Island of the Doomed

Director - Mel Welles (Lady Frankenstein, Code of Silence)

Starring - Cameron Mitchell (Jack-O, Terror Night), Elisa Montes (Battered Flesh, Blaues Blut), and Jorges Martin (Death Carries a Cane, Professionals for a Massacre)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "What was the terrifying secret of the vampire tree?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     

     Mondo Macabro has been my go to for international horror, especially Bollywood/Hindi horror.  I may not always like their releases but I always have fun experiencing films from different countries and decades.  A few weeks back I was sent several films from Mondo Macabro with one of them being the 1967 co-production between Germany and Spain.  The film, Island of the Doomed, was also released under the title The Blood Suckers and Maneater of Hydra.  I had never heard of this one before but was really looking forward to checking out this late-60s horror flick.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a group of tourists that find themselves invited to tour an isolated island with promises of beautiful sights.  They agree and go where they meet an estranged scientist and his hired help living in an old mansion.  He has been working on mutating carnivorous plants and succeeded in creating something with a taste for human flesh.

     I didn't know anything about this one when I tossed it in the Blu-ray player.  I was expecting something rather different but the film I found before me was actually pretty enjoyable.  It's not going to be a film that will stick with me for years but I can see myself revisiting it again sometime down the road.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  Some of the characters are throw aways with no purpose other than filling the screen.  These performances are not bad but these characters did nothing for the story and was not that memorable.  However, screen legend and b-movie staple Cameron Mitchell delivers the best performance of the film as the evil Baron creating the carnivorous plants.  He made the film for me and I could absolutely see this character becoming an evil villain/scientist in several other films.  The story for this one is extremely campy but that is exactly what I'm looking for when I toss in a film from the 50s or 60s regardless of the region it was from.  We have a movie with an evil scientist slamming radiation on a plant to mutate it into a man-eating creature is pure drive-in era camp.  It's not something that will be on anyone's best of list but it's cheap fun regardless of what kind of film you enjoy.  Finally, we get some cheesy practical effects with the plants and some not-so memorable deaths.  This was easily the weakest part of the film but it doesn't take away from the experience.  Overall, Island of the Doomed is a fantastic drive-in era cheesefest for those of you that dig the campy flicks of the 50s and 60s.  We have a fun performance from Cameron Mitchell and a solid story.  Check out this release from Mondo Macabro, it's well worth it.  

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1

Creator(s) - Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Chapter Two), Andy Muschietti (Mama, It), and  Barbara Muschietti (Mama, They Will Kill You)

Starring - Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger, Brothers), Jovan Adepo (Overlord, Watchmen), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil, Luke Cage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Go back to where IT all began"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've read a lot of Stephen King's work over the years.  His novels and short stories, along with Goosebumps, was one of the reasons I fell in love with the horror genre.  He's a titan in the horror and literary worlds but I would be lying if I said I was an expert in his work.  Sure, I've read a lot of his work and watched many adaptations over the years but I can't verify how close these adaptations are to their source material.  What I can say is that a lot of his written work and their adaptations are a lot of fun.  Sometime back I was sent word that IT, specifically Andy Muschietti's two films starring Bill Skarsgard, was getting the television treatment.  I didn't follow it closely but I knew I would eventually be checking it out.  Fast forward to a few weeks back and I was lucky enough to get the blu release sent over for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made time for it as soon as I could.

     The series takes place in the town of Derry in 1962 where a young boy went missing.  Several months later three more were brutally murdered in a theater where only one girl survives.  One of the theater's employees, a black single father, is arrested for the murder.  His daughter, the lone survivor, and two other students start looking further into the missing student and the blood soaked history that Derry shares where they uncover the truth about Pennywise.

      I know I paraphrased a lot with the show but it throws a lot at us without over doing it.  It did take some time to gain some traction with me and it wasn't until episode 3 or 4 that I actually started getting into it but once I did I was really hooked.  The acting in this is great for the most part.  Some of the characters are very unlikable and it's not because they were written that way.  The cast is really dedicated to their role and deliver some seriously impressive performances especially from the young cast.  As the series progresses we have some intense performances that shows why everyone was cast in their respective roles.  The story for this season serves as a prequel of sorts to It and It: Chapter Two.  We get a lot of insight into some of the previous feeding cycles of Pennywise along with why he took on the appearance of the clown.  We also get a lot of social commentary from the early 60s mixed in with the character development.  It's very well written and works well but my biggest issue with the show was how long it took to get going.  The first three or so episodes could have been condensed to give the viewer more to grab onto.  Finally, this series doesn't hold back with the visual effects.  I know practical effects can be pricy especially when you have a show with eight episodes   However, a good deal of the visual effects look like shit.  They are very noticeable which was good for a laugh the first few times but they do become eye rolling as the show moves on.  Overall, It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 was a great continuation of what the 2017 film and it's sequel established.  While I can't remember exactly how accurate those films are to the written work, I can safely say that I enjoy it very much.  I do hope we have a season 2 eventually but until then I highly recommend checking out season 1.  

