The Video Dead (1987)

Directed By: Robert Scott

Starring: Michael St Michaels, Rocky Duvall, Roxanna Augesen, Sam McClelland, Vickie Bastel

Subgenre: Zombies

Synopsis: A supernatural television spews forth zombies that attack the living.

Thoughts: The Video Dead is a slam dunk example of an average 80s movie with an amazing cover.  I faintly recall being tantalized by this cover in my formative years, and was eager to check it out when Scream Factory recently released it.

As you can expect the acting is pretty atrocious, even for an 80s zombie flick.  It’s not even worthwhile to discuss individual performances, because no one stood out.  They were all equally bad.  I will say that the zombies looked pretty cool.  The makeup was well done and some of the zombies had a great “look” to them.  Now, their behavior on the other hand, was a little different than most zombie flicks.  These zombies had feelings, and are looking for love and attention.  They also love dancing.  Weird, I know, but you just roll with it as you are watching.

Robert Scott wrote, directed and produced The Video Dead, and it was his first film.  It was also his second to last film, as he would go on to direct the 1990 movie Ratdog, which I’ve never heard of and has no details on IMDb.  That’s not to say the guy hasn’t been busy, he has an extensive resume as a second unit or assistant director.  His direction is better than the acting, and the storyline is unique enough to have intrigued me, but I can see why he has made his career as a second unit director.  He seems to have the technical skill but maybe not the finesse needed to helm a successful movie on his own.

The Video Dead falls into that category of so bad it is good that makes it fun to watch.  There are a lot of really bad zombie movies from the 80s, and while Video Dead isn’t great, the zombies look good enough to propel it past a lot of the other “bad” movies.  It’s on a double feature with TerrorVision and was recently released by Scream Factory.  Fans of 80s cheesiness should have this set on their radar already, but if you don’t, it’s worth a look.

 

Maniac (2012)

Directed By: Franck Khalfoun

Starring: Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, Jan Broberg, Liane Balaban, America Olivo, Megan Duffy, Morgane Slemp

Subgenre: Slasher, Serial Killer

Synopsis: Frank Zito, a mentally unbalanced mannequin restorer, stalks women in LA looking for the perfect mate and replacement to his mother.

Thoughts: Maniac wasn’t my most anticipated movie of the New Year, but it was surely one that I was looking forward to seeing.  I was very intrigued to see how Elijah Wood channeled Frank Zito, who was originally portrayed by Joe Spinell in William Lustig’s disturbing 1980 original.  I was lucky enough to catch a screening at Texas Frightmare Weekend.

Elijah Wood was a pleasant surprise in his role, bucking his good guy persona for a twisted killer with mommy issues.  His nonsensical and ill-timed mutterings really sold him as someone that had lost touch with reality.  While Wood was the anchor of the movie, he was surrounded by a great supporting cast, especially Nora Arnezeder who plays Anna, the primary target of Zito’s affections.

Director Franck Khalfoun may not be a well-known name in the horror genre, but his collaborator Alexandre Aja certainly is.  Aja produced P2, Khalfoun’s earlier film, as well as the Maniac remake.  Aja’s career has been hit or miss, but mostly hits for me.  I loved High Tension and the Piranha and Hills Have Eyes remakes, but can’t argue that Mirrors was a missed opportunity.  Being the writer and producer on Maniac makes me believe that Aja is ready to deliver another great movie and I’m holding out hopes for Horns to be awesome.  Khalfoun certainly seems to be a protégé of Aja, as his work behind the camera really resembles Aja’s, although I don’t see the same flair that Aja has.

Maniac is a very powerful movie. It is extremely well made and very graphic at times, but it really transgresses a horror movie. The last time I watched a horror movie with this much impact was Martyrs.  Maniac is very much a dictation on Nature vs. Nurture, and puts on display just how Frank became as twisted as he is.  The movie is filmed from Frank’s perspective, which is fairly unique and also works very well for the movie.  On top of the first person perspective, Frank’s image is displayed through the use mirrors and other reflective surfaces, which makes for some very unique images.

