Hazard Jack (DVD Review) - Horizon Pictures

USA/2014
Directed By: David Worth
Written By: Doug Vandegrigt, David Worth
Starring: Quincy Taylor, Amanda Maddox, Alison Lani
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 13, 2014

The Film
A group of friends plan their monthly paintball game to be inside an abandoned hospital, the perfect spot for a creepy game of capture the flag. The group arrives the night before to party up the night because what is a paintball game without a massive hangover. As the group eats, drinks, smokes and screws the night away, a lunatic veteran who has been living in the hospital since being fired from his construction job after returning home from war with PTSD roams the halls, torturing a young woman he already had in his grasp. It doesn't take long after the start of the game for HAZARD JACK to maul and dismember the players one by one.

HAZARD JACK is your typical slasher film filled with a weak attempt at commentating on the state of our military veterans. The commentary is thin and easily disregarded, even with the hamfisted end credits scene tacked on for good measure. The characters are all caricatures, from the nerdy shy girl who dresses so frumpy you'd think she's in some sort of bad Halloween costume, to the overly gay gay couple, the over the top jocks and sluts and the final girl that isn't so final. Not even our killer makes up for it, while he does have an intimidating presence and a hulking stature, he isn't interesting and the kills, which are why we watch slasher films, are far from imaginative.

I'm struggling to find a rock solid positive here but other than the fact that it follows the slasher film formula pretty well I can't find one. Even the location of the old hospital irritated me as it sits in the middle of a city. How nobody saw all of these cars break the chains and enter in broad daylight or hear the carrying on while they partied is beyond me. HAZARD JACK is a time waster at best.

The Audio & Video
Horizon Pictures gives HAZARD JACK the DVD treatment with a fine looking 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The digital photography looks as good as you can expect and I have no real complaints. The stereo audio track is much the same, adequate without any bells or whistles. There's no background noise in the track and it is mixed fine. 

  
The Extras
Bare bones.

The Bottom Line
Slasher enthusiasts will probably enjoy HAZARD JACK enough despite its lack of an interesting villain or kills. There are plenty of boobs though, they certainly got that part of the slasher formula right.

HAZARD JACK is available HERE

Scream Park (DVD Review) - Wild Eye Releasing

USA/2014
Directed By: Cary Hill
Written By: Cary Hill
Starring: Wendy Wygant, Steve Rudzinski, Nivek Ogre
Color/84 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 22, 2014

The Film
The teen employees of Fright Land theme park are celebrating their final day of work as the park is closing for good due to poor attendance. They manage to score some booze and persuade their weird manager to let them party inside the park because what could possibly go wrong? Well, in the world of the slasher film, everything will go wrong with teens drinking and fucking. Duh. As the night goes on, the teens notice some of their friends are missing and some strange masked figures are lurking in the shadows and it is only a matter of time before the masked men come out of the shadows and start disposing of teens in violent fashion, making sure to leave a trail of blood and guts strewn across the park.

SCREAM PARK follows all of the classic slasher film rules that you learned at summer camp with Jason Voorhees running around. You could call it cliched but SCREAM PARK has an obvious love of the genre, and despite some missteps in the technical side of things such as awkward editing and cuts or poor framing at times it has it's heart in the right place and director Cary Hill churns out an entertaining slasher film. I think the most surprising thing here is that there are at least a few very likable characters which isn't always the case in films such as this.

I won't sit here and say SCREAM PARK is perfect, it isn't. Far from it. I've already mentioned a few flaws, and there are more beyond that, but it steamrolls beyond its flaws and draws the viewer in with gore and tits to have us enjoy ourselves for the brisk 84 minute runtime. The slasher film has once again become a popular staple of the horror genre over the last few years and SCREAM PARK is a pleasant surprise among many big disappointments.

The Audio & Video
Wild Eye Releasing gives SCREAM PARK a home on DVD and the quality is good. The 16x9 widescreen transfer doesn't suffer too much from a small budget on the film. The digital photography looks fine for the most part, with just a few darker scenes suffering from compression. Overall the image quality isn't an issue though. The audio is also just fine. Dialogue levels are mixed well with the soundtrack and both compliment each other without fighting for your attention.

  
The Extras
-Audio Commentary
-Blooper Reel
-Trailers

The Bottom Line
Slasher fanatics will find SCREAM PARK to be an entertaining throwback to the golden age of the body count films of the 1980s and that it has more heart behind it than many other overrated slashers of recent memory.

