Vice Academy Part 2

Director - Rick Sloane (Vice Academy, Blood Theatre)

Starring - Ginger Lynn (The Devil's Rejects, Satan's Storybook), Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons), and Jayne Hamil (Shooters, Marked for Murder)

Release Date - 1990

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "Twice the comedy, twice the vice"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was expecting a lot when I snagged up the Vinegar Syndrome VSA release of Vice Academy 1-3.  I wanted the release for my collection but the fact that the set consisted of three films I had never heard of before lead me to believe that these were pretty bland and forgettable films.  I was wrong.  The first film was not original but it was very entertaining.  I couldn't wait to dig into the second to see if it continued down the same path as the first film.  

     The film follows Holly (Lynn) and Didi (Quigley) who has graduated vice academy and is now rookies on the force.  A woman has created a drug that sends the person into sexual overload before dying.  She plans on poisoning everyone in the city.  In order to stop her the two rookies go undercover as strippers.

     I went into this one really expecting the movie to be less entertaining as the first but I found myself really enjoying this one a little more.  It's far from perfect but this one was a little more funnier, sleazier, and has a little more depth than the first film.  I really liked it and could see myself spinning this one again in the near future.  The acting in this one is more of what we saw in the first film except the characters has a little more personality.  Quigley and Lynn was rather underwhelming in the previous film with Lynn taking the backseat for most of the film.  However, the two share the screen and their friction and personalities on screen were great.  I really enjoyed them much more this time around.  The supporting cast seemed to get a little pep in their step as well.  The secondary and supporting characters hold the film as well.  The story for this one is very similar to the first film but we get a little more build up and character development with the film's villain.  This makes the film that is using the same formula as the first feel like it's a little different.  It doesn't really deliver anything new but seeing the characters get extra attention makes it far more entertaining.  Finally, this is not a bloody horror flick that most of you are accustomed to me reviewing.  However, if beautiful women and nudity is more your speed then you will really enjoy this one.  Overall, Vice Academy Part 2 is a little better film than the first.  It's funnier and sleazier.  The blu looks great as well from Vin Syn.  I highly recommend checking it out.  

Vice Academy

Director - Rick Sloane (Blood Theatre, Hobgoblins)

Starring - Linnea Quigley (Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead), Ginger Lynn (Slashlorette Party, Killer Waves 2), and Karen Russell (Dick Tracy, Murder Weapon)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "Where nice girls become vice girls"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up watching movies with Linnea Quigley.  Her most infamous films were my favorites.  Movies like Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead, and Silent Night Deadly Night.  She is the face of scream queens in my opinion and her career is full of amazing films and performances.  Adult film star Ginger Lynn exploded in the 80s.  She starred in several adult films before moving over to other genres, specifically horror.  Now a days most genre fans know her from Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects.  In the late 80's Quigley and Lynn teamed up with director Rick Sloane for a sleazy buddy cop comedy called Vice Academy.  I had never seen this film, or any in the series as a matter a fact, but I jumped on Vinegar Syndrome VSA release.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed these films.

    The film follows a group of students at a vice academy who are working on hitting their quota of arrests before graduating.  They get a tip on an illegal porn operation and infiltrate it.  However, because of them posed nude prior to the arrest it doesn't count toward their quotas.  Looking for a quick bust before their time runs out they soon find themselves face to face with Queen B, the leader of an organized crime ring, that has been evading police capture for some time.  Their quick thinking and some help from some friends they are able to capture her and her gang so they can graduate.  

