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.  

Pancake Man

Director - Bron Theron (Half Dead Fred, The Crude Crypt Volume One)

Starring - Michael Della Pia (Robot Dracula, Arena Wars), Seth Hart (Cocaine Stepdad, Insomnia), and Sparkle Soojian (Sharks N Da Hood, Among the Willows)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Thriller/Crime

Tagline - "Revenge is served all day"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I get a lot of press releases in from various marketing firms, producers, indie directors, and production companies wanting me to share any news they may have on the site.  I cover horror but over the years I've shared stuff on exploitation, sci-fi, dark thrillers, crime dramas, true crime, and so on just because of who was attached to it or because it was a good fit for the site.  Sometime back I received a press release for the film Pancake Man.  I didn't ready it but I shared it on the site thinking it was something like a horror comedy slasher.  Over time I completely forgot about it until I received another press release announcing that it was going to be available on Tubi very soon in the future.  Not long after that email I received a message on Instagram requesting me to review it.  I wasn't able to right away but I added it to my list to check out as soon as I could.  The film was not what I was expecting and I'll leave it at that for now.

     The film follows a man who enters a diner in hopes of scoring some pancakes.  However, the kitchen has stopped serving breakfast 10 minutes early resulting in him becoming extremely hostile.  When another patron to the diner tries to interfere with his order, he is sent over the edge.  Soon the bodies start piling up and his rampage steps on the toes of a gang and a crime boss igniting a war in the streets.

     I went into Pancake Man knowing absolutely nothing about the film and was very surprised by what I saw.  I had high hopes that it was going to be a comedic spin on the slasher sub-genre and was not expecting to see a crime drama with strange deaths. Honestly, the film felt like it was stretched too thin and struggled with identity issues.  I wanted to like it but I couldn't get into it.  The acting in this one is not bad but it is very inconsistent as the film progresses.  The film's lead, Michael Della Pia, does a great job in the opening scenes of the film but as the movie moves along he becomes less and less as intense.  He does dial it back up during a few random scenes later on but it's not as consistent.  The same can be said about the supporting cast.  It seems like everyone came out of the gate firing on all cylinders but the later scenes just don't have the same burning.  I don't know if filming had burned them all out by that point or what but it's evident that they are not attacking their roles like they did earlier in the film.  The story for this one is is listed as horror but it's not what I would consider horror.  It reminded me a lot of Beyond Fury meets Zed's Dead.  It's a crime drama with a small body count that doesn't feel horror at all.  Also, the story itself feels like it was stretched too far.  The movie didn't need to be as long as it is and a lot of the scenes are extremely dull.  The pacing, which is already thrown off, would benefit if it was trimmed down drastically.  Finally, the film has several death scenes but they are not something genre fans are going to really enjoy.  The effects are minimal or not existent but they do look good for what they are.  Overall, Pancake Man is not what I expected and while I wanted to like it, it just wasn't for me.  It is billed as a horror movie but it's more of a crime drama with an unhinged guy going around starting shit that doesn't really make sense.  Sadly, this is one I would recommend skipping.  

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.  

Violent New Breed

Director - Todd Sheets (Bloodthirsty Cannibal Demons, Zombie Bloodbath)

Starring - Mark Glover (Lady Street Fighter, Zombie Bloodbath 2), Nick Stodden (Clownado, Vampire Holocaust), Rebecca Rose (Slave Farm, Maid Service)

Release Date - 1997

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "A brutal look at the future... like you've NEVER seen it!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Genre fans often bash 90s horror and I see why.  The 90s saw a lot of shitty horror films hit video store shelves but I'll be damned if there wasn't some serious heavy hitters release in the 90s.  We have Army of Darkness, Children of the Night, Savini's Night of the Living Dead, Scream, Nightbreed, and Candyman just to name a few.  The 90s, just like every decade, has the good and the bad and I feel that it is truly unfair to say it's the worst decade for horror.  The 90s was also the decade in which we saw more no budget films due to the rise in technology and lower cost of older obsolete technology from previous years.  I've seen a lot of indie and no budget features from the 90s that absolutely fucking rocked.  I've also seen a bunch that were difficult to finish. A few weeks back I received the press release from Visual Vengeance for their blu release of the 1997 horror crime flick Violent New Breed.  This was a Todd Sheets film I was unfamiliar with and I had to remedy that.  I reached out to Visual Vengeance and they sent me over to MVD who were kind enough to send a copy over for review.

