Commando the Ninja

Director - Chi Lo (Magic Swords, Tiger Angels)

Starring - Man Fei (Born a Ninja), Patrick Largent (Power Kids, Team of Prodigies), and Hung Kuan (One-Armed Boxer, The Deadly Island)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Action

Tagline - "One man's battle to save the world from an evil bacteriological nightmare"

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm going to be completely honest here.  I went into this second film in the double feature confused. I watched them in the order they were on the cover and in the set but it seems that maybe Commando was the first film while imdb lists both films as releasing in 1988.  Honestly, I have no idea what the order is here but it looks like there is several other films in this series.  Regardless, I still gave this one a chance because of how much I respect and love Visual Vengeance and what they are doing for long forgotten S.O.V. films regardless of their genre.  Like always, I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one over.

     The film, I believe, is about a ninja trying to find a bioweapon from WWII but Russians are on the hunt for it as well.

     I really did try when I hit play on this.  It's cool that I have this one in my collection and dig that VV is looking outside of horror for releases but these two films are difficult to watch alone...and sober.  It was edited poorly and the story is damn near impossible to follow.  I hate being this negative but it's a rough movie for sure.  The acting in this one is very amateurish.  The cast gets into their roles but inexperience and lack of direction makes the scenes very awkward to watch.  I was hoping the movie would have that unintentional humor that I found in Born a Ninja but I think it had ran it's course by the time I tossed this one in.  The story for this one is so fucking confusing and that is a big part in the way the film was edited.  I read on letterboxd that the movie was pieced together from an unused episode of a television show.  While I don't know how true this is but it answers a lot of my questions if it is.  Finally, we get some solid fights scenes that don't really go anywhere and that is about the extent of it.  Genre fans looking for memorable deaths and gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, Commando the Ninja is a rough one to watch.  I'm still convinced that it would be fun to watch with like minded movie fans while high but it's difficult to finish while sober and alone.  I cannot recommend this one. 

Born a Ninja

Director - Joseph Lai (Ninja Hunt, Golden Ninja Warrior)

Starring - Man Fei (American Commando Ninja), Patrick Largent (Power Kids, Team of Prodigies), and Martin Chan 

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Tagline - "A spy who will stop at nothing to complete his mission .  A scientist who is torn between love for the present and terror of the past"

Rating (out of 5):

      I've been a fan of kung fu and martial arts movies longer than I have the horror genre.  My dad bought some of these films on tape from someone and from that night on I was hooked.  I would watch them with my grandma and on several occasions I would pick one of these films over a horror title.  A few weeks back I was sent the double feature of Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja from my friends over at Visual Vengeance.  I had just received two releases from them a few days prior and decided that when I had the time I would turn this into a marathon.  After Fungicide and The Screaming, I hit this double feature with Born a Ninja first.  I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one along for review!

     Tanaka, a scientist with a past, is unable to face the sight of the atrocities he committed as a germ-war researcher during WWII. Martin, miraculously returns from the dead, recruits an ace but evil Ninja, Simon, to retrieve Tanaka and the formula. Lung, a master of a lost art joins the battle and goes head-on with Simon. The Japanese samurai and the Chinese martial arts finally encounter. battle between Ninjitsu finally starts. At the same time, Tanaka takes the plunge. In a burnt laboratory, he uses the golden horn to locate the germ formula. Despite the heroics, Tanaka’s gang is pursued once again by Martin, Daniel and Simon. Tanaka finally gets the formula but it is shot from his hand again. The ghostly image floods Tanaka’s mind and he is left laughing in an insane heap.

     Just so we are clear, I copied the synopsis from Letterboxd because I have absolutely no fucking clue as to what I just watched.  There was ninjas, talk about Hocus Pocus, grown men rolling around like it was a fighting tactic.  I love bad movies and I love when movies are bad on purpose but this was a difficult one for me to sit through.  As I've said in previous reviews, I hate writing a negative review for a movie that was sent to me but I'm always honest.  The acting in this one is unintentionally funny.  I found myself laughing more than I should have at a lot of the line delivery during the dialogue heavy scenes.  The cast was very inexperienced in acting which made a lot of the scenes funny when they shouldn't have been.  The story for this one is all over the place and I still have no fucking clue as to what was happening most of the time.  The best that I can piece together is that someone was a real piece of shit during WWII and wants to make up for his misdeeds but someone evil is wanting to use something he was affiliated with to cause mass death.  I could be wrong but the film is not very coherent or easy to follow.  We really need a tighter story and better editing.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a blood bath with a lot of fun effects.  We have some ninja costumes and some not so bad fight choreography but that is the extent of it.  Overall, Born a Ninja could be a fun one if you are in a room full of like minded people who have been drinking but if you are looking for a campy kung fu flick then this one is not for you.  Sadly, I would suggest skipping this one.  

