Saturday, May 15, 2021

Mind Trap




Director - Eames Demetrios (Stories from Lobo Creek, The Giving)
Starring - Dan Haggerty (Elves, Abducted), Lyle Waggoner (Dream a Little Evil, Wizards of the Demon Sword), Martha Hackett (Exorcism of Allie Fay, Love Vampires)
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Action
Tagline - "Total mind seduction"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Here we are at the end of what has been a while ride as my Massacre Video marathon comes to a close.  I've enjoyed myself but a few of these were duds.  Well, only two at this point.  Mr. No Legs was a bit of a disappointing film while the second let down is also the second film in the action double feature.  The film, Mind Trap, was also released under the title Danger USA which fits with the American film of this set.  I was excited for some late 80s cheese but found myself bored out of my fucking mind.
     The film follows a b-movie actress who finds out her sister and father were caught up in a Russian plot to steal her father's dream machine he has created.  He built it with the intentions of helping mankind but the Russians want to use it for bad and will stop at nothing to get it.
     Have you ever watched a movie that was just so campy that you laughed at first but the deeper you went into it you found yourself extremely bored?  That was Mind Trap.  I laughed at some of the crazy ass dialogue at times but by the 20 minute mark I wanted it to end.  The acting in this one is so bad at times and at others it was still bad but so fucking funny.  The dialogue in this one was written by someone with the same sense of humor as me but with little to no sense of how real dialogue should be spoken.  Some of the dialogue spoken is so out of place and weird that it catches you off guard while completely killing the atmosphere of the film.  The cast lazily goes through their dialogue which makes these scenes even more awkward.  The story for this one is all over the place but it's extremely choppy and uneven.  The movie starts out goofy and only gets goofier but when we hit the middle of the film the movie almost evens itself out but goes off the rails even more.  I love campy and cheesy 80s films but this one is just bad.  Finally, the film has several deaths but they are usually off camera or quick on screen with no practical effects to enjoy.  Overall, Mind Trap was a huge disappointment.  It's cool that it's included with American Rampage but it's not a selling point.  It's a horrible film that should have just been listed in the special features as bonus content.  

American Rampage




Director - David DeCoteau (Dr. Alien, Deadly Embrace)
Starring - Kary Jane, Thomas Elliott (American Strays, Riptide), and Troy Donahue (Cry-Baby, The Godfather Part II)
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Action
Tagline - "In America, there is only one form of justice and justice is another form of revenge"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm on my last Massacre Video release in my marathon which just happens to be an 80s action double feature.  When I first started writing reviews my goal was to dig into old action and exploitation movies but my love of horror knocked me off course.  That's why I always jump at the chance to watch these releases whenever I can.  I know most of you bitch and moan that I'm reviewing a non-horror release on a horror oriented site but I don't give a shit.  I love shitty 80s action flicks and I refuse to apologize for it.  The first one in this double feature is the 1989 David DeCoteau film American Rampage.
     The film follows a female cop who has a knack for getting into gunfights and getting her partner killed.  After losing one she was extremely close to she vows to get revenge and take out the drug lord responsible for his death.  
     David DeCoteau was a big part of my childhood with his work with Full Moon and Moonbeam.  I loved a lot of his films but I never actively went looking for his other releases so I was pretty excited when I saw that Massacre was putting this one on blu.  The film was far from perfect but it was just the right amount of cheese and 80s action that I was looking for.  The acting in this one is extremely campy.  The cast hams it up so much and they try to act as bad ass as possible which fails.  It results in some unintentional humor and unforgettable dialogue.  The cheesy dialogue was so much fun and I could see myself randomly quoting some of those lines at inappropriate times.  The story for this one is your standard 80s action movie centered around a cop.  Regardless if the lead is male or female, we have seen dozens, if not hundreds, of action movies following a cop looking to avenge his fallen partner's death.  Nothing new or original.  Hell, even the action scenes are rather dull.  However, the nudity, cheesy dialogue, and campy acting make up for the story.  Finally, the film has several death scenes with some pretty horrific gunshot wounds.  In fact, one shot gun death really caught me off guard.  It looked absolutely amazing.  I would recommend this film for that death scene alone.  Overall, American Rampage was a fun time and would be even more fun with some drinks.  It's extremely campy and the acting made this one as fun as it was.  It was well worth the price of this release alone.  

