Curse of the Weredeer

Director - Ben Johnson

Starring - Derek Woodrow Johnson (Deadly Dealings, Shakespeare's Shitstorm), Nadia White (Harvest of Horrors, Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse), and Babette Bombshell (CockHammer, Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1)

Release Date - 2023/2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Welcome to Tromaville.  Deer killin' capital of the world"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I follow several hashtags on Instagram so I can what some of the indie filmmakers are working on.  I've found several amazing films this one and often browse through the photos looking for my new favorite film.  Several years ago I found posts for the indie horror comedy Curse of the Werewolf featuring scream queen, adult star, and professional wrestler Nadia White.  I was already interested in this one but it really peaked my curiosity when I saw that Troma was affiliated with the film.  I reached out to them and they informed me that they were currently editing the film but would hit me up when it was available for review.  Since then I've ran news of several other Weredeer horror films with one being centered around Christmas.  I know this is a complete coincident but it's worth mentioning.  We jumped forward a few years and my friend Dixie Geers hit me up to check it out.  I was really excited to check it out and want to thank Dixie for sending this one over!

      This one follows Randy (Johnson) who heads out into the woods with his closest friends for a little deer hunting, beer drinking, and wiener tugging.  A night of debauchery and mutual masturbation turns deadly when a rogue weredeer breaks into his camp killing his friends and biting him.  He finds himself starting to change over the next few days and learns that he has a short amount of time to stop it before he is stuck with the curse forever.  

     Curse of the Weredeer is one of those indie horror comedies that I see a lot of genre fans are going to love.  I've reviewed a lot of horror comedies over the years, many of which were associated with Troma, and very few made me laugh like this one did.  It's not perfect and some of the humor is beating a dead horse when you reach the hour mark but I still had fun with it.  The acting in this is inconsistent but nothing I would consider bad.  I noticed that some of the cast does lack experience which may be one of the reasons the acting was inconsistent.  Some of the characters had more personality than others which gave the actor something to work with while others were extremely flat.  The story for this blends the premise from the classic Wolfman film with hixploitation which is something I didn't realized I needed.  We once again follow a man who was bitten by a creature and has a short time to cure himself or he will be cursed for all time.  You then toss in the redneck/hixploitation angle with nudity and you have yourself that you can easily pair with the likes of Poultrygeist or Smokey and the Bandit.  With that being said, the dipshit redneck inspired dialogue does run it's course fairly early in the film which makes some of the later scenes feel a lot longer than they actually were.  Finally, the film has a lot of fun and campy effects.  The weredeer, which doesn't appear as much as I would like, was extremely campy looking.  It reminded me a lot of the giant monster movies of the 50s.  It's funny when you see it but fits in perfectly with the film.  We also get a lot of blood and light gore.  Troma fans already know what to expect in regards to this.  Overall, Curse of the Weredeer is one for the ages.  It's a sleazy hixploitation horror comedy that has a lot of laughs and just as much blood.  I highly recommend checking it out when you can.  

Early Morning Calm

Director - Brian Dorton (Trashology, Crazy Fat Ethel)

Starring - Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies), Scarlett Freeman (An Extremely Uncommon Set of Circumstances, All That Remains), and Lucas Dunaway (They See You, Wolf Hollow)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Nothing can prepare you for the terror in the..."

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's been awhile since I've been able to review a hixploitation horror flick.   I have reviewed several over the years but it's been a year or so since my last hixploitation flick and, honestly, we need more.  A few weeks back director Brian Dorton, who brought us the fantastic remake of Crazy Fat Ethel, messages the Horror Society Facebook page to see if we could review his newest film Early Morning Calm, which stars legend Lynn Lowry.  I quickly agreed to it and added it to my watch list.  Sadly, I wasn't able to get it in during my October horror binge but it's better late than never.  I would like to thank Brian for sending this one over!

     The film follows a father, his daughter, and his mother as they make the trip to his late father's favorite lake to spread his ashes.  However, they have car issues on the backroads to the lake and are forced to stop.  When they try to find help or someone to fix their car they accidentally come across a cannibal family who would love to have them over for dinner.

