Touch Me

Director - Addison Heimann (Jeff Drives You, Hypochondriac)

Starring - Olivia Taylor Dudley (Dude Bro Party Massacre III, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls), Lou Taylor Pucci (Evil Dead, Daredevil: Born Again), and Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black, Hacks)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I fucking love weird movies.  I grew up watching the weird shit Moonbeam was releasing for kids and that really stuck with me.  I love oddball horror and will go out of my way to watch any that I cross paths with.  Case in point.  A few weeks back I received a press release for the sci-fi comedy inspired by b-horror movies of yesteryear titled Touch Me.  I immediately noticed that the film starred Olivia Taylor Dudley and Lou Taylor Pucci which made me very interested in the film.  Dudley was in one of my favorite horror films of recent years, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls while Pucci made his mark on horror with his performance in 2013's Evil Dead.  

     The film follows Joey (Dudley) and her roommate Craig (Gavaris) who find themselves in a shitty situation when sewage begins spewing up from their shower drain.  Unable to pay the repairs, they find themselves at the generosity of one of Joey's lovers, Brian (Pucci), who is actually an alien who is able to control people's emotions with a single touch.  He seems to have it all, hired help that will do anything for him, a sprawling estate, and the secret touch that is other-worldly.  However, the longer they stay with them, the more Joey suspects that something nefarious is in the works and Brian has a more sinister plan than just pleasing humans.  

     Touch Me is nothing like I was expecting but I did enjoy it at times.  It was still odd but it's not as odd as the story could have been.  Honestly, I was expecting a bit more 90s sci-fi influence with some what the fuck moments but the movie we were given isn't all that bad.  The acting in this one was great.  Dudley and Gavaris are fantastic together. Their on screen chemistry carries every scene they are in.  With that being said, Pucci makes the film.  His performance had me in stitches and the random dance scenes are absolutely brilliant.  I really look forward to seeing him in more genre pieces.  The story for this one is more dramedy than anything but it does have a few horror elements and a lot of sci-fi.  The film itself does struggle with pacing and a lot of the scenes are not that consistent but I do enjoy the ride we are given.  Finally, the film has some practical effects and a lot of visuals.  Honestly, the visuals look great and enhance the scene while the practical effects are solid.  We get a lot of blood at times but the film does it in such a way that we are more concerned with the story itself instead of those scenes.  Overall, Touch Me is not something I would recommend to someone looking for a horror title.  However, if you want a horny sci-fi flick then this one is for you.  Check it out.  

Toe Tags

Director(s) - Irene Baruffetti (6 Songs, Vore Gore), Cory DeAn Cowley (Phallacies, Patient 4), Domiziano Cristopharo (Ill: Final Contagion, Phantasmagoria), Jon Devlin (Erecting a Monster, Punching the Clown), Adam Ford (Torment, Analogies), and Peter Lankston (Phallacies, Analogies)

Starring - Irene Baruffetti, Cory DeAn Cowley, and Jon Devlin

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago I befriended actor and director Jon Devlin.  He was looking for people to review an action flick he was in.  I was impressed by his acting skill and soon found myself reviewing other films he had appeared in and directed.  Sometime ago I reviewed the male membered horror anthology Phallacies featuring a segment from him and several other filmmakers.  He continued this theme with the recent release of Analogies before this most recent anthology about a sexualized body part, Toe Tags.  Devlin reached out to me to check it out and I couldn't pass it up.  Thanks Jon for reaching out!

     This anthology focuses mostly on feet.  We have a tale following a woman that inherits her mother's shoes, a trans-woman wanting the perfect pair of feet, a child gets revenge against their abusive father, a mentally il person suffering a break, a man dancing with a ghost, and a mermaid wishing she still had her majestic tail. 

