Souls Chapel

Director - Jake C. Young (Daylight to Dark, The Dark Room)

Starring - Andrew Pierson (Tulsa King, Punk Shark), Brian Bremer (Pumpkinhead, Coffintooth), and Niko El Santo Zavero (Robot Ninja, Axegrinder 7: New Blood)

Release Date - 2026

Genre - Horror/Western

Tagline - "Kentucky's most haunted legend"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I found myself really getting into the few horror westerns that I added to my collection when the local Hollywood Video was going out of business.  The movies Dead Birds, The Burrowers, The Dead and the Damned, and Ravenous were all cheap buys as the video rental giant was trying to liquidate as much as they could.  Honestly, I enjoyed them and still check them out from time to time when I want something different to watch.  I always keep an eye out for a horror western when I'm movie browsing but I rarely find them.  A few weeks ago I received a press release for a supernatural horror western.  The movie, Souls Chapel, caught my eye but the title and artwork didn't do much for me.  However, I quickly agreed to check it out when I was offered the chance.  

     The film follows a drifter who is on the hunt for gold when he finds himself in the middle of a snow storm.  He tries to seek sanctuary in a small church but soon finds himself at the mercy of the town priest, his nun, and their followers.  Things go from bad to worse when he learns that there are supernatural forces at play in this small town and the church is at the center of it all.

     I went into Souls Chapel kind of excited.  It's been a minute since my last horror western and that film in particular was very underwhelming.  I was hoping that this one would finally scratch that itch that I didn't know I had but it fell short.  I seriously wanted to like it but it was too stretched out and not enough going on to hold my attention.  It was a great looking film but it just didn't have anything to say.  The acting in this one is a bit uneven and inconsistent.  Some of the cast shows inexperience while those that have appeared on camera prior to this shows a lot of inconsistency.  In some of the scenes we have some great performances where the cast is really dialed in while other scenes feel rushed.  The characters themselves are somewhat cliched but a few do shine through the cracks, most importantly, the woman in white and the nun.  The story for this one is stretched way too thin for the run time we have.  The movie uses pointless scenes full of dull dialogue to bloat the run time.  A good portion of the film could be trimmed down making the story more streamlined.  The movie should have took the story and went straight through it instead of all these unnecessary scenes.  Finally, the film has some blood and a few deaths but neither are that memorable.  The effects are minimal and the deaths are not that imaginative.  Genre fans will want more and will be very disappointed by this.  Overall, Souls Chapel is an interesting idea that just didn't find it's way.  The story reminded me a little of the series Wynonna Earp but just wasn't able to give us the fun characters or a story to follow.  I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.  

Night of the Tommyknockers

Director - Michael Su (Death Count, Bridge of the Doomed)

Starring - Richard Grieco (Jungle Run, Art of the Dead), Tom Sizemore (The Relic, Saving Private Ryan), and Robert LaSardo (Death Race, Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Western

Tagline - "When the sun goes down, they come out"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It’s not often horror fans find a western with them in mind but when we do we tend to be extremely critical of it. I don’t know a single genre fan that doesn’t enjoy a good horror western but due to their scarcity we usually hold them to a higher standard than other sub-genres. Honestly, I really look forward to horror westerns when I hear one is in production. I can thank my biological father for that. He lived on old westerns, so they were constantly playing in our home. Since I was bit by the horror bug I’ve been lucky enough to watch a few true horror westerns that I enjoy along with the slew of horror films inspired by westerns. A few weeks ago producer Sonny Mahal reached out to me to review their horror western Night of the Tommyknockers. Tommyknockers was made popular by Stephen King but as a lifelong resident of the Appalachia’s I had heard stories of them from miners since I was a small child. These urban legends are more popular in the western mining towns but anywhere that relies heavily on mining like McDowell County, where I grew up, had versions of their own. I quickly agreed to reviewing the film and tossed it in when I had the chance. 

     The film follows a group of outlaws on the run after robbing a bank. They decide to make a trip to a small mining town where it is rumored that they have struck gold. They arrive in the town at dusk and discover it abandoned with everything left in place. After they split up to investigate, they soon discover that the few survivors of the town has held up in the saloon. They soon realize that the miners in the nearby mines had went too far uncovering a large gold deposit and unleashing the hell of the tommyknockers. 