     I've reviewed several films from Brian over the years and he has always impressed me.  Many years ago I befriended the folks over at Olive Films who was releasing several of Brian's films on Blu at the time.  I fell in love with Trashology and found Brian on social media where I added him to keep up with his future projects.  Since then I've reviewed a great deal of his films and look forward to every project he announces.  I was super excited when he dropped news of Early Morning Calm and I was even more excited when he revealed that living legend Lynn Lowry would be starring in it.  When I finally got to watch it I was a bit underwhelmed by it but there was a few moments I enjoyed.  The acting in this one is solid but very inconsistent.  Lynn does a solid job and shows that she has decades of experience in front of the camera.  However, there is scenes meant to be funny but they couldn't find their footing. I wanted to laugh at these scenes but the comedic timing just wasn't right.  The rest of the cast is just as solid but we do have several scenes with awkward dialogue and one dimensional performances.  I don't know if they were rushed or or inexperienced but some of the scenes were not as well acted as others.  The story for this one is one we've seen many times before.  People traveling through rural America, or Appalachia, and find themselves lost, stranded, or both only to fall victim to a cannibal family is something that has went back to the late 60s.  Hell, some can even argue that films like Spider Baby may have inspired it while movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn brought similar stories to pop culture status.  Regardless, I love these types of stories and could have loved Early Morning Calm if it was a more traditional horror film.  However, the humor is out of place and a lot of the dialogue feels forced.  This brought the pacing of the film down drastically and made several of the scenes difficult to finish.  Finally, this one has some fun and kills you would expect from a story like this but if you are looking for memorable deaths and a lot of gore then you will be disappointed.  The deaths work for the film and can be fun if you are a fan of indie horror.  However, if you are expecting deranged deaths and buckets of guts then you are watching the wrong film.  Overall, Early Morning Calm has a great cast and a story I could really get behind but it struggles with it's own identity.  The humor is extremely out of place and the lack of memorable deaths makes this one a miss for me.  I seriously wanted to like it due to how phenomenal Brian is as a filmmaker but it's clear this film was not meant for me. 

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Director - Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist, Lifeforce)

Starring - Marilyn Burns (Helter Skelter, Eaten Alive), Edwin Neal (My Boyfriend's Back, Zombiegeddon), and Allen Danzinger (Storage Locker, Eggshells)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Who will survive and what will be left of them?"
Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I’ve been asked to review some of the world’s most memorable horror films over the years ranging from the classic Universal monster movies to modern films that became instant classics like X and Barbarian. When I started writing reviews 13 years ago I never expected to be asked to review some of the films that has been sent my way. It’s an exciting feeling getting to review some of the movies I grew up with as they find releases on new formats. A few weeks ago I was sent the original 1974 Tobe Hooper classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on UHD for review. This steelbook release gave me the opportunity to revisit this one. While it’s not my favorite film in the franchise I still respect the hell out of it and it is still a fun watch. 

      The film follows a group of twenty-somethings as they travel through Texas after news broke about a series of graverobbers has plagued several southern towns. After they pick up an unhinged hitchhiker, they find themselves at a home isolated from others and inside that home is a family of cannibals with a knack for killing. 

      The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre gave the world the iconic slasher Leatherface along with being one of the most effective horror films of it’s time. I give credit where credit is due and TCM has everything going for it. With that being said, it’s not even in my top three favorite TCM films. It’s an amazing film and a still enjoy watching it from time to time. The acting in this one is one of my favorite parts of the film. The entire cast is firing on every cylinder but my favorite performances will always be Ed Neal’s and Gunnar Hansen. The characters they both portrayed still stand out regardless of how many times you’ve seen the film. The story for this one was shocking for the early 70s but doesn’t really have the impact on viewers discovering the film for the first time now. However, the premise and set up still works regardless of when it was made. It’s a straight forward story that has endless possibilities for sequels which has been tested over the years. Finally, the film is not as bloody and gory as you would expect. Leatherface’s iconic mask looks amazing and we get a few scenes with blood and a few cheap gags but the lack of gore has always disappointed me. Overall, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a huge part of horror history and this steelbook is a must own for fans of the film and genre collectors. While it’s not my favorite film in the franchise I still respect the hell out of it and this release is a must own. Check it out

Backwoods Marcy

Director - Dawn Murphy (Before I Die)

Starring - Dave Castiglione (Psycho Sisters, After Midnight), G. W. Lawrence (Love is a Stranger Again), and Dawn Murphy

Release Date - 1999

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "She's homeless and hungry for sex, blood, and revenge!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Vinegar Syndrome announced their partnership with Saturn's Core I was so fucking excited.  I knew I wouldn't be a fan of every release but I was still excited to fill that S.O.V. void that many of us indie horror fans need to be filled.  When I saw the news that they would be releasing 1999's Backwoods Marcy I was fucking pumped.  I had never seen this one before I had seen several genre fans share copies of the film on VHS in different Facebook groups.  I pre-ordered it and wanted to see it when it arrived but movies sent to me for review took up most of my time. However, when I saw an opening in my schedule I was quick to toss it in.

