Saurians

Director - Mark Polonia (Four Nights in Fear Forest, Trail Cam Sasquatch)

Starring - Mark Polonia, Maria Davis (Feeders, Peter Rottentail), and Matthew Satterly (Church of the Damned, Night Crawlers)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The age of the dinosaurs is reborn"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films from Mark Polonia and his late brother John.  Some of their films are cult classics that many genre fans adore while others are what I would consider barely watchable.  The movies from the pair that I like, I really like, but those that I don't are extremely difficult to finish.  Over the years I've seen dozens of Mark's films and I always look forward to checking out one I haven't seen before so I jumped at the chance to see the sci-fi adventure film Saurians from 1994 when my friends at Visual Vengeance asked if I wanted to review.  I want to take a moment to thank my VV for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a group of amateur archeologists who find themselves running for their lives when a nearby construction site accidentally unleashes two prehistoric creatures hellbent on eating everything they cross paths with.  

     I went into Saurians knowing a little about the film and how it spawned several sequels.  Sadly, I never had the opportunity to check any of them out until now.  I went into this one very excited to check it out but once the film started rolling I found myself not enjoying it like I would have liked.  The acting in this one is rough around the edges but the cast is dedicated to their roles.  I know I often say this with no budget genre flicks when the cast has no experience but it sums up a lot of these films that I review.  The cast struggles with their dialogue and the intended emotion that the scene calls for but they are giving it everything they have.  I wouldn't call this the worst acting I've seen but a few of the scenes had me laughing with unintentional humor.  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the dinosaur flicks from the drive-in era.  We have a group of archeologists who find themselves face to face with the dinosaurs they are hunting the very fossils of.  It's a simply enough story but the slow scenes and tough dialogue makes it difficult to finish.  Finally, the film uses a lot of classic filming techniques that was a little bit of fun but the lack of fun deaths and memorable effects makes it easily forgettable.  Overall, Saurians is not the fun no-budget film from Mark Polonia that I was looking forward.  I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.  I can recommend so many other Visual Vengeance films for you to check out.       

A Feast at Midnight

Director - Justin Hardy (Strictly Supernatural, Secret History)

Starring - John Hurley, Freddie Findlay (Rasputin, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries), and Sebastian Armesto (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "A 500 year old school.  A prehistoric form master.  ...and a 10-year old chef"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple weeks ago I received The Eurocrpyt of Christopher Lee Volume 3 from my friends over at Severin Films.  At the time I thought that I had only seen one of the films in the set which actually turned out to be two films when I realized one was using an alternate title.

  Anyway, the one film that I had previously seen in this set was the 1994 family friendly kid's movie A Feast at Midnight.  This was previously released by Severin as part of their Severin Kids line where I bought a copy for my collection.  I liked the film but only watched it the one time before placing it on my shelf to collect dust.  I'm glad it was included in this set which gave me another reason to revisit it

**Spoiler Alert**     The film follows a young boy who is sent to a boarding school where he is immediately ostracized and mocked.  He is unable to make friends until he decides to turn his love of cooking into a late night meeting for his classmates.  He slowly starts building friendships with his class and the school nurse while sneaking around from the dean, an angry teacher, and a cook who refuses to let students in his kitchen. **Spoiler Alert**

     There is a lot to unpack with this movie but I honestly love it.  The artwork infuriates me but I get why it looks like that and the title is dumb but, once again, it fits the film.  I know many genre fans are going to be disappointed in it but I absolutely loved it.  

The acting in this one is great.  Christopher Lee once again gives us a larger than life character that I really enjoyed watching.  He really got into the role and made it his own.  The main cast consists of young boys with very little, if any, experience.  Yet, they were able to do a fantastic job together.  They made the film as fun as it was and it's a damn shame that many of them did not continue their careers in acting.  

The story for this one is not what I was expecting the first time I saw it.  The artwork and title makes you think that Christopher Lee is a monster snatching up students at night.  However, the artwork is referencing his nickname that the students call him behind his back while the title is obviously referencing the young boy's love of cooking for his classmates at night.  It's a family friendly story that I found to be very entertaining and still holds up after the second viewing.  

Finally, don't expect a film with a lot of effects and fun deaths.  This is a no budget kids film so we don't have any effects to enjoy.  Overall, A Feast at Midnight is not going to be the kind of film that many genre fans are going to love but I found myself having a lot of fun with it.  It's an amazing performance from Lee with the rest of the cast delivering unforgettable performances.  I highly recommend this one even if you don't have children.  

     

Lookin' Italian

Director - Guy Magar (Retribution, Stepfather 3)

Starring - Jay Acovone (The Hills Have Eyes 2, The X-Files), Matt LeBlanc (Lost in Space, Monsters), and Stephanie Richards (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Never Trust a Serial Killer)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "There can be no peace without honor and family"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get in some non-horror for review from time to time but it's not that often.  Most of the time these films are sexploitation which I've really grown to appreciate but sometimes I get in something that is not horror nor sexploitation.  A few weeks ago I was contacted by my friends over at Severin Films to review a trio of their releases.  Severin, as most of you know, is one of my favorite labels and I was really looking forward to checking out these films.  The first film that I tossed in and hit play on was the 1994 crime film Lookin' Italian which starred a young Matt LeBlanc and directed by Guy Magar who directed the 1987 underrated horror film Retribution.  I was really looking forward to this one and want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows a man living Los Angelos and working in a used book store who was once a member of a prominent crime family.  He has now turned his back on the life and wants something simple.  However, his nephew that he took in after the death of his father has a wild side about him.  This leads him down the same path his uncle once walked forcing him to try and save his nephew before it's too late.

