Friday, March 28, 2014

No Holds Barred (Blu-ray Review) - Image Entertainment


USA/1989
Directed By: Thomas J. Wright
Written By: Dennis Hackin
Starring: Hulk Hogan, Kurt Fuller, Tommy "Tiny" Lister
Color/94 Minutes/PG-13
Region A
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
With the worldwide popularity of Rip (Hulk Hogan, more or less as an action movie version of himself) the World Wrestling Federation owns the airwaves. With each title defense more and more fans latch on to Ripmania. The World Television Network does their best to bribe Rip away from the WWF, going far enough to hand him a signed check and let him fill out the amount. Rip won't be torn away from where his loyalties lie so the WTN goes to the real world of fighting holding an open invitational fight called Battle Of The Tough Guys. The winner of the contest is Zeus (Tommy "Tiny" Lister) who will now fight a new challenger each week. Eventually the challenge is issued to Rip but Rip won't accept due to the violent nature of Battle Of The Tough Guys but when his brother is badly hurt as a result of his negative response towards the program the only thing to do is be a real American and fight Zeus in a No Holds Barred fight to the death.

There are few things in pop culture that were as widespread as Hulkamania in the 1980s. It had no barriers of gender, age, race, nation, it was insane. Hulk Hogan was the biggest name on the planet and WWF flourished. Entering the world of film was a logical step and Hulk essentially portrayed himself against a hulking, imposing beast of a man in Tiny Lister. It is interesting that Vince McMahon (Owner of WWF, now WWE) had tried to build Zeus into a legitimate wrestler around this movie but he just never got over with the wrestling audiences due to his minimal training. That didn't stop him from having a few high profile matches against Hogan, though always in a tag team setting to minimalize Zeus' responsibility.

NO HOLDS BARRED is 80s through and through. From the ridiculous one liners, to Rip's trademark gesture after he roughs up the baddies, to the corny and forced love story, it could be seen as the Lifetime channel's version of Rocky. That isn't a bad thing, NO HOLDS BARRED is a charmingly stupid popcorn flick with ridiculous re-watchability. It certainly isn't art and it isn't particularly well made but we are talking about a wrestling movie from 1989 starring Hulk Hogan, who hasn't improved his acting skills since, it was made for fans and holds up as a movie to watch with a group of friends and a few drinks.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment upgrades their previous DVD of NO HOLDS BARRED to HD with this new Blu-ray. The 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer is a nice upgrade from the previous standard definition release. Skin tones are natural, and detail from sweat to textures of clothing or hair are strong. The image is mostly strong with a few areas of softness that seem inherent to the film's production. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio track is very nice and at times boisterous. From veteran WWF(E) composer Jim Johnston's soundtrack to the hilarious dialogue throughout it is a great mix. 

The Extras
Extras include a pair of matches featuring Hogan vs Zeus:
-Summerslam '89 - Zeus & Macho Man Randy Savage vs Hulk Hogan and Brutus The Barber Beefcake
-"NO HOLDS BARRED" Match Revisited - Tag Team Steel Cage Match 12/27/1989

The Bottom Line
This Blu-ray doesn't smell like dookie, and there's no heel turns here. The movie is a riot and the disc is a squash over the previous DVD. How many more wrestling references can I fit in before I tell you to just buy it? Well everyone has a price and this disc is the excellence of execution. 

NO HOLDS BARRED is available HERE

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Meet Him And Die (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video



Italy/1976
Directed By: Franco Prosperi
Written By: Antonio Cucca, Cluadio Fragasso, Peter Berling, Alberto Marras
Starring: Ray Lovelock, Martin Balsam, Elke Sommer
Color/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
Ray Lovelock stars as an undercover cop sent to prison to infiltrate a drug ring and get a bit of personal revenge on the men who crippled his mother at the same time. Upon gaining the trust of higher ups and escaping prison with them he begins to climb the ranks of the family, sent on important jobs and drug runs. While trying to continue climbing the ranks to bring the drug ring down from the top he has to keep his identity secret which results in bullets flying and blood spilling from both sides.