     The film follows a city boy who finds himself traveling through some back roads when he comes across Marcy.  A wrong turn quickly turns deadly when he accidentally hits her with his car.  Soon he finds himself kidnapped by a bloody Marcy and forced to do whatever she wants.

     I never heard horror fans talk about how good this movie is or see anyone claim to love it so I knew it was going to be a rough one.  However, I was hoping it would be more enjoyable than it actually was.  I did like the idea behind the film but I still struggled to finish it.  The acting in this one isn't the worst I've seen but the cast is mostly inexperienced by this point in their careers and it shows.  The dialogue is awkward through most of the film and the emotions they portray are not convincing.  I've seen a lot of S.O.V. and no budget horror films that could have been filmed in someone's backyard for fun so I'm very well versed in indie cinema.  This one isn't the worst I've seen but there was plenty of room for improvement.  The story for this one could have been an interesting spin on hixploitation horror.  However, it failed to actually deliver a story that pulled the viewer in.  A guy driving for a good chunk of the film before being caged and abused just isn't that enjoyable.  If the characters had a little more personality and the story had a little more meat on the bone it could have been fun.  Sadly, the way it was made for a pretty difficult flick to finish in my opinion.  Finally, if you expect a bloody mess of a film you will be greatly disappointed.  There is a small bit of blood but that is the extent of it.  I was hoping for some enjoyable no budget effects and craft kills but this one did not deliver on that.  Overall, Backwoods Marcy was not enjoyable.  I love a good S.O.V. film and this one was not it.  This release is worth your money just for the bonus film but I would skip the film.  

Whiskey Mountain

Director - William Grefe (The Naked Zoo, Sting of Death)

Starring - Christopher George (Grizzly, Day of the Animals), Preston Pierce (Doomsday Voyage, Girls for Rent), and Roberta Collins (Saturday the 14th, Death Wish II)

Release Date - 1977

Genre - Crime/Horror

Tagline - "Beyond the song and the legend... a search for treasure turn to terror"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm almost at the end of my journey as I work my way through the He Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefe with just two films standing in my way.  One of those films is one that I was extremely looking forward to.  That film is the 1977 hixploitation horror flick Whiskey Mountain which features a theme song from Charlie Daniels.  The moment I finished Mako: The Jaws of Death I immediately tossed in the final disc from the set and hit play.

     The film follows two married couples who venture into the mountains looking for a cave that is supposedly the location of buried muskets from the civil war.  On their trip they find themselves surrounded by strange occurrences like random fires and so on.  They chalk it up to bad luck but when they finally reach the cave they discover that a group of hillbillies who use the mountain to grow pot.  They abduct the two couples and plan on murdering them to hide their secret stash.  However, the two men are able to escape and go into town to seek help from the local sheriff.  The local police are obviously in on it and refuse to help them.  They visit the local gun store and once they stock up on arms and ammunition they return to the mountain expecting war.

     Whiskey Mountain is a movie that I've wanted to see for several years now.    I discovered it when I was writing my review for the Incest Death Squad trilogy when I came across a list of hixploitation horror films.  It really caught my attention when I saw that it featured a theme song from Charlie Daniels and starred Christopher George.  There was several occasions where I had tried to buy the DVD through Amazon and other online retailers but the releases were not the best quality so I backed out.  When I saw that it was included in this set it made it even more intriguing and was the big push to review this one.  The film did not let me down and it's a damn shame this one doesn't get more love from other genre fans.  The acting in this one is probably the best of the Grefe directed films.  At least the ones I've seen and reviewed.  Christopher George never disappoints and his character here is a little more likable when you compare it to his other films like Grizzly and Day of the Animals.  His character is well grounded and down to Earth allowing George to show more of an emotional range than other films allow him to.  The supporting cast is just as great with a lot of the characters having a lot more personality for the viewers to enjoy than most Grefe films.  I especially enjoyed Robert Leslie's performance as the crazy old hermit.  He brought in some much needed humor and his character is the unofficial face of the film.  The story for this one works great as a hixploitation thriller that some will compare to Deliverance, which is understandable, but it still delivers on the entertainment.  Grefe has borrowed ideas from other films in the passed and this one was no exception.  The southern fed story mixed elements of his drug heavy films with that of the hillbilly thrillers of the late 70s that was becoming famous thanks to films like Deliverance and Smokey and the Bandit.  It's not the most original film but it still works especially if you are looking for something with horror aspects.  Finally, the film has a few death scenes but the kills are quick with little to no blood.  The deaths are not the focus of these scenes.  Instead, the deaths are meant to show the end of a character without the entertainment value of blood and gore.  Overall, Whiskey Mountain did not disappoint.  It's a bit of an odd ball film in the set but an enjoyable one nonetheless.  I highly recommend it.  