     I knew this one was going to absurd but I was hoping that it would embrace the nature of the film a bit more.  A horror anthology trying to remove the sexual taboo from feet could have been something pretty funny in it's own right.  However, what we have is a movie that takes itself a bit too seriously at times and is not as extreme as they would like to be.  The acting in this one is fairly even throughout.  The cast in this one is very broad but they all have experience in front of the camera for the most part.  We get some solid performances throughout every segment which is fairly uncommon among indie horror anthologies where each segment is directed by someone different.  The stories for this one varies greatly.  We have some pretty solid horror shorts with some that feel a bit out of place.  Most of them all follow the foot theme in one way another but not all were created equal.  With that being said, the first and second stories were probably my favorite while the last two tales were not that enjoyable.  I hate to be that way but they just wasn't for me.  Some are original to an extent while others try too hard to feel complex and thought provoking without actually being either of those.  Honestly, I wish we had a horror comedy centered around a foot fetish.  Finally, the film has several shorts with some blood and decent enough effects.  Don't expect to see a movie with insane gore and memorable deaths but you will see some blood along with some fun animation.  Overall, Toe Tags will not be for everyone.  I enjoyed parts of it but the film as a whole was not for me.  Fans of Devlin's previous anthologies will dig it but someone looking for something new may not enjoy it.  

Tahkhana

Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Veerana, Neighbours) and Tulsi Ramsay (Purana Mandir, Telephone)

Starring - Hemant Birje (Smart Killer, Tarzan's Daughter), Kamran Rizvi (Main Hoon Sherni, Din Dahade), and Arti Gupta (Saamri, Haadsaa)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Horror

Format - Blu (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was bitten by the horror bug in middle school and found myself fully embracing the genre by high school.  These years really shaped my taste in horror as I found myself becoming obsessed with no budget and indie productions.  However, as I grow older, I find myself becoming surprised by just how diverse my taste in the genre has become.  Several years back I found  a copy of Mahakaal from Massacre Video.  This movie is known to genre fans as the Indian or Bollywood Freddy Krueger.  I fucking loved it and watched it many times.   This opened me up to more Bollywood horror with companies like Mondo Macabro spearheading this passion.  Sometime ago Mondo Macabro released the Hindi horror double feature with the first film being the 1986 film Tahkhana which was also known as The Dungeon.  I couldn't wait to check it out and like always I want to thank Mondo Macabro and CAV for sending this one over.

     The film follows an evil man who dabbles in black magic as he vows to end his family's lineage when his dying father leaves everything to his brother.  He tries to kidnap his niece and nephew but is unable to get them both.  We jump forward several decades and his niece, unaware of her evil uncle, sets out with some friends to investigate a local legend unaware of how close she is to it.

     There is nothing on this planet like Hindi/Bollywood horror and that is something I will stand by the rest of my life.  These movies seem to follow a formula but they are just so much fun especially when compared to their western counterparts.  Tahkhana is another solid and memorable horror outing that is almost as enjoyable as some of the others that I've fell in love with.  The acting in this one is extremely campy in the very best way.  The characters are colorful and very dramatic with the cast doing a wonderful job with their performances.  With that being said, some of the later scenes don't have the energy as the earlier scenes which does take away from the camp. I don't know if everyone was tired or directing was ore laid back but this part of the film just doesn't have what the first two thirds had.  The story for this one is exactly what I would expect from a Hindi horror flick.  We have an evil relative who does black magic, a collective of colorful characters and that wonderful 80s flare.  We do have some pacing issues and the ending not being as energized as the rest of the film but it's still very enjoyable as it is.  Finally, I love the make-up in this one.  The kills have some of the red stuff an simple practical effects but the make-up for the evil uncle just looks awesome. Overall, Tahkhana is great entry in a severally underrated regional genre that many horror fans will never experience.  I highly recommend this film and this release from Mondo Macabro.  Check it out.  

Trip to Bankgok, Coffin Included

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

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

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Action/Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

That House in the Outskirts

Director - Eugenio Martin (Horror Express, A Candle for the Devil)

Starring - Javier Escriva (Climax, Forbidden Love Game), Silvia Aguilar (Jaguar Lives!, The Night of the Werewolf), and Alida Valli (Suspiria, Eyes Without a Face)

Release Date - 1980

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've slowly made my way through the Exorcismo to this point when I tossed in the 1980 horror film Aquella Casa en las Afueras which is in the set as That House in the Outskirts.  This is a title that I knew absolutely nothing about but the title did absolutely nothing for me.  I decided to look at the poster for this one before I hit play on it and was once again not impressed by it.  I start to think this was going to be a lame ass movie with no imagination but I was wrong.  It was a simple film that had a lot of tension that absolutely worked.