     

Infinite Summer

Director - Miquel Llanso (Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway, Here Come the Problems)

Starring - Teele Kaljuvee-O'Brock (Popcorn Prologue, Eyes that Stare Too Long), Johanna-Aurelia Rosin (Free Money), and Hannah Gross (Joker, Mindhunter)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I love weird movies.  I can remember watching odd sci-fi and horror titles when I was younger with my grandmother.  I would spend a lot of time with her while my dad was out of town and we would watch any thing we could find on local access, Sci-Fi Channel, and so on.  We watched a lot of MonsterVision, USA Up All Night, and the like.  She loved to experience a movie and I think I've grown into that same mentality when it comes to movies.  I may not like all the movies I watch but I always enjoy the experience especially if they are a bit weird.  A few weeks back I received a copy of Infinite Summer on DVD for review.  This was strange in itself as I had to pay for postage when I picked it up from the post office which I have never had to do before.  The movie looked interesting enough so I added it to my watch list.

     The film follows a young woman who tries a virtual dating app and meets a strange man who appears at her home, unwelcomed, in the middle of the night with a weird mask that is supposed to help her meditate.  Her friends warn her about trying it but she does anyway.  After using it she learns that her two friends tried it after her and are addicted to it.  As she further explores the meditation app and why her friends are so addicted, she learns from two federal agents that the man is sneaking drugs into his home made masks.

     I had received a press release for this one sometime back so I knew that it was going to be a mind trip type of story but it wasn't as trippy as I had expected.  In fact, it wasn't really that trippy.  It had an odd story but it was nowhere near as wild and strange as the artwork and trailer painted.  The acting in this one is very uneven.  The cast isn't bad but the characters are very unlikable.  We have some awkward scenes with stiff dialogue but I blame that on the writing.  The story for this one could have been a lot more enjoyable if it would have embraced the strange trippy aspects of the story.  Instead, what we have is a virtual reality inspired sci-fi flick that isn't very original.  I would have loved if the film focused more on the virtual reality around the meditation app rather than it does the drug aspect.  Finally, the film has a lot of visual effects that look surprisingly well done.  They do stand out but that is is the point of these visuals.  The film doesn't have any of the red stuff that we would like to see but we have a ton of visuals.  Overall, Infinite Summer was not what I was expecting.  Honestly, it was a bit dull for the most part that does not fully explore the part of the film that is the most interesting.  I wanted to like this one but it wasn't for me.  Skip it.  

I Hate My Body

Director - Leon Klimovsky (Devil's Possessed, Strange Love of the Vampires)

Starring - Alexandra Bastedo (Batman Begins, The Ghoul), Narciso Ibanez Menta (The Beast Must Die, The Night of the Werewolf), and Gemma Cuervo (Midsummer Dream, Rain for a Dusty Summer)

Release Date - 1974

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "The brain of a man... the body of a woman... the sexual horror story of our time!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Boutique labels do a lot for cinema history and preserving it.  They do so much for the horror community by restoring and releasing many forgotten films that either found themselves stuck in VHS or DVD era technology.  These labels also bring long forgotten foreign films to us as well.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro and CAV sent over the press release for the 1974 sci-fi horror flick from Spain titled I Hate My Body.  I was recently sent a box set from Severin featuring films from Spain around the same time so this release from Mondo Macabro really peaked my interest.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows a business man who is out of town for work when he suffers an accident.  He soon finds himself in a living nightmare when the doctor, a defacto Nazi doctor, places his brain inside the body of a beautiful young woman.  This completely changes his life for him.  His wife leaves him, he faces misogyny from his former peers, and his sex life is turned upside down.  