     The film follows two shitty cops who are forced with tracking down a new drug that is wiping out the streets.  They expect to find an underground kingpin or a conspiracy of international drug lords but what they find is that the drugs are being manufactured by a group of demons who are using the drug the create a "new breed" that the anti-Christ will control.  To make matters even worse, one of them has his wife and daughter kidnapped by the new breed forcing the pair to go deep into their underground lair to stop them and the anti-Christ.

     Todd Sheets is a filmmaker I truly respect.  This mother fucker has been writing and directing movies since the mid 80s and hasn't really slowed down with his most recent film having been released in 2023.  That is one hell of a career and Violent New Breed is one of his films that I actually enjoyed.  His movies can be hit or miss with me but this one was fun for the most part.  The acting in this one leaves a lot to be desired.  I had saying that, especially about an indie film, but the acting in this one is a bit rough.  The try their best in a lot of the scenes but inexperience is obvious for most of the cast.  This creates some forced dialogue delivery and emotions that just don't fit the scene.  The story for this one borrows from several classic 80s films and I'm damn sure it inspired a movie that I reviewed not too long ago.  We follow a pair of cops tasked with stopping the spread of a new drug (Robocop anyone?) while a demon brings about the end of the world.  If you swap the demons out for a group hellbent on taking over the city then you would have Robocop all over again.  With that being said, it was still fun even though it was very predictable.  I like the characters and how they related to the story.  I also liked the anti-Christ angle even though I fell like it wasn't fully explored.  I would have loved to see more time spent on that angle.  Finally, we have some make-up effects that look great and a few scenes with some solid effects but the deaths are not that enjoyable.  They fit the film very well but are not that original as I had hoped.  Overall, Violent New Breed is a fun horror crime flick with drugs, demons, and a little blasphemy tossed in for good measure.  It is a movie that struggles in some areas but still finds a way to work.  Check it out on blu from Visual Vengeance.  You will not be disappointed.  

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.  

The Last Sacrifice

Director - Rupert Russell (Freedom of the Wolf, How the World Went Mad)

Starring - Geraldine Beskin (The Death and Resurrection Show, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror), Gavin Bone (Forbidden History, Wicca Reincarnate), and Janet Farrar (Ancient Mysteries, The Occult Experience)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Documentary/Crime

Tagline - "Valentine's Day 1945.  A ritual murder in rural Britain.  A new horror is born"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of documentaries over the years and while I did enjoy a good portion of them, none of them really wow'd me.  With that being said, I've seen some really good documentaries over the years covering a variety of topics ranging from unsolved murders, serial killers, cryptids, aliens and UFOs, and horror legends.  I'm a sucker for documentaries and jumped at the opportunity to check out The Last Sacrifice when Shudder sent me a link to check it out.  I want to thank them for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check this one out!

     The documentary covers a murder of a farm hand in Britain in the early 1940s that many locals believed to be part of a ritualistic sacrifice by a coven of witches.  A legendary detective was sent down from Scotland Yard but was unable to penetrate the locals who refused to cooperate.  This would inspire several pagan and folk horror tales over the years.  The documentary then takes a deeper look into witch cults and covens around Britain that popped up during the love and peace era.  

       The Last Sacrifice is a documentary that doesn't really look like any other documentary that I had seen before.  It didn't wow me like I had hoped for but it's one of the more unique documentaries that I've been fortunate enough to review.  The interviews in this one consists of mostly historians and those that have spent most of their time to investigate the folklore, history, and legends of the area ranging from the witch trials to present day.  They seem to know a lot about witches in the area, ritualistic murders over the years, and how this one in particular spawned a bevvy of folk horror films in the coming decades.  The topics discussed fit the film very well and work from one subject to another.  As an American, I knew Britain had their own witch trials but I had no idea that witches and magic was so steeped into their lore and legends.  It was very informative in that regard but I wasn't really a fan of all the old footage used.  I would have preferred to see the people being interviewed as they discussed each subject rather than the old Hammer footage and so forth.  While it did make the documentary feel unique and different, it made it a bit dull and sometimes confusing.  Finally, the film is put together very well.  The editing is damn near perfect and this doc is unlike any I had seen before.  It is visually pleasing and fantastic in that regard.  Overall, The Last Sacrifice is an interesting true crime documentary that explores a murder from over 80s years ago and the impact it would have on our beloved genres, as well as, the history the country has involving witches.  I highly recommend checking it out!