      Night of the Tommyknockers has a lot going for it which overshadows the bad but it’s far from perfect. There was a few things that I didn’t care for but I think I’m being a little overly critical, as I stated earlier, because it has been sometime since I’ve reviewed a horror western horror. It has a fantastic cast, a wild story, and the locations really work for the film. The acting in this one is fucking great. Honestly, I’ve never really been a fan of Richard Greico. He was alright in 21 Jump Street and the few films he did around this time but since then his performances were extremely stiff and he was clearly there for a quick paycheck. With that being said, he absolutely fucking killed it here. In fact, I didn’t realize it was Grieco until the credits were rolling. He seriously impressed me and made me rethink watching his performances in previous films. The film features another stellar performance, yet short lived, from legendary screen icon Tom Sizemore along with the always entertaining Robert LaSardo. The cast is impressive all around but seeing these three in the same film was thrilling. The story for this one works. The title, Night of the Tommyknockers, quickly makes genre fans think of the classic Romero film Night of the Living Dead and for good reason. Both films have similar titles and both feature people fighting to survive the night locked up in a building of some sort. We also have the legend of the tommyknockers which was popular among miners at this time and is sometimes still told to red hats. I loved the setup, the story, and the surroundings but the editing did get under my skin a few times. The film spends way too much time jumping from characters in different locations. When the movie starts to build steady momentum and atmosphere, we jump from the group in the saloon to the whorehouse upstairs or vice versa. I’ve reviewed enough movies to know that there was a better way to tackle this without making the film feel so clunky. Finally, the film has some great make-up effects and a lot of bloody moments. In fact, I was impressed by the look of the creatures along with a few of the death scenes. On the opposite side of that coin, we get some horrible visual effects and the wardrobe bugged the absolute shit out of me. Everyone’s clothing is so clean and tidy. When I watch a western, I want to see some dirty clothes and warn wardrobes. Overall, Night of the Tommyknockers was an unexpected treat. I really enjoyed the film and it really put Sonny Mahal and Mahal Empire on my radar. I’m seriously looking forward to the next film in the pipeline from them.

Rancho Deluxe

Director - Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest, Skag) 

Starring - Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, R.I.P.D.), Sam Waterston (Serial Mom, Tales from the Crypt), and Elizabeth Ashley (Hey Arnold!, Touched By an Angel)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Comedy/Western

Tagline - "Oh! give me a home, with a low interest loan, a cowgirl and two pick-up trucks.  A color TV, all the beer should be free, and that, man, is Rancho Deluxe"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back Vinegar Syndrome announced their partnership with the newly formed Fun City Editions.  This partnership brought some seriously fun and enjoyable movies to my attention that I would have normally missed out on.  Since then they have released Alphabet City, Jeremy, Walking the Edge, Smile, and I Start Counting.  All have been phenomenal releases so when they announced the release of the 1975 western comedy Rancho Deluxe I was all in.  I quickly pre-ordered it and after watching a few other Vin Syn partner releases I went ahead and tossed it in.  It was another hit from this extremely underrated boutique label. 

     The film follows rustlers who poach cattle from the local wealthy cattle owner.  This pisses the ranch owner off to no end resulting in him bringing in a former horse thief turned straight to snuff them out.  The pair think they have a way in when they partner with the cattle-owner's ranch hands to snag a shipment of cattle but things are not as easy as they seem.  

     I believe that Rancho Deluxe is the first FCE release that I actually knew about prior to their announcement.  When I was younger I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's with my uncle who had a sizeable VHS collection and one of the tapes he had happened to Rancho Deluxe.  I never watched it but I was there a few times as he had it playing so I caught a scene or two.  With FCE behind the release I figured now was the best time to finally check it out.  I'm glad I did because it was a pretty fun modern western with some laughs.  The acting in this one is great.  Bridges has appeared in some of my favorite films over the years but this is probably my favorite performance of his aside from his performance of The Dude.  I loved how chaotic he was in this role and his characters dedication to living the free roaming life was really fun to watch.  I also enjoyed Sam Waterston's performance as well.  I'm not used to seeing Waterston in this type of role and I absolutely loved it.  The supporting cast is just as fun.  I loved the assortment of characters the film delivers along with the outstanding performances that everyone delivered.  The story for this one is mostly a loose western following two rustlers who kills cattle and use the beef to cover their expenses.  However, we get some romance scattered in along with some laughs and a very interesting crime aspect that doesn't really take hold until the later part of the film.  The pacing is smooth and the dialogue in this one is a lot of fun.  The characters really do make the story as fun as it is.  Finally, the film is not a gory one BUT there is a few graphic scenes featuring cows being shot.  A lot of blood and the practical effects work for these scenes but those looking for real carnage will need to look elsewhere.  Overall, Rancho Deluxe is a surprisingly funny and well put together.  The cast is great and this release from Fun City is a must own for movie collectors.  Check it out.  