The Devil




Director - Jen-Chieh Chang (Wonderful Killer, Tower of the Drunken Dragons)
Starring - Shao-Tung Chou (Monkey War, Funny Face), Bao-Yu Wang (Boss No Balls, Midnight Flower), and Ti Ou (Bloody Killer, Combat Camp)
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Crawling horror from the depths of hell!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) 

Rating (out of 5):

     Massacre Video was a company that I always heard about but never really got into their releases until they put Hack-O-Lantern on blu.  After that release I started slowly gathering all their films for my collection.  Around the time of the Hack release I met the Massacre founder Louis Justin at Cinema Wasteland and spoke with him a little about the release.  He was pretty chill and very down to Earth to speak to.  Sometime last year Massacre announced the blu release of the 1981 Taiwanese horror film The Devil from director Jen-Chieh Chang.  I was all about this release and quickly snagged the blu around the same time I got Mr. No Legs. I put them both up to watch later when I had more time and forgot about them.  When I started my Massacre marathon I decided to dig this one out as well and finally watch it.
     The film follows a young man staying at a hotel owned by a wealthy man with a beautiful daughter.  After tricking her into marrying him and ruining the business, they discover that he may have changed his name and was married once before to a woman that is now missing.  A jealous employee of the wealthy man knows that the young man will ruin the business and turns to black magic to curse him before he can get away with it.
     The artwork for The Devil sold me on the film.  I love Asian splatter films but the more extreme horror releases bore the shit out of me.  I was afraid this one would be one of those but it wasn't.  It was very story driven with a lot of character development and gooey effects.  I really enjoyed this one.  The acting in this one is great.  I loved the casting and the character development really gave the cast something to grab on to.  The characters do have a few funny moments but the overall performances in this one is fantastic.  The story for this one is a bit messy and uneven but I really enjoyed it.  The film starts out with a witch "healing" a man whose insides were turning to creepy crawlies.  It was a great scene that had some great atmosphere but it did not set the tone for the film.  We then move to a bit of a drama with the family that is deceived by the young man.  We do slowly make our way back to the curse but its a bit of a long and often times dry process to get there.  Finally, the film has some fun green goo, practical effects, and some not so impressive make-up effects.  I was expecting a little more gore but it was still fun the way it was.  These scenes will stick with you for a good bit as well.  Overall, The Devil is a great release from Massacre Video and a damn fun film to watch.  We get some highly entertaining death scenes and some great acting but the story is a little inconsistent.  With that being said, I highly recommend it.  

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Mr. No Legs




Director - Ricou Browning (Flipper, Primus)
Starring - Ted Vollrath (Let Me Live in Your World), Richard Jaeckel (Starman, The Dirty Dozen), and Ron Slinker (The Rock: The People's Champ, Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Crime/Action
Tagline - "The cops want to get him.  The mob wants to hit him.  But no one wants to meet him face to face"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a sucker for a good exploitation flick especially one I've never seen before.  The cheesier and campier the better.  Sometime ago videos from the 1978 film Mr. No Legs made it's rounds through social media and that was when I first heard of the film.  It looked absolutely wild and one that I would fucking love to check out.  Sometime last year Massacre Video announced that they would be remastering the film and releasing it on blu.  I snagged it when it was available for order but never got around to watching it.  I'll be completely honest and admit that I forgot I had even ordered it until recently when I was watching Massacre's Mahakaal and Toxic Zombies.  I decided to have a Massacre marathon and finally toss in Mr. No Legs.  
     Mr. No Legs follows a henchman who is missing his legs and riding a wheelchair fitted with two double-barrell shotguns who is outgrowing his current position.  He strives to eventually overthrow his boss in the drug game.  While he is scheming he has two cops hot on his ass for a murder he committed.
     I went into Mr. No Legs expecting to see some wild exploitation action and some crazy moments.  Sadly, the clip that was making it's way around social media was from the only highlight of the film.  Mr. No Legs fell into obscurity because it was a bland film.  It had so much potential to be one of the most exciting and recognizable exploitation films in history but found it's way into mediocrity.  The acting in this one isn't bad but the dialogue is super campy.  The cast delivers pretty solid performances if you don't count the fight scenes.  The dialogue is a bit cringy at times and the fight scenes are laughable but the acting altogether is enjoyable for the most part.  The story for this one is a bit disappointing.  The movie is titled Mr. No Legs or The Amazing Mr. No Legs.  You expect the movie to be focused on the character of Mr. No Legs but it's not.  He's a prominent secondary character behind the police detectives and the drug lord.  I wanted more No Legs action instead of a crime action flick that is predictable and not as action packed as you would think.  I wanted to like this one but the messy story and boring "action" scenes made for a lackluster experience.  Finally, the film has several deaths scenes.  Most are by gun and the effects work for the kills but they are nothing that stand out or memorable.  Overall, Mr. No Legs is a weird movie experience but not as wild as you was expecting.  With that being said, I'm sure it would be extremely fun to watch while drinking with some friends.  The blu looks great and the screenshots I nabbed from the trailer does not demonstrate the video quality of this release.  I'm glad I snagged this one for my collection but I will not be revisiting it.  
     

