Hiruko the Goblin

Director - Shinya Tsukamoto (Tokyo Fist, Tetsuo: The Iron Man)

Starring - Kenji Sawada (The Man Who Stole the Sun, Deaths in Tokimeki), Masaki Kodou (Tokyo Heaven, Seven Days' War)

Release Date - 1991

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Slam the door shut!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many of you may recall last year when I spent a week or two reviewing the Shinya Tsukamoto box set that Arrow Video had released.  It was a great time and was a great introduction into the wild world of Tsukamoto.  Some were better than others but all the films were a fantastic experience that I would highly recommend checking out if you haven't.  Sometime after that release Mondo Macabro releases Tsukamoto's Gemini.  Honestly, I didn't care for this one but I was grateful that it had a blu release from a company that I like.  A few weeks ago news broke that Mondo Macabro was releasing another Tsukamoto film.  This time they were handling Hiruko the Goblin which is one of his more popular films.  I've owned the DVD release from Fangoria International but I've never opened it or watched it.  I couldn't wait to finally check it out so when CAV sent a copy my way to review I quickly made time for it.  Like always I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film takes place at a school that was inadvertently built on one of the gates of hell.  An archeologist uncovers the gate and accidentally releases Hiruko.  Hiruko kills people so he can behead them so he can use the heads on spider-like bodies of demons waiting to be freed.  A teacher and the archeologist's son must now stop the legions of demons from entering our world and seal the gate permanently while Hiruko and other goblins roam the area looking for more heads.  

     I know I've not seen all of Shinyu Tsukamoto's films but this has to be the most bat shit insane in his filmography.  It's bloody, comical, and extremely fun.  I honestly didn't expect the film to be like this and after finally watching I have to believe that this is one of the most underrated horror films of our time.  This is essential viewing for any movie fan regardless of their preferred genre.  The acting in this one is great.  The cast really brings the characters to life.  The humor finds it's mark and the more serious scenes work.  The cast's dedication shows in each scene and I was impressed by every character introduced in the film.  The characters are well written which gave the cast something to hold on to.  The story for this one is another unique spin on the classic accidentally opening a gate to hell story.  Personally, I really enjoyed the string of films to come out of Italy with a similar story.  Lucio Fulci did it right but Tsukamoto does an amazing job with the story and makes it his own.  The head hunting goblins hunting a student and teacher through a school while a janitor tries to keep the goblins at bay was a fantastic idea.  When you combine that with the creatures, effects, and comedy you find yourself getting pulled in.  I loved it and can see myself revisiting this one several more times before I get tired of it.  Finally, this film is bloody and full of amazing practical effects.  The spider creatures and gore all look fantastic and a few of the deaths are the kind that will stick with you.  It's been years since I've seen a movie where the kills left a lasting impression like Hiruko did.  It reminded me of watching some of the classic horror titles as a kid for the first time.  It was a great experience.  Overall, Hiruko the Goblin is a fucking blast.  This needs to be essential viewing for genre fans.  It's bloody, violent, and devilishly beautiful.  The Mondo Macabro release is a must own.  As a collector I'll still hold on to my DVD but this blu is the only way to watch it.  I highly recommend it.  

The Laughing Woman

THE LAUGHING WOMAN - Original US trailer from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Director - Peiro Schivazappa (Lady of the Night, An American Love)

Starring - Phillippe Leroy (Covert Action, Beyond Good and Evil), Dagmar Lassander (Devil Fish, Black Emanuelle 2), and Lorenza Guerrieri (Sex of the Witch, Frankenstein: Italian Style)

Release Date - 1969

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "Dominance.  Submission"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     My Mondo Macabro marathon is still in full swing.  After watching School of Death and Sukkubus I wanted to continue through their new releases and decided to go with The Laughing Woman.  The film, which is also known as The Frightened Woman or Femina Ridens, is another Mondo Macabro release that I've never seen before and was curious about.  I expected a late 60s sexploitation film with a giallo feel but that is not what was before me at all.  Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.  

     The film follows a disturbed doctor who has a meeting with a young woman who believes that women have been repressed.  She is vocal about men becoming sterile instead of women which goes against the doctor's misogyny.  He drugs her and takes her to his secluded sex dungeon where he subjects her to various sex games, torture, and more.  However, the longer he subjects her to this treatment the more in love with her he falls until she finally wins his affection which is what she wanted to do from the very beginning.