Bangkok, Date with Death

Director - Jesus Franco (Vampire Junction, Helter Skelter)

Starring - Jose Llamas (Slave of Crime, Angel of Death), Helena Garret (The Beast and the Magic Sword, Revenge in the House of Usher), and Eduardo Fajardo (Django, The Murder Mansion)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Jess Franco is a filmmaker that is never really consistent with me.  His career is legendary spanning multiple genres and decades.  However, I often find myself on the fence with his films.  For every film of his I like, there is a film of his that was damn near impossible to finish.  I respect the hell out of him but I'm not niave enough to know that every film of his is not for me.  A few weeks back I was sent the Jess Franco: From Bangkok with Bullets from my friends over at Severin Films.  I started with Trip to Bangkok, Coffin Included and before throwing in the second film Bangkok, Date with Death.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows the wealthy daughter of a rich man who is kidnapped by a pirate of sorts.  Her father hires a private investigator to track her down instead of paying the hefty ransom they are demanding.

     I went into this one expecting the same sort of zany story without the intentional humor that made the first film in the double features as fun as it was.  Sadly, it wasn't and was easily the weakest of the pair.  As I said before, his movies are hit or miss with me and this set seems to be a miss.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven.  We have frequent Franco collaborator Lina Romay in a fun performance but that is about the end of it.  Everyone else in the film feels rushed through their performances.  The dialogue we have is extremely flat and most of the performances is extremely campy and not in a fun way.  The story for this one is a bit more straight forward that the first film in the set.  While we do have some beach karate and pirates, it's not as wild as I had hoped for.  Finally, this one doesn't have a lot of action and those of you wanting some fun deaths with great practical effects will be disappointed.  Overall, Bangkok, Date with Death was not the cheap action flick I had hoped for. I don't see this one improving with some edibles or booze.  Skip it.  

Trip to Bankgok, Coffin Included

Director - Jesus Franco (Down Town, The Devil Came from Akasava)

Starring - Howard Vernon (The Silence of the Sea, In the Eye of the Snake), Helena Garret (Angel of Death, Revenge in the House of Usher), and Jose Llamas (Slave of Crime, The Last Women in the Phillippines)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Action/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Jesus, or Jess, Franco isa filmmaker that I respect but I'm not the biggest fan.  His career is legendary spanning every genre and several decades up until his death.  While he was known for his sexploitation and horror efforts, he did take a crack at other genres from time to time.  Franco took to Bangkok in the mid-80s where he made a pair of action adventure films that recently found their way into the hands of my friends over at Severin Films.  Severin was kind enough to send me a copy of this double feature for review.  I was very cruious about this release and threw it on the chopping block as soon as I could with the first film Trip to Bangkok, Coffin Included.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a British officer who visits Thialand to investigate the murder of an ambassador.  He teams up with secret service and uncovers that the murder was carried out by a blind assassin that is part of a cult ran by an evil scientist. 

     I went into this one completely fucking blind and holy fuck is all I have to say.  I was not expecting this one to go the way that it does and a part of me actually enjoyed just how fucking random the movie is.  However, it struggles to find any traction which made it difficult for me to finish.  I seriously wanted to like it but it wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is very inconsistent.  Vernon and Garret are solid for most of their scenes but several other scenes were very disappointing and awkward.  The same can be said about the supporting cast.  Their dialogue delivery was awkward at time and most of them show zero depth.  The story for this one is not something I was expecting from Franco but I wish he would have fully embraced the bizare.  We have a blind assassin, a cult, and an evil scientist in a mid-80s action adventure film from a filmmaker that I admire due to his work in sexploitation and horror.  However, the story doesn't really ermbrace the weird like it could have and feels more like a cheap action flick that doesn't know what to do with the random humor.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting memorable kills and a lot of fun effects.  The film focuses heavily on the story and not so much on deaths and effects.  Overall, Trip to Bangkok, Coffin Included is not the action adventure flick I was expecting.  It has a lot of aspects that I liked but they were just thrown away and never fully embraced.  Honestly, I would have loved it if it offered up more of the blind assassins and cult aspects.  It's worth a watch if you have an edible or some beers.  