Hobocop

Director - Sean Donohue (Death-Scort Service, Naked Cannibal Campers)

Starring - Bob Glazier (Amerikan Holokaust, Die Die Delta Pi), Sushii Xhyvette Holder (Sushii's Sex Seance, Kill-Cam), and Joe Makowski (Zed's Dead, Fatal Desires)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "It's a cop with nothing to lose"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been writing reviews at Horror Society for almost 15 years now and during my first few years on the site I befriended Florida based filmmaker Sean Donohue when he was promoting Death-Scort Service.  I instantly became a fan and he became one of a handful of filmmakers that I actively follow. I've loved most of his films and always look forward to his next project.  A few days back he messaged me to review his newest film Hobocop.  This spinoff from his Death-Scort Service film starred frequent collaborators Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Bob Glazier.  I knew this wasn't a horror film but I couldn't wait to dig into it.  Like always, I want to thank Sean for sending this one over!

     The film follows a hobo (Glazier) who finds a murdered cop.  Instead of reporting the death to the authorities, he snags the officer's badge and gun where he becomes a vigilante of sorts.  This puts a strain on a corrupt detective who has partnered with a drug pusher and pimp when hobocop tries to shut them down.

     Hobocop is a movie I knew Sean was working on but I knew very little about the project.  Over the years I've learned that it's best not to get too deep into films that I plan on watching because it's just more fun to go in blind.  This was no exception.  It was very entertaining but nowhere near my favorite film from the GatorBlade Films' catalogue.  The acting in this one is very uneven but not the worst I've seen.  Glazier and Makowski deliver solid performances.  While the characters they portrayed are not their most memorable, they still did a great job.  We also get some seriously impressive performances from Sushii Xhyvette Holder and Katie McKinley.  I've seen them in several films before and, though they never disappoint, I was not expecting such serious performances from the two.  They made the film for me and I really hope they get more serious roles in the future.  The supporting cast is where we get the uneven performances.  It could be from inexperience but some of the scenes were a bit awkward to watch.  With that being said, holy hell are the women in this movie gorgeous.  I've heard a lot of bad things about Florida but god damn do I want to visit.  The story for this one is a little spin off of the Death-Scort Service series and it works as a straight forward crime flick.  It's basically a vigilante film with a crooked cop, drugs, and a lot of nudity.  It has some humor that works for the most part and while I did enjoy it for what it is, I would rather watch one of the Death-Scort Service films before I revisit this one.  Finally, the deaths in this one are not as memorable as some of the other GatorBlade Films I've reviewed in the past.  We get some blood and some practical effects but that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Hobocop is another fun one from Donohue and company.  It's got beautiful women and some fun performances.  I highly recommend checking this one out especially if you are fans of GatorBlade's previous releases.  

Jacker 3: Road to Hell

Director - James Panetta (Doomsday Stories, I Slay on Christmas)

Starring - Phil Herman (Amityville Zombies, Psycho Night), Debbie D (Phil Herman's Unearthed, Return to Bloody Creek), and Christopher Kahler (Sundown on Black Waters, Return of the Corn Zombies)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "The end is coming"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing movies here at Horror Society for almost 15 years now and I still find it funny when something I reviewed all those years ago comes back to me.  In March of 2016 I reviewed the Jacker double feature from my friends over at The Sleaze Box.  These S.O.V. crime thrillers looked like a lot of fun so I snagged a copy from them and added them to my watch list along with another Phil Herman S.O.V. film, Burglar from Hell.  It's almost ten years later and I was recently asked by filmmaker Phil Herman to review a couple of his newest films with one of them being a sequel to his S.O.V. classics.  I want to thank Phil for sending over Jacker 3: Road to Hell for review.  

     The film takes place 30 years after the notorious carjacker turned serial killer Jacker (Herman) went missing with no leads as to where he could be.  However, after a body is discovered murdered in a similar fashion to the way Jacker did his victims, the police start to suspect that the notorious killer was back.  Things take an even more unusual turn when former lover turned victim Gloria (Debbie D) reveals that she is alive and well before turning to news and podcasts to discuss her terrifying encounter with the Jacker.  