     I had never heard of Vice Academy prior to Vin Syn's announcement but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that it was inspired by Police Academy.  Police Academy is one of the most iconic comedy series to come out of the 80s so I was pretty excited to see the director of The Visitors was tacking on a comedy inspired by it.  Honestly, it's nowhere near as the film series that inspired it but I had fun with it.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy and the entire cast hams it up.  Quigley is her normal bubbly self.  She has a lot of energy and does a solid enough job.  Sadly, her character does not really stand out among some of the other characters and her performance does blend in at times.  Lynn as a brown nosing suck up wasn't as entertaining as I was expecting.  Lynn, adult films aside, has delivered some seriously impressive performances over the years but she is extremely underwhelming here.  The supporting cast is solid as well but no one is really standing out.  The story for this one rather repetitive and unoriginal.  It does have some funny moments and a little sleazy to carry you through.  It's not original but it is fun at times at least for a first time watch.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you will be very disappointed.  However, if beautiful women, handcuffs, and puns are your thing then you will be in heaven.  Overall, Vice Academy is a funny and sexy comedy that lacks originality but it's fun.  This is definitely worth a watch and the blu from Vin Syn looks amazing.  Check it out.  

Come Play

Director - Jacob Chase (Larry, Amy)

Starring - Azhy Robertson (Rough Night, Beyond the Night), Gillian Jacobs (Community, The Box), and John Gallagher Jr. (Jonah Hex, 10 Cloverfield Lane)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't let him out"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year may have been a shit show but the fact that some companies were able to push through quarantine and social distancing laws to make any sort of a movie is pretty spectacular.  These movies may not be movies I enjoy but they deserve some sort of credit when they are able to finish production, editing, and find distribution during a year when the entire country was shut down.  A few weeks ago I received the horror film Come Play for review.  This 2020 title is one I had heard about a few months prior and was amazed that a film of this caliber was able to pull off a release in 2020.  After watching Versus I decided it was the perfect time to give this one a spin.  

     The film follows a loving mother and her autistic son.  He's non-verbal and struggles with finding friends at school.  He's often bullied for being different.  However, he soon finds an unlikely friend in an app named Larry.  However, Larry is actually a monster that is using his iPad as a window to getting into our world.

     I went into this one really excited to check it out but was quick to discover that it was actually pretty similiar to another film I recently reviewed, Z.  Both films followed similiar stories but Come Play was a little bit better.  Not by a lot but was some better.  The acting in this one is pretty good and consistent.  The cast does a great job in their roles and the characters really stand out.  They are very genuine and fit the story perfectly.  With that being said, Azhy Robertson does a phenomenal job at the non-verbal autistic child.  My degree is in education with emphasis on special education.  I had seen so many children just like the one he portrays and he does an amazing job.  The story for this one is a solid horror feature BUT is too similar to the Shudder exclusive Z.  In Z a family is haunted by their child's imaginary friend.  The similarities are there which makes it very difficult to see passed them.  Though they both feature a similar story, Come Play's execution makes this one a little more enjoyable than Z.  The characters, action, and scenes are much more enjoyable.  With that being said, a lot of the scenes we get are repetitive which results in a bit of a boring experience.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  In fact, if you are looking for fun and inventive death scenes then you will be very disappointed.  There is some visual effects with the creature that I was not digging.  The monster itself was very disappointing and funny to look at.  It definitely took the tone of the film away.  Overall, Come Play was alright for a first time watch.  It has a solid cast but an unoriginal story.  From my understanding, this one is based on a short from the same director so Z could be inspired by it.  Regardless, both share the same story and both are very forgettable.  

Versus

Director - Ryuhei Kitamura (Godzilla: Final Wars, The Midnight Meat Train)

Starring - Tak Sakaguchi (Yakuza Weapon, Deadball), Hideo Sakaki (Alive, Red Blade), and Chieko Misaka (Midnight Ghost Story, Suicide Club)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Beware the past.  Fight the present.  FEAR THE FUTURE"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I was an active member of the Upcoming Horror Movie's forum.  All my spare time at home was spent there and my obsession with the forums spilled over into school.  I would often sneak onto them in classes that we had internet access in.  UHM and the members were vital for me discovering so many amazing horror titles that I would have never found other ways.  I grew up in the poorest county in the US so I couldn't just go out and talk with some of the locals about horror.  Anyway, it was during this time that Japanese horror films were introduced to me.  Versus was one of the first films I looked into and I absolutely loved it.  Sometime later I found it on a double feature DVD release and picked it up to add to my collection.  Honestly, I forgot all about this film over the years and was caught off guard when Arrow Video announced the blu release of it.  It was the perfect time to revisit this one so I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.