     I went into I Hate My Body completely blind and enjoyed the movie for the most part.  I don't typically care for the brain transplant style horror and sci-fi films but this one had some fun moments.  It's not a movie that I see myself revisiting but it was a solid first time watch.  The acting in this one is a bit clunky at times and very overdramatic at others.  The film is not grounded at all and the cast is inconsistent throughout.  The story for this one is more in line of an exploitation flick that points out the injustices that many women faced especially in the early 70s.  It's not really a horror film in a traditional sense but I'm sure it's a nightmare to live through.  The film has some solid pacing but a few of the scenes does drag on due to the stiff and awkward acting.  A little tighter editing would have went a long way.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  The film uses the story to get to the viewer.  With have some skin, a little practical effects for the hospital scenes and that is about the extent of it.  Fans expecting the red stuff going into this one will surely be disappointed.  Overall, I Hate My Body is a strange yet truly unique early 70s sci-fi horror flick that almost feels like a pro-feminism film.  It's not a movie that has great replay value but it's enjoyable for what it is.  Mondo Macabro did a fantastic job bringing this one to us uncultured heathens.  Check it out.  

I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season

Director - Elliott Scott (Frog Monster, Snow Beast: Blood Massacre)

Starring - Nur Alan, Elise Anderson, and Emily Antonyk (Gustov)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love all horror but I have a soft spot for no budget creature features.  Seeing a filmmaker turn something out of nothing is truly remarkable even if the film is not one that I found enjoyable.  A few weeks back I was browsing hashtags on Instagram when I came across the page for Splatter Films 69.  I decided to follow them and after a few days I found a message from the page with a link to I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season.  A no budget cryptid flick was just what I needed in my life so I decided to check it out.  I want to thank Splatter Films 69 for sending this one over!

     The film follows a small town cop who has arrested someone in connection to a string of murders.  However, they have the wrong guy as the real murderer is the infamous bigfoot.  With a knack for murder, he is still killing in the woods when the FBI gets involved which only gives him even more opportunity to murder.

      I went into I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season completely blind.  I knew absolutely nothing about it but that wouldn't have mattered.  I have no idea who this movie was made for but I would love to meet them so I can pick their brains because this movie is something else.  I don't mean that in a good way.  The acting in this one is the most confusing thing I've ever tried to review.  I'm a huge fan of Chris Seaver and his films so I'm very accustomed to acting being bad on purpose as a way to get laughs or cover inexperience.  However, this film features some of the stiffest performances I've seen in film.  The dialogue is flat and the cast shows zero emotion.  I can't tell if this was done on purpose or is the lack of experience and direction.  With that being said, if it was on purpose then it failed to deliver any laughs.  The story for this one is a sequel to I Believe in Bigfoot which I was unaware of at the time.  In this sequel we follow incompetent FBI agents as they scour the woods for clues to a murder investigation as they get picked off one by one by the elusive bigfoot.  I could really get behind a movie this simple around bigfoot especially if it was meant to be a horror comedy but I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season had zero laughs and the story went nowhere.  I plan on watching the first film in the next few weeks to see if that will help me with some of the questions I have.  Finally, don't go into this one expecting fun effects.  We have a bigfoot Halloween costume, a gun that looks like it's from a high school auxiliary team, and several lazy deaths with no imagination.  Overall, I Believe in Bigfoot: Mating Season is a film that has left me confused.  I hope it was meant to be funny but I couldn't find any humor in it.  I love a good bad movie but this one was damn near impossible to finish.  I can't tell you to skip it because I feel every genre fan has to sit through this one at least one time.  

I: Scream - A Minty Musical

Director - Aleen Isley (Curtains for Christmas, Head Case)

Starring - B. Barnabei (CarousHELL 3, Shingles: The Movie), Alex Hazen, and Marie Taylor 

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline -  "With 6 original songs"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love how horror is such a broad genre.  You can have something as light hearted as Ernest Scared Stupid or Halloweentown or you can go as extreme as August Underground and Let's Stop at the Morgue.  I love all horror but I do tend to gravitate toward the side of horror that focuses on humor and outlandish stories over gore with no plot.  That's something that I've said time and time again which has often drawn criticism from my peers.  Many believe that a movie with gorgeous gore and nudity is superior to a genre film that focuses more on story and character development.  Honestly, I would rather watch the Olsen Twin's movie Double Double Toil and Trouble over fake snuff flicks.  Sometime back I covered the upcoming horror comedy I:Scream - A Minty Musical from the extremely talented Aleen Isley.  This was her directorial debut and I was very interested in seeing the finish product.  A few weeks back she messaged me a link for the film and asked me to review.  I couldn't right away due to illness but as soon as I was able to, I jumped on it.  I want to thank Aleen for sending this one over!  