     I went into Lookin' Italian kind of excited.  I didn't realize it was directed by Guy Magar until I was putting the disc in.  I'm not a fan of Friends or Matt LeBlanc but an early 90s crime flick by Magar had to be fun.  Sadly, it wasn't.  It was an interesting idea that just never finds it's footing.  The acting in this one is top notch.  Jay Acovone and Matt LeBlanc are phenomenal together.  They work so well together and the viewer almost believes that these two are really an uncle/nephew pair.  The supporting cast is just as great with no real weak links in this one.  The story for this one is one I can get behind but struggles to really find itself.  The movie does a great job at setting up the uncle as a man who regrets his past but way too much time is spent on the nephew and showing the viewer that he is a wild teen with no responsibilities.  The entire mafia aspect of the film should have started by the 30 minute mark instead of how late it was.  A little tighter writing and smoother editing would have made this one far more enjoyable than it is.  Finally, don't expect memorable deaths and a lot of gore.  We have a lot of drama and crime with a little romance but no fun deaths with the red stuff.    Overall, Lookin' Italian is a movie that has a fantastic cast and a story that could have been something memorable but puts too much emphasis on one character that doesn't deserve it.  I wanted to like it but just couldn't get into it.  Fans of early 90s crime may still appreciate it and the release from Severin looks great.  

Vampires and Other Stereotypes

Director - Kevin J. Lindenmuth (Rage of the Werewolf, Monstersdotcom)

Starring - Bill White (Heartwood), Ed Hubbard (Kissing Cousins Monster Babies and Morphing Elvis, The History of Everything Circa 1993), and Wendy Bednarz (There's Nothing Out There)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Vampirism... don't believe the hype"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a fan of Wild Eye Releasing for damn near a decade now. I love the indie releases they put out on DVD. They get films that would normally be looked over by genre fans out there for people to discover. I'm a huge champion of indie cinema and love the indie releases they put out. Hell, even if I don't like the film I still have fun watching it. When Wild Eye announced the creation of their sister label Visual Vengeance, I thought they would be focusing on new indie horror titles like their Wild Eye line. I was wrong. What Visual Vengeance did was something I had hoped other boutique labels would do and bring us low quality indie horror films from the late 80s through early 2000s to bluray. While companies like Vinegar Syndrome do this with films from the video store era and before, VV delivers movies that these types of labels would often skip over due to the films being too goofy, amateurish, and far from perfect. I recently was sent their release of Vampires and Other Stereotypes for review and couldn't wait to dig into it. I want to thank Wild Eye and Visual Vengeance for sending this one over! 

      The film follows a man and his partner that fight supernatural creatures, so they don't wreak havoc on mankind. During a routine mission they find a man being held captive in an abandoned building. They save him but decide to interrogate him when they are interrupted by a man who brought three women there to party. The man is actually a demon and brought the women there to breed and when they crossed over into the building it was taken to hell forcing everyone inside to fight for their lives or die gruesome deaths at the hands and claws of hell spawn. 

      Vampires and Other Stereotypes is a film I was not familiar with prior to this release but the artwork fucking sold me on it. The movie itself is a bit of a low-quality film with not a lot of opportunity to restore it. Visual Vengeance did a great job with the film but the video is not the best quality. I can only assume they did the best with what they had and I'm grateful for it. The film was a lot of fun especially if you are a fan of shows like Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The X-Files. The acting in this one is inconsistent. Some of the cast delivers solid performances but the rest of the cast is extremely stiff and awkward to watch. Their dialogue delivery feels forced and they don't get into character like the rest of the cast. It's not the worst I've seen but some scenes were a little difficult to finish. The story for this one is very bold for a no budget S.O.V. horror flick but I loved it. A secret group of people fighting things that go bump in the night while the world's population is oblivious to the fact has always intrigued me. I also loved how the film is completely locked in this one location yet was able to progress the story. That is brilliant writing with budget in mind. I also loved the back story they established with hell, the demons, and how the building was taken to hell. We get something very different than what you would expect in hell from a Christian standpoint. With that being said, some of the scenes are a bit too long. Some trimming would go a long way. Finally, the film has a lot of fun practical effects. The wall of heads that is reminiscent of Coffin Joe was awesome to see along with the great make-up effects. We also get some fun deaths that are bloody with decent enough practical effects. The film clearly had a low budget, but the effects still find their mark. Overall, Vampires and Other Stereotypes was an awesome early 90s S.O.V. horror flick. The title does kind of suck but the film is well worth your time. Be sure to grab the blu from Visual Vengeance!

Cemetery Man

Director - Michele Soavi (The Church, StageFright)

Starring - Rupert Everett (Dead on Time, Shrek 2), Francois Hadji-Lazaro (Brotherhood of the Wolf, The City of Lost Children), and Anna Falchi (Kin Novak is on the Phone, The Tracker)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror/Comedy/Romance

Tagline - "Zombies, gun and sex, oh my!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Every movie buff, especially genre fans, have that one film they have tried to watch for years but never had the opportunity. The movie is either hard to find or various obstacles get in their way. I call these movies unicorns because they take on an almost mythical tone. My unicorn is the 1994 Italian horror/romance film Dellamorte Dellamore. When I was in high school I was an active member of the Upcoming Horror Movies message board. One of the other members had an image of what looked like a grim reaper in his signature. I was fascinated with that image for a few days and finally asked them what it was from. He told me about the film Cemetery Man from director Michele Soavi. I rushed to eBay with a friend where we pooled out money together to buy a copy of the film on VHS. It took a few weeks but the day it arrived we prepared to give it a watch. After about 20 or so minutes into our first viewing the VCR started to make a loud whining sound before it ate the tape. It would be several more years before the film would get a DVD from Anchor Bay but I was quick to pre-order it. When it finally arrived the post office was kind enough to customize the package and it’s contents for me resulting in a dislodged disc that wouldn’t play in my PS2 or my friends DVD player. Anchor Bay was kind enough to send over a replacement disc but that took several more weeks. When I was able to finally watch the film I feel in love with it. It was unlike anything else I had seen at that point. The DVD quickly became one of my prized possessions that I still appreciate all those years later. That changed recently when Severin released the film on UHD. While the DVD held some fond memories, I could not wait to add this release to my collection. 