Toxic Zombies

Director - Charles McCrann

Starring - Charles McCrann, Beverly Shapiro (Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship, and Videotape), and Dennis Helfend (Silent Madness, Naughty Nurse)

Release Date - 1980

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They thought they were just killing some weeds.  Instead, they grew a whole new kind of crop"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was getting into horror during my late elementary and middle school years I often found myself renting zombie movies from my locally owned video store Dewey's Video.  I snagged so many direct to video and indie horror releases through him for years and loved every minute of it.  I've always had a soft spot for zombie movies and I have Romero to blame for this.  When Massacre Video announced that they would be releasing the 1980 zombie flick Toxic Zombies I found myself very excited to check it out.  The film is notorious for being the founding father of the "redneck zombies" sub-genre of zombie films and was released under several different titles like Bloodeaters and Forest of Fear.  When I ordered my copy of Mahakaal I went ahead and snagged a copy of this to check out.  

     The film follows a group of marijuana farmers who are harvesting their crop when an experimental chemical is crop-dusted over their fields by a government agency with hopes of killing the crop.  Instead, those that ingested the chemical turn into mindless zombies hellbent on killing everyone they cross paths with in the woods.  

     Toxic Zombies is historical for several reasons.  The first is that the film's director and star Charles McCrann perished during the 9/11 Twin Tower's attack where he was working.  This is heartbreaking to read about as I putting my review together and I hope his family and friends were able to find peace after this.  The film was also notoriously part of the Video Nasties and banned in the UK in the 80s and was featured in the Video Nasties documentary from 2010.  If that wasn't enough the fact that it is credited for the redneck zombie sub-genre that spawned films like Troma's Redneck Zombies is pretty damn impressive.  The movie itself is far from perfect but I fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but the cast's lack of experience was evident.  Like I said, the acting isn't that bad but there is a few scenes where the dialogue and "action" is extremely awkward to watch.  It doesn't really take away from the overall film but it does make the scene lose it's impact.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and a solid premise for a zombie flick.  Having pot growers getting covered in an experimental chemical and killing people is pretty damn clever and painfully late 70s.  It does have a little I Drink Your Blood vibe with the "zombies" wielding machetes like the satanic hippies but with that being said it was still very well done.  It does slow down from time to time but it doesn't lag enough to make the viewer lose their attention.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood with minimal effects but if you want some gut munching gore you will be very disappointed.  The film is very low budget and it looks like the effects was the aspect of the film that suffered the most.  Overall, Toxic Zombies is going to be a turn off for some of you looking for a well polished horror title.  However, if you dig fun no budget horror then you will really appreciate this one.  The Massacre Video blu looks absolutely fantastic and I would recommend snagging this one regardless if you are a collector or a first time watch.  It's worth every cent.  

Twister's Revenge

Director - Bill Rebane (Blood Harvest, Monster a Go-Go)

Starring - Dean West (Blood Harvest), Meredith Orr, and David Alan Smith (Sons of Anarchy, Desolate)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Here we are.  After several days I'm finally at the end of my Bill Rebane marathon.  The Weird Wisconsin box set from Arrow Video has some ups and downs but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself.  Invasion from Inner Earth is, hands down, my favorite in the set but The Alpha Incident and The Demons of Ludlow were still solid films.  Monster a Go-Go had some moments but missed it's mark while The Game was almost unwatchable.  Now, I move on to the final film in the set, Twister's Revenge.  This is the only film in the set not labelled a horror title.  Instead, this sci-fi comedy is a completely different film in tone of style and atmosphere.  It fell short but still had some fun moments.