The Hunters of the Golden Cobra

Director - Antonio Margheriti (Killer Fish, Death Rage)

Starring - David Warbeck (Breakfast with Dracula, Sudden Fury), Almanta Suska (The New York Ripper, The Gravy Train), and Luciano Pigozzi (Strike Commando, Robowar)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "The Mission: Recover the world's most priceless treasure.  The odds: impossible"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    I'll be completely honest here when I say I didn't know what to expect when I took a dive into this box set from Severin Films.  I was familiar with Antonio Margheriti and his horror titles so I knew I was going to see some campy writing and a rushed story that somehow finds a way to be cheap fun.  So far that has been exactly what these Indiana Jonesploitation films have been in this set.  Movies, much like the women I love, are a lot of fun when they are cheap and these three films are just that.  After Jungle Raiders and The Ark of the Sun God, I was left with the final film in the set which was the 1982 flick The Hunters of the Golden Cobra.  I once again want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows an American soldier who partners with a British officer on a mission.  Things happen and the American soldier is left for dead.  Fast forward a few years and the British officer finds the American soldier in an Asian country.  After a quick scuffle, the pair make ammends an agree to once again team up to retrieve an ancient artifact said to have a supernatural power.

     The Hunters of the Golden Cobra is the only film in the set where we have well written characters but lacked story.  This one was shot in 1982 and I would almost wager that it was rushed into production to cash in on the Indiana Jones craze while writing it as they went.  It's the weakest in the set but does have it's moments.  The acting in this one is easily the most inconsistent but my favorite of the set.  David Warbeck delivers my favorite performance of the three films.  It looks like he is having a lot of fun on set and that shows in each scene.  His on screen chemistry with John Steiner is fantastic.  The pair feed off each other and make the film as enjoyable as possible.  The supporting cast is hit or miss with some showing zero acting experience while others were clearly locals paid to fill space in front of the camera.  The story for this one, like the other three, starts out promising enough but does run it's course fairly early on.  We once again encounter rush stories with everything from Indiana Jones and other like it tossed at the viewer hoping something sticks.  It's clear it was only made to make a quick buck off fans.  Finally, the action is fiarly enjoyable in the early portion of the film but it's nothing original or memorable.  Those of us looking for fun deaths will be disappointed as well.  Overall, The Hunters of the Golden Cobra got my hopes up at the beginning with the fun characters but was once again a cheap watch with some fun moments but is easily forgettable.  It's worth a watch especially if you bring some beer.  

The Ark of the Sun God

Director - Antonio Margheriti (The Last Blood, Treasure Island in Outer Space)

Starring - David Warbeck (The Beyond, Razor Blade Smile), John Steiner (Tenebre, Sinbad of the Seven Seas), and Susie Sudlow 

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "He is looking for action..."

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I didn't know what I was getting into when I tossed in the first film in the Antonio Marghertiti - The Jungles of Doom: His 80's Adventure Films.  Jungle Raiders was a decent watch but didn't offer up anything original.  Honestly, all it did was give us stuff we had seen already in Indiana Jones and the copycat films that followed.  That didn't stop me from wanting to dive deeper into this set where I tossed in 1984's The Ark of the Sun God.  Once again, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a professional thief working a big score when he realizes that he has been set up.  Someone far more influential knows about him and his talents and plan on using him to get an ancient relic with unlimited power.  He is then forced to steal the Ark of the Sun God which is the sceptre believed to have belonged to Gilgamesh.  

     I went into this expecting to find a painfully generic Indiana Jones clone but found myself really interested in the story even though it did fizzle out.  With that being said, it was still a little fun fora first time watch.  The acting in this one is just as uneven as Jungle Raiders but the unintentionally funny moments are not there.  Honestly, I was looking forward to some of the laughs that I enjoyed in Jungle Raiders and was a bit disappointed that they were not here.  The main cast does a decent enough job with their roles while the supporting cast and extras were clearly locals plucked to be in the film.  The story for this one was surprisingly intriguing for the first half of the film but it does run out of gas before we hit the hour mark.  When you toss in the unlikable characters and bland action you are left with a film that just doesn't go the distance.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting a lot of action and memorable deaths.  We have some quick deaths with no effects and low budget action scenes but that is the extent of it.  Overall, The Ark of the Sun God is an easily forgettable film but it does have it's moments.  Stick with it and enjoy it.  