      The film follows a caretaker at a small Italian town. He lives in a little shack on the property with his nearly mute assistant and they are tasked with keeping the dead…dead. Those buried in this particular cemetery return after 7 days to feast on the living. He puts them down with a quick bullet to the head so the town doesn’t get overrun by the undead and for fear he would lose his job. He eventually falls in love with a beautiful widow but when her husband breaks free of his coffin and bites her, the caretaker is forced to shoot her. Heartbroken, and struggling with his own mortality, he befriends a group of college women. One of them shares a striking resemblance to his now dead loved one so he goes with them back to their house. He spends the night with her and the following morning he learns that they are prostitutes that are paying their way through college by selling their bodies. He panics and burns the home down with them trapped inside. Once again heartbroken, he meets a young woman working as the mayor’s assistant. She too is identical to the woman he once loved. She mentions that she has commitment issues and does not want to be with a man sexually. Succumbing to rumors that his impotent, he seeks medical help to take away his manhood so he can be with her only to discover that she was raped and she liked it. Now, he’s heartbroken for the third time and without the use of his penis which forces him to go on a killing spree before trying to skip town. 

      I don’t say this a lot but Dellamorte Dellamore, aka Cemetery Man, is easily the most beautiful horror film I’ve seen in my short life. We have a not so typical horror story that blends comedy and romance in a way I had never seen before or since along with several gruesome scenes that reminds the viewer that they are in fact watching an Italian horror film. I might be a bit biased here but Cemetery Man is one of my favorite horror films and this Severin release is a must own for horror fans and collectors alike. The acting in this one is great. Rupert Everette is absolutely amazing as the romantic cemetery caretaker (he’s not an engineer). His character is what makes the film and his performance is nothing short of brilliant. When you add the fantastic performances from model Anna Falchi and the “Gna” from Francois Hadji-Lazaro you have performances that are truly unforgettable. The characters are so enjoyable and the cast truly gives it their all. The story for this one is a mix of comedy and romance with a lot of horror thrown in. The romance is a huge part of the story and while it does take the front seat, it doesn’t make the horror take the back seat. Both coexist in the film in a way that is rarely seen and never as successful as it is here. You then have the humor to break up some of the more drawn out scenes a little bit. They all work together very well without making the horror feel out of place which became normal after the success of Shaun of the Dead. While I do love SotD I will be the first to admit that the horror is second to the humor and romance. This film keeps it in the front. The film also has great pacing and doesn’t over stay it’s welcome. Finally, this film has some seriously great effects with a lot of gore and beautiful sets. I love the sets and locations used in the film. Movies don’t really look like this anymore and these locations and sets give this film the perfect gothic look and feel. This really works with the film’s atmosphere and tone making it even more effective. You add that with the fantastic make-up and practical effects and you have a film that can only be seen to be appreciated. Overall, Cemetery Man, or Dellamorte Dellamore, is one of the most underrated Italian horror films in cinema history. The film is absolutely amazing and this release Severin is essential for horror fans or fans of this film. Check it out.

Night of the Demons 2

Director - Brian Trenchard-Smith (Leprechaun 3, Atomic Dog)

Starring - Amelia Kinkade (Night of the Demons, Road House), Jennifer Rhodes (Slumber Party Massacre II, Ghost Fever), and Merle Kennedy (Dollman, May)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Angela's throwing another party.  Trick or treat, sucker"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The first Night of the Demons is a film that I had seen numerous times over the years and often recommend to genre fans looking Halloween centered films for their October watch lists. I’ve upgraded the film to various formats over the years and the recent UHD release from Scream Factory is fantastic. While I’ve seen this movie countless times over the years, I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen Night of the Demons 2. I snagged the Olive Films DVD release many years ago and watched it a couple times since then but I always forget about it. Honestly, I like the sequel and I wish I would watch it along with the original more often. Recently, my wish came true when Scream Factory sent over a copy of Night of the Demons 2 on blu with their UHD release of the first film. I want to take a moment to thank them for sending it over! 

      The film picks up several years after the events of the first film. Angela’s sister Mouse is now attending a Catholic school for troubled youths after her parents killed themselves the year prior. Angela has been missing since the murders and the locals has contributed local legends to her and Hull House. The school is preparing for a dance but a group of them has decided to sneak off and party with some locals where they find themselves at Hull House. Mouse doesn’t want to be there but the longer she is she realizes that Angela is still there and something evil is in control of her. 