SCREAM PARK is available HERE

The Black Torment (DVD Review) - Kino Redemption

UK/1964
Directed By: Robert Hartford-Davis
Written By: Derek Ford, Donald Ford
Starring: John Turner, Heather Sears, Ann Lynn
Color/86 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: April 29, 2014

The Film
Richard Fordyce is returning home to his family's estate with his new wife. Upon his return he doesn't quite find the warm welcome he was expecting as he is being accused of rape and murder by the locals. Knowing he hasn't been home in many months, Richard fights back against his accuser's until guilt from a previous marriage and some ghostly happenings have Richard questioning his own sanity.

THE  BLACK TORMENT is a Gothic horror thriller, which burns slow and lets the psychological trauma build. Is Richard guilty of the crimes the locals have apparently seen him commit? Is he losing his mind? Is someone setting him up? These are the questions you'll be asking as you watch the film which aside from a few standout moments is rather boring. The good moments are blessed with some eery photography and imagery but mostly I struggled to stay engaged with the film as those moments were few and far between and all too often the movie turned into an episode of Scooby Doo with people seemingly going in and out of random doors accusing each other. By the time the truth is revealed it comes as no surprise and left little impression on me.

THE BLACK TORMENT isn't a terrible film, there are a handful of strong moments which carried me through. The in-between however, turns into a clock-watching exercise waiting for the next worthwhile moment to come or the credits to roll. I'm a big Gothic horror fan and was rather disappointed with this effort.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption have released THE BLACK TORMENT on DVD with a solid 1.66:1 widescreen transfer. The color palette is a bit muted, which adds to the dreary English setting and the haunting atmosphere of the mansion. The print used was kept in rather good condition with only a few intermittent scratches and heavy grain. A single Dolby 2.0 track is included and gets the job done without a problem. There is no background noise to speak of and dialogue comes across clearly without any issues.

  
The Extras
The lone extra is a 13 minute video interview with director Robert Hartford-Davis where he discusses his views on film and film making. 

The Bottom Line
Fans of Gothic horror will want to give THE BLACK TORMENT a look to add to their collection as it features some creepy images and psychological horror.

THE BLACK TORMENT is available HERE

Marilyn And The Senator (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1975
Directed By: Carlos Tobalina
Written By: Carlos Tobalina
Starring: Nina Fause, William Margold, Heather Leigh
Color/125 Minutes/Rated X
Region FREE
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Film
A CIA agent is looking for a man to donate his seed so she can become pregant. She finds her willing donor in the senator. The senator is married, of course so the stage is set for all sorts of sexual nonsense and jealously and the Feds are oblivious to it all.

MARILYN AND THE SENATOR is a simple enough plot that could be great as it is packed full of sex and is genuinely funny. It is simply too damn long to keep the viewers undivided attention for a movie such as this. If this was 85-90 minutes we'd be good to go but add in another 40 minutes and it drags. It doesn't kill the movie, you'll just find yourself using the fast forward button on occasion. 

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has done a rather nice job on the anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film, preserving its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The source material was 35mm camera negatives and they've been kept clean and in good condition. The audio track is good as well as it is free of any distracting background noise such as hissing or crackling.

The Extras
An audio commentary track with William Margold and a theatrical trailer are included!

The Bottom Line
Presented on DVD for the first time in its full XXX uncut form, MARILYN AND THE SENATOR provides enough sex, story and even the occasional laugh to satisfy the horndog in all of us.

MARILYN AND THE SENATOR is available HERE

Evilspeak (Blu-ray Review) - Scream Factory

USA/1981
Directed By: Eric Weston
Written By: Joseph Garofalo, Eric Weston
Starring: Clint Howard, R.G. Armstrong, Joseph Cortese
Color/97 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date:  May 13, 2014

The Film
Stanley Coopersmith (Clint Howard) is an orphaned outcast at a religious military school. He is widely intelligent however can't seem to stay out of trouble or at least in the way of trouble. Coopersmith is picked on endlessly and usually gets in trouble because of it. While cleaning the old basement as part of a punishment Coopersmith finds an old Satanic black mass book, left over from the days when Father Esteban would host Satanic rituals on the grounds. Coopersmith translates the Latin writings of the book through the school's computers which also tell him the steps to performing a black mass and getting revenge on his tormentors. When Coopersmith's new puppy is mutilated by the bullies in a sick prank, he finalizes the steps to invoke the spirit of Father Esteban in a fiery and blood soaked finale that will be sure to leave you stunned.

