Saturday, May 31, 2014

Hallucination Strip (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video


Italy/1975
Directed By: Lucio Marcaccini
Written By: Vincenzo Mannino, Lucio Marcaccini, Jose Sanchez
Starring: Bud Cort, Marcel Bozzuffi, Guido Alberti
Color/93 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date:

The Film
Bud Cort stars as Massimo, a politically involved student who is big in protests and demonstrations, and being a bit of a trouble maker. When he steals a very valuable tobacco box he becomes involved in a dangerous hunt between the police and the mafia. While he and his friends do drugs, bitch about the system and live their lives, Massimo is becoming increasingly closer to losing his.

To put it simply, HALLUCINATION STRIP is a let down. A film drenched in social commentary still needs to be a successful film or the message is lost. HALLUCINATION STRIP is pretty poorly written and most of the actors seem to be going through the motions. There's an interesting LSD trip scene and a handful of other interesting moments but overall the film isn't good, any social commentary gets lost in the shuffle because of it and you're better off finding better pieces of Euro crime or psychadelic cinema. 

The Audio & Video
Raro Video's 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer looks pretty nice. The transfer has a natural grain structure and nice color representation. Flesh tones and detail levels are good. The only downside is that dark scenes do have a bit of compression but nothing serious. No DNR or EE is noticable. The 2.0 Italian audio track sounds very good and the English subtitles are translated and timed perfectly. There is no background noise.

The Extras
-Video interview with editor Giulio Berruti
-Original Italian trailer
-Original English trailer
-Fully illustrated booklet

The Bottom Line
While it didn't strike a chord with me it is worth a rental to see if it strikes one with you.

HALLUCINATION STRIP is available HERE

Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Demons (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption


France, Portugal/1973
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring: Britt Nichols, Anne Libert, Howard Vernon
Color/118 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 29, 2014

The Film
In 1971 Ken Russell released his masterpiece The Devils on the masses. Viewed as disturbingly sexual, violent and obscene it was banned or faced tight censorship just about everywhere. Russell's film was heavy with commentary on the Catholic church and organized religion as a whole, filled with images of naked nuns, harsh violence from church officials and general insanity. It didn't take long for other filmmakers to capitalize on the attention being given to The Devils and make similar films. Jess Franco did just that in 1973 with THE DEMONS.

During a witch hunting craze, an accused witch who is being burned at the stake accuses the head with hunter and his followers of being in with the devil. This sets off a crazy chain of events, where nobody is to be trusted. A series of tests is given to the accused which will point out the witches. These tests are of course designed to be passed (rather, failed) by everyone they're administered to. The manhunt for the accused goes wide when the witchfinder falls in love with a nun who ran away to escape persecution but there will be no shortage of people being burned at the stake. Or nudity. Or witchcraft.

It goes without saying that based on the title and a short plot synopsis that Jess Franco knew what he was doing with THE DEMONS. He was making a sleazier and more self indulgent film for the exploitation crowds to love on the back of Ken Russell's noteriety. This isn't a new practice and one that hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. Franco's film is wildly entertaining, there's sex, torture, violence and bizarre witchcraft that turns people into skeletons! It has none of the social commentary or expert filmmaking that Russel's The Devils has (that isn't to say it is a poorly made film because that isn't the case). It is simply a exploitative ripoff of a true masterpiece of cinema and is a film worth viewing in its own right.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption has done a fantastic job with their release of THE DEMONS. The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer features a crisp and largely very clean transfer. Detail is strong with the period clothing and set pieces and the plentiful amount of skin on display is warm, and natural. Everything looks great and there is no edge enhancement or DNR on display. The French (with German) 2.0 audio track features optional English subtitles which are flawless. The sound itself is perfectly mixed, and free of any background noise. 

The Extras
-An interview with Jess Franco by David Gregory
-Six minutes of deleted footage
-A pair of theatrical trailers
-Trailers for more Franco films

The Bottom Line
Jess Franco has made a highly entertaining piece of nunsploitation with THE DEMONS and this gorgeous Blu-ray is the only way to see the film from now on. 

THE DEMONS is available HERE

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Young Secretaries / Deep Tango (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1974
Directed By: Zachary Youngblood, Richard Kanter
Written By: Zachary Youngblood, Richard Kanter
Starring: Annette Haven, Jan Mitchel
Color/162 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: May 13, 2014

The Films
DEEP TANGO is the story of an attractive sex therapist who takes her new lover on journey of sexual exploration to perfect her therapy methods. From filming an orgy to fucking herself with the camera lens the couple gets wild and crazy for much of the duration which keeps plot thin and sex scenes very active. With a slightly stronger plot, and I do mean slightly, is YOUNG SECRETARIES, the story of a bunch of secretaries who give their bosses what they need to succeed and in turn get rewarded for it... with mustache rides. Yeah, I said it was only a slightly stronger plot but it has equal amounts of quality sex scenes.