     The film follows a scientist who is trying to plan the perfect ice cream date for their friend.  However, things didn't go according to plan and she leaves for a game leaving the ice cream behind where a chemical is accidentally spilled into the delicious frozen treat.  The ice cream is transformed into a treat that begins terrorizing the small community.  As the bodies pile up, grizzled detective Barry Griswold (Steve Rudzinski) starts piecing together the pieces everything together while survivors band together with a former ice cream vendor to stop the mint chocolate menace.  

     I:Scream is a movie that I was not expecting to love as much as I did.  I don't mean any disrespect to Aleen and company but I'm not really a fan of musicals.  I know it's weird but I always feel awkward and embarrassed when I watch a musical.  My wife and kids love them and you can often hear them playing throughout the house but I have a hard time sitting through one.  However, that was not the case with I:Scream.  The songs didn't overstay their welcome, were actually catchy, and the story pulled me in.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven but not bad.  Director and actor Steve Rudzinski returns as a Griswold character from his highly successful Meowy series.  He brings a lot of energy to the film and the character he portrays is a lot of fun.  Also, we get some enjoyable performances from Alex Hazen, B. Barnabei, and David Dietz just to name a few.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles but there was a few instances where inexperience rears it's ugly head.  These scenes are not what I would consider bad but the dialogue is a bit awkward.  The story for one is very enjoyable.  We have a loving nod to 50s sci-fi with the obvious being the classic genre mash-up of The Blob that blends in musicals, comedy, and the Meowy-verse into something truly unique especially in a time where a lot of the indie productions I've reviewed recently have been inspired by 80s horror.  The movie is funny, has great pacing, and the songs are not overused.  In fact, the songs are somewhat catchy and fit the film very well.  Finally, this isn't a bloody film.  The film doesn't try to give us memorable deaths and buckets of gore.  We have some clever props for the killer ice cream that works for the style of film but those looking for the red stuff may be a bit disappointed.  Overall, I:Scream - A Minty Musical is the most fun I've had with a movie in sometime.  It's not a movie that tries to redefine a genre or wants to be something it's not.  Instead, it's an entertaining film from a very talented filmmaker.  While I do enjoy watching Aleen in front of the camera, I'm looking forward to her next outing behind it.  I highly recommend checking this one out.  

     

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.  

The Ibiza Connection

Director - Howard Arundel (Gunpowder, Dangerous Lady)

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

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

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.    

I Am Frigid...Why?

Director - Max Pecas (Brigade of Death, I Am a Nymphomaniac)

Starring - Sandra Julien (The Shiver of the Vampires, House of Cruel Dolls), Marie-Goerges Pascal (5 Kittens, Good Little Girls), and Jean-Luc Terrade (Dossier 51, Bel Ordure)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "She was hot ice... learn how she melts"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sexploitation may not be everyone's cup of tea.  In fact, I've met an handful of fans over the years and while I am fairly knew to the exploitation sub-genre, I've been fortunate enough to review dozens of these films over the years.  It's a sub-genre that I never expected to like but once I dipped my toes in, so to speak, I was absolutely hooked.  Not many boutique labels cater to this type of filth but companies like Mondo Macabro has released several must see titles from the exploitation heyday.  Recently, they sent over a double feature of works from Max Pecas.  The films, I Am a Nymphomaniac and I Am Frigid....Why?, feature similar stories but told from very different aspects.  After I watched the first film in the set I quickly made my way to the second.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a young woman who finds herself being taken advantage of by a man and his sister.  This destroys her sex drive so she resorts to sleeping with everyone she can in hopes of re-awakening her sex drive.  