EVILSPEAK is a piece of 80s gold as far as I'm concerned. I cannot believe I have never seen this film before and beyond that, I'm surprised at how little I see it being mentioned in conversation. Director Eric Weston gets a young cast together that manages to be damn good, and special effects that are gory as hell and look great. That isn't much of a surprise when you see the success that Allan A. Apone has gone on to have. The small budget of the film doesn't really show, as the movie outshines whatever meager budget it had.

EVILSPEAK may seem a bit dated with its old Apple Macintosh computer that plays such a major role but it really is a timeless story of the outcast getting revenge on his bullies and oppressors, not unlike Carrie. However I must say, I had far more fun watching EVILSPEAK than I've had on any viewing of Carrie. From the gory pig stampede, to the multiple decapitations... wooo EVILSPEAK was a lot of ahem... Goddamn fun.

The Audio & Video
Scream Factory gives us the Blu-ray debut of EVILSPEAK with a very attractive 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Detail levels are strong especially in the stone walls of the basement and in close-ups. Skin tones look natural and healthy while colors are vibrant and natural without popping too much. The DTS-HD mono track is suitable, with dialogue coming across clear and mixed very well with the soundtrack. It's a simple track but very effective.

The Extras
A healthy dose of extras are included on this Blu-ray...

-Audio commentary with director Eric Weston
-"Satan's Pigs And Severed Heads: The Making Of EVILSPEAK" featuring interviews with many of the key cast members, running nearly 30 minutes
-Individual cast interviews with Clint Howard, Joe Cortese, Don Stark
-Effects Speak With Allan A. Apone
-Theatrical Trailer

The Bottom Line
EVILSPEAK is an underrated horror film filled with dark humor and should continue to find the fanbase it deserves with the release of this awesome Blu-ray. All horror fans should take note of this release. 

EVILSPEAK is available HERE

Locker 13 (DVD Review) - Arc Entertainment

USA/2013
Directed By: Various
Written By: Various
Starring: Ricky Schroder, Rick Hoffman, Jon Gries
Color/103 Minutes/R
Region 1
Release Date: April 29, 2014

The Film
An old locker at an old west theme park holds mysteries and stories of morality. Skip works as the overnight janitor and his boss tells him the tales of the locker's contents, from a boxer with declining skills who gets a pair of old gloves and becomes a killing machine to an initiation into a secret society and even a doppleganger of Skip living his life and making a mess of it with dire consequences.

Do you remember that old show Fact Or Fiction? Probably not, but the point of that show was they'd show you a few stories of weird, strange or bizarre stories and you were supposed to guess if that story was based on an actual event or not and they'd reveal at the end which stories were fact and which were fiction. LOCKER 13 feels like an episode of that show except there is no reveal at the end. The stories presented are mildly entertaining, and feature some familiar faces throughout. This isn't going to change your life for the better and it won't offend you because it's so bad. LOCKER 13 is purely a middle of the road time waster.

The Audio & Video
Arc Entertainment's DVD release of LOCKER 13 is rock solid. The anamorphic widescreen 2.35:1 transfer looks good. The image is clean and strong with just a few moments of softness. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track is very good as well. The mix is well done and free of any background noise. 

The Extras
A trailer for the film is the lone extra.

The Bottom Line
LOCKER 13 is worth a rental look.

LOCKER 13 is available HERE

Women In Cellblock 9 (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite

Switzerland/1977
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring: Karine Gambier, Howard Vernon, Susan Hemingway
Color/78 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: October 22, 2013 

The Film
Set in the jungles of South America during a time of revolution a truck carrying suspected revolutionaries is stopped and searched by members of the prison. The women on board are arrested and thrown into the infamous Cellblock 9. They're stripped and chained by the neck, no better than dogs, where they undergo interrogation tortures and humiliations by the warden and doctor. They are asked repeatedly who they work for and what they know and their silence causes more punishment. As the days pass the women formulate a plan to try an escape and disappear into the jungle.

WOMEN OF CELLBLOCK 9 is pure exploitation gold. Jess Franco's sleazy side was firing on all cylinders here with nudtiy, violence, torture and even some horror moments on display. From the forced nudity, to quasi rape of an inmate just so she could get a drink, to stock footage of crocodiles (who apparently can't go on land), to running naked through the jungles while being gunned down... WOMEN IN CELLBLOCK 9 has it all! This movie is trashy in the best way. It is 78 minutes of pure mind melting sleaze entertainment. I loved every second of it.