Toxic Zombies




Director - Charles McCrann
Starring - Charles McCrann, Beverly Shapiro (Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship, and Videotape), and Dennis Helfend (Silent Madness, Naughty Nurse)
Release Date - 1980
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "They thought they were just killing some weeds.  Instead, they grew a whole new kind of crop"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was getting into horror during my late elementary and middle school years I often found myself renting zombie movies from my locally owned video store Dewey's Video.  I snagged so many direct to video and indie horror releases through him for years and loved every minute of it.  I've always had a soft spot for zombie movies and I have Romero to blame for this.  When Massacre Video announced that they would be releasing the 1980 zombie flick Toxic Zombies I found myself very excited to check it out.  The film is notorious for being the founding father of the "redneck zombies" sub-genre of zombie films and was released under several different titles like Bloodeaters and Forest of Fear.  When I ordered my copy of Mahakaal I went ahead and snagged a copy of this to check out.  
     The film follows a group of marijuana farmers who are harvesting their crop when an experimental chemical is crop-dusted over their fields by a government agency with hopes of killing the crop.  Instead, those that ingested the chemical turn into mindless zombies hellbent on killing everyone they cross paths with in the woods.  
     Toxic Zombies is historical for several reasons.  The first is that the film's director and star Charles McCrann perished during the 9/11 Twin Tower's attack where he was working.  This is heartbreaking to read about as I putting my review together and I hope his family and friends were able to find peace after this.  The film was also notoriously part of the Video Nasties and banned in the UK in the 80s and was featured in the Video Nasties documentary from 2010.  If that wasn't enough the fact that it is credited for the redneck zombie sub-genre that spawned films like Troma's Redneck Zombies is pretty damn impressive.  The movie itself is far from perfect but I fucking loved it.  The acting in this one is not the worst I've seen but the cast's lack of experience was evident.  Like I said, the acting isn't that bad but there is a few scenes where the dialogue and "action" is extremely awkward to watch.  It doesn't really take away from the overall film but it does make the scene lose it's impact.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward and a solid premise for a zombie flick.  Having pot growers getting covered in an experimental chemical and killing people is pretty damn clever and painfully late 70s.  It does have a little I Drink Your Blood vibe with the "zombies" wielding machetes like the satanic hippies but with that being said it was still very well done.  It does slow down from time to time but it doesn't lag enough to make the viewer lose their attention.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood with minimal effects but if you want some gut munching gore you will be very disappointed.  The film is very low budget and it looks like the effects was the aspect of the film that suffered the most.  Overall, Toxic Zombies is going to be a turn off for some of you looking for a well polished horror title.  However, if you dig fun no budget horror then you will really appreciate this one.  The Massacre Video blu looks absolutely fantastic and I would recommend snagging this one regardless if you are a collector or a first time watch.  It's worth every cent.  