     I Am Frigid...Why? is a solid sexploitation film that does foster similarities to the other film included in this double feature.  Both of these films are rather enjoyable, especially for a first time watch, but I don't see myself revisiting them anytime in the near future.  These are the types of films that you can watch once every decade or so but anymore than that will leave you feeling a bit bored.  The acting in these fit the film very well but there was several scenes where the cast just didn't feel that dedicated to the film.  While these scenes were short in nature, they do stick with the viewer and become somewhat unintentionally funny.  The remainder of the film is well acted which makes these scenes in particular stand out more than normal.  The story for this one has a lot of similarities to I Am a Nymphomaniac.  The film follows a woman who suffers a traumatic experience and is sent down a lustful path in order to cure herself.  In I Am a Nymphomaniac, a woman suffers a horrible fall and awakens a nympho.  In this film, a woman is abused by a man and his sister and turns to sex in order to rekindle her sex drive.  While both stories are similar in that regard, they are very much different in how the scenarios play out.  We get a lot of sleaze and a surprisingly large amount of character development.  It's a well written film that has great pacing and a lot of skin to look at.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick that most of my readers would expect.  While the one scene may be unnerving for some, the remainder of the film is more mellow with lots of skin to look at.  Fans of sleaze will truly appreciate this one.  Overall, I Am Frigid...Why? is a solid sexploitation film.  It's not one that has a lot of replay value but if you are looking for something a bit different then this one is for you.  

I Am a Nymphomaniac

Director - Max Pecas (Sweet Taste of Honey, Brigade of Death)

Starring - Sandra Julien (House of Cruel Dolls, Freddy), Janine Reynaud (Two Undercover Angels, Operation White Shark), and Yves Vincent (Surprise Party, Knights of Terror)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "You have read about it.  The Sensuous Teenager is now a motion picture"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Exploitation cinema is one of the main reasons behind why I started writing reviews.  I wanted to cover forgotten direct to video action flicks and the thousands of exploitation films lost to time.  I've always been fond of exploitation flicks with blaxploitation and hixploitation being my favorite sub-genres of it.  When I started my run writing reviews I never expected to find sexploitation flicks sent to my mailbox for review but over the years I've reviewed dozens, if not hundreds of them.  Hell, I've actually enjoyed most of them when I reviewed them.  A few weeks ago Mondo Macabro sent over a double feature of I Am a Nymphomaniac and I Am Frigid...Why?  The first one of the chopping block was I Am a Nymphomaniac which was originally releases as The Sensuous Teenager.  Like always, I want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     This one follows a beautiful young woman who sees a man for the first time and finds herself becoming hot and bothered.  Not paying attention to where she is going, she falls down some stairs and hits her head.  She walks away from the accident with minor injuries but the incident forever changes her.  A once prude woman, she is now consumed with sex and tries frantically to screw everyone she can while trying to live a rather normal life.

     I went into this one completely blind aside from the fact that it was an erotic drama.  It wasn't until I wa putting my review together that I saw that it was directed by Max Pecas who also directed Brigade of Death, or Death Squad, that was also released by Mondo Macabro.  I was lucky enough to review this several months back and really enjoyed it and was surprised to see that he helmed both of these films.  I Am a Nymphomaniac is a solid sexploitation flick that does rely heavily on the sleaze but still delivers a decent enough story.  The acting in this one is great.  You will see several familiar faces from genre films and they all give it their all.  With that being said, no one in this film will be winning awards for their performances but they are still solid especially for a skin flick.  The story for this one id so fucking clever for a sexploitation flick.  A stuck up woman hits her head and becomes sex crazed.  That's absolutely brilliant and instead of that being the end of the film we get the added stress and drama you would expect from a person obsessed with sex as they try to hold down a real job and so on.  It's a well written film that does a great job holding the viewer's attention.  Finally, no blood in this one for you sick fucks.  Instead, a lot of skin and some moaning for the other sick fucks.  Overall, I Am a Nymphomaniac is a surprising fun skin flick that has one of the most fitting stories I've seen this far in my writing career.  I highly recommend snagging a copy from Mondo Macabro.  

The Invisible Raptor

Director - Mike Hermosa (Dutch Hollow, The Righteous and the Wicked)

Starring - Sean Astin (Encino Man, The Stranger Things), Mike Capes (From Jennifer, Bachelor Party Massacre), and Sandy Martin (Speed, Jawbreaker)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "You'll never see it coming"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love reviewing movies that are odd and not for everyone.  In fact, the weirder and stranger the film, the more likely it is that I will want to see it.  Its when goofy humor and imagination come together to create something memorable.  A few weeks ago I was sent a press release for the film The Invisible Raptor.  I typically don't watch trailers for films sent my way but I wanted to see if this was something I wanted to see.  The title did intrigue me but I wasn't impressed by the film's poster.  However, I was sold on the film after watching the trailer.  I quickly reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review link.  

     The film follows a washed up archeologist who works for an amusement park and the security guard who find themselves in the middle of the biggest discovery in history when people are found ripped apart or missing and a pile of shit in their place.  They soon uncover a conspiracy by a local corporation to cover up one of their experiments when an invisible raptor escaped from their facility and is wreaking havoc all over town. 