     When I originally watched these films from Phil Herman, I really liked Burglar from Hell but the two Jacker films were not for me.  I can see why S.O.V. fans would enjoy it but it was a little underdeveloped in the story department in my opinion.  I went into the third film with an open mind and a hope that this one would be a bit more enjoyable.  Sadly, this is probably the weakest of the three.  The acting in this one is very uneven. The cast in some of the scenes spit out their dialogue with absolutely no conviction.  It's almost as if they are reading their lines instead of acting.  Other scenes may feature a little better acting but it is awkward with unnatural body movement and delivery.  I've seen a lot of no budget genre films over the years and this one features some of the most awkward scenes I've had to review.  The story for this one is a rehashing of the first two films after a 30 year break.  The first two Jacker films were released in 1993 and 1996 before going dormant for 30 years with the Jacker randomly picking up where he left off.  By this point the Jacker has reached an almost cult like status with people cowering at the mere mention of him but the character himself is not that menacing.  There is nothing about him that makes him stand out or sends chills down the viewer's spine.  He looks like everyone's uncle that only shows up around the holidays with a buzz offering up unsolicited life advice.  We then add Debbie D as Gloria where she retells her story before we get back into a story almost identical to the first two films.  Finally, there is several deaths in the film but most of them are gunshots with very little effects.  The kills are not that imaginative and get lost in the shuffle of things.  Overall, Jacker 3 is not what I was expecting.  I was hoping the film would turn the killer into something a bit more terrifying instead of looking like the dude that hangs out at gas stations revving up his truck.  Sadly, I can't recommend this one.  

Eye Witness

 

Director - Lamberto Bava (Body Puzzle, Devil Fish)

Starring - Barbara Cupisti (Cemetery Man, Mothers), Stefano Davanzati (Dagger Eyes, The Final Executioner), Alessio Orano (Lisa and the Devil, Summer Affair)

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Horror/Crime

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been fortunate to review several box sets and collections over the years but this High Tension: Four Films by Lamberto Bava from my friends over at Severin Films has really impressed.  It's not often that you find a set of films where every movie in the set is enjoyable but this one has done it.  You can say that I'm being a bit biased because I am a fan of Bava's but these films really are entertaining but I wouldn't call them all horror.  In fact, some of the films may have some horror aspects scattered throughout, but they are mostly crime thrillers or dark drama.  I just finished the fourth and final film in the set, Eye Witness.  This one, much like the first film, feels a lot like a classic slasher meets a crime thriller.  It was a great movie but not necessarily a horror tale.  Regardless, it was worth it!

     The film follows a pair trying to steal from a department store before closing time.  However, as one of them leaves, the other is left behind to wait for them to fetch the car when one of the employees is murdered.  She is there for the horrible crime but doesn't see it because she is blind.  However, she did hear and smell the killer which is the best the detectives can get for the crime.  The killer tries to cover up their lose ends and suspects that the blind witness can sense them resulting in a game of cat and mouse between the two.

     These four made for television films from Lamberto Bava were really strange to me.  I know every country has different rules and regulations but I can't see how Bava thought any of these films would be able to air on television.  This is not the most gruesome of the four films but it is one with a little more focus on sex.  Regardless, it makes sense why not all of these films aired on television and this one was another fun one to watch.  The acting in this one is very consistent.  I've seen movies and television shows where the cast is visually impaired and it was evident that was not the case here.  It was a bit campy at times watching react while pretending to be blind.  Also, a few of the scenes at the beginning of the film is a bit stiff.  I can only assume that the film was shot in order and the cast slowly became more comfortable in their roles.  The story for this one has some horror elements but it it's base is a crime thriller.  The movie gives you the killer fairly early on with the tension and buildup taking place as this woman who is visually impaired is stalked by the known killer.  It's predictable and while it was enjoyable for a first time watch, it doesn't really have replay value like the other films in the set.  Finally, this film does have a few deaths but they are not as gruesome as I was expecting.  The first film in the set really set the tone for what Bava could do with practical effects but the three films since have not really followed in it's footsteps.  This one has some skin, some blood, and that is about the extent of it.  Overall, Eye Witness feels like it wants to be a giallo of sorts but doesn't fully commit to it.  It's a solid film but it is predictable and doesn't really have any replay value.  Check it out but don't expect it to be your new favorite film.  