Franco Prosperi (not of Mondo Cane fame, the other Franco Prosperi) delivers a really solid and prototypical poliziotteschi in MEET HIM AND DIE. Plenty of car chases, shoot outs, fights and blood. From the start of the film the adrenaline runs high with Lovelock's botched jewel heist, to the motorcycle chasing the freight truck which is probably the most exciting scene in the film Prosperi knows how to get us excited. MEET HIM AND DIE won't be held among the best Euro-crime films like Almost Human as it suffers from a few under developed characters, including Martin Balsam's character and an ending that leaves the viewer (and Lovelock) unsatisfied. MEET HIM AND DIE provides enough entertainment enter the good graces of genre fans along with being a suitable introduction to the genre for new viewers. I'm grateful that Raro Video released this disc.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video delivers the Blu-ray debut of MEET HIM AND DIE with mixed results. The 1.76:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer suffers from a waxy appearance and a layer of noise over the picture. Detail levels suffer as a result. On the other hand colors look pretty good so it isn't all bad. It's not the worst Blu-ray transfer I've seen (not by a long shot) but it isn't up to par with what Raro can do. Two audio tracks are available, both 2.0 stereo tracks. I listened to the Italian track which has optional English subtitles and it was a good track. Dialogue came through clearly and the soundtrack was crisp. Levels were mixed nicely. And English track is also available. 

The Extras
-Video interview with genre historian Mike Malloy
-13 page fully illustrated booklet

The Bottom Line
MEET HIM AND DIE is a typical example of the polizotteschi genre and one that you should add to your collection even if the Blu-ray isn't a slam dunk, it certainly is watchable and the film deserves your attention.

MEET HIM AND DIE is available HERE

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Flesh And Blood Show (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption



UK/1972
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: Alfred Shaughnessy
Starring: Ray Brooks, Jenny Hanley, Luan Peters
Color/96 Minutes/Rated R
Region A
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
An aging seaside theater prepares to open its doors for the first time since a tragic performance of Othello. Now the actors and crew have moved into the theater to begin rehearsal on their musical comedy show but shortly upon moving in people start dying, apparently falling victim to the cursed theater. It takes a bit of investigating the theater's history and people around the area to get to the bottom of the bloody mystery that runs deep into a severely damaged psyche.

The back of this Blu-ray states that THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW is Pete Walker's homage to the Grand Guignol. It doesn't take more than a single viewing to cement that statement into fact. There is plenty of bloody horror on display, and even more flesh as girls run around naked like it is the latest trend. This is very much Pete Walker's gift to the slasher genre, almost a decade before the body count film really took off in the 1980s. It is artfully down however, and certainly not based around the plentiful tits and gore, which helped earn it an X rating from the British censors. The 3D sequence could be seen as a bit gimmicky but it aids in really hammering home the nightmarish aspect of the scene. When it is all said and done, THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW may not be Pete Walker's finest effort, but it will rank up there as one of most exploitative and deserves to be seen by horror fans everywhere.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption brings THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW to Blu-ray with a nice looking HD transfer. The 1.66:1 anamorphic transfer has fleshy skin tones and strong detail. The movie was filmed on location so there are some foggy exteriors. The print is in good condition with minimal scratching and wear. The 2.0 stereo audio track comes through loud and clear with no background noise. A simple yet effective track.

The Extras
-"Flesh, Blood, And Censorship" - An interview with Pete Walker
-3-D sequence in both Stereoscopic and Anaglyphic formats
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
Another fine Pete Walker film given a loving restoration and release from Kino Redemption. Your collection will only benefit from adding this Blu-ray. Recommended, obviously.

THE FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW is available HERE

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Schoolgirl Report Vol. 12: If Mom Only Knew (DVD Review) - Impulse Pictures



Germany/1978
Directed By: Walter Boos
Written By: Gunther Heller, Gunther Hunold
Starring: Sascha Atzenbeck, Willy Adler, Eva Berthold
Color/83 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Film
In the twelfth entry of the German sexploitation series we get several stories that were sent to a high school newspaper dealing with the sexual acts of several girls. The letters are fleshed out onscreen and perhaps director and creator of the series Walter Boos felt that in this late stage of the series life he had to go a bit further because these chapters feel a bit more exploitative than previous entries. From the girl that seduces her much older brother on summer vacation to a nymphomaniac that turns to prostitution to fuel her drug addiction. There is also the lighter fare including a family that mistakenly brings in a male exchange student to live with their daughter and the class trip that ends in just about everybody having sex in the woods including the teacher and let's not forget the plumber who poses as a Gynecologist while the doctor is away.


SCHOOLGIRL REPORT has always been a bit silly and and funny on top of being sexed up exploitation filled with beautiful young women. This chapter adds a bit more filth and sleaze to the mix to help us feel just a bit more uncomfortable. It's more naughty and fun that way, isn't it?