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Mahakaal




Director(s) - Shyam Ramsay (Saboot, Hotel) and Tulsi Ramsay (Telephone, Guest House)
Starring - Karan Shah (No Problem, Inspector Dhanush), Archana Puran Singh (Love Story 2050, The Perfect Murder), and Johnny Lever (Bad Boy, Coolie No. 1)
Release Date - 1994
Genre - Horror/Musical
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):
     When you spend most of your time in horror chats, groups, and message boards you discover a lot of strange and weird movies out there that you would never hear about on your own.  During my college years I was turned on to the Turkish and Bollywood parodies of classic films.  The most notorious of these is the Turkish Star Wars.  However, I was always interested in the Nightmare on Elm St. rip-off Mahakaal, aka The Monster.  This Bollywood parody was the topic of many chats in the Upcoming Horror Movies forums and every time it would spring up in conversation I would be there to talk about.  I never did get around to checking it out but I've always wanted to.  A few months ago Massacre Video announced a blu release of this one and I jumped on it as soon as I could.  I know Mondo Macabro had released the DVD sometime ago but I was unable to snag it at the time.  I'm glad my first viewing of this one was on blu.  
     The film follows the beautiful Anita (Singh) who is having nightmares that she is being stalked by a burned man weilding a glove of knives.  Her friend has nightmares of him as well and soon dies in her sleep pinning the murder on her boyfriend.  Anita's parents act strange when she tells them about her nightmares and soon a horrible secret is revealed by her father and the monster in her dreams that puts everyone's lives in danger.
     Holy fuck.  When I hit play on this I was not expecting this type of movie.  It was such a different pace than the films I'm accustomed to but I fucking loved it.  It was like nothing I had seen before but you better believe I'm going to be looking into other Bollywood horror titles.  The acting in this one is very different than what we would see in western films.  The film goes through musical numbers, comedic scenes, standard horror scenes, and a lot of times they blend genres.  This cast has to be very versatile and dynamic in order to make the scene work.  I really enjoyed the characters for the most part but I was not a fan of The Monster.  He was very underwhelming and not menacing at all.  The inspiration for this film has one of the most iconic performances in slasher history.  However, this one has an extremely dull killer that does nothing for the film.  The story for this one is fucking wild to say the least.  We have a lot of romance, some catchy musical numbers that I was not expecting, and some seriously moody and atmospheric scenes that makes the horror really pop.  The pacing is very inconsistent but there is always something going on to hold your attention.  Hell, the movie even has some cheap laughs that I really enjoyed.  Finally, the film has some amazing set pieces that really adds to the film's look at atmosphere.  The scene with the snakes specifically really adds to the ambiance of the film.  With that being said, the practical effects are hit and miss.  Some scenes have amazing practical effects that catch you off guard while others have what looks like rushed make-up effects that are laughable at best.  Overall, Mahakaal is one of the strangest films I have ever seen but I fucking loved it.  It was funny, comical, and suspenseful at times.  The blu looks amazing from Massacre as well.  Regardless, if this is your first time watching or a collector you will want this release for your collection.  
     

Spare Parts




Director - Andrew Thomas Hunt (Sweet Karma)
Starring - Julian Richings (Doom Patrol, Supernatural), Michelle Argyris (Shadowhunters, Hellcats), and Emily Alatalo (The Scarehouse, The Last Halloween)
Release Date - 2020
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Let the battle begin"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been in a rut lately.  The last few films that I watched and reviewed were pretty dull stuff with very little redeeming qualities.  I can't love everything sent my way to review but it seems when I get one in to check out that I don't like I find myself in a cycle of barely watching films.  I did enjoy the Carrie fan film from Concept Media but I then found myself in another lackluster movie experience with The iDol from SRS Cinemas.  I really needed something fun to watch next so I took a gamble on Spare Parts from RLJE Films.  The film looked fun but I had been burned in the past.
     The film follows an all female rock band on their first small tour when they encounter a weird "fan" after an altercation with a group of bikers.  When they leave the man follows them and drops a spike strip resulting in them calling a tow truck to take their van to get repaired.  This was all a ploy to get them to the junkyard where they are drugged and each one has an arm amputated with a metal socket implanted to use various weapons to fight gladiator style as part of a small town sacrifice to the gods.
     I didn't know what I was getting myself into with Spare Parts.  The artwork was really cool and the title made me think it was going to go one way but that was not the case at all.  The title is a bit misleading but I really enjoyed it.  The acting in this one is pretty solid.  I liked the characters and the cast really delivered some intense performances.  A lot of the scenes in this one was very demanding and everyone stepped up to the plate.  The supporting cast does a fantastic job as well with some of my favorite performances coming from characters with very little screen time.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The title and artwork made me think that this was some sort of Frankenstein type action hybrid but that was not the case.  I'm actually glad it wasn't what I was expecting because the pagan blood sacrifice angle mixed with the gladiator style battles and characters really made for a fun late night movie experience.  The movie does drag it's feet during the middle of the run time but it picks it back up as the film reaches the third and fourth act.  Finally, the film is extremely bloody and violent.  The props and practical effects look great.  The fighting choreography was not the best but once you get to the kills and the bloodshed you won't mind the goofy fight scenes.  Overall, Spare Parts is not the hyperviolent grindhouse style film the movie wants you to think it is but it is an entertaining movie with a solid story and great cast.  The kills work for the film but they are not that memorable.  I recommend checking this one out.  