The Man Who Wouldn't Die

Director - Lamberto Bava (Body Puzzle, Ghost Son)

Starring - Martine Brochard (Eyeball, The Violent Professionals), Keith Van Hoven (Warhead, Black Demons), and Gino Concari (Massacre, Jealous Eyes)

Release Date - 1989/2007

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Severin announced the release of the High Tension: Four Film by Lamberto Bava, I knew I had to have it.  I didn't care if they sent me one for review or I had to pay for it.  This was a must own set for me.  Bava is easily one of the most underrated filmmakers in the genre and this set was four films of his that I had never seen before.  The first film in the set, The Prince of Terror, was a great start to my Bava marathon and I quickly tossed in the second film in the set which was The Man Who Wouldn't Die.  While not a horror film in a traditional sense, this crime thriller was still very much enjoyable.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a gang of thieves who pull off a job of rare art and priceless antiques.  However, one of them is a real piece of shit who tries to rape a woman they have bound and gagged.  The man with her, who is also bound and gagged, drops a double boot stomp to the back of his head leaving him unable to move.  His gang find him and decide to dispose of his body deep in the woods.  However, he's not dead and is rescued sometime later where he makes a full recovery.  Members of his gang start getting murdered one by one where they suspect it's him because they dumped his body.

     The Man Who Wouldn't Die is not a horror film.  I went into it expecting a horror title but was greeted with a crime thriller that I actually enjoyed for the most part.  I am a bit disappointed that it wasn't the horror title I was expected especially from looking at the artwork for the film the accompanied the set.  The acting in this one is solid.  We have some overacting in a few scenes and a lot of flat dialogue but the overall film has decent acting.  With that being said, this is one of the few films recently where I found myself disliking every character in the film.  This is not the acting but how the characters are written which goes to show how solid the acting truly was.  The story for this one is a fantastic crime film with some thriller aspects that borrows heavily from the traditional slasher formula.  An art heist resulting in the injury of a man who finds his gang turning on him and leaving him for dead.  They then start dying one by one and suspect it's him seeking revenge.  This almost feels like a slasher but at heart is a crime film and very much so plays out like one.  I did enjoy it though.  It has great pacing and enough action to hold your attention from beginning to end.  Finally, the film has several deaths with some blood and kills that fit the film.  They are not as memorable as I would have liked but they do work with the film itself.  Overall, The Man Who Wouldn't Die is another fantastic film from Bava but it's not the horror title I was really looking forward to.  Honestly, check it out.  You will not be disappointed.  

Lady Desire

Director - Errikos Andreou (Morning Star, The Hook)

Starring - Kosta Prekas (High Treason, The City Jungle), Christine Allen, and Stefanos Stratigos (The Man with the Carnation, Proud Eagles)

Release Date - 1969

Genre - Crime/Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My favorite thing about boutique labels are the ones that doesn't just cater to forgotten horror and no budget action flicks from the direct to video era.  While I love regional horror and no budget action, I also like films from other parts of the world that defy genres.  I love, and I mean love, exploitation flicks that that blend different sub-genres together into something unique and a bit different.  A few weeks back Mondo Macabro sent over a Greek double feature with the films Sexomania and Lady Desire.  I knew nothing about these films prior to reviewing them and couldn't wait to check them out.  After spinning Sexomania, it was time to dig into the 1968 film Lady Desire which was also released under the title I Blame My Body.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a woman who has tried to hide from society finds her family heirlooms have been stolen.  A local constable investigating the robbery becomes somewhat obsessed with the woman that he knows nothing about.  His investigation uncovers her sordid history and all the romantic partners she has had over the years.