Neither of these films will go down as classic 70s porn but they will certainly add a couple of entertaining and well made titles into the adult section of you collection.


The Audio & Video
Both films are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 (full frame) by Vinegar Syndrome and have similar looking transfers. The presentations are largely clean and fairly sharp for vintage porno films. They do have some scratches and dirt and debris along with some print jumping but are very watchable presentations. The audio has a bit of background noise but not much and it never gets intrusive. 


The Extras
Bare bones. 


The Bottom Line
Vinegar Syndrome keeps the ball rolling on their old school porn releases with another pair of films that fans of these releases will certainly want to add to their collection.

DEEP TANGO /YOUNG SECRETARIES is available HERE

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Honey Buns (DVD Review) - Impulse Pictures


USA/1973
Directed By: James Chiara
Written By: James Chiara
Starring: Matt Hewitt, Ushi Digard, Rene Bond
Color/74 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
 Harry works at a feminine hygeine company called "Internally Yours", he is surrounded by beautiful women daily and couldn't be more uncomfortable. Harry is clumsy, shy, awkward and just a bit creepy, bringing his stacks of dirty magazines to his desk on his lunch break. Obviously he has no luck with the women, that is until the day he meets a man called The Magician who gives him a magic pill. This pill gives him chance after chance with beautiful women ready to seduce Harry. There's a catch though... If Harry gets too aroused too soon they disappear. Harry has to learn to control his urges to keep his fantasies a reality.


Matt Hewitt plays a damn good sexually awkward, shy guy, the ladies here are all beautiful and the movie itself is just weird enough to stand apart from the loads and loads of other X-rated fare that it had to contend with. From orgies to a dominatrix and yes, we do get to see why this film got its name, HONEY BUNS is a well made and inspired piece of 70s hardcore.

The Audio & Video
Impulse Pictures secures a safe existence for another vintage piece of American smut with a pretty good overall transfer on HONEY BUNS. The print is in decent shape, there are some scratches and damage but nothing excessive or annoying. If anything the scratchiness only adds to the experience. The audio track is stable and mixed well. Levels are steady and don't flucuate. A bit of background noise is present but as with the PQ it isn't distracting.


The Extras
Bare bones. 


The Bottom Line
A bit funny, a bit awkward and weird, and packed with beautiful women, HONEY BUNS is a treasure of the 1970s hardcore scene.

HONEY BUNS is available HERE

Monday, May 26, 2014

Back In Crime (DVD Review) - Kino


France/2013
Directed By: Germinal Alvarez
Written By: Germinal Alvarez, Nathalie Saugeon
Starring: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Melanie Thierry, Phillipe Berodot
Color/101 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 20, 2014

The Film
Inspect Richard Kemp is investigating a homicide by the killer known as The Earwig. This is the first appearance of the killer in 20 years, and the only witness to the crime is Helene, a psychologist who Kemp falls in love with. After being attacked by a stranger, Kemp awakens 20 years in his past, just before The Earwig starts his crime spree. Kemp now has a chance to do what he couldn't before and stop the killer before with help from a young Helene.

Crime thrillers are a dime a dozen to me. There are some great ones out there but for the most part it is almost a case of "seen one, seen 'em all". It takes something special for me to take note and BACK IN CRIME made me take note... sort of. I think Anglade and Theirry are excellent and have great chemistry on screen. While they play a somewhat typical role, they manage to break out of the generic and make their relationship stand out. I only wish we got to know more of The Earwig. We barely get to know him before he's taken down and I wanted to know more and see more out of his crimes. BACK IN CRIME is solid and fans of the crime thriller archetype will certainly enjoy it.

The Audio & Video
Kino gives BACK IN CRIME an attractive home on DVD with a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The picture quality is strong with no compression issues. The image is clean, and colors look nice. The audio options are French with optional English subtitles or English dub in either 2.0 or 5.1 surround. The French surround track sounds great. Levels are mixed well, there is no audible hiccups or annoyances and the subs are spot on with timing.