     The film follows a woman who is expecting as she travels to a mansion her husband has rented on the outskirts of Spain.  They plan on delivering the baby there but she is shocked when she realizes that the place he has rented was once an illegal clinic that was secretly performing abortions several years before where she had one prior to meeting her husband.  To make matters worse, one of the residents of the mansion is the former assistant of the doctor that performed the abortions.  Now, the expecting mother is forced to relive the experience while trying to stay calm during her pregnancy only for the former assistant, now suffering from schizophrenia, sends her late term pregnancy into madness.

    I went into That House in the Outskirts expecting a generic and unforgettable but that was not the case.  It was a well craft atmospheric horror thriller that had a simple story that was very effective.  Honestly, I wish it had a catchier title and artwork that stirred your imagination because it really deserves your attention.  The acting in this one is very consistent but very middle of the road.  The entire cast is on the same page and deliver some solid performances but no one really delivers something memorable.  The characters are very well written and fit the story very well but the performances are not near what I was expecting.  The story for this one is very clever for what it is but it is somewhat on the goofy side.  A man renting out a mansion for his wife to relax during the last leg of her pregnancy is kind of sweet.  However, having this big spacious manor being the location of an illegal abortion clinic is a bit of a stretch.  However, if you can look past this then you have a solid story with a bit uneven pacing.  It's fun and I really appreciate the story for what it is.  Finally, this one doesn't have any blood for genre fans to enjoy.  The movie relies heavily on the story and character development over blood and guts.  Overall, That House in the Outskirts is a great entry in the Exorcismo set.  I loved the story and the characters but the acting is a bit lackluster, Regardless, it was a lot of fun.  Check it out.  

Triangle of Lust

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

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

Release Date - 1978

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Tales of Dracula 2: Dracula Meets the Werewolf

Director - Joe DeMuro (Tales of Dracula) 

Starring - Wayne W. Johnson (Night of Something Strange, Star Trek Phase II), Tom Delillo (Cyberkill, Hollow's Ridge), and Olga N. Bogdanova (Graveyard Shark, Castle Rock)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The fang and claw death match!"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been reviewing films over here at Horror Society for over a decade but it doesn't feel like it has been that long.  Honestly, it feels like it has been a handful of years at most but that is about it.  It's crazy to think that I've been here for as long as I have and I'm grateful the opportunities that writing for the site has presented to me.  September of this year made exactly ten years ago that I reviewed the indie tribute to Universal monster movies Tales of Dracula from director Joe DeMuro.  It doesn't feel like it had been that long but I just looked up my review of the film and was shocked by the date.  The reason I'm talking about this is because Joe recently sent me a copy of the film's sequel, Tales of Dracula 2: Dracula Meets the Werewolf.  I knew I had seen it but didn't remember a lot about it so I turned to my review to familiarize myself with the film.  Once I did that I was ready to dive into this sequel.

     The film follows a man who has been marked by the curse of the werewolf to transform into a heinous creature every full moon with an insatiable appetite for flesh.  He partners with a group of Ramani people to destroy Count Dracula with an ancient cross but betrays them when Dracula promises to cure him of his curse.  Things then take an unexpected twist when Dracula crosses paths with his brother, the original werewolf.

     I went into Tales of Dracula 2 after rereading my review for the first film and then revisiting it.  I liked the first film.  It's a solid tribute to the classic Universal monster movies while giving viewers a somewhat original story.  I went into the sequel hoping I would be getting more of what we had already established in the first film but that wasn't the case. The movie had a solid start but wasn't able to follow up with that.   The acting in this is a bit uneven but not bad.  Wayne W. Johnson is a man that has appeared in several films that I've reviewed over the years, including one of my favorite indie horror flicks Night of Something Strange, and he always does a solid job.  He goes above and beyond to get into character with this one but his dialogue was so bad.  I love campy and cheesy horror but the dialogue given to his character just didn't work.  It almost felt like a parody of the drive-in era Dracula films that were a dime a dozen back then.  It doesn't fit the film and created some unintentional humor for the most part.  Tom Delillo returns as the man cursed by the werewolf and delivers another solid performance as well.  He does a great job at pulling on the viewer's heartstrings which may be exactly what I said in my review for the first film but it still holds true here.  The supporting cast is hit or miss but they all suffer from extremely awkward dialogue that doesn't fit the look of the film at all.  The story for this one is not enough for a feature length film.  It runs for around an hour but some of it could be trimmed down to about 40ish minutes.  With that being said, the story kind of goes nowhere.  Dracula prevents his assassination by a werewolf only to fight his brother who was the first werewolf.  I liked the lore that was provided but it's not fully explored as I would have liked.  I feel like the story had more planned and something happened preventing them from giving us their original vision.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects that look great with a lot of traditional methods used to give viewers that classic Universal monster magic.  However, if you want blood and gore then you will be very disappointed.  Overall, Tales of Dracula 2 doesn't live up to the first film.  It does miss it's mark and feel incomplete.  I wanted to like this one but just couldn't.  Skip it.  