     Lady Desire is not what I was expecting it to be but does live up to the title.  I went into this one expecting it to be a full late 60s nudie flick in tune to the counter culture hippie films of the time.  However, what I was given was something like that with a story a little more complex.  Honestly, I liked it but I don't see myself revisiting it any time soon.  The acting in this one is good all the way through.  The movie itself is very heavy on dialogue in some scenes while others are completely lacking yet the cast is able to carry the story through it all.  They body language and mannerisms to convey emotions in some of the scenes while others are great examples of well rounded acting.  I was very surprised by this cast.  The story for this one is not necessarily a nudie flick or a sexploitation film like I was expecting.  The movie is more a crime mystery with some sex scenes inserted at times when the story needed them.  We follow the constable or whatever he's called as he pries into the young woman's backstory.  We do have those scenes but I wouldn't call this a nudie flick as these scenes are not the point of the film.  They only add to the film while the plot itself is enough to carry the viewer's attention.  Finally, this is just like the other film in the set. It doesn't feature any blood or a body count.  It's focus is on the characters and story which is does a great job on.  Overall, Lady Desire is not going to be for everyone.  Hell, even the sexploitation fans may not dig this one but I really enjoyed it for what it was.  I highly recommend it.  

Grievous Bodily Harm

Director - Mark Joffe (Nightmaster, Shadow of the Cobra)

Starring - Colin Friels (Darkman, Dark City), John Waters (Weekend of Shadows, Future-Worm!), and Bruno Lawrence (Death Warmed Up, Battletruck)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "Where does passion end and obsession begin?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had no fucking idea who Cliff Twemlow was before I received this box set from Severin.  However, after watching the documentary Mancunian Man, I was committed one hundred percent to anything he was apart of.  I wasn't expecting films that defined genres but I was looking forward to the campy films that I knew he was behind.  With that being said, I was not prepared for any genre flicks in the set and was surprised when I saw that the third film was a crime thriller from 1988.  The film, Grievous Bodily Harm, looked fun and I couldn't wait to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Severin Films for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows three individuals with interconnecting stories.  The first is a radical author and journalist who is trying to find his next big hit who teams up with a cop on the lookout for a killer.  Also in the mix is a teacher looking for his wife who many believe is dead.  What connects them all is the search for $40,000 that is missing. 

     Trying to explain the story for this film may have induced a seizure or a stroke.  However, I actually enjoyed the film even though it was a bit rough to follow at times.  It has a great cast and is just interesting enough to hold your attention from beginning to end.  The acting in this one is very well done.  While the dialogue is very heavy and, at a lot of times, overdramatic, the cast does a fantastic job at delivering it.  The interactions and conversations feel genuine and so does the emotions for the most part.  As I stated earlier, there is a few scenes that feel overdramatic but most of the film is great.  The story for this one is a all over the place at times which is a bit difficult to follow at times.  I loved how the characters are connected but that aspect of the story could have been handled a little better.  The way the film was edited together made it difficult to follow at times.  While I do enjoy the movie as it is, I think it would be an unforgettable classic if the story was told in a traditional linear perspective with more focus on the murders.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one regardless as to what the title may suggest.  The film is a crime thriller in the truest sense of the sub-genre with no room for blood and gore.  The film's focus is on the story and the character rather than the red stuff.  Overall, Grievous Bodily Harm is not as violent as you would think but it is a solid late 80s crime thriller.  The story is a bit confusing but the acting more than makes up for it.  This film is the first in the set, besides the documentary, that deserves a watch.  Check it out.  

Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend

Director - Jeff Werner (Die Laughing, Kicking It)

Starring - Kristine DeBell (Meatballs, Trophy Heads), Jason Williams (Flesh Gordon, Danger Zone), and Anthony Lewis 

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "Take them away for a weekend... then try and let them go!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     You can never judge a book by it's cover especially when you often blind buy movies like I do.  Sometimes movies paint a specific picture with it's cover art and name only to completely blow your mind when you finally watch it.  This just happened to me when I ordered a copy of Cheerleader's Wild Weekend from MVD.  This is part of their MVD Rewind Collection and looked like a fun late 70s or early 80s sec comedy.  However, once the film arrived and I tossed it in, I quickly realized that was not what this was.  Regardless, I still enjoyed it.

     The film follows two rival cheerleading squads on a bus to a competition when they find themselves kidnapped by a group of former football players for ransom.  However, as the police fumble to find the lost bus, the captors decide to host a sleazy beauty pageant with the cheerleaders while they wait for the ransom money.