The Audio & Video
Ascot Elite has done another very nice job on this HD presentation. The anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) transfer is rather stunning from the lush greens of the jungle, to the blood reds that pop just enough and the natural, fleshy skin tones that show amazing detail I can't say enough good things about how nice the transfer is on this release. The audio tracks are nice as well, with German and English DTS-HD 5 channel surround or a 2.0 French track, the English track that I listened to, despite a bit of hokey dubbing, sounded excellent. The mix was full, and robust with no background noise to complain of. It is doubtful that WOMEN IN CELLBLOCK 9 will ever look or sound better than it does here.

The Extras
Extras include the original trailer, a still gallery and additional trailers. 

The Bottom Line
Women-In-Prison film fans rejoice! This is one of the sleaziest entries I've had the joys of watching and in glorious HD no less! There's a reason I love Euro-trash and this film is a great example of why. 

WOMEN IN CELLBLOCK 9 is available HERE

Jack The Ripper (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite

Germany, Switzerland/1976
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Lina Romay, Herbert Fux
Color/92 Minutes/Rated 18 (Germany)
Region FREE
Release Date: September 24, 2013

The Film
Klaus Kinski stars as the beloved town doctor who always puts his sick and often poor patients needs ahead of his own. The only problem with the Dr. is that by night he turns into a killer. You see, his mother was a prostitute and that did something to warp his fragile mind. He felt filthy when she touched him and he felt betrayed by her and her profession. So now, the Dr. has become the killer known as Jack The Ripper the man that stalks and slashes prostitutes across London. When the local inspectors and Scotland Yard fail to catch him one of the inspector's girlfriends goes undercover on the streets to catch him.

JACK THE RIPPER is a moody and atmospheric horror film from Jess Franco. Surprisingly and somewhat disappointingly it isn't overflowing with sleaze. I think if Franco went all out and let Kinski turn into the madman we all know he could be then JACK THE RIPPER could easily be an infamous piece of Euro-trash. Instead Franco shows some restraint, as does Kinski which works for the scenes of Kinski as the doctor but it left me wanting so much more in the way of excess. As it stands, JACK THE RIPPER is an entertaining film, that is held back by some of Franco's less favorable characteristics in his direction, such as lingering and wandering shots and poor framing, but also features some of his better sides with his restraint. 

The Audio & Video
Ascot Elite has done an awesome job on this Blu-ray. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer has very strong detail. Just take a look at hair, building exteriors and a close-up of Kinski's leather gloves. Colors are vibrant and the overall clarity is very nice. Skin tones are very natural and black levels are deep. The audio side of things features English and German 5.1 DTS-HD options or a 2.0 French track. Various subtitle options are available. I listened to the English track and was quite pleased with the quality. There is very little background noise and the mix was nicely done.

The Extras
There's a plentiful variety of extras on the disc including but not limited to:
-Audio Commentary
-Interviews
-Alternate Scenes
-Trailer

The Bottom Line
Jess Franco takes on JACK THE RIPPER and while it is historically inaccurate look at the infamous killer, it is an entertaining movie that fans of Franco, Kinski or Euro-horror will enjoy and the Blu-ray from Ascot Elite is the only way to go!

JACK THE RIPPER is available HERE

Poseidon Rex (2014)

If you've been living under a rock for the last decade or so, you may have missed the resurgence in monster movie and creature features. These movies have been produced fast and cheap staying true to their roots. From theatrical releases to made-for-TV and straight to video they stretch the gamut from so bad they're good to so bad they're awful. The best take their modest budgets and know what to do with them, turning the script in to a campy cheese fest while the worst take themselves too damn seriously and fail miserably at pulling it off.

POSEIDON REX, just let that title sit with you for a minute. A water-dwelling version of the most famous dinosaur. Breathe that in for a second... not if you're underwater though. So what could the plot of a film with a title that piques your curiosity such as this be? Well it's a simple one really. A team of divers off the coast of Belize are searching for sunken treasure in an area known as The Blue Hole for a nasty crime boss. After detonating explosives within The Blue Hole they unwittingly awaken and free a prehistoric beast, and he's hungry... and pissed. The giant dinosaur begins gobbling up the divers and just about anything else in his path. A local scientist doing some studies in The Blue Hole gets involved with the surviving diver, along with some others on vacation and try to survive the attacks from POSEIDON REX, who proves he is very much a reptile and can do even more damage on land and attempt to reach an abandoned military base to send the ancient beast to hell.