I really can’t recommend Maniac enough.  I think it is one of the better remakes to come out in recent years.  I think if it weren’t for the very graphic nature of the movie, it very well could have garnered some award recognition, but we all know Hollywood is a little too queasy for that.  If you get a chance to see this, make the effort and attend.  It’s very well done and deserves your support.

TerrorVision (1986)

Directed By: Ted Nicolaou

Starring: Chad Allen, Diane Franklin, Mary Woronov, Gerrit Graham, Bert Ramsen, Jon Gries, Randi Brooks, Alejandro Rey, Jennifer Richards

Subgenre: Horror – Comedy, Science Fiction

Synopsis: A family’s new satellite dish receives more than they bargained for when a voracious alien beams in and starts to eat everyone in sight.

Thoughts: Before going on to form Full Moon, Charles Band was behind more horror movies than you can imagine.  Some are icons of the genre and some just need to be seen to be believed.  TerrorVision is one of those movies.  It’s not a good movie, far from it actually, but there is something about it that just pulls you in and won’t let you go. It could very well be that the theme song is laced with subliminal messages, because once you hear this theme song, it will never get out of your head.  It’s like Halloween III, except worse!

The acting, if you want to call it that, is all over the top.  It was designed to be that way.  The swinging parents, crazy grandfather and totally 80s sister are all caricatures of real people.  The closest we come to a genre staple in the movie is Gerrit Graham, the swinging father, who appeared in a handful of other horror offerings (Demon Seed, Child’s Play 2, The Wasp Woman), but that’s not much of a surprise as this really isn’t a horror movie.  It’s much more a comedy with some science fiction thrown in for good measure.

Director Ted Nicolaou has directed quite a few of Band’s movies, but TerrorVision was one of his earliest.  He didn’t do a bad job with the obviously limited budget, and that earned him the right to direct such classics as Subspecies and Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys.  If you are a fan of Full Moon Pictures, it’s a safe bet you’ve seen a couple of his movies.

TerrorVision is one of the many excellent Scream Factory releases to come out recently.  It is part of a double feature with The Video Dead, and even though the two don’t have much in common, it made for a pretty interesting double feature.  TerrorVision isn’t for everyone, but it is one crazy movie.  If you’re fond of Full Moon’s crazier movies, check this one out, but don’t say I didn’t warn you about the theme song.

Scream Factory Announcement!

If you aren’t following Scream Factory on Facebook, you are missing out on early announcements and great cover art reveals.  This was something they recently dropped that MUST be a part of my collection!

**EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT**

If you love VINCENT PRICE like we do then you’re gonna love love LOVE this exciting news! We will be releasing a blu-ray collection box set before Halloween that showcases some of the legendary horror film star’s greatest films which include:

- FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
- THE HAUNTED PALACE
- THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
- THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM
- WITCHFINDER GENERAL- and its alternate U.S. version of the film, THE CONQUEROR WORM
- THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES

More details (artwork, exact street date, pricing, extras, etc.) to be revealed in June-July so stay tuned you “Screamers”–as one of fans affectionately put it.

Cannibal Ferox (1981) (AKA: Make Them Die Slowly)

Directed By: Umberto Lenzi

Starring: John Morgan, Lorraine De Selle, Danilo Mattei, Robert Kerman, Walter Lucchini, Zora Kerova

Subgenre: Cannibals, Exploitation

Synopsis:  While attempting to discount the existence of cannibalism, a research party encounters drug dealers and a native tribe in the jungle.