     I went into this one expecting a Porky's/Malibu High type film. Instead, it was a raunchy crime thriller was still entertaining but not what I was really in the mood for.  I was expecting some cheap laughs and a lot of skin but a lot of skin and a bit of late 70s crime wasn't that bad.  The acting in this one is a bit better than I was expecting.  The characters are 100% forgettable but the cast is clearly having a lot of fun on set which translates very well to the scene  While the characters are one dimensional, it doesn't stop the cast from delivering decent enough performances.  With that being said, some of the cast is very inexperienced and it shows in several of the scenes.  The story for this one is not to be expected by the film's alternate title.  However, it's original title is more accurate to the film but it isn't as sexy.  The original title, The Great American Girl Robbery, perfectly sums up the actual film.  As for the story itself, the film has an average run time but the story could have been done in less than 40 minutes.  It's the random top less scenes that drags the time out.  I'm all for looking at beautiful women in next to nothing, or nothing for that matter, it does become a bit dull after the 20th or 30th time in the same film.  We needed more to it.  Finally, the film doesn't have a body count or any of the red stuff.  However, there is a lot of nudity and some raunchy puns for those interested.  Overall, Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend is a bit misleading but still enjoyable.  While the poster paints a much different picture, it still delivers on the beautiful women which is all that matter.  Check it out on blu from MVD now.  

In the Hands of Fate

Director - Samuel L. Fronsman (Hang in There)

Starring - Adam Joseph Turner (Double Walker, Wanna Play A Game), Keith Migra (The Melon Heads: House of Crow), The Hunting), and Sofia Bianchi (The Other Side, Nightmares Unleashed)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Crime

Tagline - "Every choice has a price to pay"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm often asked to review horror, thrillers, exploitation, and sci-fi flicks with most of the films, obviously, being horror.  I love my job and I love watching everything sent my way.  Even if I don't like the film, I still love seeing all the hard work the cast and crew put into the project.  However, it's not often that someone reaches out for me to review something that's not from the before mentioned genres.  A few weeks ago I was sent Samuel L. Fronsman's In the Hands of Fate to review.  I agreed to check it out and after spending a little time looking over the poster for the crime film I thought that I wouldn't like it.  That just proves you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover because I absolutely loved it.  It was a bit too long but I still had a lot of fun with it.  I want to take a moment to thank Sam Fronsman for sending this one over!

     The film follows a hired gun for a local crime boss who is tasked with killing one of his pushers.  He does so but leaves a loose end in the form of a female junkie.  He lets her go if she promises to keep her mouth shut.  However, she follows him back to his boss and steals a large sum of money.  As they all scramble to find who stole it so they can kill them, she visits an old friend she met in rehab who happens to be clean now and part of a cult.  She tricks her into going with her so the cult can use the money to expand.  

       In the Hands of Fate is nothing like I thought it would be.  It essences, it's two films connected by a a few characters and their actions.  In fact, the film could have taken the Tarantino approach and split itself up into two films rather than one film over two hours long.  Regardless, of the film's length, I seriously enjoyed it.  It's a lot of fun and some minor changes would make this one damn near perfect.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven.  The performances are not bad but some of the cast clearly has inexperience.  This made some of the dialogue feel forced or fall flat.  Aside from these instances, I loved the characters and how far the cast went to bring them to life.  The story for this one is such a wild ride and something the viewer may not expect.  It starts out with a humble crime beginning with a small time crime boss sending out people to clean up some messes.  However, it eventually leads to a cult with inner turmoil and a conspiracy to remove their leader of power.  I loved how far out this story branches but it could have easily been two films.  An indie crime flick that clocks in over 2 hours is a bit absurd.  Finally, the film has several death scenes but they are nothing memorable or exciting.  They use some blood and computer generated visuals but that is the extent of it.  Someone looking for a big body count or gore will be very disappointed.  Overall, In the Hands of Fate might be a lot for someone looking for a generic crime film to take in.  However, if you are looking for something different with a big story to tell then I highly recommend checking this one out.  I truly enjoyed it.    