Jungle Raiders

Director - Antonio Margheriti (Yor: The Hunter from the Future, Cannibal Apocalypse)

Starring - Christopher Connelly (1990: Bronx Warriors, Night of the Sharks), Marina Costa (The Final Executioner, Greggio e Pericoloso), and Lee Van Cleef (Escape from New York, For a Few Dollars More)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "In the heart of the tropical rain forest lies a world of endless danger, mysterious romance, and wild adventure"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The 1980s was a wild ass time and I hate that I was born halfway through the decade.  I would have loved to have lived through the entire 80s as an adult so I could truly appreciate everything as it was being released.  The first Indiana Jones film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released in 1981 and immedately became a hit.  So much so that it inspired a series of copy cat films which really took hold in Italy.  Director Antonio Margheriti helmed several of these films and my friends over at Severin released three of them in a box set.  They were kind enough to end it over for me to review and when I could I tossed in the first film that I pulled out which was Jungle Raiders from 1985.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over.

     The film follows Captrain Yankee (Connelly) who scams rich adventurers into thinking they are exploring uncharted jungle for undiscovered treasure.  His easy meal ticket is thwarted when a real adventure presents itself and he is forced to uncover an ancient ruby for someone else. 

     I watched a few of these action adventure films growing up but I never realized that they were Jonesploitation.  However, now I can totally see that these films are and kind of appreciate them more than I originally did.  Jungle Raiders was a new one to me and I was excited to see it but it was a film that lost it's steam fairly early on.  The acting in this one is fairly inconsistent and unintentionally funny at times.  Connelly and Van Cleef deliver solid performances but the remainder of the cast is comical for the most part.  I went into this one sober and still found myself laughing during a few of the scenes due to the acting.  The story for this one borrows all the fun stuff from movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark but forgets to add a protagonist that the viewer can get behind along with something new for the viewer to enjoy.  The film starts out strong enough with the fake tours scamming the rich but soon loses it's gas as the film progresses.  The unlikable characters and predictable story makes this one difficult to finish.  Finally, the film is not one that memorable deaths or fun effects.  We have some cheap effects here and there but nothing that really stands out.  Overall, Jungle Raiders is a alright if you want something to watch but don't have access to Indiana Jones.  I wanted to like this one but it wasn't for me.  

The Substitute

Director - Robert Mandel (ABC Afterschool Specials, The X-Files)

Starring - Tom Berenger (Major League, Platoon), Raymond Cruz (Alien: Resurrection, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires), and William Forsythe (Dick Tracy, The Devil's Rejects) 

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Crime/Action

Tagline - "The most dangerous thing about school used to be the students"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I pretty much lived at my local video store.  Dewey's Video was about a 15 or 20 minute ride from my home and I was there several times a week and always on Friday so I could get that extra day rental.  I was always checking out movies regardless of their genre.  Horror will always be my favorite genre but sometimes a movie from a different genre would catch my eye and I had to rent it.  This was also the time of the premium channels like HBO and Cinemax.  I loved movies and would often scour the TV guide looking for something to watch when I didn't have a movie from Dewey's to check out.  A few weeks back I received the press release for the crime action flick from 1996 called The Substitute.  This is a film I'm very familiar with after watching it several times growing up.  I can't remember if it was because I rented the tape from Dewey's or caught it on the premium channels.  Regardless, it had been a long time and I couldn't wait to check it out again.  I shot them a message and they were kind enough to send over a copy of the UHD release for me to check out.  

     The film follows a former soldier turned mercenary who turns to teaching when his fiancée is attacked by a gang at the inner city school she teaches at.  He goes undercover to get revenge on the gang only to learn that they are working with the principal and a known drug dealer to push their product onto the students of the school.  He turns to his former team to infiltrate the group and put a stop to them.

     The Substitute is one of those mid-90s action flicks that takes a simple action story and tosses it in an urban setting.  These became extremely popular after films like New Jack City was released and I've always enjoyed them for the most part.  The Substitute is not as dark and gritty as a lot of the others but it more than makes up for this with better writing.  The acting in this one is great.  We have a fantastic cast that features some seriously heavy hitters.  Major League is one of those films that I watched all the fucking time as a kid and I always thought Tom Berenger was fantastic in it.  It wasn't until I revisited The Substitute now that I realized how fucking fantastic he is.  Honestly, he carries the film to me.  His character is pretty cliched and not that original but he does an amazing job at bringing him to life.  Ernie Hudson is great as the film's antagonist.  I don't know of another film where he is the villain and I love seeing the charisma he brought to the role.  We also have great performances from Luis Guzman, Raymond Cruz, William Forsythe, Glenn Plummer, and several more.  This film does not have a weak link in regards to cast.  The story for this one is is  bit more complicated than a lot of the other action flicks at the time.  We have a school gang that is selling drugs provided by the principal while a mercenary and his team infiltrate the school to stop them.  It is a bit goofy and busy but it works.  We have characters that are well written and the scenes unfold perfectly.  Finally, we get a lot of gun fights and some minor explosions but those looking for a lot of fun deaths and fantastic gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, The Substitute is one of those mid-90s action films that many people might look over but is actually pretty fucking fun.  I genuinely love this movie and it was great revisiting it in 4K.  I highly recommend checking out this release from Vestron Video.  