     The Laughing Woman was not what I was expecting. It's not necessarily a bad film but I found it to be a little underwhelming and moving at snail's pace.  There was aspects of the film that I did enjoy but at the end of the day this was one that I just didn't care for.  The acting in this one is fun.  I loved Leroy and Lassander's characters.  They were absolutely fantastic and worked so well together.  Lassander's character is a gorgeous feminist who finds herself at the mercy of Leroy's sexual masochistic Dr. Sayer.  The supporting cast is only on screen for a few moments and easily forgettable but our two leads are the star of the show.  The story for this one is a bit unique and difficult to properly market.  It's not a sexploitation film nor it is really a film deserving of The Frightened Woman title.  The Laughing Woman does fit the film a little better if you stick with it through the ending but it's a strange movie to say the least. It does center around sexual perversions, fetishes, and gender norms but it's not as sleazy as other films being released at the same time.  Nudity, sexual sounds but that's the extent of it.  It is a bit more tasteful and artistic but the film suffers from pacing issues, pointless dialogue, and odd cinematography that looks great but only bogs down the film.  Honestly, I do like the idea behind the story but it could have been done a little better and with a much darker tone.  Finally, don't expect to see any blood and gore.  If you toss it in expecting nudity you will find some but the film is not as raunchy or sleazy as some of the other films released from Mondo Macabro.  Overall, The Laughing Woman was not for me.  I liked the idea behind the story and the cast but it was very underwhelming.  I was more focused on the clock than the film which is often a bad thing.  If the film was a little darker or sexier then it would have held my attention.  The blu from MM looks great but there is so many other titles from them I would recommend before this one.  

Sukkubus

SUKKUBUS original trailer from Mondo Macabro on Vimeo.

Director - Georg Tressler (Ship of the Dead, Two Worlds)

Starring - Peter Simonischek (Army of Thieves, Speer), Giovanni Fruh (Cinema 16, The Frozen Heart), and Andy Vob (Lutz and Hardy, Anderland)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Horror/Fantasy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Recently Mondo Macabro announced the release of four new titles.  One of the titles, Hiruko the Goblin, was one that really caught my eye.  I had never seen it but I've owned the DVD for years and never opened it.  Once I actually got these releases in my hand I found myself drawn to the 1989 fantasy horror film Sukkubus.  I had never heard of it but I can't resist a good folk horror film.  I decided that this would be my second film in my marathon and when I hit play I was not expecting to love this one as much as I did.  Id like to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over to review.  It was a fantastic watch and an amazing film.

     The film follows a teenage boy and two cattle herders living in the scenic mountain regions of Switzerland in the 19th century.  They take their herd to the Black Mountains for several days and while in their cabin they drink schnapps.  Drunk and horny, they two men build a women out of hay, rags, and a strange root that resembles a face.  They feed it, offer it drinks, and before long the two men try to fuck it.  However, something strange happens when it's hips start moving in turn with the men's.  They chalk it up to a night of drinking and go to bed.  The next day everything seems fine until they find out that their drunken game as freed a sukkubus and she has her sights set on the three shepherds.  

     Sukkubus is not a traditional horror film.  It's mostly a fantasy drama film that is centered around isolation, sexual desires, and survival.  The horror elements are subtle and mostly at the end of the film but they are still there.  Regardless of the genre of this film it was still a fantastic watch.  Another fantastic film to Mondo Macabro's catalog.    The acting in this one is solid.  The cast is small but everyone works great together.  The characters are perfectly written for the story which gave the cast something to work with.  I liked the characters, the performances from the cast, and how they fit with the film but the succubus was very underwhelming.  She's in the film for such a short amount of time and never given a chance to showcase her talents.  The story for this one is so simple but it works.  The movie is drawn out but it's not boring.  We get a lot of character development through these longer scenes yet they don't feel boring or dull.  They work with the characters to progress the film and not drag it down.  I really enjoyed the story but the lack of succubus on screen was a bit disappointing.  Finally, the film doesn't really have any blood or gore.  We get a small instance of make-up effects and a few shots of classic camera tricks but that's about it.  Overall, Sukkubus was a fantastic release from Mondo Macabro.  This is easily in my top 5 favorite releases from them and one I would highly recommend snagging for your collection.  Check it out, it's well worth it.  

