Firestar: First Contact

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

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Tuxedo Warrior), Charles Gray (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Paper Man), and John Wyman (Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Fourth Arm)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've seen a lot of "action" flicks that was lacking action and one thriller that was surprisingly fun.  However, I was not expecting to see a sci-fi flick as I make my way near the last few films in the Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection. I thought Firestar was going to be an action flick centered around some sort of military plot but it wasn't until I was putting the disc in that I realized I had missed the First Contact portion of the title.  This actually made me very excited to check it out.  I knew it wasn't going to be a new favorite but it was nice to take a step away from the action flicks.

     The film follows a space crew that finds themselves in trouble after they destroy an alien spacecraft.  They are the first in the history of mankind to come in contact with intelligent life while traveling the solar system and decide to blow them up instead of peace negotiations.  Those on the crew is then tasked to return to the place where they destroyed the craft to collect the debris but on the trip home they find out their vessel has been breached by a creature of unknown origin.  

     Firestar: First Contact is probably the most ambitious of the films in this set.  It has a lot of promise even though it borrows heavily from the classic sci-fi horror film Alien.  Sadly, the same issues from the other films plagued this one resulting in another film that looks good on paper but is difficult to finish.  The acting in this one is a little better than The Assassinator but that's not saying much.  The characters are generic, the cast struggles with their volume control, and almost all the scenes lack emotional depth.  The story for this one does play off of Alien for the basis but it features a lot of sci-fi drama that was quick to remind me of early Star Trek episodes.  We have a lot of drama, a huge sci-fi set up, yet the film struggles to gain traction.  It's almost as if it was written to be a short and somewhere through production they decided to film some filler scenes to bloat the runtime.  Finally, this film does have some blood, a decent looking creature costume, and some wild visual effects that are laughable at best.  While it's not the most gruesome film in the set, it does offer up the most blood and effects for fans of that sort of thing.  Overall, Firestar: First Contact is one of the most ambitious and bold entries in this box set.  While I did like some of it, the film still fell flat.  If you cut about 30 or 40 minutes of the film's runtime and left most of the last leg of the film intact then you would have something a bit more enjoyable.  However, as it is this is one I have to recommend skipping unless you dig this kind of thing like I do.  

The Assassinator

Director - David Kent-Watson (Firestar: First Contact, G.B.H.)

Starring - Sam Barker, Anna Cachia (Cutthroat Island, Final Justice), and Geraard Campbell 

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I hate that I was sent this Bloody Legend: The Cliff Twemlow Collection and I've had to write negative reviews for most of the films in the set.  I really wanted to like them but these films were not for me.  In fact, I don't know who these films are for.  I'm sure they are fun to watch with a group of people and some beer but fans of direct to video or S.O.V. action will struggle to find enjoyment with these.  Anyway, as I work my way through the set I find myself about to set sail with the 1992 action flick The Assassinator, aka The Hitman.  

     The film follows a hitman that works for a covert organization who finds himself forced to kill his superior when his wife is kidnapped by his long time rival.  

     The Assassinator, or The Hitman, was a film that almost had it.  It wasn't as bad as some of the previous films in the set.  In fact, I found myself somewhat enjoying it for the most part but was ready to turn it off by the time the film hit it's very predictable final act.  I seriously wanted to like it, and did at first, but found the predictability and horrible acting to be too much after the hour mark.  The acting in this one is probably the stiffest out of all the films in the set.  The cast isn't that bad but it consisted mostly of people with no experience or someone that joined just so they could get an exotic vacation out of the deal.  With that being said, I was very surprised to see the late Ronald Lacey appear in a role as big as it was.  While most of you may remember him for his iconic face melting scene in Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, some of us (myself included) may remember him for his roles in several British series like Masterpiece Mystery and The Ray Bradbury Theater.  He was a phenomenal actor and he stole every scene he was in here.  The story for this one is very predictable but it starts out strong.  However, once you hit the midway mark you find yourself predicting each scene before it plays out.  It's a fun game to play at first but any game with cheat codes enabled, it becomes boring as you progress.  I liked the hitman working for a secret group forced to kill his superior.  It's a fun angle especially for a no budget S.O.V. action flick but that seems to be the extent of all that they had written.  The film seems to be fly by the seat and was written as they were filming once they found locations abroad.  It becomes even more predictable than it already was while being extremely dull.  This "action" film has a little more action than previous films in the set but it doesn't have enough to be considered that.  Finally, those looking for some action flicks with explosions and fun fights will be very disappointed.  You get a few "fight" scenes that reminded me a lot school plays along with a lot of talking.  Overall, The Assassinator is not an action packed "action" flick that is predictable and dull for the most part.  The lack of story really hurts this one.  I did like it for a brief moment but that wore off before too long.  Like most in this set, I'd skip this one unless you are like me then may like to see movies that are often overlooked.  