The Audio & Video
Impulse Pictures gives a the anamorphic widescreen (1.66:1) treatment to SCHOOLGIRL REPORT 12. The print used is in good condition, with some age related issues like scratches and dirt present but for the most part it is far from intrusive and it is a pleasing, quality print. Colors are strong and there is a natural grain to the picture. The mono audio track is in the film's native German and feature optional English subtitles that have been newly translated. The track is loud and clear, free of background noise and does its job just fine.


The Extras
Bare bones. 


The Bottom Line
Sexploitation fans should have taken note of the SCHOOLGIRL REPORT series by now and if they haven't they're not doing their collection any justice. IF MOM ONLY KNEW that your collection didn't have SCHOOLGIRL REPORT 12 in it she'd probably be disappointed. She raised you better than that.

SCHOOLGIRL REPORT VOLUME 12: IF MOM ONLY KNEW is available HERE

Monday, March 24, 2014

A Saint A Woman A Devil (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1976
Directed By: Peter Savage
Written By: Peter Savage
Starring: Joanna Fields, Pam Serpe, Peter Savage
Color/108 Minutes/Rated X
Region FREE
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Film
Sylvia suffers from Schizophrenia. Each of her personalities is a bit different and has different levels of sexual deviancy. Her sister knows that the real Sylvia is a goodie goodie church going girl and seeks help from a Psychiatrist to get to the root of Sylvia's mental issues that have put her lust level into the red. Sylvia's past and childhood could very well be the reason her psyche is split into a few different people inhabiting her head and why they crave loving!


A SAINT... A WOMAN... A DEVIL... oringally had the simple title of SYLVIA. Either way, the title works as does the film itself. There is so much sex on hand here that if you aren't paying attention you may forget just why Sylvia (or her various other selves) is having yet another sexual romp but with another man. Or why is she beating up her mother? Or... well, you'll figure it out. The great thing about this film is that you get inside the head of one beautiful woman three different times. And that isn't all you get inside of!

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has a gorgeous looking DVD here. The color and skin tones are lively and vibrant, and the picture quality is largely clean, with natural grain and the source material used was in good condition. The audio track is also very good with little to no background noise. 


The Extras
The R rated cut of the film is included as a bonus!


The Bottom Line
I could say "same shit different day" but that would make it sound like a bad thing. No, the "same shit" here is another lovingly restored and presented entertaining oddball of a porno from Vinegar Syndrome. 


A SAINT... A WOMAN... A DEVIL... is available HERE

Friday, March 21, 2014

Odd Thomas (Blu-ray Review) - Image



USA/2013
Directed By: Stephen Sommers
Written By: Stephen Sommers, Dean Koontz
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Addison Timlin, Willem Dafoe
Color/96 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: March 25, 2014

The Film
Odd is a young man with the power to see dead people along with other supernatural entities. He uses his abilities to help solve paranormal crimes and mysteries. His personality matches his name but his beautiful girlfriend Stormy adores him and they both believe they're destined to be together forever thanks to a 25 cent crystal ball machine. Lately Odd has been seeing an alarming amount of bodachs around, a supernatural monster that appears before a violent and deadly event. Odd begins his investigation with help from Stormy and the town sheriff (Willem Dafoe) to put the pieces of the puzzle together before the tragic event strikes the town and he loses the people closest to him.


ODD THOMAS is based off the novel of the same name by Dean Koontz. I've never read the book but apparently this film is a very faithful adaptation. On top of being a faithful adaptation it is a very entertaining film. Stephen Sommers previously directed the first two Brendan Fraser Mummy films, which I find to be decent popcorn adventure flicks to pass the time on a lazy afternoon. ODD THOMAS ends up being better than that, with it's extremely likeable lead, to the attractive Stormy who you can't help but love for her endless love of Odd and Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the sherriff who has one major love in his life and that is date night. The CGI effects on the Bodachs is quite good, never looking cheap or obvious. The rest of the CGI also has the same level of success. ODD THOMAS ends up being a heartfelt, comical, and well made supernatural adventure flick that works on all the levels it wants to.

The Audio & Video
Image has done a very nice job on this modern supernatural adventure flick. The Blu-ray features a full 1080p HD transfer with a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen ratio. Detail levels are high and colors are rich and vivid. Skin tones are natural and there is no edge enhancement or DNR that I could notice. The DTS-MA 5.1 English audio track (optional English subs are available) sounds excellent. The mix is full and powerful. A nice job working the sound effects, dialogue and music together to perfection as well. There are no audible hiccups present.

