House of Wax

Director - Juame Collet-Serra (Orphan, The Shallows)

Starring - Chad Michael Murray (Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman, Riverdale), Paris Hilton (Repo! The Genetic Opera, Supernatural), and Elisha Cuthbert (Captivity, The Girl Next Door)

Release Date - 2005

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Prey. Slay. Display"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school the second remake of Mystery of the Wax Museum was big news among horror fans.  I love the original film and the first remake from 1953 starring Vincent Price that was simply title House of Wax.  Both of these films followed a very similar story but I wasn't too interested in the 2005 remake starring Paris Hilton.  I did snag it when it was released to add to my collection but I never really cared for it.  When Shout Factory announced the blu release of this one I was on the fence about it.  As a movie collector I really wanted to upgrade my DVD release but I remembered not liking the film that much.  The collector side of my caved in so I reached out to Scream Factory and they were kind enough to send a copy of this one my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows a group twenty-somethings who are traveling to an event when some of them become sidetracked.  They find themselves in a small secluded town that seems to be uninhabited when their car breaks down.  They are unable to find anyone until they visit a church where a funeral was being held.  They speak with a man there who agrees to help them.  Outside of town they have friends waiting for them who eventually make their way there looking for them.  They soon uncover that the town is not as it would seem and the house of wax is harboring a dangerous secret.

     House of Wax is the second remake of Mystery of the Wax Museum and it took a different approach.  In fact, it's difficult to argue that it is a remake aside from being a horror film set against the back drop of a was museum.  I would say that it was loosely based on the original two films while creating a slasher with a different premise.  I did enjoy it some while revisiting it but I still stand by my original thoughts on the film and that it's goofy as hell.  The acting in this one isn't bad but the character are so fucking obnoxious and unlikable.  You know you have a goofy film when Paris Hilton's character is the most grounded and realistic character of the film.  This was released a few years before I became a Supernatural fan so seeing Jared Padalecki in the film meant nothing to me at the time.  His character, much like Hilton's, is one of three characters that were realistic and enjoyable.  The same can be said about Elisha Cuthbert.  Those three deliver solid performances and they really do work well with the story.  With that being said, the rest of the cast is a little absurd and out there.  Chad Michael Murray is trying to be this hard ass bad boy but all it does is come across as a disgruntled N'Sync back up dancer.  Then we have the guy from Cousin Skeeter driving an Escalade and banging Paris Hilton.  This cast is all over the place which doesn't help the story at all.  The story for this one is not really a remake of either previous films.  It does share the title with the '53 version but the story is basically an early 2000's slasher.  It does work as a slasher for the most part but the story itself has a lot of dull moments and scenes that amount to nothing.  We get a little glimpse into the backstory of the film's two killers but so much more could have been said.  Not giving the viewers more of this is truly a crime.  Also, the film really could have benefited from having some of the fat trimmed off.  The movie is almost two hours long and at least 30 minutes could be removed without taking away from the story.  Finally, the film doesn't have a lot of gore but it does have several kills that are fucking amazing.  We get some great practical effects and few make-up gags that look fantastic.  We also get some great set designs that really make the film stand out compared to other films of the times.  I highly recommend the movie just for the death scenes alone.  Overall, House of Wax is so fucking goofy but it does have some fun moments.  I loved the little backstory our killers are given and the sets are gorgeous while the kills are enough to make the film watchable.  The blu from Scream Factory looks fantastic and will look even better on collector's shelves.  Check it out.  

Hunter Hunter

Director - Shawn Linden (In Plain Sight, Nobody)

Starring - Camille Sullivan (Supergirl, Dead Rising: Endgame), Summer H. Howell (Cult of Chucky, The Midnight Man), and Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Idle Hands)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Hunt or be hunted"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The IFC Midnight and Scream Factory collaborative releases have been hit or miss with me.  Some are extremely entertaining with bold stories and seriously dark atmosphere to further the movie experience.  Sadly, not all films are like this.  A few weeks ago I was sent a press release for several IFC and Scream/Shout Factory releases.  The one that really caught my eye was the David Bowie biopic Stardust but I was soon drawn to the 2020 horror thriller Hunter Hunter starring Devon Sawa and Nich Stahl.  Both of those names were a huge part of my childhood.  I was obsessed with Idle Hands and Disturbing Behavior in my teen years so I was very curious about this one.  I reached out to Shout Factory and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  

     The film follows a family living deep in the woods with little contact with the outside world.  They suspect that a wolf is prowling near their cabin and attempt to track it.  However, when the father fails to return home his wife and daughter venture into town to report him as missing.  The local authorities don't pay them any mind so they return to their cabin only to find an injured man nearby.  They bring him in and tend to his wounds before resuming their search for their missing husband and father.  However, when they come across his body they realize that the injured man is the one that has been prowling around their cabin and he isn't afraid to kill.