Boys and girls, call your friends, get a case of beer, and some popcorn, POSEIDON REX has awoken and is ready for you to create a drinking game and have a blast. This movie is ridiculous in the best way. Hokey, cheesy and campy.  Director Mark L. Lester has done it all in movie making, from directing a blockbuster action film in Commando, to the cult classic Class Of 1984, to working with comic legend John Candy on the vastly underrated Armed & Dangerous, he's no stranger to working with big names. He also isn't a stranger to the new breed of monster movies as he directed 2005's Pterodactyl, which is worth seeing for Coolio's performance alone. Lester has been making entertaining movies for 5 decades, and while not all of these movies will go down in history as art, even his highest quality work like Class Of 1984 has high entertainment value on top of being an important movie. POSEIDON REX isn't going to inform you of important social issues, and doesn't feature Oscar worthy performances. Instead it, it stays true to itself and doesn't want to be something it's not.

And that dear reader is a fun movie about a goddamn POSEIDON REX.

Camp Dread (DVD Review) - Image Entertainment

USA/2014
Directed By: Harrison Smith
Written By: Harrison Smith
Starring: Eric Roberts, Danielle Harris, Kyle Patrick Brennan
Color/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: April 15, 2014

The Film
Eric Roberts stars as Julian Barrett, the director of the successful slasher trilogy Summer Camp in the 1980s. Trying to reboot his series and success with a reality TV show based on his films in which the last remaining camper gets $1,000,000. The campers invited are all troubled young adults, from drug addicts to murderers. They are outfitted with cameras to wear on their shirts and the camp has cameras around the grounds. They do all sorts of typical reality show challenges to earn immunity from the killer, but most of the time they just bitch at each other or at the group therapist, who also happens to be the star of the original films (Felissa Rose).

The movie progresses quickly, too quickly for my liking as the characters drop like flies often in very unceremoneous ways. There is a bit of gore, but for a film trying to mimick the golden years of the slasher there is a distinct lack of tits. Many of the characters are douchebags and unlikeable as they prance around camp, and the town full of miserable folks trying to get out you'll find yourself rooting for the killer, or Barnett to get rich off these kids.

CAMP DREAD isn't terrible, not when compared to many other contemporary slasher films but it fails where the better slashers succeed. It isn't scary like Halloween, it doesn't have a cool killer like Friday The 13th and it doesn't have any character to really root for like A Nightmare On Elm Street. The kills, aside from 1 aren't creative and the whole thing feels like it is desperately trying to be a modern version of Sleepaway Camp 3. CAMP DREAD is an okay slasher though, just not one of the better ones.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment's transfer of CAMP DREAD features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. The video side of things looks quite good. The picture is clean and crisp while handling dark levels and colors nicely. The audio is solid, never really pushing the limits but it is mixed properly and is clear.

The Extras
Bare bones.

The Bottom Line
The modern day slasher genre has had very mixed results and CAMP DREAD certainly won't reach classic status but a bunch of snot nosed college kids running around a summer camp getting killed? There's enough to like about that to warrant giving it a watch.

CAMP DREAD is available HERE

The Jekyll & Hyde Portfolio / A Clockwork Blue Drive-In Collection Double Feature (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1971, 1972
Directed By: Eric Jeffrey Haims
Written By: Eric Jeffrey Haims, Donn Greer, Bonnie Jean
Starring: Sebastian Brook, Mady Maguire,
Color/167 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Films
What a serious pair of oddball films! First in THE JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO the nurses at the Florence Nightingale Institute are among the best, and sexiest around. Unfortunately they have to deal with a strange and perverted doctor. Oh, and a killer on the loose who is leaving his victims marred with 3 star shaped wounds on their abdomen. From the perverted doctor who only wants to see the girls in their uniforms, with no underwear of course, to the weird hunchback and another doctor who just loves dissecting frogs, the Florence Nightingale Institute seems like the perfect place for a crazy to be running around killing the girls. This is a horror film but it is equally a sex film, not hardcore though, and just a silly fucking movie. THE JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO is surely going to leave an impression on you and probably have you wondering just what in the blue hell is going to happen next.

And if JEKYLL & HYDE was off the wall... well then came A CLOCKWORK BLUE. You certainly read Homer's Odyssey in high school. Well here, Homer goes on a different odyssey. As he's an assistant researcher and goes time traveling through the ages sleeping his way around history while trying not to get caught. From colonial America to the Trojan horses of Rome and places in between, Homer gets to see the and experience the sexier side of history... sometimes. He's usually being chased off or attacked. There's also a very jive God-like character, watching Homer's comedic mishaps through a watermelon TV. Plenty of lovely T&A and laughs to be had here.