Deadlock

Director - Roland Klick (Supermarket, Dear Fatherland Be at Peace)

Starring - Mario Adorf (The Devil Strikes at Night, Devil's Paradise), Marquard Bohm (Satan's Brew, Spider's Web), and Anthony Dawson (Dial "M" for Murder, Dr. No)

Release Date - 1970

Genre - Western

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has brought so many films to my attention that I had never heard before through their exploitation, horror, and sci-fi releases.  This is a company that I quickly fell in love with and eagerly await their monthly releases like a child waiting for their parents to return home from work.  Not only have they turned me on to hundreds of movies I had never heard of before but now they are bringing even more entertainment our way with their partner labels.  Sometime back Vin Syn posted the pre-order for the UHD release of the 1970 German western Deadlock from their new partner label Subkulture USA.  I had never heard of the film nor the company before but if Vin Syn has a hand in it then you can bet your ass I'm going to check it out.  Once I found a small window of opportunity in my work schedule I worked it some time to check it out.

     The film follows a man who finds another man wounded and towing behind a suitcase filled with cash.  He leaves the man to die in the desert with a bullet hole in his arm but he doesn't.  He follows the man home to retrieve his suitcase.  Eventually the two bounce back and forth as they fight over the cash but a third man arrives which completely changes everything.

     Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from Deadlock but I was giving it a chance considering Vin Syn was attaching themselves to it.  The movie was not a disappoint.  A little long winded and repetitive but I still enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is pretty well done.  The cast is relatively small and relied heavily on the three lead's and the way they interact with one another.  The characters are pretty generic for a western especially by the early 70s but the cast sticks with it resulting in some fun performances.   The story for this one is straight forward and plays heavily on the spaghetti westerns from the 60s.  We get some moments of action, drawn out scenes, and story progression.  With that being said, it does repeat itself several times without giving the viewer something new to grab on to.  Also, the movie does drag on at times which will try your patience.  Some of the scenes could have been trimmed down a good bit to help with pacing.  Finally, the film has blood but don't expect a gorefest.  It's focus is on story and character development over blood and gore.  Overall, Deadlock is a fantastic first time watch that I enjoyed.  It's not perfect and some may say it's better than it actually is but I enjoyed it.  I recommend snagging a copy and checking it out for yourself.  

The Proposition

Director - John Hillcoat (Ghosts... of the Civil Dead, The Road)

Starring - Ray Winstone (Cold Mountain, Sweeney Todd), Guy Pearce (Memento, The Time Machine), and Emily Watson (Corpse Bride, Red Dragon)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Western/Crime

Tagline - "This land will be civilized"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up in a western household...mostly because my dad was a huge western fan and what his hateful ass said goes.  He would watch any and every western he could get his hands on but he would make an exception to watch 70s and 80s action flicks if I pestered him enough.  I never did catch on to the western fad but I did watch a few over the years that stuck out with me.  Tombstone is one that I always find myself gravitating towards along with Young Guns.  A few years back I snagged The Proposition on DVD for cheap at Wal-Mart and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  It had been some time since my last watch but when Umbrella Entertainment announced the blu release I was quick to jump on it.  I want to thank UE for sending a review copy my way.  

     The film follows the outlaw Charlie Burns (Pearce) of the Burns gang who finds himself captured by Captain Stanley (Winstone).  Stanley offers Charlie a proposition.  Charlie can bring in his older brother Arthur and their younger brother will not hang in 9 days.  However, if he fails to bring in Arthur in that time then his younger brother will walk to the gallows.  Charlie has no option but agree, however, he recruits Arthur and his gang to get his brother out of prison but things in town have since changed in Charlie's absence resulting in more drastic changes happening among the brothers.  

     The Proposition is a fantastic western drama with one of the best casts I have ever witnessed along with a story that works extremely well.  I've always been fascinated with the fact that this one was written by Nick Cave and directed by John Hillcoat who also directed The Road.  The is one of the most underrated westerns and a film that I highly recommend to any movie fan regardless of their preferred genre.  The acting in this one is absolutely amazing.  Not only does Pearce, Watson, and Winstone deliver unforgettable performances but we also get performances from Danny Huston, John Hurt, Noah Taylor, and many more that deserve recognition.  This cast seriously delivers and the characters stick with you days after watching it.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward western set against the backdrop of the Australian outback.  The character development is unlike any movie I had seen before and when you mix that with the simple yet unpredictable story you find yourself pulled in and unable to let go.  The movie is a literal roller coaster with a lot of ups and downs with an ending that I was not expecting.  Finally, the film has some blood with minimal practical effects and some CGI that really impressed me.  One scene in particular looked really well.  It's a great headshot that really stood out from the rest of the film.  Overall, The Proposition is a gritty and violent Australian western that is dangerously underrated.  This release from Umbrella should be on everyone's must own list. Snag it because you will not be disappointed.  