The Extras
An image gallery and a selection of trailers for various films make up the special features

The Bottom Line
A rock solid crime film with a time travel subplot that will engage viewers to see what kind of answers lie and the end of the twists and turns

BACK IN CRIME is available HERE

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sleepaway Camp (Blu-ray Review) - Scream Factory


USA/1983
Directed By: Robert Hiltzik
Written By: Robert Hiltzik
Starring: Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tierston, Paul DeAngelo
Color/84 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: May 27, 2014

The Film
After a boating accident left her father dead 8 years earlier, Angela now livers with her aunt and cousin Ricky. Angela and Ricky are setting off for a summer at Camp Arawak. Angela is a very shy and quiet girl, while Ricky is just the opposite and spends much of his time protecting his cousin and cussing out whoever taunts her. Camp Arawak is your typical camp, full of summer activities, and colorful characters. Some of the less than savory characters begin to meet their end in various gruesome ways and the identity of the killer is unknown until there's a shocking revelation by the waterfront.


SLEEPAWAY CAMP has always been one of my favorite slasher films. It's a bit sleazier than most other 80s body count films and the kills lead to some gory effects. The acting is pretty decent for such a film despite it's budgetary constraints. The sexual undertones (and at times in your face overtones) of the film make SLEEPAWAY CAMP stand out from the pack and make the classic ending (don't spoil it for yourself!) a punch in the gut. SLEEPAWAY CAMP is a true 80s classic.

The Audio & Video
Scream Factory has done right by the slasher gods because this Blu-ray is gorgeous. SLEEPAWAY CAMP has notoriously never looked great. The best home video release prior to this BD was the Anchor Bay DVD set which always looked a bit hazy. That problem is gone. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer got an all new 2K HD scan and looks great. The image is much sharper and clearer than it ever has been on home video. Skin tones are fleshy and natural, colors are vibrant and black levels are deep. There's no compression issues, or instances of excessive DNR or edge enhancement. SLEEPAWAY CAMP's picture quality finally matches it's infinite rewatchability.

The disc features a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that sounds excellent. Scream Factory wisely stayed away from trying to create a faux surround mix and simply took the original track and made it sound excellent. There's no instances of background noise and the track is perfectly mixed.


Note: Images taken from DVD version of the film

The Extras
The stacked lineup of special features include:
-An all new commentary track w/ Felissa Rose and Jonathan Tierston
-Original audio commentary  track w/ Robert Hiltzik, Felissa Rose and Jeff Hayes
-"At The Waterfront After The Social: The Legacy Of Sleepaway Camp" - An awesome 45 minute featurette featuring interviews from key cast and crew members discussing their time on set and beyond
-Sleepaway Camp Scrapbook
-"Judy" - A short film by Jeff Hayes starring Karen Fields
-"Princess" - A music video by Jonathan Tierston
-Rare images from make-up effects artist Ed French
-Theatrical Trailer
-TV Spots
-A demonstration of the 2K film scan process


The Bottom Line
One of my favorite slasher films given the royal treatment? Do I need to spell it out for you? GO. BUY. IT. 

SLEEPAWAY CAMP is available HERE

Friday, May 23, 2014

Saving Grace B. Jones (DVD Review) - Arc Entertainment



USA/2009
Directed By: Connie Stevens
Written By: Connie Stevens, Jeffrey Elison
Starring: Tatum O'Neal, Michael Biehn, Penelope Ann Miller
Color/116 Minutes/R
Region 1
Release Date: May 27, 2014

The Film
In a 1950s small town Landy and his wife Bea are getting Landy's sister Grace out of an asylum after she has spent years there after becoming mentally damaged from an accident on her wedding day twenty years earlier. Grace's reappearance in the community has shaken some of the locals and is bringing a lot of distress to the family. Grace is obviously not fully cured of her problems and during a massive flood that threatens the entire town she breaks down in a violent relapse.


SAVING GRACE B. JONES apparently took five years to be released on DVD and that doesn't surprise me at all. It wouldn't surprise me if this movie never saw the light of day. Not only is it a massive waste of a good cast, including not only the leads mentioned but also a pre-The Walking Dead Scott Wilson, but it just flat out sucks. The majority of the film is spent following a few pre-teen girls around as they go to dances and a black church where they're adored. These girls are actually the highlight of the movie as they're all pretty good for being so young. There's a bit of drama surrounding them and Grace but not nearly enough to warrant the amount of screen time dedicated to them. Aside from some melodrama nothing worth a damn happens until the climactic flood scene. It's boring, it's too long, it's poorly written and developed and wastes a talented cast. 

The Audio & Video
Arc Entertainment is responsible for bringing this movie to DVD and at least the disc looks okay. The 16x9 transfer looks fine, with the 1950s setting looking good. There's a bit of compression blocking during the darkest scenes but nothing awful. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is fine with no background noise or annoyances. Sound levels are mixed well. 


The Extras
A trailer is the lone extra.


The Bottom Line
It looks and feels like a cheap made-for-TV movie that would air on Lifetime. Skip it.