Poppers

Director - Jose Maria Castellvi

Starring - Giannina Facio (The Hunger, Spanish Fly), Agustin Gonzalez (The Ugliest Woman in the World, Blood Hunt), and Conrado San Martin (The Black Duke, The Beast and the Magic Sword)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action/Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've finally reached the final two films in this set and I'm seriously surprised by how long this set has taken me to review.  I started this journey weeks ago but I wanted to give each film the same attention regardless if they were horror or not.  This next to last movie in the set is the 1984 action horror film Poppers which was also released under the title Hunting.  This is another one I had heard about prior to it's release after I saw it on Tubi when browsing 80s horror flicks.  I never took the time to check it out but I'm glad I finally did.  It was among the better films in the set.  

     Th film follows a musician who becomes jealous one night in a club while performing and accidentally kills a man.  He serves his time but when he is released he finds himself being hunted by a mob wanting him dead for the murder he committed.  At first he is running for his life but before long he starts fighting to survive and the mob is put on the run.

     I went into Poppers with the mindset that I was about to check out an action thriller set against the backdrop of a gay club.  The artwork for this release and poppers, which is what many in this area call whip its, is common among the LGBTQ party scene.  However, that was not the case and I found myself actually enjoying it.  The acting in this one if probably the best acting in the set.  The characters have a little more depth and the cast really does a great job at bringing their characters to life.  I would have liked to see some characters with a bit more memorable personalities but the cast does a great job with what they were given.  The story for this one reminded me a lot of an urban spin of the first Rambo film, First Blood.  A man being hunted by a group of people only to flip it on them by hunting them one by one.  It's fun for what it is but it doesn't have a lot of replay value.  We have good pacing and enough action to hold our attention.  Finally, the film has several bloody scenes but the effects are very limited.  The deaths are not that imaginative or creative which is a bit of a disappointment.  Overall, Poppers is a solid film that may not be original but it was fun.  This is the kind of film I could really enjoy with a few friends and some drinks.  Check it out.  

Triangle of Lust

Director - Hubert Frank (The Story of the Dolls, Disco Fever)

Starring - Patricia Adriani (The Nest, August Moon) Barbara Rey (Dirty World, Little Lips), and Jose Antonio Ceinos (Black Venus, The Brother from Space)

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Exorcismo set from Severin Films really shows how fast the movie industry in Spain was quick to capitalize on the death of their dictator.  We went from films being heavily censored to films with gratuitous amounts of nudity.  This set features a few horror films, a couple documentaries, and a handful of action flicks but almost every one of them had some nudity for the sleazy fans to enjoy.  I've been working on this set for sometime and made it to the last five or so films with the next movie being the 1978 action flick Triangle of Lust from 60s and 70s erotica filmmaker Hubert Frank.

     The film follows a beautiful young woman traveling by a small plane when she finds herself having to jump for her life.  She is nowhere near her destination and her jump takes her to a small, secluded island.  She is not the only person there as she finds that a small group of criminals on the run have claimed the island as their own.  The group consists of rough and rowdy men and women afraid of clothes who see the new body as one they can play with when they are not fighting over her.

    This is one, like many, from the set that I knew absolutely nothing about.  I went into it only knowing the title and the film pretty delivered on exactly what I thought it would.  It was mildly fun for a first time watch but it's easily forgettable and not something I would want to watch again anytime soon.  The acting for this one is surprisingly well done which really surprised me.  The characters are, once again, not that very likable but the cast does a solid job.  They really work well with each other and in several scenes they brought out the best of each other.  I do wish a few of the characters had personalities that stood out but these types of films are not made to be memorable and a lot of time is never spent on the development.  The story for this one is fucking perfect for a sexploitation action flick that is light on the action.  An isolated island with a group of criminal and a beautiful woman falling from the sky just screams sleaze.  With that being said, the story is a one trick pony that relies heavily on the nudity to carry the scene over actual story telling.  While this may be enough for fans of sexploitation and nudie flicks of the late 60s and 70s, cinema fans need a bit more to grab onto.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  We have some skin, some fights, and more skin but that is all we have to see here.  If you want memorable deaths and great effects then you will need to look elsewhere.  Overall, Triangle of Lust is a solid entry in the sexploitation sub-genre but doesn't have the memorable story or performances that makes the others so iconic.  It's solid for a first time watch but doesn't have replay value.