Feed

Director - Brett Leonard (Man-Thing, Highlander: The Source)

Starring - Alex O'Loughlin (Whiteout, Criminal Minds), Patrick Thompson (The Road Killers, Birth of a Warrior), and Gabby Millgate (Babe: Pig in the City, Full Frontal)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - Can you stomach it?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was an avid horror fan when I was in middle school but it really didn't take hold until I was in high school.  It was at this time that I seriously started collecting.  I was constantly looking for DVDs and VHS to add to my collection and a lot of those horror movies released in the early to mid 2000s are still in my collection to this day.  One movie I purchased all those years ago is the 2005 Brett Leonard film Feed.  I've had the DVD for years but never watched it.  Honestly, I only bought it because it was super cheap and decided to add it to my collection.  Fast forward a few decades and Unearthed Films sends out a press release that they are releasing the film on blu.  It took me a few minutes to realize that I owned the After Dark DVD release of the film and never watched it.  I took a peak at the trailer, something I rarely do, and decided to finally check it out.  A few days after this I received the blu release for review and that's when I decided it was time to finally check it out.  

     The film follows an Interpol detective that works on cyber crimes.  He finds a website catering to women overeating and suspects that the person behind it may be up to more than just fattening up women.  The further he looks into it he uncovers that he also has a site where subscribers can make bets as to when the overfed woman dies.  He goes against his direct orders and continues the case.  He goes as far as to stalk the suspected killer and his wife and learns that much more is going on than he originally suspected.

     I went into Feed knowing as much as the trailer gave away but I think it was enough to get the basic premise of the film.  I typically avoid trailers and reading the synopsis on films I'm sent to review but for some reason I decided to check the trailer out for this Unearthed release.  I don't think it ruined the experience for me but I wish I had knew very little about this one before diving into it.  The acting in this one is very intense.  The film's lead, Patrick Thompson, is very intense in his role.  He is a bit overdramatic a lot of time but I really enjoyed the energy he brought to the film.  The supporting cast is just as strong.  We have a lot of overacting but, honestly, I liked it for the most part.  The story for this one had so much potential especially for the time.  Internet fetish sites and extreme sexual acts have always had a place on the internet so the story has a lot to use.  When you combine that with the grotesque overeating kink and secretly betting when they die you have something that could churn the stomachs of the most hardened horror fan.  However, the sickening acts committed in the film is not as effective as they could have been and the extremely long scenes filled with pointless dialogue ruins the film's pacing.  Finally, the film makes use of a great looking fat suit and some gore effects that look just as impressive.  However, the film doesn't have a body count and those wanting to see impressive kills will be very disappointed.  Overall, Feed might have been an impressive and sickening film in the mid 2000s but it just doesn't hit that had especially if you are a life long genre fan.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't.  

The Gingerweed Man

Director - Brooks Davis (Bring Her to Me, Famous T&A 2)

Starring - Eli Jane (Ghost Babe, Women in the Dark), Roy Abramsohn (Quantum Leap, Weedjies: Halloweed Night), and Kelly Bunasawa (Milestone, I'm the Rule)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "The weedman cometh"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I originally watched the Gingerdead Man films, it was just a trilogy at the time.  Since then the franchise has expanded a bit with Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong, The Gingerweed Man, along with the cameos he's had in other Full Moon films.  It's a popular property that I somehow completely forgot about.  As I was catching up on the series with the cookie tin set I noticed that it included The Gingerweed Man as well.  This is another Full Moon film I let slip by me and couldn't wait to check out.  

     The film follows a little stoner with a lucrative weed delivery business with a female friend that he sincerely loves.  However, after a mysterious bud nugget named Baby Buddy falls into his lap, he is tasked with keeping it alive and getting his friend back from corrupt  organization wanting Buddy back to continue their nefarious research on him.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about The Gingerweed Man before diving into it and I have to say that this was easily my favorite film in the set and one of Full Moon's better titles of recent years.  It's nothing that most horror fans will appreciate but I found myself fucking loving it.  It's a comedy first and foremost but it has a few horror elements and a bit of drama to mix it up.  The acting in this one is on par with the Evil Bong franchise.  It's a better consistency than the Gingerdead Man series with a lot more time spent on character development and backstories.  The story for this one is not one I was expecting from Full Moon but I did enjoy it.  Gingerweed Man is a character that can carry several films if given the opportunity.  I could have lived without the Ooga Booga character and a some horror elements but it's still enjoyable as it is.  It's a quick watch that flows very well with a lot of humor and memorable one liners.  Finally, the film is not a bloody one.  We get a lot of puppet action and computer generated effects that look cheap but doesn't take away from the overall film.  Overall, The Gingerweed Man is a Full Moon eccentric film that combines multiple genres.  If you've ever wanted to see Halfbaked made by Full Moon then here is your chance.