School of Death

Director - Pedro L. Ramirez (The Jinx, The Fish with the Eyes of Gold)

Starring - Dean Selmier (Take a Hard Ride, The Hunting Party), Sandra Mozarowsky (Night of the Seagulls, Devil's Possessed), and Norma Kastel (Vengeance of the Zombies, The Girl from the Red Cabaret)

Release Date - 1975

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "A dark tale of gothic horror set in a school for orphaned girls."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The last two weeks has been pretty entertaining for the most part.  I've been working on the last few releases from Mondo Macabro because my day job has picked up a lot over the last few months so I haven't been able to watch and review like I should be.  Last week I busted through three previously released MM titles then took a break to watch a few indie releases before moving on to the four newest releases from Mondo Macabro.  The first of these four that I decided to check out was the 1975 gothic horror tale School of Death.  It was one that was new to me so I was very interested in it.  Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over for me to check out.  

     The film follows a mad doctor who is severely burned that takes women from a London orphanage and subjects them to his strange experiments that ultimately wipes them of their memories.  He then fakes their deaths before his partner sells them into prostitution.  

     I knew nothing about School of Death prior to Mondo Mcacabro sending this one over for me to review.  I knew it was a Spanish horror film but that was it.  I was very pleased with the atmosphere and aesthetics of the film but the long, drawn out scenes made it feel a lot longer than it actually was.  I liked it, for the most part, but this is one of the many instances where some of the fat could be trimmed to make the film flow a lot better.  The acting in this one is solid.  The characters are fairly generic and flat but they fit the film very well with the cast does a decent job with their performances.  No one really stands out and a good bit of the character lack personalities but the cast does the best with what they had.  The story for this one is a gothic style mad scientist film with a fun little twist.  The movie makes the twist known fairly early but the ride to it is still worth it for the most part.  As I stated earlier, the movie is way too long during certain scenes and could benefit from a trim but it's not as bad as my complaint makes it.  It's tolerable but does break the pacing up.  Finally, the film has some make-up effects but that's about it.  The make-up effects are not the best looking and the doctor's face made me laugh.  It reminded me a lot of the monster from Frankenstein's Daughter.  I've seen much better in other films much older than this one.  I was a little disappointed in the lack of fun gore or deaths but the story doesn't really leave room for that.  Overall, School of Death has some things I liked and others I didn't.  It was a decent first time watch with some impressive atmosphere and scenery but it is long winded.  The Mondo Macabro blu looked fantastic which should be the only way you watch this film but go into it with an open mind.  

The Incel Tapes

Director - Ethan Freel (Trapped Souls, The Pleasant Confines of Lonerhood: A Portrait of Efim Kolobov)

Starring - Alec Beckstead, Efim Kolobov (Trapped Souls), and Ethan Freel

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     By this point in my reviewing career it's pretty well known that I don't really care for found footage flicks.  There has been a few that has popped up here or there that I did like but for the most part they are not really for me.  On occasion I will get one in for review and I try to be as open minded as I can but there is a lot going on with found footage films that just don't work for me.  A week or so ago I was contacted through Instagram to review the new found footage film The Incel Tapes.  I'm a huge supporter of indie films and I agreed to check it out.  I wanted to give the film a shot but deep down I know exactly what kind of films I like and dislike.  

     The film follows the a delusional twenty-something man who has failed to chase his dreams as an aspiring filmmaker.  He lives at home with his mother and is still a virgin.  He tries to pick up women but his communication skills and open racism makes it impossible for him to get laid.  He decides to call up two college friends and convince him he's dying with cancer so they will feel obligated to help him film his movie.  However, he wants to turn this into a snuff film with plans of killing them both for his movie but as the film progresses things don't go as he expected.