Please note: Images have been taken from DVD copy of the film


The Extras
Unfortunately this disc is bare bones. Some behind the scenes featurettes, a commentary track or even interviews would have been nice from the very likeable cast.


The Bottom Line
Despite the lack of special features I still have no problem recommending this Blu-ray because the film is well made and entertaining on top of a great technical presentation.

ODD THOMAS is available HERE

Thursday, March 20, 2014

42nd Street Forever: The Peep Show Collection Vol. 1 (DVD Review) - Impulse Pictures


USA/1970s-80s
Directed By: Various
Written By: Various
Starring: Various
Color/119 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Film
Imagine a world where porn and adult films are still very taboo. There is no such thing as DVD. Hell, VHS is in its infancy and won't be an affordable option for a long time to come. Obviously if someone mentioned the internet to you at this point you would wonder what the hell fishing equipment they were talking about. This is the world that stag films were born into. The only options were 8mm reels, either at a viewing booth in an adult store or at a viewing party called a Stag Party.


These films were cheaply made, with virtually no production value and no talent. It is almost funny to think how they managed to blow the doors open for the world of porn we know in the 21st century. This collection features 15 different loops, restored for the first time, preserving them for future generations to watch and enjoy. And to learn from. Yes, there is quite a bit of valuable history here. Lives were changed by these films, careers launched and money made. The world of film was forever changed by directors who couldn't frame a shot, actors who were barely legal aged kids who were happy just to get to screw but these films sold and sold and sold. The changing public wanted a way to see something they've never seen before and these 8mm peepshow films are it. It may seem like little more than porn, and porn it is, but it is far more important than that.

We can be honest with ourselves though, this IS vintage smut, and there are some of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen in any film on this set. It is endlessly entertaining.

The loops included are:
-Sheep Weren't Never Like This
-Deeper Throat
-Come On My Eggs
-Friends And Lovers
-It Takes A Thief
-Jailhouse Fuck
-One Hung Low
-Untitled
-Spice Of Life
-Nurse's Aid
-Lesbian Lovers
-Ladies Of Lesbo
-Dildo Heaven
-Afternoon Dildo Party
-Wet And Wild

The Audio & Video
With each reel being remastered directly from an original 8mm source condition varies greatly. At best the prints are clean and vibrant and at their worst they are covered with scratches and dirty. Luckily the prints largely lean toward the former and are in good shape. Each reel is a full frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio, maintaining their original aspect ratio. The only audio is that of the whirl of the projector which would normally qualify as background noise but here it is simply a part of the experience brought to us by Impulse Pictures


The Extras
Liner notes from Robin Bougie, publisher of Cinema Sewer, are included. 


The Bottom Line
Set up a chair in front of your tv and put a curtain around it and you have your own peep show booth without needing a pocket full of quarters or a bottle of hand sanitizer! It is up to you if you want to wear a trench coat or not when this DVD transports your to a few decades ago, in the back of a dirty bookstore.

42ND STREET FOREVER: THE PEEP SHOW COLLECTION VOL. 1 is available HERE

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Monsters: The Complete Series (DVD Review) - E One Entertainment



USA/1988-1991
Directed By: Various
Written By: Various
Starring: Various
Color/1548 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Series
Television has long been a popular home for the horror genre. From the beloved Tales From The Crypt, to Masters Of Horror and its disastrous big network offshoot Fear Itself to Freddy's Nightmares and even prime time series like The X-Files, horror always seems to have a home on TV for better or worse. In the late 1980s, perhaps at the peak of horror on television came MONSTERS. This anthology series would feature a different episode each week with no linking characters or plots. The opening of the show brought us into the living room of a seemingly typical suburban family getting ready to sit down together for "family hour" and watch their favorite show, MONSTERS. The only thing is that this family is made up of deformed beasts and cyclops!


When we get to the episode we're treated to everything from zombies to dragons, aliens and possession. Can you imagine something else? It is probably somewhere in the series. The episodes run about 22 minutes each without their commercials and often feature a comical take on horror or a certain moral. Many notable names spent a bit of time on the set of an episode of MONSTERS from Steve Buscemi and Linda Blair to John Saxon and Pam Grier, Meat Loaf and David Spade. Almost every episode has a very recognizable name. Special effects in the series were decent and though may not have aged particularly well at all times they did good work with the budget a TV show offered up. In the first episode of the series there is a giant prosthetic fat suit on display which sets the bar for special effects in the series.