Django

Director - Sergio Corbucci (Super Fuzz, Atrocious Tales of Love and Death)

Starring - Franco Nero (John Wick: Chapter 2, Django Unchained), Jose Bodalo (Black Jack, It's Your Move), and Loredana Nusciak (Superargo vs. Diabolicus, Something Creeping in the Dark)

Release Date - 1966

Genre - Western

Tagline - "DJANGO - The title of a film you'll never forget!"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was growing up my dad was a huge western fan.  He constantly kept westerns on the television and it got to the point that I resented them.  I couldn't stand the thought of even watching a western.  In fact, I went years without watching a single western.  However, when I left for college and became homesick I found myself watching westerns a little more than normal.  Tombstone was my go to film but I found myself checking out several over the years and now I somewhat like them.  When I saw that Arrow was releasing the classic Django on UHD I was extremely curious about it so when MVD sent over Giants and Toys to review they included Django as well.  I want to take a moment to thank MVD and Arrow for sending this one over! 

     The film follows the battle hardened Django (Franco) is roaming south dragging a coffin when he saves a woman from a group of red-hooded goons who are sure to kill her.  He escorts her back to town with his coffin in tow where he meets the evil Major Jackson who leads the group of red-hooded white supremacist who get off on killing Mexicans.  After killing most of the gang and letting Major Jackson live he helps the Mexican's rally against the racist but he has another game at play with only and endgame for himself in sight.  

     As I stated earlier, I'm not that versed in westerns and for most of my life I was never interested in them.  However, I have crossed paths with several that would leave me speechless.  Django is just one of those films.  I feel so dumb for waiting so long and I can't wait until my second viewing.  Regardless if you are a fan of westerns or not this is a must see movie for everyone.  The acting in this one is brilliant.  The supporting cast really get into characters and it's these characters that move the story around the protagonist.  With that being said, Franco is front and center.  He is Django and his performance here is amazing.  This role was written for him and does one hell of a job.  I couldn't imagine anyone else in this role.  Franco is Django.  The story for this one is not your straight forward western that your grandparents watch.  It has that spaghetti western look and feel that was popular in the mid-60s but there is a lot of thought put into what will happen next.  This causes a few twists that the viewer doesn't see coming.  Also, the film is not afraid to throw some action at the viewer.  We get some seriously fun gun fight and fist fights that really pull the viewer in.  My biggest complaint about the film is that it's a bit too short.  Some movies overstay their welcome but this one could have went on further.  Finally, the film has plenty of death scenes with almost all of them being from guns.  With that being said, the ending is a bloody good mess that I truly enjoyed.  The bright red blood mixed with that gummy practical effects that Italian films were known for through the 70s and 80s was absolutely fantastic to see in a western.  Overall, Django is one of the entertaining films I've seen in years.  I don't know why I never checked it out but watching it on UHD was a fantastic experience.  I would highly recommend grabbing this release regardless if you've seen this before or not.  

Heavenly Desire

Director - Jourdan Alexander (Needful Sins, Sex Heist)

Starring - Serena (Trashii, Hot Ones), Johnnie Keyes (Teenage Trouble, Behind the Green Door), and Seka (Princess, Pretty Looks)

Release Date - 1979

Genre - Comedy/Western

Tagline - "Hotter than hell"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has released some of my favorite adult films over the years with SexWorld being my favorite to date but they are still surprising me with some solid sexploitation.  I just spent an hour and twenty minutes watching the charming Taxi Girls from 1979 and decided to keep the Peekarama going with the second film on their newest blu release, Heavenly Desire, which is another 1979 release.

     The film follows two prostitutes working a brothel who are murdered when two stray bullets hit them during a duel.  Their ghosts awaken in the 1970s when the devil tasks them with corrupting two virgin sorority girls before they are married.  The sorority house is now located where the brothel was.  They set out to help the two young ladies spread their legs.

     Taxi Girls was a pretty fun flick that not only delivered on the story and humor but was extremely sexy.  Sex scenes aside, it was a seriously fun film that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I expected Heavenly Desire to be the weaker of the two films but I was wrong.  The movie actually made me laugh and it was just as fun as Taxi Girls.  The acting in this one is just a little more entertaining than TG.  I really enjoyed watching Johnnie Keyes as the devil.  His performance is charismatic and he really does steal the scene.  I also enjoyed watching ghosts Serena and Seka.  They are absolutely gorgeous and delivered some fun performances as well.  The supporting cast is just as fun with a lot of different personalities being displayed.  The story for this one is a mash up of many different genres.  We start the film as a western before moving to the horror-esque elements following the ghosts and the devil before moving into a college age sex comedy.  Honestly, it works and I really fucking enjoyed it.  I'm almost certain I watched an 80's teen comedy with a similar story but I can't remember the name of it.  Regardless, it was really fun and I greatly enjoyed it.  Finally, no blood and gore but if you went into this one expecting it then you have bigger problems on your hands than no blood or gore.  The film is full of sex, gorgeous women, and some humor that really does find it's place.  Overall, Heavenly Desire is a sleazy and fun film that is a great pairing with Taxi Girls.  The offbeat comedy and gorgeous women work very well together.  I highly recommend it.  