      Night of the Demons 2 is a solid continuation of the first film. While it’s not as good as the first film it still scratches that itch for a follow up that fans of the first film wanted. Honestly, I like it and really should be running a double feature every time I watch the first film. The acting in this one really surprised me. No matter how many times I watch this one I’m still surprised by Christine Taylor. She’s appeared in a few genre titles like The Craft, Scary Movie 5, Campfire Tales, and Here Come the Munsters but most don’t associate her with horror. That may be why her performance here stands out so much to me. While the characters are just as cliched as the first film, I find myself drawn to them more in this film. Their personalities stand out so much and the cast is amazing. Amelia Kinkade returns as Angela, the late Zoe Trilling delivers a fantastic and sexy performance, and the rest of the cast is just as great. The story for this one is a solid continuation of the first film but it does have it’s goofy moments. Having Angela return along with possessing more teens looking to party really fits the theme of the first film. However, having the demons cross the underground stream that was said to be a barrier they can’t cross by having a character steal the lipstick from the infamous scene in the first one is lazy writing in my opinion. Having the demons follow them in a more demonic manner would have made more sense instead of them attaching themselves to boob-lipstick. That’s really my only complaint with the story as the rest of it works. Finally, the film once again delivers some great practical and make-up effects. The deaths look great and the effects rival the ones seen in the first film. They look fantastic, fit the film, and deliver some humor which I was not expecting. While the film does lack a memorable scene like the lipstick-boob scene it still has fantastic effects. Overall, Night of the Demons 2 is a great follow up to a classic horror film. It may not reach the heights of it’s predecessor it still delivers. I highly recommend it.

Moonchild

Director - Todd Sheets (Bonehill Road, Hi-8 (Horror Independent 8)

Starring - Auggi Alvarez (The Witching, Zombie Bloodbath), Kathleen McSweeney (Violent New Breed, Zombie Bloodbath 2), and Zombie Bloodbath, Zombie Bloodbath 2)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi/Horror

Tagline - "A full moon can be fatal!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Todd Sheets is a filmmaker that really impresses me. Whenever I review one of his films, I have to mention how impressed by his career I am. Not many independent filmmakers can last as long as he has in the business and the fact that he has released some seriously fantastic films in his lengthy career is no small feat. With that being said, not all of his films speak to me. Some are fun and work while others just don’t work for me. A few months ago, Wild Eye’s sister company Visual Vengeance announced the release of Sheets’ Moonchild on blu. This was one I had never seen before, so I reached out to my friend at Wild Eye and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. Like always I want to take a moment to thank them for hooking me up! 

      The film follows a man who was forced to undergo an experiment that spliced his DNA with that of a wolf. The team behind the experiment kills his wife and takes his son who inherited his traits. He’s able to escape and begins a hunt for his son and the company that did this to him along with a rag tag group of survivors with their own scores to settle. 

      When I first received the press release for Visual Vengeance’s release of Moonchild I was fucking hooked on the film. The synopsis sounded like everything I didn’t know I needed in an S.O.V. action horror flick. Like I stated earlier, Sheets’ films are hit or miss with me but this one sounded like a love letter to the dystopian future gang flicks from the 80s that I love. However, the film really struggled to hold my attention and the story felt a bit underwhelming which was odd considering how much was going on in the film. The acting in this one is some of the most awkward performances I’ve seen in indie cinema. I’ve reviewed films from the teenage years of filmmakers like Chris Seaver and Todd Falcon along with countless first-time filmmakers ranging from teenagers in high school to middle schoolers playing around with their parent’s cameras. I can usually look passed inexperience but a lot of the scenes in Moonchild are awkward to watch. The cast seems to be confused as to who they are talking to at times and their sporadic eye movement along with their unconvincing performances made this wild ass story fall shirt. The story for this one is one of the most ambitious indie productions I’ve witnessed. It’s an action film at it’s base that reminds me a lot of films like Split Second and other straight to video action films that blended in elements of sci-fi and horror. We have a dystopian society ruled by corporations, gangs of madmen, shapeshifters, inhumans, and so much more. With that being said, the awkward acting and poor pacing takes so much away from what would normally be an amazing story. Finally, the effects are limits but still fun. We get some great sets, wardrobe, and locations but the lack of effects really disappointed me. I was expecting so much more from Sheets and his team in regards to this. There was a scene or two with some decent practical effects but not enough to satisfy those of us that know what he is capable of. Overall, Moonchild is a fucking wild film that has moments that will glue you to the screen scattered throughout a film that is about as interesting as watching paint dry. I love seeing films like this get the blu-ray treatment from Visual Vengeance but this is one I will not be able to revisit any time soon.

Dragonworld

Director - Ted Nicolaou (Subspecies, TerrorVisions)

Starring - Courtland Mead (The Little Rascals, The Shining), Janet Henfrey (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Doctor Who), and Alastair Mackenzie (Psychos, Snuff-Movie)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Fantasy/Adventure

Tagline - "Out of the mist and into your heart"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Moonbeam Entertainment, with Empire and Full Moon alike, were a big part of my childhood.  I remember renting movies like Puppet Master, Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Prehysteria! a lot when I was younger.  I have a lot of fond memories watching these movies with my grandmother while my dad was out of town a lot.  I remember the first time I watched Dragonworld.  It was one of the few Moonbeam films that I didn't rent and actually watched on cable.  I believe it was on the original run of the Sci-Fi Channel before the rebranding.  I remember seeing the Moonbeam logo and immediately giving it my full attention.  It was a fun one but rather predictable even for my younger self.  I picked the DVD up several years ago but never revisited it until now.  When Full Moon announced the release of the blu I couldn't pass up the opportunity to let some nostalgia rush over me.  I reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.