Terror-Creatures from the Grave

Director - Massimo Pupillo (Bloody Pit of Horror, Django Kills Softly)

Starring - Barbara Steele (Nightmare Castle, Shivers), Walter Brandi (The Vampire and the Ballerina, The Playgirls and the Vampire), and Mirella Maravidi (Behind the Mask of Zorro, Three Bites of the Apple)

Release Date - 1965

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "They rise from dank coffins in the DEAD OF NIGHT to inflict AN EVIL CURSE OF DOOM, murdering their victims in an ORGY OF SLAUGHTER!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5): 

     It seems like I've found myself reviewing a handful of films from the middle to late-60s up into the 70s.  It's not often that I get to review films this old and really look forward to it but it is strange that I've had so many to review the last week or so.  My friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the Greek sexploitation flicks Sexomania and Lady Desire.  At the same time the fine folks over at Severin sent me copies of The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can't Sing.  It wasn't much longer after that I received their Danza Macabra Volume 4: The Italian Gothic Collection box set with even more 60s and 70s fun.  I couldn't wait to check it and went with the first film in the set which is the 1965 film Terror-Creatures from the Grave.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one along.  

     The film follows a lawyer who visits the estate of a doctor after receiving a letter telling him the exact date and time to be there.  The letter was intended for his partner but he was away on business.  He decided to go in his place because the letter seemed very important.  However, once he arrives he discovers that the doctor passed way almost a year ago to the date and the remaining family, his daughter and her step-mother, have just returned to the villa after being away.  He soon learns that the doctor died after a horrible fall and was once a spiritualist who thought he had command over the spirits on the property which once served as a dumping ground during the black plague.  As he questions why his partner was asked to be there by a doctor no longer living, he uncovers that everyone that signed as a witness to his death has died horrible accidents besides two and soon learns that it was not an accident and his partner was involved with a murder.

     Terror-Creatures from the Grave is a title that I've always loved but never took the time to actually watch.  Honestly, I love the title and always thought it was a fucking phenomenal name for a horror punk band.  However, it wasn't until I hit play on the film that I realized that I had seen the film before.  Many years ago I was sent the Nightmare Castle release from Severin and this film just happened to be one of the special features on that release.  I don't remember watching it but I remembered the film very well which is weird considering I really enjoyed it.  It's a beautifully shot film that does a fantastic job at building tension and atmosphere.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  It is definitely a product of it's time with some overdramatic performances but that is to be expected from films of the time.  The characters are very well written and while many of them are a bit cliched, the cast does a great job at portraying them.  The story for this one is one I really dig.  We have a conspiracy around an accidental death, a little bit of history mixed in with the black death, and then the supernatural aspect.   It starts out almost like a slasher before switching gears and hitting us with a great supernatural tale set against the fantastic gothic architecture and brooding atmosphere.  It works for the most part.  A few of the scenes are a bit slow with one or two being just filler that do absolutely nothing for the plot.  A little bit of trimming could have fixed the pacing in this one.  Finally, the film has a few deaths with some make-up effects but nothing that stands out.  The black death victims look like lepers but they don't look bad.  While the make-up effects are decent, nothing in this regard really stands out or is memorable. Overall, Terror-Creatures from the Grave is the kind of film that I really enjoy.  I love well put together gothic tales done in black and white.  This one really sells the atmosphere and I adore the story.  I highly recommend checking this one out!  