The Audio & Video
JEKYLL & HYDE features an okay 16x9 transfer. The condition of the source material shows the film's age and it is obvious that it wasn't kept in great condition. It has scratches, dirt and debris. It is a bit soft and washed out at times as well. That said, it is absolutely a watchable transfer and for a title such as this I'm satisfied with how it turned out. The audio on it has some crackling and such but not much. It is in better shape than the picture.

A CLOCKWORK BLUE looks quite good here. Colors are vibrant and lively from the greens and reds to the whites which don't get too hot and blacks which are pretty deep. Skin tones look fleshy and natural and the source material has obviously been kept in nice condition. The mono audio track is very clear and free of background noise. A very nice presentation that only looks and sounds better with the limited edition Blu-ray. Overall a passable to very good double feature from Vinegar Syndrome.

The Extras
Bare bones.

The Bottom Line
I think any fan of horror, cult, sexploitation, adult or just fucking weird movies owes it to themselves to see these 2 films. The 70s were a wonderful time where just about everything went and this double feature proves it. 

JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO/A CLOCKWORK BLUE Drive-In Collection Double Feature is available HERE

Lust For Freedom (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1987
Directed By: Eric Louzil
Written By: Craig Kusaba, Duke Howard, Eric Louzil
Starring: Melanie Coll, William J. Kulzer, Judy Trevor
Color/91 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Film
Gillian Kaites is a special agent who is engaged to her partner but with just days before their wedding her fiancee is gunned down during an undercover operation gone bad. Gillian takes some time away to clear her head and ends up in Georgia County California, a town ran by a corrupt judge and police force. Gillian is framed for a drug crime she didn't commit and denied any rights. Gillian is beaten, stripped naked, and just like the rest of the girls miserable. The judge of the town participates in sex trafficking, drug dealing and general debauchery until Gillian rallies the girls to take back their rights and their lives!

LUST FOR FREEDOM is a Troma production, directed by Eric Louzil who would go on to direct Class Of Nuke 'Em High 2 and 3. This women in prison movie has all of the classic tropes of the genre from the torture and beatings to the lesbian sex scenes but also features a hefty dose of humor. It is a lighter take on the genre (if that is possible with as much T&A and violence as this movie features) than many other WIP films. The soundtrack plays a big role in the film, as it helps keep the mood light with it's purely 80s hair metal sound. The theme song is catchy as hell and will make you want to drive a tank as fast as you can into the walls of this prison and give the girls their freedom! LUST FOR FREEDOM isn't going to blow you away with it's high production values or originality but it will give you a good time along with a bit of exploitation fun. 

The Audio & Video
The anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 transfer from Vinegar Syndrome is decent considering the low budget nature of the film. The image quality is a bit soft but it seems to be more of the film itself and not anything having to do with the transfer. The source material seems clean for the most part with very few scratches or instances of debris. The audio side of things is a mono track, free of any background noise. It isn't special, but it handles the dialogue and soundtrack as well as it probably ever has. Overall a more than serviceable job from Vinegar Syndrome.

The Extras
-Newly recorded audio commentary with director Eric Louzil
-Video interview with Lloyd Kaufman
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
I recommend fans of Troma and women in prison films to check this one out and add it to their collections.

LUST FOR FREEDOM is available HERE

L'Immortelle (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1963
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Francoise Brion, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Guido Celano
Black & White/101 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
Alain Robbe-Grillet's debut film is a strange one. The entire thing is shrouded with mystery and it pushes the viewer to extract what you will from it. A man who has recently moved to Turkey to be a professor at a local school meets a beautiful but secretive woman who he spends several days with seeing the sights around the city and the local people. Suddenly she vanishes without a trace and nobody around the city recalls or is willing to recall her being with him. Just as suddenly as she vanished, they meet again, but before she is able to explain her disappearance she is killed in a car crash with the man. The rest of the movie is spent with the man going over the events again trying to determine if he caused the crash or not and psycho-analyzing every little detail of their brief relationship.

L'IMMORTELLE is a stunning film to look at. The gorgeous black and white photography, often shot at severe angles give the Turkish ruins, waterways and tunnels a very stark look. On a deeper level the film is incredibly interesting to look at and break down. From the main man and woman to an art shop keeper, to the stranger and fisherman. Every character symbolizes something and eventually the man finds himself facing a criminal underworld that he isn't prepared to deal with.

This was my first viewing of L'IMMORTELLE and I really like this film. I know my love for it will grow deeper with subsequent viewings as I gather and notice new things. Robbe-Grillet showed instantly that he can create incredible visuals and art with this film and it is something I've learned quickly that he would do again and again.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption gives L'IMMORTELLE a stunning HD transfer. The 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation seems to be taken from a very clean print as there are only a few instances of dirt or scratches. Detail level is strong while the black levels are handled brilliantly and are deep and inky. The 2.0 French language track (with optional English subtitles) is solid, but not perfect. Extremes in the high end mix are a bit of trouble for the mix but it is a rare occurrence.