African Run

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

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

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action

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

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

The Eye of Satan

Director - David Kent-Watson (The Assassinator, Firestar: First Contact)

Starring - Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Target Eve Island), Ginette Gray (The Ibiza Connection, Stay Lucky), and Max Beesley Snr (Shameless, The Sleeper Effect)

Release Date - 1992

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Is he man, beast or both?  Kane is the soldier of Satan"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My journey through Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection has been an interesting one.  While I may not have liked these films, I still have fun watching these wild flicks from the 80s and early 90s.  One of the few disappointments I have with the set is the actual lack of blood.  It's a phenomenal time for fans of late 80s and early 90s action flicks but those wanting some decent horror will be very disappointed.  The next movie on this strange trip is the 1982 supernatural horror film The Eye of Satan.  I had high hopes that this one would offer up some blood.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a body guard who is tasked with protecting someone.  However, he is betrayed and sets out to get revenge with the help of his supernatural panther while he recovers an ancient jewel known as The Eye of Satan.  

     The Eye of Satan is the only film in this set that I had heard about previously but I knew nothing about it.  Sadly, it was not the bloody flick that I had hoped for.  It did have some fun S.O.V. moments but the overall film was just didn't do it for me.  The acting in this one is probably the best in the set.  While that isn't saying much, I found myself really digging the characters and the way the cast brought them to life.  The cast seems to be dedicated to their roles here unlike previous films where it felt like the cast was only involved to get a free vacation out of the deal.  The characters are generic but the cast does the best with what was written for them.  The story for this one is meant to be a horror film but it feels more like an action flick with a little espionage added.  I've seen so many movies featuring spies, special agents, and the link hunting for a rare priceless artifact stolen by a secret organization and so on.  Hell, isn't that the basis for most of the James Bond flicks?  Anyway, we have a former body guard endowed with special powers who is killing people in search of The Eye of Satan which is a priceless jewel.  On paper it sounds like a slasher but on film it does not feel that way.  It's slow, dialogue heavy, and difficult to finish.  Finally, the film features several deaths but they are not that enjoyable.  We see some broken necks and so on with no need for practical effects.  Those of us wanting to see some gnarly kills with be very disappointed.  Overall, The Eye of Satan is an odd film that feels like it was written to be a slasher but feels like a sci-fi cat and mouse.  I wanted to like this one but I couldn't bring myself to.  Skip it.  

Target Eve Island

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

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

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

  

Predator: The Quietus

Director - Leslie McCarthy (Knott's Berry Farm)

Starring - Cordelia Roche (Party Time, What's Your Story?), Cliff Twemlow (G.B.H., Tuxedo Warrior), and Darryl Marchant 

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Truth is deadlier than fiction"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I received the Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection I was expecting movies with a lot of action and a lot of blood.  However, what I found was movies that barely qualified as such.  I love bad and no budget cinema but these films so far are barely films.  I hate saying that especially since Severin was kind enough to send this set my way but they are rough.  The set up to this point consisted of "action" flicks that lacked action and one thriller.  That was until I reached what appears to be the sets only horror film, Predator: The Quietus.  This 1988 horror flick was released under the title Moon Stalker but was changed sometime after to prevent confusion with a slasher of the same name.  This is one I was looking forward to and I want to thank Severin for sending this set over!

     The film follows a sensationalist journalist who partners with a hunter to visit Exmoor where legend has it a sort of panther, or werewolf depending on who you talk to, has killed several sheep and possibly a few people.  

     I went into this one actually excited to check it out.  I was hoping that the no budget flair of the previous films was going to meet horror in a way that made Troma releases of the time look like big budget films backed by a major studio.  However, I was very wrong about that.  The film was rough from start to finish with flat dialogue, stock footage, and a creature the filmmaker was afraid to show for some reason.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it was a flaming bag of dog shit at my door step and my eyes was my house shoes.  The acting in this one is easily the worst in the film.  We have some familiar faces to previous Twemlow films but it's evident by this point that they are not trying.  They are spewing their lines out of their mouth like liquid shit out of your ass with no attempt at creating a character.  While some of the cast is inexperienced, a lot of the acting is just laziness.  The story for this one is part An American Werewolf in London and part any bigfoot film from the 70s.  Honestly, I could have got behind it especially if it focused more on the cryptid aspect of the story instead of the tabloid sensationalism.  With that being said, it feels like very little focus is applied to the story itself.  Instead, we get dialogue heavy scenes with more character development than we need.  Finally, the film is not a bloody or violent one.  There is a little bit of blood but not enough to really draw your attention to the scene and the creature you wait the entire film to see is only in the film for a moment.  I liked what I see but I would have liked to see more.  Overall, Predator: The Quietus has a decent story on paper but was never fully explored.  Instead, we get some lazy acting and a lot of dialogue.  I seriously wanted to like this one but it wasn't for me.  