     

The Toxic Avenger

Director - Macon Blair (The Lowdown, Room 104)

Starring - Peter Dinklage (Pixels, Dexter: Resurrection), Jacob Tremblay (Harley Quinn, Pete the Cat), and Taylour Paige (Brothers, IT: Welcome to Derry)

Release Date - 2023/2025

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "The hero we need now!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a Troma fan and that is no secret to those that have been reading my review for sometime now.  For a short period of time I reviewed a Troma release a week until I just didn't have time for it anymore but I miss it.  I miss the no budget and low brow humor, the off the wall stories, the campy acting, and the unforgettable characters.  My introduction to Troma, like many of us born in the 80s and raised in the 90s, was with the film that put Troma on the map.  That film, 1984's The Toxic Avenger, is a movie that shaped my taste in film and a movie that has stuck with me my entire life.  I was excited when I received news that Legendary was remaking Troma's classic superhero film and had zero doubts about it.  Legendary has done right by me with their Godzilla films and I knew Toxie was in good hands.  That was until I heard the film was getting shelved.  That was around last year I believe and over time I would see random social media posts pop up about getting petitions going calling for the release of the film and so on.  I don't know if the movie finally getting a release is the result of that or someone realizing that Troma fans are rabid but I'm grateful either way.  A few days back I was sent the UHD release of the new Toxic Avenger for review and I couldn't wait to dig into it!

     The film follow single father Winston (Dinklage) who is raising his step-son Wade (Tremblay) after the unexpected death of his mother.  To pay the bills, Winston is a janitor for a company that has been secretly polluting the environment.  He soon finds himself confronted with an illness that will surely kill him if not treated but his insurance refuses to pay for the treatment.  He tries to plead with the owner of the company to help him since they manufacture the medication he needs but finds himself laughed at behind closed doors.  He decides to rob the company he is working for but is caught up in the middle of a plot to expose them for environmental crimes by a local boy band hired to be lackies of the company.  They shoot Winston and toss him in a barrel of toxic waste.  He awakens to find his entire body mutated and his wounds healing rapidly.  He tries to make right by his step-son but finds himself stuck trying to bring the evil corporation down when they kidnap him in order to gain Winston's new powers.  

     When this reboot, remake, reimaging, whatever the fuck you want to call it was finally released, I saw so many Troma fans praising it while a handful or so shared their dislike for the film.  I didn't care who liked it or hated it.  Honestly, my taste in film is different than most people I know so I didn't care what other people thought which is why I paid them very little mind.  I went into this one what the naysayers had to say and fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is amazing.  Dinklage is the obvious star of the film and while he doesn't portray Toxie once he is mutated, his voice work is great.  Some may be pissed that he doesn't recreate the character of Melvin here but I loved Winston and the personality that he created for the character.  It fits the film very well and Dinklage delivers an amazing performance.  The supporting cast is just as good.  While Kevin Bacon delivers another stand out role, it's Elijah Wood that impressed me.  I was not expecting that kind of character from him and could see myself really getting behind a film or show featuring the character.  The story for this one keeps some aspects of the original film but gives it a more modern spin.  The movie does stray from the original film in many aspects and a lot of the crude, almost offensive humor, is wiped clean.  The roadkill game is gone, the name swap from Melvin to Winston, and his pursuit to crush crime is swapped with the idiot in the wrong place wrong time angle.  Don't get me wrong, I still loved it but those that watch it expecting it to be a faithful remake will be a bit disappointed.  With that being said, the movie felt more like a live action Toxic Crusader adaptation than The Toxic Avenger.  A lot of the villains have that cartoon mutant vibe like the boy band, their manager, and even the owner of the evil corporation gets in on the action as the film hits it's final leg.  Considering this is a remake, the story is a lot of fun if you just give it a chance.  Finally, the film has so much blood, gore, and amazing effects to look at.  We get a good chunk of practical effects.  I love the look of Toxie and everything the suit can do.  I also loved a lot of the aftermath with the great looking props and so on.  We do get a lot of visual effects, however.  They are very noticeable but they are still fun especially when you realize that this is a remake of a Troma film!  Overall, The Toxic Avenger is a fantastic film regardless if it was a remake of The Toxic Avenger or whatever the correct terminology is.  It's gory, funny, and over the top in the best way possible.  I highly recommend this one even if you don't know what The Toxic Avenger is.  It's a must own for genre fans.  