     The film follows three idiots who are trying to score some serious cash when they hear that a man and his future wife has put an extremely expensive computer in his monster truck.  However, when they try to steal the computer they learn that the monster truck is equipped with state of the art A.I. and is sentient.  In the heat of the moment they decide to kidnap the man's wife instead.  The man and the truck team up to get her back.

     Honestly, when I got this set in for review I just assumed that Twister's Revenge would be the shittiest movie in the set but it wasn't.  Hell, there was even times I enjoyed this odd little flick.  I don't want to watch it again unless I was heavily intoxicated but I had fun with it to an extent.  The acting in this one is funny which makes the film as funny as it is but it does get bad at times.  The characters are what makes this one as fun as it is but there is some scenes that left me wondering where the director was when they went through their lines.  The story for this one is so far out there but it has it's moments.  A killer vehicle with a mind of it's own is nothing new even in 1988.  However, this hixploitation spin on it could have been so much more fun than it was.  The movie relies too much on the bumbling idiots instead of the truck which becomes a bit dull at times.  It's a bit repetitive at times but there was some fun moments.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We have some monster truck fun and a few laughs but no blood or gore.  Overall, Twister's Revenge is not as bad as you would expect but its extremely difficult to watch at times with some laughs scattered throughout.  It's worth at least one watch.  

Death Ranch

Director - Charlie Steeds (The Barge People, Escape from Cannibal Farm)

Starring - Deiondra Teagle (Painted in Blood), Faith Monique (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Zero), and Travis Cutner (MacGyver, Spooked)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The family that slays together, stays together"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of you have heard this before but I always feel the need to reiterate how much I fucking love blaxploitation flicks.  When I was younger my dad bought a few tapes from someone in a parking lot on our way to visit my brother.  The guy hawking the tapes was clearly "medicated" and I begged my dad to buy the tapes.  In them was several blaxploitation flicks.  Once I got big into those films Snoop Dogg released his blaxploitation horror flick Bones which only fueled my love for the sub-genre.  Over the years I've reviewed a couple dozen blaxploitation flicks and I've loved every minute of it.  A few weeks ago I received the press release for Charlie Steeds' Death Ranch.  The trailer looked absolutely fucking mental so I reached out for a review copy.  

     The film is set in the early 70s when Brandon (Teagle) escapes from jail.  He meets up with his brother and sister  and the three visit their families abandoned farm deep in the mountains of Tennessee to hide out. What they don't expect to see is a clan of cannibalistic KKK members who prey on people of color.

     Death Ranch was everything I wanted it to be after watching the trailer.  It was extremely bloody and violent with a great blaxploitat meets hixploitation tone.  I absolutely loved it and I can't wait for others to enjoy it as well.  The acting in this one is fun but there is plenty of room for improvement.  Teagle and Monique are the stars of the show and they both deliver fantastic performances.  Their characters are very grounded and real with both really giving the film their all.  The supporting cast is fun to watch with all the faceless KKK members dying but no one shares the screen as long as these two do.  The story for this one is a brilliant mixing of blaxploitation meets hixploitation.  Racism finds it's end with the story and the set up is absolutely brilliant.  The story does start out a bit slow but once it picks up it holds a steady pace of bloody action and social justice.  I couldn't have watched this story unfold over the course of three of four hours in all honesty.  Finally, the film is extremely bloody and action packed.  The kills we get do not shy away from the red stuff and fit the style of the film perfectly. A good portion of the deaths we get are the results of various gunshots.  The squibs look great and the amount of blood we get is almost comical.  I absolutely loved the look of these kills.  Not to be too repetitive, we do get some other kills using various tools found around an old farm.  These kills are just as bloody and the practical effects make them even more entertaining.  Overall, Death Ranch is absolutely fantastic.  Fans of old school horror and exploitation will want to spin this one.  It's bloody and combines some of my favorite exploitation sub-genres to create something that not only fits the social commentary of the early 70s but today as well.  I highly recommend it.  

Splatter Farm

Director(s) - John Polonia (Splatter Beach, Bad Magic), Mark Polonia (Return to Splatter Farm, Land Shark), and Todd Michael Smith (Church of the Damned, Lethal Nightmares)

Starring - Todd Michael Smith, John Polonia, and Mark Polonia 

Release Date - 1987

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Old McDonald had a farm... Ei Ei ouch"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've spent most of my life collecting horror movies.  I'm always on the hunt for something I don't own and use various social media platforms to find titles to add to my collection.  Many years ago I joined the forums at Upcoming Horror Movies where I discovered so many indie and underground horror movies that had slipped through my grasps.  It was here that I was introduced to the Polonia Brothers.  Not long after that I bought the Splatter Farm DVD from Camp Motion Pictures.  I didn't watch it right away and over time it gained dust sitting on my shelves.  Wild Eye recently announced a sequel to this one so I decided it was the perfect time to dig into it before giving the new follow up a spin.  