     I went into this one expecting a movie more in line with the title but it wasn't.  The movie was extremely slow and down beaten until the final scene which packed a fucking punch.  I wanted to like it, especially after that amazing final scene but the movie as a whole was a bit of a task to finish.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The characters are not that memorable and well written but the cast does a fantastic job with their roles.  Sawa is great as the father who is teaching life lessons to his daughter while Camille Sullivan absolutely nails her performance as the worrisome mother.  Her final scene gave me goosebumps as well.  She fucking nails it.  I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in how they handled Nick Stahl's character.  I'll mention this more in the story section of my review.  The story for this one is not what I was expecting and didn't live up to the title like I had hoped.  With the title Hunter Hunter I was expecting a serial killer to stalk this family in the woods resulting in a dark thriller as people fought for survival in the wilderness.  Sadly, that is not the case.  We get a family who find themselves trying to trap and kill a wolf that has been roaming near their homestead.  Then we get introduced to Stahl's character during the final portion of the film before it's revealed that he is responsible for the disappearance of the patriarch of the family.  It's almost like two ideas where thrown out to see which would stick but they both made it into the film.  We needed a lot more of Stahl's character hunting the family and possibly toying with them.  Finally, the film has some blood and great make-up effects with the last scene leaving a lasting impression with me.  It was absolutely phenomenal but does get lost in the shuffle with the rest of the film.  Overall, Hunter Hunter could have been a fucking fantastic film if it would have gave us a story that resembled the title. Instead, it's a slow paced drama about a mother and daughter searching their father while a wild wolf and a man is hunting in the woods.  The ending is a must see but the build up to it is a tough one to finish.  

Stardust

Director - Gabriel Range (Death of a President, The Man Who Broke Britain)

Starring - Johnny Flynn (The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells, Emma), Marc Maron (Almost Famous, Joker), and Jena Malone (Donnie Darko, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Drama

Tagline - "David before Bowie"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in elementary school my brother introduced me to Black Sabbath, Motorhead, and a bunch of hair metal bands.  He loved Poison, which I didn't care for, but I soon founds myself obsessed with Cinderella and Ratt.  When I was high school age I was a huge fan of Pantera, Black Label Society, and Lamb of God but some of my friends were more into classic rock.  They were often listening to The Doors, Hendrix, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dylan, and so on.  This was when I was introduced to David Bowie.  I'm not going to pretend like I'm a huge fan of his but I did dig his work and it was a difficult time for the music scene when he passed.  A few weeks ago Shout Factory sent over a press release announcing a collaboration with IFC Films and the release of the Bowie biopic Stardust.  This isn't a film we would typically cover here at Horror Society but I really wanted to check it out.  I want to thank Shout Factory and IFC for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a young David Bowie (Flynn) who travels to America in order to tour and land his claim to fame. However, an issue with a work visa and Mercury Record's lack of interest in him results in a lackluster trip in the states which eventually prompts Bowie to create his iconic persona Ziggy Stardust.  

     I was pretty excited to give this one a spin but the movie was not what I was expecting.  In fact, this one really surprised me and I can't say in a good way.  The movie was a dialogue heavy drama that did not tell the story I was expecting to see.  There was a few entertaining moments but those were few and far in between.  The acting in this one is great.  Flynn delivers a great performance.  He does sound like Bowie at times but his demeanor and mannerisms are not there.  The supporting cast was great as well.  Everyone delivers some solid performances and some really stood out.  I thoroughly enjoyed the cast in this one.  The story for this one takes a look at what some would consider the most important time in Bowie's life.  However, the movie just paints him as a crybaby trying too hard to be like Warhol.  If you ignore that part of the story you are still given long drawn out scenes that offer up very little historical significance about Bowie and the dialogue in these scenes are tough to swallow.  I respect what they set out to do but the execution is just all wrong.  Finally, the film has a nice wardrobe that does fit with the era but a lot of the sets and locations don't paint the era they were going for.  Overall, Stardust is a bit of a let down.  It doesn't do the icon that is David Bowie justice.  I want to recommend this one but I can't.  Skip it.  