Tokyo Sunrise

Director - Mike Sullivan

Starring - Max Beesley, Brian Doherty, and Hghtower

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

African Run

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

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

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action

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

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Target Eve Island

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

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (The Blind Side of God, G.B.H.), John Saint Ryan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Twilight Zone), and Max Beesley Snr (Shameless, The Eye of Satan)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I give boutique labels a lot of love.  Sometimes I get movies in for review and they don't work for me.  That doesn't mean I hate them.  Hell, even if I don't enjoy the movie, I still have fun watching something new that hasn't been seen by many until a company like Severin releases it on DVD, blu, or UHD.  The last week or two I've been digging through the Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection and most of these films are not for me.  However, I may not dig the films but I like seeing how different filmmakers approached different genres and so on.  I'm also a sucker for 80s cinema and love seeing films from that bygone era.  The next film on the chopping block is the 1983 action flick Target Eve Island.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a special agent who is investigating the abduction of a young woman who is believed to know how to create a secret weapon.  The close her gets to finding answers, he learns that others are after her as well so they can get their hands on the weapon forcing him to work faster to save the world.  

     I went into Target Eve Island after just watching another Cliff Twemlow action flick.  Sadly, both are missing the action and dial up the dull dialogue and forced delivery.  I wanted to find an action movie in this set that I enjoyed but couldn't bring myself to with this one.  The acting in this one is similar to the previous films.  The dialogue is extra heavy in this one with stiff delivery.  The characters are all one dimensional and cliched which gave the cast very little to work with.  There was a few scenes where the cast doesn't seem to be acting at all but are spitting out dialogue while on vacation.  I'm sure some of the budget was spent on partying and visiting exotic locations and it showed in several scenes.  The story for this one is a spy/espionage style film heavily influenced by the popularity of the James Bond franchise.  With that being said, we get very little action, dialogue heavy scenes, and a story that is far from coherent as it is entertaining.  It's a rushed film that looks like it started as a simple idea that was never fleshed out to a shot film with just as many plot holes as there was actors who didn't care about their performances.  Finally, if you are looking for action or blood then you will be very disappointed.  The film looks as if it's only purpose was to get the cast and crew a vacation and it worked.  Overall, Target Eve Island might be the better shot of all the films in the set but the lack of action, generic story, and one dimensional characters makes this one another tough one to finish.  Skip it.  

  

Tuxedo Warrior

Director - Andrew Sinclair (Bluebood, Under Milk Wood)

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

Release Date - 1982

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    When I started my little review blog over a decade ago, I did so with the intent to review the direct to video action and exploitation flicks that has been lost to time.  It didn't take long for my love of horror to take over and most of the films I started reviewing was just that.  However, I would still keep an eye out for action flicks that time forgot.  Recently, I was sent the Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection which featured several action flicks along with some horror titles.  I started the set with the documentary Mancunian Man before diving into the first film which was 1982's Tuxedo Warrior.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one my way!

     The film follows Cliff (Wyman) who owns a bar in Zimbabwe when he finds himself in the middle of a game of cat and mouse when some friends rob a bank.  He promises to help them out if they promise to share some of their spoils with him.

     When I was looking into the films in this set, it was Tuxedo Warrior that really caught my attention.  I knew I needed to watch the documentary first just so I would know more about Twemlow and his career but the title and all the artwork I found for this film really peaked my interest.  My mind was racing all over the place with the different possibilities as to what the film was going to be like and nothing could prepare me for what I actually saw.  The acting in this one is something else.  I've seen my fair share of no budget flicks yet this may be the stiffest cast I've seen in front of the camera.  The cast delivers their lines in monotone most of the film while standing as stiff as possible.  It's almost as if they were told if they moved a muscle they would be shot.  It's one of the strangest things I've seen in a film.  The story for this one feels like it was written around the location they were filming without much time spent on the details.  It's extremely dialogue heavy and doesn't really give the viewer that sense of action or adventure.  If you go into this one think it's an action flick like I did, then you will be very disappointed.  Finally, don't expect a lot of action sequences or a high body count.  The film is mostly people talking and that's about it.  Overall, Tuxedo Warrior is one of those titles that will draw in 80s action fans but the movie is nowhere near as fun as the artwork.  I wanted to love it but I just couldn't.  This is one I would recommend skipping.  