     The film follows the young John McGowan (Mead) who is sent to Scotland to live with his grandfather after his parents perish in an automobile accident.  His grandfather is stuck in his old ways and raises John on them.  However, John has no normal Scottish childhood when he makes a wish on a magic tree and is granted a baby dragon as a companion.  The two grow up together and become the best of friends but when a documentary filmmaker doing a film on haunted castles uncovers the dragon he suggests that John lease him to a wealthy investor to help cover back taxes on the castle.  Soon, the wealthy man takes full control of the dragon after John signs a shady contract for him to risk his life to save his best friend.

     Dragonworld is a corny children's film with some cheesy effects and cliched characters but it's a film I would pick over the bigger budgeted movies from it's time like Air Bud and Little Giants.  It's not as fun to me as the original Prehysteria! but it's still up there with some of my favorite films from my childhood.  The acting in this one is great.  In fact, it's probably one of the better acted Moonbeam film I've seen.  You have a small role from Uh Huh in the live action Little Rascals film from the same era before we are given several memorable performances from some seriously gifted cast.  I like the cliched and campy back stories and characters that the cast gives us.  The story for this one is painfully predictable but still just as enjoyable.  The movie is straight forward and the viewer knows exactly what is going to happen before it happens.  Even as a kid I knew how the film was going to play out.  With that being said, the journey is so much fun.  I've seen this film a dozen times easily and I still find myself glued to the screen.  It does drag it's feet a few times during the middle aspect of the film but it's nothing that takes away from the experience.  Finally, the film has some extremely horrible visual effects and some fun and campy practical effects.  The visuals are pure shit but I loved the look of the dragon and the puppetry.  Overall, Dragonworld is another favorite of mine from my childhood and I love seeing it get the blu release it deserves.  I highly recommend picking this one up.

Prehysteria! 2

Director - Albert Band (I Bury the Living, Ghoulies II)

Starring - Kevin Connors (Harry and the Hendersons, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead), Jennifer Harte, and Dean Schofield (Project: Metalbeast, Cotton Candy)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "The oldest party animals are back"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had several go to films when I was a kid.  An estranged uncle gave me Jason Goes to Hell and Conan the Destroyer on tape.  I played the fuck out of them for years until I got my hands on the Prehysteria! trilogy along with Adventures in Dinosaur City.  I fucking loved these films and watched the absolute fuck out of them until they were given away while I was in college.  Several years ago I wanted to revisit these films and found them on DVD from Germany.  Since then Full Moon has been working on their Moonbeam catalog.  They released the first Prehysteria! film on blu sometime ago and just recently put the sequel out on blu.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy over.  I couldn't wait to revisit this one and once I decided to have a Full Moon marathon I knew this would be one of the first films I watched.

     The film follows Brendan (Connors) who is wealthy but lacks friendship.  That is until one day he befriends a young girl in a rail yard and the two find a group of miniature dinosaurs.   He takes them to his mansion and soon finds a friendship in them and the young girl that money could not put a price on.

     Prehysteria! 2 is nowhere near as enjoyable as the first film but it's still a solid watch.  It's a copy and paste story with some changes that makes it just different enough to be a sequel and not a hard retelling.  Honestly, I like the set up of the film but it could have offered us just a little something different than a rehashing of the first film.  The acting in this one is pretty fucking decent.  I really liked the characters we were given and how they seemed to be written more a children's film than the first film.  The cast has some experience but there was a few scenes that still feel awkward to watch even now.  What really stands out to me is Kevin Connors who many of you may remember as the kid in Phantasm III.  The story for this one is similar to the first film but with some noticeable differences.  I liked the rich kid angle mixed with the dad who is too busy for him.  Toss in a tramp for a friend and some mini dinos and you have Prehysteria! 2.  With that being said, it's pretty much a copy and paste story from the first with kids trying to hide dinos.  It's fun and I can marathon it with the first and third film but it is a little repetitive.  Finally, the film doesn't try to do as many visual effects as the first.  We have the same animatronics as the first film and that's the extent of it.  Overall, Prehysteria! 2 is one of the many films that made me the movie fan I am today.  I owe this film so much but I'm not blind to it's short comings.  It's fun and I highly recommend checking out the blu from Full Moon.  

L.A. Aids Jabber

Director - Drew Godderis

Starring - Justin Godderis (Road to Red), Marcy Lynn, and Justin Mack (Teen Perspective)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Crime/Horror

Tagline - "Jeff has just contracted a fatal disease, but he is a very giving person... now all his friends have it"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Wild Eye Releasing is one of my favorite companies because they pride themselves on giving indie releases a voice.  A lot of these films would get looked over if it wasn't for Wild Eye and companies like them.  When I saw that Wild Eye was expanding into blu releases with their Visual Vengeance I knew it would be a continuation of what they were doing with DVD.  When I saw that they were bringing The Necro Files to blu I was excited to revisit this one along with the other film they announced which was 1994's L.A. Aids Jabber.  This was one I was not familiar with and was looking forward to checking it out.  The film was originally released on VHS as Jabber but from my knowledge it had never been released on disc.  I reached out to Wild Eye and MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy over to check out.  I'm glad they did because I absolutely enjoyed this one.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a young man who receives word that he is H.I.V. positive.  He's rather unstable and the news excited him a little too much.  He decides to share his new burden with anyone that pisses him off.  He starts putting his blood in syringes and injecting it into those that have inconvenienced his life.  Soon the police catch on and try to stop him before the news breaks.  However, they fail to do so which creates a bit of a panic around the case making it a little more difficult for them to track down the jabber.  