Cowgirls vs. Pterodactyls

Director - Joshua Kennedy (The Fungus Among Us, House of the Gorgon)

Starring - Madelyn Wiley (Dracula A.D. 2015, Homicide City), Haley Zega (The Night of Medusa, Two Sticks), and Carmen Vienhage (Slave Girls on the Moon, The Night of Medusa)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Action/Western

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I find a lot of wild things searching social media hashtags.  I hate how quickly a shitty but "extreme" horror movie can pick up traction on social media while unique and original flicks get buried under pictures of cats and anti/pro- Trump memes.  A few weeks ago I was browsing my personal Facebook page when I saw that filmmaker Joshua Kennedy had shared a trailer for his new western adventure film Cowgirls vs. Pterodactyls.  The trailer had been shared for sometime before I saw it but I still wanted to run it on the site.  As soon as I posted it I rushed to his site to order a copy of the film on blu.  The day I got it in I immediately gave it a watch.

     The film follows a school teacher who watches a prehistoric pterodactyl abduct her husband.  When the police refuse to help her retrieve him she sets out to do it herself with the help of a female drunken gunslinger and prostitute to hunt them down and save her husband.  

     I was really excited to give this one a spin.  I absolutely loved the poster for the film and the trailer looked really fun.  However, as I got into the heart of the film I found myself wishing I had picked something else to watch.  The movie has an amazing idea and I loved the classic effects but the story itself, along with the pacing, makes for an extremely dull watch.  The acting in this one isn't what I would consider bad but I do feel that some of the characters were cast wrong.  The cast really gets into their roles but I feel like if the lovely ladies just switched roles with some of their co-stars it would have been a little more genuine.  I mean no disrespect to the cast.  They do a wonderful job but some of the characters felt like a stretch with how the actress approached them.  The story for this one is one that I could really get behind but the scenes and pacing is very inconsistent.  From my understanding, it took three years for the film to be completed which would explain the inconsistency in the film.  It drags in spots and the scenes that actually work for the story could be cut down to maybe 40 or so minutes.  I really like the idea but the execution creates a pretty rough film to finish.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory flick but we do get some amazing throwback effects that reminds me a lot of the drive-in era mash-ups of the 50s and 60s.  There is a few scenes where the pterodactyls look rough with the edges of the green screen or something showing but overall they look great.  I really loved the forced perspective and animation used in the film.  Too bad it story didn't work around it a little better.  Overall, Cowgirls vs. Pterodactyls is a very underwhelming film.  It has all the makings of a modern classic but it falls very short of it's goal.  Honestly, this is one I would skip which really pains me to say this.  

Cannibal Corpse Killers

Director - Joaquin Montalvan (Hole, Legend of the Hillbilly Butcher)

Starring - Dennis Haggard (Hole, Mobius), Theresa Holly (Hole, Legend of the Hillbilly Butcher), and Chris Shumway (Six Gun Savior, Western Religion)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Scars don't bleed"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I befriended filmmaker Joaquin Montalvan on Facebook when I came across posts for his film Legend of the Hillbilly Butcher.  I reached out to him and he sent over copies of that film and two other movies he had made, Hole and Mobius.  Sometime after I reviewed those films he began production on his newest film CCK.  This film was several years in the making and when I was at Walmart sometime in October I saw the film, now titled Cannibal Corpse Killers, on the shelf.  I was very excited to give it a spin so I snagged a copy.

     The world is in shambles when demons enter the bodies of the deceased.  A group of survivors fight to survive as they travel the hellish nightmare to seek refuge in the city of Jawbone which is said to be a safe zone for those not possessed.  