     The Incel Tapes is not a bad found footage film.  In fact, I actually enjoyed the story and how it was approached.  However, the film suffers from the same thing that makes so many other found footage films so dull to me.  The movie was decent for a first time watch and if you dig found footage flicks then you will enjoy this one but if you are like me then you may want to look over it.  The acting in this one is great.  The small cast works so well together and the characters they portray are very grounded.  They fit the film very well.  There is a few instances where the acting gets a little awkward and the cast is trying too hard but that's nothing that makes the film unwatchable.  The story for this one is simple and works perfectly as the premise for a found footage film.  I liked the set out and it's simplicity.  Hell, I even found myself enjoying the movie once it picks up but it does suffer from the home video syndrome that plagues so many other found footage films.  Filmmakers often try to make their FF feel authentic so we are given huge chunks of these home video like sequences with small talk, awkward acting, and scenes that have nothing to really do with the film.  It's mostly filler and to get that film that authentic found footage feel.  I understand the logic behind this but this very thing has ruined so many movie experiences for me.  Finally, the film has a little blood and some light practical effects but it's not a gory flick like some of the other found footage flicks I've reviewed.  The deaths fit the film and they look great but they are not that memorable.  Overall, The Incel Tapes has a great story that fits the set up of the film perfectly but the execution just wasn't for me.  Honestly, I didn't hate it but it wasn't for me.  Found Footage junkies will appreciate this one but someone looking for something a little different may want to stay clear. 

They See You

Director - Tory Jones (The Wicked One, Angel)

Starring - Lloyd White V (Quarantine, Boomerang), Jack Gross (Weekend Warriors, 13 Stories TV Originals), and Jace Carson (Spaghetti Face)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Filmmaker Tory Jones and his Jonestown Films label has released some seriously entertaining slashers over the last few years with The Wicked One, the follow up Wicked Ones, and Angel.  He's a talented filmmaker and his films are worth your time.  Sometime ago he announced his Halloween centered horror film They See You.  The original poster for the film really pulled me in but the film lost steam fairly early as Jones moved on to other films after it's initial announcement.  However, after Jones completed his current project he brought They See You back from the dead.  During the crowd funding campaign I pre-ordered the blu and it arrived a few days back.  I couldn't wait to dig into it so as soon as I had the time I quickly tossed it in and hit play.

     The film follows the three Sanders brothers as Halloween approaches.  They are social outcasts and often catch hell from the town's popular teens.  With Halloween just around the corner they decide to steal an antique sign from an antique shop with the help of their bully's girlfriend.  They are able to get it and soon learn that the board is a key that opens the door that frees a group of supernatural beings that want nothing more than to kill everyone. 

     Honestly, They See You was not what I was expecting but it's not a bad film.  I was hoping that Jonestown Films was taking the knowledge they had gained from the string of slashers they had made to make a new Halloween-centric slasher for genre fans.  However, the movie we got felt like a loving tribute to Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? from fans who now have an eye for bloody deaths.  The acting in this one is decent.  The cast has some on screen experience and they are fully dedicated to their roles but some of the scenes are a little awkward.  It's nothing bad or something that makes the film unwatchable but during a few scenes the cast is trying a little too hard.   The story for this one borrows heavily from so many other classic genre films especially those Halloween classics new and old.  We get a little dash of Night of the Demons, some from The Barn, and a dash of Supernatural.  You bring all this together with that friendly atmosphere that can be found in Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? and you will have They See You.  I really liked the set up of the story, how it unfolds, the way the characters were written, and how it ends but some of the scenes are a little too long.  They could have been trimmed down a lot better to make the movie flow a little better.  Also, I see countless possibilities for this story so I wouldn't be shocked if a sequel, prequel, or spin off comes out of this.  Finally, the film has some bloody moments that I was not expecting.  The kills are a lot of fun and the effects work in favor of the gag.  There is several instances of visual effects that made me laugh, like when the shotgun blasts, but the practical effects are no laughing matter.  Overall, They See You is not the new Halloween classic that we are often looking for but it is an enjoyable in horror film with a decent story.  I can see myself revisiting this one again over time but I will not be removing one of my favorite Halloween flicks to add this one to my essential October viewing.  Regardless, I still recommend checking this one out.  You will not be disappointed.  