     The film follows twins who visit their aunt on her farm.  She has a very backward son who she employs as a farm hand.   What they don't know is that he is the result of their aunt being raped by her brother and he's secretly killing people before cutting up the bodies and hiding them around the farm.

     I always get excited to dive into a no-budget horror flick I had never seen before.  I had heard a lot of things about Splatter Farm but I was hesitante to check it out after August Underground let me down like it did.  However, I found myself liking Splatter Farm even though it was poorly put together.  It's a bad movie but it does have charm.  The acting in this one is some of the most inexperienced I've seen.  Considering the cast's age and lack of experience at this point makes you take these scenes with a grain of salt but a lot of the scenes is a bit rough to watch.  No one can question the cast's devotion to the film but they were clearly inexperienced.  The story for this one is fun and is definitely inspired by hixploitation classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Deranged.  The inbred killer that butchers people in his barn before hiding their parts throughout the farm is fun and works in this S.O.V. classic.  It may not be original but it's messy and fun.  With that being said, I don't see myself revisiting this one any time soon unless I'm heavily drinking.  Finally, this is a bloody one.  We get some pretty fun kills that uses various methods and camera tricks along with some practical effects.  Honestly, the practical effects really did impress me and the film lives up to it's name.  Sadly, they won't stick with you but they are still fun to watch.  Overall, Splatter Farm is not for those looking for a polished and well put together horror flick.  However, if you want a bloody mess of a horror flick made by young filmmakers looking to make their mark on horror history then this one is for you.  

Bottom Creek

Director - Todd Chamberlain (The Test)

Starring - Cori Coulter (HogMaul: The Legend of Abrams County, The Ungulate), Davy Lantz Jr. (Jack Tarmite, The Ungulate), and Matt Burns (Bigfoot!, Radioactive Flesh Eating Foliage)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I remember a time when indie horror often dabbled in hixploitation.  In fact, when I started my review career I was getting films like Porkchop, Pig Girl, Incest Death Squad, Bubba: The Redneck Werewolf, Hans Crippleton, and many more.  Sadly, I rarely see these type of films anymore.  Most filmmakers from Appalachia and the south try to branch out and not associate with the type of films which is a damn shame.  As a West Virginia native I would be lying if I didn't admit how much I love a good hixploitation horror flick.  A few weeks ago Matt Burns reached out to me to review Bottom Creek.  This hixploitation film starred him and several others that have been around the indie horror scene for some time.  I was curious to check it out and I'm glad I did.  Thanks Matt!

     The film follows a recent widow who lost her husband and two dogs, which was the apple of her eye, in an automobile accident.  Once she recovers she is forced to care for two adult children who are mentally stunted.  She soon learns that her deceased husband had taken out several loans with the bank and their land is teetering the line with become foreclosed on unless they find some serious cash.  She decides to have her two sons abduct tourists and travelers and use them in their dog food.  Things look up for them until a body is discovered in the river with traces of their dog food on it.  This sends the police to their farm looking for answers.

     I remember getting news on Bottom Creek sometime ago but nothing came in after those first initial communications.  Honestly, I forgot about the film until Matt contacted me to review it.  Usually a film tries to be consistent with news when gearing up for a release but this one completely blind sided me.  With that being said, I really enjoyed this one but it was far from perfect.  The acting in this one is very uneven and inconsistent.  I spend a good bit of my time watching and reviewing no budget indie horror flicks so I've seen inexperience before.  This cast is very comfortable in front of the camera but there is times where their performances was just extremely flat.  The dialogue is just so forced and deadpan.  It was not natural and the scenes suffer for it.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward which I really liked.  We don't get any gimmicks or "mid fuck" twists that you can see coming from a mile away.  It's a story that isn't that original but it works.  I really enjoyed it and it unfolded.  Sometimes simpler is better and this was the case.  Finally, the film is bloody but the effects are not that impressive.  With that being said, I found a lot of the gags to be a little on the comical side.  The film has a decent amount of humor spaced throughout and these gags just seemed funny to me.  Overall, Bottom Creek is a fun no budget hixploitation flick that has some laughs and plenty of good ol' boy horror.  It is very rough around the edges but it still entertains.  I would recommend checking this one out.  