     The Invisible Raptor was a lot of fun and fans of Spielberg and drive-in cinema will enjoy.  However, those looking for a fun sci-fi comedy may not appreciate it as much.  It has a lot of hang ups that stops it from being the best movie it could be but it's still worth a watch.  The acting in this one was a lot of fun.  Sean Astin makes a short appearance in the film.  I knew his screen time would be short lived when I saw his name and picture on the press release and poster.  It's one of the biggest marketing plows low budget films use and it's a damn shame.  I would have loved to see more of his character in the film.  With that being said, the rest of the cast is still solid.  The characters are enjoyable and the cast does a great job at giving them memorable personalities.  There was a few scenes where the dialogue was rushed through and had very little conviction behind it.  Luckily, these scenes are few and doesn't really take away from the overall film.  The story for this one reminds me a lot of the cheap drive in "invisible" films of the late 60s and early 70s meets fans of Steven Spielberg.  The drive-in invisible film trend seems to have begun with a few invisible hits in Japan that spawned some cheap knock offs here in the states.  Instead of spending money of special effects for the creature in question, they would say that it was invisible and just act out their scene as if its there.  Honestly, it's funny to a fault but the joke runs it's course fairly early on.  The same can be said for the movie itself.  The way the story unfolds is just too damn long.  The scene where the co-workers have a falling out and split up has no place in the film.  It ruins the pacing of the film and does absolutely nothing to move the story along.  Finally, the film is full of visual effects that are rather cheap but do insight several laughs.  The movie doesn't shy away from the blood but that is about it aside from the visuals.  Overall, The Invisible Raptor may not be making anyone's favorite films of the year lists but it's still a fun one to watch.  Check it out.  

Invaders from Proxima B

Director - Ward Roberts (Dust Up, Pro-Ana)

Starring - Ward Roberts, Jeremiah Birkett (The American Society of Magical Negroes, Lucifer), and Samantha Sloyan (The Midnight Club, Midnight Mass)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Tagline - "Fun for all ages"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been a horror fan for as long as I can remember but there was a time when I was renting anything and everything I could at my local video store. Dewey's Video was a huge part of my childhood and so were films like Mac and Me, Spaced Invaders, Critters, *batteries not included, and Invaders from Mars. I've always had a soft spot for sci-fi flicks with little aliens. I still find myself going out of my way to watch other movies like those from that time that I may have missed growing up. A few weeks ago, I started receiving press releases for a sci-fi comedy called Invaders from Proxima B and it caught my attention. The invader was clearly a puppet and the trailer looked extremely fun. I reached out and was able to secure a screening link for it before it was released. 

      The film follows a man who witnesses something fall from the sky one evening at his home. He finds what looks like a small spacecraft of some kind but unable to find anyone or anything near it. The next day, he finally meets the pilot when he is introduced to a strange creature from Proxima B who has come to Earth to protect all life on the planet as Earth prepares to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. 

      I was really looking forward to checking out Invaders from Proxima B but about 15 minutes or so after hitting play I realized that I was in for a tough sit. As much as I wanted to like the film, I just couldn't find anything enjoyable in it. The acting in this one is hit or miss with me. I've reviewed dozens of family friendly horror, sci-fi, comedy, and dramas over the years so I'm accustomed to acting aimed at children. However, here the acting is a bit absurd and extremely overdramatic. Most of the cast have a lot of energy and great on-screen presence but they try to be characters you would find in television show for kids. I've watched enough Blippi with my kids and would like something a bit more original. The story for this one was actually pretty clever and one I could really get behind. The entire planet being auctioned off to other advanced civilizations for various reasons is very imaginative with near limitless possibilities. However, having a little hand puppet there to save the day with alien hunters and so forth chasing them just felt like a missed opportunity. I was so looking forward to something like Alien Planet with more aliens and humor instead of Blippi with a puppet. Finally, the film makes great use of visual effects. They do look cheap, but I honestly enjoyed them, and it added some much-needed color to the film. Overall, Invaders from Proxima B was a big disappointment. I was really looking forward to a fun family friendly flick with a puppet for an alien but that was not the case. The film just felt off from the very beginning and couldn't pull it together before the credits rolled.