Fear Street Part Three: 1666

Director - Leigh Janiak (Honeymoon, Outcast)

Starring - Kiana Madeira (The Flash, Dark Matter), Ashley Zukerman (The Pacific, Death Star VR), and Gillian Jacobs (The Twilight Zone, Hot Tub Time Machine 2)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "End the curse"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     This is a bitter sweet day for me.  Two week ago I watched Part One of the new Fear Street trilogy and was fucking hooked.  The story combines so many horror elements that I love into a slasher that was unlike anything I had seen.  The follow up the next week was something I looked forward to and it did not disappoint.  It yet again delivered a great story wrapped up in another slasher film.  Sadly, today is the premier of the third and final chapter in this Fear Street trilogy but I hope we have more installments later down the line.  

     The film follows Deena (Madeira) as she forms a link with Sarah Fier in 1666 which leads up to her hanging where it is revealed that she was not actually a witch.  Instead, it was Solomon Goode (Zukerman) who made a deal with the devil to give him one name every few years in return for something.  When Deena awakens she tells her brother and Ziggy about it who set a plan in motion to stop the Shadyside slashers and bring Solomon's ancestor, Sheriff Nick Goode, to justice.

     I fucking loved Part One and Two but Part Three wasn't as fun.  It was still a great film but nowhere near the excitement or action as the first two.  With that being said, this one is more story driven and does a great job at answering questions the viewer may have.  The acting in this one is great.  A lot of the cast had to take on dual roles and they do a fantastic job with it.  The characters, even the bad ones, are still enjoyable and most are very memorable.  I can't say anything about the acting in this one that I didn't say in the reviews for the first two.  The story for this one is more centered around what happened to Sarah Fier and how the chosen ones are still killing.  It was a little twist I didn't see coming that works and ties all the movies together nicely.  With that being said, the action and suspense are not as prominent in this installment.  It's story lead and everything else follows.  Finally, this one has several deaths with lots of blood and a solid amount of practical effects.  This installment is not a gruesome as the previous installments but we do get some nice practical effects to feast our eyes on.  Overall, Fear Street Part Three: 1666 is a great ending to a trilogy that I absolutely loved.  It's doesn't have those memorable kills that made the first two so much fun but it does the important task of finishing the story.  I highly recommend check out this series if you haven't.  It was a lot of fun.  

Strike Commando 2

Director(s) - Bruno Mattei (Shocking Dark, Strike Commando) and Claudio Fragasso (Troll 2, Night Killer)

Starring - Brent Huff (Nine Deaths of the Ninja, Wizards and Warriors), Mary Stavin (House, Twin Peaks), and Richard Harris (Gladiator, Unforgiven)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Action

Tagline - "Nobody could stop him"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I love how campy and cheesy 80s action films are but nothing compares to their sequels.  Sometimes they have bigger budgets and bring on bigger names but they usually skip on the story.  They rely on the names and the title to pull in viewers instead of genuinely progressing with the story.  I really enjoyed Strike Force so I was really looking forward to the sequel that was also sent my way from the fine folks over at MVD.  Thanks again guys for always supporting Horror Society!

     This film once again follows Michael Ransom (Huff) who is a one man wrecking machine that is on a lone mission to save the major that commanded over him years ago.  The major was kidnapped and taken to the Philippines but when Ransom fights his way to him he quickly finds himself betrayed when 10 million dollars worth of diamonds is up for grabs.  

     I never expect a sequel to an action flick to out do the first film.  I expect the follow up to be cheesier and even more fun.  Sadly, Strike Commando 2 throws the same story down our throats with half the fun.  The acting in this one not as fun as the first film.  Huff has no energy throughout this one with a few occasions he shows some intensity but nothing like Reb Brown's performance in the first film.  He's here for a paycheck and that's evident throughout this one.  The supporting cast is not much better.  A lot of lazy performances and nothing campy which is one of the few reasons this one is skippable.  The story for this one is almost the exact same story as the first film with only a few minor changes.  We follow Ransom as he fights through the jungles of the Philippines, instead of Vietnam, only to be betrayed and forced to fight even more people.  Pretty much the same story without the unintentional humor and the choppy performances from the cast.  There is some decent action sequences but they feel out of place.  Finally, we do get some explosions and some gunfights with a little blood but nothing that will stand out.  Overall, Strike Commando 2 has some fun moments but doesn't hold a candle to the first film.  Completionists will want to check it out and this Severin release looks great but the film itself is a bit disappointing.  