Since the debut of DVD almost two decades ago fans have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of MONSTERS. As other landmark films and series got announced and released, and subsequently re-released (and re-released over and over in some cases) fans kept asking for this campy piece of 1980s horror TV history. Year after year passed, DVD wishlists got smaller and turned into Blu-ray wishlists but finally, finally MONSTERS is here. It is complete, all 72 episodes spread across 9 discs. If you've been a patient boy, waiting, waiting, waiting, go get it now! If you're new to the series rest assured that if you're a fan of campy and cheesy horror that is fun to throw back a few beers to you will fully enjoy MONSTERS.

The Audio & Video
CBS and E One Entertainment deliver MONSTERS on to DVD with a re-mastered 4:3 full frame aspect ratio, maintaining their OAR from TV exhibition. The re-mastered episodes look better than they ever have in syndication on the Chiller network and perhaps better than they did during their original run. The audio is a 2.0 Dolby Digital stereo track that sounds just as good as it likely ever did on TV. 


The Extras
Bare bones.


The Bottom Line
Horror fans have been clamoring for this release for over a decade and it is finally here and ready for you to relive the cheesy goodness. Sit down with a candy critter and enjoy your favorite show!

MONSTERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES is available HERE

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Cybergeddon (DVD Review) - ARC Entertainment


USA, Canada/2012
Directed By: Diego Velasco
Written By: Miles Chapman
Starring: Missy Peregrym, Kick Gurry, Manny Montana
Color/89 Minutes/PG-13
Region 1
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
A year after FBI agent Chloe Jocelyn arrested one of the world's most notorious hackers she has been framed with Cyber Terrorism. After escaping lockup and performing the world's most attractive public bathroom makeover using only a razor blade and some hair color (I'm not totally sure but I think a minor haircut and going from brunette to an auburn color wouldn't be enough of a change to fool anyone) she hooks up with old friends to find out the truth and clear her name. It soon becomes clear that the hacker she put away is behind the frame job and is intending on bringing down the world's economy. It's up to Chloe, her hacker friend, and her partner/lover to expose the sinister plan.


CYBERGEDDON was originally a webseries with the episodes edited together on this DVD to form a feature film. It certainly feels episodic, it is perfectly clear where each episode would begin and end and learning that it was in fact a webseries after watching the film I am not at all surprised. CYBERGEDDON is a surprisingly big project for a webseries, feeling much larger than the budget I suspect it had. Missy Peregrym plays Chloe and is uneven in her performance. She ranges from an barely believable hardass FBI agent to a totally believable whiny momma's girl when talking to her mother. Her sidekick is the comedic relief, a hacker named Rabbit (Kick Gurry) who works out of a van. He is easily the high point of the film and is quite funny. Aside from that the writing comes across as choppy thanks to the format switch, editing and camerawork are jumpy and shaky and would make someone like Michael Bay proud and someone that enjoys good editing and cinematography, sick. I want to give CYBERGEDDON a bit of leeway as it was only a webseries and I'm sure it worked better in that format but what I saw was presented as a feature length film and it is far from great.

The Audio & Video
ARC Entertainment brings CYBERGEDDON to DVD with a 16x9 widescreen transfer that preserves the original aspect ratio of it's web series format. The transfer looks good, as it should being that it is a newer production with digital photography. There is a 5.1 Dolby Digital track to handle the audio and it too is good. A real solid A/V job overall. 


The Extras
The only extra is a trailer.


The Bottom Line
If you're into hacking or films about cyber terrorism this movie will be an enjoyable watch.

CYBERGEDDON is available HERE

Monday, March 17, 2014

Frightmare (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption


England/1974
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: David McGillivray
Starring: Sheila Keith, Rupert Davies, Deborah Fairfax
Color and B&W/86 Minutes/Rated R
Region A
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
Dorothy Yates and her husband Edmund are freed from a mental institution after years of treatment after she committed acts murder and cannibalism. Now Dorothy has guests visit their isolated farm home for tarot card readings. Their eldest daughter Jackie also visits hoping to keep her mother sane with the help of her father. Jackie has to deal with her younger sister Debbie who hangs around a biker gang and is generally a nasty brat of an adolescent. Jackie keeps their parents a secret from Debbie, fearing the relationship will be toxic. Unfortunately for Debbie, and her father who is in the middle of a disastrous mess, Jackie is well aware of her mother and they both despise Debbie for keeping them apart.