The Extras
Along with a trio of trailers for other Robbe-Grillet releases and a 2014 promo short, this release features an interview with the writer/director that clocks in at over half an hour.

The Bottom Line
The debut film from the French director is a mysterious, strange and engrossing one. It appeals to many of the senses and this release does it absolute justice. L'IMMORTELLE is certainly worth your time.

L'IMMORTELLE is available HERE

Holliston: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)

USA/2013
Directed By: Adam Gree, Sean Becker
Written By: Sean Becker
Starring: Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Corri English
Region A
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Show
If you aren't familiar with HOLLISTON here is a brief rundown - The horror themed sitcom was created by Adam Green (director of Hatchet, Frozen)  and stars Green as "Adam" and Joe Lynch as "Joe", roommates who work together at a public access TV station and dream of being successful horror filmmakers. The other main characters of the show are Dee Snyder as "Lance Rockett" who is the public access station manager and moonlights as an 80s metal cover band singer. Corrie English is "Corri" Adam's ex-girlfriend and Laura Ortiz is "Larua", Joe's girlfriend. The principal cast is rounded out with Dave Brockie (R.I.P.) as his GWAR persona "Oderus Urungus" who is Adam's imaginary best friend that lives in his closet and gives him advice.

Season 2 really ramped up the guest stars that horror fans will be sure to recognize. From Kane Hodder playing a depressed version of himself because of his exclusion from Freddy vs. Jason, in what is my favorite episode of the series, to Danielle Harris and Sid Haig among many others. The season revolves around Adam and Joe trying to get their slasher film "Shinpads" released and dealing with the various obstacles in their way from The Blob attacking the town, to zombies and maniacal pre-teens. HOLLISTON is a tongue-in-cheek love letter to horror movies, constantly breaking the fourth wall and giving the viewers something to smile about or laugh at.

The 10 episode season (11 if you count the Christmas special from in between seasons 1 and 2) is geared for horror fans, but sitcom fans in general will find that the nature of the show which also lovingly pokes fun at the sitcom format makes for an entertaining show. The show has been described as "Evil Dead 2 mixed with The Big Bang Theory". That is a comparison I can support if only The Big Bang Theory had any clue on the pop culture jokes they were using. Adam Green lives and makes horror movies so his jokes and references are spot on.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment gives HOLLISTON season 2 the Blu-ray treatment with a damn fine looking and sounding release. The digital photography looks great with the anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer. Colors are vibrant, skin tones natural and detail levels are incredibly strong. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio track sounds awesome as well. The mix is full and robust, with the soundtrack and dialogue mixing very nicely. 

The Extras
A pretty full lineup of special features is included on the season 2 Blu-ray including:
-Cast commentary tracks
-Deleted Scenes
-Behind The Scenes featurette
-Blooper reel
-Table Read w/ the cast
-Music video selection

The Bottom Line
HOLLISTON may not see a season 3 with the recent and untimely death of Dave Brockie but if it closes with just the 2 seasons it will be a sad, yet almost fitting way to end our time with the characters. This Blu-ray release is a damn fine showcase of the series and could prove to be the definitive release of the young series. 

HOLLISTON Season 2 is available HERE

Outpost: Rise Of The Spetsnaz (DVD Review) - XLrator Media

UK/2013
Directed By: Kieran Parker
Written By: Rae Brunton
Starring: Bryan Larkin, Ivan Kamaras, Michael McKell
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
The third entry into the OUTPOST series is a prequel, showing the origins of the Nazi zombies. These undead super soldiers are stacked up against some captured Russian special force agents known as the Spetsnaz.  These experiment stage zombies aren't the final product that would be churned out by the mad German scientists but they were more than brutal and provided a hell of a match for the Spetsnaz.

OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is admittedly my first venture into the series. I figured that starting with part three would be okay since it was a prequel. While RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is not filled with emotional story arcs or a ton of character development it is fun enough as a simple gory action horror film to have me interested in seeing the other movies in the series. OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is violent and quick. There's not a ton of wasted time here and it's more of a showcase of the early stages of the zombies that fill the previous two entries than it is anything else. Though, the Spetsnaz are no slouches and it is fun routing for them against the despicable Nazis.