SAVING GRACE B. JONES is available HERE

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Pretty Peaches 2 & 3 (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1987, 1989
Directed By: Alex de Renzy
Written By: Alex de Renzy
Starring: Siobhan Hunter, Keisha
Color/175 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: May 13, 2014

The Films
PRETTY PEACHES was a very successful porn comedy from 1978. Almost a decade later director Alex de Renzy went back to make an unrelated sequel to the film. PRETTY PEACHES 2 is the story of young Peaches, a 20 year old who wants to learn about sex, badly. Peaches' mother seduces her boyfriend, her father tells her to stop being a tease and she heads to San Francisco (where else) to learn about sex from her uncle (Ron Jeremy) and his circus-like house of characters.

To say the family dynamic in PRETTY PEACHES 2 is fucked up is selling it short. There are some strange situations on display here, however it is kept playful and upbeat so even the taboo subjects on display here are never looked at as weird. Well, yeah, it's still weird but the film manages to make it work.



PRETTY PEACHES 3: THE QUEST has Peaches living in a trailer park, sexually unfulfilled. Her doctor, a lesbian who has gone the distance with Peaches during an exam, suggests a trip to San Francisco (where else) to satisfy her desires. On the way she falls in with a weird and flashy televangelist who thinks more about sex than he does God or faith. This man's bizarre world becomes Peaches existence in what has to be one of the weirdest films released by Vinegar Syndrome yet.

Both of the sequels to PRETTY PEACHES are funny, sexy and more than a little bit odd. The girls that play the titular characters are both very likable and Alex de Renzy, who has directed almost 200 adult films, proves why he is royalty in the adult film industry.


The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has done a good job overall on this release. PRETTY PEACHES 2 has a vibrant and lively transfer. Skin tones are natural and colors are strong. The print is clean and has obviously been kept in good condition. The audio track is full bodied and free of any annoying background noise. PRETTY PEACHES 3 has a good looking transfer but there is damage in the source material and the image suffers from jitters fairly frequently throughout the film. The audio track is a bit muddy sounding so you may have turn up the volume a bit as it is difficult to understand dialogue at times.


The Extras
There is an original theatrical trailer for part 2. 



The Bottom Line
This is among my favorite releases from Vinegar Syndrome to date. The films are weird, fun and genuine and I think if you're reading this review you'll sincerely enjoy yourself with these films.

PRETTY PEACHES 2 & 3 is available HERE

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Death OccurredLast Night (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video


 Italy/1970
Directed By: Duccio Tessari
Written By: Artur Braun, Biagio Proje, Giorgio Scerbanenco, Duccio Tessari
Starring: Frank Wolfe, Raf Vallone, Gabriele Tinti
Color/98 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
When a beautiful young woman who is mentally handicapped with the mental development of a three year old goes missing it is feared she has been kidnapped into the local sex trafficking rings. Her distraught father tired of the police's nonchalant attitude about his missing daughter begins his own investigation on the side, taking him and the local police into the underbelly of the city and face to face with some of the most despicable, forlorn and lost people the city has to offer. It also brings them face to face with a cold, harsh reality.

DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT, Duccio Tessari's giallo, isn't a fun film. It doesn't have the whirls of style that Argento's gialli have that make them entertaining to watch. After a rather out a of place opening few minutes, Tessari plays this film straight, real straight. We are forced to witness a father come to grips with the nasty reality of it all without any hope of being able to turn our attention elsewhere for a break. She has the mind of a child, and it's Saturday.

Tessari's unyielding coldness in how he presents DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is what makes the film. Tessari forces the reality down the viewer's throat and tells us to deal with it. Not necessarily to accept it, that would make him the same scum that his villains are, but to deal with it because that's how it is. The road this film takes in discovering the truth just brings us further and further to a place we aren't comfortable going and digs a deeper and deeper pit in our stomach as our fears become reality. As I said, DEATH OCCURED LAST NIGHT isn't fun, but it is a rock solid giallo.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video is on point with their Blu-ray of DEATH OCCURRED. Their anamorphic widescreen transfer features excellent levels of detail- just look at clothing. Colors are full bodied and lively, despite a dingy, overcast city being the location for the film. The 2.0 Italian audio track is very good, it sounds well mixed, with no background noise. Subtitles are well timed and easy to read.

The Extras
-Video Interview with Fangoria Editor Chris Alexander
-Full Color Booklet by Chris Alexander
-International and American Theatrical Trailers


The Bottom Line
Giallo fans will be thrilled with this new Blu-ray from Raro. A damn fine release for a great film. 

DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT is available HERE

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Chambermaids (DVD Review) - Impulse Pictuers


USA/1974
Directed By: Unknown
Written By: Unknown
Starring: Eric Edwards, Valerie Marron, Mary Stuart
Color/72 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
A pair of hotel maids find their go-nowhere jobs boring and it has left them broke so they decide for a little fun, and some quick cash, to start offering themselves up to hotel guests. These attractive young women find themselves in the middle of a couple newlyweds, who don't know that the other is cheating on them on their wedding day just one room over! And then there is the pair of businessmen who get in on the action... but so does one of their wives! And of course all of these paths cross and it is just a ridiculously kinky afternoon with THE CHAMBERMAIDS.


A simple plot, a cheap and fast production, and lots and lots of X-Rated action makes up the 72 minutes of THE CHAMBERMAIDS. There are no surprises here, it goes for the knockout punch almost immediately and doesn't let up. Darken your room and imagine you're in a seedy theater with sticky floors and a potential mugger or flasher to either side of you and you'll complete the experience.  

The Audio & Video
Impulse Pictures has saved the existence of THE CHAMBERMAIDS with this DVD. The full screen presentation was taken from a battered theatrical print that apparently is barely surviving. This disc ensures the existence of the film for future generations to take a look at. The print is heavily scratched and dirty. The audio has quite a bit of background noise such as popping and crackling. And with all of these imperfections present it just somehow feels right for this movie. It feels seedy and wrong and I like it.



The Extras
Bare bones.


The Bottom Line
Close the door and draw the blinds, because THE CHAMBERMAIDS is here. After this you'll probably want to get a trench coat and start running around the city flashing people outside of your local adult theater. Oh, you don't have an adult theater? Well, turn your living room into one and enjoy this movie.

THE CHAMBERMAIDS is available HERE


Monday, May 19, 2014

Way Of The Wicked (DVD Review) - Image Entertainment



USA/2014
Directed By: Kevin Carraway
Written By: Matthew Robert Kelly
Starring: Vinnie Jones, Emily Tennant, Christian Slater
Color/92 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 20, 2014

The Film
Five years after being blamed for the death of another child during a fight despite not laying a finger on the victim, Robbie returns to his old neighborhood to attend high school where he shares classes with his old friend Heather. Robbie and Heather quickly become friends again with Robbie filling the protector role where it may not be needed. His intentions with Heather are noble but his way of showing it may not be. Heather's father is a police official who teams up with a priest in an on-going investigation of a possible demonic force responsible for a series of murders surrounding Heather and Robbie.


WAY OF THE WICKED is as much a teen drama as it is a supernatural or crime thriller. Vinnie Jones and Emily Tennant are quite believable in their father-daughter lead roles, and Jake Croker sure has his angsty teen look down. Christian Slater is a bit hammy in his role as the priest but that is to be expected with present day Christian Slater. The movie isn't terrible it just suffers from the feeling that it is a rather restrained film, that could have been made for network TV or MTV. It also plays out as a boy's version of Carrie, without the good stuff that goes along with Carrie. So I guess that means it is a cheaper boy's version of the Carrie remake? Sure, we'll go with that. WAY OF THE WICKED isn't awful, but it's also far from anything special and you won't be missing anything noteworthy if you don't bother.

Oh and one last thing, a personal beef - Why the hell is Christian Slater plastered on the cover art? He's not in the movie that much and certainly Vinnie Jones has to be a better selling point than Christian Slater these days.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment's transfer of WAY OF THE WICKED on DVD largely looks very nice. The HD photography would really only look better if it was a Blu-ray presentation. As it stands, image quality is sharp, with the only real weak point being poor handling of black levels and dark sequences which have compression issues. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is a very good. Dialogue and music are mixed quite well and there are no background noise issues. 


The Extras
None to speak of


The Bottom Line
The film itself is totally predictable and only mildly interesting, which places it into rental territory. 

WAY OF THE WICKED is available HERE

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Norifumi Suzuki: In Rememberance Of A Legend

Among the excitement and fan fare for the release of Godzilla, a film many genre film fans have been anxiously awaiting the news of Norifumi Suzuki's passing has unfortunately been swept over. Dying on May 15, 2014 at the age of 80, Suzuki has left behind a legacy of wonderfully artistic, stylish and sometimes brilliant films ranging from Pinky Violence to Nunsploitation. Suzuiki is largely responsible for ever growing love of the Pinky Violence brand of film. I can't say I'm any sort of authority on the genre, or Suzuki himself, I can only sit here and give thanks to a man that has deeply influenced my movie viewing and tastes along with opening a world of film to me.