In a Violent Nature

Director - Chris Nash (Liplock, My Main Squeeze)

Starring - Ry Barrett (Beyond the Chamber of Terror, The Hoard), Andrea Pavlovic (Become the Wounded, Nosocomephilia), Cameron Love (American Mystery, An Unexpected Killer)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Nature is unforgiving"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've heard genre fans say this is the time for the horror film and I may be obligated to believe them. I've been a champion of indie cinema for decades now and while that does make me feel old, I refuse to turn my back on these passionate and imaginative filmmakers. I love indie horror and how these filmmakers can turn scripts with no budgets into something truly remarkable. That's why I would often turn my back on pop horror. These mindless films often catered to investors pockets instead of the horror fan but that hasn't really been the case in recent years with films like X, Pearl, The Black Phone, Barbarian, and Late Night with the Devil. I recently saw an ad for In a Violent Nature and then a few days later I received a press release featuring some lobby cards they released for the film. I watched the trailer and found myself seriously wanting to see it, so I reached out to them about reviewing it. A few days went by, but I eventually received a link for an online screener. As soon as I finished Isleen Pines I immediately hit play on this one. 

      The film follows a deranged killer that is awakened when a group of campers bother his final resting place near an abandoned fire tower. Now he is making his way through the woods that he lived and died in killing everyone he crosses paths with in the most brutal fashion imaginable. 

      I'm typically the last to see a theatrical release because I rarely rush to theaters for something. Most pop horror films are a bit of a disappointment if you ask me, but I have been surprised by several the last few years. In a Violent Nature is another one that surpassed my expectations. I know this will be a polarizing film among genre fans but if you have patience then this one will pay off. The acting in this one fits the film very well and works but it's acting in a traditional sense. Due to the way the film was shot, the cast is acting out their scene but not always necessarily on camera. I liked the characters we get but the star of the show is the killer... well, his back anyway. The story for this one is nothing we havent seen before but what makes it stand out is the way it was shot. What we have is a story that feels like one of the later Friday the 13th sequels shot almost exclusively from Jason's perspective. We follow an undead slasher who is awakened by teens or twenty-somethings looking to party in the woods. However, instead of following the victims as they are picked off one by one, we follow the killer as he goes about his maniacal business. While I did love this aspect of the film and could easily watch an entire franchise this way, I did find several of the scenes to be extremely drawn out for no reason. I understand the shot and what they were wanting to achieve but it did make for several dull scenes. Finally, this film has some of the most memorable and imaginative kills in slasher history. The on-screen deaths are extremely violent, gory, and very out there. Hell, some of the deaths, while showcasing a lot of imagination and creativity, are so absurd that they almost feel campy and out of place with the film. The effects are top notch, and you couldn't ask for a gorier slasher but some of the kills are so out there that it makes them go against the tone of the film. Overall, In a Violent Nature is one of those horror films that tries to reinvent the genre, or sub-genre, with a new spin on it. While I loved the way it was done and how it approached the slasher sub-genre, I don't see this being a trend that will stick. I would absolutely love to see more in this universe, but I would not want to see every slasher pick this up after seeing this. I absolutely loved it and hope we get another film in this series.

Isleen Pines

Director(s) - Matthew Festle (Hacked, Jackson and Matt's Halloween Investigation #3) and Alexys Paonessa (Party of Darkness)

Starring - Naiia Lajoie (The Gingerweed Man, Alien Apocalypse), Darren Deng (Spoonful of Sugar, The Last Night), and Jackson Turner (Found Footage of Fear, Meathook Massacre Part VI: Bloodline)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Halloween will never be the same!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's hard to believe that the pandemic started a little over four years ago now. In early 2020 the world as we knew it would cease to exist with things still not returned to "normal" as most businesses have adopted new practices that were brought about from the pandemic. During that first year of the shutdown, I befriended filmmaker Matthew Festle on Facebook as he was promoting his found footage/pandemic inspired film Hacked. I'm not a fan of found footage flicks but I gave it a watch and was surprised by how much I liked it. Fast forward a few years and Matthew hits me up again to review another film. I quickly said yes and before I knew it a copy of the film arrived on my doorstep... well, the po box but the point remains the same. I couldn't wait to check out his newest film Isleen Pines and I once again want to thank Matthew for sending this one my way! 

      The film follows a small town as everyone gets together for their annual Halloween party and costume contest. However, on the way to the party one of them finds something strange on the sidewalk. When he touches it he finds himself infected with something other-worldly. Soon, party goers start going missing and before long a sinister creature crashes the party killing everyone in its path.