Strike Commando

Director - Bruno Mattei (The Other Hell, Hell of the Living Dead)

Starring - Reb Brown (Howling II, Captain America), Christopher Connelly (Night of the Sharks, Airwolf), and Louise Kamsteeg (Bloody Psycho, Fashion Crimes)

Release Date - 1986

Genre - Action/War

Tagline - "A one man war machine"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I absolutely love 80s action movies.  They are just as fun and campy as any horror movie from the decade.  I originally set out to review 80s action flicks but my love for horror and exploitation quickly took over what I was reviewing.  With that being said, anytime I get the chance to review an 80s action flick you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I'm going to try like hell to review it.  When Severin announced the release of Bruno Mattei's 86 action flick Strike Commando I knew I had to review it.  I reached out to MVD who was handling this release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film begins with a mission during the Vietnam war when an entire squad of commandos is sacrificed for a mission...except one, Michael Ransom (Brown).  He survives and finds himself behind enemy lines with a price on his head.  As he fights to get to the rendezvous he soon realizes that the man calling the shots for the U.S. army is actually a Russian spy and Ransom must die in order to keep his secret.  

     There was so many Rambo clones to come out of the 80s.  Strike Commando was released just four years after First Blood and where First Blood offers a gritty look at post-Vietnam vets returning back to civilian life where Strike Commando takes us deeper into the Vietnam action.  The acting in this one is extremely cheesy but so much fun.  Reb Brown is not one to win awards for his performances but he does deliver fun performances.  He goes all in with Strike Commando and delivers an unintentionally funny but entertaining performance I've seen from him yet.  The supporting cast is nothing compared to Brown's characters.  They were either added during filming or poorly written but the overall focus is on Ransom with very little character development beyond that point.  The story for this one is like 100s of other action films to follow in Rambo's wake.  We get a Vietnam soldier who is a one man army and can't be stopped as he fights his way through the rice fields and jungles of Vietnam only to discover that he was betrayed.  Honestly, it's nothing we haven't seen before but we get plenty of explosions, gunfire, fighting, and goofy characters.  It's great fun for a first time watch but I don't see much of a replay value.  Finally, we get plenty of explosions and some gunfights but don't expect to see a bloodbath here.  Not a lot of blood to be found aside from some make-up effects.  Overall, Strike Commando is exploitation filmmaker Bruno Mattei's contribution to the mid-80s action film that is surprisingly fun.  Mattei may be known for his sleazy and sometimes lackluster exploitation flicks but Strike Commando is a must see.  This release from Severin looks absolutely fantastic and one I would highly recommend to collectors.    

Six-String Samurai

Director - Lance Mungia (Third Eye Spies, The Crow: Wicked Prayer)

Starring - Jeffrey Falcon (Caged Beauties, Rape in Public Sea), Justin McGuire (Clownation), and Kim De Angelo 

Release Date - 1998

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "Vegas needs a new king"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many years ago when I first started collecting DVD I often found myself buying up any horror movie I could find along with any weird or strange title I came across.  It wasn't long before I added a copy of 1998's action adventure film Six-String Samurai to my collection.  I owned it for sometime but when I finally watched it I was fucking hooked.  It was one of the wildest films I had ever seen.  Sometime back Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of this late 90s classic on UHD and it was an immediate buy.  I try not to double dip but I'm a Vin Syn collector and my old DVD had seen better days.

     The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where nomadic samurais fight for the title of king of Lost Vegas.  We meet the six-string samurai and a kid that he rescued from a gang of savage killers as they make their way across the sand-covered landscape while the top hat wearing Death and his band of metal head archers hunt for him so Death can be the king of Lost Vegas.

