fit the film but is does set the tone for the film.  The highlight here is the character development and sexy scenes.  Finally, no blood and gore in this one but if you are looking for some skin then this film is for you.  Overall, Tokyo Decadence is a brilliant pink flick that looks fantastic.  I enjoyed the story and the sex scenes are gorgeous.  The blu release from Unearthed looks great and with this being the uncut version of the film that was previously unreleased in the U.S. makes this the only way to watch it.  I highly recommend it.  

Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence

Director(s) - William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante) and Joel Soisson The Prophecy: Uprising, Children of the Corn: Genesis)

Starring - Robert Davi (The Goonies, Die Hard), Robert Z'Dar (Easter Sunday, Spring Fever), and Caitlin Dulany (Class of 1999 II: Substitute, House of Frankenstein)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The wrong arm of the law is back"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's not often but on occasion we do get a horror trilogy that is well rounded.  By the time a film has spawned a second sequel we are usually given a film loosely based on the first film and usually rushed to be completed as a quick cash grab.  Don't get me wrong, there is several third installments that are just as good as the original like Army of Darkness, Day of the Dead, and so on.  When I posted my original reviews of the Maniac Cop trilogy I had written positive reviews for all three films and soon found several comments days later bashing the third film.  Honestly, I know Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence is not as well rounded as the first two films but it shouldn't be completely discredited.  I actually enjoyed it and find it to be fairly consistent with the first two films.  When Blue Underground announced the release of Maniac Cop 2 and 3 on UHD I quickly requested a review copy.  Once again I want thank BU for sending this one my way to check out.  

      The film once again follows the undead cop Matt Cordell who is awaken from his eternal slumber by a voodoo priest wanting him to kill for him.  In the middle of the bloodshed is Detective Sean McKinney (Davi) who is struggling to cope with the shooting of a female police officer who is in a coma and not expected to live.  

     Maniac Cop 3 may not get the love it deserves from genre fans but I find it to be super fun with the direction it takes the story.  The fact we never received a followed up to what was created here is a huge disappointment and a disservice to genre fans.  The acting in this one is just a great as the second installment.  Davi is great as the hard-boiled detective that is trying to stop the bloody rampage of Cordell.  I like his performance a lot along with Z'Dar.  We get more screen time from him this time around when compared the first film.  The supporting cast is just as fun but the characters they portray do very little to push the film along.  The story avoids becoming an unnecessary sequel by giving viewers a different extension of the story that they were not expecting.  The voodoo priest angle mixed with the slasher aspects and police drama works very well in my opinion.  It goes drag it's feet in several scenes but if you stick with it you will find yourself thoroughly enjoying it.  Finally, the kills in this one does have some blood but they are not that memorable.  They are rather unimaginative but the blood and effects look decent enough to make them work.  Overall, Maniac Cop 3 may not be the best in the series but it's still an entertaining installment.  My biggest problem with the film is that it never inspired a follow up capitalizing on the story that was created here.  The UHD release from Blue Underground looks absolutely fantastic.  I highly recommend genre fans check this one out and give it a chance.  

Auntie Lee's Meat Pies

Director - Joseph F. Robertson (Dangerous When Wet, Innocent Seduction)

Starring - Karen Black (House of 1000 Corpses, Invaders from Mars), Pat Morita (The Karate Kid, The Munsters Today), and Kristine Rose (To Sleep with a Vampire, Batman Returns)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "How do you handle a hungry man?  You have him for dinner!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been buying and collecting horror movies for almost 20 years now.  I've never felt old until I typed that last sentence but it's true.  I've been collecting for many years and there is several movies I've always wanted to add to my collection and was never able to.  One of those films was Auntie Lee's Meat Pies.  I'm a sucker for horror comedies and this film looked like a lot of fun but I was never fortunate enough to find a copy.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of the 192 horror comedy on blu I was quick to snag a copy.  I had never seen it but I was looking forward to getting my hands on this Vin Syn release.  