     The film follows a prison escapee and the person he is chained with who wander through the woods until they meet the people helping them escape.  The organized crime ring is instructed to wait on their leader but soon find themselves overrun by the dead who are resurrected by the forest.  An unknown woman that was kidnapped and forced to be there seems to be the key to it all but because of the way she is treated by the gangsters the prison inmate takes up for her creating a fight amongst them all.  This forced them to fight for their lives through the woods while the goons are giving chase.

     I never realized just how much I enjoy Versus.  After revisiting it on blu I decided to watch it again the following the day.  It really is a fun and cheesy action horror film that is able to accomplish something that many have failed to do.  First and foremost, this is one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen.  If you don't find yourself laughing throughout this one then you are clearly not paying attention.  However, the cheese mixes very well with the story.  The acting in this one is very over the top.  All the character deliver memorable roles and bring to life unforgettable characters.  The humor and comedic parts are spot on with some serious laughs being delivered at unexpected times.  However, the action oriented and fight scenes are nothing to scoff at.  The cast does an absolutely brilliant job in the fight scenes with a lot of the stunts really impressing me even though I have seen this one numerous times.  The story for this one has so much going on but still never over-complicates things.  We have the organized crime aspect that starts the film before moving head first into the horror aspect.  This is a smooth and fun transition.  We then have the angle where the fighters are ancient enemies and the forest is one of the many portals to hell.  It works and really pulls you in.  I do have a problem with the 2 hour run time but I also hate seeing the movie end.  An hour and a half is the perfect length for a film but I love Versus so much I really hate when the credits rolls.  Finally, this is one bloody action flick.  We get buckets and buckets of blood with some seriously fun practical effects.  The gore and dismemberment scenes are fabulously done and the make-up effects on the undead is great as well.  The most dedicated horror fans will really appreciate the death scenes here.  Overall, Versus is an absolute must for genre fans.  The movie has so much to enjoy that I would be here all day picking it apart if I had to.  This blu release from Arrow looks absolutely amazing.  The video and audio transfer is leagues above the DVD release I bought all those years ago.  Collectors will want to snag this one while you can.  

Slimebox

Director - Raymond Cara

Starring - Artemis Luperealia and Jordan Quinn

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A waste of good slime"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Social media and an extremely valuable resource for fans of indie horror.  I rarely hear other fans mentioning indie horror releases and because of that I never see these titles unless I actively dig through hashtags on sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  It's then that I can see these releases posted by those involved.  #indiehorror is one that I often find myself searching through for new films.  A few nights ago I came across the poster for the new short Slimebox from Satan's Lovebox Productions.  The poster (shown above) really made my imagination race.  I followed the page that posted the poster and was soon messaged by them to review the short.  I quickly agreed and was sent the link not long after.  Keep up the good work Raymond!

     The film follows a man wondering the streets where he finds a mysterious slime.  He does what any sane person would do and immediately rubs his hands in the slime.  Soon he becomes a flesh eating zombie wondering the streets in search of his next meal.

     I didn't know what to expect when I hit play on Slimebox.  I knew it was a short with no budget but I had no idea what direction it was going to take me.  It was a fun one that was short and sweet but I could see it being a little longer and still enjoyable.  The acting in this one is solid but nothing that really stands out.  The short is over as soon as it starts so the cast doesn't really get a chance to "act" in a traditional sense.  We see someone become infected and then see another character as they are attacked.  Nothing that will really stick with the viewer in way of the acting here.  The story for this one is super short and goes straight to the point.  It's an urban take on Redneck Zombies that does have a little bit of a nod to Slime City. It's fun but the fun is over as soon as it starts.  I love a short film because there is never room for bullshit scenes.  However, the short running time is this one's biggest drawback.  I need more!  Finally, this one has some slime and some make-up effects with some fun no budget practical effects.  I enjoyed the one kill we do get but as I stated earlier, I want a lot more!  Overall, Slimebox is a cheap horror short that fucking works.  It's a straight forward short that reminds me of the days when I would rent some direct to horror titles from the local video store.  No bullshit, just horror.  Check it out.  