FRIGHTMARE is a brilliant psychological slow burn from the underrated genre director Pete Walker. Sheila Keith is wonderful as the disturbed mother as is her on-screen husband Rupert Davies who is lost in the mix of a family torn apart by broken minds. Walker's direction is tight, and the story is far from just pure psychological horror as it features some rather nasty murder scenes. If you've never seen FRIGHTMARE you're doing yourself a disservice as it is one of the best horror films to come out of the UK in the 1970s and it gets better with with each viewing.

The Audio & Video
What can I really say about this Blu-ray besides "YES!"? Kino Redemption has delivered a stunning looking and sounding disc. I dare say it is a near perfect presentation. The 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is gorgeous, with strong detail, lifelike skin tones, vivid but natural colors and no edge enhancement or DNR. The soundtrack is pristine with no background noise, crackling or popping. The mix is spot on and I doubt this will ever sound better on home video. It is weird to smile during a film such as FRIGHTMARE but when you first experience this disc you will be ear to ear.

The Extras
There are several special features on the disc including:

-Audio commentary with Pete Walker and DP Peter Jessop conducted by Steve Chiball, author of "Making Mischief: The Cult Films Of Pete Walker"
-"For The Sake Of Cannibalism" - An interview with Pete Walker by Elijah Drenner
-"Sheila Keith: A Nice Old Lady?" - A profile on the late actress featuring interviews with former collaborators
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
This release isn't a FRIGHTMARE or even a nightmare, it is much closer to a dream come true. From the film that has always been excellent, to the new HD transfer that is the definitive home video presentation of the film, this is a must own.

FRIGHTMARE is available HERE

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Sadie / The Seductress Peekarama Double Feature (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1980, 1981
Directed By: Bob Chinn
Written By: Bob Chinn
Starring: Chris Cassidy, Lee Carroll, Lisa De Leeuw
Color/154 Minutes/Rated X
Region FREE
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Films
In the first film of this Bob Chinn double feature, SADIE is a beautiful prostitute living in Borneo during the Vietnam War. She pleases soldiers and locals alike until an uptight bible touting American senator arrives with his family and can't stand the harlot she is. He is hellbent on changing her ways. His new found project in SADIE leaves no time for attention to his own attractive daughter who has decided to give in to all of her urges and begins fucking a local man and falling in love with him. It's a cumming of age type story for everyone! That is, except the senator. SADIE is well written and directed, has some fun sex scenes and is a rather entertaining porno.


THE SEDUCTRESS features a man blackmailing wealthy people into having affairs and secretly takes photographs of it. His devious plans are to get rich, but how and why? Well watch and you'll find out! And you'll also see lots of sex, a woman shoot heroin and a man who goes on and on about how the 2 women he fucked loved his "weenie". Yes folks, THE SEDUCTRESS is trashy and funny. "You either jacked off with 100 grit sand paper or you slept with two women!"


The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has done a very nice job with the restoration and transfer work for this double feature. Both films feature a clean print with very minimal dirt or scratches. Colors are lively and overall image quality is strong in both anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) transfers. The audio is just as good with clean tracks, almost no background noise in the mono tracks.


The Extras
There is a trailer for each film


The Bottom Line
A pair of incredibly interesting and entertaining smut films that are different than anything you've probably seen lately. Recommended!

SADIE / THE SEDUCTRESS Peekarama Double Feature is available HERE

Friday, March 14, 2014

Necronos: Tower Of Doom (DVD Review) - Troma



Germany/2010
Directed By: Marc Rohnstock
Written By: Marc Rohnstock
Starring: Manoush, Timo Fuchs, Mario Zimmerschitt
Color/127 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Film
NECRONOS is one of Satan's highest demon minions and has been sent to Earth to create an army of the undead called Berzerkers. Berzerkers can only be made with certain hard to find ingredients, mainly human body parts. In order to get these ingredients NECRONOS uses his henchmen Goran to kidnap and torture them along with a witch to locate "The Chosen One" - A virgin witch. Once all of these goals are completed Satan's army of the undead can run amok on Earth and turn it into a living hell.