     I review a lot of movies and I know a great deal of them are for a certain group of viewers who have a different taste for cinema.  However, I think everyone can enjoy the wild ride that is Six-String Samurai.  It has so much going on while delivering some gorgeous cinematography and some well done martial arts.  It's so much fun and this Vin Syn release is the way to watch it.  The acting is solid but there is some good scenes and there is some better scenes. Jeffrey Falcon makes the film.  His fight scenes are great and watching how his character speaks to others is what makes this film so much fun.  A lot of the supporting cast and one off characters are so much fun.  The cast had a lot of fun with this one and it shows in every scene.  With that being said, I hated the voices used for the metal band.  Any scene that involves them talking instantly got under my skin.  They are extremely annoying and don't fit in the film at all.  The story for this one is an early 90s comic book come to life.  We get fights, roving gangs or groups with themes. a crazy ass psychobilly style, and a post-apocalyptic setting.  It's extremely wild and unpredictable.  When mix all this with the abundance of memorable characters you have something that feels out of it's time.  It's very enjoyable and blends so many genres.  The slower scenes still deliver character and story progression while the more action centered scenes pull you in.  Finally, the film has a little blood but nothing that really stands out.  We get some great shots of a barren land along with some great wardrobe but the star here is the story.  Overall, Six-String Samurai is a must see film that I didn't see early enough.  It's an important film in 90s cinema and an essential release from Vinegar Syndrome.  I highly recommend this gorgeous UHD.      

Alien from L.A.

Director - Albert Pyun (Cyborg, Radioactive Dreams)

Starring - Kathy Ireland (Loaded Weapon 1, Tales from the Crypt), William R. Moses (Fantasy Island, Mystic Pizza), and Richard Haines (Survivor, Game of Vultures)

Release Date - 1988

Genre - Comedy/Sci-Fi/Adventure

Tagline - "The people at the center of the Earth are about to get a visitor"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I made the jump from VHS to DVD and started collecting every horror title I could find along with anything from the 80s.  I was a huge fan of the Midnite Movies line on DVD.  There was some seriously underrated horror titles in those along with the occasion oddball 80s flick.  This was my first time crossing paths with Albert Pyun's Alien from L.A.  I remember watching it a few times over the years and enjoying it but it's nothing I would brag about to movie fans.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced the blu release of this one I was on the fence.  I'm not one to double dip and the fact I already had this in my Midnite Movies collection made me want to skip it.  However, I also collect Vin Syn releases so in the end I had to snag it.

     The film follows Wanda (Ireland) who receives a letter stating that her father was in Africa looking for the lost city of Atlantis when he fell down a bottomless pit.  She visits his home in Africa to see what happened when she finds herself falling down the same pit.  She soon finds herself at the center of the Earth where the Atlanteans have build an underground city.  She befriends a scavenger named Gus (Moses) who agrees to take her into the city to find her father.  However, the police state of the city liked to keep a lid on all things "alien" and she soon finds herself hunted down by the authorities while she is looking for her father.

     Alien from L.A. is far from perfect and extremely flawed but it's charming.  I always find myself getting sucked into the story and the sets.  It reminds me a lot of Hell Comes to Frogtown and Adventures in Dinosaur City without the rubber suits.  It's a blast if you go into it without a stick up your ass.  The acting in this one is, just like most of the film, flawed but still fun.  The film is centered around Ireland's character but she's the only annoying aspect of the film.  Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.  I don't know what Pyun's reasoning behind having her talk like this but it was extremely annoying.  When you combine that with her "who farted" expression you get some unintentionally funny scenes.  With that being said, the supporting cast is what carries the film.  The cast doesn't go above or beyond with their roles but they do create some pretty fun characters and you can tell they had a lot of fun in the role.  The story for this one is loosely based on Journey to the Center of the Earth which, coincidentally, is the title for the sequel to this one.  It's a goofy adventure film that tosses in some conspiracy theories against a backdrop of paranoia and comedy.  It doesn't overcomplicate things and has a lot of the same charm as the early 90s direct to video releases aimed for children.  With that being said, a good portion of the humor misses it's mark and the humor meant to come from Ireland falls flat with her performance.  It's a fun movie to watch on occasion but it's not one people will obsess over.  Finally, this is not a bloody or gory flick but it does have some make-up effects and a lot of gorgeous sets.  Overall, Alien from L.A. is not as wild as the title suggests.  It has some fun moments but it is rough around the edges.  If you are a fan of Vin Syn's Tammy and the T-Rex release then you should check this one out as well.  It was a lot of fun!  