Tokugawa Sex Ban

Director - Norifumi Suzuki (Shogun's Ninja, Beautiful Girl Hunter)

Starring - Audrey Cruise, Ryoko Ema (The Transgressor, Graveyard of Honor), and Kaya Hozumi (Hiroshima Death Match, Terrifying Girl's High School: Lynch Law Classroom)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (Out of 5):

     I've reviewed a lot of films over the years and I'm always surprised when I get a film in for review that I have never heard of before.  This is often the case with releases from Mondo Macabro.  They tend to release films that are often overlooked on blu and that is something I really do appreciate.  I may not always like the movies they put out but at least they are giving genre fans something they had never seen before.  Several weeks back Mondo Macabro sent over a couple new releases for me to check out and they were all new to me.  However, one stood out more than the others and really peaked my interest.  That film was the 1972 Japanese sexploitation flick Tokugawa Sex Ban which is also known as The Erotomaniac Daimyo.  I really wanted to see all three of these films but I had to move this one to the top of my list.  I once again want to thank Mondo Macabro for sending this one over!

     The film follows a lord of a powerful clan who is recently married.  However, he struggles with his intimacy and cannot consummate his marriage.  He is provided a French slave to take in as a mistress and after some time he learns that sex is the ultimate pleasure.  It's because of this that he puts in place a ban on sex as he believes that commoners and those under him should not be experiencing it.  

     I knew absolutely nothing about Tokugawa Sex Ban prior to watching it but the artwork used by Mondo Macabro really made my imagination work overtime.  What kind of film was I about to watch and what the fuck was a sex ban?  Only watching the film would answer these questions.  The acting in this one is solid but I found myself laughing at the cast during several of the scenes.  The cast is fully dedicated to their roles in several scenes but in others they act as if they are getting paid by how quickly they complete the scene.  They rush through their dialogue with zero attempts at trying to stay in character with straight faces.  These scenes were so funny to me due to how out of place they are.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting at all which may be why I enjoyed it so much.  This erotic drama follows someone who finds a mistress that opens the door to his sexual fantasies.  He then decides that this is something too good for common folk, so he bans it.  Honestly, the story works for an erotic drama that uses nudity to pick up the slower scenes and rich dialogue to carry the story the rest of the way.  It might not be everyone's speed but those that enjoy sexploitation and Asian cinema can enjoy it.  Finally, those looking for blood and gore will be very disappointed.  However, is awkward acting and some nudity is more your speed then you will enjoy this one!  Overall, Tokugawa Sex Ban is another great film that I would have missed if it wasn't for Mondo Macabro.  It's not the horror title I was hoping for but it was still very enjoyable.  Check it out on blu now!

Terrifier 3

Director - Damien Leone (Frankenstein vs. the Mummy, All Hallow's Eve)

Starring - Lauren LaVera (The Well, Chestnut), David Howard Thornton (Gotham, The Mean One), and Antonella Rose (Fear the Walking Dead, Candy)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Twisted Christmas"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     The Terrifier films have gained a lot of fans over the years and it's impressive to see a film series with a moderately small budget gain the success that it has.  Art is a prominent figure at Spirit Halloween and can be found on shirts at various stores like Spencer's and Hot Topic.  He's also featured as an operator in Call of Duty.  However, I'm not a fan.  I watched the first two films sometime back and while I was impressed by the gore, the films themselves were lacking.  I wanted to love them but both films are like the Scream franchise to me.  They are widely popular but I can barely finish them.  When news about the third Terrifier broke, I figured I would skip it,  The first two did nothing for me and I would almost bet the third would be the same way.  However, my interest in it was peaked when it was revealed to be a Christmas flick.  I have a soft spot for Christmas horror and knew I would need to see it eventually.  I became even more interested in the film after Umbrella Entertainment announced an UHD release of all three films in a nice box set.  I snagged it and after wait forever, it was finally time to check it out.  

     The film once again follows Art the Clown who is back after Victoria Heyes becomes possessed by the little girl from part 2 and grows a new head for him inside her.  The two are reunited and begin their killing spree 5 years later and once again set their sights on Sienna and her family.