     The film follows Auntie Lee (Black) who uses the beauty of her three nieces to lure lusty hitchhikers into her home where she kills and cooks them into her amazing meat pies.  Her slow but loveable handyman Larry (Michael Berryman) catches the eye of their small town sheriff and soon their antics come crashing down when he discovers a bag of bones in a car driven by Larry.  

     I was so excited to finally check this one out but after 40 minutes or so I discovered why most horror fans don't talk about this one.  It started out so strong but quickly fizzled out before we reached the halfway mark.  I feel like this one maybe suffers from the same issue that Spookies does and the director had one vision while the producers has another.  I don't know but I do know that it does off the rails after such a strong start.  The acting in this one is fun but not the best I've seen.  The characters are very enjoyable and written with a lot of personality and memorable traits.  The cast was given a lot to work with and they did a fantastic job at making the scenes fun while moving the story along.  With that being said, I was a little surprised by Berryman tackling the role of a simpleton.  I've seen him portray similar characters before but this one is almost a little too weird.  The story for this one has an amazing start where we are introduced to the characters, get a good bit of the cannibalism that we were expecting before we get into the odd scenes in the basement with the different scenarios that they would pick the band that was traveling through off one by one.  It was when the film reached this point that it got out of hand and way too goofy even for my tastes.  I'm all for Satanic cannibals but the way the story drags on at this point made it difficult to stick with it.  Finally, this one has some fun but cheap looking kills that I was expecting.  I didn't expect this one to have impressive gore but it did deliver on the campy kills and cheap practical effects.  Overall, Auntie Lee's Meat Pies is alright for a first time watch but I was very disappointed with it.  I wish it would have stuck with the family killing and cooking people while avoiding the law.  Check it out if you haven't but don't expect a well rounded culty classic.  

     

Hell on Earth: The Arena of Death

Director - Matt O'Connor 

Starring - Barry Gaines (Burglar from Hell, Jacker), Phil Herman (Earth Girls are Sleazy, Slimoids), and Matt O'Connor (Burglar from Hell, #KILLINIT)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you've have been following my reviews over the years then you would know that I'm a sucker for old action flicks and post-apocalyptic movies.  I fucking love digging into these kind of films and if I come across an old action post-apocalyptic flick then I'm double excited.  Sometime back I saw that my friends over at The Sleaze Box was releasing the 1992 s.o.v. post-apocalyptic action flick Hell on Earth: The Arena of Death.  I saw that it starred Phil Herman and it really peaked my interest.  I reached out to Chris at The Sleaze Box and he was kind enough to send a copy of this one my way.  Thanks Chris!

     The film takes place sometime after a nuclear attack.  The world is ravaged with those that were mutated by the radiation turning into Meanies while the humans fight to survive.  

     Hell on Earth: The Arena of Death is not what I was expecting at all.  Though it was directed by him, I've seen several of Phil Herman's films so I was expecting no-budget s.o.v. mayhem but I was not expecting a 2 hour long film that didn't have a story.  From my understanding the movie took several years to complete with sometime between each filming.  When you mix that with the way the film was edited you find yourself with a movie that is stitched together like a patchwork quilt.  It looks right but isn't a movie.  The acting in this one is extremely amateur with some of the cast having no experience whatsoever and others with minimal experience.  The characters blend into the background and the dialogue, when there isn't an audio issue, is extremely awkward.  The cast really does stick with it but it was tough to watch some of these scenes unfold.  The story for this one has a fun yet unoriginal premise but the way it was done creates a drawn out film with little to no redeeming aspects.  The fighting is poor and the scenes bounce around showing how it was filmed over time and not close together.  The way the film was edited also makes it a bit difficult to watch.  I'm all for an action sci-fi flick in a post-apocalyptic setting but not like this.  Finally, the film has some blood but don't expect a lot of it.  The kills are quick and not that impressive.  We get some fake blood splattered here and there but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Hell on Earth: The Arena of Death struggles to find it's footing from the opening scene on and it never does.  At almost 2 hours long it's one of the toughest films to finish and when you do you don't feel like you have accomplished anything.  The Sleaze Box has some solid releases out there but this is not one of them.