Last Night in Soho

Director - Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs the World)

Starring - Thomasin McKenzie (Old, Jojo Rabbit), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, The New Mutants), and Matt Smith (Doctor Who, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Mystery

Tagline - "A murder in the past.  A mystery in the future"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school I picked up the rom com zom flick Shaun of the Dead.  That was my introduction to director Edgar Wright and actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.  I've been a fan of the three ever since.  Wright has directed some seriously entertaining action, sci-fi, and comedies but when I hear that he is attached to a horror film I often find myself becoming way too excited for the project.  When I heard about Last Night in Soho I knew this was going to be a film that I would obsess over like his other films but I was unable to see it during it's theatrical run.  However, once I received the press release for the physical release I was quick to request a review copy.  I received it a few weeks back but the carrier absolutely destroyed it.  Sadly, the disc was not playable so I had to pick up a copy the next time I was out shopping.  Due to my work schedule I was unable to do so until recently but I'm fucking glad I did because I loved this film. 

     The story for this one follows an aspiring fashion designer who moves to Soho in hopes of attending school and start a career.  However, after a horrible first night with her roommates she moves out and into one of the older buildings in town in hopes of bettering herself but her new room sends her back in time to the 60s while she sleeps.  During her night time adventures she follows an aspiring lounge singer who gets mixed up with a shady manager who pimps her out under the guise that it's bettering her career.  As her night visions continue she uncovers that the women she was following was murdered by her "pimp" but as she tries to investigate and bring justice for this decades long open murder case she discovers that her small glimpse at the murder was just that and something else entirely had happened.  

     Last Night in Soho was a slow build up which made me nervous at first but as the film progressed I found myself falling in love with it.  I knew nothing about the film prior to watching aside from the fact that it was directed by Wright and was a horror mystery.  The movie was a lot more than that and the twist was unexpected and so fucking enjoyable.  I loved this movie and it's easily one of Wright's better films.  The acting in this is absolutely amazing.  The characters are so much fun and the cast goes all in.  Matt Smith is fucking fantastic as the sleazy manager who introduces the young singer to prostitution and the underbelly of the nightclub circuit of the 60s.  McKenzie and Taylor-Joy are great together and they carry the film on their backs.  The supporting cast is fantastic as well with so many amazing characters and cast members for the viewer to enjoy.  The story for this one is not your traditional murder mystery.  Wright gives viewers a period piece that meets a classic and stylish mystery with one hell of a twist that you don't see coming.  The red herrings are not awkward like most modern horror films that try to throw the viewer off it's trail.  I really enjoyed it and I feel as if Wright has set himself up for a fantastic prequel film or even a series based on that twist.  The film has damn near perfect pacing, wonderful dialogue, and it's a story that even though you've already seen it and know the twist it is still just as enjoyable on the second, fifth and even the tenth viewing.  Finally, the film is fairly dry at first but once we reach the first death we move into some bloody and highly entertaining moments.  Those of you looking for some of the red stuff will be in heaven during the last leg of the film.  There is fantastic practical and visual effects that work great together to make the death scenes work.  Overall, Last Night in Soho is a fucking must watch and easily one of the best films of 2021.  It's not predictable, an amazing premise, and a fantastic cast.  Please do yourself a favor and watch this film.  I highly recommend it. 

Shriekshow

Director - Brad Twigg (Killer Campout, WrestleMassacre)

Starring - Julio Bana Fernandez (Harvest of Horrors, WrestleMassacre), James L. Edwards (Bloodletting, Her Name Was Christa), and Rick Jermain (Blood Summer Camp, Milfs vs. Zombies)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Welcome to the scariest show on Earth!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Brad Twigg and his Fuzzy Monkey Films has released some of the most impressive indie horror films of recent years.  He has tackled zombies, slasher, anthologies, and more slashers and anthologies.  He's one hell of a filmmaker and whenever he announces a new film you can bet your sweet ass and half a tit that I'm going to be excited for it.  Sometime ago Twigg announced his newest film Shriekshow with some awesome cameos from some of horror's favorite stars.  I was hooked on the film and couldn't wait to see it.  I've been constant in sharing news from the film and a few days ago Brad hit me up to review it.  I couldn't say no and as soon as I had time for it I hit play on it.  I want to thank Brad and Fuzzy Monkey Films for sending this one over to check out.  