The first time I set my eyes on School Of The Holy Beast years ago and saw how a Nunsploitation film could be handled with such class was eye opening to a growing exploitation film fan. Not every exploitation film was cheap and B-Movie material. This probably wasn't the first time I saw to this day I live with images from School Of The Holy Beast in my mind on a daily basis. They're beautiful and surreal.


And if I had seen no other film than Sex & Fury from 1973 I would still feel the need to write something about Suzuki's passing as this film brought together two legendary women of exploitation and two of my personal favorites, Reiko Ike and Christina Lindberg, for a simply amazing film. Admittedly, I have been slow in digging deeper into Suzuki's filmography, as there are still dozens of titles I have yet to see but it is something I plan to remedy soon in hopes that maybe one day I will be able to fancy myself a bit of an authority on Suzuki.

Thank you for your contributions and inspiration Mr. Suzuki, you most certainly are a legend.

                                                     1933-2014






Thursday, May 15, 2014

Countess Dracula (Blu-ray Review) - Synapse Films


England/1971
Directed By: Peter Sasdy
Written By: Jeremy Paul
Starring: Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor Eles
Color/93 Minutes/PG
Region A
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
Ingrid Pitt stars as Countess Elisabeth Nadasdy, an aging woman who discovers that bathing in the blood of young women can rejuvenate her youthful beauty. When the Countess falls for a handsome man named Imre Toth she goes to great lengths to impersonate her own daughter to win the affection of the man. Women among the village start disappearing which causes a bit of a paranoid panic but does anyone dare question the powerful Countess with their own life at stake? And will the Countess be able to keep up her bloodlust to satisfy her desires for unnatural beauty?

Director Peter Sasdy successfully combines the classic Gothic horror style of Hammer with a bit of body-horror as well. From the dark, shadowy halls of the Countess’ castle filled with secret passages to the unnatural and mentally sick need to look young. Ingrid Pitt is great in the lead role, a bit menacing and totally maniacal, she has almost the entire castle’s population on her side, and makes sure they dispose of those who aren’t.


COUNTESS DRACULA is an unsung piece of greatness from Hammer’s later catalog. As production quality started to slip Peter Sasdy used his extensive experience to pull greatness out of the picture, something he’d do for Hammer a few more times in feature film form and a decade later with their TV series, Hammer House Of Horror. COUNTESS DRACULA is a well made, slightly sleazy, and totally entertaining horror film.

The Audio & Video
Synapse Films brings the long awaited Blu-ray release of COUNTESS DRACULA to viewers with a gorgeous looking transfer preserving the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The HD transfer has a natural grain structure and a true filmic quality. This Blu-ray truly looks as if you were watching a 35mm print, and that is probably the highest compliment I can give for a Blu-ray. The print is clean and in great condition. Colors are vivid without being too hot and skin tones natural and healthy. Black levels are deep and inky with on signs of compression issues. The DTS-HD 2.0 track sounds wonderful as well. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear with a perfectly mixed soundtrack to keep from overpowering each other. There are no instances of background noise. This is exactly how I would want COUNTESS DRACULA to look and sound on Blu-ray.


Note: Images taken from DVD copy.

The Extras
-Audio commentary with: Ingrid Pitt, Peter Sasdy, screenwriter Jeremy Paul and author Jonathan Sothcott
-”Immortal Countess: The Cinematic Life Of Ingrid Pitt” - A 9 minute overview of Pitt’s break into films and her career, focusing mainly on her Hammer output.
-Archival audio inteview with Ingrid Pitt
-Theatrical Trailer
-Stills Gallery
-Reversible Artwork


The Bottom Line
The long wait from announcement to release is finally over and Synapse Films has made it more than worth the wait. The damn near perfect A/V presentation coupled with gorgeous artwork and some solid extras (my only complaint being that I wish the Pitt featurette was longer and went more in depth) make this one of my favorite releases of 2014 so far.

COUNTESS DRACULA is available HERE

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Poseidon Rex (DVD Review)


USA/2014
Directed By: Mark L. Lester
Written By: Rafael Jordan
Starring: Brian Krause, Anne McDaniels, Steven Helmkamp
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: May 13, 2014

The Film
Having just recently reviewed the film itself, I'd simply be repeating myself here. So check out the film review HERE.

The Audio & Video
The DVD release of POSEIDON REX looks good. The anamorphic widescreen transfer is crisp and clear as a newly shot digital production should be. The tropical locations look gorgeous and skin tones look natural and healthy. The CGI rendering also looks good. The English audio track is loud and clear, with no background noise or disturbances. The soundtrack is nicely mixed as to blend nicely with dialogue and not fight for attention from the audience.

The Extras
A short 9 minute Making of" featurette is included along with a trailer.