     I've been interested in this one for several years.  I covered the film a couple times when it was in production but sometime over the last few years Montalvan and myself lost contact and I forgot about the film.  I wish I would have followed it closer but the problem with social media the more people that adds you on each platform means the more content you have to look through.  Sadly, some stuff gets lost in the shuffle.  I've been seeing pictures for this one for so long and I couldn't wait to dive into it.  The movie itself is nothing like I was expecting.  It had a very interesting story but the pacing in the movie is all wrong.  The acting in this one is very hit or miss with me.  Some of the characters were very well done with some amazing performances delivered.  However, other characters are very underwhelming and awkward.  The cast shows varying level of experience with some that are very natural in front of the camera while others struggle in their roles.  I respect everyone that takes a step out of their comfort zones to act so I'm not trying to be disrespectful here.  The story for this one was not what I was expecting and was a very bold and ambitious endeavor for an indie filmmaker.  Having demons possessing the dead is a cleaver spin on zombies and adds so much more to the story.  Sadly, the film is very focused on the character's dialogue which results in some very long and drawn out scenes that takes a lot away from the story.  I found myself losing focus several times throughout the run time.  Finally, the film has some blood and practical effects but they are nothing we haven't seen before.  The kills we get are in theme with the film with some solid practical effects but the creativity is not there.  The kills work but are not that memorable.  Overall, Cannibal Corpse Killers is creative in some aspects and lacking in other.  I really liked the story but the scenes are very uneven which does throw the flow of the film off.  I would recommend it for a first time watch but don't expect to revisit it.  

The Pale Door

Director - Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package, Camera Obscura)

Starring - Melora Walters (The Butterfly Effect, Ed Wood), Noah Segan (Knives Out, Tales of Halloween), Zachary Knighton (The Hitcher, Cherry Falls)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Western

Tagline - "It was the perfect score, but Hell was their reward"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     It's finally October and, though I watch horror movies every day throughout the year, I can finally watch movies centered around Halloween.  Hell, they don't even have to be horror movies.  I'll watch anything that has something to do with Halloween.  Sadly, it will be a few days before I get to dig into a Halloween flick.  I have a few movies I need to watch first for review.  After watching Nail in the Coffin: Fall and Rise of Vampiro I wanted something a little more horror to stay with the spirit.  I decided it was time to toss in a western horror flick with witches.  I want to thank RLJE and Shudder for sending over Aaron Koontz's The Pale Door for review.  I was really surprised by this one.

     The film follows an outlaw gang who plan on robbing a train but when one of them is shot during a duel the little brother of their leader steps in to help so he can get enough money to buy back their old farm.  However, they don't find any gold on the train but do find a woman chained in an old trunk.  She begs them to take her home where they would be rewarded.  They take her to her home and soon uncovers an abandoned town inhabited by burnt witches.

     Honestly, I didn't know what to suspect when I was sent this one for review.  I had seen Koontz short The El Chupugcabra from a few years ago so I was familiar in his work.  However, I was not expecting to see this man grow as a filmmaker to this degree in just seven short years.  He has really impressed me with The Pale Door and I'm now looking forward to anything else he has his hand in.  The acting in this one is very well done and the characters are very well written.  It would be so easy for a filmmaker and crew to craft some cliched and generic cowboys that just push the story along.  The cast does not do that.  Instead, we get some great performances and the characters are very enjoyable.  Even the witches have a sense of humanity about them and you almost hate to see them fail.  The film is perfectly cast.  The story for this one does start out a little on the slow side.  It doesn't waste time and fills these scenes with character and story development but the horror aspect doesn't rear it's ugly head until later in the film.  It's not a struggle to follow and the flow is rather smooth but it a slower pace.  However, once the story picks up it really does hit the spot.  Finally, the kills in this one work for the film but are not that memorable.  The effects are solid and, once again, works for the film but does not deliver unique kills that most of the gorehounds are looking for.  The make-up effects looks great as well.  I really enjoyed the look of the witches.  It's different and really sets itself apart from other witch flicks.  Overall, The Pale Door is not for everyone but fans of horror and westerns will really enjoy this bloody blend.  I really enjoyed the story and the characters are very enjoyable.  Check this one out now because you will not be disappointed.    

Showdown

Director - Henri Pachard (The Neon Bed, Transformed)
Starring - Sharon Mitchell (Shooter, Three Brothers), Gina Carrera (Midnight Zone, Three Wishes), and Shanna McCullough (Barnyard Babes, Space Nuts)
Release Date - 1985
Genre - Drama/Western
Tagline - "Back in the saddle again!"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When you are feeling sleazy it's hard to toss in anything else in other than a Vinegar Syndrome release.  After watching a few dreadful movies I decided to sleaze it up with Ms. Magnificent from Vin Syn.  It was a fun watch but wasn't enough to satisfy my sleaze itch.  I went through my Vin Syn collection and found a few more that I really wanted to check out before venturing back to my beloved genre.  This time I decided to go with the 1985 Henri Pachard sleazy western Showdown.  I once again want to thank Vin Syn for sending this one my way to check out.  I really enjoyed it!

     The film follows a group of women living on a dude ranch operating as a brothel in secrecy.  Trying to stop them is the local sheriff who used to date the owner of the brothel and the husband who is married to one of the prostitutes.  A group of men from the city break down near the ranch and visit there seeking help only to find themselves in the service of the women of the dude ranch.  