NECRONOS is pure splatter horror. Shot on video, artistic value is low and gore and nudity value is off the charts. Made in the spirit of German splatter king Olaf Ittenbach, Marc Rohnstock gives him a run for his money with some of the nastiest gore pieces in recent memory. Acting is rough, as you would probably expect from this low budget film but if we're being honest we aren't watching something like NECRONOS for the acting or script. No, we are watching it to see blood fly and bodies ripped apart. And NECRONOS provides that in spades. It isn't art, but it is pretty fantastic cheap fun.

The Audio & Video
Troma has released NECRONOS on DVD for it's North American debut. The DVD features a window boxed transfer which is unfortunate. Video quality is so-so, the low budget photography looks cheap and has compression issues at times but it's not too terribly bad. There is a single Dolby Digital 2.0 German track with optional English subtitles. The track gets the job done fine and is free of any disturbances. 



The Extras
Bonus features for NECRONOS include:
-A pair of trailers
-Behind the scenes still gallery
-Assorted trailers for other Troma releases


The Bottom Line
Splatter fans rejoice, you have another grail for your collection. Not a splatter fan? Move along and keep your breakfast in your stomach.

NECRONOS is available HERE

Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Altar Of Lust / Angel On Fire Peekarama Double Feature (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1971, 1974
Directed By: Roberta Findlay
Written By: Roberta Findlay
Starring: Erotica Lantern, Darby Lloyd Rains, Jamie Gillis
Color/155 Minutes/Rated X
Region FREE
Release Date: March 11, 2014

The Films
Roberta Findlay may ring a bell in your head and you may not know why right off hand. At least that is what it was for me. I know the name. I know I've seen films from her but I'd be damned if I could think of what she had done. Well this double feature from her (and the subsequent Google search) makes sure she's a name I won't forget what projects she's attached to anytime soon.

The first film of the set is THE ALTAR OF LUST, a trip through a woman's sexual psyche from a Psychiatrist's couch. Our patient explains her sexual experiences that have lead to her lesbianism and her desire to once again be straight. From being raped by her stepfather to finding her lover cheating on her and subsequently making love to the woman to some "unorthodox" treatment from her doctor, she may just overcome that damn lesbianism yet! Although she seems to be having quite a good time with other women...


If ANGEL ON FIRE teaches us anything it is that angels are sluts, so if Heaven is real it is probably pretty cool. In this film a nasty chauvinistic man dumps his pregant girlfriend and is hit by a bus and killed shortly after. Upon making it to the afterlife he is informed that before he's allowed full admittance to eternal paradise he will be sent back to Earth as a woman to find out just how he treated them. His punishment will only be over once he falls in love with the same type of man he was. Of course he doesn't get sent back to Earth before he gets some action from a more than willing angel.


Perhaps better known for her horror and exploitation films of the 80s such as Tenement and Blood Sisters Roberta Findlay definitely learned her craft a decade earlier with these pornos. Both films are great, trashy in ways but creative in others. ANGEL ON FIRE is the better of the two films as the sex is better, the story is ridiculous and the girls are more attractive.  Both films work well for this double feature and it will make for an enjoyable midnight viewing party.

The Audio & Video
Another double feature from Vinegar Syndrome and another excellent job as far as restoration and presentation goes. Both films are presented in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with an anmorphic widescreen transfer. Colors are vibrant and lively and flesh tones are natural. There is limited print damage throughout ALTAR and some mostly speckling and light scratching in ANGEL making it clear that these films have been kept in good shape. The audio track is a simple Mono one as the films were originally exhibited but they get the job done nicely. There is no background noise, hissing, crackling or any other hiccups in the audio. A damn fine job by Vinegar Syndrome.


The Extras
Bare bones.


The Bottom Line
It is nothing new at this point that a Vinegar Syndrome gets the stamp of approval. The love and care they show with restoring these almost forgotten about pieces of adult film history deserves an award.

THE ALTAR OF LUST / ANGEL ON FIRE Peekarama Double Feature is available HERE

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Contracted (DVD Review) - IFC


USA/2013
Directed By: Eric England
Written By: Eric England
Starring: Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams, Matt Mercer
Color/84 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
Samantha is a beautiful girl with a troubled past including heavy drug use. She has recently moved back in with her mother who is a bit overly religious for their own good. While partying at her friend Alice's house one night Samantha gets drugged and ends up having sex with a random dude. The next morning Samantha wakes up with a killer hangover and bloodstained all around her panties. Samantha's sickness grows worse and worse with rashes, bloodshot eyes, vomiting blood, fingernails falling off and plenty more. The sickness is eating away at her mentally as well, her relationship with her girlfriend is falling apart, her friendship with Alice is succumbing to her own paranoia and her mother, who only wants to help can't do anything. I guess that's what happens when you get raped by a man who recently fucked a biohazard corpse.