Highway to Hell

Director - Bret McCormick (The Abomination, Repligator)

Starring - Benton Jennings (American Horror Story, Dexter), Richard Harrison (Terminal Force, Empire of the Dark), and Blue Thompson (Blood on the Badge, Ozone: The Attack of the Redneck Mutants)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Action/Horror

Tagline - "A one way ticket to terror!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Visual Vengeance has been pivotal in releasing some seriously underrated or long forgotten S.O.V. horror to blu.  One of my favorite releases over the last several years is VV's release of Bret McCormick's The Abomination.  They later released anothr McCormick film Repligator on blu.  I really enjoyed both films and was surprised by just how different these two were.  They showed how versatile McCormick was as a filmmaker.  Recently, VV released another McCormick film that I had never seen before.  The film, Highway to Hell, is an action horror flick that I've wanted to see for several years now but never had the opportunity to check out.  I want to thank Visual Vengeance and MVD for sending this one along for review.

     The film follows a serial killer who has escaped prison and flees into the desert.  He continues his murderous ways while he is hunted by a cop who is seeking revenge for what this sicko did to his daughter (or sister?).  Caught in the middle of the cat an mouse game is a young woman taken hostage by the escaped serial killer.

     I went into Highway to Hell very excited to finally see the film.  This is one I had heard about for years but never had the opportunity to check it out.  While it does share a name with a film from 1991, these two films are very different.  With that being said, the movie just wasn't as fun as I had hoped for.  You can't compare this one to the previous films from McCormick that I had mentioned.  Repligator is a sci-fi horror mash up that completely embraces the campy side of the genres while The Abomination is one of the greatest no budget splatter films that I've seen.  Highway to Hell had an interest premise but it had trouble trying to find it's own identity.  The acting in this one is very stiff and corny.  The cast really hams up the screen but I wouldn't call it bad acting.  We just don't see a lot of conviction with the dialogue delivery and absolutely no emotional range unless you consider screaming to be an emotion.  The story for this one feels like it wanted to be an action flick centered around a serial killer but budget and other constraints prevented it from being what the director had envisioned.  The movie itself has a lot of identity issues.  One scene flows like a horror flick while another scene is set up like a drama with a cat and mouse story.  We don't have a lot of cohesion which makes me really curious as to what the original idea for the film actually was.  Finally, don't expect to see a lot of blood and gore.  This film is character driven with a lot of focus on the relationship between the two leads.  Overall, Highway to Hell is a confused film that had a story that I could have really got behind if they just stuck with it.  An action thriller about an escaped serial killer with a hardened cop hunting him could have been a film you would never forget.  I seriously wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.  This is still an awesome release from Visual Vengeance especially if you are a collector but the movie this movie isn't going to be for everyone.  

G. B. H. 2: Lethal Impact

Director - David Kent-Watson (The Eye of Satan, The Assassinator)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (The Benny Hill Show, Dead of Night), Terrence Hardiman (The Demon Headmaster, Doctor Who), and Brett Sinclair (Target Eve Island, Killer Waiting)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Action

Tagline - "Beyond the law.  Beyond redemption.  Beyond Vengeance"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've worked through dozens of box sets and collections over the years and very few offered up such a strange and interesting catalogue of films as this set has from Severin under their Intervision label.  These films are not entertaining, at least not in a traditional sense, but I've really enjoyed watching them.  They are a type of bad that doesn't necessarily make them "so bad they are good."  It's more like a train or car wreck.  You can't look away no matter how hard you try.  However, one film in the set was surprisingly entertaining and that was the crime thriller G.B.H.  I knew there was a sequel to the film in this set but it wasn't paired with the original film.  I decided to watch the movies in the order in which they were in the set and that took me some time to get to the sequel.  Sadly, it was not as enjoyable as the first film.

     The film follows the man from the first film that didn't actually die at the end.  Instead, he survives that his niece was sex trafficked and forced into under age adult films where she eventually takes her own life.  He sets out to bring the organization down that did this to her.  