Thoughts: The cannibal genre was in its heyday in the late 70s and early 80s.  Italian film makers were turning stomachs left and right with journeys into the depths of the jungle.  I’m no expert on the genre, but I’ve seen a handful of the movies.  Some are better than others, but for the most part, they follow the same path.  Arrogant Americans travel into the jungle for various reasons and are responsible for atrocities against the native tribes, which also happen to be cannibals.  A vicious form of vengeance involving severed body parts ensues.  It’s a great recipe to showcase some pretty nasty effects, and Cannibal Ferox does just that.  One thing that I have never fully understood about cannibal movies, is the need to feature the butchering of animals.  I’ve been around animals my whole life, so butchering one isn’t something that bothers me, I just don’t see what it has to do with the storyline.  It’s almost as if it is there up the gore factor and further turn stomachs.  It takes away from the storyline for me, but it is a trademark of the genre.

Most Cannibal movies feature a cast that the crowd is supposed to despise.  More often than not, they are not innocent victims.  Cannibal Ferox is no different.  What is a little different, however, is that they entire group isn’t totally reprehensible.  There are a few recognizable exploitation faces in Cannibal Ferox, including Lorraine De Selle (House at the Edge of the Park) and Zora Kerova (Anthropophagus and New York Ripper.) Playing a familiar role as the lead scumbag is Giovanni Lombardo Radice, who has been in a handful of Italian exploitation flicks such as City of the Living Dead, Cannibal Apocalypse and House on the Edge of the Park.  Overall, the cast comes together really well.

Umberto Lenzi fits the description of cult director to a tee and wears that description like a badge of honor.  His movies have run the gamut of b movies, including cannibals, zombies, gialli, westerns, sword and sandal epics, action movies, and everything in between.  While his movies may not always be impressive, his zeal to make movies is.  While I haven’t seen anywhere close to Lenzi’s filmography, he seems to make technically sound movies.  The FX in Cannibal Ferox are better than you would expect in a B movie, and are really a differentiator when comparing this to other splatter flicks.

Like many of its brethren, the gore and the on screen animal deaths landed Cannibal Ferox on the infamous Video Nasty list that so many of us use as a checklist for 70s and 80s exploitation movies.  It wasn’t until the 90s that it was available uncut here in the US, but it is pretty easy to find now days.  If this genre is your thing, this is worth checking out.  It stands a little behind Cannibal Holocaust, which is widely considered the benchmark for the genre, but it is a close second from what I have seen.

Mimic (1997)

Directed By: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Alexander Goodwin, Giancarlo Giannini, Josh Brolin, Charles S Dutton, F. Murray Abraham, Norman Reedus

Subgenre: Science Fiction-Horror

Synopsis: Genetically engineered insects designed to kill disease spreading cockroaches continue to evolve and mutate rapidly.

Thoughts: Bugs make my skin crawl, so when I watch a movie like Mimic, I pretty much start the movie creeped out. In addition to the insect focal point, Mimic is filled to the brim with creepy atmosphere, tense scenes and that damn clicking noise that the Judas Breed makes.  I don’t know what it is about that particular noise, but it makes the hair on my arms stand up.  It is very reminiscent of the sound from Ju-On (which is another very freaky movie) and is used to great effect in Mimic.

Guillermo del Toro was still a pretty unknown commodity when he set about making this film, so it is surprising that he pulled a rather impressive cast for Mimic. Mira Sorvino and Josh Brolin both played major parts of the story and did excellent jobs.  Mimic also features a couple of heavyweights in supporting roles in Charles S Dutton and F Murray Abraham and a pre-Boondock Saints Norman Reedus.  Mimic is worth watching for the cast alone.

From the very early stages of his career, del Toro showed a knack for fantastic storytelling and a very impressive eye with the camera. His work has always skirted the borders of horror and fantasy, but I think Mimic is much more in the horror sci-fi realm.  It’s a great example of his early work and just part of what I consider an outstanding resume. We haven’t been treated to a Guillermo del Toro movie since 2008’s Hellboy sequel, but that is set to change with this summer’s mega release Pacific Rim, which I am TOTALLY psyched for.