      The artwork on the blu release of Isleen Pines really made my imagination work overtime. I absolutely loved the indie comic art that featured the cast of characters fighting the creature from the film. I knew nothing about the film, but that artwork showed me everything I needed to know prior to going into it. Honestly, I loved this movie but it's nowhere near as cool as the artwork the blu release is sporting. The acting in this one is really enjoyable. While some of the characters are written better than others, the acting is pretty consistent through the entire film. The cast did a wonderful job working with each other and making the scene as entertaining as possible. The story for this one is a lot of fun especially if you are a fan of 90s made for television Halloween flicks and the 10/31 trilogy. A group of twenty-somethings getting together to celebrate Halloween with some cheap beer and cheaper costumes is a simple start to any Halloween flick and I respect it. Then throw in an evil monster and you have an effective horror film set during our favorite holiday. I loved how the story centered around so many different characters without over-complicating the plot. It has great pacing, fun dialogue, and one hell of a credit scene. Finally, the film makes very light on the practical effects until the very end of the film. It's here that we have a body count with some blood and fun effects. They are far from perfect, but they work for this film. Overall, Isleen Pines doesn't try to reinvent the Halloween horror sub-genre but wants to add to it another quality film that you can watch annually. It succeeds and deserves to be watching each year as the leaves fall and you start welcoming the trick or treaters. Check it out.

Inverted

Director - Tristan Clay (Red Eye, USED)

Starring - Jennifer Nagle (Gone with the Dead, Amityville Apt.), Kaici Lore (The Dark Web Tapes), and Destinie Orndoff (Red Hollow, The Haunting of Mia Moss)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Join the cult or fight to survive"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Most of you know by this point that I was born in the mid-80s and grew up during the video store heyday. I remember going to Dewey's Video every Friday evening after school and loading up on tapes to watch through the weekend. While I've always been a fan of horror, I'm obsessed with 80's cinema in general. I would rent 80s action, drama, comedy, and romance. I didn't care as long as it was made in the 80s. Hell, I'm still like that to this day. However, as I got older, I've found myself really interested in 70s exploitation and horror flicks especially those centered around cults and the whole Satanic Panic scare. This started when I stumbled on the William Shatner lead film The Devil's Rain, and others like Enter the Devil, Satan's Cheerleaders, and Race with the Devil. This was why I was excited when I received an email for the 70's inspired occult horror film Inverted that featured my good friend Roman Jossart as director of photography asking to review the film. I quickly worked it into my schedule and decided to hit play when I finished watching the blu release of the 1997 adaption of Stephen King's The Shining. I want to thank director Tristan Clay for sending this one over for review. 

      The film follows a group of strangers who are brought together by two women and sent through several "trials" as forced initiations to join their cult. The two ladies are looking for the strongest of the group as their build their cult in preparations of the second coming of Christ. As their group gets smaller and smaller, one of them refuses to submit to their twisted games and is about to fight back before she is forced to join. 

      I went into Inverted completely blind as to what it was aside from what was included in the email when I was asked to review it. I prefer to go into a movie knowing absolutely nothing about it to avoid preconceived notions or ideas about the film. This worked in favor for Inverted. I enjoyed it quite a bit but it's an indie production that is far from perfect. The acting in this one is great. The cast features a wide range of characters, and the cast does a great job at portraying them. The film has several standout performances from names like Destinie Orndoff, Dixie Gers, Maria Olsen, Susan Lanier, and Bryan Kruse just to name a few. However, the two that really stood out to me were Jennifer Nagle and Kaici Lore. These two were amazing together. Their energy matched each other and the way they fed off each other made their scenes even more enjoyable. The story for this one is predictable and repetitive but I found myself enjoying it for the most part. I loved the characters and how developed they are along with the location that the story mostly takes place. Any horror film set in the woods plays on my love for the mountains in which I grew up. When you toss in the cult angle then you have my full undivided attention. I was fully invested in Inverted, but I did find it to be very predictable and the torture scenes did get a bit repetitive. In fact, some of them could have been cut and it would have no impact on the overall story. Finally, the film has a lot of blood and several deaths but nothing that will really stand out with the viewer. The gags that we do get are classic effects like the notched machete and slit throat but that's the extent of it. Overall, Inverted is a solid attempt at paying tribute to a time when films about Satan were very common. I enjoyed it as it is, but I would have loved to see some memorable deaths and some of the scenes trimmed down. Check it out.