     The film follows four twenty-somethings who dress up for Halloween and visit an old abandoned carnival that is supposedly haunted.  When they arrive they encounter the ringmaster who tells them several stories before revealing that their Halloween trespassing trip has set in motion the beginning of the end for them.

     I somehow missed the part where Shriekshow was an anthology film when I covered it for the site.  I either looked over it or time erased my memory.  Regardless, I'm a huge fan of anthologies and Twigg has no disappointed me in the past with his anthology films.  Shriekshow is probably his best anthology to date.  I would be lying if I said it was my favorite film of his but it was a fantastic flick that he should be very proud of.  The acting in this one is uneven but not bad.  In fact, I really enjoyed it for the most part.  When it comes to anthologies, especially ones where different directors helm various segments, you find some are better acted than others.  Considering that Twigg directed all these segments it is a little strange that some are a little better acted than others.  We see several familiar faces that have appeared in several other Fuzzy Monkey films along with genre legends like Sleepaway Camp's Felissa Rose, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master's Tuesday Knight, and Return of the Living Dead's Beverly Randolph.  The cast is fairly experienced and everyone gives it their all but some segments are better acted than others.  The stories for this one are a lot of fun but the film doesn't really deliver that Halloween vibe that it's going for.  I didn't realize the film was meant to take place on Halloween prior to my initial viewing but the film doesn't really try to make it that obvious either.  Sure, the wraparound segment is nestled nicely in a Halloween centered story but that is it.  With that being said, I enjoyed the segments for the most part but there was a few minor issues I had with them.  The segment following the backwoods cult and the two detectives is probably my favorite segment  I fucking love backwood slashers and anything cult centered so this was a great segment.  It was a little too short for it's own good and I really do think that Twigg has the basis for a fantastic feature film if he takes the time to expand on it.  The segment centered around the beautiful ladies camping could have been a sleazy good time but there just wasn't enough story to pull me in.  Don't get me wrong, it doesn't take a lot of story to make a sleazy short fun but this one just didn't do much for me aside from the eye candy.  The segment following the young man who witnesses a clown butcher his family and friends at his birthday party is a solid entry.  It's a mental health centered horror tale that works.  It's one of the few segments that actually works as a short.  The last segment in the film follows a group of aging men who want to do a little fishing in the country.  However, they soon find themselves face to face with a female monster and the brother who has been feeding it.  This is another segment that I enjoyed but feel as if it was shortened down to fit the film.  I see a much bigger story waiting that I hope Twigg expands on in the future.  Finally, it wouldn't be a Fuzzy Monkey film if it didn't have some gnarly deaths and great practical effects.  The deaths don't really stand out but the practical effects and gore look great.  Indie horror fans will truly appreciate the hard work that went into pulling these off.  Overall, Shriekshow is another fantastic film from Brad Twigg and Fuzzy Monkey Films.  I would love to see some of the segments followed up in feature length films but I enjoyed it as it was.  I wouldn't say it's essential viewing for Halloween but it's a horror anthology I would recommend for some late night chills.  Check it out when you get the chance.  

The Designated Victim

Director - Maurizio Lucidi (Vampire in Venice, Hot Blooded Boarding School)

Starring - Tomas Milian (Massacre Play, The Devil and Holy Water), Pierre Clementi (Hideous Kinky, Massacres), and Katia Christine (Spirits of the Dead, Margin for Murder)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Crime/Thriller

Tagline - "It was the perfect crime... but who was the victim?"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I started reviewing Mondo Macabro's releases several years back I found myself liking most of the releases but I will be completely honest when I say not all of them are for me.  When MM releases films do typically do so in 3 or 4 film increments.  Typically I'll dig one or two but one or so just don't work for me.  When I received It's Nothing Mama, Just a Game, Human Animals, and The Designated Victim in to review a few months ago I honestly wasn't too interested in The Designated Victim.  It looked like an Italian crime film which just wasn't something that I typically enjoy.  However, once I tossed it in and hit play I realized that I was a damn fool.  It was a fantastic Italian spin on the Strangers on a Train story.  I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one over.