Full Disclosure

Director - Michael Strode

Starring - Rebecca Turner, Alexandra Bayless, and Gregory Shelby

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Don't leave the call"

Format - Streaming

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year was one of the toughest years I've ever lived through and I know it was that way for many of us.  However, some people were able to turn that negative time into something productive.  Several filmmakers, and first time filmmakers alike, used their time to work on new films and shorts.  A few weeks ago filmmaker Michael Strode reached out to me to review his new horror short Full Disclosure.  I wasn't able to right away but I was able to finally check it out.  Thank you Michael for reaching out to me to check this one out.

     The short follows a group of friends who meet up once a week for a zoom call to drink and catch up after quarantine.  However, someone in a plague mask invades their zoom meeting.  Those that leave the call die and those that stay on the call have their darkest secrets revealed.  

     I love getting to check out new indie horror features and shorts from filmmakers that love the genre.  Even if I don't care for the film it's amazing to see what people can accomplish.  It's even more of an accomplishment when they are able to film something during a pandemic and current social distancing guidelines.  Which is why a movie like Full Disclosure was a great attempt at making a movie during these times.  I can see some genre fans enjoying this one but it was one I didn't really care for.  The acting in this one is solid and very well done.  The characters are very grounded and genuine.  The cast was mostly acting alone while filming themselves, which is a result of Covid, but they were authentic in their roles.  They did the best they could with what they were given.  The story for this one is simple, straight forward, and works very well within the "new normal."  However, it is very much inspired by the Blumhouse snoozfest Unfriended which follows a group of high school students on a video call as they are haunted and murdered by the ghost of a young girl that killed herself.  Sadly, I found both of these stories to be extremely boring and difficult to finish.  Watching people talk to each other through a video call is not my type of entertainment.  Finally, this one has a little blood but the death scenes are off camera.  The practical effects are very minimal which is a bit of a disappointment for those of us looking for some fun and memorable deaths with our horror.  Overall, Full Disclosure is not one I really cared for.  I respect any filmmaker that takes the time to make their own film and I couldn't imagine the struggle of making one now but Strode and company did it.  Personally, I didn't care for it but for those of you that enjoyed Livescream and Unfriended will really enjoy this one.  

Tesla

Director - Michael Almereyda (Deadwood, The Eternal)

Starring - Ethan Hawke (The Purge, Daybreakers), Eve Hewson (The 27 Club, Robin Hood), and Kyle MacLachlan (The Flintstones, Twin Peaks)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Drama/Comedy

Tagline - "My achievements and conquests will be evaluated in the future"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The IFC Midnight and IFC Films releases lately have been absolutely amazing.  Rent-A-Pal is a contender for my favorite film of the year even though 2021 has just started.  It was a thriller that also made me feel nostalgic taking a deep dive into VHS and the trends that the late 80s and early 90s saw.  They recently released the Russian sci-fi horror film Sputnik which was another amazing release that deserves to be seen.  I received a third IFC release for review but it wasn't a horror title.  Instead, it is a biographic dramedy about Nikola Tesla starring Ethan Hawke.  This was the one I was looking forward to the most but this one was the only real regret.  The movie couldn't figure out what kind of film it wanted to be which resulted in a pretty rough watch. 

     The film is a narrative following the life of underappreciated inventor Nikola Tesla (Hawke).  The film goes through his upbringing, struggling with money, friction between him and Thomas Edison, and love interests.  