So, with Mimic, you have a great cast, an outstanding early example of a star director’s work, and a solid story line in a creepy setting, what’s not to like?  For me, not much.  I love this movie and am not sure why it doesn’t get more love.  I do think that the Director’s Cut is a far superior film to the theatrical release, so maybe that initial run was reason for its poor reputation (or lack of a reputation really). If you haven’t had a chance to check out the DC yet, the Blu Ray can be found rather cheap, usually less than $10. I highly suggest revisiting the movie if it’s been awhile, just keep a can of Raid handy.

The Lords of Salem (2012)

Directed By: Rob Zombie

Starring: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Ken Foree, Judy Geeson, Patricia Quinn, Dee Wallace, Meg Foster, Maria Conchita Alonso

Subgenre: Supernatural

Synopsis: A mysterious record signals the return of a Coven of witches in Salem, Massachusetts.

Thoughts: After helming the Halloween remakes, Rob Zombie vowed to return to something original and different than he directed before.  I am a much bigger fan of his original work than I am of his Halloween work, so I was thoroughly excited to see what he had in mind.  I’ve gone out of my way lately to avoid trailers and spoilers on movies that interest me, so I went into Lords with very little knowledge of what it was about.  Right away, you could see Zombie was paying homage to the 70s, much the same way that Ti West has done with his movies.  The picture has a gritty feel and the color is washed out, making you feel as if you’ve been transplanted into a Jean Rollin film.

The Lords of Salem is filled with great performances.  I know that not everyone is a fan of Sheri Moon Zombies acting, but she really killed it in The Lords of Salem.  She sets the table and establishes her character in the first half of the movie, and then rides that out in the second half, where she doesn’t have a lot of dialogue.  Bruce Davison does an excellent job in a supporting role and serves to drive the storyline in a believable way.  I’m not overly familiar with Davison’s work and can only recall his role as Senator Kelly in X-Men 2, but his filmography is extensive and he was nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for Longtime Companion. 

Davison is not the only Hollywood veteran in Zombies cast; Meg Foster plays an unsettling role as Margaret Morgan, leader of the coven of witches returning to exact their revenge.  Her acting is accompanied by a rather terrifying visage.  She is rail thin and not pleasant to look at, which plays to great affect for a witch.  Judy Geeson, Patricia Quinn and Dee Wallace also steal every scene they are in as sisters that appear to be involved with The Lords of Salem as well.  In addition to these great performances, genre stalwarts such as Ken Foree, Sid Haig, Michael Berryman and Udo Kier also have roles.

I’ve always thought that one of Rob Zombie’s greatest strengths as a film maker was his creative eye behind the camera.  He seemed to be somewhat hampered in his Halloween work (mostly due to studio demands), but he had some wildly creative imagery in his work on House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. He showed in The Lords of Salem that he still has that eye and his trademark imagination as well.  He really captured the look of the 70s and infused it with some rather creepy images. 

At this point, you would think that I was ready to crown The Lords of Salem as a rousing success and an amazing movie, but while the acting and cinematography were top notch, I thought the movie had its share of issues.  While the heart of the story was interesting, I didn’t think it was flushed out enough to sustain the entire movie.  It was evident what the climax was going to be and I didn’t find the journey to be enough to keep me interested.  If it weren’t for the fantastic acting, I may have been one of the several people that walked out of the theatre during the movie.  I also felt that this movie was a bit of a rant against organized religion by Zombie.  I’m no stranger to images that most would call offensive, but Zombie really pushed the envelope and seems to declare war on Christianity, so much so that it seemed to detract from the storyline.

The Lords of Salem has already shown itself to be a very divisive film.  Many are declaring it brilliant.  I don’t agree.  I think it was very ambitious and I think that Rob Zombie made the movie that he wanted to, but I think it falls rather short of brilliance.  I wasn’t entertained by the movie, but yet I was intrigued by it at the same time.  It has been a movie sitting in my head since watching it last Thursday night, and I’ve run the gamut of emotions from hating it to pondering its brilliance.  It’s this range of emotions that has me eager to see it again, but for now, I have to say I am in the middle of the road on this one, and will certainly say it is not for most viewers, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing it yourself.