     The film follows a married man who is wanting to sell his wife's assets and move to another country but she refuses.  All of their business ventures is under her name and she's not ready to cash in just yet.  He gets the idea to forge her name but before he does so he meets an eneigmatic man who is often beaten and bruised by his older brother.  He tries to convince him to kill his brother and he will take care of his wife but he refuses.  However, his wife is found murdered after he forges her signature and he is moved to the top of the suspect list.  His new "friend" is hiding evidence that provides his innocence but is blackmailing him into killing his brother before he can get it.

     I'm being completely honest when I said I wasn't looking forward to The Designated Victim but the movie was quick to impress me and after just a few minutes I was honestly hooked on it.  I can't recall the last time that MM released as many well rounded titles as this did with these three film.  The Designated Victim was a great film to finish out my Mondo Macabro marathon.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  Milian and Clementi are fucking fantastic together.  I really enjoyed how different their characters are and how well they work together to make the story what it is.  These two have fantastic on screen chemistry and they both carry the film on their back.  The supporting cast is solid for what it is but the characters are nowhere near as entertaining as what these two give viewers.  The story for this one is Strangers on a Train with a little Italian crime spin on it.  It's a murder mystery without the mystery and follows a police investigation and a man who is being fingered for a murder he did not commit.  I really enjoyed the spin on this classic tale that we get and you think it's predictable because of the set up but you never truly know what is going on.  It's some clever writing and not just a scene for scene rip off of that known story.  Finally, the film has a little blood it's not a movie with a body count.  The deaths are off screen with no practical effects.  Genre fans looking for blood will be disappointed with this.  Overall, The Designated Victim doesn't look like a movie that most horror fans would enjoy but I fucking loved it.  I highly recommend snagging this release from Mondo Macabro!  You will not be disappointed! 

Human Animals

Director - Eligio Herrero (Jane, Mi Peguena Salvaje)

Starring - Carole Kirkham (Panic Beats, I Love Hitler), Geir Indvard (Jane, Mi Peguena Salvaje), and Jose Yepes (The Sea Serpent, Revenge of the Black Wolf)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Tagline - "Two men... one women... and a dog.  It's the end of the world"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Mondo Macabro has brought some strange and unique films to genre fans and film collectors over the years but I think I found their oddest release to date. Several weeks ago I received the film Human Animals from CAV and Mondo Macabro to review.  I immediately fell in love with the artwork for the blu and my mind immediately started racing.  My imagination was running overtime thinking of possible scenarios for the film.  I wanted to start my MM marathon with this one but decided to go with Beyond Erotica.  As soon as I finished it I went ahead and tossed in Human Animals.  Like always, I want to thank CAV and Mondo Macabro for sending this one my way.

     The film follows a brother, sister, and a man who awaken in a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust.  They begin a trek to find civilization and soon cross paths a dog before eventually coming to stop in an oasis.  With plenty of vegetation, wild game, and shelter they make a home for themselves.  Incest, bestiality, and jealousy all become a part of their lives and eventually they start tearing themselves apart.

     Human Animals is one of the weirdest post-apocalyptic films I have ever seen.  It's completely void of dialogue and the story itself is still able to be told without uttering a single word.  It's a different spin on the end of the world and a movie that I think exploitation fans would fucking love.  The "acting" in this one is a little different than traditional films.  The cast has no dialogue but they are able to communicate with facial expressions, body mannerisms, and with sounds.  I really enjoyed the casting and how they approached such a strange and unusual film.  The cast is small but their on screen chemistry is insane.  The story for this one is simple but is explores so many themes that are never explored among other post-apocalyptic films.  We follow three young adults who have survived a nuclear holocaust.  Isolation leads to incest, beastiality, and jealousy as they scavenge, farm, and hunt to survive.  I fucking loved the unique spin on this style of story.  It made the film very unpredictable, overly sexual, and very enjoyable.  I couldn't imagine a film like this being made today but as an early 80s exploitation film it's amazing.  It has solid pacing and the scenes work for the film even though there is no dialogue.  Finally, the film has some gruesome scenes of animals being field dressed but that's honestly about the extent of the blood.  A few spots here or there throughout the film but don't expect bloody or gruesome deaths that most of us crave.  Overall, Human Animals is a fucking wild and weird film that is an unusual take on the end of the world.  I highly recommend it and the Mondo Macabro release is the only way to watch it.