     I couldn't wait to spin this one but the movie was nothing like I was expecting.  The quote on the front of the film painted a Drunk History type of biography and, though there was a few moments that was reminiscent of the show, the film was nothing like it.  Instead, the movie struggled to find it's footing.  The acting in this one is extremely underwhelming.  The characters and performances are very dry with the comedy coming in at the wrong time.  I was so fucking excited to see Ethan Hawke take on Tesla but everyone in the film was very underwhelming.  They have no energy and no one can hold the scene.  The cast makes the film extremely heavy and difficult to follow.  The story for this one is a bold attempt at creating a comedic biography on Tesla.  The sad part is the humor completely misses it's mark and the scenes are painfully drawn out.  The humor, when it does hit, is not funny and makes the scenes even more difficult to follow.  When you toss that in with the random narrative, and lackluster acting you are left with a film that is barely unwatchable.  I found myself watching the clock more than the television.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory flick.  It has a fun soundtrack but aside from that this is a movie most horror fans would want to skip.  Overall, Tesla was a huge disappointment.  The movie was nothing like I was expecting and feels like it was a complicated production from beginning to end.  It doesn't know which way to go which is a very inconsistent experience.  Skip it.  

Sputnik

Director - Egor Abramenko (Polaroid Love, The Passenger)

Starring - Oksana Akinshina (Sister, Hipsters), Fedor Bondarchuk (Invasion, Stalingrad), and Pyotr Fyodorov (The Blackout, The Departed)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi/Horror

Tagline - "The only survivor did not come back alone"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime late last year I saw some genre friends talking about the Russian sci-fi horror flick Sputnik.  The images and trailer for this one looked really entertaining so I did a little looking and saw that it was primarily VOD only but an official release from IFC Midnight and Scream Factory was coming up early in the year so I decided to wait.  When Scream Factory sent the press release for this one I immediately jumped on it.  I requested a review copy and they were kind enough to send it over.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows the only survivor of a space mission when they suffer a catastrophic disaster.  When he returns back to Earth he is quarantined and they learn that something is living inside him.  They bring in a scientist to run some tests and she learns that it is a carnivarious in nature and leaves his body at night to feed.  The miliatry wants to use it as a weapon but she wants to separete the two in order to save the cosmonaut's life.

     I was really excited to check out this period piece sci-fi horror flick centered around Russia and the cold war.  It had a lot of different aspects that really interested me and the movie did not disappoint.  I did feel that the movie was way too long but it was still a genuinely entertaining watch.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast does a phenomenal job in their roles and really brings their characers to life.  They hold every scene and does a fantastic job at making the story progress.  I really enjoyed the characters and the cast's on screen chemistry is great.  The story for this one is a blend of horror and sci-fi that works very well.  The atmosphere just doesn't feel right for me which does affect several of the scenes and how the horror aspect is impacted.  The movie is  pretty solid and straight forward but the atmosphere and lack of tension really makes the darker and horror aspects feel out of place.  I'm sure if the film was able to actually build up some tension then these scenes would have had more impact.  Finally, the film has plenty of bloody but went the visual effects route for the more graphic scenes.  Honestly, the visuals don't look bad but the kills are definately lacking dementions.  With that being said, I was not a fan of how the creature looked.  I was thinking the entire time about how it looked like some sort of mucus monster.  It just didn't fit well with me.  Overall, Sputnik is not perfect but I really enjoyed it.  It's a pretty solid late night creature feature.  I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon but it was still entertaining for a first time watch.  

Happy Times

Director - Michael Mayer (Fireworks, Out of the Dark)

Starring - Shani Atias (Shameless, Devil's Night), Stefi Celma (Lost Bullet, The Squad), and Michael Aloni (Temporarily Dead, Out of Sight)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I decided to be more aggressive with my reviews when I went into this new year.  Not aggressive as in picking apart movies and being disrespectful.  Instead, I wanted to stop wasting time and actually be more productive with it to ensure I review movies in a timely manner.  A few days ago I received the Israeli American horror comedy Happy Times from Artsploitation Films to review.  This one looks extremely fun and instead of sitting on it for weeks on end I decided to make time for it as soon as possible.  I'm glad I did because it was a lot of fun.  