The Devil's Rejects

 



Director - Rob Zombie - (31, Lords of Salem)
Starring - Sid Haig (Spider Baby, Aftermath), Bill Moseley (Night of the Living Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), and Sheri Moon Zombie (Halloween, Halloween II)
Release Date - 2005
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "This summer, go to hell"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     When House of 1000 Corpses was released on home video I became obsessed with it.  I watched it so many times I could almost quote it from beginning to end.  I did this for a few years until Rob Zombie announced his follow up The Devil's Rejects.  By this point I was burned out on the film but I didn't want to skip the opportunity to see this one.  A theater had just opened near my home so I was able to check it out.  I absolutely fucking loved it and was shocked.  Not only by how much he had grown as a director but by the route he took the film.  I was not expecting that at all.  I loved the film even more than the first but I was smart to not burn myself out on it.  It has been a few years since my last viewing but it was time to check it out on blu sent to me from Umbrella Entertainment.  Thanks guys!

     The film begins with the police invading the Firefly farmhouse with an investigate by Sheriff Wydell (Forsythe).    They capture Mother Firefly (Leslie Easterbrook), kill Rufus (Tyler Mane), while Baby, Otis, and Tiny gets away.  Tiny goes into hiding while Otis and Baby go to a their planned spot to meet Captain Spaulding who is actually Baby's father.  Wydell is hot on their trail and he hires two bounty hunters, The Unholy Two, to track them down.  Baby and Otis meets with Spaulding and goes to Spaulding's brother's whorehouse to lay low but Wydell knows about their aliases and plans an ambush at midnight.  He captures them and tortures them at their farmhouse before freeing Baby for a game of cat and mouse but Tiny is able to save her and kill Wydell.  The three try to ride off into the sunset but a police roadblock stands in their way...

     House of 1000 Corpses gives fans a dark and relentless horror film that takes a story similar to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and builds upon it.  The Devil's Rejects does the opposite.  It is brutal in it's own rights but it has an old exploitation feel to it.  It almost feels like a modern day hixploitation film and many could argue it is.  Either way, this film is superior to the first film.  The acting in this one is fucking fantastic.  Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, and Sheri Moon Zombie kills it.  Sheri Moon Zombie didn't sell me on her character with the first film but she brought it with this one.  Her character is not as annoying as the first film and she pulls together a wide range of emotion.  She did a fantastic job.  The same can be said for the entire cast.  Mosely, Haig, Ken Foree, Leslie Easterbrook, Geoffrey Lewis, Danny Trejo, and so on absolutely kills it.  Every scene is perfect.  With that being said, no one brings the intensity that William Forsythe does.  He absolutely steals every scene he is in and his character truly deserved his own spin-off.  The story for this one builds up on what the first film created but added even more unforgettable characters.  It took the claustrophobic atmosphere from the first and replaced it with a road trip type film.  It makes the film feel bigger in scope.  I also liked how the film turned three iconic horror villains into anti-heroes of sorts while the film's authority figure takes on the role of villain.  It was great.  Honestly, I can't find a problem with the story outside of the masked killer in the first one being Tiny's father while Baby's father is Captain Spaulding.  I get that they are a dysfunctional family but that's stretching it.  Finally, this film was hit and miss with the effects.  The practical effects and gore are fucking top notch.  The effects team really out did themselves here but the visual effects were shit.  I know it was almost 15 years ago but these visual effects were so bad.  I'm talking Syfy bad.  Who approved them?  Overall, The Devil's Rejects is an iconic horror film that I would be shocked to meet a horror fan who hasn't seen it.  This release from Umbrella is a must for horror fans and fans of Zombies' films.  

 



Rednecks



Director - John Birmingham (The Vampires of Zanzibar, Crazy Animal)
Starring - John Birmingham, Royce Hobson (Plan 9, House on the Hill), and Jeremy Ambler (The Walking Dead, Milfs vs. Zombies)
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "We'z a differnt breed"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

    

 I love goofy no budget films.  In fact, that's what I prefer.  Most no budget movies take themselves way too seriously resulting in a stale and often clichéd movie experience that is anything but entertaining.  That is why I have such a deep love for Troma.  Their movies are often fun and deliver just as much comedy as it does gore.  Sometime ago Troma acquired John Birmingham's Rednecks.  The film stars Brandy Mason who I was lucky enough to work with in Razor Sharp's Steve: Death Collector.  I was looking forward to checking this one out.  Thank you Troma for sending a review copy my way.