     The L.A. Aids Jabber was a movie that looked interesting but deep down I wasn't convinced that I would enjoy it.  However, after about 15 minutes into the film I knew I would love it... and I did.  Sure, it was rough around the edges and a bit questionable but I absolutely adored it.  Visual Vengeance really did something special with this release and I'm glad they were able to bring it to genre fans.  The acting in this one is a bit hit or miss with me.  We have a lot of volume control issues where people yell as a way of showing emotions instead of relying on facial expressions and gestures.  Aside from the volume control issues in many of the scenes I found myself actually enjoying the cast for the most part especially those playing the detectives.  They were natural in front of the camera and really fit the part.  The story for this one is straight and to the point.  However, it does feel like a crime drama at times instead of a typical horror film.  We have the terrifying story of someone poking strangers with Aids in a more grounded and crude version of Agoni but most of the film is spent with the detective trying to track him down and stop him.  This aspect of the film felt like something you would find on day-time cable.  Don't get me wrong, it was still enjoyable but it wasn't what I was expecting.  Finally, the film has blood but don't expect a gory flick with a body count.  The title and story is meant to be shocking but it's not as shocking now as it would have been during its initial release during the height of the Aids scare.  Overall, L.A. Aids Jabber is another must own from Visual Vengeance.  It's a movie that went unnoticed until they were kind enough to give it the release it deserves.  Collectors and movie fans alike need to snag this one.  

Shatter Dead

Director - Scooter McCrae (Sixteen Tongues, Betamax)

Starring - Stark Raven (Sixteen Tongues), Flora Fauna, Daniel 'Smalls' Johnson (Pacific Blue, Son of the Beach)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "God hates you"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school, and a few years after I graduated before venturing off to college, I would often spend my nights and spare time at a friend's house with some other friends.  We would often drink and watch random horror and exploitation films.  We were all avid eBay buyers and often snagged films we had never heard of or caught our eyes.  One of my many purchases at that time was Scooter McCrae's Shatter Dead.  I remember liking it but I don't remember a god damn thing about it all those years ago so when Saturn's Core announced the release of the film on blu I was ready to upgrade my copy and revisit it.  Saturn's Core has really impressed me since partnering with Vinegar Syndrome so I was really looking forward to this release and checking out the film that I completely forgot about.

     The film follows Susan (Raven) who is one of the few living people left in the world.  The Dead are no longer dying but living forever.  She is trying to make her way home but the living dead, lead by an enigmatic preacher, are on the hunt for the living so he can grow his ever growing legion of the undead.  

     I loved the story and the approach it took.  It's not your typical zombie movie and the amount of creativity is still impressive almost 30 years later.  It is held back by the film's budget but as a fan of indie horror I found it to be extremely entertaining.  I'm honestly shocked that I didn't remember this one after my initial viewing.  The alcohol may have had something to do with it or I didn't appreciate it as much at my young age but now I fucking love it.  The acting in this one is solid but the cast is fairly inexperienced or has no experience at all.  I liked the wide array of characters that we are given and the cast does a fantastic job at bringing them to life.  However, a few of the scenes were a bit awkward which can be chalked up to the cast's lack of experience.  I liked it but there was room for improvement.  The story for this one is nothing like I had seen before when speaking about the undead or zombies.  We have people who can't die and punishment for betraying the evil preacher is receiving a disability that you will never outlive.  It's such a wild story that I seriously enjoy.  Keep in mind, this is a no budget S.O.V. horror film but the budget doesn't stop it from being so much fun.  Finally, the film has plenty of blood and some light gore but it works.  I enjoyed the deaths and how they fit into the film.  If you want blood then this film is for you.  Overall, Shatter Dead is a must see for fans of indie horror and S.O.V.  I fucking loved it and I'm respect the hell out of Saturn's Core for bringing this film to blu.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Psycho Sisters

Director - Pete Jacelone (Dead Students Society, The Masked Strangler)

Starring - Pamela Sutch (Sorority Slaughter, Virgin Sacrifices), Christine Taylor (Domestic Strangers), and Tina Krause (Bloodletting, Strawberry Estates)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Beyond the brink of madness"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     A few months ago I discovered W.A.V.E. Productions thanks to the documentary Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions.  I was kicking myself for not knowing about them prior to but I was surprised to see a few films that I was familiar with get mentioned in the documentary like HorrorTales.666 which was recently released on DVD by The Sleaze Box.  Soon after watching the doc I quickly rushed to my computer and ordered a few titles and before long Vinegar Syndrome's partner label Saturn's Core released the 1994 W.A.V.E. film Psycho Sisters.  This was another must own release for me and I was quick to pre-order a copy.  While I was on my Thanksgiving break I decided to finally dig into it.

     The film follows two twisted sisters who go on a killing spree after witnessing the rape and murder of their younger sister.  

     I was seriously excited to check this one out and was even more excited after I spoke with William Hellfire who is one of the folks behind Saturn's Core.  Sadly, I didn't like the film.  Don't get me wrong because I had fun watching it but the movie itself was nothing spectacular.  It's easily forgettable but I always find something enjoyable about watching an S.O.V. flick I had never seen before.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from an early 90s S.O.V. flick.  The cast, especially the female leads, are very dedicated to their roles.  The characters are poorly written but the female leads have a lot of fun in front of the camera.  The story for this one is simple and straight to the point but it stretches itself far too thin.  Two beautiful women seducing and killing men is exactly what most male horror fans are looking for.  However, this movie is extremely repetitive and the sleazy aspect doesn't reach it's full potential.  The film misses several opportunities to bring the carnage and sleaze.  Instead, it feels like each scene is rushed and the story just follows what they could film as quick as possible.  Finally, don't expect to find a bloody flick.  We get some strangulations and the like but that's the extent of it.  The deaths are forgettable and lack any imagination.  Overall, Psycho Sisters is a great idea that misses it's mark.  The thought of two beautiful women seducing and killing men could be something horror fans would never forget but the way it was shot made for a film that had no reason to be as dull as it is.  I wanted to love it but I couldn't.  The blu release looks great so S.O.V. fans and collectors should check it out but if you are looking for something new to watch you will want to skip this one.  