     The film follows a family get together that starts out innocently enough but soon egos, infidelity,  greed, and cultural differences comes to a boil resulting in bloodshed.

     I went into this one thinking it was something like The Perfect Host meets Funny Games but I was wrong.  Instead, it was something a little different.  A good different that I was not expecting but very different.  The acting in this one is very consistent and even.  The cast works together very well and they do phenomenal jobs in their performances.  Some of the scenes were pretty intense and the cast did a fantastic job in those scenes.  However, some of the characters look and act very similar.  It's as if the writer of this one only had one person in mind when they were writing the characters.  The story for this one has a lot of layers but is fairly straight forward.  More or less, we are given a dysfunctional family and friends on the verge of collapsing.  We then watch the accidental and intentional deaths of them all unfold.  Sure, there is some family drama, secrets revealed, and so on revealed throughout but the story is pretty straight forward.  With that being said, the film does get rather repetitive and by the 40 or 50 minute mark you are ready for the film to wrap it up.  Finally, this is a bloody one.  We have plenty of practical and make-up effects that look fantastic.  The kills are extremely violent and fit the film so well but they are fairly forgettable.  They are still fun to watch but they don't stick with you like other horror films.  Overall, Happy Times is a bloody and entertaining horror comedy.  It does stretch a little thin at times but still well worth the watch.  Check it out!

Doom Patrol: Season Two

Creator - Jeremy Carver (Supernatural, Being Human)

Starring - Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin), Timothy Dalton (Hot Fuzz, Flash Gordon), and Abi Monterey (Broadway Kids Against Bullying)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Early last year I reviewed both seasons of Titans along with the first season of Doom Patrol and Swamp Thing.  Doom Patrol quickly became my favorite show but all the other shows that were part of the DC Universe was fantastic.  Though these series do bleed into the Arrowverse they are still highly entertaining as stand alone shows.  A few months ago season two of Doom Patrol was released on HBO Max.  I wanted to set up a subscription so I could watch it but time and work got away from me and I soon forgot about it.  Fast forward and a few days ago I saw some mutual friends that review as well had mentioned that they received season two for review on blu.  I quickly rushed to my email to request a copy and was lucky enough to get one.  I couldn't wait to dig into this season.

     This season follows the Doom Patrol as they try to work through their anger with Chief who has now included his daughter Dorothy and her slew of imaginary friends.  As they all struggle with their own problems a bigger problem is brewing as Dorothy reaches womanhood which could bring about the end of the world.

     The first season of Doom Patrol is absolutely amazing.  I loved the characters, the story, and the aesthetics.  It really did become one of my favorite shows after that first season.  Season two wasn't as great as the first season but god damn was it still a lot of fun.  The acting in this season is just as amazing as the first season.  The characters are so much fun to watch and the cast really gets into them.  Some of the characters have their own way of expressing different emotions but the cast does an amazing job making the characters their own.  I would be here all day if I was to give everyone in this show the much deserved credit but I'm too lazy for that.  The story for this one really lacks that sense of dread and disaster the first season had.  The show is more focused on each member of the team as the cope and adjust to their own situations.  Along the way we have a few episodes that are not really focused on the season's story arch but they were fun and really worked.  With that being said, the series ended on a cliffhanger and with the uncertainty of film production during this pandemic I'm concerned it could be years before we get any sort of conclusion.  Finally, this season is heavily based in sci-fi so we don't get any blood and gore.  However, we get some great props, sets, and wardrobe.  I absolutely love the look and feel of this show and you really need to see it to appreciate it as well.  Overall, Season two is a must see for DC fans or someone looking for their next television show to binge.  It's funny, looks amazing, and the characters are unforgettable.  This season doesn't have the same punch as the first season but it's still amazing.  Check it out.