     I had no idea where a sequel to the first G.B.H. was going to take me but I had high hopes for it.  However, it was quickly evident that the film had no idea where it was going either.  I wanted to like this one but the lack of plot and complete disregard for the ending of the first film makes this one another rough watch which seems to be the theme with these films.  The acting in this one is more of the same.  We have some super cliched characters that have no originality to them brought to life with stiff performances and emotionless dialogue.  With that being said, this is the kind of acting that I dig with cheap action flicks and found myself somewhat enjoying the performances even if it was for unintentional humor.  The story for this one is an interesting idea wrapped in a lot of bloated scenes that go absolutely nowhere.  The movie tries to Death Wish it's way into a serious gritty action film around rape and so on but that's as far as they were willing to write it.  We then follow that up with random death scenes with very little pay off or explanation as to why.  It's implied that those being murdered had something to do with the sex trafficking but it never fully explains.  Having a finished story would have went so much further with this one.  Finally, the film has some gun deaths and a lot of stuff happening off camera but that's about it.  Nothing memorable or original happening in this regard.  Overall, G.B.H. 2 borrows heavily from the Death Wish films but forgets that there is more to it than just copying someone's homework.  It fails to deliver on anything other than some corny acting.  Skip it.  

Tokyo Sunrise

Director - Mike Sullivan

Starring - Max Beesley, Brian Doherty, and Hghtower

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My journey through the world of Cliff Twemlow has been one that I'm glad I was able to do but I don't see myself wanting to revisit it any time soon.  I like watching movies even if the movies are bad and most of the films in this set are just that.  I hate to say it but these films are rough and difficult to finish.  However, there is a lot of movie fans out there that like to experience movies the same way I do that would love to sit through all these.  As I make my way to the last two films in the set, I find myself  struggling to finish these films.  Maybe watching one of them at a time over the course of several months would have been beneficial than marathoning them back to back.  Regardless, here I am on one of the few films left in the set which is the unfinished action film Tokyo Sunrise.

     The film, or should I say scene, follows a group of what appears to be drug dealers preparing for a meeting when a man wielding a shotgun busts into the room and slaughters everyone.  We soon learn that a well known company has switched gears and is manufacturing a new drug.

     I had no idea this was an unfinished film prior to viewing it and it was cool that the film had an introductory explaining what I was about to watch and why it wasn't finished.  It was a cool to see this before seeing what they had filmed.  It is a bit odd to review an unfinished film but I will try to make it work.  The acting in this one is a little better than the previous films.  The characters are just as cliched as the other films but the cast is not as stiff.  They get into their roles even though it was for such a short period of time.  The story for this one is very 90s which makes me suspect that these scenes were originally shot sometime in the mid to late 90s before it found itself shelfed.  What we have is more action in this 15 or 20 minute segments than most of this set has altogether.  It would have been cheesy but I have a feeling this film would have been the best in the collection if it was completed.  Finally, the film has some surprisingly fun gun deaths that I was not expecting.  The gag is a bit bulky on one of the stuntmen but it still looked good.  Overall, Tokyo Sunrise is was surprisingly fun for what it was.  I seriously wish it would have been finished and what caliber of film it would have been if it was.  Check it out if you get a chance.   

Firestar: First Contact

Director - David Kent-Watson (The Eye of Satan, Lethal Impact)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Tuxedo Warrior), Charles Gray (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Paper Man), and John Wyman (Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Fourth Arm)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of "action" flicks that was lacking action and one thriller that was surprisingly fun.  However, I was not expecting to see a sci-fi flick as I make my way near the last few films in the Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection. I thought Firestar was going to be an action flick centered around some sort of military plot but it wasn't until I was putting the disc in that I realized I had missed the First Contact portion of the title.  This actually made me very excited to check it out.  I knew it wasn't going to be a new favorite but it was nice to take a step away from the action flicks.

     The film follows a space crew that finds themselves in trouble after they destroy an alien spacecraft.  They are the first in the history of mankind to come in contact with intelligent life while traveling the solar system and decide to blow them up instead of peace negotiations.  Those on the crew is then tasked to return to the place where they destroyed the craft to collect the debris but on the trip home they find out their vessel has been breached by a creature of unknown origin.  

     Firestar: First Contact is probably the most ambitious of the films in this set.  It has a lot of promise even though it borrows heavily from the classic sci-fi horror film Alien.  Sadly, the same issues from the other films plagued this one resulting in another film that looks good on paper but is difficult to finish.  The acting in this one is a little better than The Assassinator but that's not saying much.  The characters are generic, the cast struggles with their volume control, and almost all the scenes lack emotional depth.  The story for this one does play off of Alien for the basis but it features a lot of sci-fi drama that was quick to remind me of early Star Trek episodes.  We have a lot of drama, a huge sci-fi set up, yet the film struggles to gain traction.  It's almost as if it was written to be a short and somewhere through production they decided to film some filler scenes to bloat the runtime.  Finally, this film does have some blood, a decent looking creature costume, and some wild visual effects that are laughable at best.  While it's not the most gruesome film in the set, it does offer up the most blood and effects for fans of that sort of thing.  Overall, Firestar: First Contact is one of the most ambitious and bold entries in this box set.  While I did like some of it, the film still fell flat.  If you cut about 30 or 40 minutes of the film's runtime and left most of the last leg of the film intact then you would have something a bit more enjoyable.  However, as it is this is one I have to recommend skipping unless you dig this kind of thing like I do.  