The iDol




Director - Norman England (New Neighbor, Sushi Typhoon: Tokyo Invasion)
Starring - Takako Fuji (The Grudge, The Grudge 2), Tomoo Haraguchi, and Erina Hayase (Arch Angels, Red Letters)
Release Date - 2006
Genre - Sci-Fi
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     SRS Cinema has brought some seriously obscure indie releases to us over the years.  A good bit of these releases were extremely entertaining and movies that I often revisit when the mood strikes me.  Sometime ago SRS did a limited run of the 2006 sci-fi flick The iDol on blu.  I was unable to snag a copy then and kicked myself over it.  However, I recently discovered that the film got a wide release on DVD from SRS and MVD.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to send this one over.  It wasn't a bad watch but SRS has some seriously more entertaining films in their catalogue.  
     The film follows a young man who is reluctantly holding on to his youth by collecting toys when he finds a strange alien figure as his local hobby store.  He grabs it and soon finds his wishes coming to life.  However, everything comes crashing down when little by little his perfect life is taken from him.  
     The iDol was not what I was expecting at all.  When SRS originally announced this release I saw a trailer for the film which said it was a never before released kaiju film.  However, if this was a true kaiju then it was a scene I missed when I kept falling asleep.  The movie wasn't bad but it was extremely lackluster and difficult to follow.  The acting in this one is actually pretty good.  The cast is really energetic and does a fantastic job at creating fun and unique characters.  I really enjoyed the cast and the characters they portrayed.  The story for this one is where the film loses me.  The movie has a solid sci-fi basis that could have went so many different ways that wold have worked but the romantic fantasy angle did not.  I found myself more focused on what the movie could have been over what we were actually given.  The movie itself isn't bad but it's very boring.  Finally, the film has some surprisingly well done visual effects that hold up very well 15 years later.  I was really impressed by that.  We also get some fun practical effects and a great creature suit that was underutilized.  Overall, The iDol was an alright watch but it is not the film you are expecting.  It feels like a romantic fantasy film with a little sci-fi flair.  It's dull but enjoyable at times.  

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

She Burns in Hell: Accounts from Chamberlain, Maine




Director - Ryan Stacy (Trespassing, Failing Grace)
Starring - Brittany Blanton (Don't Fuck in the Woods, The Lamb), Sarah Curtis (Failing Grace), and Zavia Jones 
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Inspired by Stephen King's Carrie"
Format - Streaming (YouTube)

Rating (out of 5):