     I never know what to expect when I toss in a sexploitation flick.  Am I about to enter a sleazy world like Sex World or am I getting gritty and dirty like Dixie Ray?  Showdown is like neither and actually works well for a raunchy western set in the mid 80s.  The acting in this one was pretty fucking solid, no pun intended.  The entire cast delivers some surprisingly entertaining performances regardless if this is a fuck film or not.  They do a great job which really works with the lack of story.  The story for this one works for a skin flick.  It is a bit of a weak one if you fast forward the sex scenes but as a whole it is a pretty entertaining story.  What it lacks in depth it more than makes up for with characters and sex.  Finally, if you were looking for blood and gore you will truly be disappointed.  However, if you want a sex filled western then you are in the right spot.  Overall, Showdown is a sleazy western that lacks story but is still able to pull the viewer in.  I highly recommend checking this one out now on DVD from Vinegar Syndrome.  

Lust in the Dust

Director - Paul Bartel (Clueless, Death Race 2000)
Starring - Tab Hunter (Polyester, Grease 2), Divine (Hairspray, Pink Flamingos), and Lainie Kazan (Harry and the Hendersons, Dayton's Devils)
Release Date - 1984
Genre - Comedy/Western
Tagline - "He rode the west...the girls rode the rest!  Together they ravaged the land"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

 

    When you look at other people from the area I grew up in and compare them to myself you will easily see that I'm very different.  I became obsessed with movies when I was younger but I could never find a particular genre to latch onto.  The horror obsession didn't start until my teenage years.  Until then I was watching anything and everything I could get my hands on.  I was in elementary school when I first discovered John Waters and Divine and their trashy cinema helped shape my taste in films.  In 1984 Divine starred in the western comedy Lust in the Dust with her Polyester co-star Tab Hunter for director Paul Bartel.  I remember watching the film as a kid but I don't remember a lot about it.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the release I knew I needed this one with the sleeve for my collection so I ordered myself a copy. 

     The film follows Rosie (Divine) who is travelling to the small town of Chili Verde in hopes of becoming a singer in the saloon.  She becomes lost in the desert and is saved by gunfighter Abel Wood (Hunter).  The two sleep together but they both have their own plans once they reach Chili Verde.  When they arrive they meet the owner of the saloon, Marguerita (Kazan) who is secretly searching for buried treasure that is rumored to be there.  Tensions come to a boil between Rosie and Marguerita and when an outlaw gang arrives at Chili Verde they learn that Rosie has a tattoo on her ass that could be the clue to where the gold is buried.  Abel stops the gang from killing Rosie and soon Abel, Rosie, Marguerita, and the leader of the outlaw gang find themselves in a Mexican stand off fight over the gold.

     I realized that this was one I had seen before when I was about 20 minutes in and I was reminded with how great this movie really was.  I admitted to being a Divine fan but I have to say that I absolutely love this movie.  I will be revisiting this one a few more times.  The acting in this one is great by the entire cast.  Divine gives an amazing performance along with Tab Hunter and Lainie Kazan.  Their characters are fun and the they do an amazing job and making them appear larger than life.  I also enjoyed the supporting cast as well.  I really enjoyed screen legend Geoffrey Lewis' performance as well.  I loved the cast and I loved how the characters were written.  The story for this one is rather generic.  I grew up in a house where westerns were spinning 24/7 so I can't say this is something I've never seen before... but adding Divine to anything makes it stand out.  The movie has some humor scattered throughout with some action and a fair amount of drama to keep it interesting.  Finally, there is no blood and gore in this one.  There is some fun sets and costumes but those looking for the red stuff will be extremely upset.  Overall, Lust in the Dust is a fun western comedy that I will soon be pairing with Wagons East.  It has laughs, a great cast, and some fun moments.  Highly recommend grabbing the blu now from Vinegar Syndrome.  



Godmonster of Indian Flats

 



Director - Fredric Hobbs (Alabama's Ghost, Roseland)
Starring - Christopher Brooks (Jack and the Beanstalk, The Mack), Stuart Lancaster (Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns), and E. Kerrigan Prescott (Fiend Without a Face, Danger Man)
Release Date - 1973
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Wanted! Have you seen this sheep?"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I love modern technology and the thought of turning old scares the living shit out of me but I would have loved to live through the golden age of drive-in cinema.  The movies at this time were so much fun and I couldn't imagine watching this as part of a double feature at the drive-in.  I may not get to enjoy these at the drive-in but AGFA is doing a fantastic job with their blu line.  They are releasing some classic sleaze and trash on blu and these releases usually have a second film as a bonus feature that works very well as a double feature.  Sometime back they released the 1973 what the fuck creature feature Godmonster of Indian Flats.  I had owned the Something Weird DVD release of it for some time but I never got around to watching it.  I'm glad I held off checking it out because it was so much fun watching it as a double feature with The Legend of Big Foot.

