the Bloody Judge http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064727/
WS, English dub, Dutch subs

A Jess Franco film with a distinct English feel to it. The story takes place in England, Christopher Lee plays the titular character and it’s all about hunting witches. As Jess Franco movies and witch hunting exploitation movies go this is a very tame movie. It’s almost more an historical drama than a horror movie, but there are brief snippets of torture here and there. As I am not really a fan of films such as Mark of the Devil, Blood on Satan’s Claw or Witchfinder General (all cult favorites in the UK) this didn’t come as a disappointment really. The movie has some entertaining value (that brutal torture does not) and I wasn’t bored but I think it’s a totally forgettable movie on the whole. The print looks good although there seem to be a few variations in film stock between scenes and the sound is a bit unstable also.

Just a VHS copy of The Executioner from Australia. Haven’t checked it out yet as my VCR isn’t hooked up. But I look forward to it.

the deadly spawn http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087998/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

The story is a cliche, the writing amateurish and so is the acting but there is one thing that makes this imitation of Alien and the Thing as memorable as it’s famous sources of inspiration: the monsters. Money was wisely spend on blood and lot of creative puppets (and even a miniature set). So while all the little jokes in the movie fall flat, the gore gags work every time and they lift this above the amateur level that most independent productions of this kind have.

the curse of frankenstein http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068559/
Letterboxed, English dub, Dutch subs

A very very very strange production. This can only be another Jess Franco slice of bad taste cinema. The film starts right at the point where Frankenstein brings his (silver painted) monster to life. His party is crashed though by a nemesis called Cagliostro who kills Frankenstein and steals the monster. Or actually a blind woman who is also half bird kills Frankenstein. She is one of many weird creatures Cagliostro has created, but he needs Frankenstein’s secrets to complete his ‘master race’. That’s about it for the plot basically. Then there is a lot of weird camera work with fisheye lenses, awkward close-ups and long scenes of mostly darkness (with weird sound effects and an even weirder music mix laid on top of it). Most shocking of all, especially for Dutch viewers who don’t speak English is the atrocious subtitling. I have never seen it so bad. A few of the most extreme examples:
“they are divinity” is translated as “daar zijn de dorpelingen” (there are the villagers)
“don’t you dare” is translated as “schiet op de inspecteur” (shoot the inspector)
The movie isn’t erotic although the original French title promises it to be and it also doesn’t really work as a horror movie (although one long scene in which we see a full frontal naked man being flagellated could be called disturbing ) in fact, for me the movie was strangely sleep inducing. I really want to like this but despite all the right ingredients this one goes beyond being ‘so bad it’s good’ into just being bad. the scenes really don’t work. plot, characters and situations don’t grab the attention and for all it’s strangeness nothing stands out the way it should. still a must see I think for connoisseurs of the strange.

petcor80 - October 9, 2007, 9:44am

the deadly spawn http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087998/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

The story is a cliche, the writing amateurish and so is the acting but there is one thing that makes this imitation of Alien and the Thing as memorable as it’s famous sources of inspiration: the monsters. Money was wisely spend on blood and lot of creative puppets (and even a miniature set). So while all the little jokes in the movie fall flat, the gore gags work every time and they lift this above the amateur level that most independent productions of this kind have.

Did you see it just featured in the movie quiz? I only recognized it because you had shown me the cover last month.
Hilarious coincidence!

yes, this was also why I decided to watch the tape

night cries http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077990/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

A tv movie about a couple who loose their baby. The mother then keeps getting nightmares in which she hears her baby crying, convincing her that the baby must still be alive. The nightmare images are appropriately creepy and because we are dealing with a movie here, thriller it says on the box, that baby must still be alive right!? I won’t say anymore A very effective little movie.

Michael Parks plays the husband. I am planning to watch and review more of his work that I have on tape. His role in this movie is nothing special though. He is supportive but also a little distant of his wife as she seems to loose it more and more and that’s really all he does the entire time.

Reward http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081424/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

Another tv movie with Michael Parks, in the lead role this time. It’s a basic story about a disillusioned cop who has to get his life together which might just happen as his best friend gets killed while working on an undercover drugs case. The understated performance from Parks keeps it interesting throughout. The biggest action set piece is a chase scene on foot at the end, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull.

The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056504/
Letterboxed, English dub, Dutch subs

This is an epic biblical peplum movie. Bigger than I had expected. Too bad a lot of image is missing from the right and left side of the frame on this video, these kind of movies need a wide scope. Story and acting wise there are better movies in this genre but it isn’t bad at all. What stood out most for me was the music that reminded me in some places of the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack. It might have been a source of inspiration for Basil Poledouris…

My Bloody Valentine http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082782/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

A very average slasher. The scenes in the mine are very atmospheric and the story evolves at a nice pace but some of the set ups could have been better and the ending isn’t really satisfying.