The Audio & Video
XLrator Media gives OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ a home on DVD with a pretty solid presentation overall. The 16x9 enhanced 2.35:1 transfer looks good with the almost sepia toned photography. The image is clean and has good representation of color and details. The English audio track is a 5.1 Dolby Digital track that is full of gunshots, thuds and smacks from the fight scenes and sounds quite good. There is also a Blu-ray release of the film which I'm sure is a nice upgrade in both departments.

The Extras
A trailer is the lone extra.

The Bottom Line
If you need a fun popcorn flick to turn your brain off and have some exciting zombie action you can definitely do worse than OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ. 


OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is available HERE

2014 Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 began a viewing of THE TRAMPLERS, a spaghetti western directed by Albert Band and featuring Gordon Scott, Joseph Cotton, and Franco Nero. Quite the impressive cast. If only the movie was as impressive. THE TRAMPLERS is a pedestrian effort. The story is a family drama affair, which does lend a bit of excitement with the blood feud. There is nothing special about this film however, it doesn't set itself apart. If you're a big western fan it is worth checking out but if you're looking for the best examples of the genre you can skip this one. 5/10

Then came OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ, this is the 3rd entry in the series and is a prequel. This is actually the first film I've seen from the series and I was surprised to find a decent action/horror film based around the Nazi zombies. I'll be reviewing the DVD in full so I'll just leave this one be. 5.5/10

The new Blu-ray of MS.45 has been calling my name for a few weeks since I got it. It's awesome. If you've never seen this film then stop reading and go watch it! It's a violent, mean, and nasty rape/revenge film where Thana, a mute seamstress in NYC is raped (repeatedly) and goes vigilante on men across the city. It is a damn near perfect piece of exploitation filmmaking from Abel Ferrara. 9/10

The night closed with DEMON RESURRECTION, a typical indie horror movie. Not bad, not great. It featured some cool design for the monsters and some nice boobs. There isn't a ton to say about it right now since I'll be reviewing this DVD as well. 6/10

Best Friends Forever (DVD Review) - Horizon Movies

USA/2014
Directed By: Brea Grant
Written By: Brea Grant, Vera Miao
Starring: Brea Grant, Vera Miao, Stacey Storey
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 25, 2014

The Film
Road trip films are often a vehicle used for any sort of relationship story. What better way to save a relationship than to work out your differences while exploring the highways and back roads of America. There's nowhere to go, you're in a car with your friend or lover for hours on end. It may not always be fun but some issues are going to be put on the table and often worked out in these films. They're also the perfect vehicle for some incredible amounts of hijinx. So you would think a road trip movie about two best friends traveling from Los Angeles to Austin in the middle of a nuclear apocalypse would be a fantastic set up for a great relationship story and some crazy situations.

Nope, it's not. At least not here. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is about two friends, Harriet, a nerdy comic book artist who is on her way to Graduate School in Austin and her slutty friend Reba who is along for the ride. Shortly after their departure a series of nuclear bombs go off in various cities around the US, unbeknownst to them. Soon, Reba's slutty ways get them in trouble as a group of the least threatening hipsters of all time carjack them with a stun gun. Left without a car they hitch a ride with a crazy redneck and quickly bail on him to spend the night in an abandoned gas station. Upon arriving to Harriet's sister's house in Austin Reba learns about the bombs, a fact that Harriet had been hiding from her. A giant fight breaks out between the two until Reba's life is in danger from the local police force who are rounding up anybody that doesn't look American and Harriet saves the day.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is pretty painful. It's essentially hanging out with a couple of catty high school girls for an hour. The apocalypse barely plays a role in the film, with most signs of it just being from characters getting mildly sick and vomiting from radiation. Neither of our leads are very likeable, especially Reba who comes off as a fake, plastic bitch. And Harriet can't get out of her own way in her "woe is me" pity party. They can stay BFFs for all I care, they deserve each other.

The Audio & Video
Horizon Movies brings BEST FRIENDS FOREVER to DVD with an anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1) and the image quality is decent. The photography is a bit soft througout, with boring and bland lighting concepts. The 2.0 stereo audio track gets the job done. It isn't going to blow you away but the mix is fine and you won't miss any dialogue because of it.

The Extras
The strongest point of the DVD is probably the special feature, which include:
-Audio commentary with Brea Grant, Vera Miao, and Michelle Lawler
-Behind The Scenes featurette
-BEST FRIENDS FOREVER Remix
-Kickstarter campaign video
-Art Of Best Friends Forever
-Trailer

The Bottom Line
I really liked the concept of BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, it just happens it got wasted on annoying characters, a weak script and an overall poor production. 

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is available HERE