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.  

African Run

Director - Andrew Sinclair (Blue Blood, Under Milk Wood)

Starring - John Wyman (For Your Eyes Only, Nash Bridges), Carol Royle (The Outsider, Summer Season), Holly Palance (The Omen, Thriller)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action

Tagline - "Your passport to adventure, romance, and death"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I work my way through this Bloody Legend box set from Severin Films, I find myself really intrigued by the films.  By this point I know I will not like most of the films in this set but I like watching movies I've never seen before.  It's interesting to see the stories, read the behind the scenes chaos, and sit through movies that went mostly unnoticed for decades until Severin stepped in to preserve their history.  The next movie in the set, African Run, was a bit confusing for me.  I was able to find a few VHS posters for the film but everything I found for the film just circled back to Tuxedo Warrior.  I chalked it up to being a more obscure title associated with Cliff Twemlow and hit play on it.  It was then that I realized something was a bit off.

     The film follows an ex-military man who is known for spending most of his time at a small pub in Africa.  He finds himself in the center of a diamond heist but after he is double crossed he must fight for his life.

     I knew something was off when I tossed in African Run and hit play.  The movie was painfully familiar after the introductory scene.  It was apparent that Twemlow and company added a new intro and a few more scenes (I think) randomly throughout the movie.  I don't know what the purpose of this was but it didn't improve the movie.  In fact, it made it even more apparent that it was a rush job.  The acting in these new segments are no better than the original film.  While I spoke on that in my review for Tuxedo Warrior, I feel I don't need to say much more than that.  The story in this one is not improved by the added scenes.  I don't know if scenes were removed when these were added but the overall experience of the film, along with the pacing, is not improved.  The movie still feels rushed and the lack of action makes it difficult to finish.  Finally, these added films do not bring in any new practical effects or fun deaths.  Overall, African Run is a different cut of Tuxedo Warrior.  I don't know if this was cut like this to improve the overall film or to by pass some sort of legal issue.  Regardless, it's still a difficult film to finish.  Skip it.  

The Ibiza Connection

Director - Howard Arundel (Gunpowder, Dangerous Lady)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Tuxedo Warrior), Fiona Fullerton (A View to Kill, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), and Brett Sinclair (Target Eve Island, Into the Darkness)

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm starting to think that maybe I'm not a fan of Cliff Twemlow and his films.  I've watched a few of his films by now and the only one that I enjoyed was G.B.H.  I took a little break from the Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection to check out a few indie horror flicks before making way back to this set.  The next film in the set was 1983 action flick The Ibiza Connection.  This was one I could find very little info on and the only artwork I could find was incomplete.  

     The film follows a film crew making an action film centered around a special car.  The director of the film is a woman abusing piece of shit who is sleeping with his best friend's woman.  Coincidentally, that same best friend is funding the film and plans on using the production as a way to snuff him out and his adulterous wife.  

     I went into The Ibiza Connection knowing absolutely nothing about it just like the rest of the set and this was probably the worst one in my opinion.  I try not to bash movies because I know it's no easy task to make a movie but this thing was clearly never finished and rushed through editing.  The acting in this one is extremely stiff even for direct to video and S.O.V. standards.  The cast spits out their dialogue as if they have no idea who their characters are or why they are saying it.  When you combine that with the dubbed dialogue due to audio issues you are left with some performances that are not easily forgettable but not for the right reasons.  The story for this one is a bit out there.  We follow a shitty human being who just happens to be the protagonist and not the film's antagonist.  We follow this shitbag as he attempts to make an action film while making homophobic remarks, beating women, and sleeping with his friend's wife.  That is literally the extent of it.  If you are looking for action then you will be disappointed.  Instead, it's a no budget drama with "action" as a thought.   Finally, don't expect a lot of action or fun 80s explosions, gun fights, or blood.  It is completely void of the stuff and does very little to satisfy those of us looking for 80s carnage.  Overall, The Ibiza Connection is a huge missed opportunity.  The other films in the set feel like complete films that just don't find their mark while this one feels like a patchwork quilt missing the middle.  It's all over the place and doesn't make any sense.  I would skip this one.