Idaho Transfer http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071647/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

MINOR SPOILERS
An apocalyptic sci-fi movie directed in 1973 by Peter Fonda has to be special, and it is. I just think the story doesn’t make any sense. In a laboratory complex somewhere in Idaho a group of young scientists are conducting secret and illegal research. They are able to ‘transfer’ into the future. An unrevealed apocalyptic event seems immanent and they plan to use their time-travel devise to skip ahead of it. They go into the barren future totally unprepared though it seems. They don’t have a lot of clothing and tools with them and they don’t have plans to create a continuing supply of food or water. When they also turn out to be sterile as a result of the transfers the question is what they are trying to achieve with their escape into the future… the final twist to the story adds even more to the futility. There is no ‘post’ to this apocalypse, or is there?!?!?… Anyway, there is a great atmosphere and tension throughout the movie. The time-travel machine works very well in it’s simplicity. The acting (mostly by unknowns) is very natural. It’s original and memorable… just wish there was some kind of point to it all

Run, Run Joe http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071162/
4:3 English dub, Dutch subs

A European crime caper from the early seventies from a director known for his Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies. That about sums it up for this movie. It’s not bad or boring but it isn’t really good either. A good lead performance by Keith Carradine though (very different from his role in Idaho Transfer above).

Shadows of the Mind http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796605/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

It’s obscure, it’s from the director of Last House on Dead End Street and there are two good moments of bloody gore. Another brief summation. I did however not enjoy this movie at all. Most of the characters are unpleasant (not in a good way) as a result of bad direction, bad acting or bad scripting. probably all of those. Thankfully it was over quickly.

things get messy in the woods today

Thou Shalt not Kill… Except… http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090093/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

Vietnam vets vs. the Manson Family bloodbath made by a cult favorite group of friends: Bruce Campbell, Josh Becker and the Raimi brothers. In this early effort it shows these guys have talent. Especially in the camerawork and good use of a whole array of action and horror cinema cliche’s. They clearly had a lot of fun with this. And yet on the whole it’s as clunky and messy as any amateur b-movie effort.

Final Terror http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082379/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

What this slasher has got going for it is a beautifully photographed woodland setting and a killer who fits those surroundings. But the group dynamic between the chosen victims is strange and you never really get to know, or care for, any of them. The thin backstory is also given away far too soon and too easy. Which makes this a below average effort.

the Aftermath http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083526/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

Too bad this post-apocalyptic downer also wants to be a bad(ass) action movie with raids on camps full of canon fodder bad guys and endless shoot-outs. There are nice moments in here. Ideas about dinosaurs and ancient civilizations leaving only ruins after they ended. About family and growing up surrounded by death. The special effects, though not particularly good, are the right kind of gruesome for a brutal world in which all civilization is finally lost. With a bigger budget and less stupidity this would have been good.

Hell Squad http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089268/
4:3, English language, Dutch subs

Ouch! This has to be one of the most pathetic movies ever! It starts out fun enough with a joke about an UN bomb (ultra neuron bomb ofcourse) and the goofy idea of Las Vegas strippers operating as a covert combat unit. In most of these b-action movies about ‘elite’ combat units there usually is one babe who kicks ass, so why not have the whole team be babes. But then the remainder of the movie turns out to go like this: the girls hang out in a large hot tub, the girls make a short appearance in the desert for a stupid fight, the girls can’t wait to go back to the hot tub, they get a call and fight again for a few minutes, back to the hot tub. and all the while the little jokes get worse and worse. Beyond embarrassing and tough to watch.

fast gun http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093009/
4:3 English language, Dutch subs

I just couldn’t help hurting my brain again with another bad action movie. This movie is about weapon smugglers coming to a quiet mountain town protected by a sheriff who can turn any aircraft into a ball of fire with three bullets from his handgun. In an early scene we see the sheriff aid two DEA agents in a firefight against drug smugglers. The car of the agents gets blown up with a grenade launcher. The sheriff kills all the bad guys and he says goodbye to the agents who… drive away in their car that was only just blown to bits!?!? It all just isn’t in the so bad it’s good category, it’s lazy filmmaking, derivative… and very tiring.

Ok I’m back, and I start off with this Obscure & rare film . I found It yesterday while local web searching & it was delivered at my door a few hour later :D
According the sleeve I will be frightened like never before & watching the sleeve picture there must be a lot of nudity in it..... Nothing of this all.
I don’t get it why Video for pleasure mentioned this as a horror film. It’s more like a psychedelic trip , that bores me to death . It’s the story of a warlock Simon, the last of his kind, who becoms friends with a male prostitute that introduces Simon in a world of Drugs and weird Satanic rituals. Instead of being frightend I start laughing. there’s some nudity but not much just like there is no real storyline..
Anyway this is rather a rare release and as far that I know not yet on Dvd , so there will be a few fans out there that want this film.

I’ve been told that this film was intended to be a tv serie in 4 parts. Thank God they only released this one as a movie, it is boring enough. You cant say Like father like son here where Mario Bava knows how to work on the suspence Lamerto Bava has a lot to learn after seeing this movie.
bad dubbing , Hilarious dialoges & a very nerving soundtrack another great fast forward film
But I think Giallo & slasher fans will say I’m wrong,

that Simon cover looks really really good. Also very rare indeed. The story is actually based on a real person… and reality is often more boring that the imagination I liked it though…