The Ibiza Connection

Director - Howard Arundel (Gunpowder, Dangerous Lady)

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

Release Date - 1984

Genre - Action

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Grievous Bodily Harm

Director - Mark Joffe (Nightmaster, Shadow of the Cobra)

Starring - Colin Friels (Darkman, Dark City), John Waters (Weekend of Shadows, Future-Worm!), and Bruno Lawrence (Death Warmed Up, Battletruck)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "Where does passion end and obsession begin?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had no fucking idea who Cliff Twemlow was before I received this box set from Severin.  However, after watching the documentary Mancunian Man, I was committed one hundred percent to anything he was apart of.  I wasn't expecting films that defined genres but I was looking forward to the campy films that I knew he was behind.  With that being said, I was not prepared for any genre flicks in the set and was surprised when I saw that the third film was a crime thriller from 1988.  The film, Grievous Bodily Harm, looked fun and I couldn't wait to check it out.  Like always, I want to thank Severin Films for sending this one my way.  

     The film follows three individuals with interconnecting stories.  The first is a radical author and journalist who is trying to find his next big hit who teams up with a cop on the lookout for a killer.  Also in the mix is a teacher looking for his wife who many believe is dead.  What connects them all is the search for $40,000 that is missing. 

     Trying to explain the story for this film may have induced a seizure or a stroke.  However, I actually enjoyed the film even though it was a bit rough to follow at times.  It has a great cast and is just interesting enough to hold your attention from beginning to end.  The acting in this one is very well done.  While the dialogue is very heavy and, at a lot of times, overdramatic, the cast does a fantastic job at delivering it.  The interactions and conversations feel genuine and so does the emotions for the most part.  As I stated earlier, there is a few scenes that feel overdramatic but most of the film is great.  The story for this one is a all over the place at times which is a bit difficult to follow at times.  I loved how the characters are connected but that aspect of the story could have been handled a little better.  The way the film was edited together made it difficult to follow at times.  While I do enjoy the movie as it is, I think it would be an unforgettable classic if the story was told in a traditional linear perspective with more focus on the murders.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one regardless as to what the title may suggest.  The film is a crime thriller in the truest sense of the sub-genre with no room for blood and gore.  The film's focus is on the story and the character rather than the red stuff.  Overall, Grievous Bodily Harm is not as violent as you would think but it is a solid late 80s crime thriller.  The story is a bit confusing but the acting more than makes up for it.  This film is the first in the set, besides the documentary, that deserves a watch.  Check it out.  

Tuxedo Warrior

Director - Andrew Sinclair (Bluebood, Under Milk Wood)

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

Release Date - 1982

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

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

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

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

Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow

Director - Jake West (Midnight Peepshow, The World of Xtro)

Starring - Howard Arundel (Stopmotion, Little Darlings), John Barry (Firestar: First Contact, Lethal Impact), and Max Beesley Snr (Shameless, The Sleeper Effect)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Documentary

Tagline - "What kind of man grabs the Hollywood dream by the bullocks?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My friends over at Severin Films has brough us some of my favorite releases on DVD, blu, and UHD over the years.  I'm not just saying that because they allow me to review their releases.  I say that because I honestly believe it.  They bring a lot of films to the masses that many of us would have never seen if it wasn't for them.  Many of us owe a lot to Severin for their dedication to releasing unknown and obscure films.  A few weeks back I was sent the impressive box set Bloody Legend: The Complete Cliff Twemlow.  I was in the dark on who Twemlow was but I was excited to dig into this set.  The first film on the chopping block is the 2023 documentary about Twemlow titled Mancunian Man.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one my way!

     The documentary takes a closer look at a real jack of all trades, Cliff Twemlow.  Cliff was a musician, actor, stunt man, writer, and filmmaker from Manchester.   We go through interviews with those that worked with him for years to people influenced by his work.  

    Mancunian Man is the perfect starting point for those of you, like me, who went into this set knowing absolutely nothing about Cliff Twemlow.  It sheds some light on a man who contributed so much to film yet rarely anyone knows he existed.  The interviews in this one are very informative.  They range from people that knew him very well and worked with him to people that love film and were very familiar with his work.  We get a wide range of interviews and the information that starts from his early beginnings to up until his death.  The information and testimonies recorded here run, mostly, in a chronological order.  This works very well with the film especially in an biographical sense.  With that being said, I feel like the film could have used a bit more interviews from those associated with his later life.  I know we have some insight but I would have loved to see more especially from those closest to him in the early 90s.  Finally, this doc is edited together very well.  Filmmaker Jake West is a career documentarian that has put out top notch work.  Overall, Mancunian Man: The Legendary Life of Cliff Twemlow is the perfect starting point for those interested in this set or in the late Cliff Twemlow.  If you are like me and got the set out of pure curiosity, this doc helps put the films into perspective.  I highly recommend this.