The Bottom Line
POSEIDON REX is a fun film. It is meant to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and turn your brain off for a short while. This DVD is available for under $10 and cheesy movie fans should be all over it.

POSEIDON REX is available HERE

Devil's Due



USA/2014
Directed By: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written By: Lindsay Devilin
Starring: Alison Miller, Zach Gilford
Color/89 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: I don't remember

The Film
A young newlywed couple, Zac and Samantha, takes their honeymoon to the Dominican Republic and on their final night they let their cab driver take them to secluded local spot for a party they'd never forget. The bar has locals and other lucky tourists who have been brought their. The couple awakens in their hotel the next morning not sure exactly what happened the night before but they figure they just partied too hard. Upon their arrival home Samantha discovers she is pregnant. The couple is happy despite not planning on a child yet and plan for the best for their child. Samantha's pregnancy is odd, as she goes through violent streaks, and craves raw meat. The couple also sees strange people in the neighborhood watching their house. On the night of the birth these strangers have taken over the house and won't let Zac near his wife and they get their Satanic ritual baby.

Please excuse me a moment... FUCK THIS PIECE OF SHIT. This movie is beyond boring. It is incredibly uninteresting and wastes a young couple that is actually likeable while on screen together. It isn't possible for this movie to be any more predictable than it already is or more cliched than it already it. You'd have more fun waxing your mother-in-laws back, or poking yourself in the eye or stubbing your toe over and over for the duration of this film. It's excruciatingly bad. There found footage angle does nothing to add to the movie and judging by the fact that we see everything from the point of view of Zac who is recording home videos there should be no fucking way we can see Samantha chow down on raw meat in a grocery store from the vantage point of a security camera. I hate this fucking movie. It's an insult to just about everything on Earth. Except stupid people. I'm sure stupid people will like it.

The Audio & Video
The video looked fine and the audio sounded fine. It is a nice Blu-ray presentation. Consider it a giant dog turd presented in a crystal display case.
 

The Extras
Audio Commentary with the directors and producers
Radio Silence: A Hell Of A Team featurette
Ashes To Ash featurette
The Lost Time featurette
Roommate Alien Prank Goes Bad featurette
Mountain Devil Prank Fails Horribly featurette
Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
Director's Photo Album
Sneak Peek

The Bottom Line
Nobody needs to waste their time with this movie. It isn't remotely scary or interesting. If you have any inkling of curiosity to see this movie just stick a fork in an electrical socket and short out your whole house so you can't.

Monday, May 12, 2014

The Real Decameron (DVD Review) - One 7 Movies


Italy/1973
Directed By: Mario Caiano
Written By: Mario Caiano
Starring: Rosalba Neri, Christa Linder, Peter Landers
Color/93 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Film
Sex comedies were a big deal in Italy in the 70s and they were often loosely based on other films as a more sexed up version. THE REAL DECAMERON is an example of that, as it is similarly themed to Pier Paolo Pasolini's Decameron. In this film a group of mischievous and sexually unsatisfied girls, many of them married. They are all looking for some fun even at the objection of the local clergymen or their own husbands. Each girl comes up with a ridiculous plan to get laid by the man she really wants.

THE REAL DECAMERON is an anthology film, as we get each girl's story in sequence, from an almost Rapunzel like girl who's father wants to killer her lover, to another girl faking a haunted house and trying to get the local exorcist to believe it this film has some ridiculous plots and they're all pretty funny. I didn't even mention the girl who was swimming in a lack and loses her virginity to a prawn and has them lay eggs inside of her... Yes, it happens in this film. Most of the girls are attractive and make the film that much more fun to watch if the sex comedy thing wasn't enough for you. THE REAL DECAMERON is worth checking out if you're seeking to find lighter sexploitation fare or are a fan of the sex comedy genre. 

The Audio & Video
 One 7 Movies debuts THE REAL DECAMERON on DVD with a decent looking and sounding effort. The anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) transfer looks good throughout with only a couple instances of the picture becoming overly soft or compressed. It manages to handle darker scenes pretty well and though it is a rather drab film when it comes to art direction, colors look decent and skin tones look natural. The Italian mono track sounds good, with minimal background noise. The English subtitles suffer a bit from a few moments of awkward translation and the constant use of a lower case "l" in place of "i" which annoyed me. It isn't much of a big deal however and I'm pleased with the disc overall.

The Extras
Bare bones. 

The Bottom Line
Sexploitation and Italian sex comedy film fans will find a lot to enjoy here. It has a genuine sense of humor and a serious sexy side. 