     The film follows a small town in the middle of nowhere where a wealthy mayor is trying to turn it into a tourist spot by using an old west gimmick.  What they don't expect is a primordial gas to seep out of the ground and into a nearby sheep farm turning one of the innocent creatures into a bloodthirsty primal beast.  Now the mayor and one of the wild west actors must stop it before it ruins everything they had tried to build.

     I wasn't expecting a life changing experience with Godmonster of Indian Flats.  I wanted something extremely campy, dated, and fun.  The film was fun for a one time watch but I won't be revisiting it anytime soon.  The acting in this one is actually pretty good.  Some of the cast needed some work and better direction but most of the cast is actually surprisingly great on screen.  Their characters are fun and their performances make the dry scenes actually tolerable.  The story for this one is mirror image of the mad scientist run amok type films except this time we get mother nature creating the oddity and not science.  With that being said, I liked the creature and how weird it is but the film itself is just too damn long.  The movie could have ended several times before it actually did which would have worked better than the way the film actually ended.  The movie had a great start and solid middle but the ending was half assed.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you are barking up the wrong tree.  However, if you want to see a horrible sheep monster you are in luck!  Overall, Godmonster of Indian Flats is not a movie I will see myself revisiting but it was fun to pass the time.  With that being said, the bonus film on this release is worth picking this one up from AGFA and Something Weird.  



The Night of the Grizzly

Director - Joseph Pevney (Star Trek, The Incredible Hulk)
Starring - Clint Walker (Small Soldiers, Deadly Harvest), Martha Hyer (Picture Mommy Dead, Blood on the Arrow), and Keenan Wynn (Black Moon Rising, Tales from the Darkside)
Release Date - 1966
Genre - Western/Action
Tagline - "Big Jim Cole had come to stay"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm not much of a western fan.  I grew up watching westerns from every decade because my dad was obsessed but They never clicked with me.  There are some westerns that I enjoy but I can easily count them on one hand.  Sometime ago, I can't exactly remember when, Olive Films released the 1966 western Night of the Grizzly starring Clint Walker.  Though I am not a western fan I was still aware of the name Clint Walker.  Anyone born in the middle to late 80s should recall seeing that name in the Joe Dante film Small Soldiers as he was the voice for Nick Nitro.  The artwork really pulled me in for the blu release and made me think I could pass it off as slightly horror so I reached out to Olive Films for a review copy and they were kind enough to send one my way.  Thanks guys.
     The film follows Big Jim Cole (Walker) who was once a sheriff but has since retired and moved out into the country with his family and deputy to live on a ranch that his father won in a card game.  The original owner of the land wants it back and harasses Jim for it.  His two sons are trouble makers which adds even more stress to Jim as he struggles to repair the house on the property and raise livestock to support his family.  To make matters worse, He has to take loans out to buy even more livestock when a grizzly named Satan slaughters what he has.  When a bounty is offered on the grizzly the only option Jim has left is to kill it to collect the reward money or face losing his property.
     Most of the time westerns of the late 50s and 60s all had similar stories that bored the living piss out of me.  They usually followed a good cowboy, usually a sheriff or lawman of some kind, as they took on a gang of outlaws who just happen to have a charismatic leader that is rough around the edges.  You can't argue with me there because I've seen more of these films than I care to count with my father growing up.  The Night of the Grizzly was not that kind of western.  It predated the "when animals attack" boom of the 70s but was a little more than your average western.  The acting in this one is great.  People often look at these older movies and comment that the acting is cheesy and corny but they fail to realize that films were different then.  It may feel cheeky at times but the cast handles their role almost like a play.  They do a great job at that.  Compared to today's films and television they may overact at times but they do a fantastic job and make this film as fun as it is.  The story for this one is very entertaining.  The characters are easily my favorite part of the film.  Some are serious "rough and tumble" type characters that you see in most westerns but we have a few characters that are not to be taken seriously.  They stand out and offer some comic relief when the film gets too serious.  I enjoyed that.  I also enjoyed the pacing of the film.  The film does get a slow start but the film makes good use of the time to develop backstories and characters.  Finally, there is several on screen kills but you have to remind yourself this is a western from the 60s and not a German splatter film.  The kills are centered around the grizzly which used a fake bear and clever camera tricks to pull them off.  The effects are minimal and very noticeable.  Overall, The Night of the Grizzly is the very definition of entertainment.  I could not look away and the story was very compelling.  The effects were far from perfect but that adds to the charm.  I recommend you grab of a copy of this.  You wont regret it!