The Wild Boys

Director - Bertrand Mandico (Dead Flash, After Blue)

Starring - Pauline Lorillard (Apocalypse After, Up the Mountain), Vimala Pons (Struggle for Life, The Sweet Escape), and Diane Rouxel (Standing Tall, The Smell of Us)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Adventure/Fantasy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Vinegar Syndrome has brought a lot of different movies to my attention.  They started bringing exploitation, sci-fi, and horror to the masses through their own releases and as they grew so did their influence.  Over the last year or so they have put a lot of focus in their partner labels to bring even more films to our attention.  A month or so back I saw that Vin Syn had released a special limited edition slipcover for the Altered Innocence release of the 2017 French film The Wild Boys.  I had never heard of this one beforehand so I went ahead and added it to my cart.  I had no idea what kind of movie this was but it was an experience to say the least.

     The film follows a group of adolescent boys who go on a boat trip with a harsh sea-captain to a magic island filled with wonders and mysteries.  However, their interest in the occult and the mysteries of the islands results in a murder.

     I knew The Wild Boys was not going to be the typical horror film I usually review.  In fact, it was one of the strangest films I had reviewed in recent years.  I wouldn't say it was a bad flick but I'm too fucking stupid to appreciate it.  The acting in this one is great.  The young boys, which was portrayed by female actresses, is all into their performances.  They dedicate their everything to their roles and it shows.  The supporting cast is just as great.  There is no weak links in this film but some of the characters are more enjoyable than the rest.  The story for this one is a little difficult to follow but it is extremely clever.  It has an arthouse/experimental mentality that some people enjoy but I found myself just watching the beautiful shot scenes play out with no real interest in the story.  If it was a little more straight forward I could have enjoyed it but the way it is just wasn't my thing.  Finally, the film has some beautiful cinematography and a few scenes with prosthetic effects but it's not really bloody or gory.  Overall, The Wild Boys is a beautifully shot piece that some will thoroughly enjoy while some, like myself, will not fully understand or appreciate.  It's a cool addition to the collection but I'll never watch it again.  

Surf II

Director - Randall M. Badat

Starring - Eddie Deezen (A Polish Vampire in Burbank, Zapped!), Eric Stoltz (Pulp Fiction, The Butterfly Effect), and Jeffrey Rogers (Friday the 13th Part III, The Karate Kid Part II)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "The end of the trilogy"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up on television shows from the 90s and whatever I could find at the local video store but I was very much obsessed with 80s movies.  When I was in middle school I found myself very much a horror fan but I found myself watching anything from the 80s.  I had romance, comedies, action flicks, and so on.  It if was made in the 80s I was going to watch it.  I loved the comedies that came out of the 80s that was modeled after John Landis' National Lampoon's Animal House.  This 1978 classis inspired a plethora of comedies in the years that followed like King Frat in 79 and Porky's in 1981.  Recently, Vinegar Syndrome announced the release of the 1983 surfer comedy Surf II.  I had never heard of this one before but when I was some familiar names I knew I needed it. 

     The film follows two high school surfers who are entering an upcoming surfing competition but the private beach they normally visit is closed after a surfing accident.  To make matters worse, some of the other students at school are turning into mindless zombies that will eat anything.  They suspect it's because of a new soda called Buzz Cola that was created by an evil nerd who was once bullied by the surfers.

     I heard a lot about this one once Vin Syn announced it's release but I was not ready for this outlandishly 80s wild ride that was before me.  I had a lot of fun with it but I can easily see why this one isn't talked about more.  The acting in this one is very fun and the characters are all enjoyable.  The cast is really dedicated to their roles and do a fantastic job at bringing to life what feels like live-action versions of cartoon characters.  They are all well written and great to watch on screen.  With that being said, the film is a little too full.  There is so many great characters to watch with such a huge cast that you often get caught up in the moment and lose track of the story.  The story for this one is more insane than the characters.  We get mad science experiments, teenage zombies, surfers, nudity, Eddie Deezen, and oddball humor.  The film is meant to be a parody of the surfer films of the 50s and 60s but finds itself fitting into the beach comedies of the mid-80s like Private Resort and Hardbodies.  It actually works as one of these films with the parody aspect getting lost among the chaos.  The humor finds it's mark for the most part but some of the gags did leave me stumped.  I'm sure they were pop culture jabs at the time.  The downside to this bat shit crazy story is that it was just one film.  There was no Surf which is a bit disappointing.  I would love to have more of this zany story.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one but that doesn't stop it from being gooey.  We get some practical gags and some gooey mess but that is the extent of this one.  The focus is on the characters which is not a bad thing in this situation.  Overall, Surf II is an outrageous comedy that will leave most cult fans in stitches.  The humor isn't for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  This release from Vin Syn is a must have especially if you haven't seen the film before.  It was a lot of fun.