     Concept Media is a company that always comes out swinging.  They always go into a new project, regardless if it's a feature length film or short, with everything they have at their disposal to tell the stories that they want to tell.  Horror is a such a diverse genre which only makes sense that I won't like everything being pumped out.  Director Ryan Stacy has helmed some very memorable horror features and shorts.  He is the mind behind Ladies' Night which is my favorite of all the CM catalogue.  With that being said, he still holds a small grudge because I wasn't a fan of his Midsummer Nightmares.  Anyway, when Ryan announced that he was working on a Carrie fan film I was very interested in it. Hell, when it was released in 2019 I thought I had reviewed it but Concept Media co-founder Shawn Burkett informed me that I had not.  I was quick to fix that mistake.
     The film follows the survivors of the event in the film "Carrie" when Carrie White (Blanton) exacted revenge on those that tormented her by using her telekinetic powers.  The survivors are interviewed about what happened that dreaful night.
     Most horror fans are familiar with Carrie.  I'll admit that King's Carrie is one of the few stories of his that I had not read but I've watched the original film more times than I can count.  The film is iconic and Sissy Spacek's performance as Carrie is legendary.  I was very curious about how Stacy and Concept Media would approach such a film.  When it was all said and done I would have to admit that I enjoyed it but there was a few unintentional laughs along the way.  The acting in this one is great.  Concept Media has a fantastic stable of actors and actresses and this one has some familiar faces.  Brittany Blanton is a powerhouse behind the camera but in front of the camera she's just as talented as she is beautiful.  She is always delivering amazing performances and she does a great job as Carrie.  Sadly, the film isn't long enough to really see her take the character as far as she could but I hear there is two more chapters in the works.  The supporting cast is great as well.  We have some quick performances from a few Concept Media regulars, as well as, some new faces.  With that being said, the wigs in some of the scenes had me laughing so fucking hard.  It does make the scene feel a little tone deaf but doesn't ruin it.  The story for this one is a very clever tribute to such a historic horror film.  Having the survivors give first hand accounts was actually a stroke a genius.  However, I would have loved a little more of an "after the incident" type of fan film.  Maybe in the upcoming chapters?  The film makes great use of it's short running time and is able to hold the viewer's attention very well.  Finally, the film has some blood but if you are looking for gore and amazing practical effects then you are going to be very disappointed.  The short is very character driven but if you want some red stuff then there is some for you.  Overall, She Burns in Hell is a great tribute to the film that now lives in infamy.  It does a great job at not retelling the original story but giving us an extension of a films we all have seen.  If you have not seen this loving tribute then I highly suggest you give it a watch.  
     

Twister's Revenge




Director - Bill Rebane (Blood Harvest, Monster a Go-Go)
Starring - Dean West (Blood Harvest), Meredith Orr, and David Alan Smith (Sons of Anarchy, Desolate)
Release Date - 1988
Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)


Rating (out of 5):

     Here we are.  After several days I'm finally at the end of my Bill Rebane marathon.  The Weird Wisconsin box set from Arrow Video has some ups and downs but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself.  Invasion from Inner Earth is, hands down, my favorite in the set but The Alpha Incident and The Demons of Ludlow were still solid films.  Monster a Go-Go had some moments but missed it's mark while The Game was almost unwatchable.  Now, I move on to the final film in the set, Twister's Revenge.  This is the only film in the set not labelled a horror title.  Instead, this sci-fi comedy is a completely different film in tone of style and atmosphere.  It fell short but still had some fun moments.
     The film follows three idiots who are trying to score some serious cash when they hear that a man and his future wife has put an extremely expensive computer in his monster truck.  However, when they try to steal the computer they learn that the monster truck is equipped with state of the art A.I. and is sentient.  In the heat of the moment they decide to kidnap the man's wife instead.  The man and the truck team up to get her back.
     Honestly, when I got this set in for review I just assumed that Twister's Revenge would be the shittiest movie in the set but it wasn't.  Hell, there was even times I enjoyed this odd little flick.  I don't want to watch it again unless I was heavily intoxicated but I had fun with it to an extent.  The acting in this one is funny which makes the film as funny as it is but it does get bad at times.  The characters are what makes this one as fun as it is but there is some scenes that left me wondering where the director was when they went through their lines.  The story for this one is so far out there but it has it's moments.  A killer vehicle with a mind of it's own is nothing new even in 1988.  However, this hixploitation spin on it could have been so much more fun than it was.  The movie relies too much on the bumbling idiots instead of the truck which becomes a bit dull at times.  It's a bit repetitive at times but there was some fun moments.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  We have some monster truck fun and a few laughs but no blood or gore.  Overall, Twister's Revenge is not as bad as you would expect but its extremely difficult to watch at times with some laughs scattered throughout.  It's worth at least one watch.