     I went into Terrifier 3 hoping it was as good as the general public lead me to believe but at the end of the day it was just like the first two films.  It's full of amazing gore, some humor (intentional and unintentional), and unlikable characters with painstakingly dull dialogue.  I wanted to love this one so I could have a new Christmas flick to enjoy during the holidays but this one wasn't for me.  The acting in this one is exactly what I expected.  The cast does a decent enough job but the characters themselves are not likable at all.  Thornton has become a pop culture icon with his portrayal of Art.  He really does get into the character and I couldn't imagine someone else donning the make-up.  With that being said, I'm glad the film embraced a second killer with Victoria.  Art's silent killing and miming is a bit dull to me while the Heyes character brings much more personality.  In fact, I would much prefer this character having her own film over Art.  The story for this one is just a vehicle for the kills.  I love a good horror film with brutal deaths and amazing practical effects but I need a story to get me there.  Terrifier 3 was severely lacking in this department.  Art and Victoria awaken after a 5 year nap to kill Sienna and her brother.  While the story may be similar to a Friday the 13th sequel, unlike a Friday the 13th sequel, the unlikable characters in Terrifier makes this one a difficult one to finish.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Terrifier film if there wasn't over the top blood and gore.  The deaths in this one will become just as iconic as the Art character.   They are brutal, violent, and look absolutely amazing.  The practical effects are top notch and easily the best of the trilogy.  Overall, Terrifier 3 is consistent with the other films but don't offer up much to the diehard horror fan but if you don't watch a lot of horror or only watch theatrical releases then you may enjoy yourself if you are not accustomed to the amount of gore that this one delivers.  While I did enjoy the deaths and effects, I can name several other films that offer just as impressive death scenes with stories that are worth your time.  

Tent Burner

Director - Steven Reifsteck (McMurderer, Fish Piss)

Starring - Michael Atkinson, Justin Cottingham (Attack of the Killer Potatoes, Blood Pizza), and Doyle Dow (Shrek Crack)

Release Date - 2024

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed several films by the indie collective Janice.Click over the years.  Starting with the insanely odd McMurderer and followed by Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars, and Shrek Crack.  Since then they have released several other films but I let these releases get away from me.  I decided to snag a couple of their releases to finish the collection.  When they arrived I quickly added them to my watch list and the first on the chopping block was the 2024 flick Tent Burner.

     The film follows two aspiring Satanists who decide to kill a hermit that has been camping deep in the woods in a tent with his dog as a sacrifice.  They loot the tent after killing him where they find an old VHS tape and then set fire to it to cover up their heinous act.  When they get back to their home they decide to give it a watch and discover the atrocities that were on it.

     Tent Burner doesn't have the parody style humor that makes the previous films so enjoyable.  Films like Attack of the Scarecrow from Mars and Fish Piss mock horror trends and parody a lot of stereotypes that many horror fans are very familiar with now.   While Tent Burner does poke fun as some horror tropes, it's a more serious film that I enjoyed.  It's not my favorite Janice.Click film but I loved it and hope this is a new direction for them.  The acting in this one is exactly what you would expect from this group.  The characters all fit the stories fairly well with some standing out a bit more than others.  The Juggalo styled story probably had my favorite characters in it and I love how it parodied their lifestyles and stereotypes.  The stories for these vary in quality but they all have a more serious spin to them than previous Janice.Click releases but still poke fun or parody many sub-genres and genre cliches.  The segment that serves as the film's bookend is inspired by V/H/S/ where people watch "disturbing" videos before something bad happens.  The segments shown from the VHS are not consist but they do work for shorts.  I mentioned it before, but the segment with the aspiring trailer rapper really made me laugh and worked for the most part.  None of them over stayed their welcome but I could see them being expanded upon at a later time.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and some very cheap effects.  While a lot of the deaths and effects we do get are forgettable, they fit the film very well.  It's clear that the film has a very low budget and they did the best with what they had.  Overall, Tent Burner doesn't really feel like a normal Janice.Click release but I really enjoyed it.  It continues their parody of horror tropes but is much more serious in tone which I enjoy.  I definitely recommend this one to indie horror fans so check it out!