THE REAL DECAMERON is available HERE

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Toho Godzilla Collection Double Feature - Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla (Blu-ray Review) - Sony


Japan/1993, 1994
Directed By: Takao Okawara, Kensho Yamashita
Written By: Wataru Mimura, Hiroshi Kashiwabara
Starring: Masahiro Takashima, Jun Hashizume
Color/216 Minutes/Unrated
Region A
Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Films

What happens when a baby Godzilla egg is discovered by some explorers with questionable intentions and Rodan and Godzilla both claim it as their own? Well Godzilla and Rodan start fighting of course. And Japan's Self Defense Force has to unleash MechaGodzilla to protect Japan from the giant monsters and their maternal instincts.

GODZILLA vs MECHAGODZILLA II features a few of the more "awww" inducing moments of the entire franchise along with some intense fight sequences between the monsters and robot. MechaGodzilla is absolutely bad ass in this one, even before he turns into Super MechaGodzilla... yeah, wrap your mind around that one. A very entertaining entry.


Not to be outdone, GODZILLA vs SPACEGODZILLA features a government program which attempts to implant a device on Godzilla that will allow them to controll him telepathically to protect Japan. That plan takes a backseat when Godzilla cells carried into space by Biollante and Mothra have formed a new Godzilla creature that has came through a black hole and invades Japan. This new monster, dubbed Spacegodzilla, is a super charged version of Godzilla, with the ability to absorb the Earth's energy through his giant crystals on his shoulders. Spacegodzilla's first victim is Little Godzilla, which pisses off Godzilla and the fight is under way. Japan's backup plan to their telepathy is Moguera, their penguin-like giant robot which has replaced MechaGodzilla. Can the team of Godzilla and Moguera stop Spacegodzilla before he destroys all of Japan and sucks all of Earth's energy from it's core?

WOO BOY! I love this movie. GODZILLA vs SPACEGODZILLA has vicious fight scenes, an original story, and a pretty cool giant robot, that isn't quite as neat at MechaGodzilla, but has his own advantages. The cuteness of Little Godzilla, who has a stare down with Spacegodzilla early on, is overwhelming and because of the beating he takes from the extraterrestrial monster you spend the rest of the movie just cheering for Japan and Godzilla to team up and give him what's coming. It is great to finally get Godzilla as Japan's ally for the first time in several movies in this one.

The Audio & Video
Both of these films have very similar looking transfers from Sony. The prints are mostly clean and in nice condition. Detail levels are an improvement over the DVD versions of the films, with the monster suits looking good. Colors are a bit less muted than the previous double feature but there's still room for improvement on Toho's end. Skin tones look good and it is a sharper image than you could ask for on DVD. The Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD audio tracks sound strong and boisterous. There's no annoying popping or crackling in the background and the optional English subtitles are timed perfectly and translated nicely. 

The Extras
There are original trailers for each film, and Ultraviolet digital copy codes. 


The Bottom Line
These 2-disc Blu-ray sets are easily found for under $15 each and that price they're really a no-brainer for Godzilla fans and cheap enough to take a chance on if you're interested in checking out these movies. These two movies are immensely entertaining and I'm thrilled to own them on Blu-ray.

The Toho Godzilla Collection Double Feature is available HERE

Friday, May 9, 2014

Jungle Blue (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1978
Directed By: Carlos Tobalina
Written By: Carlos Tobalina
Starring: Susan Fuentes
Color/79 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: May 13, 2014

The Film
A group of jungle explorers have a devious plan to find a native tribe that is rich with diamonds and poison the whole tribe to take their riches for themselves. On the way they encounter a jungle man, potentially a son of God, who is quite the stud. He has sex with the women, he hangs out with a gorilla who loves sex and is just a great guy. Is he able to stop the devious plan from going down and save the natives and the innocents  or will he perish with them?


JUNGLE BLUE isn't easily summed up in a review. It isn't some avant garde arthouse film, but the sheer absurdity of it all is almost too much for words. Hell, one of the first things you see is a gorilla getting a blowjob from a woman. Fans of weird cinema need to see JUNGLE BLUE, whether you're a fan of vintage pornos or not, you owe it to yourself to see this. You may even be a better person because of it.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome's transfer on JUNGLE BLUE is quite good. There is a bit of print damage evident in the form of scratches but they're not distracting and otherwise the transfer looks really good. Colors are vibrant and skin tones are natural. There are no compression issues to speak of in the anamorphic 16x9 presentation. The English mono track is mostly free of background noise and sounds very good otherwise. 


The Extras
A theatrical trailer is the lone special feature


The Bottom Line
JUNGLE BLUE is one strange film, in the best possible way. It draws you in and doesn't let go until it is over. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll wonder just exactly what the fuck it is that you're watching.

JUNGLE BLUE is available HERE