CONTRACTED is a stomach churning piece of body-horror that channels classic David Cronenberg. Najarra Townsend plays the troubled and sick Samantha with grace and successfully carries the film as the script required. Caroline Williams is solid as the religiously oppressive mother with good intentions. I was afraid Williams would overact or be too cheesy but she is good. In fact just about the entire cast is good. The character of Kate, Samantha's girlfriend is written to be overbearing and almost cartoonish. It doesn't hurt the overall product though. The makeup done on Samantha as she gets sicker and sicker looks very natural and well done, adding to the gag inducing nature of the film. At its heart CONTRACTED is a film about Samantha and her relationships, set in a body-horror film. The ending sets up a situation that could make for a very entertaining sequel, or had the movie been paced quicker an exciting 2nd and 3rd act. Horror fans should check out CONTRACTED but not on a full stomach... you'll be mopping up the mess.

The Audio & Video
A strong looking disc from IFC. The colors and flesh tones all appear to be natural, even in their sickly state. Clarity is very strong even for a DVD. I didn't notice any issues with the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer at all. As for the sound, a 5.1 Dolby Digital track handles the dialogue and pounding soundtrack more than capably and again I found nothing wrong with the track. A job well done. 


The Extras
-Audio commentary with writer/director Eric England, editor Josh Ethier, cinematographer Mike Testin, and composer Kevin Riepl
-Audio commentary with director and cast
-"Making Of" featurette
-Najarra Townsend audition tape
-Animated Pitch
-Behind The Scenes Promo
-Trailer


The Bottom Line
A solid body-horror film that will gross out anyone even with the strongest stomach due to its realistic sick factor. Wear you condoms kids.

CONTRACTED is available HERE

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

2 Little Monsters (DVD Review) - VCI Entertainment


USA/2012
Directed By: David Schmoeller
Written By: David Schmoeller
Starring: Charles Cantrell, Ryan LeBoeuf, Danny Countess
Color/107 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
At the age of 10 James and his ringleader friend Carl skip school to go shoplift some video games from the mall. Instead, Carl gets the idea to kidnap a small child and when they realize they have no way of getting rid of the kid without being identified they murder toddler in cold blood with a pipe. Having spent the last 8 years incarcerated in Juvenile Detention the pair has been pardoned, given a second chance to make something of their lives. Given new names, and false pasts to live off of they're split up and set up with positive living situations to protect them from the sensationalist media that is determined to discover their new identities and expose them.

James is quiet, remorseful and fully aware of his notorious status. He quickly enrolls in a local college, and befriends his new neighbor, presumably the first girl he's ever been close to. Carl has a much more difficult time adapting to life outside prison walls. Carl violates his parole by calling James and his foster home, trying desperately to get James to break as he has. He also contacts his mother, in the films most tense scene, asking her to tell him that she loves him while playing Russian Roulette. Carl has fully succumb to the monster inside of him and he wants to bring down his accomplice who is trying to make the most of the second chance given to him.


Director David Schmoeller is best known to horror fans as the director of Puppet Master and the underrated Tourist Trap. He brings his experience with previous successes and has another success here with this thriller that not only looks at the minds of two killers but the sensationalist media that preys on these situations.

The Audio & Video
VCI Entertainment brings 2 LITTLE MONSTERS into your home on DVD with a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation that is a largely a success aside from a few moments of compression issues. The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is just as good, handling its fairly standard duties with ease.


The Extras
-Audio Commentary with David Schmoeller and producer May May Luong
-Audio Commentary with stars Charles Cantrell and Ryan LeBoeuf
-Behind The Scenes Featurette
-"Ten Years Before" Featurette
-Audition Footage
-Deleted Scenes
-Trailer


The Bottom Line
David Schmoeller will forever be linked with Full Moon Pictures for the movies he has made for them and those that were distributed by them but there's nothing remotely cheesy or fun here. 2 LITTLE MONSTERS takes a deplorable act and turns it into an eye opening look at how our society sensationalizes them to the extreme with our own preconceived opinions on those involved.

2 LITTLE MONSTERS is available HERE