     The film follows the three Redneck brothers who live on a family homestead but when Dr. Jessie dies they are forced to find the money to get the land back or face eviction.  Their troubles are solved when they find a rainbow with a leprechaun and make a wish for a better life, teeth, and their property back.  They get their wishes but one of the brothers is heartbroken that his lovely Dixie is no longer part of his life.  He unwishes the wish and goes back to their old ways.  Realizing they screwed up, they make a pact with the devil but their deal turns sour like before and they once again return to their old lifestyles.  They once again realize that their life sucks and makes yet another deal with the devil.  Like before, their lives are improved but soon go south before they all realize that life was perfect on the farm.
     I went into this one with a lot of excitement and curiosity but as the film progressed I found myself wishing this was the movie I thought it was going to be and not what was delivered.  The acting in this one is hit and miss for me.  The cast seems to really enjoy themselves in their roles but some of the characters were a little underwhelming.  Some were bright and colorful characters that filled the screen while others were just there for the sake of being there.  With that being said, some of the characters were portrayed in the same manner as another character almost as if the same character was being portrayed by the two different actors at the same time.  Different personalities would have helped tremendously here.  The story for this one had so much potential.  The music portion had some laughs but the music and lyrics were painfully awkward.  I could have lived without that but I will give credit where credit is do.  I thought the Danzig parody was funny as fuck.  The film moves at a snails pace and the laughs lack timing.  They stack up on top of each other with no build up and fall flat.  Also, some of the scenes are redundant.  The scenes where they go to a better life are painfully slow and do nothing for the story.  I wish the film focused on the three brothers doing trailer park antics almost like a Troma take on the Trailer Park Boys.  Finally, if you are looking for blood and gore you wont find it here.  However, if you want campy fun visual effects and some poop then you are in the right spot!  Overall, Rednecks just wasn't for me.  I really wanted to like it but the execution and delivery just made the film extremely boring.  Troma collectors will want this one for their collection but the everyday indie movie lover may want to skip it. 





Trailer Town

Director - Giuseppe Andrews (Touch Me in the Morning, Period Piece)
Starring - Bill Nowlin (Tater Tots, Who Flung Poo?), Stan Patrick, and Walt Dongo (Ants, Dad's Chicken)
Release Date - 2003
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "How far would you go to defend your trailer?"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Giuseppe Andrews is a unique force in the movie community.  Andrews has starred in one of the most popular coming of age comedies, Detroit Rock City before playing an iconic role in the cult hit 2001 Maniacs.  However, Andrews is better known for his role in Cabin Fever and the sequel.  Most people don't know is that Andrews is also a no budget director is several dozen films under his belt.  Several of his experimental and exploitation flicks has been released by Troma.  After I watched Jefftowne last week for my first episode of Tromatic Thursday it was only fitting to follow that up with Andrews' Trailer Town.  This hixploitation flick is the second film in the Toxic Twins Pak.  What the fuck did I just watch?!
     The film follows a group of people who live in a trailer park as they confess their love for each other and brag about sexual conquests.
   










     I had no idea what Trailer Town was about but I could not wait to watch.  Sadly, before I started Tromatic Thursday I didn't really have the time to watch Troma movies for fun.  Trailer Town was not the film I was expecting but it did offer some laughs.  The acting in this one is horrible.  The cast is literally reading from a sheet of paper or something like it off screen with no character development or attempt to gather emotion.  Instead, they smile the whole time and read carelessly from the paper.  The acting may be bad but it still brought many laughs which only fits this film.  The story for this one is not there.  The film doesn't have a story, character development, or a real end.  The film consists of scenes between characters reading their lines.  That is it.  The film starts out funny with the dialogue but quickly runs its course by the 30 minute mark making it difficult to finish.  Finally, this one is bloody and violent so those of you wanting blood will not find it here.  Instead, it is a crudely acted and edited but captures the trailer park lifestyle.  Overall, Trailer Town is a funny film but reuses the same routine over and over again resulting in a stale film.  The lack of story renders it almost unwatchable.  If you want a laugh with some friends after a few beers toss this one but tackling it sober will result in a bad time.