Biohazard 2: The Alien Force

Director - Steve Latshaw (Jack-O, Dark Universe)

Starring - John Alexander (Planet of the Apes, Hellboy II: The Golden Army), James L. Miles, and Dorothy Best (General Electric Theater, The Dukes of Hazzard)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The end of the world has just been born"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Earlier this year I started heavily collecting the Retromedia Entertainment releases from Makeflix when they would go up for pre-order.  A good portion of them were fun but a couple were a bit underwhelming.  Not too long ago Makeflix and Retromedia released the Steve Latshaw Collection titled Jack-O and his Friends.  Jack-O is a film I had seen several times over the years but I had never seen the other two films in the set.  For $20 it was worth it to see the other two films.  With Halloween tomorrow I decided to quickly watch the set so I would have time to watch Jack-O tomorrow.  The first film I visited was the sequel to Biohazard titled Biohazard 2: The Alien Force.  

     The film follows a pregnant woman who escaped a lab.  The child in her womb is  that of an alien, presumably from the first film, and that of a human.  She gives birth to the creature and it goes on a murderous rampage through the city.

     The premise for this one sounds like a lot of fun but the delivery is just all wrong.  I love a good straight to video horror sci-fi hybrid but this follow up struggled to find it's footing and a fun story was sent to the gutter.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from an early 90s Retromedia release.  The scream queen era was on it's way out and most of the cast that had previously worked with Ray was going on to bigger budgeted films leaving this production to scrape up as many new comers and inexperienced cast members as possible.  The acting isn't what I would deem bad but the dialogue is forced and several scenes is very awkward to watch.  I hate being so negative but I've seen no budget horror movies with more dedicated casts.  The story for this one really has an interesting set up that I was all about but its clumsily, or lazily, Having an alien/human hybrid that is rapidly growing and feeding on humans is a fun story even though it does borrow from the classic Alien.  However, this story is just in passing as we follow the people looking for it as they jump through scene to scene trying to piece together a story around the shady organization responsible for it.  It's an half-assed attempt at a semi-complex story that fails to pull everything in together before the credits roll.  Finally, the film has a fun looking creature and some bloody kills but the kills don't stand out.  They are quick, cheap, and not rewarding.  I do like the look of the creature but that's the extent of it.  Overall, Biohazard 2 is a weak follow up that just couldn't pull itself together.  I like the idea behind the story but the execution is all wrong.  Skip it.  

Scanner Cop

Director - Pierre David (Serial Killer)

Starring - Daniel Quinn (The X-Files, Dead Bang), Darlanne Fluegel (Pet Sematary II, The Twilight Zone), and Richard Grove (Army of Darkness, Point Break)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Sci-fi/Horror

Tagline - "Imagine a cop who can read your mind... then blow it away"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Scanners is an iconic body-horror film that blends the gory side of horror with sci-fi making it not only an enjoyable film but one that shows just how effective a movie can be if you combine certain genres.  Scanners is probably my favorite Cronenberg film and I know that I'm not alone by saying that.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the UHD release of Scanner Cop and it's sequel I was beside myself.  I love when Vin Syn brings me a movie I had never heard of before I quickly snagged them and when I finally tossed them in I was shocked to see it was based on characters based on Cronenberg's Scanners' characters.  I quickly rushed to Google and discovered that it was a Scanners' spin-off.  Now, I was really excited to dig into this one.

       The film begins with a young Sam who is living with his delusional father when two officers arrive.  Sam's father is a scanner and has not been able to take his meds for several days.  He snaps and attacks the police before the landlord puts him down.  One of the officers takes Sam in and raises him.  We jump forward and Sam is now an officer who finds himself called to duty when officers from around the city become the center of attacks by an unknown person who is drugging people and "suggesting" they attack the cops.  Sam has to act quick to discover who is behind the attacks and why.

     Scanner Cop is nowhere near as good as Scanners but god damn was it a fun time.  The movie blends in sci-fi and horror with a dash of cop drama.  It's a great start to a new series featuring a familiar story.  The acting in this one is alright but there is plenty of room for improvement.  I liked Quinn in his role as a young cop but his "scanner" face is fucking hysterical.  I understand the point of it and how this pertains to the story but it was just so silly.  The supporting cast is great and everyone does a fantastic job but any scanner scene had me laughing my ass off.  The story for this one is a great beginning to a new series of films that had endless possibilities.  We get the basic premise set forth in the original three films set against the backdrop of a city cop who uses his scanner powers to prevent crimes and so forth.  I really enjoyed the premise for this one and how it was handled.  It's a fun mix of cheese and daytime drama that slowly moves into sci-fi and horror.  I really enjoyed that but as much as I liked it I don't think I could revisit it.  Finally, the film has a lot of practically effects.  I was impressed by some while others were underwhelming.  I wanted to love them all but they were very inconsistent.  Overall, Scanner Cop is a mid-90s direct to video madness that I really enjoy.  This is the kind of film that I grew up on and I'm glad Vin Syn put the work into this release.  It was fantastic.  

  

Mahakaal

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Saboot, Hotel) and Tulsi Ramsay (Telephone, Guest House)

Starring - Karan Shah (No Problem, Inspector Dhanush), Archana Puran Singh (Love Story 2050, The Perfect Murder), and Johnny Lever (Bad Boy, Coolie No. 1)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror/Musical

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When you spend most of your time in horror chats, groups, and message boards you discover a lot of strange and weird movies out there that you would never hear about on your own.  During my college years I was turned on to the Turkish and Bollywood parodies of classic films.  The most notorious of these is the Turkish Star Wars.  However, I was always interested in the Nightmare on Elm St. rip-off Mahakaal, aka The Monster.  This Bollywood parody was the topic of many chats in the Upcoming Horror Movies forums and every time it would spring up in conversation I would be there to talk about.  I never did get around to checking it out but I've always wanted to.  A few months ago Massacre Video announced a blu release of this one and I jumped on it as soon as I could.  I know Mondo Macabro had released the DVD sometime ago but I was unable to snag it at the time.  I'm glad my first viewing of this one was on blu.  

     The film follows the beautiful Anita (Singh) who is having nightmares that she is being stalked by a burned man weilding a glove of knives.  Her friend has nightmares of him as well and soon dies in her sleep pinning the murder on her boyfriend.  Anita's parents act strange when she tells them about her nightmares and soon a horrible secret is revealed by her father and the monster in her dreams that puts everyone's lives in danger.

     Holy fuck.  When I hit play on this I was not expecting this type of movie.  It was such a different pace than the films I'm accustomed to but I fucking loved it.  It was like nothing I had seen before but you better believe I'm going to be looking into other Bollywood horror titles.  The acting in this one is very different than what we would see in western films.  The film goes through musical numbers, comedic scenes, standard horror scenes, and a lot of times they blend genres.  This cast has to be very versatile and dynamic in order to make the scene work.  I really enjoyed the characters for the most part but I was not a fan of The Monster.  He was very underwhelming and not menacing at all.  The inspiration for this film has one of the most iconic performances in slasher history.  However, this one has an extremely dull killer that does nothing for the film.  The story for this one is fucking wild to say the least.  We have a lot of romance, some catchy musical numbers that I was not expecting, and some seriously moody and atmospheric scenes that makes the horror really pop.  The pacing is very inconsistent but there is always something going on to hold your attention.  Hell, the movie even has some cheap laughs that I really enjoyed.  Finally, the film has some amazing set pieces that really adds to the film's look at atmosphere.  The scene with the snakes specifically really adds to the ambiance of the film.  With that being said, the practical effects are hit and miss.  Some scenes have amazing practical effects that catch you off guard while others have what looks like rushed make-up effects that are laughable at best.  Overall, Mahakaal is one of the strangest films I have ever seen but I fucking loved it.  It was funny, comical, and suspenseful at times.  The blu looks amazing from Massacre as well.  Regardless, if this is your first time watching or a collector you will want this release for your collection.  

     

Shrunken Heads

Director - Richard Elfman (Forbidden Zone, Modern Vampires)

Starring - Julius Harris (King Kong, Darkman), Meg Foster (The Lords of Salem, 31), and Aeryk Egan (Flatliners, The X-Files)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Superheroes from their head to their necks"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Full Moon was my first love when it came to horror movies.  I still love the company and look forward to their new releases but nothing compares to the 80s and 90s Band produced films.  These movies were a huge part of my childhood and I spent many weekends renting this from my local ma and pop video store.  A few weeks ago I saw that Full Moon was releasing the 1994 Richard Elfman horror flick Shrunken Heads on blu.  I had seen trailers for this one on several of Full Moon's trailer compilations but I never actually had the chance to see it.  I quickly rushed to my email to request a copy and they were kind enough to send one my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows three teens who are bullied by the local gang of thieves and lowlifes.  When one of them records the gang stripping a car he turns the video over to the police for evidence and subsequently painting a target on their backs.  When the gang is released on bail from jail they kill the three teens.  The local shop keeper, Mr. Sumatra (Harris), breaks into the funeral home after their services and removes their heads.  He then performs a voodoo ritual to bring their souls back into their shrunken heads to get revenge on the gang that did this to them.

     Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from this one but I always thought the trailer looked fun and know how much I loved other Full Moon/Moonbeam releases from this time I couldn't wait to dig into it.  The movie did not let me down and actually impressed me a few times.  This was not a disappointment at all.  The acting in this one is the same quality that you would expect from other Full Moon films.  The cast has cheesy yet entertaining characters to bring to life and they do just that.  Harris, who is a screen legend, makes the film if you ask me.  His performance is unrivaled and as the film progresses so does his performance.  The story for this one is a voodoo superhero tale mixed with a crime thriller.  The movie could have easily been a Moonbeam release if a little bit of the adult humor and horror was toned down.  With that being said, I really liked it.  We get the pre-Night of the Living Dead zombies mixed with more voodoo and humor  along with the superhero angle kind of works in a cheesy way.  Some of you that take to the more serious side of cinema may not enjoy it but fans of campy horror will appreciate it.  Finally, this one has some practical and visual effects that are very polarizing.  The practical and make-up effects are fun.  I really liked the make-up effects on the undead and some of the practical effects are fun.  With that being said, some of the kills were very underwhelming and the effects for these were not that great.  Also, the visual effects are extremely dated.  The lightning and so forth is horrible and I'm sure they wasn't that impressive when it was released.  Overall, Shrunken Heads was very entertaining but extremely cheesy.  The typical Full Moon fan will love this one.  The blu looks great as well especially when you compare it to the quality of the trailer in most of the Full Moon compilations.  I highly recommend snagging this one.